Wait, Moriko knows Zabuza? How did that happen? Find out here In chapter fifteen!
Chapter fifteen: Zabuza, a friend, an enemy, a what?
Moriko stared up at the bandaged man, shocked. "Zabuza, is that you?" The man stared down at her coldly. "The Red Death, fancy killing you here." She rolled her eyes. "Guess you don't remember me, do you? After all…" She pulled her hood down, removing her mask and modulator. The murderer's eyes widened. "It's been years since we last met." "Moriko…" He whispered, his body going numb from shock. Sasuke, sakura, and Tazuna's eyes widened. That was the Red Death?! "Your hair is much longer than it used to be, Moriko." She chuckled. "I grew it out. Nice to see you too. Where's Haku?"
A figure dressed in shinobi hunter apparel leapt from a nearby tree. The blonde smiled. "Long time no see, Haku. How've you been?" The figure took off his mask, revealing a rather feminine face. Naruto stared, drooling slightly. Moriko chuckled. "Haku's a boy, Naru." The genin's faces were priceless, their eyes wide and their mouths dropped open in shock. "So what do you want with us?" "We were sent after Tazuna. Please steo aside, moriko. I'd rather not have to kill you." The blonde smirked, getting into a fighting stance. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Zabu." Kakashi glance over at her, curious. "Zabu?"
Her gaze was focused on the other man. "Yeah, Zabu and I were pretty close friends after I escaped Orochimaru, but that's a story for another day. Zabu and I were an assassin team, nicknamed the "Crimson demon twins." We aren't really twins, but our tactics were eerily similar. I had to leave the team, since I didn't want to work for Gato. You're still working for him, aren't you?" The man nodded. "You've grown, Moriko." The man's eyes ran up her frame to meet hers. "But enough chitchat. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you, Moriko." Kakashi glared, kunai in hand, running at Zabuza full speed. "I won't let that happen!" With his free hand, he pulled his headband up to reveal he had sharingan.
Moriko's mouth dropped open, as did Sasuke's. Except, Moriko's shocked expression was paired with a pretty pink blush. The two men fought against one another, until Kakashi was tricked by a shadow clone and trapped inside a prison of water. "Looks like you're done for, Hatake. After I kill off the brats and Tazuna, you're next." Moriko snarled, causing everyone's attention to go to her. "Zabuza! LET. HIM. Go!" Her pupils slitted once again, and her canine's grew sharper. The strange silver aura surrounded her, burning her jacket into nothing but ash. Her nails grew sharper and longer, turning into claws. The bandaged man smirked.
"So he means a lot to you. Tell me, why is that?" "None of your fucking business, that's why!" "Moriko!" The girl turned her gaze to Kakashi. "Take everyone and get out of here, He can't go too far or he'll lose control of the jutsu." "Like hell I'm leaving you here, kakashi." She dropped her hands to her side, lightning sparking in her palms. Without another word, she sprinted at him, easily taking care of the clone. She stopped a few feet from him, sending a whip of lightning at the bandaged man. The water lifted in front of him, the lightning crackling inside before diffusing. She smirked, allowing her to sink into the water, disappearing. She already knew that the genin were using the time to formulate a plan. She watched as Zabuza created another clone. She swam silently underneath the globe of water. "Water style, body transfer no jutsu!" The prison shimmered slightly as her body was sucked into the globe, pushing kakashi out to freedom instead. The globe solidified once more and kakashi broke through the surface, taking the familiar fighting stance. Zabuza's eyes widened, glancing down at the prison to see Moriko smirking, flipping him the bird.
His eyes narrowed. Years after their last encounter, and she could still get under his skin, into his head, through his jutsu. "Moriko." Her smirk faltered slightly, before turning into a slight frown. "If I hadn't worked for Gato, do you t think that perhaps…. We would have been more than just partners?" Kakashi scowled, and naruto began choking on air, coughing violently. Moriko shrugged. "Who knows, besides, there's no point in what ifs now. Can't change the past Zabu, just the future." He was silent, before lifting the globe of water into the air, throwing her into kakashi's arms.
"Haku." The boy turned to face his companion. "We're leaving. Moriko, don't think that this means we won't be back. We'll have to continue this battle a little later." The two disappeared in a swirl of pure white mist, leaving the group that they had attacked just moments earlier. The group was silent for a moment, before Moriko glanced up at the man holding her. "Kakashi.." "Hmm?" She blushed, avoiding his gaze. "You can put me down now." The jounin froze, not wanting to let her go just yet, but did as she asked. The woman sighed, running her fingers through her long blonde hair before turning to face the gaping group.
She gave a small chuckle. "Guess now's the time to start explaining myself, huh?"