Chapter 17
Three whirling thuds echoed out in the forest as the shuriken dug into the tree. Lee grinned as he looked at the accurate shot.
"Heads up Lee!" Lee turned to see Naruto spinning a demon shuriken. "Hyargh!" Naruto yelled as he threw it. Lee leaned to the side of it and watched it hit the tree and go on through it. Lee sweat dropped as the tree fell in two. The shuriken dug into the ground with a hiss of smoke.
"Not bad... Look at your feet..." Lee looked down to see the large cut in the ground. He then glanced to the blond who was scratching his head.
"Wind chakra is incredibly useful on weapons. They'll cut through anything... I still need to work on the control..."
"Why you trying this way Naruto-kun?" Naruto looked to the sky.
"So far, I've only been using wind in my close range and using other forms of attack for range. I wanted to see how effective wind would be in a range weapon... Seems I got the right affect. Now to make it battle ready..." Naruto mused as he crossed his arms in thought.
"But isn't it already battle ready?" Naruto shook his head.
"Unlike elements. Solid projectiles are a weaker point of my weapons skills. Mizuki gave me to focus that time. But I still need better practice at throwing on the move. If I make one false step before I throw. I'm as good a toast. Not that they would be able to hit me or anything. But you get the point." Lee nods.
"So where do go from here..."
"I'll just keep practicing... Got nothing else to do for 2 hours. Since I've done my shift and Hinata just finished hers. And your turn will be in an hour... Guess I've got to now figure out how I'm going to plan my training from here..." Naruto then began to walk off.
"We're you going Naruto-kun?" Lee asked. Naruto glanced to Lee with a smirk.
"So personal training I can only do alone..." With that he walked off.
The blond walked through the forest near the house to the sea. It was the only secluded place he knew safe he could go and train. Naruto glanced to the forest and scanned the area for anything abnormal. He was about to take off and train when he felt a presence aimed at him. Naruto turned in the direction of where it was coming from and it vanished.
Some distance away near the house Hinata was a bit panicked. She had just finished at the bridge and wanted to go see Naruto. She had looked for him with her byakugan and found him by the sea. But the thing that shook her was that he looked right in her direction. Like he knew she was watching some how.
Of course after seeing that she stopped looking. And wondered if that was just a luck glance or he really knew she was watching.
"You shouldn't spy on people..." Naruto spoke as he rested on the wall upside down behind the girl. Who right now was too nervous at being caught to look at him. "Any reason you were looking for me?"
"I-I was just wondering if I could join you for training...?" Hinata muttered as she tapped her fingers together.
"Well..." Naruto muttered looking down to the sky. "I was sort of going to be doing some private training by myself..."
"G-gomen for peeking on your training N-Naruto-kun..."
"But if you want to train. I can put mine aside for now..." Hinata blinked.
"R-really?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah, I have time for teammates..."
Though a little dampened by that, it was still worth spending time with Naruto no matter how he saw it.
Though Naruto may not have been able to get away from his secret training. Helping Hinata was defiantly better right now.
Day in and out. Night in and out. (Deja vu...) Naruto, Hinata and Lee trained round the clock. Spending days out in the forest and returning in all kinds of shape.
Surprisingly Gato hadn't made a move since Zabuza. Tazuna had mentioned about the man named Kaiza, how when he had been able to get the towns to band with him. Gato had sent men out to Tazuna's place and dragged that man to the town centre and killed him for terrorist acts.
It was a couple of days after that Inari had yelled at them after having enough of their carefree look on the events here. Yelling that none of them knew what is was like, how they had the care of their village to keep them safe. Like they had ever had a hard life.
It was Naruto who made it clear to Inari that he should being a cowardly baby. And the boy ran off.
Gai sat with Inari later on that night, explaining to him about the three.
Naruto's for the fact he'd lived his life on his own since he was born. Having had to live with no parents to comfort him.
Lee was the same, no family, having been an orphan since for as long as Lee could remember, having to handle the fact he could only use taijutsu and never meet the standards of a true ninja, but vowed to do everything he could to fight without worry of it.
Hinata, Gai's new student was pretty much orphaned by her father who chose to guide the younger sister than both together, only seeing the pride of the clan. And not his daughters well being.
Each one had it bad. Inari could be said to be luckier than the three. And Gai left them thoughts with the boy.
Days later and Naruto, Gai and Lee stood at the door with Tazuna.
Hinata had gone out and out did it the some nights ago and Naruto had found her and brought her back. She was still recovering and the four would be back later on in the afternoon.
Too bad today, was going to a long one.
The team arrived on the bridge to find the men slaughtered. The only word the last man left could get out was demon...
Slowly, a mist rolled in and Naruto scowled. "Looks like you were wrong Gai-sensei... It's just the two of them..."
"Good senses boy... Seems you haven't lost your touch in the month we've been recovering." The team turn to the pair.
"Zabuza... And his little partner..." Naruto grumbled. "I see you want to try again... Have you gotten any stronger since?" Zabuza chuckled.
"Sadly no... But Haku here will take care of you..." Haku, the ninja beside him nods. Naruto glanced to Lee.
"How should we settle this?" Naruto asked Lee. Haku tilted his head.
'Settle what?'
"Jan-ken-pon!" Naruto and Lee chanted to each other. Haku sweat dropped.
'Rock-paper-scissors...?'
"Jan-ken-pon!"
"Yosh!" Lee cheered as he stepped forward.
"Damn... Fine Lee you have your fun. I'll just sit back and watch." Lee smiled as he got into stance.
"Please forgive our rudeness... But this is how we settle a chance to improve ourselves..." Haku drew three senbon.
"It's foolish to fight me alone..." With that the pair rushed forward. Gai and Naruto watching.
Haku threw his senbon forward and Lee dodged to the left. "Konoha...!" Lee yelled as he got in close. He blocked Haku's right arm with his own left arm. And pressed his right against Haku's shoulder. Lee twisted his body to his left. "Reppuu!" Lee yelled as he turned to face his team and Haku tumbled backwards. Lee glanced back before turning to face Haku.
"Do not underestimate me... Otherwise the next time you do, I won't be as gentle..." Lee stated as Haku stood.
"He may look stupid..." Zabuza grunted to his student. "But he's been trained by a specialist, don't let his look fool you..."
"I got careless... Gomen Zabuza-sama... I won't mess up again." 'He's fast... His body is built for agility... That's why he has so little on him to slow his body movement; I'll use that in my favour...'
"Zabuza-sama... I'll need some advantage..." Zabuza nods and formed seals.
"Lee, get back..." Gai called.
"Suiton: Suriyuudan no jutsu..." Zabuza called as a dragon formed.
The team got ready, only to watch as the dragon soaked the bridge and go back into the water.
"Why did he do that?" Lee asked, unsure why Zabuza would soak the bridge in water.
"Advantage..." Naruto growled to Lee. "Haku's an ice, water and wind type. Be on your guard now. He's got the playing field." Lee nods as he gets into stance. Lee crouched low.
'If he's got the playing field advantage... I may have to use the lotus should he get the advantage... But only on Gai-sensei's command...' Lee rushed forward as Haku sprinted with increased speed on the water. The pair closed in...
Elsewhere, events were turning around the fighting teams...
First, with the resting Hinata. The girl who had awoken by the morning was greeted by Tsunami to see if she was well. Though Hinata was able to move around. It wouldn't be a good thing to start training again till a day later.
She was startled from her rest with a bang and a scream. Hinata quickly stood with a stumble, showing she still needed a bit more time to recover. She began with her byakugan to see what had happened, she gasped.
Swordsmen had broken in and had Tsunami at blade point. Inari was standing there and watching them walk off with his mother.
Hinata quickly got changed and grabbed two kunai, so she was ready to fight a sword fighter.
She had no idea yet if their skills were better or worse than Naruto's. But Naruto had taught her to counter the forms when she saw an attack coming. Lee was really good at this, having trained with Naruto for over a year against a blade.
She rushed out her window and quickly acted as Inari attacked. With fast methods of ninja skills, a substitution distracted the samurai as she put Inari down by her mother's form.
"H-hinata..." Inari stammered out. Hinata smiled.
"Don't worry... I'll protect you. So no need to cry." She saw Inari's eyes widen as he looked behind her.
"You little!" One yelled as they drew they're blades.
Hinata got inside their attack range before they could bring their blades down. For the main factor that her weights were off. And with a powerful jyuuken strike, knocked the men on their backs and out cold from the fact their lungs hand been cleaned of oxygen. With the help of Inari they got them tied up with the rope they used on Tsunami.
Knowing now that with them attacking Tazuna's family,.. Naruto's team will be fighting them at the bridge!
Part of her knew she should stay and protect the family. Knowing Naruto, Gai and Lee. Could handle themselves. Hinata takes off in hopes that she can help them.
Elsewhere a boat was slowly making its way to the bridge. On board were groups of men dressed in strange clothing, parts of their body covered in glowing metal. Behind them in the mist. Gato stood with a smirk.
"Time to deal with unwanted trash..." The men hollered in agreement to their leader.
'Time to show what I'm really made of... Then I'm going to finish taking this town for myself... And then the land outside will follow slowly.'
At the bridge, Lee and Haku were a blurr. Ping's could be picked off as the pair trained strikes in close quarter combat.
Naruto remained calm as he watched. 'Lee's got the edge here... He's faster than Haku's body can match. But it's because of the water Lee's been put on defensive... Haku can use the water to his advantage and move without slipping up... Lee better turn the table soon...'
"Gai-sensei... When is Lee going to give his best...? The water is making his fighter harder yes. But it's only a matter of time before Haku get's in with senbon." Gai didn't move when Naruto finished.
"It's when Haku believes he has his advantage... I will give Lee the order... The moment of surprise is what we need..." Naruto sighed as he looked at the two fights. He then moved his glance to Zabuza.
'Zabuza seems pretty good shape since the round I put him through... But there seems to be mild panic in his form... What could shake a demon of the hidden mist?'
"Argh!" Lee twisted his body and slid back on his left knee and right foot. Senbon were sticking into his left thigh. Lee tries to stand but found his leg shaky. Haku drew more senbon to his right hand.
"I'll make it painless..." Haku spoke as he formed seals one handed. Lee glanced to Gai and smirked.
Naruto moved his thoughts to Haku. There was nothing evil in his aura. Yet he was going to kill Lee? He knew one thing and Lee would come out of this alive... But Haku was a mystery; maybe he can get his answer after this?
"Hyoton!" Haku called as the water rose around Lee. "Sensatsu suishou!" Needles of ice formed and shot at Lee. Haku then realised Lee was smirking, and he vanished in a whirl of water.
'Where...' Haku tensed as Lee skidded behind his left shoulder. Haku turned his head in time to meet full elbow to his mask. The boy flew along the bridge and hit the wall with a thud. Haku growled as his mask cracked. It fell apart showing the males face underneath. Lee remained calm but his left thigh was still twitching. Haku glanced to the leg, then back at Lee's face. He slowly stood. "That's it..." Haku's chakra glowed and Naruto felt the air drop round them. "Hyoton!" Lee rushed forward. Haku jumped out of Lee's attack range and continued to form one handed seals as Lee spun and jumped off the side of the steel frames.
Haku threw senbon and Lee twisted out its path and landed on the ground as Haku formed his last seal.
"Makyou Hyoushou!" Lee blinked as a reflective wall appeared in front of him. Then to the sides. And up above.
Lee was surrounded by mirrors. 'What's this jutsu do?' Lee asked as he glanced about.
Naruto frowned. Lee's sudden energy burst had faded. Was this what he was talking about? The move similar to Kaio-ken?
Lee watched Haku form in the mirror in front of him. "Let' see... You keep up with me now..." Haku's image vanished. Lee blinked and looked to his left arm. A fine cut.
'When did he...?' Lee turned to face Haku and jumped to the middle of the area. 'As long as I can see him... I know where he'll move next.' Lee watched as Haku appeared in multiple mirrors and they glowed. Lee covered his face as he was hit from everywhere.
Lee's yell echoed out and Naruto tensed. 'Lee...' "Right that's it. I'm..." Naruto stopped and Gai blinked as he saw the look in his eyes.
"What is it...?" Naruto scowled as he turned his head to the side and looked back.
"We've got company..." Naruto and Gai turned to face the group of soldiers at the bridge end. Tazuna stood close to Gai and Naruto.
"Gato's personal army..." Tazuna muttered. "I was wondering when he would send them out..." Naruto's scowled deepened into a serious one.
'That energy... It's so evil...' Naruto glanced to Lee's direction. 'Damn... Sorry Lee...' Naruto drew his Kodachi and Wikizashi.
"Sorry sensei... But I'll handle these men..." With that the blond rushed forward. "Save Lee!" Gai turned to Lee's direction, only to face Zabuza.
"Sorry, but you'll have to get by me..." Gai got into stance and scowled.
'Lee... Hold on... Don't go to the second gate unless you've got absolutely no choice...' Gai then jumped back from the large sword.
With Naruto the blond closed the distance on the men. Only for 3 heavy armoured men to step forward. They're backs glowed and instantly three metal spheres jumped from their backs. Naruto skidded to a stop as he looked at them. Like metal dogs of sorts...
'No matter... I'll cut through them!' Naruto's blades glowed and he attacked.
Instantly they attacked Naruto, the first leapt into the air and Naruto leaned to the side and sliced it in two. The blond twisted in his feet and flipped full length backwards. His blades dug into the next two on the floor.
Naruto skidded backwards in a crouch and slid back and stabbed two more in the front and spun and threw his blades backwards at two air born and the blades dug into their backs, then into the walls...
Naruto looked up at the men and a rush of wind swirled round the last two at the far sides and they turned to ribbons.
All this happened in seconds of his first slice. So fast actually. That they all exploded together at once.
Naruto's blades stabbed into the ground at his sides. He stood, gripping each blade.
The men glance to each other and nod. Instantly another wave was sent. They rushed the blond.
'....' They were doing something. Naruto drew his blades out and got into the stance he would fight in taijutsu. His kodachi up at the back and the wikizashi resting low at the front.
Naruto saw a bright a glow to his right and spun to it in shock.
A large explosion whipped up in his spot.
Gai swept Zabuza's feet from under him and Zabuza quickly acted by stabbing his blade into the ground and double kicking Gai back. The jonin blocked and flew back. Gai turned to the explosion. 'Naruto...' He quickly turned to Zabuza and ducked the blade that would have taken his head off.
"Best focus on me... Or you'll die next."
As the smoked cleared Naruto wasn't anywhere to be seen. They thought him for dead only for him to drop in a crouch. His face blackened by smoke. His right arm burnt to the skin. Luckily his wrist bands he saved with wind. Naruto stood and glanced to the fat looking cloth covered male. A large metal tub on his arm. 'What did that do?'
Instantly the tub glowed and its cylinder glowed with fire. Naruto jumped out the way of another blast. As Naruto focus on another man. Naruto saw three more coming his way from the crowd. 'God damn it!' Naruto released a wave of wind and sent it flying back. The men exploded under the blast. One of the three men at the beginning was hit and knocked in to the water. His metal pet's exploding. Naruto then turned to the first one and sheathed his blades. He summoned a demon shuriken from his right shoulder and flipped in the air.
"Eat metal!" Naruto roared and threw it at the fat man. Another bullet flew at him, the shuriken flew passed the object and man. And hit the water.
Well to the untrained eye of course. But as the object exploded in the air. Naruto was saved the view of the male dropping backwards in two clean halves. Naruto touched his seal and it glowed.
He had designed his seals with a secondary seal on projectiles. If they should take no damage they could be resealed from where ever they are and be reused. Naruto flipped and landed.
'No more messing around... Time to cut this group down!' Naruto rushed forward. The metal pets rushed him, but Naruto vanished appeared passed the men who summoned them. They stumbled backwards and exploded in balls of fire. Followed by their pets.
The back groups were nervous. This boy had only taken a blast to his body and whipped out some of their best forces. With no choice, they rushed the blond. Naruto stood and rested his katana on his shoulder.
'I wonder if it's right to kill them...' Naruto questioned as they attacked.
Lee stumbled back, he was exhausted. His foe was too fast and he couldn't get out.
'He's down...' Haku slowly stepped from his mirror. 'With the senbon in place, I'll put him out here...' Haku drew another set of senbon.
"You were a strong foe... But I shall not let Zabuza-sama down..." Instantly something blurred into the mirrors and Haku only had the tap of water to jump back. He grunted and slid onto one need and put a hand on his chest. 'I know I dodged...'
"Hinata-san..." Lee stammered out as he looked at the Hyuuga facing the foe before him.
"You ok Lee? You can stand right?" Hinata asked as her byakugan remained focused on Haku.
"A-a little... My bodies numb..." Lee stumbled on his feet and looked up and watched Haku limp back slowly to a mirror. "Hinata-san. Don't let him get into a mirror!" Haku broke into a run for the closest mirror.
Hinata rushed forward and as Haku got into a mirror Hinata yelled her attack. "Jyuuken!" Hinata's vision was met with a bright light and as the mirror shattered, she was thrown back. She skidded in front of Lee on her side.
"Hinata..." Lee spoke in shock. He looked from her to the mirror. The back to Hinata as she slowly rose. "Yosh Hinata! You broke a mirror..."
"The mirror was made of chakra... So using jyuuken, I can disrupt it. But..." Hinata and Lee watched the mirror rise from the water. "He can still make another... Sorry Lee-san." Lee shook his head with a smile.
"You did far better than I did... But now we're both in trouble."
"I know... Gai-sensei's fighting Zabuza... Naruto's fighting an army. And Tazuna's unguarded... We have to figure out away to win..." Lee nods as they continued to watch Haku. "Got any?"
"Sadly no..." Hinata tensed.
"Here he comes...!!" The area glowed.
Gai jumped and dodged a slash by the sword and skidded back. Hinata and Lee's yells got his attention. Gai stood as Zabuza rested his sword on his shoulder.
"This all you got? For a jonin your skills are for less than the boys..." Gai scowled.
'I have to save Hinata and Lee... Time to get serious...' Gai reached into his pouch and pulled out two poles. Instantly he released one and a metal chain could be seen. Gai spun his nunchaku before holding them out facing Zabuza.
"I wanted my students to improve... But it seems I must step forward and help them before my error becomes permanent!" Gai rushed forward and attacked.
"Man..." Naruto muttered with a light breath. Scattered round him were still barely conscious soldiers. He was sat on ones back with his katana resting in the stone. The ground shook. Naruto sighed. "What next..." Naruto stood and looked as the ground drew vast metal from all the men and almost his sword to a large sphere. It grew arms and legs and stood towering the blond.
"A metal golem?" Naruto watched as it raised its right arm and Naruto jumped out the way of the metal shards it shot.
"To easy!" Naruto roared as he got in close and gave a clean slash at the middle. He smirked and turns to face it. But blinked as it turned to face him and fire with its left. 'I know I hit it...' Naruto blinked.
There was someone inside the golem. 'He's keeping it together...' Naruto lands and brought his arms out to his sides. His katana clattering to the ground.
Two swirling towers of water rose to the sides of the bridge and Naruto attacked with his right arm. The large golem shot forward with its left and its attack was beaten and hit the golem head on.
'Water's liquid formworks as a great defence and attack. His metal shards will only be knocked back... Now to finish this!' Naruto summoned a second blast of water and set it rocketing forward and stumbling the beast.
'I hope no one fully sees this!' Naruto cupped his hands back. "Kamehameha!!!" Naruto roared as he was forced back in step and his beam burst clean through the golem. It fell apart and Naruto sighed with relief.
That vanished as soon as a second one built up from the destroyed one. Naruto sighed.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
Hinata stumbled back and landed on her back. She couldn't move. Her body was now as numb as Lee. But he still had the will to move. But all her will was on staying awake. She couldn't stand.
Lee panted as he looked to Hinata... 'I've got no choice now... We're out of options.'
Haku tensed. 'Their down, no time to waste!' The mirrors glowed and Lee smirked.
'What!' Haku could only blink as Lee had vanished and the girl too.
Slowly, one by one, each mirror shattered. And Lee appeared in the middle, only Haku's and the ones above remained.
'How's he standing like everything is fine? How has his body recovered...' Haku looked to find the girl resting off to the side in surprise that she was there.
"This fight will end here..." Lee stated. Haku scowled.
"What makes you so sure?"
Lee tensed his body. 'Forgive me... Gai-sensei...' Lee's body was instantly by raising chakra.
Naruto blinked as Lee's energy was rocketing. 'What's going on?' Naruto mussed as he ducked and slid down the side of the golems arm before cutting it clean off. 'Where's Lee's energy coming from... This is far more powerful than his first use of it against Haku... What technique is this?' Naruto jumped and summoned fire into his wrist.
"Take this!" Naruto yelled spinning like a top.
Gai's nunchaku snapped against Zabuza's hand and got the blades grip free. Gai spun and kicked Zabuza back with force and the man slammed against the bridge. Gai panted lightly. He kick Zabuza's blade aside. "You're fight is done now Zabuza... You are unarmed and of no state to continue fighting me..." Zabuza growled as he stood.
"Like hell I am!" Zabuza roared attacking. Gai ducked a punch and drove a fist elbow combo to Zabuza's chest and the man stumbled back in pain.
"As we speak, Lee and Naruto have finished off your men..." Gai spoke as a boom could be heard. And an explosion of fire could be seen through the mist. "Give up and you will come to no more harm..."
Lee panted and put his hands to the floor, his body was exhausted. Having taken such punishment then went up to the 3rd gate. All he wanted to do right now was rest. But, he slowly stood, but could only get on his right knee. He had to get to Gai and Lee.
"H-here..." Hinata spoke from Lee's right. Seems she had recovered and rested the taijutsu genin's right arm on her shoulder. "I-I'll help you across..." Lee nods.
"Thanks Hinata-san..." Lee made one last glance to the crater where Haku's body rested. He could be alive or dead right now... But Lee was more focused on Naruto and Gai. And that was where he would head next...
With that they stepped into the clearing mist.
And the strongest foe was yet to come.
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Hmmm... Can't say here... I'm all over the place. But I think it went well.
Sorry if you wanted more out of Hinata, Lee and Gai's fights... But even I could not put their fight into words. I just did the best I can.
Let me know how you thought of this chapter.