A/N: First off, thanks for the reviews! I still need opinions on Haku's fate, though I have thought about it.
'Blaaaah' means inside Kari's head, her thoughts.
Italics italics after japanese is the previous japanese in english.
The first half is how Kakashi's fight is doing. Because we all love him. The second part is within the mighty ice dome.
Sasuke's Bravery
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Sakura screamed.
"You were too slow Kakashi; did your desire to save them brats cloud your mind and make the mist even thicker for your Sharingan? Even with that impressive eye, your ability to read my movements is dimmed"" Zabuza said mockingly. "Let me enjoy this more Kakashi… I want to have more fun as I return the favour, don't worry about the brats; Haku should kill them soon, you can apologise to them with tears in the next world for lacking the strength to protect them" Zabuza laughed and disappeared into the mist.
"Sasuke-kun defeated?" Sakura said. She shook her head violently, forcing the thoughts out her mind. "This can't happen! Sasuke-kun won't be defeated by a guy like that so easily! Kari either! Nor Naruto!" Sakura cried. Kakashi could hear the worry in her voice and knew she was worried.
"Exactly... I believe in their strength... Naruto is the number one hyperactive, loudest ninja." said Kakashi.
"And Kari and Sasuke?" Zabuza asked.
"Sasuke is from the leaf's most outstanding clan" Kakashi said, pride clear in his eyes.
"You mean...?" Zabuza cried as realisation dawned on him.
"That's right; his full name is Uchiha Sasuke. With the advanced bloodline of the Uchiha clan running through his veins, he is a genius ninja" Kakashi said.
"A survivor of that tragic clan... No wonder he's improved so quickly. But... It's the same for Haku" Zabuza said thoughtfully. His inevitable victory seemed to have a flaw. The Uchiha could pose a problem… Heh, if he was more experienced perhaps.
"You're forgetting Kari, she's shows incredible potential. But it's not just physical strength…" Kakashi paused for a moment. "She draws strength from her heart." Zabuza scoffed. The heart? It's an organ; feelings are useless apart from a source to draw motivation. Kakashi shook his head with a slight chuckle. "You may find it preposterous, to think one's heart can give them strength. But those weak of heart will never make it far." Kita gave a light yip of agreement, eyes blazing with pride. Her Momma was strong!
"Still, Haku's secret jutsu has never been defeated by anyone. So I guess I should end this fight too" Zabuza said.
"Sakura! Stay here!" Kakashi cried in alarm, realising Zabuza was soon to strike.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah!" Sakura said. She had been slightly taken aback by Kita's sudden noise. She had forgotten the wolf was there. Kakashi swiftly ran into the mist, leaving Sakura alone. Alone to protect an old man, with assistance from a mere wolf cub.
I shot into a half sitting position in shock my eyes open wide. My lips were parted in a silent gasp that yearned to turn to a scream. I lay frozen, horrified. I barely noticed Naruto's groan, signalling he had finally regained consciousness. I couldn't feel relief, my heart… it hurt, it hurt!
"Geez you always just get in the way" Sasuke said his voice strained. Naruto grinned in amazement, his eyes widening in relief and admiration as he looked over at Haku laying on his front, Sasuke standing in front of his comrades having fended off the attack.
"YOU DID IT SASUKE!!" Naruto cried in delight. "HE DID IT! LOOK KARI—" Naruto stopped looking at me in confusion. "Kari-chan? Kari-chan what's wrong?" he asked, reaching over to gently nudge my shoulder. I didn't react, just stayed motionless, staring up at my Uchiha team-mate. "Kari-chan?" Naruto questioned again, following my gaze to stare at Sasuke. And then he understood. I heard his sharp intake of breath and felt him go rigid beside me. From the corner of my eye I could see his cerulean eyes widen in shock.
"What's with that face? You total moron" Sasuke said in a raspy voice, looking round at Naruto smirking slightly. Blood streaked from the corner of his mouth to the bottom of his chin and from his body protruded at least thirty needles.
"Why?! Why did you save me!?" Naruto screamed.
"Why?" I echoed faintly. I'd seen my death coming; I'd accepted it and prepared myself. I was going to jump at him at the last minute and protect Naruto. But he… But Sasuke… He…
"How should I know?" Sasuke asked with a slight snort. Now of all times memories shot through my mind, rushing at a million miles an hour. All my time spent with Sasuke and my team, a short yet sweet experience. I'd just begun to bond with Sasuke. It wasn't as quick as my friendship with Naruto but he'd looked after me since I arrived, explained things to me, he'd even opened up to me a little. And now… he…
"I hated you..." Sasuke said softly, his dulling eyes staring blankly at Naruto.
"But why!? Why me?!" Naruto cried. "I never asked for your help!" Naruto shouted, I could hear the slight crack in his voice, any moment now, Naruto was going to cry.
"If I didn't... Kari would..." Sasuke said, facing back to the front. Naruto stared at me almost accusingly, as though blaming me for this. But it was my fault. If it wasn't for me, we'd never be in this mess.
"But… Why?" I whispered, my throat was sore by an expanding lump. I wouldn't cry, it's the last thing anyone needs. Why? Why am I so weak!? I should have been able to protect them?! Why am I here if I'm so useless!!
"I don't know... my body just moved on its own... idiots..." Sasuke whispered. He swayed slightly before falling back, no longer having the strength to stand. With a light cry I caught his dead weight, shifting him so that his head and shoulders rested in my lap. I ignored the stabbing pain as the needles in his body stabbed into my thigh. It didn't matter. I bit my lip feeling my eyes become wet, struggling not to look away and break down.
"That man... my brother... I told myself I wouldn't die until I killed him..."
"You will Sasuke, you will. Just wait and see" I said softly, brushing his bangs away from his face as I lightly choked on my breath, my chest becoming painfully tight. His eyes shut and he lightly sighed. "No Sasuke… please… you can't… you've got to avenge your clan remember? You've got to kill your brother!" I squeaked desperately, my tears coming close to spilling free.
Sasuke's eyes fluttered open, but they were more distant than before, a heavy fog glazed over them, destroying the beauty of the deep onyx and making them look plain and empty. I yearned for his Sharingan, so bright and strong, filled with such strength and fire. So different to this…
"Kari…" he mumbled. Naruto turned away and I hear him stifle a sob. I wanted to reach out and pull him into an embrace, but feared Sasuke slipping away too much to move.
"Please Sasuke…" I lightly hiccoughed as tears began trailing down my face. "Please don't leave me" I hated myself for being so selfish. I was forcing him to endure the pain so I could be pitiful and cry all over him. Unable to stop myself I bent down and pulled him into an embrace, silent sobs wracking through my body. I was afraid of causing him pain but absolutely terrified that should I let go he would slip away.
I was never one to wail at the top of my lungs for all to hear. Whenever I cried, I would cry in silence and solitude, hiding my tears and the shame of my weakness. Yet I couldn't hold them in and now they wouldn't stop.
Senbon pierced my body but I didn't care. Sasuke was dying and it was all my fault. I heard Sasuke softly grunt in pain. I slowly began lifting myself up, choking out a pathetic apology. I rubbed my eye with the back of my hand slightly confused that blood was smeared across it instead of salt water. But that didn't matter. Sasuke's arm slid across my back pulling me back down in a form of comfort. In his disorientation he accidentally brushed his lips against mine.
"Don't cry baka, it doesn't suit you… It's better when… you… smile…" he whispered. In plain language it was simply. 'Get a hold of yourself woman' but Sasuke didn't seem to have the strength to be angsty.
I turned to Naruto, crying heavier than ever. Naruto had managed to hold it in, but was obviously struggling, his fists clenched in his lap. He crawled over to us, seeing that I had finished with my goodbye.
You..." Sasuke said reaching out to Naruto. "Don't you… dare… let... her die" he said. Naruto opened his mouth to speak but Sasuke's eyes slowly closed and his tense body became limp in my arms.
"S-Sas-suke?" I whispered gently shaking his shoulder. "Sasuk-ke y-you…" Realisation began to sink in. "No…" I said, shaking my head. "No… no, Sasuke…" I said as my tears flooded down my face. "S-Sasuke!" I cried, desperate for some movement to say he was ok, for some sign he was still alive. He… He couldn't be. He wasn't dead… He couldn't be gone…
"Kari-chan" Naruto said softly, his hand sliding over mine which was clutching to Sasuke's shirt for dear life. His warmth was painful against my icy skin, it stung. But not as much as my heart stung. It was as though every needle in my body had shot through my muscles and organs, my skin an bones, embedding themselves directly into my heart.
"He's not… He can't… He…" I whimpered, staring at his frighteningly pale face. Unable to bear it I handed him to Naruto. He hadn't been able to say a proper goodbye to his rival, his best friend. I'd stolen those precious moments, that last chance to say what he wanted to say. I wouldn't blame him if he hated me forever.
Drawing in a shaky breath I forced myself to stand. I swayed just like he did but held myself steady. I was staring intently at Haku, who had once again melted into the mirror. He killed him… He killed Sasuke…
"He... to protect a precious person, and knowing it was a trap he was still able to jump in. He was a shinobi that deserved respect." Haku said softly. "Is this the first time a friend of yours has died Kari-chan?" Haku asked. "This is the way of the shinobi." Naruto was so numb with shock he could barely move, but he managed two words.
"Shut up" Naruto said, his voice was trembling, but it was more from rage than grief. "Sasuke... I hated you too" he sounded about to cry, he walked until he stood beside me, his hand grasping my own. I squeezed back, the both of us needing comfort. To know someone was there. Softly I began to sing.
"Watahiga maeni uso wotsukusairento
Koorini shiroiyukino samusa
Watashiha kotaeru hitsuyouga nakunarimasu
Anata no tamashiiha jiyuu ni iku"
You lie silent there before me
Cold as ice white as snow
You no longer can answer me
Your soul is free to go
'Let it out child, let all the pain free'
"To kurayamidentenji chuu
Ashitaha amarini kurai
Sonzaishinai watashino mekara miru
Anata ha watashino gawani"
And the darkness closes in
Tomorrow seems so dim
Nonexistent in my eyes
Without you by my side
'It hurts doesn't it? Feed of your pain! Destroy the cause!'
I felt winds pick up around me and Naruto and energy burst forth from our bodies. The energy pushed against us, trying to push us away from each other, but our grip simply tightened until painful, refusing to let go.
"I'll never forgive you" Naruto growled, his whiskers becoming more prominent on his face, his canines lengthening.
"Riido shite tenshitachi ni michi
Ha anata no yuuwakuni gotaizai desu ka?
Kixyoufukara tookuhanareta tokoro
Kixyouyousare te iru toiawase"
The angels lead your way
Are you tempted to stay?
Far away from the horrors
That have been forced upon us
'Let it out… Let me out…'
I felt strange sensations in my shoulder blades, at the bottom of my spine and the top of my head. It was almost as though something had burst out of me. I felt a horrible stinging in my fingers and in my gums, and especially in my eyes. Glancing at Naruto I was shocked to notice how beast-like he appeared, his beautiful blue eyes replaced by an angry red. His hair stood on end and claws had formed from his once short nails. He looked frightening. I would have been shocked if it wasn't for the adrenaline and uncontrollable rage pumping through my veins.
"Watashino aisuru don tokurai namidawonagasu
Watashiha suguni anata no shino tekiwoutsu
Watashiha watashitotatakautotatakauhitsuyouga ari masu
Watashino saigo no iki woshuurixyousuru made mataha."
Don't cry my dear, no tears
I'm soon to avenge your death
Fight I will and fight I must
Until the end or my last breath.
"I'll kill you!" Myself and Naruto screamed in unison, but our voices were different as if voices spoke at the same time as ours. Gold black white and red tinted the air around us, swirling round our bodies like a slowly turning tornado. Naruto's chakra was a fiery reddish orange while mine was gold black and white. The black tinted with red was most noticeable among the gold and white.
"What? This Chakra... It's impossible, chakra can't change like this! Such evil chakra" Haku said in horror. Above Naruto the chakra formed into the shape of the nine tailed foxes head. Needles shot out of Naruto, steam rolling off his freshly healed wounds.
"The cuts on his hand they're healing!" Haku cried. My wounds on the other hand weren't healing but they're pain numbed being nothing compared to the pain in my heart. "This boy... this girl... Who—Or what are they!?" Haku cried.
Reviews:
lil-lostii: That'll be up to you readers to decide a lot later on. It's originally a Sasuke story, but I'm open to suggestions.
& Kage no Akatsuki this is for you, thank you for all the support.
R&R foruptates and my eternal gratitude. No flames, criticism is welcome however. Thanks for reading!