Hey guys! Back again with another update! I'm so proud to have hit one-hundred followers! Maybe I can hit one-hundred reviews? Nudge, nudge, hint, hint. Anyways, school is starting in a week so I will update more on the weekends. I plan to make this a weekly thing so I might be able to make the chapters longer depending on how much homework I get.
On with the show!
Shadows corrupted the land, tree's reached forth, and the wind smelled of death around her. She ran all she could, fatigue slowly breaking down her stamina, her steps becoming sloppier. Whatever was chasing her was fast, too fast. Looking to the sky above an aurora lighting the world above and the world below signed the nights abnormality.
Dark eyes ventured to her master and friend beside her as she ran. Months ago they'd found her after she killed her father with her abilities. And if she recalled correctly they had found her on a bridge somewhere in Kiri. In the snow, no less. At the time she'd worn very little, and what she did in fact wear covered the minimum promising little warmth.
She still could remember what he'd said to her, "Serve me well and I promise to treat you well."
Months after he'd kept his promise; he had fed them, clothed them, he was as close to a father could get within so few months of being together. So they served. Over the course of their time together her emotions dulled to a standstill, all because of that one sentence. Her goal in life from then on was to serve Zabuza.
The same however couldn't have been said for her gray-haired friend. His emotions never truly dulled to match hers, he was already a very cold person so she guessed he never felt the need to change. Though it did annoy her to no end when he would start an argument with their master over something extremely trivial like sleeping arrangements.
A whistling sound pushed the air, they were getting closer. Carefully as she could the girl made her way to match her master's speed.
"They're catching up Zabuza-sama."
Zabuza's fierce appearance tightened, she could tell he wasn't going to enjoy the encounter.
"Alright **** if need be we're going to have to use your special abilities to shake them."
The girl nodded. "Yes, Zabuza-sama."
Gray-hair matched their speed before she could return. "What is it?"
"They're catching us so we've decided to use my abilities when or if we have to."
The boy nodded, jumping back to his position followed by the girl. Forming around and behind their master the two children flicked their eyes ever so often behind them.
Beneath rode gray dancing grass forever celebrating the girl's never-ending nightmare. The world spiraled out of control as masks appeared all around them, the trees seemingly gripped their feet until her master and friend rode off further and further away with shadowed mask following them. Her screams echoed through the tinted forest while the trees grew marks after marks.
Her eyes traveled down to her skin. Her mouth opened, horrified. Gone was her beautifully pale skin leaving only black sickly leather in place... Then light.
And in an instant, she was alone. Again, her mind swam further and further in to anger as her emotionless mask slipped, her eyes slowly drifted back down to her forearms to see the leathery arms cracking but when her eyes met beautiful silk relief spread, no coursed throughout her body.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Haku's eyes shot open as she sat up as quickly as she could, sweat pouring off of her lithe form. Next to her Naruto's own opened, silently lifting himself up he directed his blue eyes to meet Haku's own troubled ones.
The way her breath paced itself and the way she looked overall he could easily see volumes, and judging by the way she looked she must've had one of those dreams again. Suddenly Haku looked over to Naruto before hugging him, constantly trying to nuzzle her nose further into his chest.
"Nightmare?" Naruto whispered, stroking her hair gently.
She just nodded, before facing Naruto fully, small trails of tears making way down her cheeks.
"It was the one where I was left to die and play bait while Zabuza ran."
"Did I come in at any point?" Naruto questioned.
Haku smiled. "You were the light."
"Then why are you crying?"
Haku simply shook her head, climbing to meet Naruto's face she leveled his eyes with hers before she kissed his nose. Choosing the moment for silence Haku hugged Naruto firmly before breaking oblivion, "Because without that light I would be dead."
Naruto pulled surprised a Haku away from him to return the kiss but was shocked when Haku turned her head up to meet his eyes. Their lips met.
Haku's eyes opened wider than ever until her mind processed what was happening. She was kissing Naruto!
Opposite her Naruto's eyes widened as well. He couldn't believe what was happening. Though after ten seconds they separated, blushes covering their faces. Touching his lips Naruto reminisced the feeling of hers while Haku unknowingly copied the gesture.
His/her lips were so soft.
Looking back into each-others eyes Haku spoke up first, " You're lips were so soft."
"Yours were too."
Haku's blush furthered until she remembered what exactly Anko had told them about such things. Closing her eyes she concentrated and tried to remember what she said. After a moment or two she felt two hands take hers before she remembered. She'd said that kissing could be one way to share their feelings with the one they love.
She chuckled, figures Naruto would turn a fearful mood to one of excitement. He was simply amazing.
Jovial eyes ceased temptation, cracking dawn ahead. "Come Naruto-kun, lets go back to sleep."
As they fell deep under sand, two hazel eyes smiled with a glint of content. She'd have to catch up sooner or later. Didn't want Haku getting ahead of her. Turning over and staring at Naruto's sleeping eyes she made note to 'catch up' when she got him alone as well. Haku sighed. She smiled, and after a conversation with Haku.
"Do they always sleep together? Wouldn't that be a little er, sketchy?" Tazuna asked.
Ibiki nodded shortly. "Yes, they always sleep together. For how long I couldn't tell you, nor would I if I knew."
"Wouldn't it be better for them to sleep apart though?"
"No."
Tazuna's questioning look was all he needed. "Do you understand why mammals travel in packs?"
The old man shook his head. "Well neither do I." Ibiki smirked. "Alright, the real reason why they sleep together is because their fighting dynamic plays strongest when they're near one another." Ibiki turned his head to the old man, "So tell me... would it be better for them to sleep apart if it meant potential death?"
"I-I suppose not." Tazuna stuttered.
"Good answer."
Minutes passed and Tazuna was feeling nervous. Why had they decided to camp out just a few miles before town? They could have easily made it there before dusk breached light. He stroked his beard contemplating the next step. What exactly could they do at this point?
"Then why did we stop? I understand the chance of being ambushed but couldn't we sneak past?"
Shaking his head Ibiki put a wave of disappointment onto Tazuna. "No, as you said it could be an ambush which would involve death." He looked over to the three. "I think they've seen enough of death for one day."
Not needing the question Ibiki waved his hand and answered, "The first kill is always the worst and more often then not the shinobi who do make their first kill are often in a state of stress that gradually goes away over a period of time. I don't want them entering a battle-field where they may be forced to kill a second in one day where they've only just made their first, it would only worsen the mental stress. Besides... we need them at their top strength tomorrow if we're going to make it to your house." He raised a brow. "Satisfied?"
Reluctantly, Tazuna nodded. Yes, he would definitely ask when they made it.
Pulling over his pack Ibiki took to the trees, he would play guard for the night. Tazuna looked around before settling himself in his sleeping bag, and like a sloth he was asleep faster than an arrow hits its mark.
Tired eyes directed themselves over and to the moon. It's beauty shined so graciously to everyone willing to see her luminescence, almost brought a tear to his eye—yeah right. If he looked closer Ibiki could've swore that he saw a raw ray of light flash down on his students for more than two minutes before disappearing. Phenomena maybe, but what set him off was all the other shadows going every which way but that one ray of light.
Suddenly a thought struck him. He'd forever brand himself a sap for this but... if he was the poetic type, which he wasn't, then he'd say that the ray of light simply represented innocence. And after what they did earlier that day he could safely say that their own innocence hadn't been shattered, just amended.
He smiled, truly he did, if they stayed the way they were for the rest of his life then he would be content... Withdrawing one hand from his pack he set it down lightly against the branch and as gently as he could he caressed the branch. Never really knew when it could be your last day.
The trio were the first to rise, next being Tazuna. The old man really wasn't an early riser it seemed which was a surprise to Naruto; weren't builders supposed to get up early in the morning to get to work?
Strapped and checked the trio was ready to go after a measly five minutes spent preparing and tightening.
"Tazuna-san, how much further until we should expect our being there?" Ibiki said tiredly.
A soldier pill would be nice right about now.
Suddenly, Tenten pulled out a small wrapping before she plucked one black pellet from it. Reaching out in front of Ibiki Tenten held the pellet tightly as Ibiki took it from her, nodding.
"Next time make sure we take up doing guarding shifts, it isn't healthy for you to just run off of soldier pills, as much as I hate to say it."
Ibiki raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know the affects of soldier pills, Tenten-san?"
With straight eyes and a balanced look Tenten answered, "I've had one before which left me in a foul position after."
"No, I don't care what happened. I'm trying to ask how you got your hands on one."
Tenten just rolled her eyes. "We live in a ninja village. How difficult do you think they were to get?"
"Damned hard, only shinobi and kunoichi are to possess soldier pills so why don't you tell me how you got yours." Ibiki said lowering his voice.
"Fine," She pinched the bridge of her nose, "I got them from some drunk shinobi who passed out in when he got out of a bar."
Ibiki crossed his arms. "Should I ask about your presence at a bar too?"
Her shaking head was all needed.
"Good."
Walking again the mist claimed the boundaries leaving trees to ominously stand on stilts edging the unknown. Chakra laced the air, no... it saturated it. Prepping a kunai in it's holster each of the genin, without warning, circled around Tazuna with practiced ease. The dark environment made it perfect for an ambush.
A ringing noise played in the teens ears from the bastardized silence of the mist.
Or at least that was until the trio and Ibiki heard a whizzing sound shooting straight towards them. "Get down!" Naruto yelled as he grappled Tazuna, throwing him down. The other genin too made it firmly planted to the ground while Ibiki merely stepped back from the large blade.
As they laid against the ground an impact was heard to the right of them. Standing back up again the trio took position around Tazuna once more, though ever so carefully did they keep one eye on the blade. Never knew what could happen.
Warping in came from the top side of the blade granting presence of one man.
Zabuza.
The blade where he stood was large enough to decapitate any man, or horse. And by the way that the blade flew threw the air they could only assume that he had fully mastered the blades potential.
Around Tazuna the genin all clenched their fists with Haku nearly drawing blood. This was a potential bloodbath depending on who saw the cleaving. In the middle, Tazuna stood horrified, mouth ajar. His hands shook, his teeth clenched, and his form strict. Hopefully, they would be able to deal with the shinobi...
Standing proud Naruto took the time to analyze Zabuza thoroughly like his teammates. Black spiky hair, bandages covering his mouth, black form-fitting shirt and pants, and lastly his gray gloves. His eyes though, out of everything on Zabuza, his eyes scared him the most.
Suddenly a chilled sensation tore through the genin. They were so cold, so alone. They felt like someone's prey and were about to be eaten. All of them were tempted to stop breathing all together, it was nothing short of horrifying.
Ibiki's eyes widened, his genin would have trouble with just standing to the killing intent. But he couldn't go back and help them yet. Not yet. He had to remain and keep Zabuza off of them and if possible defeat him. Searching the area around them he could only sense one other person, meaning it must've been Zabuza's little side-kick.
"If you leave now and abandon the bridge-builder I won't chase you." Zabuza said, glaring.
Ibiki smirked. "You do know who you're talking to right?"
Zabuza raised an eyebrow, what were they talking about?
"We're a squad sent for your capture as a side-mission." Ibiki stated.
He pointed to his 'teammates'. "Those three over there. See their masks? They're anbu, and I know you really don't want to get involved with a set amount of hunter-nin." Ibiki masterfully lied.
He'd made his decision. While they still had the chance he would deceive Zabuza for as long as possible, or at least until his genin gained their bearings. If Zabuza was as stupid as he looked though he could hope for his leaving.
Around Zabuza the genin had picked up what their sensei was doing. Deception. Ibiki was trying to instill uncertainty and fear into Zabuza. However, it didn't seem the nukenin was taken by his charade.
"Why would they have a group of hunter-nin escorting a bridge-builder? They wouldn't leave themselves in the open like this, nor would they make their presence known."
Thinking quickly Ibiki retorted, "Normally no, but since the demon brothers attacked our genin squad we sent out here we made quick adjustments."
Sitting anxious the genin pained their ears to hear Zabuza's response. This could mean life or death.
Minutes passed and Zabuza made no response or move to attack. Only his hands seemed to move, signaling the figure a little ways, maybe. Calloused hands weaved but made no hand-signs. Ibiki would let him think he was trapped or that he needed to escape. As long as they gained more time.
Suddenly and without warning the mist around them converged.
Hey guys! Hope you all like it! Tell me your reactions to the scene and Haku's nightmare. I purposely put some things in to try and make people question why so I want to see if people can pick up on it. Like blurring out Haku's name when Zabuza spoke is one. Try and tell me what they mean exactly. Also, as usual guys just give me some kind of feedback because I absolutely love reading your reviews whether good or bad.
I am going to be updating weekly now to be able to fit my schedule so you may or may not be able to see some longer chapters. Give me your thoughts on that as well on whether you all want longer chapters or not.
R&R and PM, it does help.
See ya!