Disclaimer: do not own naruto and I'm doing this for fun not profit
Chapter 4: Tapping into my inner Demon
Zabuza was currently sitting in a bar waiting for the contact he had made during his time in River Country. The contact, a man by the name of Hisoka Gwon, is in his mid-twenties, with the good looks that people in his line of work needed to get by, and generally wore expensive suits. What's more, he was almost never seen without a designer visor. He was also over an hour late which was making Zabuza quite angry, especial due to the fact that he felt naked sitting there with his face uncovered and without his sword. Unfortunately, he would have to continue to just sit there and wait until the prick arrived. Zabuza had quickly learned that when it came to working as a missing-nin men like Hisoka were necessary annoyances. Sure there were plenty of people willing to hire a missing-nin but they were just as likely to turn on him once the job was done. It wasn't like he could report them to a better business bureau if they screwed him out of money. In addition, all it would take was for them to get word to the right people and hunter-nin would be all over him.
Hisoka acted as a middle man he was sent the job information and he would get in contact with the appropriate missing-nin. Furthermore, he dealt with all the money supplying the ninja with his cut before hand, in most instances, that way if the person offering the job reneged on payment it was his problem. Zabuza had to admit the man was good at what he did, having secured several high paying missions for him in the past.
So with nothing to do until the man arrived and drinking only enough so as not to attract suspicion he thought about his companions. Haku had come a long way since he had first taken him in. At eleven years old had he attended an academy he probably would have already made chunin. Also ever since the attack by the hunter-nin over a year and a half ago he has been way more focused. It was like night and day when he wore the mask he took off the dead hunter-nin. When the mask was off he was a cheerful boy who still enjoyed playing with that stupid rabbit, but when it was on he was the weapon that Zabuza wanted. Although he still didn't enjoy needlessly killing and would often only incapacitating his opponents even if it made his task more difficult.
Then there was Naruto. After finally understanding what was slowing the boy down Zabuza was able to teach him many of his more powerful jutsu. Also, Naruto's growth was fantastic due in part to the fact he never gave up, often training to the point that Zabuza would have to force him to stop before he collapsed from chakra exhaustion. However with this growth came a glaring problem he was running out of ninjutsu to teach Naruto. It wasn't as bad with Haku due to the older boy having to basically teach himself how to use his Kekkei Genkai. But, Naruto had no such ability and unfortunately Zabuza was only twenty-one when he was forced to flee Kirigakure which limited his own growth. Moreover, creating jutsu took time, which he did not have if he was going to raise the money for a second coup d'état. He had managed to score some scrolls from various opponents he defeated however very few of them where any higher then C-ranked techniques, but that didn't seem to bother Naruto in the slightest. All he would have to say is I'm teaching you a new jutsu and it could be some lame E-ranked one but Naruto would still get all excited demanding to be taught.
Looking up to scan the room again he spotted his contact making his way towards him at a leisurely pace. He was wearing his visor, despite the bar being dark already, also his black hair was parted down the middle and he was wearing a long black overcoat over his silk business suit.
Sitting down and smiling at him with a smile that Hisoka probably thought was personable, but really just made Zabuza want to punch him in the face, the middle-man says," Sorry I'm late my main man."
"Forget it," Zabuza growls not interested in the man's fake platitudes. "Do you have a job for me?"
"My main man, I have got you a cakewalk of a job with a client that has deep pockets," Hisoka says rather pleased with himself.
Leaning forward in interest Zabuza says, "Do tell."
"Well the job is a simple heist; the client wants you to steal a jewel in the possession of a rich man named Mongkut Zaman," Hisoka says leaning in conspiratorially.
"Never heard of him, what's so special about the jewel?" Zabuza asks.
"Hell if I know my main man, I just know that the mark keeps it on display in his mansion here in River Country and that it's called The Heavenly Reward." Hisoka says then stops to take a sip of his drink setting the glass down he continues, "However there is one catch as well as a condition on this job."
Sitting back in his seat Zabuza says, "I knew it sounded too good to be true."
"Now hold on my main man and hear me out." Seeing Zabuza give him a little wave to go on he says while pulling out a folder containing the job information, "The catch is you'll only get a fifth of the payment up front," Zabuza looks like he is about to explode at that so he quickly carries on, "but considering that is enough to pay for a C-rank mission, which let's be honest this is, you shouldn't be complaining."
"And the condition," Zabuza wonders little dollar signs in his eyes considering a fifth of this job's pay is C-rank all of it would be well over S-rank.
"You have to steal it by the next full moon, which is in a week." Hisoka says smiling seeing that Zabuza is drooling over the idea of the huge payday.
Zabuza pulling himself together asks, "Why is your client willing to bankroll so much for such an easy mission?"
"I don't know and I don't care my main man," Hisoka explains like he has been asked the dumbest question he has ever heard, "his money is good that's all I care about so whether it's to avenge a wrong or pure greed, I just hand out the missions. So are you interested?"
Zabuza mulls it over. The truth is he doesn't like it. This job almost sounds to perfect however in the end his greed wins out so he says, "Just have my money the day after the full moon." Not bothering to finish his drinks Zabuza gets up and takes the folder from the table.
Hisoka leans back into his booth after watching Zabuza leave, ten minutes later a man that had been sitting at the bar the whole time sits in the seat Zabuza vacated.
The man asks, "Did he take the job?"
"Of course he did," Hisoka says while pulling a cigarette out of his golden case, lighting it he takes a drag and leans his head back to look at the ceiling. "One thing all missing-nin have in common is the lust for the big payday and Zabuza has it more than most."
"When should my master be expecting him then?" the man asks.
"By the next full moon," Hisoka answers
"Couldn't you have picked a shorter time frame, seven days is a long time for a ninja to prepare?" the man asks a little concerned.
"Of course I could have. Of course, I could of just told him to show up tonight at seven and not to be late because otherwise he will not fall into the trap that is set for him," replies Hisoka annoyed this peon is questioning his methods. "What does it matter your master's trap has caught all the other missing-nin I've sent his way."
"I suppose you're right, forgive me," the man gets up and hands Hisoka an envelope containing his pay.
After the man takes his leave Hisoka orders another drink and while waiting for it wonders if he did the right thing. Not due to any guilt, but to the fact that missing-nin of Zabuza's caliber don't come along every day. After all Zabuza was one of his best operatives, but then again there were always more waiting to replace him it just might take awhile, that's all.
Nine year old Hinata was on her way to visit Naruto's grave. It had been almost two and a half years since he disappeared into the river and with no sign that he was still alive the Hokage had declared him official dead on the two year anniversary. With one of the only people that she knew of hoping for his survival giving up, it made her doubt he was still out there. She had heard that the civilian council had put up a serious fight about having Naruto's headstone in the cemetery. The only reason they had any say in the matter was due to the fact that Naruto was not recognized as a shinobi therefore was not able to be buried with them. The matter had only been resolved when her father had stepped in and bought the burial plot at four times the going price. It had pleased her that her father was willing to do that for her rescuer.
On the day of the funeral she remembered that it had rained as if the very heavens were sad at his passing. Almost no one had attendant, the Hokage was there of course, as was an Anbu Black Ops member she assumed was the Hokage's bodyguard, Iruka-sensei, and her father. She had also spotted a large man with white-hair off in the distance whether or not he was watching the funeral she couldn't say. The fact that Sakura hadn't bothered to show up angered her almost to the point where she was about to march to Sakura's house and drag her there to offer at least a single prayer to Naruto. Only the knowledge that Sakura's mother who had recently been elected to the council seat for her district and had personally led the charge against Naruto's inclusion in the cemetery had stopped her.
Thinking of her former friend she wondered how things had gone so wrong so quickly between them. They had both seemed to agree to give each other a wide berth going out of their way at times to avoid each other. The few times they had been forced to work together by Namida-sensei had been pretty awkward with Sakura looking guilty wanting to apologize and Hinata only saying enough to get the job done. Needless to say nothing had been resolved between them.
Approaching his grave marker she smiles at the daffodils that were planted shortly after his funeral, while she had never met the person who did it she was pleased to know someone else cared. Even if the person who was paid to take care of the graves didn't, sighing at seeing the shabby state of Naruto's burial plot when compared with the ones around it. She had complained to the groundskeeper for all the good it did, the ignorant man had just blown her off while telling her not to tell him how to do his job. One day when she became Hokage her and the groundskeeper were going to have a nice long discussion about what proper maintenance of Naruto's gravesite entailed. Although coming here to take care of his resting place at least in spirit if not in body did make her feel closer to him.
Kneeling down to wipe off the dirt that accumulated on his gravestone she says," Hello Naruto, I'm sorry it's been so long since my last visit, but school has been so hectic lately. However, it's summer break now." Pulling out a canteen she filled before coming sure that if she didn't the flowers would die due to lack of care. "Oh, guess what I won the Kunoichi of the Year Award for our age group. Father was quite pleased and told me to continue to bring honor to the Hyuuga. My cousin Neji is Shinobi of the Year for his, you remember I talked about him before," she says while tracing his name with her fingers.
"The truth is I think father would be less impressed with my award if he saw the competition there was for it. It seems my fellow kunoichi have all loss their drive to be stronger, instead all they do is fight over who Sasuke Uchiha likes best. I think the answer is he doesn't like anyone. He's just gotten so dark, ever since his brother murdered his clan, and of course that makes them want him even more. It's just so silly."
Finishing her chore she smiles, "That is all that's new with me Naruto. I know I say this ever time but," she says while standing up and then bowing slightly," Thank you."
As Naruto follows Zabuza and Haku through the branches on the way to the mansion they were going to rob he has a minor sneezing fit. Haku decides to tease him a little by saying, "You know what that means right Naruto? It means…"
"It means the moron shouldn't be training in the rain like I told him not too," Zabuza says agitated at the idea that one of his weapons may be coming down with a cold right before they were going to infiltrate the mansion.
Naruto at least looks slightly embarrassed at the rebuke as he says, "I told you I was sorry but I was so close to mastering the Water Dragon Jutsu."
"Yeah and how sorry are you going to be if you give us away because of a sneeze brat," Zabuza counters.
"I'm fine, besides I've never been sick in my entire life. I think Haku's right and it means some pretty girl was talking about me," Naruto says. While thinking of one or two he was hoping kept him in their thoughts.
"Stop your day dreaming knucklehead, were closing in on the mansion so keep your wits about you," Zabuza orders. "We'll scope out the place and then make our move at three in the morning."
Both boys nod their heads in acknowledgement. The plan was simple; once they snuck into the house they would approach the display room for the jewel. Based on the map of the room provided by Gwon there was only two long hallways to and from the room. One was located on the second floor of it and went deeper into the mansion; the other was on the first floor and could be reached from the main entrance. The later was the one they were aiming for due to the fact that their hand drawn map didn't cover anything deeper into the mansion.
Coming to the edge of the forest they stopped, and looked at the place they were about to rob. Mansion didn't do it justice it looked like a castle. It consisted of three pagoda style buildings surrounded by a twenty foot wall. The largest of the buildings was five stories tall and slightly to the rear of the other two. The other two buildings were each three stories tall and not nearly as large, also the fronts of the two building were facing each other so that all the main entrances opened into the central courtyard.
While the wall would pose no problem for the trio making it to the main hall would. Zabuza figured that at least one of the smaller buildings housed the guards. So if they were discovered things would get ugly very quickly for them. The sun was just about to set so they would wait until the appointed time, when they figured the guards were not as alert, to make their move.
Once it was time to go Zabuza gave them the hand sign to move out. He didn't even need to look back as he dashed over the wall while avoiding the guards on patrol. He might have given Naruto a hard time earlier, but now that it was mission time he knew the boy was one-hundred percent focused. Besides, Naruto had taken to the silent killing technique like a fish to water, if he didn't want to be found he wouldn't be. Coming to a stop at the corner behind the smaller building to the right of the main one, Zabuza peaked out to look at the main entrance of the central building. Unfortunately, the guards on duty to either side of the door were still to alert for a frontal entry. Also, there were too many patrols that passed in front of the main doors that the guards would be missed before they could get to the jewel. He had considered having Haku and Naruto henge into them; however he would rather have them with him in case something went wrong.
Giving the hand sign to let them know they were going to use their secondary entry point and that Haku should go first followed by Naruto he then goes back to watching the guards. Haku then quickly made a break for the right side of the main building. Upon reaching it he climbed to the second story of the building using his chakra, once on the tiles of the ledge he peers into the window they had marked as their backup route into the building. Seeing that no one is in the room Haku checks the window to make sure there are no alarms or seals on it to prevent its opening. Sure that there are none he opens the window and makes his way inside.
Naruto seeing Haku go into the window waits for a pair of guards, walking around the perimeter of the main building, to disappear around the back of it before he also runs for the window. Once inside he sees Haku crouched down near the door for the room with it open just a crack and using a hand mirror formed from ice to scope out the hall.
Pulling the mirror back Haku looks behind him and sees that Zabuza has joined them in the room. Holding up one finger to let Zabuza know the number of guards in that branch of the hallway, nodding his head in understanding he points first to Haku and slashes his finger across his neck. Then points to Naruto, the boys acknowledge the silent order by switching places so that Naruto can exit the room first. Naruto then slowly opens the door the rest of the way, then quickly and silently takes off down the hall towards the guard. However, the guard notices him coming but before he can shout an alarm he is silenced by a pair of senbon needles hitting his neck. Naruto prevents the guard's body from hitting the floor and raising an alarm.
Dragging the body back to the room he came from and depositing it on the bed he gives Haku a grin noticing he is looking away from a glaring Zabuza who is upset the boy didn't outright kill the guard. Not commenting on Haku lack of killer instinct for now, Zabuza once more takes point with Haku covering the rear. Making their way down the hall they stop at the door at the end of it. Slowly opening it they are greeted by a lavish main hall, with an ornate chandler that is almost four stories tall hanging from the ceiling at the fifth floor and finally ending at the floor they were on. Looking up he could see that each floor opened up and circled the main hall. Although, what he didn't see was guards and that fact bothered him, ignoring it he makes his way down the center staircase towards the door marked on the map.
Zabuza didn't like that the map they were following was based on what the client supposedly remembered from a time he was here, but thus far it had proven accurate enough. Finding the door that leads to the display room they open it slowly but see no signs of guards in the hall. By now the lack of guards really has begun to bother him. Surely this Mongkut Zaman wasn't so big a fool as to believe the guards he had wondering outside would be enough to protect this jewel from being stolen. Hell a normal thief would have been able to get this far without problems. Furthermore, as they made their way deeper down the hall it felt like they were heading underground. It wasn't a real noticeable effect and if the client who drew the map was a civilian he might have missed it but a trained ninja wouldn't.
His instincts were screaming at him to forget about this job and to return the money he had gotten in advance. However, he couldn't not now, as a missing-nin the only thing he had going for him was his reputation. If he backed out of this job that would be shot, who would hire a ninja that backed out of a job without any real sign of trouble? Knowing his only real option was to continue he presses on until he notices a light at the end of the hall.
Coming to a stop at the end of the hall on one side and Naruto doing it on the other side, they each slowly scan the half of the room they can see. Zabuza is struck by the rooms design; it is a huge round room with a dome ceiling. The walls and floor are made of the same grey stones as the hallway they took to get there. The second story of the room is just a five foot walk way that has the other door the map described. Also, the walk way doesn't appear to go all the way around the room due to at the far edge of the room near the other entrance the wall appears to be uniform, instead of indent back to allow room for people to walk like the rest of the second floor, with some painting hanging from it depicting some grisly sacrifice. Seeing a jewel resting on a pedestal at the far end of the room under the painting Zabuza motions for the boys to stay put while he retrieves their prize. As he makes his way toward the jewel, Haku steps up to where he was to continue watching the side of the room Naruto can't see.
Once he reaches the pedestal he notices that the jewel is an exquisitely crafted fake. Immediately turning for the door he came from he tries to dash for it only for three sections of the ceiling to fall. The large center section hits the lower floor and the other two sections fall on the sides' of the center one blocking his escape along the second floor.
"Welcome Zabuza," a voice says over a speaker box," it is time for you to collect your heavenly reward."
Turning back Zabuza sees that the painting has risen up and that the uniform section of the wall was in actuality a viewing box on the second floor. Looking down on him is a man in his mid-forties dressed in a fine robe and sitting in an ornate chair holding a glass of what Zabuza assumes is some type of expensive liquor.
"I thought that in situations like this you are supposed to say, 'Welcome to my parlor said the spider to the fly?" Zabuza asks.
"You have no idea how quickly that gets old," the man replies while smirking.
It isn't just the man's words that put Zabuza, even further on edge due to being caught in this trap, it's the calm demeanor that tells him that not only has the man used this trap before, but that he's used it enough that it has become routine. Zabuza looks behind him towards the wall that is now blocking his retreat, gauging its thickness to be at least three feet and knowing only one of his more powerful jutsu would bring it down quickly. However without a water supply even with his elemental affinity being water the attempt would leave him drained. His best hope for escape that way would be for either Naruto or Haku to pound on it with their techniques. Naruto could use the Air bullet jutsu that he had learned from a scroll Zabuza had taken from a dead Sand-nin, and Haku could just punch through it with his ice. Speaking of the boys they were taking their sweet time in knocking down that wall.
As if reading Zabuza's thoughts the man gloats, "Your two young companions are currently too busy to becoming to your rescue, I'm afraid. They are at this moment facing off against my men."
Zabuza ignoring his concern for the boys says, "So I take it you are Zaman."
Putting his left hand to the top of his forehead and giving a mock salute Zaman replies, "Indeed, I am."
"So you fed Gwon false information about this job in order to lure me into your trap for the bounty on my head?" Zabuza growls while reaching over his shoulder for the handle of his blade.
Zaman rears his head back laughing at the question, waiting until he can compose himself he answers, "More like Gwon fed you the false information for you to fall into this trap. But don't take it to personally you weren't the first. You see eventually missing-nin like you outlive your usefulness for him and then he sends you here."
"So is this the part where your guards burst through the door?" Zabuza asks while pulling The Executioners Blade in front of him.
"Oh no, no, no," Zaman replies. As he does so the door slowly opens revealing a muscular man appearing in his mid-thirties, he is shirtless while wearing white baggy fighter pants and black fighter slippers. He is bald except for the top of the back of his head were a long braided ponytail extends reaching to his lower back. Around the upper part of his left arm is tied a headband with the symbol for the Hidden Rock Village.
While the man had made his entrance Zaman had continued taunting Zabuza. "You see my little enterprise here has one more silent partner. The Tsuchikage provides me with the muscle to take missing-nins of your skill down and in return he gets to study the secrets your body contains before I ship your head off to the Mizukage for the reward."
"Burrakuasu here is the instrument of your death." He says pointing to the massive man who had jumped down from the ledge to join Zabuza in the lower portion of the room. "I just so love watching you ninja's duke it out which is why I added this viewing box," Zaman states while refilling his glass. With that said the rock-nin attacked.
Meanwhile on the other side of the wall that had slammed down Naruto and Haku were having a hard time with things. As soon as it came down the boys had rushed to it trying to find a way thru. However before they could nail it with jutsu they heard another slamming sound, looking behind them they saw that the floor at the entrance they came from had risen up and was blocking their exit. Then hearing an unlocking sound they saw two hidden doors on the upper level open up and dozens of men armed with a variety of weapons entering and dropping down to their level.
The two boys begin to fight off their attackers while watching each other's back. Naruto after fending off a sword strike with a kunai says, "You know Zabuza's going to bitch about how soft hearted you are right."
"I think he will be yelling at both of us for that," Haku replies smiling beneath his hunter's mask, having to dodge a crossbow arrow from one of the later arriving guards, who are around the ledge on the upper level trying to pickoff the two young shinobi.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Naruto says having dispatched the man attacking him with the sword. Quickly turning toward the man who shot the arrow at Haku he fires off his air bullet jutsu at the man catching him in the chest lifting him off his feet and bouncing him into the wall behind him.
"Well it's just that it seems the opponents you have beaten thus far are still breathing, Naruto." Haku replies while sending a pair of senbon into an attacker's neck.
"Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black," Naruto says but then sighs, "I guess if we survive this it's going to be a long night of, blah, blah...you can call yourselves real shinobi after bathing yourself in the blood of your opponents, blah, blah,… those soft hearts of yours are going to be the death of you and more importantly me."
"You know Zabuza means well, he is just trying to prepare for the hardships we'll face," Haku says chuckling despite the situation sending a kick into an axe wielding guard shattering his knee cap.
"Yeah," Naruto says looking up and seeing more guards jumping into the room to replace the men who have been incapacitated, "More importantly don't you think it's time you make with the ice?"
"I'm afraid I can't," Haku states.
"What!?" Naruto exclaims.
"Have you tried using any water jutsu?" Haku asks avoiding a pair of guards with swords.
"No, you know my primary element is wind. I need a good water source to use them." Naruto says while delivering an axe kick to the top of a guard's head he knocked to the ground sending him into unconsciousness.
"Well my Kekkei Genkai requires me to use both water and wind, however somehow they have blocked my ability to use the water element," Haku states. "My guess would be those marking that have appeared along the walls.
Looking at the wall and seeing the glowing marking Naruto theorizes out loud, "They must be for Zabuza; if they knew our affinities they would have blocked them too."
"I don't think that is wholly it," Haku says having been forced back to back with Naruto while being surrounded by guards."Even without his ability to use water jutsu whoever set this trap can't expect guards of this level to bring down a member of the Seven Swordsmen and from the sounds of battle coming from the other side of the wall he is facing at least one ninja."
"What we don't rate a ninja!" Naruto shouts.
"It appears not, which is why they didn't bother to check what our affinities were and block them as well," Haku states.
Naruto's fists tighten around the kunai he is wielding as he growls, "I don't know about you Haku but it pisses me off to be underestimated."
"Don't let it bother you Naruto," Haku says calmly. "Once we defeat these guard we should be able to find a way to disrupt this barrier and help Zabuza."
"Well then let's get to it," Naruto yells while charging the nearest guard.
The boys continue to fight well, however against so many opponents eventually a mistake would happen for the guards to capitalize on. That mistake was Naruto blocking a blow with his kunai by a massive guard swing a war club, while he prevented it from hitting him the force of the blow knocked him off his feet. Quickly recovering he did not see one of the guards with a crossbow taking aim and firing, although Haku did and acting on instinct pushes Naruto out of the way taking the crossbow bolt in the side.
Looking back he sees Haku face down on the ground with an arrow sticking out of his side. As the feeling of rage begins to overflow from him he sees the guard who fired the arrow reloading his weapon. Feeling a sudden surge of power that is familiar, he reaches to the crossbow wielder sending out a red claw of chakra which wraps around the stunned man. Pulling back he sends the horrified guard flying towards him and with his free hand cuts off the screaming guards head when he is close enough.
After the dead guard's body hits the floor the room is covered silence, it is broken by Naruto's growl of, "I'll kill you, I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"
Attacking the war club guard, who was as stunned as the rest when the blonde boy began to be covered in a red cloak of chakra, he tries to slash the man with his chakra claws. The guard who comes out of his stupor as Naruto launches himself at him brings his club up to block and succeeds only for the claws to cut through it like it wasn't even there leaving vicious gashes across his face, sending the man to the floor holding his ruined face. Before Naruto can finish the screaming man off several more guards attack him whom he quickly dispatches.
Turning his attention to the crossbow wielding guards on the second story he makes a swinging gesture and the chakra claw extends out smashing into them as it follows his motions. The guards hit the ground on the first floor some falling badly breaking arms, leg, and even necks. Those who had survived the fall don't live long as Naruto pounces on them finishing them off. Turning towards the sound of the blocked entrance opening he sees the guard whose face he ruined near a secret panel take off down the hallway he is about to follow when he hears a weak, "N-n-naruto."
Naruto looks towards a weak Haku his mask having fallen off after hitting the floor. While he sighs at seeing Haku is alive the look on the dark haired boys face is a mixture of shock, amazement, and fear. The look of fear on Haku's face pierces Naruto's heart like a knife, but he pushes by it seeing no more guards are on the way and knowing Zabuza is still more than likely still in danger he raises his arms to the wall that had slammed down cutting them off from Zabuza. Sending red chakra claws to anchor into the wall he pulls back and then like a slingshot launches forward smashing into the wall like a red cannonball.
Zabuza for his part was having a really tuff time with his opponent. He had deduced that the markings that had appeared on the wall where responsible for his inability to uses any water based jutsu. He had tried at the start of the fight by using his Hidden Mist Jutsu only for nothing to happen. While he liked to think he was a well balanced ninja never relying too much on his jutsu they certainly made life easier. The rock-nin he was facing obviously was not fighting under such impairment. This became apparent when Zabuza had attempted to cut him down with a vicious overhead strike the ninja had caught the Executioners' Blade with the palm of his hand making a sound like cutting into solid rock. The Rock-nin had then tossed the blade along with Zabuza across the room like they weighed nothing.
Rising back to his feet Zabuza thinks, "How the hell am I suppose to beat a guy who can't be cut and my most powerful jutsu are denied to me? If I die here, I can already hear Heishiro-sensei's lecture waiting for me on the other side about specializing in only one type of elemental jutsu."
Vowing not to die if only not to hear a speech from his dead sensei, Zabuza sends a volley of kunai at his opponent, however to his surprise instead of letting them hit and bouncing off of him the rock-nin avoids the majority the few that come close he blocks with his arms.
Trying to buy time to think on what that means Zabuza taunts, "Not much for conversation are you?"
"There is no need to converse with the dead," the rock-nin named Burrakuasu replies before charging at Zabuza again.
Zabuza avoids the punch Burrakuasu throws by jumping to the second level noticing the small crater the man's fist left in the wall Zabuza's back had been against seconds earlier. Launching off the second level floor he tries to jump toward the viewing box window to capture Zaman forcing the man to let them go. But while in midair he has to use his sword to block a large piece of stone the rock-nin throws at him while his sword blocks it the impact is enough to throw off his trajectory preventing him from reaching the smug looking man.
Landing short of the viewing box on the first floor, Zabuza thoughts turn towards the boys, "Haku and Naruto must be having a hard time, I'll have to step up their training if simple guards are giving them this much trouble." Looking at the rock-nin he continues, "But then again who am I to talk when one punk rock-nin can force me into a corner. Alright, what do I know apparently his skin is literally rock hard and judging by that hole in the wall he has some serious muscle behind those punches of his."
Burrakuasu again launches a flurry of punches at Zabuza seeing a slight opening Zabuza attempts to slash his side only for the rock-nin to block again with his arms and then sends a kick into Zabuza chest. Getting up slow Zabuza formulates a plan based on the information he has on his opponent while thinking, "As I thought that hardening jutsu only works on his arms the rest of him is normal flesh." Reaching into his back pouch for a smoke bomb to blind his opponent allowing him the opportunity to use his silent killing technique, however before he can pull it out he feels a familiar yet different sinister chakra flare to life.
Zabuza begins to panic did the rock-nin have a jinchuriki partner, was that what the boys were fighting on the other side? Zabuza knew the power such men could wield having felt it himself on the day he had attempted to kill the 4th Mizukage. He and his fellow conspirators had the fight won before the Mizukage erupted in a sickly sea green chakra after that all he had managed to do was escape with his life most of those who went with him hadn't even did that. However, looking at the rock-nin quickly puts this thought to rest as he sees the man looking at the wall separating the room telling Zabuza whatever was happening on the other side was not part of the plan.
Zabuza is about to capitalize on his opponent's distraction when a small explosion bursts from the wall. As the dust settles he can see a glowing red chakra source at the center of the smoke. Once it is clear enough to see Zabuza eyes widen in surprise as Naruto stands there surrounded in red chakra resembling some beast with ears and a single chakra tail behind him swinging wildly. Naruto first locks eyes with Zabuza before turning his attention to Burrakuasu and with a loud roar speeds off at him on all fours.
The rock-nin recognizing the new threat quickly runs through hand seals and then spits up a giant mud wall. Naruto hits the wall at full speed and easy crashes right through, landing in crouch he sees no sign of the man. Burrakuasu appears behind about to deliver a tremendous punch but before he can launch it the tail turns into a hand and grabs the rock-nin by the head lifting him into the air. The hand tightens around the rock-nin's head crushing it and then throws the body away, only for it to turn into rock revealing it as a rock clone.
A shadow then appears over Naruto who quickly spins out of the way of the descending man as the missed blow shatters the floor where he had been standing. Naruto responds by sending another claw after the man who for his size nimbly evades them. However, it finally is about to connect with his chest forcing him to cross his arms to protect himself. As the claw makes contact with his arms it clamps down preventing him from moving them.
The last thing Burrakuasu hears before being cut in half along his torso is, "Did you forget I was your opponent?" Zabuza says while taking advantage of Burrakuasu arms being tied up. Zabuza then looks at Naruto he is silently afraid the boy cannot tell friend from foe. However he sees the fear in the boys red eyes. Zabuza is about to speak when they hear the door on the second level opening and a panicking Zaman having left his viewing box swiftly entering the hallway and then slamming the door closed while locking it.
Naruto seeing the bastard most likely responsible for the trap and Haku getting hurt, not to mention making him reveal his secret, jumps up to the second level and after ripping the door from its hinges sends a chakra claw after the retreating man, snagging him he begins to retract it. Zabuza hearing the screaming Zaman as Naruto pulls him towards him realizes in his anger Naruto plans to kill the man. However, he knows that when the boy calms down every life he has taken will weigh heavily on his conscious, not willing to let the boy add to his burden he jumps to the second level and places his blade across the entrance so when Zaman hit it he is split in two parts. Naruto discards the half he held onto after Zaman passed the blade; he then refuses to look at Zabuza afraid of what he'll see.
As he calms and the cloak recedes he whispers,"… Haku's hurt."
Zabuza quickly drops to the ground making for the hole that Naruto made in the wall, upon reaching the other side he is shocked to see the level of carnage. Looking around he spots Haku propped up against the wall with an arrow in him. Kneeling in front of the injured boy he tells him to brace himself as he pulls the arrow out.
Moving in and out of consciousness Haku whispers, "Is Naruto, okay?"
"He's fine," Zabuza replies firmly, "rest, Haku."
Glad that the wound wasn't fatal Zabuza goes back through the hole and sees Naruto checking Barrakuasu's remains for weapons and scrolls like Zabuza taught him. Seeing Naruto stuff a few items into his pouch he calls out to him, "Time to move out Naruto."
Making his way back to Haku he gently picks the boy up and carries him out of the mansion a solemn Naruto behind him, stopping long enough to pick up Haku's mask, he makes sure no one tries to attack them from behind. The trip back to the camp is quiet as Zabuza decides to wait until later to confront Naruto about the discovery he is a jinchuriki. Once they reach their camp Naruto sets down the items he removed from the corpse of the rock-nin, as well as the mask, and then quickly runs off into the forest. Zabuza is about to call out for him when Haku who regains consciousness says, "Zabuza what happened, where are we?"
"Were back at camp, as to what happened you were sloppy enough to get hit by an arrow." Zabuza replies still looking into the forest.
It all coming back Haku suddenly sits up, "Where's Naruto, after I was hit…," stopping the thought and remembering how he reacted when he felt the red chakra he states, "…I have to apologize."
Turning to Haku and holding him down Zabuza says, "Calm down, I patched up your wound but I'm no healer you can tear it back open. Besides what do you have to apologize for?"
"When Naruto began emitting that chakra I," Haku pauses to collect himself before continuing," I was afraid of him."
Sighing at the boy, Zabuza states, "Haku you were at ground zero for one of the most menacing chakra's I've ever felt. Hell I was on the other side of the wall and even then I was worried."
"Be that as it may, I should never have doubted Naruto. He is my friend and those guards he killed he did it to protect me," Haku calmly replies while shrugging off Zabuza's hand and standing up. He slowly makes his way in the direction Zabuza had been looking at. Zabuza lets him go. Knowing how pig-headed Haku can get when he feels the need to do something.
Naruto was sitting in the wood worrying about what his future held would Zabuza and Haku abandon him. The idea brought tears to his eyes. Also, all the lives he took began to overwhelm him he had killed before but when he used the red chakra it felt different almost like he enjoyed it. Then there had been Haku's reaction to it, was he afraid of him now, the idea that his friend hated him and may reject him like the leaf villagers was too painful to put into words.
Hearing footsteps approach he looks and sees Haku making his way towards him. Knowing his friend shouldn't be standing he says, "Haku you should be resting."
Smiling weakly Haku says, "I know but first I wanted to say, I'm sorry."
"Sorry. What are you sorry for?" asks a confused Naruto. "It was my fault you were hit by the arrow in the first place."
"I wish to apologize for how I reacted to you when you used that chakra. I will admit when I first felt it and saw you attacking the guards you frightened me," Haku says. Upon seeing the fear that appeared in Naruto's face he knew he made the right decision in coming out here to talk to him. He then continues, "However, I should never have doubted you. These past few years you have never given me any reason to believe you are anything but a good friend and whatever that power you used today was, you used it to protect me."
Haku's words put Naruto at ease, he says appreciatively, "Thanks Haku."
"You've used that power before haven't you?" Haku asks now curious about what Naruto's hidden power is.
Sighing Naruto says, "Yeah, two and a half years ago was the first time I used it."
Quickly realizing what Naruto was implying, "The day the cloud-nin attacked." Seeing Naruto nod his head yes he continues a little hurt about not being trusted with Naruto's secret, "Why didn't you tell us about it?"
"I was afraid," Naruto says. Seeing Haku giving him time to collect his thoughts he continues, "All my life I was alone, except for the old man that is, and when I used the chakra the first time I thought I finally understood why." Haku is about to point out his own history but stops when Naruto holds up his hand stalling his reply. Naruto carries on saying," I know about your own past Haku, but Kohona didn't believe that about Kekkei Genkai and they still ignored my existence. I was afraid that if even the people of Kohona were afraid and hated this power that everyone would. I just wish I knew what it was."
"It's the power of the tailed beasts," Zabuza's voice cuts in. Both boys look up to see Zabuza appear from behind a tree. "Haku, the sun is coming up get some rest," he orders.
"But I would like to hear…" Haku tries to say.
However he is cut off by Zabuza, "I'll explain it to you later. Now. Get. Some. Rest."
Excepting that Zabuza isn't going to take no for an answer he begins to make his way to camp, but is stopped by Naruto saying, "Haku, I'm sorry too. I should have trusted you more." Nodding his head in recognition of the apology he leaves the two alone.
Looking at Naruto Zabuza says, "So you're a jinchuriki, huh."
"A jinchu…what?" Naruto asks.
"A jinchuriki," Zabuza replies, "the word has no real meaning it was made up to describe people who had the tailed beasts sealed into them."
"Why would they do that," Naruto asks interested and excited to finally have an answer to the question that had plagued him ever since first tapping into the power.
"To create weapons, of course," Zabuza easily replies noticing the grimace that passes across Naruto's face. "Although, I doubt that was the reason in your case."
"Why's that?" Naruto wonders hoping it's true that he is more than just some secret weapon of Konoha's.
"Well because you had no idea of what you were for one," Zabuza states, "Also, if you were going to be some weapon of Konoha's you would have been kept under careful watch. Furthermore, it just doesn't seem to fit with the image Kohona likes to portray."
"Then why seal one in me in the first, was this the reason that I was always alone? Did that hate me because to them I was just some sort of freak?" Naruto yells as tears come to his eyes remembering the cold gazes of the villagers.
"The answers been there all along brat, you were just missing a key piece is all," Zabuza claims.
"Well I still don't see it," Naruto huffs crossing his arms over his chest and though his face is covered by wraps Zabuza can see him pouting.
"You never were any good at using your brain you knucklehead," Zabuza says a small smile gracing his lips that due to being covered by his own wraps Naruto can't see. "When's your birthday."
"October tenth."
"Okay, now what significant event happened on that day nine years ago?" Zabuza asks trying to give the boy a clue.
"That's easy the Kyuubi atta…ohhhh," Naruto says a flashbulb suddenly lighting in his head. "So the 4th Hokage sealed the Nine Tails into me to stop it."
"Exactly, it was probably some last ditch effort to stop the beast," says Zabuza. "As far as to why you, well I heard they need to be sealed into children it was probably just your bad luck to have been born that day."
"How do you know so much about jinchuriki?" Naruto asks since Zabuza had never really struck him as the scholar type.
"You know the man I want to kill right," Naruto nod his head to Zabuza's question. Seeing this he continues, "He's a jinchuriki too; he contains the three tailed turtle."
Slightly afraid of the answer but needing to ask he says, "Do you want to kill him because he's a jinchuriki?"
Putting his hand on Naruto's shoulder to comfort the boy Zabuza says, "No, I don't hate him for that. I hate him because he's a bastard who had my sensei killed right before my eyes and has led my home to ruins. He's the one who kicked off the civil war that led to the destruction of Haku's clan and so many others."
"Well maybe he was treated just like me and grew to resent people," Naruto counters for some reason feeling a need to defend someone who may share his pain.
"Unlikely from the time he was born he was the 3rd Mizukage's favorite. So much so that when the 3rd Mizukage disappeared, a bastard in his own right who created the distrust that led to the many civil wars the Land of Water has suffered, he was handed the title of Mizukage," raw anger entering his voice remembering the man he had once served but now one day was going to surpass.
"You must have really loved your sensei huh?" Naruto asks smiling up at Zabuza.
"Hell no," Zabuza says a small smile just visible under his wraps sitting down on a log he continues, "He was the most stubborn, tyrannical man who ever walked the earth. But he took an untrained monster like me that had just killed a hundred academy students and forged me into a man worthy of being one of the Seven Swordsmen of Mist. A group he formed during the reign of the 1st Mizukage."
"Wow he must have been ancient," Naruto says having assumed a cross-legged sitting position across from Zabuza.
'Yeah but the old buzzard still had the moves when he needed them. He was always telling us tales about how Kiri used to be under the time of the 1st and 2nd Mizukage. That's was before the Third showed up and killed the second assuming his place," Zabuza states. "Before that Kiri was nowhere near as violent, hell it was almost more pacifist then Konoha."
"Why didn't anyone stop the third then?" questions Naruto not understanding why people would not fight such a man if the village was as nice as Kohona.
"Well as Heishiro-sensei put it the young where tired of peace and wanted to taste the fruits of war having missed out on the First Great Shinobi World War and the third Mizukage delivered. Heck he admitted he was as guilty as everyone else wanting to test his skills against the finest the shinobi world had to offer. Hell when Heishiro-sensei drank he'd tell us all tales about how he fought against the Third Hokage," Zabuza smiles thinking about all the times Heishiro would tell the same story over and over again embellishing it a little more each time.
"He sounded so cool. What happened to him," Naruto asks.
"He was betrayed by one of his own swordsman, a fish faced freak by the name of Kisame claimed that he overheard him talking about rebelling and returning Mist to the way it was before the Third Mizukage," Zabuza says his voice hardening remembering his sensei's final moments. "While it was true that Heishiro-sensei was tired of what Kiri had become he would never have openly rebelled. He believed the only way to change Kiri was through the system. So with nothing more than that assholes word the 4th Mizukage had him executed."
Not going into all the gory details to spare Naruto his mind replays the events. How he was summoned to the Mizukage's office and saw his sensei trussed up and beaten. Being informed of the charges by the Mizukage and then having to stand there watching as Kisame carried out the sentence slowly slicing him to ribbons. To the tough old birds credit he never once screamed or cried out instead silent stood there never breaking eye contact with the man many considered his protégé, Zabuza. He could still remember the exact moment when Kisame was no longer cutting into a living man but into the meat that had contained his soul. It was at that exact moment that Zabuza had decided to bring down the Mizukage. Preferable after removing Kisame shoulders of the burden that was his head.
"That's enough talking for tonight, brat" Zabuza says rubbing his jaw not used to talking so much. "I want you to go watch over Haku while I'm gone understood. I'll probably be back late tomorrow."
"Where are you going," Naruto questions getting up and heading back towards camp.
"I'm going to see a man about a job and scrounge up some medical supplies."
As the sun set on the day after the full moon Hisoka Gwon, was living it up at a gentleman's club called Club KitKat. On either side of him where two of the scantily clad women who worked at the club. He had been blowing through money since entering the establishment and it didn't seem like he was going to stop anytime soon. Curiosity getting the better of one of the ladies she asks, "You sure do have a lot of money to spend tonight Mr. Gwon, you recently come into some."
"You could say that," Gwon says with a drunken smile, "a dear friend passed leaving me with quite the windfall."
"Oh, how sad," the greeter says in her sweet voice.
Waving off her concern he says, "Well if he didn't die I wouldn't be here spending my money on you now would I?"
"Seems you have a problem then, because your friend didn't die," a voice says from in front of him.
Taking his widening eyes off the women he had been talking to they settle on a seething Zabuza. Trying to play off his surprise he says while standing, "Zabuza, my main man, I wasn't expecting you so...urk"
However, Zabuza silences the man with a quick jab to the throat knocking him back into the couch he had been occupying.
His anger radiating from him Zabuza says, "I can understand you betraying me after all it is the way of the shinobi world." Reaching behind him and gripping the handle of his blade he says, "But you screwed up when your little trap almost cost the life of one of my boys."
Swinging the blade down through the man and not stopping till it passed all the way to the floor he shouts, "See you in Hell my main man."
Leaving the scene of carnage he created as the women Gwon had been entertaining begins screaming as the two halves of him and the couch split falling onto each other. He thinks,"Kami I've wanted to do that since meeting that bastard. Now to kick in some doctor's door and take him to Haku."
Going to rustle up some medical supplies i.e. kidnapping a doctor, Zabuza takes off contemplating whether or not it would be best to leave the Land of Rivers for some time.