"It seems my thinking was right on the mark," Kakashi muttered as Mayumi quickly moved to block Tazuna. "He's obviously Zabuza's comrade, standing right next to him and all..."
"He should stop hiding under that mask and face us!" Sakura barked out angrily.
"Sakura-chan maybe he's ugly and doesn't want people to make fun of him," Mayumi told her then gave an accusing look to Sasuke. "You should be nicer to your boyfriend."
Sasuke glared at her then looked back at the masked boy, "I'll fight him. Tricking us with that stupid act... I hate bastards like that the most."
"You're so cool Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cheered.
Kakashi and Mayumi gave a look of disbelief and shook their heads.
"An impressive young man," the one behind the mask spoke. "Even though the water clones only have one tenth the strength of the original. Still...very impressive."
"But we have gained the first advantage. Go!" Zabuza ordered his partner.
Suddenly the boy disappeared. Mayumi watched as Sasuke somehow countered his attack. No matter how many times she thought it over she just couldn't see how he was able to counter it so well...
Both the boys swung their arms back and yet again met evenly with their kunais.
"Sakura! Step in front of Tazuna-san and don't leave my side," Kakashi told her. "We'll let Sasuke handle him."
The two boys held their arms up still trying to block the other's blades.
"I don't want to have to kill you," the masked boy spoke. "But you won't stand down, will you?"
"Don't be foolish," Sasuke told him.
"I see," the boy mumbled. "But you won't be able to keep up with my speed the next time. Plus I've already gained two advantages."
"Two advantages?"
"The first is the water on the ground. And the second is that I have occupied one of your arms. You will now only be able to run from my attacks."
He quickly started to make hand signs. Soon enough the water on the the ground had floated to the air and was forming needles.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled.
The boy jumped back as the needles came down on the Uchiha. However when the needles returned to water Sasuke was no longer there. Shuriken started to almost rain from the sky as they feel right in front of the one with the mask as he was forced to jump back.
"You're pretty slow... From now on... You will only be able to run from my attacks," Sasuke said, standing behind the boy with a kunai.
The whipped around quickly and deflected Sasuke's kunai. The Uchiha boy swung his leg out, aiming for the masked-nin's head. The boy was knocked back as Sasuke's kick hit him.
"Looks like I have the advantage in speed," he muttered.
"I can't have you underestimating my team by calling them "brats"", "Kakashi spoke. "Sasuke is the Leaf Village's #1 rookie. Sakura is the brightest in the village-"
"Yeah right," Mayumi mumbled, earning an elbow from the girl.
"Mayumi is my own daughter. And the on is... The show-off, hyper-active, #1 loudest ninja in the village."
"Hehehe," Zabuza laughed. "Haku, do you realize? At this rate we'll be driven back."
Mayumi's eyes widened, "Haku...? That's a weird name!"
The boy looked her way for a moment then turned back to Sasuke, "Yeah... We can't have that..."
Water started to rise up around Sasuke as Haku started to do hand signs yet again. The water slowly started to turn into mirrors. If it wasn't for the fact that they were to be used against them, Mayumi would have thought them beautiful. Haku stepped into his mirror, making himself a part of it, his image reflected against all the mirrors. Kakashi sprang forward to help the genin but was stopped my Zabuza.
"Hey, your opponent is me," Zabuza told him, "Against that jutsu, he's finished."
Kakashi looked back at the girls and sighed...
"Well shall I begin?" Haku asked.
Sasuke looked around himself, not knowing what to do.
"I'll show you my real speed."
A scream erupted from the mirrors causing Sakura to cry as well.
"If you get by me I'll kill those two," Zabuza assured Kakashi.
"Damn."
Sakura stared start ahead, "Tazuna-san... I'm sorry... I'm going to leave you for a moment."
Tazuna nodded giving Sakura the chance to fling a kunai towards the mirrors. Haku stepped out of his mirror for a moment and caught the kunai. A shuriken flew out and hit the boy. Sakura looked back over a Mayumi who smiling sheepishly at her successful shot. They all jumped when a random puff of smoke appeared.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Has finally arrived!" Naruto said, smirking.
...Sasuke took in a deep breath and used his Fireball Jutsu. Mayumi clung to him, hiding from the flames that treated to burn her.
"It didn't do anything!" Naruto shouted.
"You can't melt this ice with that level of fire," Haku told the three of them.
"Damn," Sasuke muttered...
"I'm here everything will be fine!" Naruto shouted, "The main character of a story usually shows up in these types of situations and instantly kicks the enemy's ass!"
"Naruto-san!" Mayumi cheered happily from her spot.
Sasuke shot a glare at him.
Zabuza and Haku both tossed shuriken at the blonde. Suddenly the shuriken dropped to the ground, everyone turning to Haku.
"Haku, what is this?" Zabuza asked.
"Zabuza-san... These kids... Please let me fight them my way."
"So you don't want me to interfere, Haku? You're soft as always."
"Hey! We came to save you!" Naruto told Sasuke, motioning towards himself then to Mayumi.
"You two are total morons!" Sasuke told them. "If you're a shinobi then you should use your head! Why would you come inside the mirrors! Damn it! I don't care anymore! You're both bakas!"
"What did you say? I came to save you and this is what I get?" Naruto snapped at him.
Mayumi placed herself between them, "Arguing will get us no where Naruto-san, Poopface-san!"
Haku walked back into the mirror. The three leaf genin stood up.
"Over here," Haku told him.
Sasuke looked back, blood dripping from the cut on his cheek. Mayumi moved to whip it off but he grabbed her and pushed her away. He put his hands in front of himself as he started to prepare for a jutsu.
"What's going on here?" Naruto asked him.
"Fire Technique..."
The three genin were knocked back as Sasuke's jutsu failed to be effective. Sasuke squinted in pain causing Mayumi to pull him near. Oddly enough her scratches were almost healed and the pain had quickly dulled to a soft sting.
"Where's the real one?" Naruto shouted.
"Trying to follow with your eyes is impossible," Haku assured them. "You will never be able to catch me."
"Bah! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke turned from Mayumi, "Don't!"
Naruto's clones went after the mirrors and Haku jumped from mirror to mirror, all the while cutting into Naruto.
"This jutsu uses the mirror's reflection to transport me. From my point of view, you seem to be moving in slow-motion," Haku told them.
Sasuke pushed himself away from Mayumi so that she could grab the boy.
"Damn it!" Naruto cussed, pushing her away. "I can't die here... I have a dream I must fulfill..."
Haku stared at them, "...Becoming a true shinobi is difficult for me. If possible, I don't want to have to kill you. Nor want you to have to kill me. But if you come at me... I can destroy my kind heart with a blade and become a true shinobi. This bridge is the place where we fight...to connect to our dreams. Me, for my dream. And you for your dreams. Please don't hate me. I want to protect someone precious to me. To for that person. To fight for that person. To make that person's dreams come true. That is my dream. For that, I can become a shinobi. I can kill you."
Sasuke and Naruto smirked while Mayumi stared wordlessly at him.
"Sasuke-kun! Naruto! Mayumi! Don't lose to that guy!" Sakura shouted to her teammates...
"Damn! Hey Sasuke, all we're doing is running around!" Naruto shouted at him.
"Be quite and get up!" Sasuke snapped at him. "I can't watch over you too!" He motioned towards Mayumi who was clinging to back of his shirt. "We are going to be hit, just try to avoid a serious wound. There must be a limit to his Chakra. He is already slowly-"
Sasuke started to move but Haku was faster. A needle flew at him and went through his knee...
Sasuke dropped to his knees when he noticed Sakura's scream. Mayumi tried her hardest to pull Naruto up but noticed Sasuke growing tired himself. This wasn't going to well.
"You...move well," Haku said, looking at Sasuke. "But this time... I'll stop you."
Suddenly Sasuke grabbed Mayumi and Naruto and moved out of the way quickly. Not to much later Haku tossed more needles at were they had been standing. Haku stopped suddenly and stared at Sasuke.
"You are...! I see... You're also from an Advanced Bloodline..." Haku said looking at him. "Most likely the longer this fight goes...the better you will be able to read my movements. If your eyes are starting to catch me, then..."
Haku pulled out of the mirror, "This is the end!"
Haku charged at Naruto and Mayumi. The Hatake placed herself in front of Naruto to take the blow. Suddenly something clouded her view of the masked-nin. Her lavender eye's widened when she noticed Sasuke standing in front of then, his blood panting the bridge.
"What's...with that face... You moron..." Sasuke asked Naruto, blood dropping from his chin. "Pft. I hated you..."
"But... But... Why? Why me?"
"..."
"I never asked for your help!" Naruto shouted at the Uchiha, ignoring a wide eyed Mayumi.
"I don't know... My body moved on its own... Idiot..." Sasuke muttered, falling back only for Mayumi to catch him. "That man... My brother... I told myself I wouldn't until I killed him... Don't die also..."
The Uchiha's eyes closed slowly. Naruto stared at the two of them.
"Sasuke!" Mayumi screamed as she clung to him.
"He landed a blow on me without flinching...died to protect the two of you," Haku told them. "To protect a precious person, knowing it was a trap he was able to still jump in. He is a shinobi that deserves respect. Is this your first death of a friend? This is the way of the shinobi-"
"Shut up.." Naruto told him. He knelt over the two of them,an angry look spread over his face, his eyes red, his pupils slanted like a cat, his nails had also grown out and his canine teeth were much larger. "I'll kill you!" Naruto shouted.
Mayumi jumped back, those eyes, she'd seen them before. Her eyes widened, tears running down her cheeks and Sasuke's blood painting her hands. She knew now...but why? Why Naruto?
Chakra started to corm around Naruto as his anger increased. Mayumi watched as his wounds healed, he snapped his head back and glared at Haku. The masked-nin started to prepare his attack as soon as Naruto left his comrades to charge the nin. Naruto's movements were so fast to the point that the blue-haired girl wasn't able to pick on his movements. The blonde skidded back on his feet as Haku left hiss mirror. Naruto flew forward and grabbed hold of his scarf. Haku tried to pull away but found that Naruto's grip was to tight, and rather painful. Haku looked up only find Naruto bringing his fist back.
Naruto's fist landed him square in the face. Blood dropped from Haku's mouth as he flew back and broke his own mirrors. Mayumi clung to Sasuke's lifeless body, looking around. She couldn't see anything through the mist, she could hardly see Naruto. Looking down at Sasuke she hid her face in his hair, enjoying the soft feel of it, if only for a short while. Besides, she now knew... That Naruto had been the source of her nightmares...and she... she...just might, care for Sasuke... But that didn't matter now, he was dead.
Mayumi looked up to see Naruto about to punch the boy, his mask had fallen, and now it was clear, she knew him. Suddenly Naruto stopped, his fist only about to hit him.
"You... You're from that time..."
"Why did you stop?" Haku questioned. "I killed your precious friend yet you can't kill me?"
Naruto looked back at his friends. His eyes landing on Sasuke who Mayumi held close to herself, as if to shield him from farther harm.
"Damn it!" Naruto shouted as he finally landed his punch.
"What happened to your intensity?" Haku asked, pushing himself up. "You can't kill me with that... There are people who make this mistake. Not killing their enemy because of pity... Letting them leave with just their lives. Can you understand... Not having a dream... Not being needed by anyone... The pain of simply living."
"What are you trying to say?" Naruto asked him.
"Zabuza has no need for a weak shinobi... You have taken away my reason for existing," he said with a smile.
"Why for a guy like that... He's a bad guy who takes money from a criminal! Is that eyebrowless freak the only important person to you?" Naruto asked, shouting angrily.
"I had people very dear to me, a long time ago. My parents," Haku mumbled. "I was born in a small snowy village in the country of mist. I was happy... My parents were very kind people. But... When I grew up and began to learn the ways of the world... Something happened."
"Something? What?" Naruto asked, his attention in the story.
"This blood..." Haku muttered, whipping the blood from his face.
"Blood?"
"So... What happened!"
He looked up, "My father killed my mother. Then he tried to kill me..."
"What?" Naruto asked.
Mayumi's attention was now also on the boy.
"The country of mist had had endless civil wars, and those with "advanced blood" came to be hated."
"Advanced blood!"
"Bloodlines with special abilities such as mine. Because of these abilities, clans with special bloodlines were blamed for bringing misfortune and war to the country. After the wars, these clans had to hide the truth about their own blood. For those whose secret was discovered, only death awaited. That young man," he motioned to Sasuke who was being held tightly by a tear streaked Hatake, "must have also experienced much hardship. Those with special abilities are often feared. My mother was mother was from one of these bloodlines. My father discovered this... When I realized what I had done, I had killed him... My own father! And at that time... I though of myself as... No, I had no choice but to think that. And I realized the most painful thing..."
"Most Painful thing?"
"That in this world... I am a person who is unwanted," Haku explained. "You said to me you wanted to become... The best ninja in your village and have everyone acknowledge you. Now if someone who acknowledged you from the bottom of their heart appeared... Wouldn't that someone become the most important person to you? Zabuza-kun took me in knowing I was a person of the advanced bloodline. This blood that everyone hated... He desired it... I was so happy!... Naruto-kun... Please... Kill me."
"Please hurry and kill me..."
Naruto stared at him. Mayumi had lost interest in the conversation but instead sat next to Sasuke's body, mumbling about the past, telling him jokes, and then calling him stupid, all the while crying.
"Why are you hesitating?" He asked Naruto.
"I don't understand!" Naruto snapped at him. "Is being strong the only reason for you to be alive? Something other than fighting... You could have been acknowledged for something else...:
"... The day I met you in the forest... I thought you were like me... You should be able to understand... I'm sorry that you will have to stain your hands..."
"Is this! Is this the only way?"
"Yes!"
"Please full-fill your own dreams..." Haku muttered as Naruto pulled out a kunai.
The blonde looked back at Sasuke and Mayumi, "He... Sasuke also had a dream... If we;d met under different circumstances, we might have become friends."
He charged at the dark haired boy.
"Thank you..."
However when Naruto finally went to cut the boy he was stopped.
"Sorry Naruto-kun! I can't die yet!"
With that the boy puffed off, leaving Naruto to stare in shock.
"Naruto-san, where did Haku go?" Mayumi asked him when she noticed he no longer was notice able.
"I don't know, stay with Sasuke!"
With that he ran off, away from her and their dead teammate. Silence. That was the only thing that filled her ears.
"Naruto! You're alright!"
Now that she heard, and it was definitely Sakura. It was silent for a while but then, "Naruto! Where is Sasuke-kun?"
Mayumi looked over at Sasuke who she had been holding. It was probably for the best that she moved, the way that she seen it, Sakura would soon be taking her place.
She was right sure enough Sakura and Tazuna ran over to her. Sakura payed no attention to her and instead dropped to the ground next to him.
She placed her hand on his cheek, tears dropping from her eyes, "He's cold... This isn't an illusion..."
Mayumi wanted to slap the girls hand away from him and pull him back to her but settled for biting her lip instead.
"Don't mind me... It's best to let it out and cry..." Tazuna told her.
"I... I always scored 100% on the ninja academy exams... I memorized over one hundred shinobi sayings... I always wrote the correct answers... On one day's test this question appeared... "Write down shinobi saying #25... I wrote down the answer as usual..."
"No matter what situation... A shinobi must keep emotions on the inside. You must make the mission your top priority... And you must possess a heart that never shows tears..." Mayumi muttered, while Sakura cried. "It was the only one I was able to memorize..."
Sakura's head dropped to the boy's chest as she cried, "Sasuke-kun..."
Someone, no a group had appeared behind them, but Mayumi and Sakura paid no mind.
"Sakura-chan..."
She looked up at her female teammate, "..."
"I'm sorry...That I was never nice to you..."
Sakura smiled slightly though her tears then returned to crying on Sasuke's chest. Mayumi could hear Naruto's voice, he was shouting at what it sounded like Zabuza. Suddenly she seen Zabuza wiz past her, a kunai in his mouth as he ran into the crowd behind them. She heard screaming, oh lord there was screaming. She bit her lip and stood to her feet staring at the now beheaded old man who had been in the crowd.
"Sakura... You're heavy..."
Mayumi whipped her head around at the voice. Sasuke, he was alive.
"Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried happily.
"Sakura... That hurts..." He mumbled.
"Ah! S-Sorry!"
Sasuke began to push himself up, "What about Naruto? Mayumi? And that masked kid?"
"Don't move!" She warned him. "Naruto and Mayumi are fine! And that masked kid is dead..."
"Dead... Did Naruto kill him?"
"N-No... I'm not sure, but he protected Zabuza."
"I see..." Sasuke muttered.
"I... Had faith in you. It's impressive that you prevented attacks to your critical areas!" Sakura cheered happily.
"...No..." Sasuke mumbled. 'He never intended to kill us...'
"Naruto!" Sakura screamed. "He's alright! Sasuke-kun is alive!"
Naruto turned back to see Sasuke wave at him slightly, not looking at him. Naruto smiled happily and started to tear up. The happy ending was short lived as the crowd of people started to charge. Mayumi stiffed as a spear landed in front of their group.
"Inari!" Naruto shouted.
"A hero show up at the last second right?" Inari asked, smiling brightly.
How ever many people Inari had gotten to back him up there weren't enough to scare the other opposing group. In order to make it even however, both Naruto and Kakashi used a Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.
"So... You some of this!" Kakashi asked the group.
The other group cried out and quickly fled from the bridge.
"We did it!"
After talking to Zabuza Kakashi carried the man over Haku's body.
"He was born in a snowy village..." Naruto cried as it started to snow.
"I see..." Kakashi muttered, "He was a boy as pure as the snow..."
Kakashi and Naruto walked over to the other three in the team to check on them. Sasuke finally looked over a Mayumi. The girl crossed her arms and glared at him through her own set of tears.
"What are you looking at you hob-knocker!" She snapped at him. Mayumi bit her lip and looked away from him, crying harder, "Damn it!"
Sasuke smirked slightly and looked away...
*Two weeks later*
They all stood in front of the graves of Zabuza and Haku. Sakura placed a ring around Haku's.
"Ouch!" Naruto cried as Sakura flicked his hand as he reached for one of the rice cakes that had been placed in front of the graves.
"What are you doing! That's bad karma!" She snapped at him. "But... Kakashi-sensei..."
"Hm?"
"Were these two correct about ninjas?"
"A shinobi isn't supposed to pursue his own goals... Becoming the country's tool is most important... That's the same for the Leaf village," he assured her.
"Is that what it really means to become a true ninja?" Naruto asked. "You know what! I don't like it!"
"You believe that too?" Sasuke asked him, holding Mayumi's hand in his own.
"Well... Each and every ninja has to live while Dealing with that issue..." Kakashi told him. "Just like Zabuza... And that boy..."
"Okay I just decided!" Naruto spoke. "I'm going to be a ninja in my own way!"
Kakashi smiled at his students happily.
"Thanks to you we've completed the bridge, but..." Tazuna mumbled as they prepared to depart. "This is super sad..."
"Thank you for everything..." Kakashi said, smiling.
"Don't worry! We'll come to visit!" Naruto assured Inari.
"You...better!" Inari told him.
"Inari... You're sad right?" The blonde asked. "It's alright to cry!"
"I'm not going to cry!" He snapped. "But Naruto you can cry too!"
"Fine...Later..." Naruto turned away quickly.
Sakura shot a glare at him as they walked away.
"Yay! Let's get home fast so I can have Iruka-sensei buy me some ramen! Oh yeah! And I have to tell Konohamaru about my legendary feats!" Naruto cheered.
"Then I will... Sasuke-kun, how about a date when we get back?" Sakura asked him.
"No thanks..."
"B-But-"
"Hey Hey? How about me!" Naruto questioned her.
"No! Shut up Naruto!"
"Don't yell at Naruto-san!" Mayumi snapped at her.
"I thought you were going to be nice to me?" Sakura pouted.
"Not when it comes to Naruto-san!"
Sasuke smirked, "What about me?"
"...I'll think about it..." She looked away blushing.
Kakashi smiled at his students, "Lets go home..."
Okay that was chapter fifteen! Hope it was okay! And that ends the poll as well, I only had one person who guessed right! Anyways please review! And to those of you that do! You all earned a hug cookie!