Chapter 22: Momochi Zabuza

The remaining trip to the wave country was carried out in a tense silence and every noise was treated as a potential threat. Naruto walked along with a grin on his face as his eyes shot in every direction. He was nearly trembling in excitement at the idea of his first real battle. He just knew that he would handle it perfectly…and Sasuke too of course, but mostly him.

As they stepped off of the small motor boat and onto one of the Wave Country's islands Naruto's ears perked up even more. "Oi, Kyuubi-chan."

Kyuubi poked its small fuzzy red head out of the leather bag on Naruto's hip. (What is it kit? I was sleeping.)

"Do you hear anything?"

(Aside from your annoying voice?)

Naruto glared. "Yes, aside from my annoying voice."

(Aa,) Kyuubi answered ignoring Naruto's icy tone. (There is someone with a really big sword about fifty meters away. Now leave me alone and don't wake me up again.)

"Hai, hai," Naruto said while rolling his eyes.

"What did he say, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked as she turned her pearly white eyes to face him.

"He said that there is a nin with a sword fifty meters away."

Sasuke nodded in acceptance. "Hinata."

"Hai." Hinata clasped her hands together in a seal. "Byakugan."

Veins appeared around her eyes as they began to focus not only on but through everything.

"What do you see," Sasuke asked.

"I can't see anyone…wait! There is…" Her eyes widened at the same time as Sakura's.

"Everyone duck!" They shouted as they each tackled someone to the ground; Sakura taking down Tazuna and Hinata taking down Naruto while Sasuke dropped on his own. Just as they all hit the dirt a large head cleaver sword spun around over top of them only to become imbedded in a thick tree trunk a few feet away from the Senshi. As quickly as they all dropped, the four corner kids were back on their feet in a ready position; each dropping into their half of their respective partner form.

"Who are you?" Sasuke demanded as he crouched lower to the ground.

"Momochi Zabuza," Zabuza said from his position on the handle of his sword. "But you only need know me as your executioner."

Sasuke glared, Sakura scoffed, Hinata frowned, and Naruto laughed. "Ha!" he said. "We'll see about that!"

"Yes," Zabuza grinned. "I suppose we will."

XXXXXXXXXX

Itachi just stared. "You what?"

A harsh sob escaped Hikari's lips and she dropped her face into her palms. "Itachi, we might be having a baby!" she cried. "What are we going to do?"

Itachi stepped forward and wrapped his shivering wife in his arms. "Don't cry 'Kari," he said as he rocked her back and forth. "We'll figure something out."

"But I won't be able to handle it!" Hikari said her voice muffled by Itachi's gi. "We'll lose the baby! I can't lose my baby Itachi! I just can't!"

"It's going to be fine," Itachi's voice was firm. "I won't let anything happen to you or our baby."

Hikari didn't answer as more tears fell from her already puffy eyes. Itachi sighed and pulled her closer as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

'I'll think of something,' he thought. 'But what am I going to think of…?'

XXXXXXXXXX

Yume flinched as he finally awoke. He groaned and doubled over into a fetal position as he tried to overcome the pain in his body. His left hand gripped his arm so tightly that his fingernails drew blood but, he ignored it as he tried to make his body respond to his signals. At long last the pain subsided and he was able to push himself onto his knees.

His blue eyes opened slowly and the wrinkles around his eyes crinkled as he looked around his cell. Everything looked the same. His face fell.

"It didn't work…" his voice was horse from disuse but the despair was still clear. Suddenly he paused as his eyes landed on a small hole in his cell wall. His eyes widened in shock before his expression morphed into one of triumph. He had done it. He had actually survived using his healing chakra as a weapon. He grinned. Six years of practice and honing and finally he had results. Now all he had to do was over come the pain long enough to escape from this hell hole…

XXXXXXXXXXX

"What's the plan Sasuke-teme?" Naruto whispered as he inched closer to his team captain.

"We stay and fight," Sasuke answered. "But Tazuna will be a hindrance."

"Hinata and I will take him to his home," Sakura spoke up. "After all, the completion of the mission is what is most important, ne Sasuke-kun?"

"Aa."

Hinata and Sakura closed in around Tazuna as they moved him backwards and away from striking distance.

"Trying to run?" Zabuza said. "Sorry but I have a job to accomplish."

Sasuke's eyes widened as the missing nin suddenly vanished. "Naruto!"

"I know, I know!" Naruto said as he whipped around to place himself next to Tazuna and the girls.

"Get out of here Sakura!" Sasuke snapped as he jumped between her and Zabuza's sword. His kunai flashed and using it he held the large blade at bay. "Naruto! Do it now!"

"Hai!" Naruto said and his hands snapped together in a seal. "Kage bushin no jutsu!" Three Naruto clones appeared next to the original and each one reached into his pouch and pulled out a kunai.

"Here I come teme!" the four Naruto's shouted at Zabuza before they began to rush him. The missing nin didn't even spare the four blonds a glance as he skillfully dodged out of the way and wove in and out between their rapid kicks and punches. Growing bored Zabuza swung his sword in a large arch taking out the three clones and forcing the original to leap swiftly back to place more ground between them.

Naruto smirked at Zabuza before he flickered out of sight leaving only one word behind him. "Sucker."

Zabuza didn't have time to duck before Sasuke's fist slammed onto his nose. Sasuke smirked as he heard Zabuza grunt as his face gave way, but his smirk quickly turned to a frown as the missing nin vanished in a splash of water.

"A water clone!" Sasuke growled.

"Hehehehehe," Zabuza laughed from behind him. "You're not very good are you boy?" Zabuza's sword was swung in a wide arc and caught Sasuke right in his side.

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock as Sakura screamed in horror.

"SASUKEEEE!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ichigo sighed inwardly as she held lightly onto Gaara's arm as he walked her back to her home. She wasn't sure why but Gaara seemed to be a bit irritated. He had been since she had met up with him just before their training and then later he was even more irritated as they left Shibuki-sama's ceremony.

Ichigo bit her lip as she tried to raise her courage enough to ask Gaara why he was upset. Sure the two of them had known each other for years but that didn't make speaking with and angry Gaara any less frightening. Finally Ichigo blew out a fierce breath and pulled Gaara to an abrupt stop.

"Gaara-kun," Ichigo said.

"Hn?"

"What's wrong?"

Gaara glanced down at her quickly before he jerked his face away from her and began walking again. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me," Ichigo said as she glared in his general direction. "I know you far better then that. Why are you so upset?" She paused for a moment before she continued. "Did I…did I do something wrong?"

This time it was Gaara that pulled them to a stop. "Why would you ask that?"

Ichigo bit her lip again as he sightless eyes stared off into the space in front of her. "You've been acting cold to me since I met you earlier. What did I do?"

Gaara didn't answer instead he stiffly asked a question of his own. "Why did you ask me to walk you home?"

"What?" Ichigo's eyes were wide with surprise. "What do you mean?"

"You could have asked Shibuki, he was standing next to you during the whole ceremony. Why didn't you just ask him if you like him so much?"

"Like him so much?" Ichigo asked with a light blush.

"Yes."

"Why would you think something like that?"

"….Hn."

Finally realization dawned on the shorter red head and she grinned. Pulling herself closer Ichigo went up on her tip toes and pressed her lips to the very corner of Gaara's mouth before she pulled back swiftly with a dark red blush. "Stupid. Come on, I need to get home."

"A-aa," Gaara answered with a stunned blush of his own. "Let's go."

XXXXXXXXX

Warm liquid splattered in all directions as it soaked deep into Zabuza's clothes and splattered his skin. His eyes were crazed over by blood lust as he grinned evilly at the scene before him.

Tears slid down Sakura cheeks and broke like fragile crystals against the ground. Time seemed to slow in her vision as she watched Sasuke's startled frame be mercilessly cleaved in two. Finally everything snapped back to reality and she screamed. "SASUKEEEE!"

"Don't worry Sakura," A familiar voice said from above them. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Sasuke!" Two stunned voices cried out as Sakura slumped to the ground in relief.

"A water clone!" Zabuza said. "How?"

Sasuke smirked and looked right into Zabuza's angry black eyes with his blood red ones. "You obviously do not know who I am."

"Shuringan?" Zabuza gaped in shock. "Then you are…"

"Uchiha Sasuke, but you only need know me as you executioner."

End Chapter 22

Kaliea: Sorry it's so short. I've been having major writers block. Also, you have all probably noticed that this isn't a Nin Scroll; the reason being I barely have enough time to write the chapters now meaning that I have no extra time to spend looking up info for new scrolls. If any of you would like to submit stuff I'll make it into a scroll, my email is on my profile page, but other then that I don't really know if I will be able to post any more scrolls. Sorry! Please review!

Review Answers:

Tears like Crystals: Thank-you : )

Susa-chan: Hey, to each their own. If you like yaoi that is totally up to you. Anywho, I'm glad you like my fic still and I'm glad that you approve of the corner kids personalities. I decided that I didn't want to stray to far away from their original selves. Just a few things here and there. (like Sasuke sticking up for Naruto)

SunshineandDaisys: Okay, one last hint about Kane: re-read the second paragraph of your review for chapter 21. If you still don't get it then you'll just have to wait, ne? ; ) As for Sakura's line, that was probably my favorite part to write. I'm gonna have a lot of fun with Sakura-chan's new confidence.

Anglegurl079: No, no, the baby really is Itachi's. About the 'Zabuza/Haku' question, I can't tell you yet. Sorry!

Danny-171984: Hm hmhm hm hmmmm.

Dragon Man 180: No problem! I'm here to help! Though I can't promise that all of my help is worth anything….Anywho! Thanks for your constant reviews!

Shinobi Darkbeak: Thanks!

Kaliea: Thank-you once again to all of my reviewers! You make my day. And I'm sorry about the late update. One of my friends was killed in a car accident and I've not really been up to writing. Till next time, ja ne!