"Your eyes are sharp Kakashi." Zabuza praised Kakashi-sensei. Kakashi was crouched on the ground, holding a hand over the wound on his chest.
"…But not sharp enough to read my moves." Zabuza finished, chuckling, "Come on, I want to enjoy my fun to the fullest! I want my revenge." Zabuza turned slightly to Haku's ice cage, "And don't worry about those kids. They're at Haku's mercy… they're breathing their last breath now!"
Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged a couple more blows before Zabuza faded into the mist, laughing maniacally.
Sakura looked over to the ice mirror trap with a worried face, "He said Kanoko and Naruto… are going to die!" Sakura shook her head roughly, trying to get the thought out, "No way! Kanoko has always been the best! Only second to Sasuke!" Sakura looked certain, shouting, "I have faith in them!"
"Exactly!" Kakashi responded, not turning around. "I… I believe in their abilities. I have faith in them. Naruto: The number one knucklehead ninja. And Kanoko: An heir to the smartest clan in the hidden leaf village!"
"Huh? You mean…" Zabuza responded.
"Yes. Her full name is Nara Kanoko. The clan known for its shadow manipulation, strategic prowess, infiltration specialties, and medical expertise. Essentially, the hardest type of ninja to kill without casualties." Kakashi finished, trying to pull out as much bragging material as he could. He would just ignore the part about the clan being full of lazy bums, normally seen running from their wives, who were chasing them around with frying pans.
"A Nara huh? I was selected to assassinate Nara Shikaku on a number of occasions. All were failures." Zabuza replied, thinking of the Leaf's jounin commander. "No wonder she continues to stay one step ahead of Haku. But, no one can match Haku! No one can match his jutsu! Even the most skilled of jounin have fallen before him."
"JUST AS YOU WILL FALL BEFORE ME! RIGHT NOW!" Zabuza yelled.
"Sakura, stay with Tazuna!" Kakashi told Sakura.
"OK! Got it!" Sakura replied to her sensei.
Kakashi ran off in the direction of Zabuza's voice, "He's right. It's time to end this, but he's the one who will fall!"
000000000000000000000000
Naruto stirred from his spot on the ground.
He looked up.
Haku was face first on the ground, and in front of Naruto was Kanoko, standing above.
Naruto's face lit up and called out to Kanoko, "You beat him Kanoko!", but his face shifted again: Into confusion.
.
Sticking out of Kanoko's back were four large needles.
In front of Kanoko was a pool of blood.
"*cough* Naruto… Quick… Finish Haku… *cough*You need… To do it… Quick… While he's down…*cough*" Kanoko coughed up more blood, it completely covered her chin now.
Naruto sat up, with wide eyes, "Why…? Why did you save me? Why did you do it?"
Kanoko chucked, "I remember the first moment I met you... You were… such a brat. An Uzumaki brat, which made you so much worse."
Naruto stood up aggressively, "Then why?! Why did you…protect me?"
Kanoko coughed, unable to get her words out.
Naruto growled and clenched his fists, "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask for you to save me!"
Kanoko closed her eyes and chuckled lowly, "I don't know… I guess part of you… Reminds me… Of someone… And I think, maybe you can…" Kanoko starts falling back, "…become Hokage…"
"KANOKO!" Naruto yells, catching her.
Kanoko looked up at Naruto, "I made a promise… To my brother… To Shikamaru… That I would come back…" Kanoko placed her left hand on Naruto's hand, "Don't… *cough* let… the people precious to you down… like I did…"
Kanoko exhaled and closed her eyes.
.
.
Naruto stared at Kanoko with wide eyes.
.
He stared as he saw her chest fall, but not rise.
.
Stared at the blood pouring out her mouth.
*bump bump*
Tears started to form in his eyes.
*bump bump*
He brought her closer.
*bump bump*
Ignoring the spikes, he brought her into a full body hug.
*bump bump*
Haku slowly stood up.
"She found a strength she didn't know she had…" Haku told Naruto, thinking back.
Flashback
Haku was closing in. He was going to kill Naruto.
Kanoko jumped in front, activating her seal on her hand. She took the needles to the chest, but was able to grab Haku as he tried to move past her to the opposite mirror.
With everything she had, she shoved her left hand into Haku's chest – not breaking skin, but sucking the chakra from him. She then grabbed a kunai and slammed it down into his left knee.
Haku pushed off from Kanoko, but fell when he put pressure onto his injured knee.
End Flashback
"Why? Because of a certain person that was precious to him. To save that person, she rushed in, knowing it was a trap."
Haku rose to his feet, "She was a true ninja. Worthy of honor."
Haku looked to Naruto, "Is this the first time you've lost someone in battle? This is what it means to be a ninja."
Haku then fazed back into the ice mirror.
"Shut. Up."
The water around Naruto turned into steam.
"I… Hated you too Kanoko. I… Thought you were stuck up and spoiled."
More steam rose up.
"You'll pay for this."
Red energy swirled around Naruto.
"I'm going to kill you!" Naruto growled in a demonic voice.
.
One problem.
.
Naruto was holding Kanoko's hand.
Her seal hadn't deactivated.
.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kanoko screamed in such a high pitch, it distracted Naruto, making him look down.
Kakashi, Sakura, Tazuna, and Zabuza all heard the scream and looked over. They could see crimson red energy fluctuating around in the ice trap.
"What is that?! What is this chakra?!" Zabuza yelled in shock.
Sakura turned to Kakashi-sensei, "SENSEI! That was Kanoko!"
Kakashi looked back, "I need to get over there! The nine-tails is leaking out!" Kakashi thought in a panic. "I need to end this!" Kakashi placed one hand on his wrist and focused energy. Lightening chakra.
.
"AHHHHHH!" Kanoko was still screaming, tossing and turning.
Naruto was shocked. He thought his teammate died. How is she still alive and why is she screaming like that?
Kanoko's body had steam flowing off of it and her wounds were closing.
She had experienced a lot of pain as Tobirama, but this was unbearable. It was too much! Too much chakra! Her seal on her shoulder couldn't handle this massive amount of corrupted chakra.
"Where is this chakra coming from?!" Kanoko thought frantically, shifting her wide eyes around. They settled on Naruto.
"GAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kanoko screamed again, trying to rip her hand away from Naruto's. He looked down at her hand, and saw she was pulling away.
Why?
He didn't understand.
He facial features were changing back to normal when she finally ripped her hand away, holding her arm like it was on fire.
The needles were falling off of her body and the wounds had nearly closed.
She panted, in a hunched over position.
*pant*
She could feel it.
*pant*
That power.
*pant*
That chakra.
.
She looked at her hands. They were shaking.
She chuckled.
.
Standing up straight, she placed her hands at her side. She walked over and pick up her sword, before walking back to Naruto.
"…Kanoko…" Naruto asked, watching Kanoko move.
Kanoko turned her head to Naruto and with a smirk, said, "Ready to look good in front of Sakura?"
Naruto stared, opened mouth before replying with a large grin, "YES! Believe it!"
Kanoko clapped her hands together. "WATER STYLE: WATER SHOCKWAVE!" Kanoko yelled as water from the ocean below rose and flew to Kanoko.
"What in the?! SHE TAKING HALF THE OCEAN WITH HER?!" Zabuza thought, his eyes flying to Haku.
Water crashed through the ice, breaking a few of them in the process.
Naruto sprung up, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Several Naruto ran out the openings, grabbing Sakura and Tazuna.
"Naruto?!" Sakura scream as she was thrown over his shoulder, "No time Sakura-chan!" Naruto replied.
"GAHHH!" Kanoko yelled, forcing the wave to disperse into all directions, causing Haku to fly back.
Water flowed around and off the bridge in a tidal wave. While Naruto had picked up Sakura and Tazuna, Kakashi and Zabuza had to fend for themselves. Both stopped their attacks, and ran for safer ground.
Bird – Boar – Dog – Dragon – Ox – Tiger – Serpent – Rat – Horse – Monkey – Hare – Ram
Kanoko's shadow shot out quickly, weaving around and using the shadows the water jutsu had created.
Haku, shocked by the blow, was struggling to get up. He nearly got up to run when he froze.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu… complete." Kanoko finished with a smirk. "Naruto! Now!"
Haku's eyes widen, as he couldn't move his head to look. He felt it though.
Flying through the air, Naruto used all of his pent up anger and frustrations, and knocked Haku to the ground with a single punch.
Hard.
Haku stared up at Naruto, who was standing over him, panting.
"Zabuza. I am no match for these two." Haku thought, waiting for the final blow.
Naruto continued to stand above Haku, panting.
"Why do you not strike? Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade, by killing me? Or was that vow just empty words?" Haku watched Naruto, unmoving, "Perhaps she doesn't mean as much to you as you pretend."
Kanoko walked over slowly, staying a few feet away from Naruto and Haku. Close enough to watch and listen, but not so close to interrupt.
Naruto growled at Haku's words - angry by his assumptions.
Haku got up slowly, "There is only one person that matters to me. I live to serve and protect him. That is my purpose. To show mercy to the ones that oppose him. To allow his enemies to live, when you can strike them down. This is not compassion – this is betrayal. For what purpose do you exist then? You are of use to no one. Your life has no meaning."
"Speak for yourself!" Naruto yelled back.
"Are you really that blind?" Haku replied.
"Why Zabuza, anyways? Why devote your life to a skunk who doesn't know the meaning of the word honor. If he's the one person that matters to you, then, man! That's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!" Naruto cried out holding his fists up.
"There were once others… long ago…" Haku spoke before talking about his past. A happy life before his father murdered his mother: in fear of the kekkei genkai he and his mother possessed. He spoke about a wide fear of the kekkei genkai and how many people killed those that possessed it.
"Fear of bloodline traits? I had always wondered if such a thing would occur…" Kanoko thought, thinking of clans like the Uchiha.
"Why is it that you are so determined to by Hokage? It is because you want all eyes on you to see that you are a great ninja." Haku paused before continuing, "You see, it is only through the eyes of others that our little lives have any significance. When there is no one that sees you, it as though you did not exist."
Kanoko looked at Naruto. She thought back to four years ago, during the academy:
Flashback
"Just ignore him."
.
Naruto's face fell dramatically. He looked crushed.
Iruka-sensei then called the class to follow him. While everyone followed Iruka-sensei, Naruto didn't move. He just looked at the ground.
End Flashback
Kanoko knew that if anyone understood what Haku was saying, it was Naruto.
"And then Zabuza came along. He saw me. His eyes didn't show hate or fear. He did not shun me for my strangeness. He saw my strength and needed it. He gave me purpose again." Haku said, face pointed to the ground. He was thinking about the first time he met Zabuza.
"I was happy." He finished.
He turned his dead eyes to Naruto.
.
"Kill me." Haku asked Naruto.
Kanoko turned her head to the right, distracted by the sound of crackling, "Lightening Jutsu…" Pushing out her senses out, she could see Kakashi and Zabuza. Zabuza was being held down… by a group of summoned dogs? She could see the chakra moving around her sensei's hand. "That is a fair amount of chakra."
"Lightening Blade!"
.
"Go on! Strike! Kill me! Why do you hesitate?" Haku pleaded to Naruto. Kanoko turned her attention back to the two of them, curious of what Naruto will do.
Naruto made several angry sounds before taking several steps back, "That is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! I mean, he treats you like a slave! You're a human being! Not a weapon or a tool! How can you care about someone like that?!"
"Zabuza gave me a reason to live." He looked down, "But now… my usefulness is over. The only thing that gave my life meaning... is gone. A broke tool, a blunted weapon, I'm no use to anyone." Haku looked up with a serious expression.
"Do it Naruto. Do it. Quickly." Haku begged one last time.
Naruto still didn't move.
"Why do you hesitate?!" Haku exclaimed. "I thought you wanted to be a mighty warrior."
"Do you really believe that's all there is to it?! Just fighting and killing until there's only one man left standing?!" Naruto yelled back.
Kanoko's eyes widen in shock. "Naruto…"
"THERE'S LOT MORE TO BEING SHINOBI THAN THAT!" Naruto stopped before continuing, "And there are other ways of showing your strength then beating other people in battle."
"Does he really believe that?" Kanoko look up, "To be so young, but believe so profoundly." Kanoko chuckled a little at how much of a goofball Naruto was, and then he goes and says something meaningful like that.
"I had a feeling… You and I are a lot alike." Haku told Naruto.
"Is this really the only way?" Naruto asked.
"Yes."
Naruto struggled internally before he pulled out a kunai and ran towards Haku. Just as Naruto got close, Haku grabbed his arm. Kanoko ran through hand signs, stretching her shadow.
"Sorry Naruto. Change of plans." Haku ran through some hands signs and then saying, "I'm not ready to die just yet."
.
.
.
"That may be so, but you're not going anywhere." Kanoko stated, holding Haku in place.
"This jutsu again!" Haku struggled to move his body, sensing his master's pain, "NO! You need to let me go! If Zabuza dies, I MEAN NOTHING AGAIN!" Haku cried out.
Naruto stared at Haku with a pained looked before his face changed to determination. Naruto turned and sprinted towards the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza.
"NARUTO! NO!" Kanoko roared. She looked over to Haku and then to her hands. If she lets him go, who knows what he'll do. He could attack Naruto, Sakura, or Tazuna, but if she didn't move, Naruto was going to do something stupid.
Kanoko released the jutsu just as she grabbed Haku by his shirt.
Naruto leaped in between Kakashi and Zabuza, "Wait Sensei!" Naruto yelled, his arms out, as if to block Kakashi's attack.
"Naruto! No!" Kakashi thought, trying to cancel the jutsu and move away.
It was too late.
Blood squirted out, all over Kakashi and onto the ground.
His eyes wide; his Sharingan recording the whole thing.
"Nooooooooo!"
.
With Kakashi's hand stuck in his chest was one person.
.
Haku.
At the last minute, Kanoko had thrown herself in front of Naruto, using Haku as a shield.
Using Haku's body as a shield.
.
Naruto stared wide eyed. He couldn't believe it. Why? Why would Kanoko do that?! "You… You… used him like a shield… like a tool…"
Zabuza broke into a loud and power laugh, "What do you know?! One of you really ARE a ninja! To use Haku like that, knowing he'd die! Well… it's just too bad…" Zabuza shook off the dog pack and grabbed his sword, "…That I'm going to have to kill you too." He finished bringing down his sword.
Kanoko turned sharply, letting go of Haku's body and pulling Naruto out of the way. Kakashi only barely escaped as well, taking Haku's body with him.
"That wasn't too bad either. I imagine it's difficult to move like that with all that dead weight." Zabuza praised Kakashi, referring to Haku's body.
Tears started to form in Naruto's eyes as he shoved Kanoko away from him, before turning to Zabuza, "Did he really mean nothing to you?! He lived for you!"
Zabuza just chuckled, "Haku was a ninja. He served his purpose, even if he died being used by his enemies."
Naruto roared at Zabuza.
"No! You stay out of this Naruto! This is my battle!" Kakashi told Naruto. Kakashi jump back to face Zabuza, taking the battle away from Naruto.
Thankfully, Naruto was distracted when Sakura ran over to Kanoko and Naruto, "Naruto! Kanoko! You're both safe!"
Naruto grinned back. "Haha! Yep!" Naruto responded, scratching the back of his head. Kanoko just kept her eyes firmly on the battle ahead.
Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged blows until, finally, Kakashi took out both arms by stabbing kunai into them. "Now you can't use either arm and use can't form hand signs."
Zabuza stilled, and looked ready to respond when Kanoko's attention shifted, due to new small chakra signatures.
"They really did a number on you Zabuza!"
Gato.
"I must say… I'm disappointed."
"There has to be a hundred of them!" Sakura yelled, pointing to the thugs behind Gato.
Kanoko "hmph"d. "None are ninjas. Their chakra levels are too low. They're just a bunch of thugs." Kanoko moved some chakra around. "I still have so much of Naruto's chakra to spare." Looking back at Gato, she told Kakashi, "If you would like, I can wash this problem away."
Zabuza interrupted, "Why are you here… And who are these thugs?!"
Gato smirk, "There's been a change of plans. You're going to die here."
Zabuza's eyes widened, "What?"
Gato chuckled, "You're too expensive, but these thugs cost me money too, so if you could take out a few of them before dying, I would appreciate it. Can you do that, oh impressive ninja of the mist?"
Kanoko's face scrunched up in disgust, "Unbelievable. What scum."
It didn't end there.
Gato walked up to Haku's body.
And kicked it.
Naruto screamed in shock.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Naruto screamed, completely inconsolable, before running towards Gato. Kakashi grabbed him in time before Naruto could get any farther, "Naruto! Use your head!"
Naruto started yelling at Zabuza instead: Berating him for doing nothing to protect Haku's body from Gato, when Haku dedicated his life to Zabuza.
"You just tossed him aside like a broken tool! THAT'S SO WRONG!" Tears were running down Naruto's face.
Zabuza didn't move, "You talk too much." He ripped his bandages from his mouth, "Boy. Give me your kunai."
Wiping his face, Naruto tossed it to him.
Zabuza grabbed it with his mouth, before running into the group of thugs. Taking them out, one by one.
Kanoko looked over to Gato's running form. He didn't make it far before experiencing the true demon of the mist.
It wasn't long after that, that the rest of the thugs were taken out by a combination of the Land of Wave's villagers, Naruto clones, and Kakashi clones.
Kanoko sat back and watched.
Hey, she already offered.
0000000000000000000000000
Sakura placed the last stone onto Haku's and Zabuza's graves. Naruto stood above, looking down at the small graves, with a sad look. In the end, both of them fought and died to protect the one they cared about the most – even if it was in a round-a-bout way.
Kanoko and Kakashi walked up behind Naruto and Sakura. Kanoko took a side look at Naruto.
He hadn't spoken to her once since the battle. He acted as if she wasn't even there: Shoving her if she was in the way, ignoring her inclusion in conversations, and avoiding eye contact.
Kanoko was taken aback by his behavior at first. She was protecting him. She nearly gave her life for him – what right did he have to be angry with her?! And since when does Naruto show anger in this manner? What happened to stomping his foot and screaming at the person that upset him?
No.
She was different.
Kanoko was gifted the silent treatment.
And you know what? She didn't care.
Kanoko deserved better than this.
If he wasn't interested in her protection, she wasn't going to waste her time giving it.