I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Shinobi vs Shinobi
"We were a pretty good team," Naruto commented as he sat on the pier with Sasuke beside him. "But next time, maybe we should start being a team a little earlier."
"You mean like before you get yourself beat up trying to get that stupid headband?" Sasuke smirked.
"For example," Naruto grinned. "Come on, let's go see if Kakashi's awake yet."
They walked around the house, reaching the door at the same time as Sakura. They all went inside wordlessly and found Kakashi awake.
"Well look who's awake," Naruto said announcing their presence.
"Listen Sensei," Sakura began. "Your Sharingan's amazing and all, but if it puts that much strain on you, maybe it's not worth it."
"Sorry," Kakashi apologized.
"Well, he did take down one of the most powerful ninja assassins so we should be safe for a while," Tazuna stated.
"Right but, you know that boy with the mask?" Sakura questioned. "What about him?"
"He's from an elite tracking unit from the Village Hidden in the Mist," Kakashi stated. "Those masks are only worn by the most elite shinobi."
"What exactly do they do?" Sakura questioned.
"The ANBU Black Ops, also known as the Inferno Squad, destroy all traces of a rogue ninja's corpse. A shinobi's body contains many secrets, ninjutsu, chakra, special medicines used on his body. These are the secrets of his village. If his enemies find them, his people will be in grave danger. For instance, if I were to die at the hands of an enemy, he would try to analyze my Sharingan. In the worst case, my entire jutsu could be stolen and used against our village. It is the sacred duty of the shinobi trackers to prevent this. To keep the secrets safe. If a shinobi betrays his village, the ninjas hunt him down, eliminate him, and obliterate any trace of his existence. That's their specialty."
"Cool," Naruto smirked.
"You should rest," Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, stated.
"Alright," Kakashi sighed.
"We'll be outside if you need anything," Naruto informed him then left with the others.
Once outside, he turned to the others, completely serious.
"Do you feel it too?" Naruto questioned.
"You mean a sense of foreboding as if Zabuza wasn't truly killed?" Sasuke questioned. "Yes. So does Kakashi."
"But, the tracker ninja got him?" Sakura stated. "There's no way he's still alive, right?"
"Maybe the kid wasn't really an ANBU," Naruto suggested. "My dad once told me about certain points in the body that can put you into a state of death, without killing you."
"We should be careful," Sasuke decided. "If we're right, we'll see Zabuza again."
"And I'm going to tear that kid apart," Naruto stated. "Don't know why, but he makes me mad. My dad told me about tracker ninja. Supposedly they deal with their targets' bodies immediately, on the spot."
"Is that really important?" Sakura questioned.
"Look at it this way, what did the tracker ninja do with Zabuza's body?" Naruto questioned.
"We don't know," Sasuke answered. "He took it away."
"Exactly," Naruto stated. "If my dad was right, he should have dealt with it exactly where it was. What was used to take him down?"
"Throwing needles," Sasuke realized. "That brat hit a pressure point and knocked him out!"
"Zabuza's still alive," Naruto stated. "Kakashi's probably decided the same thing by now."
"What do we do?" Sakura questioned.
"I'm going to train you," Kakashi answered stepping out of the door.
"Up an about already?" Naruto questioned.
"Yes," Kakashi smiled. "But not up for showing you anything."
"Then we'll have to wait won't we?" Naruto smirked. "We'll start training when you're ready."
"Fine," Kakashi sighed.
"Alright, training starts now," Kakashi stated. "First, a test of knowledge. What happens when a shinobi uses up all of their chakra?"
"You die," Naruto stated. "What are we doing for training?"
"Well, you need to know how to combine the correct chakra types exactly right every time," Kakashi stated. "Otherwise the jutsu won't work right. To learn this, you're going to climb a tree."
"Let me guess, no hands," Naruto smirked.
"That's right," Kakashi smiled walking toward a tree, then up the side, crutches and all. "Allow me to explain how this helps. Climbing a tree requires a subtle mix of physical and spiritual chakra focused on a very precise point. The bottoms of your feet. This spot is among the hardest to focus energy at and is a difficult task for even advanced ninja. If you can master this, you can master any jutsu. Well, theoretically. The second point of this task is to learn to maintain you chakra levels. When in battle, it is harder for a ninja to control and maintain his chakra levels, a deadly mistake. To avoid this, maintaining chakra must become second nature, effortless. Here."
He threw a kunai to each of them and they all picked it up.
"Use the kunai to mark the highest point you can get to on the tree," Kakashi stated. "Then try to surpass that mark the next time, and the next, and the next, and so on and so forth. You'll have to run at the tree and use your momentum to carry yourself up it until you get used to it. Ready? Begin!"
Sasuke and Sakura both took a moment to gather their chakra then charged at the tree, sprinting up it. Sasuke made it a fair distance before his foot smashed the tree and he had to slash the tree before jumping off. Sakura, on the other hand, made it twice as far and sat down on a tree branch.
Naruto snorted in amusement and calmly walked toward then up the tree effortlessly then turning around and sitting on his feet with his back against the tree beside Sakura.
"What's wrong Sasuke?" Naruto questioned. "Can't keep up?"
Without even forming a hand seal to help gather chakra, Kakashi thought. I'm impressed he is that skilled, even with his father being the Fourth Hokage.
"So your parents taught you this technique already," Kakashi observed. "I'm impressed. How's your water walking?"
"Passable, barely," Naruto stated.
"I see," Kakashi nodded. "For now, just stay there as long as you can."
"Sure," Naruto agreed.
Over the next several hours, he watched as both Sakura and Sasuke tried to make it up the tree, but failed. Sakura was incredible at it where as Sasuke was trying to hard. Finally, Sakura ran out of energy and collapsed at the base of her tree and Sasuke stopped to take a break, not even having made it half way.
Sakura eventually was sent to guard Tazuna while Kakashi went to rest and Naruto kept watch over Sasuke.
"Focus more on what you're doing than trying to get to the top," Naruto suggested after Sasuke fell before even reaching his last mark. "Focus on the chakra in your feet."
Sasuke growled in annoyance but did as instructed and shot past his last mark, making it as high as Naruto was before having to mark the tree.
"Much better," Naruto smiled. "Now, I want to see you get to the top by night so let's pick up the pace."
Finally Kakashi came to collect them for dinner and they returned to the house. Sasuke ate as fast as he could to regain his chakra and Naruto only smirked using the manners his mother had beaten into him so many times. Finally, while Tsunami was washing the dishes, Sakura noticed a picture on the wall with a corner torn out, removing someone.
"Hey, why is this picture torn?" Sakura questioned. "It looks like someone was removed from it."
Everyone fell silent and Naruto had a guess at who it was.
"It's my husband," Tsunami stated.
"They used to call him a hero in this land," Tazuna stated.
Suddenly Inari excused himself and left.
"Inari, where are you going?" Tsunami called after him then chased him.
"I take it there's a story there," Kakashi guessed.
"He wasn't Inari's real father, he came into our family later," Tazuna began. "He brought so much happiness. He and Inari were very close. In those days, Inari used to laugh all the time...but then..."
He clamped his jaw and clenched his fists.
"All that changed the day it happened," Tazuna continued. "He came to our island about three years ago."
"Then, Gato showed up," Tazuna explained after telling them how Inari's father arrived, saved Inari, and became a hero. "Kaiza was the only person to stand up to him. And for that, he was beaten, his arms were broken, and then they publicly executed him. Since then, Inari stopped believing. We all did."
"I'm going to train," Sasuke stated.
"I'm coming with you," Naruto smirked. "Someone's got to carry your ass back here after you fail."
By the end of the next two days, Sasuke had made it to the very top of the tree and could focus his chakra without the seal. Naruto carried him home due to him being out of chakra and when they arrived, the others had dinner waiting. They ate then went to bed.
The next morning, they left heading for the bridge but when they arrived, the workers were all either unconscious or dead, they didn't have time to figure it out before the mist began to appear. Seconds after it appeared, four Zabuza clones appeared around the group. Sasuke instantly destroyed all four and they fell away as water and Naruto smirked, as did Sasuke.
"Looks like you have a rival Haku," Zabuza observed.
"Seems like it," Haku agreed.
"Do it," Zabuza ordered.
Haku began spinning and approaching Sasuke then began to attack him. They watched as he and Haku began to fight, Sasuke using a pair of kunai and Haku with a pair of senbon. Sasuke kept up with Haku perfectly and they both struggled to gain the upper hand.
"We want the bridge builder, not you," Haku stated. "If you back down, I won't have to kill you."
"Save it," Sasuke sneered.
"You're making a mistake," Haku warned. "You won't be able to keep up with my speed. I've gained two key advantages."
"What's that?" Sasuke questioned.
"First," Haku began, "we're surrounded by water. Second, I've blocked one of your hands. Therefore, you only have one free hand to defend yourself."
Haku began to form one handed hand seals and Sasuke stared in shock.
"Secret Jutsu, a Thousand Needles of Death," Haku said as the water around them rose and formed thousands of needles.
The needles shot at Sasuke as Sasuke began focusing his chakra. When they were about to hit, Haku leapt back and Sasuke jumped, stepping off of one to get extra height then hurled several shuriken at Haku. Then, he landed and dashed around behind Haku.
"You're not as fast as you thought," Sasuke smirked. "From now on, you'll be the one defending against my attacks."
They both jumped away from each other then spun forward again and swung at each other. Sasuke managed to drive his fist into Haku's stomach while tossing his kunai to his other hand then threw it at Haku's head. When he dodged it, Sasuke kicked him back to Zabuza.
"You made a mistake insulting these kids," Kakashi informed him. "Sasuke and Naruto are our two best young fighters and Sakura is our best young mind."
"Heh heh, Haku, if we keep going like this, we'll be the victims in stead of them," Zabuza stated. "Get on with it."
"Right," Haku nodded as visible blue streams of chakra began floating off of him. "I'm sorry it's come to this."
"The air...so cold," Sasuke breathed.
Suddenly ice began to form in the air behind him. He spun around just as the ice formed a mirror and more began to form around him.
"Secret Jutsu!" Haku said as still more formed. "Crystal Ice Mirrors!"
The mirrors formed two rings, the upper ring tilted to form a sort of dome. Then, Haku walked into the back of one, joining with it and becoming a two dimensional image in the mirror. Then, was reflected on all of the mirrors, making it impossible to tell which he was actually in.
Kakashi rushed forward but Zabuza appeared in front of him.
"If you enter this fight, you fight me," Zabuza stated. "Your boy has no chance against that jutsu. He's finished."
"Now, we begin," Haku stated. "An you'll see what speed really means."
Suddenly, all of the reflections readied one senbon each. Then, one slashed his right arm, then his left, then they began raining from every direction. Sasuke simply couldn't tell what was coming from where, he could only feel the sting of the senbon scratching him. At one point, his kunai was knocked from his hand and sailed out of the ring of mirrors. Sasuke couldn't do anything. He couldn't dodge, block, or counter. He could only cower and try to protect his vital points. Suddenly, Sakura threw it toward him but just as it was passing a mirror, Haku caught it. Sasuke, finally collapsed, the senbon finally having stopped.
Haku flipped the kunai around to reverse grip just as a Naruto threw a shuriken and hit him in the face, knocking him out of the mirror and onto the ground.
"That's enough," Naruto growled landing beside Sasuke. "You face me now."
"You got in a lucky shot, and yet you think you can match me?" Haku questioned.
"It's a strong possibility," Naruto smirked then spun and through a kunai through a mirror breaking it. "They're not indestructible."
Haku instantly charged for the closest mirror but Naruto appeared beside him and smashed him out of the mirrors as Sasuke stood and destroyed three. Haku stood and attacked Naruto but Naruto easily avoided all of his attacks then drove his fist into Haku's stomach. Haku flew back and into a waiting mirror. Instantly, the ones that Sasuke hadn't destroyed moved around Naruto and Sasuke joined him just as the others filled in.
"Can you keep up?" Sasuke questioned.
"Not a chance," Naruto smirked. "But it's worth a shot."
They both hurled a kunai at each mirror but they were all deflected with senbon just before senbon began raining down around them. Both tried to dodge what they could and succeeded some of the time but now Haku wasn't just looking to scratch, and senbon began sticking into them as well as simply scratching. After about three minutes, Haku stopped and Naruto pulled on out and grit his teeth in pain.
"Damn!" Naruto swore after a moment. "This is definitely not how I planned this fight."
"I should hope not," Sasuke smirked just as another senbon flew at them.
This time, however, Sasuke blocked it with a kunai and then hurled the kunai at the mirror Haku had attacked from. When it was almost there, he saw a blur shoot from one mirror to another, shooting through some mist and displacing it. A senbon hit the kunai and Naruto sent a clone at each mirror. Sasuke kicked some water from a puddle into the air and watched carefully. Haku began shooting from mirror to mirror, passing through the water and destroying Naruto's clones. Sasuke thought for a moment then smirked and nodded to Naruto.
Naruto nodded and tried gain and this time, Sasuke waited to see Haku begin to move and launched a fireball at him. Haku dodged out of the way and began destroying the clones. Sasuke sent a fire ball past the last Naruto and Haku narrowly escaped it, the fireball singeing his clothes before smashing Naruto back toward Sasuke.
"Damn it," Naruto groaned pushing himself up, running low on chakra. "So close."
"One more time," Sasuke ordered. "If you can."
"Oh please," Naruto grinned. "This is just a warm up!"
The human eye cannot track my movements, Haku thought. It must have been a coincidence.
Suddenly, all of the mirrors shone blindingly bright and Sasuke began making hand seals.
"Naruto run!" Sasuke ordered. "Get out of here and attack from the outside."
Naruto nodded and sprinted toward the space between two mirrors. Just as he neared it, the mirrors all flashed and he flew backward. He stood and sprinted forward again. This time, Sasuke saw movement beside him as Haku left his mirror flying toward Naruto. He instantly fired his Fireball Jutsu at him. Haku spun under it and threw a single senbon which hit Sasuke in the shoulder. Then, Haku appeared in front of Naruto and spun kicking him back to Sasuke.
"Damn that fucker can move," Naruto groaned standing.
"One more time," Sasuke ordered again.
They both ran toward a gap and Haku readied a senbon. Then, he blurred into movement, throwing senbon after senbon. Sasuke took several immediately, dropping him then Naruto took several in the backs of his shoulders. At the same time as Naruto hit the ground, a scream rang out.
That scream, Sasuke thought. That was Sakura! What's happening to her? Where's Kakashi?
"Sakura," Naruto groaned pushing himself up. "She's in trouble. I'm busting us out. You get to Sakura. I'll finish up here."
"You've exhausted my patience," Haku sated drawing a senbon.
Naruto charged at one gap, channeling chakra to the bottoms of his feet to give himself a boost and hurtled forward. Just as Haku appeared in front of him, throwing the senbon, Naruto leapt into he air over the senbon, then landed in a dead sprint toward a different gap. Haku began running along beside him just to taunt him before switching to a mirror behind him and hurling four senbon. Naruto spun around just in time for the senbon to embed themselves in his chest, stopping just short of his lungs but missing his heart.
"You will not escape my house of mirrors, period," Haku stated.
"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted running over. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Naruto growled pushing himself up onto one knee while Sasuke stood.
He's blocking every move we make! Sasuke thought standing. I've got to find a way to out maneuver him. My eyes have adjusted to his movements.
"Looking for a counter attack?" Haku questioned appearing directly ahead of Sasuke. "I'll save you the trouble."
Haku drew his arm back then disappeared and reappeared in the mirror beside that one, throwing several senbon. Sasuke grabbed one from the ground then blocked all but one, which embedded itself in his thigh.
"What?" Haku gasped as Sasuke fell to his knee.
"Get up Loser, we've got to team up," Sasuke growled to Naruto.
I'm aiming for his vital spots now, but now I can't get a direct hit! Haku thought.
"I know that!" Naruto growled pushing himself to his feet as Sasuke blocked more senbon then shoved Naruto out of the way of about twenty earning another in his thigh.
He's fighting to protect his friend, that's why he's so determined, Haku thought. But it's more than luck. He can't see where the needles are coming from, can he? My movements are beyond human speed. And yet, he's tracking them, somehow. Whatever he's doing, I've got to stop him, now.
Haku vanished and Sasuke began looking around for him.
"He vanished!" Sasuke gasped. "That's impossible. How can he just vanish? Naruto you'd better get up, I can't keep protecting you like this."
"Well than don't," Naruto huffed. "I never asked for your help."
"You need it though," Haku stated appearing over them. "You're very skilled. You're attacks are very impressive."
Haku threw the senbon and Sasuke dodged sideways out of the way.
"But you've both reached your limits," Haku stated appearing beside Sasuke and throwing more senbon at him.
Sasuke managed to block three but one flew past him and hit Naruto in the chest. He instantly dropped, passing out.
"Motor functions, reflexes, judgement," Haku listed appearing in one mirror after another, moving in a circle with three senbon in each hand. "Your abilities are weakening slowly but surely. Now you're finished."
Here he comes, Sasuke thought. Stay focused. Concentrate. See everything.
He watched carefully as Haku appeared in mirror after mirror before throwing his senbon. Sasuke picked up Naruto and leapt into the air as seven senbon planted themselves in the ground where they had been.
He saw every move, Haku thought. But, there's no way he could do that.
Sasuke dropped Naruto partially hoping for the impact to wake him up. Then, he looked up at Haku, revealing his Sharingan, one with one tomoe, and the other with two.
That's impossible! Haku thought. "Those eyes...Sharingan! You're...So, he too has a Kekkei Genkai. Interesting. Even though it's not complete, to uncover such a power in the midst of a lethal attack is quite a feet. And because of that, I won't be able to fight much longer. My jutsu uses an incredible amount of chakra. But his movements also take chakra. The longer we fight, the more he'll use the Sharingan to perceive my movements. I can't beat him with a direct attack. I'll have to throw him off guard, by attacking his partner.
Haku left his mirror, blurring toward Naruto. Sasuke charged forward, arriving just in time to kick Haku away just as Haku drove several senbon into his abdomen. About a second later, Naruto began to stir, seeing Sasuke in front of him and Haku on the ground unconscious.
"You always...get in the way Naruto," Sasuke struggled to say. "It never fails."
"Is it over?" Naruto questioned trying to push himself up but freezing when he saw the blood below Sasuke.
"You should see the look on your face," Sasuke grinned back at him. "You...you look like a total loser."
"You...saved me?" Naruto blinked in surprise. "Why?"
"I...don't know...I just...did," Sasuke replied as memories played through his head. "You...I...hated you."
"Then why?" Naruto questioned standing. "It doesn't make any sense. Why did you...protect me?"
Sasuke only chuckled and Naruto growled in frustration.
"I didn't ask for this!" Naruto shouted curling his hands into fists. "I didn't ask you to save me!"
"I saw you in danger and my body reacted," Sasuke stated. "There was no time to think. Loser."
With that, Sasuke fell backward and Naruto barely caught him, the needles in Sasuke's back stabbing into his leg.
"Sasuke!" Naruto gasped.
"He's still...out there," Sasuke stated, voice shaky and weak. "I swore...I would...kill him...Naruto...don't let...your dream...die."
Then, Sasuke fell limp as Haku stood.
"He found a strength he never knew," Haku stated. "To protect someone he cared for, he rushed in to save you, even though he knew it was a trap. He was a true ninja, worthy of honor. Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle? This is part of what it means to be a ninja."
Haku stepped back into his mirror and vanished again.
"Shut up!" Naruto growled setting Sasuke down after lifting the needles out of his leg. "I hated you too Sasuke. And yet..."
Steam began to rise and swirl around Naruto, rising out of the top of the house of mirrors.
"You'll pay for this," Naruto stated.
Then, the steam filled the house of mirrors for a split second before clearing and revealing a column of blood red chakra spiraling around Naruto and rising out of the house of mirrors before fading. Naruto felt power flooding his body as the chakra began to spiral more and more violently, cutting channels into the ground. His canine teeth grew into fangs and his fingernails grew into claws. His eyes turned red with slit pupils and the whisker marks he had been born with grew thicker.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Naruto growled.
"What is this chakra?" Haku questioned as it grew higher and still more violent, curving into a dome rather than being a column.
Then, the chakra came together directly above Naruto, forming the head of a giant demonic fox with glowing red eyes that growled at Haku. The needles all suddenly shot out of Naruto's body and his injuries healed.
"He's healing!" Haku gasped. "This boy...what is he?"
The chakra faded to a ring floating and spinning around Naruto, the change seeming complete. Then the chakra faded completely and Haku decided to act.
"I have to stop this now!" Haku stated hurling several senbon at Naruto.
Naruto, swiped and roared, sending out a pulse of chakra that knocked the senbon out of the air then smashing several mirrors. Then, Naruto blurred forward, smashing the mirror Haku was in and delivering a devastating hook to Haku's mask at the same time. Haku flew away and bounced along the ground until coming to a stop and pushing himself up as his mask fell away. Naruto darted forward swinging again but stopping less than a second from hitting Haku again as he recognized Haku from a meeting in the woods.
"What happened?" Haku questioned, noting Naruto had changed back. "I thought you were going to kill me."
Naruto growled in anger and smashed his fist into Haku's face, sending him flying back again then standing and drawing a kunai.
"I am," Naruto sneered. "Just my way."
Before he could react, Haku suddenly created a mirror and stepped into it, disappearing then stepping out of one between Kakashi and Zabuza just in time to intercept Kakashi's Chidori through the heart. Zabuza laughed lifting his sword.
"I knew i had found a treasure in finding you, Haku," Zabuza laughed. "You've given me not just my life but Kakashi's too!"
Kakashi threw himself back taking Haku's body with him just bafore Zabuza's sword crashed down.
"Impressive Kakshi," Zabuza commended. "You're fast, even with a corpse in your arms. But now you die."
"No, you will," Naruto stated landing beside Kakashi with a kunai in each hand.
"You want to play kid?" Zabuza questioned. "Alright then, come on!"
Zabuza charged at Naruto, swinging his sword but Naruto ducked under it then stood slashing the arm that held the sword, severing the muscles. The sword began to spin away but Zabuza caught it with his other arm just in time for Naruto to slash that arm as well. Zabuza's sword crashed to the ground and Naruto jumped back, grinning.
"Now what will you do?" Naruto sneered. "No arms, no jutsus or sword."
Just then, several speed boats arrived and thugs began climbing onto the bridge before a short man with long messy blonde hair, glasses, and an expensive suit stood behind his thugs.
"Gato?" Naruto questioned.
"Yeah," Zabuza nodded. "Leave Gato! This is my fight!"
"By the look of it, you've lost," Gato stated. "The brat's dead too, good. I didn't like that kid. I guess he was weak after all huh?"
Zabuza levelled a death glare at Gato and Naruto grinned sensing what Zabuza wanted to do.
"I've had about enough of you Gato," Zabuza growled using his teeth to remove the bandages from his face.
Naruto picked up one of Sasuke's kunai from the ground and tossed it at him. Zabuza caught it in his mouth and nodded to Naruto.
"I'm going to kill you all once I deal with him," Zabuza stated.
"I'll be waiting," Naruto nodded.
Zabuza grinned then dashed toward Gato.
"Stop him!" Gato shouted as the thugs placed themselves in Zabuza's way.
When Zabuza reached the thugs, he began spinning, slashing and stabbing the thugs with the kunai. After a couple of seconds, one of the thugs that he bypassed drove a sword into his back but Zabuza continued. After about three minutes and two more vital wounds, Zabuza broke free of the thugs, dashing forward and driving the kunai into Gato's heart seconds before the thugs that were left drove spears and swords into his back leaving no internal organs intact. Zabuza growled and stepped forward again, forcing Gato off of the bridge and making him fall to his death as he crashed down in one of the boats. Then, he turned to the rest of the thugs, kunai still clutched in his mouth. The remaining thugs all leapt off the bridge, splashing down safely in the water and fleeing. Zabuza finally dropped the kunai and fell forward. Naruto appeared beside him, catching him and removing the various weapons protruding from his back.
"Please, lay me beside Haku," Zabuza requested.
"Alright," Naruto nodded.
He lay Zabuza beside his student then walked over to Kakashi as Zabuza said his last goodbyes.
"I think this mission's over," Naruto stated as Sakura sprinted over to Sasuke then began shouting desperately and excitedly.
"What's she shouting about?" Tazuna questioned walking over.
"He's alive!" Sakura shouted.
Kakashi and Naruto exchanged a surprised look then ran to help.
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