Jigokuen no Taka

by Void'sEclipse

Kakashi Hatake, a man powerful and skilled; a genius or prodigy among his fellow shinobi. When this young man comes upon something found in one of Orochimaru's abandoned labs, something not human, he decides to take her to his home. When told to raise her, turn her into a shinobi, he does as told. But what happens when as they both age, and there's a stirring in his gut?KakashiXOC

16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Dance of Death

I sigh as we sit in the clearing, the full moon blaring on our forms. I know Sasuke is there; he's good at hiding but I'm better. I know he's there for sure. "That whole clan thing I told Sakura on the way here...Is a lie. To tell you the truth, a truth that no one save those I honestly trust, I have no family. At all. No mother, father, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nothing. Like you, I'm an orphan who was born without a family, nor knowing who they were. When I came to Konoha, I was scorned just like you. Because, look at me...Even though I'm pretty, I'm like some sort of fallen angel," heh, a pun. And he'll see why soon enough. "Look at me, and tell me what you see, Naruto," I tell him as I unsheathe my claws to their full length of double my finger length. I lean forward and rest my elbows on my legs, and my chin in my a palms, claws framing my face casually.

Naruto leans back on his hands casually, "I see...A kind woman, who's strong and beautiful and has a good heart".

This makes me smile. "I'm glad to hear that. Really I am. You're one of the few who looks under neath the underneath when it comes to people; you see the kindness and the good in their hearts. However Naruto, you are a rare species. I want to say one in a hundred thousand people are as kind as you. What normal people see, is a beautiful woman with demonic features," I move piece of hair behind a pointed ear. "When they see me, they see a beautiful woman with the wings of a bat, the claws of some sort of bird, the tail of some unknown creature, and the fangs of a wolf. That's what they see, and they deem me scary or weird or threatening. Do you know what a Succubus is, Naruto?" He shakes his head. "A Succubus is an ancient creature that existed even before the Sage of the Six Paths. When demons and angels and humans roamed the lands. Yes- demons and angels did exist. A Succubus, is the female result of what happens when an angel mates with a demon. The all together result- the name for both male and female angel-demon babies- is called a fallen angel. That's where the term comes from in reality. Not angels that went against God or did something to have their wings torn off. They existed on earth like humans, just as demons did, and they were the result of a demon parent and an angel parent. Anyways, Succubi are creatures known for their use of sex to hunt for pray. They'd seduce men, or even rape them in the evening in order to reproduce or simply for a meal. The end result was always death. That's how Succubi came to be known. However, I don't think that that was common for them to do; I don't think Succubi naturally came as sex monsters". I pause, "I'm getting off track. Either way, that blood line, the fallen angel as the result of a demon and an angel mating, is where I come from. Naruto, I'm not human. And the reason I say 'I think' when it comes to how they were in the past is because, I wasn't born back then. I was created by a man named Orochimaru, one of the three legendary Sanin, a student of Hokage-sama, and the only one of the three to become defective. He made me in a tube, and infused me with all sorts of stuff. I am a fallen angel...I just...Don't have parents. So you see, Naruto...I know nothing of myself, myself. All I know is what I've told you, as well as the fact that like you, I have a massive pool of chakra in me. My reserves are so big, Naruto, that if someone were to look at my chakra coils, they'd find that inside me is something like an ocean. It's that big. Finally, all I know about myself is that I'm going to out live every one of my friends. Because unlike humans...Angels, demons and fallen angels don't age. Our minds do but our bodies don't. I'm going to be eighteen for the rest of my life".

Naruto is silent, "That's a really sad story, Cross-sensei...But what does that have to do with me? You were alone too, I get it, but you sound like you knew all this all along".

"I didn't until I left Konoha for a training trip five years ago. During that time, I found the very place I was pulled out of, and I found the notes on my creation. I had to go looking for the answer, Naruto. You were told. I know you were". I sigh and close my eyes. "Not only that, but up until I left, it was my job to protect you. Unfortunately, I failed by leaving for so long".

Naruto raises a single blonde brow, "What do you mean?"

I sigh again before pulling a mask from my left shuriken pouch. I always keep it on me; I'm still an Anbu after all. Being a Jonin and watching this over this kid is my continuous job. Not that I mind, he's a great person. "Do you recognize this mask Naruto?"

The boy leans forward and studies the porcelain thing marked with red, "Where did you get that? That's not yours". He demands, lunging forward as his eyes widen in realization.

He runs into my foot which holds him at bay, "Actually," I slip the mask onto my face. I haven't done this in forever; it feels great, I missed it. "It is mine," I tell him as I stand to my feet, and look at him through the eyes. "Don't you recognize me?"

Naruto is silent for a moment before, "I...Remember".

"That's right. Remember five years ago, I came to the Academy and we had that race? Come now, Captain, you can't say you forgot about me," I continue to trigger things. To be honest I don't care if he knows my real status. He just can't know why I'm a Jonin now. That will remain a secret until he's older. Besides, Sasuke is here; he can't know either. "And then I beat up Sasuke".

Naruto's surprised eyes become even wider, but then they narrowed, "F-Falcon?...You left me...Why?" He really is smarter than he lets on. I wonder why he plays so dumb? As I think on it...He's a fox through and through. Not because of the fox in him, but rather because of his personality. He's a tricky and unpredictable bastard...My guess is he's waiting for just the right time to show us who he really is. I wouldn't be surprised if he's strong. Very strong. But I'll stay quiet about it and wait.

I sigh, and take off the mask before putting it away. "That five year trip is why. I thought Dog had your back, but his hands became tied over time. I know he's just as sorry as I am. And I know he seeks forgiveness just like I do. I'm here now, Naruto," I tell him. By now I'm crouching with my hands on each of his shoulders, looking him in those blue eyes of his, "I'm here now. I got Hokage-sama to give me this position so I could be here and help you, understand you, again".

"You asked for this job? Isn't Jonin lower than Anbu?" Naruto questions.

"Yes. But I didn't want you to be on your own ever again," I tell him.

He's silent for a good while and then...He smiles. He smiles the brightest smile I've ever seen him give. Is his face gonna rip in half? "I forgive you, Cross-sensei. You and Dog, where ever he is. Now I know why you left, and I don't blame you. You wanted to know your origin. I can't blame you for that".

I beam to him as well before falling to my knees and wrapping him in a hug, my wings wrapping around his smaller form as I do so. "Thank you, Naruto," I tell him. His arms wrap around my torso, and we stay like that for a little while. When we separate, I smile down at him, and I'm happy to meet happy blue eyes, "Shall we go back?"

"Actually," Naruto states, "I'm going to go ahead and keep on training".

I stare down at him before nodding and placing a hand on his head to ruffle his hair gently. It seems he enjoys such attention, "Don't go too hard," I tell him before- in playful taunt- I walk my way up the nearest tree and stop at a branch before taking off. This branch just so happens to be Sasuke's. "Evening. What are you doing here?"

"I was going for a walk when I heard you talking," the young Uchiha lies, "Was all that true this time?"

"Go ask Kakashi if you don't believe me. He's the one that pulled me out of the tube," I tell him.

"Then you're the one that saved me from him," he prompts. He knows? Since when? "I knew as soon as I saw you. I never got a chance to thank you".

I blink twice. Never would have guessed. The kid even tricked Itachi, "So I'm the angel you keep on talking about? Itachi told me that that's all you'd say about the person who saved you back then"

Sasuke shrugs, "That's what you looked like in my memories. I didn't have anything else to call you by. You were my hero".

Yea, until I went back and got my wings ripped off. An experience I never want to feel again. "Well now you know," I shrug out. "Oh. Don't tell Sakura about either the massacre or my past. Okay?"

Black orbs look to me as we arrive about ten minutes from the house, "Only if you do something for me in return".

"And that would be?"

"Go on a date with me," are his blunt words.

I blink stupidly before looking down to him, "Sasuke...I'm eight years older than you. I'm pretty sure that's a bit above your age range and below my own".

"It's not like you'd be announcing it to anyone. Go on a date with me," he tells me, meeting my gaze.

"Why me?" I almost whine out. Seriously! What, is my life a love novel?

"Because you're my angel, and I have the right to take you out on a date as thanks for saving me," he tells me bluntly.

I sigh. I don't think he knows the meaning of the word, 'date'. "Fine. Just lunch, okay?"

Sasuke smirks my way and nods, "Fine". It's with that we reach the door of the house. He heads in first, and then I head in second. Tonight was god damn hectic. I need a boyfriend to push away all these men from me. Ugh. Maybe Kakashi...We're going on a date as it is. We'll see how that works out. If not him...Itachi maybe? I don't know. I sigh as I set to sleeping, sharing a room with Sakura while the boys- well, just Sasuke tonight- share with Kakashi.

Multiple days have passed and- oh lookie! Mist is covering the bridge! Anywho, multiple days have passed, and in those days the boys of the team have managed to master tree climbing, having gotten to the top and then gotten back down before dragging their sorry asses back to Tazuna's house. After that, Kakashi and I explained to the kiddies of Zabuza's staged death, and that some time soon he's gonna be targeting the old man again. Today is supposed to be the last day that the building occurs. They're almost done.

"Welcome to the party, Kakashi," Zabuza's voice coos through the mist, making the kiddies' forms tense. "You as well, Cross. We'd like rematches with you, if you will," the mist clears just enough to show Zabuza and Guzen. However, the young feminine looking boy I don't know.

I beam to the man, "Gladly," I agree. I look to my partner as I ready for a fight, "I'm not gonna waste any time looking for an explanation or anything, Kakashi. Guzen's abilities could easily destroy the bridge; he's an earth jutsu specialist. I'll leave the rest to you".

"Take him down for good this time, Cross," Kakashi mutters lowly, and I nod before taking off at full speed, my legs helping me rush the black haired young man and my wings flat to my back. My tail and braid trail behind me in the wind while my claws unsheathe, and we clash like a pair of lions fighting for the right to be King. Over and over my claws meet the two kunai he uses to bat them off. And I've gotta admit that there are times when he gets me pretty good. Mainly the arms due to the rest of me being covered in dragon scale clothing. However, again that means that my arms, upper chest, the entirety of my back, and my wings are open game. And god damn does he make use of those spots. While I'm sure to take extra caution to protect my wings, the end result is him running his kunai along my spine, all the way down my back, and then again along my lower back. Funny, I imagine there now being two wounds that make an upside down cross on my person. Perfect for me. I won't complain if they scar, but I hope that they don't scar too darkly. I grin as claws run up his torso going from his right hip to his left chest. Another set of scratches gouge their way up his entire left side on his torso. He kicks me in the gut, sending me flying away, which I in turn flip in the air and dig my claws into the ground below me to stop. Gouges are left in the bridge as a result. Cross was here. That's for sure. That's what someone who knows me would think if they saw this. We waste no time in clashing again, a broad grin on both our faces as we tussle. I kick him the gut, and grin as my kunai heel enters his person. I knew they'd come in handy. I forcefully pull the heel out of his person just as swiftly as I kicked him the first place, leaving another stab wound in him. I ignore the blood that drips down my back and arms, and now as he places a cut on my forehead just above my eye, I ignore the blood that drips over my eye.

"You're much more energetic than last time," Guzen taunts lightly as his kunai kiss my claws that reach for him. The clash causes him to slide back a few feet as I continue to advance.

"I have kiddies to protect now. There wasn't a third one of you last time so I was free to play. But seeing as there's a foe that holds themselves much better than my students do- they're just green horns- I can't help but want to kill you as fast as possible as to better protect them". I hear a scream of pain, "And see? Someone's already hurt. Not surprising".

"Well. If you're in a hurry to die...Then I guess I have no choice but to up the anti then, huh?"

"You got that right!" I grunt as I force him off of my claws, and follow up with two lashes via my claws that come after him.

His hands slam together before racing through handsigns, "Doton: Doryu Taiga!" My eyes widen as the ground below me becomes slippery and unstable to stand on. Therefore forcing me into the sky as my wings keep me from touching the ground. His hands again race, "Doton: Doryudan!" From the mud river he's made, a large head forms swiftly, showing up to become that of a dragon's head. Its maul opens up before suddenly not one, but ten bullets of mud are shot my way, causing me to have to dodge this way and that. However, I grunt as a bullet hits my wing, sending me crashing to the ground pinning me there with the sticky substance. "Doton:," I hear again, "Yomi Numa". Next thing I know, my eyes are wide and I'm covered in not just normal mud. Instead this is chakra enhanced stuff, making it extra slick and sticky. Practically impossible to get out of.

"Damn it," I growl as I struggle, "Who knew you'd know that bitch?"

From not far away from me, standing on the edge of his swamp is Guzen, "I'm not an earth release specialist for nothing you know," he tells me coolly. "And to think. All I had to do was take out your wings".

I sigh, and slump as my body begins to lose energy I can't seem to regain, "Yea". My eyes trail to over his shoulder and to his left. "But what about her wings?" I question, jerking my head in that direction I look.

His eyes widen, and the first thing that exits his mouth is: "Shit".

"Take out my wings huh?" I question with a tilt of my head as the boy spins around with a displeased look on his face. I spread a single wing and curl it around me, only to run my fingers along the scalely texture, "You didn't really think I had already thought of such an obvious weakness, did you? Come now, I'm not famous for nothing". I sigh and step around the kunai that's thrown my way, catching it on my tail. I duck and weave around the punches and kicks sent my way before I begin to give my own barrage. In order to get some distance between us, I slip around his slightly taller frame and gladly give him a kick to his spine which sends him flying forward. My hands speed through handsigns like no tomorrow, "Futon: Kami Kaze!" Now, normally the average making of the wind pillars that dance upon my command is four. However, this is one of my most frequently used wind release jutsus, and as such I'm rather good at it. As a result, twelve pillars dance around me. I grin as my braid is whipped this way and that by the gusts. However that doesn't mean I can control them all. I need a bit of help from my wings. They spread to their full length and with the help of my hands, they direct the pillars of cutting wind rapidly towards the target.

His eyes widen as he tries to dodge this way and that from the cutting wind pillars, but finds no luck as my hands and wings direct the pillars into cornering him every way he goes. Eventually he's in a cage of these pillars. "God damn it!" He scowls out with a roar of anger. Someone's not a happy kitten. His hands flash through signs before he commands, "Iwa no Yoroi," there's a slight shivering of his skin, and my eyes narrow as some sort of armor covers his skin. With a jump through a pillar that decides that if it can't completely destroy his skin, that it'll destroy his shirt, he rushes at me at full speed.

My eyes narrow as he comes at me. I hear footsteps behind me and then there's another scream of rage. Though as I move around the angry man and let the wind pillars die- I'll use them later- I realize that it's not from him. My eyes widen from their narrowed state as suddenly a rather malicious chakra permeates through the air, sending a shiver down my spine. "Shit, has his seal cracked? I just know how to calm him down, not fix the damn thing!" I mutter to myself and bear my fangs in frustration. I really do have to finish up things quickly. I sigh and become utterly calm, my face a mask of nothingness as I look to Guzen. "Sorry," I sigh. "I'll have to get serious now," my clawed hands come together to form a single seal, "Kai". There's a small ripple of energy off of my body, signaling the first release of five seals on my body that hold back chakra and speed. I rush at him with speed that far surpasses his own, and weave my way around him before slamming my foot into his back and sending him flying forward. My hands fly through signs, and again I perform Futon: Kami Kaze. I waste no time in directing the pillars at him, which once more cage him. Golden eyes glare at his black clad form. "You fought well kid," I tell him as the pillars continue to dance around him, cutting him every now and then. My hands fly through one more set of signs, "Katon: Hosekna no Jutsu. I wanted to kill you with one of my stronger techniques, like I would have done if you didn't get away the other day. But this will do". I spit fire balls at each of the wind pillars, the fire becoming almost hot enough to be considered scorching heat, but only almost. I hear a scream of pain and then silence. Assuming that he's dead, I cancel the combined jutsu, to see a downed body on the ground. But before I can do anything else, I look back in the direction of Naruto. The chakra is gone. I purse my lips. I can only assume that the fox went back to sleep. And so, I find myself now walking to the young man, surprised to find that he's still breathing. However, his skin is charred and it doesn't look like he'll be recovering.

"I...I can't," he whimpers through charred lips, the movement of the skin making it crack and bleed. "Master...Zabuza".

I sigh, "You're a caged bird, friend," I tell him. "I hate caged birds".

"No," he tells me, "He set me free. I owe him everything. I...Can't die now".

I sigh again and place my hands on my hips, tail lashing in annoyance. "Last time I checked, Zabuza wasn't a medical shinobi. And even if that other guy is, I doubt he can fix you. You're a marshmallow". Seriously, that's what he reminds me of.

"...H-...Haku will fix me. And I'll kill you in the name of Zabuza!" He snarls. Scratch that. Not a caged bird, but a loyal dog. A loyal, beaten and battered dog who through the pain is more loyal than any human could be. I watch with wide eyes as he struggles through the pain, and picks his scorched body up, the ripping and cracking of burnt skin causing blood to puddle quickly under him. If I had used a scorching heat jutsu, he wouldn't be suffering like this. It would have burnt him all the way through. Poor kid; I'm sorry. "I-," stumble forward, "I...C-..Can't...F-fail". More blood flows from his now barely balled up fist. Slowly, he stumbles forward until he's right in front of me. He slowly swings his fist, only to stumble and fall onto my waiting tail. There's a gasp of surprise as my tail impales his entire being, going through the heart. If it hadn't gone all the way through him, I'd get to see what my poison does. However, I don't want to test the poison on this pup. I'm not that sadistic.

"Go to sleep...Pup," I tell him gently as my tail keeps him standing, and slowly his breathing begins to stop. "Go to sleep. Zabuza would be proud of you for doing your utmost best. Sleep now...Pup". There's a long breath taken in, and then it comes out. However, another breath is not taken, and I know now that the boy is officially dead. I purse my lips and frown deeply before looking myself over. He did a decent number on me, I realize. The worst he did with those silly kunai of his, is a nice long scratch up my bare arm. My eyes travel through the mist that now leaves us, no longer fed by Zabuza's chakra, and I look to see a mob of criminals laughing and sneering at someone. I pull Guzen's body off of my tail and pick him up after resealing my chakra and speed.

What I come up to see is a sad sight indeed. I didn't know the young man whom I can only assume was Haku, but he looks like a kind hearted young man. Maybe a year or two older than my Genin. In the front of the mob of thugs is an older man that looks to be balding and glasses that go over what I bet are beedy eyes. His arm is in a cast, and he walks with a cane as though doing so makes him powerful; he's dressed in a suit. Is this Gato?

"What about you Zabuza?! Are you just going to stand there and let Haku get kicked around like a dog?! You were together for years! Doesn't that mean something to you?!" Naruto struggles in Kakashi's grip. Why is Haku's body getting kicked in the first place. Who dares to defile the dead? My eyes follow the glare the boy sends in the mob's direction, and I find the culprit of a grinning business man that I had just looked over. That asshole huh?

"Shut up brat!" Zabuza snaps. His body is slumped and beaten and battered, but he stands on his own two feed despite the fact that his arms seem limp and useless. There's bite marks all over him; Kakashi must have used his dog summons to trap the man. "You don't understand the way of the shinobi. I used Haku just as Gato used me. The loss of his skills and ability, yes, that's something I will miss. But the boy? He meant nothing to me".

"If that's the truth," Naruto snaps out, "Then you're a bigger asshole than I thought you were".

"Naruto be quiet! Zabuza's not our enemy any more!" Kakashi tries to control the boy, only to be pushed off.

It's by now that the clicking of my kunai heels against the brigdge can be heard, and the attention that was being given to the others, is given to me and the fried marshmallow corpse in my arms. My eyes go from Haku's dead body, to the one in my arms, to Zabuza, then Naruto, then Kakashi. Where's Sasuke and Sakura? "Let Naruto speak, Kakashi," I tell him. "He's got a respect for the deceased that needs to be explained to Zabuza here".

"C-Cross-sensei...What happened?" Naruto looks over my blooded and battered form. The wounds on my back have stopped bleeding, and so have those on my arms, on my hip, and upper chest. The only one still bleeding is the forehead one. But that's a given; forehead wounds are bleeders if you know what I mean. Still, I guess I look like I've been through one hell of a fight.

"Don't worry about it Naruto. Focus on Zabuza," I tell him as I stand to Kakashi's left and just a bit ahead of him. I've yet to put Guzen down. I don't trust the geezer to not kick or defile his body.

He doesn't need to be told twice, as he rushes forward to yell at the Hidden Mist nukenin. "You...You ungrateful...You meant the world to Haku! He lived for you and nothing else! Does that mean nothing to you at all?! While he was sacrificing everything for you...Did you feel nothing at all for him?!" Now his voice is wavering, but only a bit. "And...If I become stronger...Does that mean that I'll become as cold hearted as you are?!" Oh...Naruto...No. "The threw his life away for you! And for what? For you and your dream! You never let him have a dream of his own. But he didn't care...And you just toss him aside...Like he was nothing. "I look from the silent Zabuza to the carelessly crying Naruto. I bite my lip as I feel tears prick at my eyes. My heart reaches out for Haku. He was just as loyal as Guzen. I don't know Guzen's past. But for him to try to succeed even though a torched body...That is loyalty. "Like a broken tool. Man, that's so wrong. That's so wrong!"

There is silence from the ashen man and then, "You talk too much," my eyes follow the tears that I catch dripping down his face and through the bandages that cover him. He lifts his head, and I can better see the tears flowing from his eyes. "Your words cut deep; deeper than any blade. While he fought you, and Guzen fought Cross, Haku's heart was breaking in two. Guzen...He wanted nothing more than to please. He long since tore his heart out for me. You saw it for yourself. Haku was always always too soft and too kind. He felt pain and sorrow. And damn him now I feel it too! I can't even tell Guzen that he did an excellent job every time I told him to do something; even to the smallest detail. I never told him that I was proud of his work, or of how strong he got. And yet...I feel something else too. I feel content that this is the way it ends!" There's movement of his head, and then the sound of ripping and a sigh. Bandages fall a bit, and his face is fully shown. He looks back towards Naruto, eyes catching sight of the charred Guzen in my arms, and the silent Naruto. "Well? Cat got your tongue? Are you so surprised that I'm human? Even shinobi are human, no matter how hard we try to escape that fact. And we always fail...Well...At least, I have failed". I'm a fallen angel, and even I've failed at not having human emotions. "Boy! Give me your kunai!" Naruto hesitates until yes, he actually does give him his last kunai.

It's with that, that Zabuza catches the kunai in his mouth and sets off to have a blood bath. As he does so, I walk forward and put Guzen's charred body down not far from Haku himself. "Thank you...Guzen. You may not realize it, but, you've taught me much. Thank you". And then I stand before I sigh and look over my shoulder with a dark look in my golden eyes. I remember what Gato did. "Kakashi...".

His dark eye meets mine, only to widen. I can see a slight fear in his eyes. His hand reaches forward and brings Naruto towards him, "Naruto...Best step back for a little".

"What?" Naruto sniffles and looks from the blood bath to him, "Why?"

"There's something Cross has forgotten to tell you and the others about her dislikes. It's something that's number one on her hate list: Those who defile the dead," Kakashi answers simply. "She hates them with a passion. And if she can, she will tear asunder those who have defiled the dead in any way. Laughing, mocking, sneering at someone else's death. Wrongfully handling the body is the worst. However, Gato is Zabuza's. Therefore she's left with taking down the thugs you see".

Naruto looks to me, who by now has her claws unsheathed, "...She's going to kill them all?"

"Yes," Kakashi answers, "This is one of her more terrifying moments, I have to say".

It's with that that I take off before literally everything becomes red for me, and claws lash out this way and that. I honestly don't care how many I kill, nor their names nor what they look like. It takes me little to no time to meet up with Zabuza, and the result is me protecting his back as he moves as much as I can. However by the time I'm doing this, there's already multiple spears in his back as it is. He's good as dead pretty soon. And that makes me sad because in all reality, he's a good man. However...It can't be helped. We don't talk as we kill man after man. And even as he goes for Gato, I'm still in the middle of the slaughter fest. I snarl out my anger as by now I'm literally drenched in blood that's not my own. By the time I realize that Zabuza is done with his last duty, I've killed all the thugs.

"Thank you...For watching over Guzen's body while Gato was alive," Zabuza looks to me tiredly once Kakashi's caught him on his back.

I smile to him, and lick my lips clean of blood before planting a kiss on the side of his face, "You are a good man, Zabuza. So were Guzen and Haku. I can't help but respect you".

His eyes widened when I kissed his cheek, and the sigh of my name left his lips, "Thank you...". He's obviously on just the brink of life and death. As Kakashi walks towards the bodies of Haku and Guzen, I swiftly pull out spear and sword after spear and sword. I know he can barely feel it, being almost dead, however that doesn't mean I don't feel bad about it. As Kakashi lays his body down between Guzen and Haku, he places a hand on the latter's cheek and one on the former's head. What's surprising is that the charred skin is gone on Guzen. It takes me a moment to think what happened, but now I realize that it was his stone armor that was charred. The blood that came from 'charred skin' was actually the cutting attribute of my combination. When the chakra fully disappeared from Guzen's body, the armor fell away, showing nothing but a cut up black haired boy. "I wish," Zabuza begins as he looks to the sky through closed eyes, "I could go where you two are, Haku...Guzen...But I can't. You'll just have each other now". There's a long breath from his lungs, and it's then that we know that he's left as snow begins to fall.

"Naruto! Naruto!" Sakura's voice calls out from a bit a way. The mist is almost fully clear, so it's not hard to see her even for normal human eyes. "Look! It's Sasuke! He's alright!" Was he that badly hurt?

I look to Kakashi with a risen brow, to which he answers, "We thought Sasuke was dead due to Haku's senbon needles. But it looks like true to Zabuza's words, Haku couldn't kill and just put Sasuke in a death like state".

I sigh. Good thing Sasuke decided to wake up before I was convinced he was dead. That wouldn't of been a pretty sight. That, and it would have made Itachi the only Uchiha left. Itachi would have killed me if that was the case. I smile as Sasuke and Sakura and Tazuna make their way to us. As Sasuke's eyes land on my blood drenched form, he raises a brow, "What happened to you?"

I smile to him, "Blood bath".

"Eww, Cross-sensei!" Sakura whines, stepping a way from me a bit. "You reek of blood!"

I scratch the back of my head, "Is it that bad?" I get a nod and sigh. "Very well". I step back before turning to Kakashi and concentrating chakra in my feet so I don't go flying. "Okay Kakashi, you know what to do".

"She's done this before?!" Sakura demands.

Kakashi sighs himself and shrugs, "Yes. It's not common but it does happen. This is the best and fastest way to wash her off". Then to me he says, "You're lucky I've had enough rest to do this". That and I'm lucky he's really efficient with his chakra usage. He's not quite drained yet it seems. His hands flow through the signs before he simply states, "Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu". From behind me, I hear the hissing of the water dragon, and I look up and close my eyes just in time for it to slam into me without remorse. When the water is gone, I'm free of blood.

Though I am dripping wet. Oh well, I grin and look to Sakura, "See? All better!" She scoffs, which makes me chuckle.