Wow I really can't believe my well of ideas hasn't run dry yet, let's hope it stays that way. Anyway I'm glad you tuned in for my latest chapter so without further ado I give to you chapter 19!
Chapter 19: Assistance
Zabuza had just managed to avoid a well timed lighting strike by Kakashi and skidded away a safe distance.
"Hehe" Zabuza chuckled mirthfully. "So lookin to end me quick to save those babies of yours eh Kakashi?"
"You continue to refer to my students with derogatory names, yet they've forced a Jinchuuriki to reveal his trump card surely that's a testament of their abilities?" Kakashi countered.
"Maybe." Zabuza reluctantly agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact that they can't win. Even with your assistance Utakata would crush all of you." Zabuza confirmed.
The tomoe around Kakashi's Sharingan began to spin as he continued to talk. "I'm willingly to bet your partner doesn't have complete control over his biju." Kakashi proposed. "It's no secret the reason you were forced to flee Kirigakure after all."
Zabuza's eyes slightly narrowed but Kakashi pressed on.
"You failed in an attempt to assassinate the Mizukage." Kakashi phrased. "If you truly had a Jinchuuriki with the ability to control their power at will, you probably would have already gone back for a second attempt am I right?"
"Oh I attend too, but my fundings aren't exactly sufficient at the moment." Zabuza retorted.
"So aligning yourself with low lives like Gato, just to make a quick ryo? How sad." Kakashi mocked.
"Sad for you!" Zabuza shouted while recklessly charging in towards Kakashi whom simply seemed to fade from existence.
Stopping in his tracks Zabuza surveyed his surroundings carefully. "Come on out you coward?"
"Coward?" Kakashi's voiced echoed from seemingly everywhere. "That's quite the statement coming from someone who prefers to fight their opponents while hiding in mist, wouldn't you agree?"
"Don't mock me, you masked bastard." Zabuza warned coldly.
"Once again you're one to talk considering those bandages around your face." Kakashi returned casually.
"Now you're really starting to piss me off." Zabuza claimed just as he felt the force of something driving into his gut. "oof" Zabuza grunted as he went skidding across the ground painfully. 'How in the hell?' Zabuza thought, just as he recalled the spinning motion Kakashi's Sharingan had performed. 'That's it I must be under Genjutsu.' Zabuza accessed as he made to release the Genjutsu only to be struck viciously in the face before he could perform the required Jutsu.
"Damn you!" Zabuza shouted as he swiftly pulled out a kunai and plunged it into his hand, to break the Genjutsu.
Kakashi suddenly became visible again just as he tried to ram his lighting infused hand through Zabuza's chest.
It took all of Zabuza's efforts to maneuver his body to avoid a fatal blow.
"Pretty good reflexes you have." Kakashi acknowledged, as he watched Zabuza gripping his bleeding shoulder. "But you won't be able to perform hand seals or use that heavy sword of yours in the condition you're in." Kakashi accessed, as he pulled himself out of his fighting stance. "This fight is over."
"Hehe, you really think it's that's easy?" Zabuza questioned. "I'll fight you with one arm if I have too." Zabuza claimed as he let go of his bleeding arm and painfully hefted up his zanbato with his good arm, and pointed it towards Kakashi. "This fight continues into I say otherwise."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes dangerously on Zabuza. "I gave you a chance to leave here with your life, but you spat it in my face."
"I'm a ninja, and like you I won't abandon the mission." Zabuza confirmed.
"I don't have time for this." Kakashi stated as he turned his back to Zabuza. "My students need me, and I won't stick around to satisfy your ego."
"Didn't I tell you, you don't have a choice in the matter!" Zabuza roared as he sprang towards Kakashi with surprisingly swift speed for his condition.
(Meanwhile)
Kimimaro stared in shock at Utakata's new form before he gripped his head in confusion. 'Chakra that makes my head hurt, that's not a good sign.' Kimimaro mused to himself as he watched the wind whip about violently around Utakata.
Meanwhile Sasuke had collapsed to his knees and appeared to be in a state of shock. "This Chakra I've never felt anything so…terrible it's so thick I feel like I'm drowning in it."
"Pull yourself together Sasuke." Kimimaro commanded. "Now's not the time to go to pieces."
Sasuke shakily lifted himself back to his feet and nervously shot a glance towards Yakumo who had gone comatose herself. "Whatever Yakumo had planned, it doesn't look like she's going to finish in time." Sasuke stated to Kimimaro.
Kimimaro peered at Yakumo from the corner of his eye and surely enough she was frozen still, obviously petrified by the chakra pumping from Utakata. "Yakumo snap out of it!" Kimimaro shouted. "We need you!"
Yakumo shook her head trying to remain focused on what she needed to do and shakily continued to paint her picture.
"I'm impressed you haven't scampered off yet." Utakata spoke in a tone that seemed to be echoed by another voice that wasn't quite his. "You leaf ninja truly are dedicated to your work or perhaps you're simply fools."
"Going back on a promise isn't our way." Kimimaro replied as numerous bones sprang from his body. "We'll win in the end." Kimimaro claimed as he darted towards Utakata and launched himself into the air. "Ninja art: Bone Burst!" Kimimaro shouted as each spiked bone protruding from his body fired out of his skin with immense velocity towards Utakata.
The shower of bones rained down on Utakata and hit with tremendous force, kicking up dust and debris that obscured Utakata from view.
Sasuke eyes widened. "Did that actually work?" Sasuke muttered but was answered with a chuckle courtesy of Utakata.
"Nice try" Utakata praised from above Kimimaro, as he delivered a vicious blow that sent Kimimaro hurdling towards the ground like a rocket.
Kimimaro hit the ground with such force his body had created a small crater.
"Kimimaro!" Yakumo shouted.
"Focus on your task!" Sasuke shouted. "He'll be fine." Sasuke added as he made his choice to intervene. "Flipping through numerous hand seals Sasuke shouted "Fire style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Utakata didn't even bother to block the fireball, but allowed it to hit his chakra cloak. The fireball engulfed Utakata's body in flame but quickly dispersed leaving him unharmed.
"I commend your efforts, but I'll ask you one more time to stand down." Utakata offered. "I don't take pleasure and needlessly killing."
"Then…why are you trying…to kill the bridge builder?" Kimimaro choked out as he pried himself from the ground.
"It's merely a job, nothing personal." Utakata explained. "To be honest I'd much rather not kill the man, but orders are orders."
Meanwhile Sasuke stared at Kimimaro in astonishment. It was clear for him to see that Kimimaro had suffered many fractured and broken bones from the attack he had been through, but somehow he was still standing.
"You're persistent." Utakata muttered with a frown. "Wouldn't it have been easier for you to simply remain down?"
Kimimaro grinned as his arm popped back into place along with his shoulder and knee. "I won't give up until I'm dead." Kimimaro stated calmly.
Utakata narrowed his eyes. "Very well you've all seem to have made your choice, so I suppose I'll have to make mine as well." Utakata recited as he pulled his bubble blower to his lips. "Demonic bubble explosion." He muttered while blowing into his bubble blower and sending out countless tiny red bubbles that fired towards Sasuke."
"Damn it!" Kimimaro shouted as he positioned his hands towards the bubbles. "Drilling finger bullets!" Kimimaro chorused as he fired off finger bullets in quick succession to try and rid the field of the small red bubbles.
Once Kimimaro's bones made contact with Utakata's bubbles they exploded on impact. The explosion sent Sasuke flying across the clearing and impacting with a nearby tree splitting it in half. Sasuke slouched over as he coughed up blood.
"That wasn't wise." Utakata mused. "Your friend isn't nearly as durable as yourself, perhaps you should keep that in mind?" Utakata suggested.
'He's right.' Kimimaro thought while shifting a nervous glance towards Sasuke, who was now shakily trying to lift himself back up into a standing position.
"You look tired; let me assist you in resting." Utakata jested, while slamming his thick chakra tail on the ground that sent a shockwave towards Sasuke.
Sasuke eyes widened as he was struck violently by the shockwave and sent rocketing away, tearing through numerous trees before finally coming to a stop.
"Sasuke!" Kimimaro shouted in pure shock as he watched Sasuke fall face over in the dirt completely unmoving.
"Perhaps you'll finally listen to reason." Utakata questioned as he began to walk towards Yakumo. "Now relinquish the bridge builder to me at once." Utakata demanded as he advanced on Yakumo who was frantically painting.
"You'll have to go through me first to do it." Kimimaro hissed, as he landed in front of Utakata, and positioned himself for another round.
"I don't understand, why do you continue to resist me?" Utakata asked curiously. "Surely the lives of your teammates mean more to you then some client that probably lied to you to begin with."
Kimimaro answer was to try and pull another bone sword from his shoulder but found he couldn't. 'Shit, I don't have enough chakra to speed up my calcium production.'
"Well look at that, It would appear there is a limit to just how many bones you can sprout huh?" Utakata mused as he tried to advance further on them only to stop in his tracks. "What the hell? What's..this feeling?" Utakata questioned as he brought his hands up to his face and stared at them in shock.
"My hands their getting smaller." Utakata stated with a slight trace of fear in his voice.
"Not just your hands." Yakumo piped in as she showed him the portrait she had been working on.
"What the hell is this?" Utakata demanded to know as he stared at the picture that featured him surrounded by giant grass, flowers, and trees.
"The world is about to seem a lot larger to you." Yakumo explained, as Utakata began to shrink. "You'll be no bigger then an actual slug by the time this is complete." She added.
"Impossible!" Utakata shouted as he tired to resist the effects. "A Jutsu like this doesn't' exist!"
"Anything is possible for a Kurama that has inherited our bloodline in its entirety." Yakumo countered just as she suddenly felt strange herself. "What da…" Yakumo muttered before she began to scream.
Kimimaro's eyes widened as he darted to her side. "What's going on!" He shouted while trying to calm her down.
"His…Chakra…it's too strong…he's resisting my Jutsu." Yakumo explained through gritted teeth as she slammed her palm on the portrait to add more chakra to it.
"I won't lose here!" Utakata shouted as he began to slowly grow back to his normal size, while the opposite happened to Yakumo.
"Yakumo-chan you're shrinking!" Kimimaro shouted frantically.
"I know" Yakumo hissed out painfully while pumping as much chakra into the portrait as she could. "If anyone can overpower my Jutsu I'll suffer the effects instead of them."
Meanwhile Utakata's cloak was beginning to dissipate as he used all his chakra to fend off Yakumo's Jutsu. With one final shout Utakata's cloak disappeared and he broke free of Yakumo's Jutsu.
Kimimaro had suddenly become speechless as he watched Yakumo shrink into a tiny version of herself no taller then five inches.
As this was going on Utakata collapsed to his knees and panted from exertion. 'Damn to think it would take that much chakra to over power her, truly a freighting Jutsu.' Utakata stated as he turned his attention towards where he knew Zabuza was fighting.
Seeing that Utakata was pretty much empty on chakra Kimimaro turned his attention to Yakumo as he picked her up in his hands. "Are you alright?"
"I'll be fine once I've recovered enough chakra to reverse this." Yakumo answered. "But never mind me, that guy wasted all his chakra to counter my Jutsu, now's the time to finish him!"
Kimimaro nodded while placing Yakumo on his shoulder and limping towards Utakata.
"To think I'd actually be beaten." Utakata stated, as though the mere thought of it was humorous.
Spying a discarded spike bone on the ground Kimimaro bent down to pick it up and continued on his path towards Utakata. "Its ashamed things had to turn out like this." Kimimaro stated catching Utakata's attention. "You have strength that's being wasted on things that are far beneath you."
"I'm sure you know as well as I do, we do what we must to survive in this chaotic world of ours." Utakata confirmed thoughtfully as he suddenly felt Zabuza's chakra plummet. "Master Zabuza." Utakata muttered, as he turned his attention back to Kimimaro and tiredly lifted himself back up. "Sorry, but I've got to end things here." Utakata confirmed as he became encased in a bubble. "But don't worry we'll settle this another time." He confirmed as the bubble popped and he was gone with it.
Kimimaro sighed in relief as he collapsed to his knees.
"Damn it Kimimaro-kun keep it together! We've got to go check on Sasuke!" Yakumo shouted in Kimimaro's ear.
Remembering what had happened to Sasuke, Kimimaro quickly picked himself back up and dragged himself towards where Sasuke had been knocked to.
(Meanwhile)
Kakashi stared at Zabuza who slouched against a tree riddled with kunai impassively. "I can't say you weren't deserving of your fate." Kakashi stated coldly as he began to walk towards Zabuza intent on finishing what he'd started.
'I can't feel Utakata's chakra, does that mean he already accomplished his goal or did those brats somehow beat him?' Zabuza wondered as Kakashi advanced closer.
Kakashi suddenly stopped when Utakata appeared a Zabuza's side and placed his hand on Zabuza shoulder.
"Utakata did you complete the mission?" Zabuza grunted out.
"Sorry Master Zabuza but I failed." Utakata answered dryly before he disappeared in a swirl of wind with Zabuza.
'He failed.' Kakashi thought while letting out a sigh of relief. Pulling his headband back over his eye he vanished in a swirl of leaves.
A moment later he appeared in the area Team seven had confronted Utakata and surveyed the devastation. 'How the hell did they fight with such intensity?' Kakashi wondered as he spotted his team, well two members of it at least.
Quickly making his way over towards them he stared at Sasuke in shock. The boy was badly battered, but Kakashi had no doubt that his wounds weren't life threatening. He also took note of Kimimaro's haggard condition, but took comfort in seeing that the boy was at least conscious unlike Sasuke.
Kneeling down next to his two students he asked quietly. "What happened to Yakumo?"
"I'm right here!" Yakumo answered from Kimimaro's shoulder that wasn't in Kakashi's line of sight.
Kakashi quirked his eyebrow as he tilted his head to look at the tiny girl. "What happened?" He asked with genuine intrigue.
"Jutsu backfired." Yakumo answered bluntly.
Not needing any further details, Kakashi simply nodded. "Where's Tazuna?" he added.
"He should be arriving any second now." Yakumo answered just as Tazuna appeared to just faze into existence before them.
"Kakashi slouched down. "Good we were able to make it out of that one in one peace at least." Kakashi stated while whipping a bit of blood from his bleeding arm, and flipping through hand seals. Slamming his hand on the ground a small pug along with impossibly large dog appeared before him.
"Yah need me for something?" The small dog questioned in a voice that didn't fit his tiny stature in the slightest. "Yeah Pakkun, I need you to deliver a message back to the village immediately."
"What's the message?" Pakkun questioned.
"We need reinforcements." Kakashi answered as he pulled out a scroll and began writing on it. Once he finished he rolled it up and handed it to Pakkun whom took it in his mouth.
Without another word the small dog quickly took off in the direction towards the leaf village.
"So do you still think my students are just a bunch of snot nosed brats?" Kakashi asked in a joking manner as he hefted Sasuke over his shoulder.
Tazuna was still too stunned to form coherent words, considering he had witnessed the entire fight through Yakumo's eyes and so remained quiet.
"I take that as a no then." Kakashi stated with an eye smile while turning his attention to Kimimaro. "You're in no condition to walk so hop on Bulls back." Kakashi ordered while gesturing towards the large black bull dog.
Too tired to argue Kimimaro did what he was told.
"Alright we're good to go, let's get a move on Mr. Tazuna." Kakashi commanded as they continued on their track to the land of waves.
(The Following Day)
Naruto smirked to himself as he took notice of the village coming up a distance away. "Yeah baby, our first mission and it went without a hitch! I guess we're just that awesome eh Shizune-sensei!"
"You did well Naruto-kun." Shizune offered. "But don't go letting it go to your head. A cocky ninja is a dead ninja." She added.
"I know, you and Kassan have told me that a million times." Naruto returned. "I'm just happy everything went so smoothly.
"Yes I believe, Naruto-san's excitement is well placed." Haku agreed. "Perhaps a celebration is in order upon our return?" Haku offered considering he felt much better after having the time to sort out taking his first life.
"I'd also like that." Hinata added.
"But don't you have some weird initiation you've got to do with those panthers?" Naruto questioned. "I mean that's what the little hair ball said after all."
"I think I can afford to wait a little bit longer." Hinata confirmed although if anything she was trying to put it off considering she was uncertain about whatever the clan of animals could have in store for her.
Shizune was about to add something to that but pulled up her hand to signal her team to stop.
"What's the deal Shizune-sensei?" Naruto barked out. "We're almost to the village."
"There's someone coming." Shizune answered as an Anbu appeared before them.
"Team six?" The masked man questioned.
"Team six" Shizune answered back. "Can we help you?"
Nodding his head the Anbu pulled out a scroll and pitched it towards Shizune before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
"That was weird." Naruto muttered as he watched Shizune open the scroll and begin to read its contents.
Narrowing her eyes on the scroll, Shizune turned her attention to her team. "Team we're being reassigned and dispatched immediately."
"You mean we actually get another mission?" Naruto questioned trying to mask his excitement.
"That's correct." Shizune answered. "We're to head to our new assignment right away." Shizune ordered as she turned back around to face the way they had come from.
"But where are we going?" Hinata questioned curiously.
"To the land of waves, now let's go!" Shizune commanded as she leapt off into the trees with her team following close behind.
(Sometime Later)
Yakumo grinned at her handy work as she observed Kimimaro's crudely wrapped bandages. "Not bad if I do say so myself."
"Not that I'm not grateful, but these wraps are somewhat pointless." Kimimaro stated trying his best not to sound rude. "Once I've gathered enough chakra I'll simply re-mend the fractures I've sustained through by abilities."
Yakumo frowned. "Well in the meantime wear these until you can heal them on your own." She ordered. "I'll go check on Sasuke, his wraps keep getting bloody and probably need changing."
Kakashi watched Yakumo head off towards the room they had Sasuke in before he addressed Kimimaro. "You know she's only trying to help, perhaps you could have been a bit more appreciative?"
"I wasn't trying to sound ungrateful; I was merely stating the facts." Kimimaro answered truthfully.
Kakashi eye smiled. "I'm only kidding." Kakashi confirmed. "I only hope back up arrives soon, otherwise Sasuke will remain ineffective throughout the duration of this mission."
"How do you know they'll be sending someone that can heal him?" Kimimaro questioned curiously.
"That's because I requested a specific team, one with a very talented medic." Kakashi answered.
Kimimaro smirked. "You actually requested team six?"
Kakashi made to answer but was interrupted by a childish voice.
"It doesn't matter how many people you send for…you can't win against Gato."
Both Kimimaro and Kakashi stared at the small eight year old boy that wore overalls and a hat that shaded his eyes.
"Keep your opinions to yourself." Kimimaro warned, for he had enough of the kid trying to put them down. "We just put our lives on the line to see that your grandfather returned here in one peace, and because of that my teammate was drastically injured. So try and show a little appreciation for what we're trying to do."
"That's just it, you shouldn't be trying in the first place, you'll just wind up dead." The boy confirmed. "So do yourself a favor and leave while you still have the chance."
"Inari!" A feminine voice shouted. "What have I told you? You're t accommodate our guest, not harass them."
"Pft, I'm going out." Inari remarked as he stormed out of the room and out the door.
"Please forgive him, he's just been through so much."
"It's fine Tsunami-san." Kakashi stated calmly. "It'll take more then an eight year old to hurt our feelings, right Kimimaro?" Kakashi added trying to calm the boy down, considering he could feel Kimimaro's current anger."
"Yeah." Kimimaro answered quietly while standing up and grabbing the crutches Tsunami had given him. "I think I need a bit of fresh air." He added while limping out of the room and out the door.
"Will he be alright?" Tsunami asked worriedly.
"He'll be fine." Kakashi assured Tsunami. "His last fight is probably just weighing heavily on his mind. Kimimaro has always had a need to help and protect others. After watching his comrade get hurt in battle he probably feels that he failed in his duty. Although I said it would take more then an eight year to hurt our feelings, I'm pretty sure Inari's words were probably like adding salt to an open wound to Kimimaro."
Tsunami cast her head down in shame for her son's actions. "He must really have a strong devotion to his duties to feel so strongly about them. Such maturity is almost scary in a child."
"Yeah, but Kimimaro was introduced to the cruelty of our world a long time ago." Kakashi explained. "He's been forced to grow and mature much faster then anyone of his age should be asked to."
"I see." Tsunami muttered. "But regardless I'll make Inari apologize to Kimimaro-kun for what he said." Tsunami assured Kakashi.
Elsewhere Kimimaro was making his way down the streets. The place was unbelievably gloomy, and radiated a hopelessness that Kimimaro found disgusting. As he took in the defeated expressions the villagers wore, the more his hatred for the man that caused it grew.
These people needed his help, but recalling his last fight he questioned just how useful he would be to them. It was obvious he was outmatched by the one named Utakata. It had taken everything they had and then some to bring the young man down.
Kimimaro was suddenly brought out of his thoughts by a very familiar voice.
"Wow, just who in the hell kicked your ass, or better yet who in the hell wrapped you up like a mummy?"
Kimimaro smirked as he lifted his head. "It's a long story Naruto, and one I'm sure you'll be most interested to hear."
Well people there you have it, chapter nineteen done in complete, I hope it was satisfactory. Anyway let's see…well I guess I really don't have nothing to say considering there wasn't a new Naruto manga last week so I'm dry on any discussion topic. So I guess I'll just say please review and I'll catch you with the next chapter.