Well, this has been a long time coming, huh? Exams are over, and free time can ensue! I just hope that the people who were reading this a few months ago will still want to carry it on now. Anyway, it's time to resume our clash between Kisame and Kakashi!
This was one of those many little moments when Kakashi mentally thanked his old friend for his gift; since the Sharingan alone saved Kakashi from the Water Clone's attack. Leaping back, Kakashi's altered eyesight foresaw the following actions; he would land three feet away from the real Kisame, the Water Clone would lunge forwards again, as the original would rise and take the right flank, still chasing him directly. The right flank would be chosen since Kisame's injuries would have by now induced a degree of fear, tension, and instability within his mind. Lacking clarity, Kisame would presume Kakashi would defend with his right arm, thus the left side of his body would be vulnerable. Yet Kakashi knew his opponent still had enough sense to avoid direct contact with Kakashi's Sharingan gaze, and thus the right side of his body would be targeted.
Upon lunging forwards, the Clone would be used as a distraction, nothing more, and the method of attack will be a fist – he would force Kakashi to defend with his still-functioning right arm, and attempt to make him focus on hand-to-hand combat, whilst the original would attack from the side with Samehada. Thus Kakashi will allow the fight strike to hit. Considering the velocity the of the clone, the mass of the clone and the full weight of his own person, Kakashi deduced that a blow to the torso would move him at least four feet further. He would let the blow flow through his body, he knew his reaction to the damage would give him momentum, allowing him to leap back further, all the while luring the clone and Kisame away from the fight.
If Kisame is far enough away from his clones, they will lose power and eventually disperse completely. As the only fighter amongst the Konoha Ninja to know this, and being the most skilled in Taijutsu (Hinata being a close second) he would have to be the one to suffer Kisame head on. The distance he would cover would force Kisame to bring about more momentum, and given that he had already suffered a degree of damage prior to this engagement (Kakashi noted the markings of an encounter that would have taken place not two days ago) and was now carrying a stomach would from his Lightning Blade, Kisame's overall balance is not comparable to his. Kisame will overstep his mark, will stumble when trying to pounce from the side, Kakashi will leap back once more and observe the original and the clone collide. Contact with the original would detach much of the Clone's power, plus Kisame would dispatch it out of anger, giving Kakashi a three second opening.
Kisame's sword would be held by both hands whilst he took out his clone, Kakashi would use this to his advantage. By being as close to his enemy as possible, it would eliminate Kisame's ability to swing his own sword, plus he knew both hands were holding it. A stamp on Kisame's left foot would cause him to stumble, a further two seconds of time. Sucker punch to the right of Kisame's stomach, paying more attention to the part of his lower torso that the Lightning Blade hadn't hit, thus rendering the entire area wounded. Kisame will stumble back due to the severity of the wound and the weight of the sword.
Kisame will attempt to counter by slashing vertically down, giving away a further two seconds. A confident haymaker should be applied to the right of Kisame's jaw, moving him left and again throwing off more balance. As his right ear is vulnerable, Kakashi would then use a chop thus fracturing the earlobe, and disorientating him. In fear, Kisame will wildly swing his sword left to Kakashi's head; he will duck and then send a knee into the wound opened by the Lighting Blade, causing Kisame to crouch in, before scissor kicking him in the face. The combined effect of this barrage: Impaired limb reaction, temporary loss of hearing, disorientation – in short, incapacitated. And he called himself a swordsman of the Mist.
All this was premeditated, absolute, destined to happen, and Kakashi knew it before his foot even left Kisame's chest. Such was the power of the Sharingan. The ensuing fight passed in a blur.
Shikamaru noted the blow Kakashi received from the Water Clone, the rise of Kisame and his departure from the area, yet he was forced to resign his role as spectator when one of the many other Water Clones bore down upon him and the rest of the Konoha Ninja.
He copied Kakashi's tactic of leaping backwards when impact was near imminent. Being aware of Hinata and Kurenai, Shikamaru knew he had two fully capable ninja, whilst bearing in mind both were also liability on his part. Hinata was still in a state of hysteria over her sister, while the fate of his own future student laid hanging in the balance within Kurenai. Shadow Possession wasn't effective in this bout. He would have to rely on more than that; he would have to go on the offensive.
Evading the gaze of the several clones caught in the brawl, Shikamaru decided the most efficient Jutsu here would be one of the most basic. Dog, Boar, Tiger, his hand movements were fast enough to avoid detection. Rising high, he wagered a glance at the fight. A clone took a swift look in his direction before continuing to fight Hinata. Good. They didn't suspect a thing. Now was the time to try something a little more challenging.
Hinata's defences were giving out; she effectively made herself Kurenai's shield (though her Sensei was still trying to stop this) whilst holding off three water clones. She noted their chakra was visibly becoming weaker; had Kakashi already done damage to Kisame? Just then a fourth appeared to her left, with chakra far different than the others. Before she could turn, the new clone had fired a Jutsu at her and Kurenai. A jet of water swept both off of their feet, as the first three laughed. The remaining water clones had done away with the remaining leaf Shinobi. All that was left was the two Kunoichi.
Advancing forwards, one clone stood over Hinata, declaring her looming fate. Hinata's eyes strained, and she gasped in surprise.
"Ha! She's shocked that we're gonna kill her!" One of the spectating clones laughed.
Kurenai growled, but fatigue was kicking in heavily and she knew she'd be a liability and of no use to Hinata. What was this clone going to do to her?
Turning to his partners, the Water Clone smiled wickedly.
"Well, guys, what should we do first? Severe a limb?" He proposed, gesturing one of them to walk beside him. Indeed, one clone did as instructed and walked close.
"Ha! Yeah, We'll let you do the honours, that Hand of Waves Jutsu – simply yet effective, why I -" The clone suddenly stopped as the two began checking the pulses of the dead ninja. He turned and scanned the area, then turned to the clone next to him, whom was staring expectantly, as Hinata bit her lip.
"Yeah?" The leading clone urged his partner.
"Why I…er, never mind…why don't we just finish her quickly, like we did to her sibling, huh?" He suggested. The other two stayed at the bodies they were checking, longer then Kurenai thought was necessary.
"Yeah, lets. But why should I have all the fun? You do it." The leader replied, still grinning.
The other clones had yet to turn, but both were posed to move at any given moment.
"I would, only…how did we kill her again?" The clone finally asked.
Silence. The clone decided to follow up his question with a statement.
"We never killed her. Y'know, that Hand of Waves was so good, it made me forget a few things; that shadow boy is nowhere to be seen," He gripped the other clone's neck tightly as a cloud of smoke covered them both, "And we don't use the Hand of Waves Jutsu!"
"Hinata: Now!" Shikamaru grunted, the clone's hand wringing his neck.
Hinata leapt forwards and kicked the clone square in the face. His grin loosened, and Shikamaru threw one of his blades into his chest, causing the clone to finally vanish. The other two clones were as observant as their predecessor; one already to take advantage of Shikamaru and Hinata's need to compose themselves, whilst the other hounded Kurenai.
Shikamaru instinctively trusted Hinata to go for the clone engaging them.
"Suiton: Suihachi!" He cried, and his hands produced anther jet of water, hitting the second clone directly. The clone emerged from the current laughing, as the water had only energised him. His laugh was short lived, however, when he noticed Shikmaru perform the Ox to Hare hand seals.
"You've no water around you boy! You need some on hand for tha-"
"It's not for me, you moron! and I have plenty, from you're dead clone brother!"
Kurenai became startled as a cloak of water surrounded her.
"Break through that!" Shikamaru taunted.
Kurenai noted the brilliance. Since the clone was water, it couldn't pass through the barrier without returning to water itself, and with the original's power weakening from fighting Kakashi, I don't think the clone has enough Charka to maintain its form.
"You laugh like water doesn't mean a thing to you, like it only feeds that feeble Chakra of yours! Let's see what happens when you're exposed to too much!" Shikamaru roared.
It may not be as strong as he's seen it done before, and it certainly wouldn't be much good against the original Kisame, but Shikamaru held out his hand, and concentrated.
The clone saw the movement of Chakra. Hinata too noted it from the corner of her eye. Was Shikamaru really trying that Jutsu?
"Okay, kid, you've got water down, I'll give you that! But that move is the Kyuubi's trademark! He'll have you done for infringement, not that anyone could call that feeble mass there a Rasengan!"
Shikamaru's eyes blazoned as he raced at the clone. Kisame's arrogance was passed onto his creations, and the clone felt no need to dodge.
"Who said anything about Rasengan! Hanonryu!" Shikamaru cried, thrusting the ball of chakra concentrated water into the clone's chest. The result was as the leaf Shinobi predicted. The ball passed right into the clone – him being water – and released the chakra so fast and forcefully, that the clone couldn't maintain its body. Dissolving into a puddle beneath him, Shikamaru turned to see Hinata had also dispatched her foe. Repeated pressure from her palms to the chakra points in his chest was the cause – not from blockages, but following her friend's idea of overflowing the clone with chakra.
Kurenai, like Kakashi before her, had to admit their students already surpassed them.
"…We need to help Kakashi-Sensei!" Hinata cried, racing forwards, but her movements stopped as she saw Kurenai's water shield disperse, and Shikamaru collapse.
"Shikamaru-Kun!" Hinata raced over, followed by Kurenai.
"Relax Hinata! He's just spent, that's all. That was pretty advanced water work from him there, and he's not much of a fighter by nature, he needs to rest." Kurenai gazed at the fallen ninja, and placed a hand onto her stomach – they had families, pasts, dreams for the future. They all shared loves, hates, times of joy and sorrow, and all ended like this. Could she bring her baby into a world like this? a world where demons like Hoshigaki were regarded as 'Great' warriors? She needed to rest, between the fight and this negative thinking; she was still no use in this fight.
Hinata rose, simply mentioning Hanabi again had stricken her with vengeance. How dare Kisame, or his clones, speak of her! She turned to chase her foe and Kakashi, before Kurenai embraced her.
"Hinata! You heard Shikamaru fail to pass off as a Water Clone. He assumed they killed Hanabi. The clone stated they didn't, used that fact as evidence against him. She's alive, Hinata!" Kurenai pleaded as her student, "Leave this to Kakashi!"
"No, Kurenai-Sensei, let me go! I'll hurt him! I'll make him pay! He'll wish he never laid eye on her or me!" Hinata screamed hysterically, tears falling down her face. "I want to make him say she's safe! I want to make him know what pain is! He'll never threaten her again! I must protect her-"
"Like I must protect you!" Kurenai cried, tears streaming along her cheeks. Hinata stopped struggling, "Hinata you're not just a student to me, you're a sister, a daughter! I cherish you! I've watched you grow, blossom into the beautiful woman you are. I know you want to protect her, because I want to protect you! I can't watch you throw your life away like that! Not someone as precious as you!"
Kurenai sobbed into Hinata's shoulders, and continued.
"Look around you, all these ninja, Hinata! What if it were you! What if it were my baby! I lost Asuma, Hinata, I can't lose anyone else!" Kurenai dropped to her knees, as Hinata wrapped her arms around her.
"…I'm sorry, Sensei. I won't leave you here."
"Huh, your chakra's replenishing; guess my guys are okay after all." Kakashi gloated.
"I wouldn't laugh, you one-eyed scarecrow, that's all the more chakra to kill you!" Kisame retorted.
Since Kakashi's successful barrage, Kisame has had to muster all his remaining chakra and will power to stay on his feet, effectively leaving him on the defensive. Fractures to the side of his head, ironically, were quite helpful in this endeavour. Kisame's hearing difficulty threw him off balance, but the pain throbbing through his head had extended to his eyes. Blurred; they were no tool of his for the foreseeable fight, and speaking of foreseeable, Kakashi's Sharingan wouldn't be so able read Kisame. With no use of them, Kisame's eyes glazed over and were often kept shut. Whilst a small advantage to Kisame, Kakashi' initially saw this development as useless, with no eyes nor ears, his opponent was a sitting duck. That was his mistake.
With his chakra replenishing, Kisame decided now was the time for an assault. He could feel Kakashi's feet swiftly dance to his side. However light-footed he tired to be, his steps would still create tremors in the ground, rippling through the puddles. Swinging Samehada to his side, the Sharkskin blade connected, absorbed a feeble amount of chakra, and the shadow clone of Kakashi dispersed.
"Oh! That's clever Kakashi! I can see why you're held in such high regard by Itachi now! I'd expect no less from leaf ANBU!"
Kisame saw right through it. Leaping backwards, he trusted his uninjured leg to withstand the landing and balance himself - he questioned why he hadn't already noticed it. Kakashi's feet were light, the whole man was slim and nimble. No, the ripples in the water were from beneath him. It wouldn't take too much to learn the Headhunter Jutsu – Konoha scum often applied that move. Kakashi and his clone moved with synchronicity: the plan would be for Kisame to pay attention only to the clone, while the real one moved in from below.
Kisame's landing was successful. He quickly spent some of his recovered Charka producing another two water clone from the puddle. Then he grinned.
"Fool! You move about beneath us as if you were a mole. That is what earth is to you; but not me! Whether it is in sky, sea or land…I'll hunt you down!"
Kisame and his clones dissolved into the ground, their swords sticking out as if a dorsal fin. The hunt was on. The three darted around the forest, finding cracks and etched tunnels dug by their prey. Advancing around him, Kakashi felt trapped. Any movement he made would be sent directly to Kisame's keen sense of touch. It was so precise it was as if sonar. This guy really had a thing for the shark motif, even down to the dorsal fin routine.
That's when it hit him; he's so swept up in the shark image that he'll strike like one too. Kakashi stopped moving and began to build chakra in his palm. Above on the surface, near the clearing, Hinata and Kurenai heard it.
The birds were beginning to sing.
He thrust his arm deep beneath him, tearing through the ground as he went, feeling the crumbling of the surface above him, producing a fissure in the forest. It was reckless, but it was worth it. He was smarter than Kisame gave him credit for. Sharks attacked from below.
Kisame's clone gave a piercing scream before returning to water. Sun shone from the open fissure, along with Kisame's satanic laugh.
"You think this is some nature lesson? That you get points for knowing how a shark hunts? You were so happy that you recognised my hunting style, that you didn't even question why I use it!"
Kakashi stood on the firm ground deep below Kisame. His silence was proof he knew the answer.
"…It's so fools like you attack the clone below, so you don't see this coming!" From Snake to Ram, Kakashi knew what to expect. Gai had already told him of this move. That knowledge didn't make the experience any less painful.
Water coated much of the forest with such ferocity that God himself may have been casting judgement on the Leaf.
Kurenai had been present at Gai's explanation on Kisame's techniques, and the roaring waves were heard before they were seen. Flying up into the tree, Hinata swiftly followed with Shikamaru over her shoulder. Gripping firmly onto the top branches of the tree, the two women spent much of their remaining chakra in staying glued to their anchor. As the wave subsided several minutes later, Kisame's cackle still raged through the area.
"How'd you like that, Kakashi?" He grinned, risking the open of his eyes to see Kakashi's limp form struggling to stay standing on the water, much of his attire torn apart.
"You still got that mask on? I'm beginning to think you were born with it. And people call me a freak…"
His taunts told Kakashi something. They told him that Kisame was so sure of his victory now, he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings. Kakashi was. And he knew now they weren't alone.
"You like to watch life with that little red eye of yours, right? Well, which one of your friends do you want to watch die?" Kisame asked ominously. Kakashi couldn't move, his muscles were in too much agony. It was chakra alone that kept him on his feet, and if he risked a step in the water, he'd fall. He had to keep him talking.
"You think that this is over! You just flooded a whole section of forest! Ninja will be bearing down on this place so fast you won't know what hit you, you manic bastard!" Kakashi spat.
"Hahaha! Getting a little touchy, I see. You foresaw your death, and it seems you can't take it." Kisame relished in his opponent's helplessness.
"Look at you; you've spent so much chakra so soon. That wound is just gonna get worse, and you've a whole village to contend with. I'm just one man, Konoha will raise another ten of me in the blink of an eye. You wasted so much time and effort on me, you didn't even think to save some for the main event."
"Oh, and what would that be?" Kisame finished this sentence with a mixture of emotion. He began it with a taunt, but by the time the last syllable left his lips he knew his error. He was too busy mocking the man before him, he didn't even feel ripples beneath his feet. Someone softer than Kakashi, yet who swung harder. Indeed, as he turned, he saw the figures of Hinata, Kurenai and the now conscious Shikamaru steering clear; watching expectantly. Kisame turned to Kakashi and growled.
"You see Hoshigaki; if it cost you all this to beat me, then what chance have you against her?" His eyes gestured upwards. Within the sunlight, a shadow emerged. It grew, and took shape. The first thing he saw was a fist. The next thing he saw was the ground deep beneath his water, and several of his teeth float away.
Tsunade; of the Sannin.
"I thought you'd never attack him…" Kakashi sighed, as Hinata and Shikamaru dashed to his position, relieving him the stress of standing. Tsunade glanced around the flooded area and sighed. The damage to the forest was pretty severe. She took the time to note the floating corpses of her ninja.
Staring grimly at the water beneath her feet, Tsunade spoke to the remaining party.
"Shikamaru, Kurenai; Take Kakashi to the village immediately. Inform any person you see to evacuate the area. This scum will pay for what he's done here."
Kisame had demonstrated demonic powers with a lust for blood unfathomable to the Leaf Shinobi, and, yet, these words spoken by their Hokage were the most terrifying they had heard the entire day.
Knowing they weren't needed here, the two instructed ninja left with Kakashi's exhausted body. Hinata dared not to breathe, lest Tsunade take out her rage on her.
"Hinata Hyuga; your teammate is positioned with Anko along the western border. I wish you to reposition yourself there." Tsunade's order was firm, yet she sounded composed, not wishing to deter Hinata.
"L-lady Tsunade, he mentioned H-Hanabi, w-why have you-"
"Why have I sent her out of the village? You and Neji are amongst the most loyal ninja the village has raised for over a generation. The ties that bided your clan are wavering in this 'stream' of war," she gestured to the water made by Kisame, whilst Hinata's delicate eyes began to water again, "and your true, brave colours are what are emerging from it. You hid yourselves, reclusive – not unlike you Uchiha brethren, yet the Will of Fire - passed down from my forefathers and sensei - is what burns deep inside your heart. You and Neji carry that flame; that is what saved you today. Have faith in your sister, Hinata, for she will bear that flame too."
Hinata stood resolutely before her leader; an idol for ninja, a symbol of bravery, a beacon of hope – Hinata never thought it were possible for her to feel more respect for her Hokage than she had right there.
"Oh, and stop crying, it's beneath you." Tsunade finished, turned to her with a coy smile.
Hinata sheepishly wiped the tears from her cheeks, and requested why she would go to Shino.
"Root ANBU are positioned there, and I sensed several were here – I doesn't take a genius to guess they didn't lend you guys a hand. They want us to think Hoshgaki here is the culprit to the assassination attempts, and they'll be trying to spread the word. Since Anko's group are the only ones reporting on Root activity, you'll have to start there."
Hinata saw the plan; Root would have the border patrols believe that Kisame has engaged with the Leaf. They would in turn descend on this location, no one would assume the Hokage herself was a part of the fight, and take it upon themselves to defend the Fire Nation. This would leave the border sparsely populated – Root wanted the assassins to enter the Land of Fire, and come for their Feudal Lord.
"…but why would Root want that?" Hinata was of a more trusting nature than Tsunade – or indeed anyone connected to her office.
"…because Danzo of Root ANBU wants what I have." Tsunade answered grimly.
A gush of water arose before them both, as Kisame's wounded figure stood before them again.
"Quite an accusation you have their, Lady Hokage. Having trouble with your subordinates? A sure sign of weak leadership!" He laughed.
"Laugh all you want, it'll help me tell how many teeth I knocked out of that thick skull of yours," She grinned menacingly, "I like to keep count."
Hinata took this as her signal to leave. Indeed as she fleeted away, she heard the first roars of combat from Tsunade and Kisame. It would be a long time, before she ever learned of what became of either.
…And, everyone is gonna have to wait a long while to see how Tsunade and Kisame mix it up. Well, was the chapter worth it? Good, bad? Next chapter will take the story right back to our heroes, who are about to do quite a bit of mixing up themselves!