Tazuna's bridge was swathed in an oppressive and unnatural fog. An eerie silence reigned where there should the sounds of construction and the conversation of craftsmen. Team Seven escorted the bridge builder to as secure a location as possible on the bridge.
Hatake Kakashi looked towards the incomplete span of the bridge. "Zabuza and his accomplice are waiting for us. Shino!"
"What are your orders, Kakashi-sensei?" The Aburame asked with impeccable professionalism.
"We're executing Sakura's plan. You know what to do." Kakashi spoke without allowing his voice to carry beyond his Genin team.
Shino nodded and a stream of Kikai bugs flowed from his heavy coat and spread out. The bridge builder shifted uncomfortably as he thought of where those bugs were coming from. Sasuke began his final check on his equipment and Kakashi quietly asked Obito for luck.
"Sakura, stay with Tazuna but don't' use any Genjutsu until the battle starts." Kakashi ordered.
Sakura nodded and gave her client the most reassuring smile she could manage. Sasuke looked towards the end of the bridge. "How long will we be engaged before Hyūga Kō arrives?"
"It depends on how quickly Gatō makes his move against Tazuna's family." Kakashi spoke about Gatō's attempt to murder a man's family as if he was reporting the weather. The Jonin turned slightly towards his client. "Don't worry. Kō is a Hyūga Jonin. A gang of two-bit thugs won't stand a chance."
Tazuna knew he should have faith in the Konoha ninja, but Gatō was threatening his family. The terror of not knowing weighed heavily on the old man's soul.
"Sharingan Kakashi! I think we've waited long enough to finish this." Zabuza's voice came from everywhere. A shroud of killing intent as thick as the fog smothered the entire bridge. Tazuna fell to his knees under the sheer horror of the experience. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at the young girl. She was clearly terrified but struggled against her natural instincts to flee.
"We'll protect you, Tazuna-san." There was only the slightest tremor in her voice.
"Shino, Sasuke; I want the two of you to handle the fake Hunter-nin. I'll finish Zabuza." Kakashi spoke not as the perpetually late Jonin Instructor but as the Black Ops legend.
"You're a man after my own heart, Sharingan Kakashi." The Demon of the Mist mocked.
The masked ninja strode forward. He carried himself very differently from the Uchiha and the Aburame. Sasuke was a coiled spring. He was restless and waiting for battle to unleash the power of his blood. Aburame Shino was defined by his clinical precision. Every one of his actions was designed to be as efficient as possible and to reveal as little to his enemy as possible. Their opponent flowed forward. His stride was smooth and carried the unmistakable edge of regret. Regret was not the same thing as hesitation.
"I have no desire to kill either of you. Please stand aside and allow Zabuza-sama and I to fulfill our objectives." The false Hunter-nin pleaded.
"We won't abandon our mission." Sasuke replied flatly.
"My comrade is correct. It would be most advantageous for all of us if you were to stand aside. Gatō is a criminal and cannot be trusted." Shino added.
"We know." The voice revealed the emotions hidden behind the mask. "But resources are needed to achieve Zabuza-sama's ambitions. I will not stand aside."
"Then so be it!" Sasuke shouted and battle was joined.
Naruto pushed aside the flap of the tent and nodded at his Jonin instructor. "Yuji-sensei, my clones have spread out. I have them in teams of four. If they see anything, one will dispel."
Yuji gripped a medical wrap with his teeth and pulled it tight. "Good work, Naruto. Even you need a bit of rest."
"But…" Naruto started to protest. How could he rest when Hinata-chan and Kiba were still unconscious? Kiba was his best friend and Hinata was… What isn't Hinata-chan to me?
"Genin Uzumaki! If you are exhausted, you will fail in your duty to your team mates. You have your orders."
Naruto nodded and lay down. He started to sleep on his side, so that he could keep an eye on his friends.
"Genin Uzumaki, that'll cut off the circulation to your arm. I am proud of your devotion to Hinata-chan and Kiba-kun, but they will need you at your best."
"My clones will wake me up when they dispel right?" The blond practically begged his Jonin instructor for confirmation.
I've never met anyone as loyal as you are, Uzumaki Naruto. "I promise that they will wake you up."
Temporarily placated, Naruto finally drifted off to sleep. The boy's exhaustion was so great that his sleep was not plagued by worried dreams about his friends or dreams of any kind. Instead, the sudden rush of memories tore him from his rest.
"Yuji-sensei!" Naruto called out.
"Gah… You… are… too… loud." A voice grumbled to Naruto's left.
"Kiba!" Naruto's relief and excitement couldn't be contained and he rushed over to his friend.
"Again. Too loud." Kiba tried to sit up but swayed and nearly collapsed. Naruto steadied the Inuzuka. Akamaru had leapt up on Kiba's shoulders and was licking his partner's face.
Wantanabe Yuji entered the tent and smiled. "Good to see that you are awake, Kiba-kun."
"Thanks, Wantanabe-sensei." Kiba resisted the urge to touch the wicked bruise at the side of his head.
"You're welcome." The Jonin turned to Naruto. "Was Kiba-kun regaining consciousness the reason you called me, Naruto-kun?"
"No sir. One of my clones just dispelled. They saw evidence of a shinobi camp. It was pretty well concealed. I'm sure I would have missed it if you hadn't taught us to look for matted grass or cracked bark on the tops of tree limbs." Naruto reported.
Yuji remained impassive. "What is your best estimate of the direction and numbers of the unknown shinobi?"
Naruto remained silent as he reviewed the memories of the Shadow Clone. "Based on the evidence, the shinobi were likely headed northeast. However, any half-trained ninja can hide his tracks. If I had to guess on numbers… four tops."
"Good work Naruto-kun." Yuji complimented his student. "Has there been any change in Hinata-chan's condition?"
Naruto deflated and cast a barely controlled look of distress at the unconscious Hyūga heiress. "No… Hinata-chan hasn't recovered yet. She's breathing normally, Yuji-sensei. That's a good sign right?"
"It is. Genin Uzumaki, I want you to head outside and make a second patrol of clones. One group will head northeast and the second will head west along our route back to Konoha." Yuji had slipped into 'commander mode'. Naruto knew that his Jonin instructor wanted him to leave the tent and focus on the mission.
"Yes sir." Naruto bowed and left the tent.
"She'll wake up right?" Kiba watched him leave before casting a glance at Hinata.
"In time. Hinata-chan has severe chakra exhaustion. I was afraid it was acute chakra exhaustion at first, but her breathing normalized while you were unconscious. That doesn't mean we are out of the open yet. I want to get back to Konoha as soon as possible. Obviously, Hinata-chan's condition is far and away the most serious. Kiba-kun, you likely have a concussion, so you are not in any capacity to fight either." Yuji stated matter-of-factly.
"Understood." Kiba blinked a few times. "I think you are right 'bout the concussion, Wantanabe-sensei. My head's ringing like a bell."
"I need you to recount the last moments you remember."
Kiba groaned. "I remember getting pissed, and… scared when I saw the Castle eat Naruto and Hinata. You shouted something about the Keep and I charged some stairs."
"A statue was animated by the creature masquerading as the Castle and you were knocked unconscious by a blow to the head." Wantanabe informed Kiba of what happened. The Jonin recounted the tale Naruto had weaved about Hinata signing a Summoning Contract.
"No wonder Hinata's out. No offense, Hinata's my friend and a kickass ninja, but I didn't think she had the chakra capacity to release a Summoned Creature that big." Kiba gripped the side of his head. He felt like his brain was trying to push its way out of his head.
"She doesn't." Yuji said with a minimum of emotion. Kiba tried to stand, but Akamaru grabbed the edge of his jacket and forced him to sit back down.
"Akamaru has the right idea. Rest up for a bit, try to get your bearings somewhat settled. I'm going to check in with Naruto-kun."
"Sir, how's Naruto handling Hinata's situation?" Kiba scratched his nin-ken behind the ears before asking the question that was plaguing him.
"Currently, he is remaining focused on the mission. I am worried that the longer we remain in the field; the rasher Naruto will begin acting." Wantanabe felt that Kiba needed to be aware of the situation. The Inuzuka could be vital in keeping Naruto focused on the mission.
"But, we've completed the mission." Kiba translated Akamaru's yips and barks.
"The mission was technically completed the moment Team Four reached our hotel room. Was the creature part of our mission, Kiba-kun?"
Understanding clicked, somewhat painfully, in Kiba's mind. "No sir. Looks like we can't relax until we are standing in front of the Hokage back home, eh?"
"Kiba-kun, you have just learned one of the most important lessons a shinobi must know. Never drop your guard. Never relax until you are safely behind the walls of Konoha with those you care about." Yuji pounded a fist into his palm.
"I understand, sir." Kiba sat quietly and willed the world to stop spinning. Wantanabe exited the tent. Naruto was sitting a few feet away in a lotus position.
"Have you received any new memories from your Kage Bunshins?" Yuji asked.
"I haven't found anything that stands out, Yuji-sensei." Naruto answered without turning around. "Yuji-sensei, is it wrong that I'm more scared now than I was against the bandits or in the Castle?"
"No. The reason you are afraid is normal." Wantanabe stood behind his Jinchūriki student.
"I… I just feel helpless! Throwing Shadow Clones around won't cure Kiba's concussion! No amount of taijutsu or tracking ability will wake Hinata-chan up!" Naruto lamented.
"This is the less glamorous side of the Will of Fire. You care about your teammates greatly, and they care about you. Not every crisis you and your teammates face can be overcome standing back to back in combat. There are times were all you can do is support your teammates with your words or emotions. Kiba-kun is almost ready to move and Hinata-chan will recover. Focus on that. Focus on getting your teammates home alive."
Naruto turned around and faced his teacher. "How do you deal with it?"
"Confidence." The Jonin sat down in front of Naruto. "I have confidence that I have done all I could to prepare you for the life of a Shinobi. But more importantly, I have faith in Team Four. I know that my students will act in accordance with the Will of Fire. I'm not saying it is easy to watch as you fight our enemies. I was deathly worried about all of you in the Castle, but I knew in my heart that all of you would survive. The world would not allow the loss of such promising ninja."
"Thank you, Uncle Yuji." Naruto looked down and smiled.
Yuji leaned forward and ruffled the Genin's hair. "What was that? Did I hear 'Uncle Yuji'? I distinctly remember a young man who said, and I quote, 'I'm in the Academy now and you're a Jonin, Unc… Yuji-sensei! I can't call you uncle anymore, 'cause I'm a big boy."
Naruto looked up and tried to look indignant, but the flush of embarrassment undermined his stern gaze. "I was seven!"
"I know, I was there. Come on, Naruto-kun. I think Kiba-kun's ready to move out. We'll start the final leg of this little misadventure."
Waraji kicked down the door to the bridge builder's house and swept inside. Gatō had offered them a bonus if they brought both Tazuna's daughter and grandson to him. Though, the boss had promised to pay them if Waraji and Zōri at least brought one hostage.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!" Zōri taunted as he drew his sword.
"We won't hurt you if you just come quietly!" Waraji smashed aside a door leading to a side room.
The two thugs were getting frustrated. They had searched a good chunk of the downstairs and found nothing. Tazuna's house was very open and there weren't many places to hide. Zōri walked up to one of the last remaining doors and was rearing back to knock it down when it exploded.
"Hakke Kūshō!" Kō shouted as he charged out of the room. He had just returned from escorting Tsunami and Inari to a neighbors when Gatō's thugs arrived.
"Holy shit! A Ninja!" Waraji screamed and charged the ninja. The criminal enforcer made it a single step before Kō suddenly appeared in front of him. The Jonin's Byakugan was active and the gangster wilted under the intimidating glare.
"Hakke Sanjūni Shō!" The Hyūga launched into a truncated variation of the legendary Hakke Rokujūyon Shō. In a heartbeat, Kō had struck Waraji thirty-two times. Kō dragged the two incapacitated criminals outside and tied them to a tree. The action was simply a precaution. Kō doubted they would escape. The target with the eye patch had all the tenketsu on his legs and most of his arms shut. The second thug wearing the beanie was unconscious and was bleeding from several cuts from where the debris from the door had struck him.
Still, it never hurt to be cautious. Kō was rushing through the trees the second he had secured the two prisoners. Team Seven, hold on! I'm on my way.
Sasuke deflected a strike from the false Hunter-nin. He failed to retaliate before Zabuza's partner disappeared into the mist. Shino was the next to come under attack. A living barrier of Kikai bugs defended the Aburame from a flurry of senbon needles.
"Stand and fight!" Sasuke snarled into the choking mist.
"We are ninja. We strike from the shadows as tools of death and deception. Standing and fighting is for samurai." The hunter-nin threw his voice. Neither Konoha Shinobi could pinpoint his location.
"Sasuke-san." Shino whispered. "My Kikaichū have begun siphoning our enemy's chakra."
"Good work, Shino." Sasuke whispered back.
"I can track the foe. He will be attacking… now!" Shino warned. The two Konoha Shinobi rolled out of the way of the Hunter-nin's attack. Sasuke shot up and launched a spread of shuriken at Zabuza's partner. The enemy ninja dodged left, as he always did, and Shino was waiting. The Aburame struck at the agile ninja, but could only land a glancing hit.
A glancing hit was sufficient. Shino's attack, like Sasuke's shuriken, were only meant to keep their foe off balance. The enemy stumbled back as his mask cracked slightly. Sasuke was waiting and delivered a kick that, while blocked, caused the missing-nin to slide backwards.
"You are surprisingly strong. Who is it you fight for?" The ninja asked as his mask fell away. Shino and Sasuke were caught off guard by how perfectly androgynous their opponent was. Neither Konoha shinobi answered the question, so the Hunter-nin simply continued. "It seems you do not understand. People are only truly strong when they have something or someone precious to protect. I am Haku and I serve Zabuza-sama with my entire being. Who do you serve with your whole being?"
The question knocked Sasuke and Shino off balance, but Haku made no attempt to exploit the opportunity.
"I live to avenge my clan! I serve the lost Uchiha!" Sasuke roared. The overwhelming desire spurred him onwards. He could not stop here. The ghosts of hundreds of his clansmen cried out for justice. Sasuke would not fail them. Hundreds of years of history, honor, family and memories would not die on a bridge in a forgotten country. The Uchiha would be restored!
Shino did not answer and moved to support his comrade. Haku fell back and used his bloodline ability to create dozens of ice senbon. The bombardment forced Sasuke and Shino apart once again.
"Demonic Ice Mirrors." Haku whispered after making a hand-seal that was unknown in Konoha. A dome of mirrors materialized. Sasuke and Shino were completely cut off from the outside. They were on their own. "We are similar, Uchiha. The pain of being torn away from our families… That is a pain that will likely never heal. It is a shame we met as enemies. If we had met elsewhere, I believe we could have been kindred spirits."
Haku leapt into the mirrors Sasuke cursed under his breath that he hadn't been able to intercept Haku.
"Sasuke-san, my Kikai will not last long in this cold. They will continue their work as long as they can." Shino reported. His colony had sacrificed many Kikai to drain the enemy. Shino hoped that the amount his allies had drained would combine with the no doubt intensive chakra drain of the technique.
"When you see your family again, tell them I harbored you no ill will." The nearly two dozen reflections said as one.
Hanabi shivered as the wind suddenly picked up. The wind wasn't unbearably cold. Instead, it was merely one more thing that caused her to worry. The worry was eating at Hanabi and her focus was off. She was still leaps and bounds ahead of most of her class, but the slight drop in performance wasn't missed by her instructor.
"Is something wrong, Hanabi?" Mizuki asked.
"I'm fine, Mizuki-sensei. I was just thinking about Hinata-nee and Naruto-nii-san. They are on a C-rank and I don't know when they'll be back." Hanabi answered her teacher. She didn't want to admit that she was worried or scared.
"Hanabi, I am sure your elder sister and…" Mizuki paused. He had to choose his words carefully. The Hokage was already watching him because of the incident with Naruto's Genin graduation exam. Mizuki also had no desire to anger Konoha's largest clan on top of the God of Shinobi. "Uzumaki-san are fine. Their mission was a C-rank, correct?"
"It was an escort mission. I did not have much time to talk with Hinata-nee before she left. I believe it was to the Land of Honey." Hanabi answered. It was only a C-rank mission and Hanabi hadn't given any specifics. She hadn't broken any shinobi rules.
"Ah, that is probably why they are not back yet." Mizuki smiled. "That is quite the journey, even for Shinobi. They were escorting a merchant caravan. Civilians move slowly in the best of situations. A caravan would take even longer."
"I'm sure that's why it's taking so long, Mizuki-sensei. Ano, if you don't mind me asking… How do you know Team Four was escorting a merchant caravan?" Hanabi seemed to accept the answer, but she could still not shake her nervousness.
"That is a fair question, Hanabi. I'm sure you know that I was temporarily assigned to assisting the Hokage with assigning and accepting missions. I was there when the merchant caravan requested an escort." Mizuki explained.
"Ok. I guess I just want my sister and kinda-sorta big brother back safe." Hanabi said in an uncharacteristically childish way.
"Kinda-sorta?" Mizuki actually chuckled.
"Well, Naruto-nii-san has always been around. Father and Uncle both like him and treat him like he's family. Oh! Naruto-nii-san is the only person I've ever seen make Neji-nii-san laugh! And he makes Hinata-nee happy." Hanabi blathered excitedly. Mizuki had really helped her calm her nerves. There was no way anything bad would happen! Naruto and Hinata would definitely fight and protect each other. They'd all come back and everything would be fine!
Hanabi's internal reassurance blinded her to naked disgust that Mizuki quickly buried. The teacher had finally lost all hope for Konoha in that moment. How could such a great and powerful clan fall under the influence of a demon? Couldn't they see how insidiously it was infecting their Clan? Mizuki forced out some hollow reassurances to the Hyūga and wandered off.
I hope this next drop will give me enough money to retire and get the hell out of this rotting hole.
Team Four was moving cautiously through the forests. Naruto's discovery of possible shinobi activity had put the conscious Konoha ninja on edge. Yuji knew that his team was still close enough to the border of the Land of Honey that encountering a group of Kumo nin probing the Land of Fire's territory was a real possibility. The Village Hidden in the Clouds likely had not given up on their quest to secure the Byakugan. A team of Genin with a wounded Jonin instructor carrying an unconscious Hyūga girl would be too tempting a target to pass up. The summoning scroll currently strapped to Wantanabe's back would be an even bigger draw.
"Wantanabe-sensei, Akamaru says he smells something nearby. Whatever it is wants to mask its scent." Kiba piped up.
We are being tracked by Shinobi. "Genin Inuzuka, I need an estimate on distance on the scent sources."
"I'll ask Akamaru to be more specific. I tried focusing some chakra into my nose, but it hurt way too much." Kiba was still feeling woozy from his blow to the head. His attempt to use his chakra enhanced sense of smell had been a disaster. The pain was so intense he nearly vomited.
"Yuji-sensei, should I make some more Shadow Clones?" Naruto asked. He looked back to the Shadow Clone carrying Hinata.
"No, Genin Uzumaki. Deception is a virtue for our profession." Wantanabe had shifted from his friendly Jonin Instructor persona to the stern commanding officer persona.
"Understood, sir." Naruto adopted his Jonin sensei's demeanor. The whiskered Genin greatly respected his commanding officer.
"Genin Inuzuka and Uzumaki, we are moving out. It is imperative we reach the village of Hidakagawa quickly." Wantanabe commanded sharply.
"Sir!" Kiba and Naruto acknowledged their superior. Team Four moved out with urgency. Hinata's condition and Kiba's concussion prevented them from moving through the trees. Wantanabe's wounds had also not fully healed. They were very vulnerable.
"Smoke!" Naruto alerted his teammates. "It looks like from where the bandit barricade was!"
"An attack is imminent. Prepare for combat. Genin Inuzuka, protect yourself and Genin Hinata. Genin Uzumaki, engage and eliminate all hostile forces." As the specter of a true battle loomed, Naruto had trouble connecting the hardened veteran in front of him with the kind man who had ruffled Naruto's hair only a little while before.
"Wantanabe-sensei, why would they put the barricade to the torch?" Kiba asked. It didn't make any sense. Why advertise the fact that you were waiting in ambush?
"It's a distraction. They'll be hitting us from either the south or northeast." Yuji stated simply. "Double time!"
Naruto, Akamaru, Kiba and Naruto's clone acknowledged the order and started moving as quickly as they could. It was a feeling Naruto was not used to; being hunted. The tension was a suffocating as anything Naruto had ever experienced. Naruto would not be concerned normally, but Hinata and Kiba were in no condition to fight. That added a complication and a weight to the situation that Team Four couldn't afford.
No, I have to remain focused. I have an objective. Reach the village of Hidakagawa. That is what matters. Protect my team until we reach the village. Everyone makes it. Everyone will live. I will not fail them.
Uzumaki Naruto steeled himself. Off to the side, Kiba growled softly at Akamaru. The Inuzuka and the nin-ken were trying to take stock of the situation.
'I know Akamaru. There hasn't been a single sound out of the woods for several minutes. We're definitely being hunted.'
'Naruto was right. The enemy pack is no more than four. Scent's weak though.'
"Wantanabe-sensei, Akamaru says there are no more than four enemy Ninja out there. Their scent is too weak to judge distances." Kiba reported.
"Maintain surveillance. What is your assessment?" Yuji responded with crisp precision.
"The concussion makes it near impossible to use chakra to enhance my senses. I can tell you that Akamaru's right about there being enemy nin out there. Unfortunately, I only catch bits of their scent when the wind shifts." Kiba confessed.
"Report immediately if anything changes." The Jonin commanded.
"Sir!"
I don't like this. Why are they waiting? Kiba grimaced at both the uncomfortable thought and the constant throbbing from his injury. I wish the bastards would just attack. Anything is better than just waiting for an ambush.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes and spoke to Zabuza. "I told you. I have seen your future and it is death."
"Hmph. Are you sure that it was my death you saw?" Zabuza grinned viciously, though with the Mist as thick as it was there was no way Kakashi would see it. He also knew that Kakashi would never turn to face the source of Zabuza's amusement. Kakashi, after all, was widely considered one of the leading candidates to replace the God of Shinobi when the old Kage finally bit the dust. There was no way he'd be so incompetent. Hatake Kakashi did not disappoint the former Swordsman of the Mist. The Copy Nin flashed through a series of hand-seals.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A massive fireball illuminated the gloom of the bridge. Zabuza brought his Executioner's Blade up to block the fireball. Kakashi followed in the wake of the destructive ninjutsu and stabbed with a kunai at Zabuza's shoulder. The Konoha shinobi's strike was very precise. A kunai was too wide and short to reach the spinal column from Kakashi's angle of attack. It was, however, perfect for rendering the shoulder unusable without powerful medical ninjutsu or outright surgery. Momochi dropped to one knee and dropped his sword. The Demon of the Mist grabbed Kakashi's wrist and threw the Konoha ninja.
Kakashi righted his fall and landed on his feet. "Thanks, I needed a better view anyway." Kakashi was barely able to keep the surprise off his face as he saw the ice dome in the distance.
"As I said, Sharingan Kakashi, can you be sure it was my death you saw or that of your students?" Zabuza taunted. The Swordsman was impressed when he realized why Kakashi was being so talkative. They were using sound to track each other.
"No, my vision is clear. The death I saw was yours. You should know that it wasn't the only thing I saw coming you haven't." Kakashi retorted lazily.
"And what's that?" Zabuza was growing tired of Kakashi's ham-fisted attempts at psychological warfare. Instead of a mocking reply from Hatake, Zabuza was thrown off balance by a wall of compressed air.
"How are you holding up Kakashi-sempai?" Kō asked as he landed in a Jūken stance.
Shit, the Byakugan. Zabuza thought darkly. It can see through Kirigakure no Jutsu. I've seen Ao in action enough to know my main advantage is gone.
"It's been six hours since I read my book. I'm a bit bummed out. What do you say we finish this?"
Kō only nodded in response. Zabuza entered into a new stance. He knew that as long as the Hyūga was around the odds were firmly in Konoha's favor. The Hyūga had to die and die quickly.
"Yes, sempai!" Kō was moving the second he spoke.
The foresight saved the young Jonin's life. Momochi Zabuza had closed the distance and would have cleaved Kō in half. The sheer power of the strike caused the cobblestones to crack. Kō barely had time to react before Zabuza's follow up attack arrived.
"Kaiten!" The chakra outburst deflected the blade just enough for Kō to avoid the worst of the attack. The blue hemisphere stood out like a beacon and allowed Kakashi to close the distance. Zabuza used his exceptional awareness to counter Kakashi's advance. The Demon of the Mist forced the Copy Nin back with a vertical swipe of the Executioner's Blade. A horizontal attack would have not stopped Kakashi. He could have simply ducked the swing and had an unopposed attack opportunity. Kō finished his Kaiten and analyzed his enemy.
Zabuza's sword is designed for exceptional attack range. If I can get close, the sword will be useless.
Kō was confident in his taijutsu. After all, Jūken was the most powerful taijutsu style in the entire world. The Hyūga Jonin's confidence drove him forward. He rolled out of the way of one of Zabuza's attacks and managed to land several blows to Momochi's right leg.
I've cut his mobility down. Now we can finish h… Kō was not able to finish his thought. Zabuza used the butt of his sword's hilt to smash Kō's face.
"Do you think you're the first person to think of that?" Zabuza growled. "Idiots like you piss me off. All aspects of the sword are why it is a weapon. Swords are so much more than simply the blade."
Kō felt his Byakugan deactivate on its own. The wound to his face was drawing too much blood away from his eyes. The Byakugan couldn't sustain itself due to the combination of blood loss and the fact that Kō was teetering on the edge of consciousness.
Zabuza said something that Kō's addled brain could not make out. One thing was certain; the Demon of the Mist was mocking the Hyūga's imminent demise.
Akamaru paused a few feet in front of the pack. There was something on the wind he couldn't place. It was unfamiliar. Out here, far from Konoha, the unfamiliar was a threat. And right now, the unfamiliar was very close. The young ninja dog fell back on its training and started to growl.
"They're here!" Kiba shouted as he translated the growls.
The warning saved Naruto's life. Naruto rolled out of the way instinctively and barely dodged a flurry of shuriken. The Clone carrying Hinata immediately dropped to the ground and shielded the unconscious girl. Yuji had just completed his own hand-seals.
"Doton: Doryūsō!" As soon as the last syllable left Wantanabe lips, an enormous stone spear tore into the underbrush. Naruto did not waste any time and flooded the area with Shadow Clones. The Clones rushed in the direction of the attack.
"There are four attackers. One is using Raiton jutsu. Three are using basic jutsus." Naruto reported as the memories of the destroyed clones filtered back.
Wantanabe was about give an order to Kiba to take Hinata and fall back when the four enemy ninja charged out of the forest. Yuji fired off a second Doryūsō. Naruto replenished the ranks of his Kage Bunshins. Kiba attempted to throw some kunai at the hostile forces. The combination of his disorientation and the awareness of Kiba's target caused the throw to miss. It did, however, draw the attacker's attention away from the Shadow Clone protecting Hinata. The clone was determined to take Hinata out of the line of fire.
Naruto had limited the number of Kage Bunshins for the second wave. He had learned the hard way during a spar with Neji that an overload of memories could be just as debilitating as a punch to the gut.
Who are these guys? They're equipment is hodgepodge. Obviously, they are missing nin. But why is the old guy so familiar?
Wantanabe blocked a half-trained strike from one of the younger missing nin. In a fluid motion, he grabbed the girl's wrist and punched her hard in the gut. The girl's pale green eyes went wide. Yuji buried the troubling realization that the ninja he had just devastated had nearly the same color eyes as his daughter. Now was not the time for sentimentality.
Now was the time to kill. Wantanabe owed these criminals no pity or mercy. Yuji was going to kill them so that he could tuck his children into bed when he returned to Konoha. He was going to kill them so that Kiba could fulfill his dream of becoming the greatest tracker in his clan's history. He was going to kill them so Hinata and Naruto could discover the depths of their new found relationship. These criminals had to die so that Team Four could have a future.
Yuji reared back and shifted his hand from a fist to a palm strike. Unfortunately, the repeated drawing back of his arm aggravated the acid burn he received from the summoned creature. He involuntarily hesitated from the pain. A second missing nin attempted to take advantage of the opening, but Yuji quickly countered by executing a perfect snap kick. The Jonin was rewarded by the snapping of bone. Wantanabe had broken the boy's ribs. Again, Yuji felt a fresh wave of pain coming from his burn.
"Raiton: Teishi no Tenjo Kai!" Wantanabe heard the voice call out the attack. An arc of raw lightning erupted from the eldest missing nin. Naruto's few surviving clones were the first to feel the wrath of the jutsu. The lightning leapt from one body to another so quickly, that it managed to travel forward despite dispelling the Kage Bunshins.
"Doton: Doryūheki!" Yuji called upon the B-rank jutsu faster than he ever had before. Earth Release techniques were naturally weak against Lightning based attacks. This was basic elemental knowledge. However, Yuji knew he could not the full power of the attack. It took the lightning a fraction of the second to punch through Wantanabe's Earth wall. The fraction was all Yuji needed to get out of the way.
The girl! Yuji's mind screamed as he saw a secondary arc flow through the green-eyed missing nin. The impact of the Raiton Jutsu threw Wantanabe nearly ten feet through the air.
Naruto howled in agony as he was also struck by the technique. He was thrown several feet and landed in a crumpled heap. As his vision faded in and out, he caught a glimpse of Hinata. Naruto's Clone had managed to hide her in a depression in the ground. Thus, the attack did not strike her.
"H…Hinata-…chan." Naruto wheezed. Every breath hurt and every time his vision slipped into the black, he could hear the sound of water dripping from a pipe.
Naruto tried desperately to stand, but was truly incapacitated. The missing nin strolled over to where Naruto writhed in pain next to the unconscious Hinata. The older ninja had a single visible nearly black eye. His other eye was hidden behind a mess of bandages that covered most of the top of his head. Naruto thought he recognized the strange flak jacket he wore.
"I've waited for this day for years. This time… this time Hiashi will not be here to save you."
Neji took a deep breath before knocking on the door to his father's study. It had been nearly a day since Yuudai had nearly activated Neji's Caged Bird Seal. Neji had studied the hated seal enough to know all the accessible legal and technical information on the Seal. Yuudai had nearly activated it in public. Even threatening to activate the Seal in public was a serious violation of protocol.
"Enter." Hizashi gave permission.
Neji slid open the door and saw that his Uncle was with his father. "If this is a bad time, I may return later."
Hizashi and Hiashi exchanged glances. "There is no problem, my son. Your Uncle and I were simply being brothers." Hizashi motioned to the remaining open seat.
Neji bowed and took his seat. "Thank you father." He turned his attention to Hiashi. "Uncle."
"It is good to see you Neji." Hiashi's nod was barely perceptible.
"The same, Uncle." Neji paused to collect his thoughts. Perhaps his Uncle's presence would actually be beneficial. "I must inform you of an incident that occurred yesterday."
Hiashi remained impassive at Neji's statement. Hizashi, however, felt worry snake around his stomach. Neji took a deep breath before continuing.
"Yesterday, Hyūga Yuudai nearly activated my juinjutsu." Neji did not whisper. He did not sneer or rage. He merely stated a fact. All of Neji's closest friends and family were well aware the prodigy's hatred for the juinjutsu. Neji managed to remain calm because he knew what would have happened if Yuudai had activated the seal.
Tenten and Lee would have killed him then and there and damn the consequences.
"What?" Hizashi hissed. Neji looked up and saw the utter rage and hate etched on his father's face.
"Even attempting to activate the juinjutsu outside of the compound is a gross violation of protocol." Hiashi was clearly struggling to keep his own anger in check.
"He did not succeed. My teammate Rock Lee was… surprisingly subtle in his threats." Neji couldn't help but smile, barely, at the memory.
Hizashi was still on the verge of seeking out Yuudai. He threatened my son! Hiashi was angry for similar reasons. Neji was his nephew. Yuudai had also violated the protocols of the Hyūga Clan.
"Nephew, you said that your teammate witnessed Yuudai's attempt." Hiashi stated as calmly as possible.
"Yes, uncle. Lee and Tenten were both present. However, I believe only Lee saw Yuudai's attempt." Neji recounted.
"Neji, we will need to speak with your teammates." Hiashi politely commanded.
"Of course, Uncle." Neji bowed his head slightly.
"Neji…" Hizashi looked up. His eyes were hard, but were not directed at his son. "We will speak in more detail later."
"We will, father. I will take my leave…" Neji rose from his seat after his father and uncle nodded in assent.
The younger Hyūga twin watched his son leave. "They have dug their graves. No one threatens my son with that abomination!"
"This act will not go unpunished. I swear this, my brother." Hiashi assured his twin. An alien feeling of dread ate at the Clan head. "My daughter…"
Hizashi felt his anger wash away. He hadn't heard his brother use that tone since the night Hinata had nearly been kidnapped by Kumo. "What is it, Hiashi?"
"Hinata… I'm not there to protect her this time…"
Sasuke panted as he struggled to dodge another rain of senbon. Haku was too fast to counter and combining his speed with his mirrors made him nearly untouchable. Shino shakily rose to his feet. The two Konoha shinobi had reached their limits. Truthfully, they had pushed themselves beyond their limits minutes ago.
"The last of my Kikai bugs attached to the enemy have died. We can only hope they have drained enough chakra." Shino winced. The Aburame was in as rough a shape as Sasuke. Shino's clothes were torn and matted with blood. Even his ever-present sunglasses had been discarded and crushed underfoot during the desperate dodging.
"That's our last hope." Sasuke grimaced as a senbon fell from a shallow wound. The reflections of Haku began to stir.
Here he comes again. Center yourself, Sasuke. You will only survive if you see through it! Sasuke thought to himself. As the thought concluded, Sasuke saw the world in a clarity he never thought possible. Haku seemed to be moving at 'normal' speed. The difference gave Sasuke the opportunity to successfully dodge the attack.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" Sasuke defiantly announced his attack. The Fireball struck Haku in the leg. The false Hunter-nin rolled in one of the many puddles to extinguish the flames before leaping back in the Demonic Mirrors.
"It seems you have an advanced bloodline as well. To think that you awakened it during battle…" Haku spoke respectfully.
The Sharingan… I've awakened it! No! I can celebrate taking another step toward Itachi later! Sasuke thought as he cast a glance over to Shino. The Aburame nodded once.
"I am Uchiha." Sasuke allowed himself a moment of pride.
"Then I must end this." Haku did not reveal his fatigue or the pain from Sasuke's Fire Release technique.
I must keep their focus on me. I can't let them know I no longer possess the necessary chakra to maintain my Demonic Ice Mirrors. Zabuza-sama, forgive me for discovering my limits.
The sound of chirping birds filled the air. Zabuza felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The dual warnings allowed the swordsman to dodge the attack. Momochi easily leapt away from Kakashi's straight line attack. Zabuza even managed to slightly cut Kakashi as he dodged the attack. The Demon of the Mist smirked behind the bandages covering his face.
"You missed, Kakashi."
"And you didn't learn anything from when my students forced you to release me from the Water Prison jutsu." Kakashi countered.
I only used the Chidori instead of the Raikiri, but I still don't have much chakra to spare. I think I can use the Raikiri two more times.
Zabuza hummed as he looked over Kakashi's shoulder. "Clever. You just wanted me away from the Hyūga. Can't have his eyes falling into enemy hands, eh Sharingan Kakashi?"
"It's not about his bloodline. I won't let my comrades die." Kakashi spat at his opponent.
"You don't have a choice…" Zabuza's voice melted away into the choking mist.
Kakashi could no longer rely on Kō's eyes to guide him to Zabuza. So, he had to take a different path. Kakashi had allowed Zabuza to cut him. The scent of his blood would doom the Demon of the Mist.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
Haku leapt clear of the collapsing mirror. The last survivor of his exterminated clan felt his breath catch in his throat despite his body screaming for oxygen. He no longer possessed the chakra to maintain his ultimate technique. This was a completely alien experience to Haku.
How could I have failed Zabuza-sama so completely?
The two Konoha shinobi were in worse condition. Each young man had dozens of wounds and could barely stand. These two Genin had pushed Haku beyond what he had thought possible. They were his enemies, but he could respect them. Haku readied his senbon and prepared to end this arduous battle.
A distant growling ripped Haku's attention away from his opponents. "Zabuza-sama!"
Haku ran to Zabuza's position as quickly as he could. Sasuke attempted to pursue, but his wounds and exhaustion stayed his feet. The Uchiha bit back a pained curse as he watched Haku disappear into the mists.
A fresh wave of pain shot through Haku's leg. The burn from the Uchiha's Fire Release was a greater hindrance than Haku imagined. As he pushed through the mist, Haku swore he heard the growling of dogs and a strange cackling sound.
"Give up." The voice of the Konoha Jonin commanded. "You're future is death."
I must hurry! Haku screamed in his mind. He finally got close enough to see Zabuza. Haku cried out to his master, but it was too late. A pack of dogs of various sizes had Zabuza pinned in place.
And the Konoha Jonin was charging at Zabuza with an attack so powerful the chakra was not only visible, but crackled like thunder.
Haku cry became a scream of agony as the summoned dogs dispelled in smoke. The jutsu had pierced Zabuza through the chest. Haku watched his savior, his reason for living, cough blood as the Konoha shinobi wrenched his hand free. Haku collapsed and clawed his way over to Zabuza.
"Zabuza-sama…" Haku silently pleaded for this all to be a horrible nightmare. The world would not steal his purpose so cruelly would it? "Please…"
Kakashi watched the young man mourn Zabuza. The boy's heart and mind were clearly at war. The heart refused to accept Zabuza's death and the mind wailed in despair at the truth.
"He died as a true Shinobi. Zabuza died without fear and without abandoning his beliefs."
Kakashi's words barely reached the false Hunter-nin. The young man looked up at the Copy Nin with dead eyes. "You took my purpose from me. You stole the one person who gave my life meaning."
"Would you look at that?" A voice sneered in the distance. Haku and Kakashi turned and looked towards the source of the newly arrived voice. The mist quickly cleared without Zabuza's chakra to maintain it.
On the other end of the bridge, Gatō stood in front of a large group of mercenaries and criminals. The shipping magnate had his arms crossed in front of him. Gatō wasn't trying to go unnoticed for an ambush. He was trying his damnedest to look pompous. This wasn't about subtlety. It was about projecting power.
"My my, Zabuza's dead? And here I thought demons were supposed to be eternal?" Gatō chuckled at his own words. "Some demon. Well, at least I don't have to pay him."
"Do… do not belittle Zabuza-sama." Haku barely whispered. Kakashi cast a sympathetic glance to the broken young man beside him. The Jonin nearly let a relieved sigh escape when he saw Shino and Sasuke move the unconscious Kō behind an enormous crate and out of Gatō's sight. The last thing Team Seven needed was for a criminal like Gatō to realize there was a knocked out Main Branch Hyūga nearby.
"You're going to have to speak up, child. I can't hear you over the thoughts of how much money I'm going to make selling Zabuza's sword and head back to Kiri." Gatō's voice rose and the mass of criminals laughed.
In that moment, Haku truly broke for the second time. His purpose had been stolen and now, Gatō was demeaning Zabuza's sacrifice. "Do not belittle Zabuza-sama!"
Haku called upon every sliver of chakra he still possessed for one final act of fealty to his master. Every inch of bridge in front of Haku, Kakashi and Zabuza's body erupted. In many ways, it resembled a field of corn. However, instead of corn there were ice spires. The few criminals who were not entombed in the ice were impaled on the twisted pikes.
"I will join you soon… master." Haku collapsed backwards. He cried blood as his body shut down from lack of chakra. "Jonin-san."
Kakashi knelt next to the boy. "What is it?"
"Please, do not claim Zabuza-sama in the manner of Kiri. And… if I may continue to be… selfish… May I be buried next to him?" Haku wheezed.
"I can do that." Kakashi promised.
"Thank you." Haku smiled faintly before turning once again to Zabuza. "Soon."
Kakashi closed Haku's eyes for the last time. "Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura's voice captured his attention and Kakashi looked up.
Sakura was leading Tazuna and a huge number of Wave's citizens. The crowd gasped at the ice field Haku created.
"What… what is that?" Tazuna eventually asked.
Kakashi sighed and looked at the bodies of Zabuza and Haku. "One final act of loyalty."
Naruto struggled to rise to his feet, but the aftereffects of the attack were still playing havoc with his motor functions. The missing-nin shook his head at Naruto's attempts. He was about to kick Naruto when Akamaru intervened. The ninja dog leapt at the man's throat and even managed to scratch his shoulder. Unfortunately, Akamaru was tossed aside by the enemy.
"A…Akamaru!" Naruto cried out as he saw his canine teammate land awkwardly.
He's targeting us specifically. Why do I know him?
"You Jinchūriki are tenacious aren't you? I would never have imagined a child surviving my attack." The man actually had admiration in his voice.
"How…" Naruto coughed as feeling returned to his extremities.
"I was the Head Ninja of Kumogakure! I was the Raikage's right hand…" He looked down at Naruto. "Do you think you are the only one of your kind? There are several in this world that have a similar burden."
The man's declaration stunned Naruto and the young man could give no voice to his astonishment.
"You don't remember me, do you? Then again, you were a young boy when you tore down my life. But that failing will be washed away. I will complete my mission, even if it has been a decade."
"You!" Naruto hissed as the memories came roaring back. Determination filled Naruto's veins and he managed to stand. "I… I won't allow you, Shimizu Den."
Den narrowed his eye and charged. He brushed aside Naruto's attempts at defending himself. It took only a half-hearted punch to the boy's chin for Den to knock Naruto aside. Shimizu Den walked over to where Hinata was laying. "You are the key that will allow me to return home. To return to my children."
"Y…you… I… won't let you…" Naruto growled as he clawed his way towards where Den had picked up Hinata. Shimizu scoffed at the boy's noble but ultimately doomed to fail attempt to protect the Hyūga heiress.
"I have tracked the heiress for years. I have demeaned myself taking jobs for scum just so I could keep my agents in Konoha employed. You will not stop me from going home! And I will go home to make Kumo the world's greatest power. More than that, I will see my children again!"Den kicked the stubborn Genin out of the way.
Satisfied there would be no more interruptions, the former Head Ninja prepared to leave the ambush site. Den was gathering chakra into his legs for a powerful leap when he was knocked from his feet by an explosion of power and raw killing intent. Shimizu felt an instinctive and primal fear grip his heart. Then he heard a voice that caused fear to chill the entirety of his soul.
"GIVE HER BACK!"
Author's Notes: Here we go, Chapter 15! A lot happened in this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! Please continue the absolutely amazing response. You guys rock!