Lazyfox: Welcome back everyone~ First off I like to say sorry for not getting this chapter out before I went off to college, but I figured an update an update right?
Magic: *still crying in the emo corner with Summer trying to comfort him* It's not fair~ Why she can't just stay home!
Summer: Oh Nii-chan it'll be okay. You still got me and Random.
Random: *has an ice pack on her head* Yea, and we have all the wonderful birdies too! *faints*
Lazyfox: I think you might have hit her a little too hard Imoto-chan.
Summer: Hehe~ Sorry Nee-Chan~ I was trying to beat the Sasunaru nonsense out of her ^w^
Lazyfox: It's okay. Been trying to do that for years…. Anyway Ototo-kun you can hit the random button if you like. I'm sure it'll be something to cheer you up.
Magic: *sniffles* Nothing is going to cheer me up *hits the Random button*
*Smoke covers the stage before a chibi Neko Obito and Kakashi come out*
Magic: I'm feeling much better~ *cuddles the Neko Chibis*
Lazyfox: Thought you would. Chibis if you will.
Chibi Kakashi and Obito: LazyFoxLover does not own Naruto or any of the characters!
Lazyfox: Thank you~ Now back to the action!
Naruko and Haku charged at each other throwing a fist at the other, but was caught in the others free palm as they tried to push each other back. Naruko gritted her teeth as she broke the stalemate, by trying to sweep her opponents feet from under him, but Haku saw that move coming and jumped out of the way tossing three senbon needles at her.
Naruko dodged two of them and grabbed the third one and tossed it back at him while setting out cow traps behind him. Haku had to smile at Naruko's clever plan, but he quickly summon up and ice mirror to escape into to dodge his returned Senbon needle and to prevent himself from landing on the cow traps.
"Dang it! Where'd he go?" Naruko cursed as she looked to see where the masked ninja had escaped too, but she didn't have to wait long for Haku to show back up behind her and returned the punch from earlier that sent her skidding across the ground.
Haku stepped out of his single ice mirror to stand before Naruko who was getting back to her feet only to disappear showing it was a clone before the real Naruko came up to high jump kick him, but Haku saw that move coming too and caught her leg before turning and sending her colliding into an ice mirror.
"I had a feeling you try the substitution trick again. It was a nice strategy, but if you keep using it you'll end up failing," Haku scolded her.
Naruko got back on her feet looking at Haku with a small smirk. "Well, someone once told me to never mess with a good thing because it'll be a drag to come up with something new"
Once again Naruko disappeared with the real Naruko this time scoring a kick to Haku's abdomen sending the mist ninja skidding back.
"And look he was right" Naruko teased getting back into her fighting stance.
"Dobe did you honestly just quote the Nara at a time like this?" Sasuke asked still kneeling on the ground bleeding from his multiple injuries.
"Shut up teme! I told you not everything I say is because Shikamaru said it!" the hot headed blond yelled in embarrassment as she realized she did quote Shikamaru yet again. 'Not to self. Kick a lazy genius' butt when we get home for invading your mind."
Haku rubbed his sore abdomen watching the two teammates bicker with one another. Haku has never felt his ability be tested so much before and he realized that if the two were to join forces he was going to lose and disappoint his master. "I cannot allow myself to fail. Zabuza-san is counting on me to help carry out his desires, so I must win at all costs. I'll finish the boy off which in turn could cripple Naruko enough for me to incapacitate her."
With his plan devised Haku disappeared out of Naruko's sight and this time kicked the blonde Kunoichi away from his ice mirror dome and followed her until he knocked her to the railing of the bridge. Once Naruko slammed into the incomplete part of the railing, and with the force of her hit, it caused the rail to snap breaking the safety bar.
Hinata, Tazuna, and Sasuke felt the air leave their lungs as they watched Naruko's body break through the bar and began to fall backwards. "NARUKO!" the three yelled distraught and scared that the blond haired girl was a goner, but thanks to a stroke of luck and Naruko's quick relaxes the girl was able to grab onto the ledge of the bride.
The debris of the broken bar fell to the water below as Naruko hung desperately from the bridge, digging her nails into the stone bridge as she struggled to lift herself back up. Haku felt the panic rise in him, but he brushed off the need to help the girl as he turned back to Sasuke.
"I'm sorry that our fight was interrupted, it's time we finish where we left off" the masked ninja said indifferently as he began to merge with an ice mirror again.
Sasuke growled angrily at his opponent as he cast his worried gaze towards the desperately clinging blond who was struggling to pull herself up before looking towards Hinata who looked torn and terrified between them.
Sasuke caught her frightened eyes. Silently Sasuke told her he would be fine and that she needed to go help Naruko. Getting the message Hinata nodded back at him trusting in his power as she pulled Tazuna with her to help Naruko up before she fell.
"That's very brave and gracious of you. Sending your teammate away to help another is very admirable, but also very careless for now you have no one to help you escape" Haku chastised as he held up his ice senbon needles.
Sasuke faced the multiple images of the ice specialist as he started forming the hand seals necessary for his counter attack. "If you think the Dobe will go down because of that weak attack of yours then you be sadly mistaken. I can't be upstaged by her if I let someone like you take me down."
"So she's just a rival to you? Are your teammates just simple obstacle to surpass, do they not mean something to you?" Haku questioned.
Sasuke looked back to Naruko who was still struggling to pull herself up, seeing not fear in her eyes, but hot red anger that turned to gratitude as Hinata and Tazuna leaned over to pull her up.
"You're wrong about what they mean to me. One of them is someone I can talk to without losing my mind and well the other one is annoying and drives me crazy, but…." Sasuke started to say before turning back to Haku ready to attack. "What else can you expect from an annoying little sister?"
Haku's eyes widen before smirking under his mask. "I guess I did fail to see the worth he had for them. Those two are precious to him so he will fight me to the last breath…Interesting, but his desires are not on the level of my own. I will defeat these kids for the sake of my dream. Even if I must become a true Shinobi to so I will not falter in the path I have chosen."
Sasuke released his Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu aiming for Haku inside the mirror, but Haku was faster than the fireball and moved to another mirror behind Sasuke and was ready to attack him. Releasing his ice Senbon needles he was prepared for his attack to hit, but his Senbon needles never found their mark
"Hey you mask freak! I have a bone to pick with you!" Naruko yelled standing in front of Sasuke's back with a scowl on her face as she deflected his senbons with her baton.
"Dobe why did you come into the dome!? You could have attacked him from the outside and I could attack from the inside you Baka!" Sasuke scolded yanking her pigtails.
"Teme! I owe this guy a beating!" She yelled at him pissed off as she tried to knock his hands off her pigtails.
"You just got knocked off the bridge I been the one getting slashed up by freaking needles!" Sasuke yelled back.
"Keep messing with me and I'll shove a needle right up you're a…Watch out!" Naruko yelled tackling Sasuke out of the way as more senbon needles flew past them.
"You two bicker, but you have a really close bond. I hate that I couldn't separate you two long enough to take one of you out. No matter I will still not be defeated by you" Haku declared as he started to move through the mirrors striking Naruko and Sasuke as he went.
Haku relentlessly threw barrages of needles at the duo slicing through their clothes and skin causing blood to flow freely from their open wounds. Sasuke shielded himself with his arms grunting in pain from the onslaught of icy needles.
Naruko growled at her inability to attack as she took in the damage of her opponent's attack.
"Well, if fire can't melt these stupid mirrors then I'm just going to shatter them all! Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" Naruko yelled creating clones as she jumped towards the mirrors to smash them.
"Baka! That won't work" Sasuke yelled.
Sasuke's warning came too late as Naruko and her clones try to strike the mirrors only for Haku to appear out of the mirrors multiple times destroying all of the clones and leaving Naruko more wounded than before.
"Darn it! He's so fast" she cursed panting beside her equally wounded teammate.
"It's truly hard for me to become a true Shinobi. Shinobis are the tools of a village, to protect it at all costs even to the point you must harden your heart and take lives. I wish not to kill you, or for you to kill me, but your leaving with no other option. If you continue to fight you threaten my dream and I will not allow you to do so. For the sake of my dream I will become a true Shinobi and kill if I have too" Haku declared.
Naruko stared at Haku's mirror image before smirking as she got back to her feet. "I understand how you feel, but I'm not about to roll over and play dead pal. You're not the only one here fighting to protect their dream. I'm going to become the strongest ninja ever so I can gain the respect of my village and show them I'm not everything they think I am. For my dream and for the sake of the people I care about I'll meet your challenge and become a Shinobi as well, but I'll do it my own way!" she declared charging at him again.
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
Kakashi and Zabuza where exchanging blows with one another with both Jounin trying to overpower the other. Kakashi trained his eye onto the snow dome feeling the Chakra pour out of the dome.
"What's wrong Kakashi feeling scared for those brats of yours? You should be scared unlike those brats of yours Haku has the guts to kill" Zabuza taunted
"Give it up Zabuza, they may be Genin but I wouldn't underestimate them. "But he is right about them not having the stomach to kill yet. I have to end this fight soon and get to them." "Sorry Zabuza I'm going to have to end this fight soon" Kakashi said moving to reveal his Sharingan.
"Relying on your Sharingan already? I'm not falling for your stupid tricks this time…" the mist ninja growled before jumping back and bringing his hands together in the familiar sign of his hidden mist Jutsu.
Gathering up his chakra Zabuza unleashed a tremendous amount of mist that was thicker and denser than before completely obscuring everyone's vision.
"This mist is thicker than the last time, I can't see anything, so what could Zabuza have planned if he can't see either" Kakashi wondered as he went into defensive stance.
Zabuza let out a mocking laugh. "I put this fog up to render the Sharingan useless and to put me ahead in our little game Kakashi" the mist ninja taunted catching Kakashi off guard with a quick kick to his side before disappearing back into the mist.
"How can he see me in this mist even he should be blind?" the Sharingan warrior wondered holding his side.
"Shame on you Kakashi. Did you forget I was known as the silent kill?" the assassin mocked enjoying Kakashi's helplessness. "Now what should I hit first?"
Hinata moved closer to Tazuna's side when the mist was created and moved to activate her Byakugan. "This is so intense...my Byakugan can barely see through it...I can see Kakashi-sensei, but I can't locate Zabuza" the young Hyuga thought as she searched for the mist demon.
Kakashi had a sudden feeling of dread as he awaited for Zabuza's attack. "Why is he waiting? To intimidate me or to just get in my head or...Wait could he be...?!"
Zabuza slowly came out of the mist behind Hinata and Tazuna preparing to strike them down, but before the assassin could strike them down Kakashi appeared out of the mist in front of them. Zabuza swung his sword down slashing the front of Kakashi in a long diagonal swipe.
Hinata let out a loud piercing scream when she saw the blood gush from her sensei.
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
Sasuke and Naruko were both kneeling on the ground panting in exhaustion as blood dripped from both of their wounds. As the duo tried to catch their breath they heard Hinata's scream.
"That's Hinata!" Naruko yelled worried for her friend and because she was distracted Haku struck and rained his senbons down on her, but thanks to Sasuke's quick reflexes he was able to get her out of the way before she got hurt.
"Dobe pay attention! We're no help to Hinata if we become ribbons!" he shouted before he jumped and pushed her away as Haku attacked again.
"You very quick on your feet when you're dodging" Haku mused as he threw multiple senbons at Sasuke who was moving out of the way while Naruko was kneeled on the ground trying to catch her breath.
"Dammit this is getting us nowhere. Naruko's getting tired, but at least I'm starting to see his moves better... If I can just get the jump on him maybe Naruko can score a finishing hit" Sasuke thought as he moved out of the way of Haku's attack.
"He's truly an outstanding opponent. I've been hitting his vital areas, but he's still fighting me while protecting the girl from my attacks. Could he be seeing through my moves? If he is how is he pulling that off? I have to stop him now!" Haku said attacking faster and deadlier.
"His attacks are changing. He must be trying to finish us off quickly now" Sasuke thought starting to feel worried, but quickly shook it away. "Don't panic, just keep track of his movements and look for an opening."
Naruko started coughing as she tried to get up holding her bleeding arm.
"Dang it! That last attack hit the pressure point on my arm...It's so heavy I can barely feel it and with all these attacks I don't have the time to heal mine and Sasuke's wounds!" She thought angrily feeling frustrated with her inability to fight back.
Haku appeared behind Naruko at a blinding speed ready to attack Naruko with the final blow, but before the masked ninja could hit Naruko, Sasuke was able to get to her side and knock him away.
Haku picked himself up in a state of shock. "He saw my attack?! How is that possible?" he wondered as he looked over to Naruko and Sasuke's panting forms to see Sasuke's eyes have changed to a blood red color with two commas inside the pupil.
Naruko looked up to Sasuke to yell she didn't need his protection when she noticed the change in his eyes. "AH! Teme...Your eyes...their red!" she shouted.
"Impossible! The boy has unlocked his Sharingan in the heat of battle... I guess I have been underestimating them for too long..." "Well, I see you're just as special as me. You have a kekkei genkai running through your blood just as I do" Haku stated as he reentered the ice mirrors. "This fight can no longer continue on this path, my Jutsu can only stretch out so far with the limits of my chakra. I'm sorry, but I'm ending this fight now!"
Sasuke knew the ice specialist was serious and went on guard. Naruko made it to her feet ready to defend herself as well only to hiss in pain at the strain it caused her paralyzed arm.
"Dobe what's wrong?" Sasuke asked hearing and seeing his teammate holding her limp looking arm.
"It's my arm, it's not responding and I can't move it yet" she gritted out to him causing him to become worried.
Glancing at the calculating ice specialist Sasuke stepped in front of Naruko getting a protest from her only for him to silence her when he glared at her with his newly activated Sharingan.
"Stay put and heal up the best you can. I can see his moves a bit so that'll buy us a little time. Once you get the feeling back in your arm strike him down with that new Jutsu of yours. That is our best and only opinion now" he whispered to her as he moved his eyes back to Haku.
"Are you insane? Do you really think this guy is just going to let me sit here and heal up? Teme you're just as worn out as me if not more so, you can't take any more of those hits directly or what if you get nipped in the wrong place you could…." Naruko started saying only to cut herself off not wanting to think about what could happen.
Sasuke smirked as he looked back at her. "Shut up Dobe I'm not going to die. I have a dream to accomplish to and I have a vow to keep" he tells her before he jumped in to confront Haku.
Naruko growled at him for pulling a move out of her playbook. "Baka-Teme" she thought as she did as he ordered and concentrated on healing her arm.
Haku saw this was his chance to take Sasuke out with him out in the open with Naruko staying back. "What is he thinking? He knows he's not a match for me one on one" he wondered watching the other boys movements.
"That's right just stay focused on me. Naruko needs just a few more minutes to heal up and then you're finished" Sasuke thought as he attacked the masked ninja with his chakra infused Shuriken.
Haku was ignoring the obvious decoy tactic set up by the young Uchiha as he attacked him with full force. As they exchanged blows, Haku retreated to his ice mirrors catching a glimpse of a glowing green light.
"So that's what they were planning. Cleaver pair I'll give them that. Too bad it's going to fail. It was nice knowing you two, but our little dance has come to an end." Haku thought as he gathered up his senbon needles and launched his attack.
Sasuke prepared for Haku's next attack, but was horrified when he noticed the ice specialist was going after a still recovering Naruko. Knowing he had no choice left the young Genin acted on the only impulse running through his mind.
"Don't just sit there Dobe, move out of the way!" Sasuke yelled knocking Naruko harder than he planned on to the ground in the process of shielding her and taking all the senbon needles Haku had planned to impale Naruko with. Sasuke was able to score a vicious kick to Haku's face sending him flying backwards in a long arch.
Naruko, who was hissing at the sting in her head after Sasuke pushed her face into the ground. "Sasuke you jerk! That hurt Te..." her scathing reply faded into the air as she took in all the needles protruding from his body.
Sasuke was barely staying upright. "You are such a Dobe. Can't let you out of my sight for even a sec...ond" he gasped out before falling backwards.
The trembling blond moved quickly to catch the falling boy before they both crashed to the ground. "Teme...you said you were going to be careful... that you weren't going to die…" she said quietly feeling the tears prickling in her eyes. "You said you had your dream... you're vow...so why..? Why did you save me?!" she yelled letting her tears fall.
Sasuke looked up to the distraught girls face, the face he always seen smiling was crying for him. The look on her face made him sad, but also happy because it showed she cared about him. Slowly he lifted his hand to her cheek wiping away the stray tears that fell from her big blue eyes. "I did keep my vow..." he said softly giving her the tiniest of smiles.
"Shut up you big dummy! You're my rival were supposed to hate each other and push each other to get stronger!" she yelled glaring down at him with teary eyes as she places her healing hands on his wounds trying to stop the bleeding. "How can I face Mikoto-san and Shisui-san if I let you die?"
Sasuke felt his breathing thinning out as his vision began to darken even with the help of Naruko's healing technique he knew he was dying. "Dobe, I know you still trust Nii-sama...but if you meet him again...don't be fooled... you have to stop him no matter what...so don't go dying on me either Dobe" the young boy gasped out before his eyes closed and his hand dropped from her cheek leaving a blood trail on her face.
Naruko breath came out in choked hiccups as she stared down at her fallen teammate...no her brother. Slowly she brought Sasuke into a hug and cried into his chest feeling her heart break just like it did the night Kaede died.
"Sacrificing himself to land a blow on me, to shield you to the very end and to die for you. He was a Shinobi above the rest that deserves to be respected. Is this the first time you watched a comrade fall in battle?" Haku asked watching the young girl sob for her fallen friend. "This is what it means to be a Shinobi. It is our nature to kill one another, be it to protect ourselves, our villages or our dreams."
"Don't you ever shut up?!" Naruko yelled not looking up at the masked fighter as she stared down at Sasuke wiping the blood off his face gently. "I won't forgive you for this!"
Naruko could feel her conscious slipping away just like it did before. "It's that voice again...I don't want to give in, but Sasuke...He killed Sasuke he has to pay!"
"That's right...Give into you anger let me help you avenge the boy"
Echoed a dark and sinister voice inside Naruko head and just like all those years ago her mind slipped away and was replaced with only one thought. Blood!
Haku watched in stunned horror as a surge of electrical red energy oozed out of the blond girl's small body whipping and cackling like a raging thunderstorm above her. In the swirl of massive energy Haku could only feel the overwhelming bloodlust in the energy.
"This...This power?! Where is it coming from?!" Haku thought feeling the energy even through his ice mirror. "Hatred, rage, cold unhidden malice and pure evil is fueling this chakra. Wha...what is she?"
Naruko gently laid Sasuke on the ground before she stood up letting the evil red chakra tear up the ground around her as the cuts lining her arms began to smoke and close up indicating she was healing. Haku could do nothing except stare at her in stunned silence as he watched the change in the girl take place before he drew in a shallow breath as Naruko turned to glare at him with hate filled blood red eyes.
Meeting Haku's gaze Naruko let out a feral, animalistic yowl as she charged forward giving into her bloodlust seeking desires. Haku at this point could only stand still as he watched the girl approach.
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
Hinata felt the wind get knocked out her lungs as she collapsed to her knees. The small girl could only kneel and tremble from the force of the overwhelming dark chakra in the air. "This feeling... It's worse than anything I've ever felt before... It's so angry, so bitter, and so sad" she thought feeling the emotions carried in the chakra.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Tazuna asked worriedly studying the blue haired girl's trembling and shaking form. "Is Kakashi-sensei in trouble with the assassin? That wound he took to the chest was pretty bad."
"I..I…I don't know. I feel this… I feel this overwhelming bloodlust filling the air. It's stronger than what we felt with Zabuza…When I felt his I was scared, but…but this feeling…makes me feel like I'm being ripped apart from the inside…like blood soaked claws are ripping me open and you can feel the others joy as they watch you bleed to death" Hinata whimpered out as the chakra surrounded her, suffocated her.
Tazuna felt bad for the small girl, he couldn't exactly feel the chakra as well as Hinata, but he could feel the chill in the air. "Please Kaiza, watch over these kind hearted people who are doing so much to save our country…"
Kakashi was panting heavily as he pressed his hand to his bleeding wound. "I can't let him get the upper hand on me again…His tactics may be underhanded, but they are formidable..." "Zabuza I believe it's time we start the final scene on this little play of ours… You called me a copycat right? Well, I believe it's time I showed you why I was an ex-anbu captain and introduce you to my own technique."
"Hahaha quit trying to bluff your way out of this fight Kakashi! Without the use of your Sharingan your helpless!" Zabuza taunted as he moved through the mist silently.
"Well, Zabuza let's put that theory to the test, shall we" Kakashi said calmly as he removed a scroll from his jacket. The silvered haired Jounin unrolled the scroll before swiping the blood from his bleeding wound and creating a long line of his blood on the scroll before sealing it back up.
"All right Zabuza let's see how you handle this?" Kakashi thought ready to unleash his technique when he felt the all too familiar dark chill in the air. "No.,,, this Chakra...Naruko!"
"This chakra is off the charts?! Is this Kakashi's doing...No it's too strong to be him, but if not him then who?"
"If the fox's chakra is coming out than Sasuke and Naruko must have been in serious danger or...No I won't let anything happen to these kids. I will protect them" Kakashi thought getting back to business. "Zabuza it's time this game comes to an end. Prepare yourself!" he shouted activating the scroll to reveal a pack of ninja dogs of various sizes. "Hold on guys I'll be there soon!"
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
Haku moved to the next mirror dodging Naruko's attack, while watching in horror as the girl's punch destroyed the mirror.
"Impossible! My mirrors cannot be destroyed by brute force alone...What has happened to this girl?" the masked mist ninja thought as he sent multiple ice needles towards Naruko who didn't bat an eye, watched as her chakra deflected all the projectiles away from her.
Naruko crouched down after blocking the incoming projectiles, silently watching Haku's movements until they were memorized. With a vicious roar she charged at him again, her prey saw her charging in and tried to deter her by launching more needles her way, but just like before they were thrown away. Knowing he was in danger Haku lunged for the next mirror, but he was intercepted by the feral girl who gripped the boy's ankle in a bone breaking death grip. Naruko jerked Haku back towards her where she had a fist cocked back ready to connect to his face and send him flying.
The young Kunoichi's fist did connected with the anbu mask protecting the face underneath to a degree. With the force of the blow the mask cracked and chipped away as the boy flew through his own mirror dome shattering the mirrors around them. Haku's body landed soundly on the ground as he bounced further away from the girl.
"Zabuza-san...I'm sorry...this girl was too strong I cannot win" Haku thought sadly as he climbed back to his feet to watch slowly as his ice mirror dome shattered around the girl that has infatuated him.
Naruko stood within the crumbling ice prison looking for her opponent. Her blood red colored eye picked out his silhouette through the clouds of dust with the voice echoing in her mind.
"DO IT! KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW!"
Letting loose another feral, animalistic roar, the possessed Naruko charged full force rearing back her clawed hand ready to slash the boy to ribbons.
Haku simply watched Naruko charge at him feeling no need to defend himself, for he has accepted his defeat and now simply awaited for his death. "Farewell...Zabuza-san." he thought as Naruko was upon him and the last of his mask fell away to reveal his lifeless and dull eyes.
Naruko snarled in fury as her clawed hand was coming down to end the boy's life when her conscious screamed out to her. 'STOP!' The real inner Naruko yelled to herself stopping her hand in mid-air an inch before Haku's face.
The young girl could feel her body shaking as she forced the malevolent chakra away, regaining her sense of self in the process. Looking at Haku's face with her blue eyes once again she recalled their time together in the forest, the talk they had shared. "You're...you're that boy from before...that time you found me out in the woods" she choked out feeling a storm of emotions rippling through her small body.
"Why did you stop? Why have you ceased your attack? Are you not angry that I took the life of someone near to you? Are you contempt to let me take another life?" Haku said stoically showing no signs of remorse for his actions.
Naruko's body tensed up, feeling her emotions raging out of control as she turned to stare at Sasuke's still body. Yelling out in pure anger she balled her fist up and punched Haku straight in the gut. "Damn you asshole!"
Haku grunted as he kneeled over gasping for air as blood dripped from his mouth. Clutching his aching stomach he straightened back out to face the clearly tormented girl. "Not good enough. You'll never kill me with that kind of resolve. What happened to your furry? Your rage and hatred for me? Don't you want to see me dead for killing one of your precious people?!" he raged gouging her to finish him off
Naruko refused to look at Haku as she tried to battle back her emotions, but the more she tried and the more he egged her on. She felt her control slipping until it was gone. "No! I don't want to kill you. I don't want to kill anyone ever again!" she screamed at him feeling angry, shameful tears fall down her face.
Haku taken back by her outburst felt unnerved by the clear sincerity in her scream. "Kill again?" he questioned.
"I've murdered before I don't want more blood on my hands. That power you saw me use, it took over me once before. I lost myself to my anger and hate and killed everyone responsible for killing my grandmother, I was so far gone in that power I almost killed the people who matter to me! I don't want to do that ever again, never again! I hate you for what you did to Sasuke, I won't ever forgive you for taking him away from me, but I won't take your life, I just won't" Naruko cried reliving her painful story to the boy who too has stolen away a love one of hers.
Haku stared down at the sobbing girl feeling his heart being lightened from her sincerity. "From when I meet you in the forest I knew you were like me, but I never knew to what extent. Being born of the Kekkei Genkai bloodline that I have caused many to fear me and through their fear they attacked me and killed my mother before my eyes. I too lost control of my power and killed many people."
"We sound the same, but we are nothing alike. After you killed you enjoyed it so much you went to work with a monster like Zabuza! When we talked I felt like we had an understanding between each other" Naruko yelled getting pissed off.
"We do. We both understand the pain of lost, what it means to have a power that is not easy to control and we also understand what it means to have a purpose and a dream" Haku said calmly keeping his eyes on the blond before his eyes downcast in shame. "But my lost to you has shown me I no longer serve a purpose and I can no longer follow my dream... My dream was to stay by Zabuza-san side to help him achieve his dream, but now I can no longer travel at his side. I have lost my precious person so I no longer have a meaning to cling to this life...Naruko please finish me off."
Naruko stepped back away from him before growling and yelling at him. "Are you stupid?! I just told you I'm not taking your life! Why are you willing to throw your life away for a guy like him?! Is he the only person important to you!"
Haku let a sad, empty smile appear on his face. "At one point I had my parents, we were a happy little family until it was discovered I had my Kekkei Genkai. Fear is truly an irrational factor sometimes. The people of my village where afraid of civil war and when they discovered mother and I contained a bloodline, my father killed my mother and he would have killed me if I didn't strike first" he said quietly staring off into the sky with blank eyes while Naruko stared at him with sympathetic eyes. "Your friends share the pain of having a bloodline and having its power. People must fear them too like my father and our people feared me... When I was walking away from the place I had called home for so long did I discover the truly most painful thing in life..."
"The most painful thing?" Naruko asked dreading the answer he would give.
"In this world, I was a person who was unwanted and unneeded, I had no purpose to live for, no dream to pursue. I was completely alone." He tells her.
Naruko gulped as she hugged her locket to her chest as she felt that old fear of loneliness surround her. "People feared me too, wanted me dead just like him. I had others around me, but I thought it was because they pitied me and felt obligated to be there for me because they were close to my parents" she thought sadly.
"You told me you dreamed of becoming Hokage to earn the acknowledgement of your villagers. Even though you have that little group of people to acknowledge you what would you feel if someone absolutely only saw you, acknowledged you with all their heart, wouldn't that someone be the most precious person to you?" Haku asked.
An image of Shikamaru appeared in her mind.
"Zabuza-san was that person to me. He knew what I was, what blood ran through these veins of mine and he still wanted me. Everyone who hated and wanted me died, Zabuza-san wanted me..." Haku started saying as the words Zabuza said to him years ago echoed in his head...
"From now on you shall travel by my side and remain by it until you die."
Naruko watched as tears fell from Haku's eyes as he showed a true and happy smile. "I was so happy to be alive when he asked me to go with him!" he cried.
Memories with Zabuza passed through Haku's head and Naruko saw the joy of being accepted by someone showed on his face until it went back to looking dark and lifeless again.
"Forgive me for not becoming the perfect weapon you deserved and desired Zabuza-san..." "Naruko-chan...Please kill me."
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
The mist was slowly retreating from the bridge as Zabuza was losing blood from the multiple bite marks that lingered over his body from the pack on nin-dogs hanging on him.
"You were too cocky Zabuza. You believed you were all powerful in your mist Jutsu blocking out my sight, but you were wrong to underestimate me. I don't need sight or sound if I still have my sense of smell" Kakashi said scolding the trapped mist ninja. "Time for you pay for your crimes and accept your fate."
"Cut the bullshit out already Kakashi! You've been calling my death out since we began our battle and look where we are! I'm still breathing aren't I?!" Zabuza cursed trying to shake the dogs off.
"Except you have no more lives to spare, you've reached the end of your rope and it's time for you to pay the toll. Your ambition has led you here Zabuza. You tried to take over the mist village on your own and failed. You had to flee, but you still plotted to take out your revenge. To achieve your goal you allied with scum such as Gatou to escape capture. It's unforgivable." Kakashi said forming a few hand signs that caused a small orb of chakra to erupt into the palm of his hand.
The chakra crackled in his palm looking like lightening was shooting out of the palm and the sound emanating from the attack was like a thousand chirping birds. "What?! How can he generate that much chakra to make it so visible in his hand?!"
"Zabuza I cannot afford to let you live if you continue your pursuit of Tazuna-san. He is the courage of his people and this bridge is their hope. I will not allow you to destroy either of them!" the Sharingan warrior declared as his attack charged up.
"Like I give a damn! I fight for my own ideals, my own ambition I will never stop! I will not die by your hand!" the mist ninja yelled defiantly.
Kakashi sighed seeing there was no more need for words. "You're future is death. That's all you have ahead of yourself... Zabuza."
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
"Naruko-Chan please kill me. I do not want to take this coward's way out by suicide. I want to die the Shinobi way... At the hands of a stronger opponent" Haku begged.
Naruko bit her lip as she struggled with herself. "I can't! Please don't ask me to do this there has to be something else for you in this life other than fighting!" she yelled desperately trying to find another outcome.
"When we spoke in the forest I sensed you were like me. You would be able to understand..." he said softly. "I'm sorry to ask you to stain hands with my blood after what you have gone through, but please fulfill my wish and strike me down."
Naruko stared at him desperately wanting another means to end this without spilling more blood, but she knew there was no chance of that happening. "I don't want to do this... I wish there was another way..."
Haku smile gently at the girl knowing she was speaking her heart's truth and that made him feel warm inside. "There isn't another way... Thank you for understanding. I hope you achieve your dream."
Naruko stiffen up before looking over at Sasuke feeling her heart ache at the sight of his still body. Tears blurred her eyes from the pain it caused. "He...Sasuke had a dream too... I wish I had meet you before Zabuza found you. Maybe than you could live and be a treasured friend of mine..." she said softly, but loud enough for Haku to hear as she dried her eyes.
"Thank you. I would have been honored to be you're friend" he tells her. "Maybe we'll meet again in another lifetime... I very much like to see you again and be friends or maybe more if I can capture you heart first... Please stay true to yourself and become very strong Naruko-Chan."
Naruko brought out her baton and started focusing her chakra into the weapon until a small swirling vortex appeared at the end. "If I'm going to kill you I'll honor you by striking you down with my newest attack" she said hardening her facial features as she prepared to attack.
Haku studied her one last time before he closed his eye preparing for the final blow to strike him. Naruko braced herself before she went in charging letting the vortex pick up speed. The winds howled around the small object causing long gashes to form in the concrete of the bridge as she closed in on Haku. With a few steps separating them the girl brought her sword behind her ready to bring it down on Haku in a long sneering slash to make his death quick and painless as she could.
"Grandma forgive me. Please watch over him and Sasuke" Naruko thought as she let her arms fall forward for her attack as tears fell down her face.
Just as Naruko swung her arms Haku had caught her arms causing the attack to miss the spot she had aimed for. Instead her blade cut deep into his shoulder making his blood splatter on himself and her.
"What?" Naruko said in a stunned stupor shaking a bit at being splattered with his blood.
"Sorry Naruko-Chan, I guess I'm not ready to die just yet. I have one last thing to do...actually two things" Haku said as he performed his one handed signs with the free hand while he brought the hand holding Naruko's to his lips planting a soft kiss on the top of it. "I went backwards with you, your hand should have been the first thing I kissed and you're lips last, but I'm happy I was able to get all three. Good-bye Naruko-Chan" he said softly smiling at her before he was gone.
Naruko stood there dazed not understanding what just happened. "What's he talking about?" she said as she noticed the mist was letting up.
~XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX~
When Kakashi's Chidori was powered up he began to charge at Zabuza with no intent on holding back. Zabuza watched fearfully as the other approached him, believing his end was really here.
However, time seemed to stop as a familiar figure stepped in between the two ninja at the last second. The sound of flesh being ripped apart echoed throughout the bridge. Kakashi looked with his blank stare as he saw that he didn't hit Zabuza.
The two Jounins looked in surprise as blood spattered over both of them, and Kakashi stared into unwavering protective eyes of a dying young man.
Hinata and Tazuna gasped in horror as they saw the blood staining the ground and it proved too much for Hinata who had to look away as she saw the rapid flow of blood pooling at their feet and the depletion of his chakra.
"Za...bu…za...-san..." Haku choked out as blood poured from his mouth as he grasped onto Kakashi's arm with the last of his strength.
Zabuza looked to have been shaken up by Haku's death while Kakashi looked sorry for the young man. Soon the silver haired Jounin heard approaching footsteps and saw Naruko appear out of the fading mist.
"In the end you did die for him" Naruko said quietly feeling sick from seeing all the blood that covered the ground and the two men.
Zabuza was shaking and Naruko thought it was from seeing Haku die, but instead he was laughing lowly and it made her blood boil.
"Well, done Haku. The day we meet I knew I found a treasure in you. You've given me Kakashi's head!" the mist demon yelled rearing up to slash through Haku to finish Kakashi off.
The Sharingan warrior quickly grabbed Haku and moved them out of the way of the incoming blade. Kakashi crouched down and laid Haku on the ground staring into the boy's lifeless eyes feeling sorry for the boy while he closed his eyes.
"Zabuza you're heartless. You we're ready to hack the boy's dead body apart, just to get to me. Unforgivable!" the silvered haired Jounin yelled charging at Zabuza.
"He was a tool I found thrown to the way side. His power was extraordinary, I knew I had to have him by my side just so I could harness the power he possessed" the mist demon yelled as he swung his sword at the Sharingan warrior.
Naruko heard what Zabuza was saying about Haku and was losing her temper fast. Her blood was boiling and she was ready to charge in when Hinata came over to her with Tazuna.
"Naru-chan! I was so worried about you and Sasuke-kun! I felt a drop in someone's chakra and then that surge of evil chakra came out. I thought it was happening to you, but you're okay which I glad for" Hinata said hugging her blond haired friend happy to see she was alright, but she felt the other girl tense up when she mentioned their teammates name.
Hinata pulled back and surveyed the area to see Sasuke wasn't with Naruko and the other girl looked to be shaken up severely. "N..Naru-chan... Where's Sasuke-kun?"
Naruko bit her lip trying hard not to let her emotions win out, but she couldn't hide her grief from the young Hyuga or keep the sad fate of their fallen friend from her either. Unable to speak she shook head no giving Hinata what she wanted to know without speaking while shedding a few tears.
Hinata gasped as her small shaking hands covered her mouth while tears filled up her eyes. "No...please no..." she said shakily feeling a gentle hand touch her shoulder.
"Hinata I'll take you over there. Kakashi ordered you to stay at my side so if I go you will not break his orders" Tazuna said softly feeling the saddened girl take his hand and rushed off down the bridge.
The young Uzumaki felt the duo pass her and she had to clutch at her heart feeling the same sadness overcome her heart once again. "Baka-teme..." she sobbed out watching her tears stain the ground beneath her feet.
Hinata and Tazuna approached Sasuke's still form and Hinata could only fall to her knees at his side as she pressed a gentle hand to his cheek. "Yo…you look a sleeping warrior" she mumble out sadly.
"I bet you protected Naru-chan with all your strength. You two care very much for each other. I'm ashamed to admit this, but I sort of envied you two. You are not of blood relations, but you two are as close as siblings as if you were. My little sister can't even stand to look at me" Hinata said softly cupping his cheek. "Why...why couldn't I have been stronger? Why couldn't I have helped you and Naruko when you needed it?! Why did you have to die Sasuke-kun?!" the young Hyuga cried burying her face in the boy's chest letting out gut wrenching sobs.
Tazuna watched the young girl cry and felt there was nothing he could do, but pray for Sasuke's soul and spirit to find peace and that Kaiza was there to watch over the boy.
Kakashi was fighting Zabuza seriously with retained intensity that made his attacks deadlier with darker intents as he slashed away at the others body. He showed no mercy for his opponent as he attacked and Zabuza was starting to feel the toll on his body causing him to make a mistake that allowed Kakashi to step in and disable one of his arms.
"What's wrong Zabuza? Don't have enough fight left in you?" Kakashi taunted moving out of the way of the swordsman's blind attack.
"Shut up! I have more than enough strength left to finish you off!" the enraged man yelled attacking him again with his sword single handedly only to get backhanded in the face by Kakashi.
Zabuza stumbled back and tried to regain his footing, but Kakashi was faster than him and was able to stab Zabuza in his other arm disabling it just like his previous arm. Blood poured down the mist ninja's arms as he hunched over in agony.
"You're arms are now as useless as you're Justus. You spent so much time being a cruel assassin and now you can no longer have the strength to summon a twitch in either arm" Kakashi said coldly feeling no sympathy for the now disabled mist demon.
"Well, well what a pathetic sight you've become Zabuza. To think I went to all the trouble of getting all these guys together to kill you and now I have to throw them such a worthless bag of bones like you to them."
The three ninjas turned to the sound of the nasal and slimy voice to see an ugly looking little man wearing a black suit with one of his arms wrapped in a cast. The ugly little man was standing in front of a huge crowd rough, bloodthirsty thugs.
Naruko felt her fist clenching together as digging her nails into the palms of her hands drawing blood from the grip she had on them. Without hearing the weasel sounding man's name she could tell this was Gatou. The monster who caused so much pain to this country and its people.
"What's the meaning of this Gatou?! We had a deal. I had everything handled" Zabuza growled watching as the rat of a man stumbled forward on his cane.
"From the looks of it you have nothing handled, but that's okay you've done your part to an extent. I will be discontinuing my services with you for I have come to the conclusion you are not worth the fee you charged me so I hired these nice gentlemen behind me to off you" Gatou gloated in sick satisfaction for one upping the mist ninja.
Zabuza looked unfazed by the turn of events and turned to Kakashi. "Seeing as my services have been canceled I can guarantee I will not come after the bridge builder. I have no more need to stay here."
"Very well, but it doesn't look like you're old employer has the notion of letting you leave here alive" Kakashi pointed out seeing the hunger in the thugs eyes.
Zabuza just let out a humorless laugh. "Isn't that what you had planned for me from the start?"
Gatou who was steadily coming closer to the trio stopped at the spot where Haku was laid at. "Ah yes, I remember you you're the little brat that squeezed my arm until it broke..." Gatou then proceeded to kick the dead boy in his face. Giving off a small laugh, he began to kick the boy again and again until he stopped. "Too bad, I wish you were at least half dead to feel that."
The anger inside of Naruko came to its breaking point as she made a mad dash for the rat faced vermin screaming in absolute rage. "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" she screamed as Kakashi caught her by her tiny waist as she thrashed and kicked to get free so she could beat the rat into the concrete.
"NARUKO! Think before charging in head first!" Kakashi scolded her fearing her hot headedness was going to get her killed especially in this volatile situation.
"I don't care! Let me go! He had no right to treat Haku like that! Hey freak with the no eyebrows! Say something, wasn't Haku important to you? Why are you just standing there while he gets defaced by that piece of trash!?" Naruko yelled furiously at Zabuza who just stood by passively as Gatou kicked away at his lifelong companion.
"What does it matter getting angry over something so trivial? Haku's already dead so why should it bother you to see him get mistreated this way?" the mist demon said coldly. "I merely used the boy, his power was a great asset to me, but now he's dead so what's the point. Though the loss of his power saddens me, the death of the boy means... nothing to me...nothing at all"
Hearing the demon's cold words made Naruko stall in her struggle as she tensed in Kakashi's arms. Kakashi sensing her change in behavior knew things were about to get worse with her temper. "Naruko calm down. Zabuza isn't our enemy anymore we have to play this coolly or ..."
"SHUT UP! AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THIS GUY'S STILL ENEMY NUMBER ONE!" Naruko yelled glaring furiously at Zabuza as she faced him head on.
"How dare you say watching Haku get kicked around by scum like Gatou is a trivial matter?! HAKU LIVED FOR YOU! To him you were the most important person in his life! He never cared about what happened to him, he never cared to have his own dream! The only thing...the only thing he cared about was you...You the person who saw him for him...The person who told him he was wanted and that he was needed. You spent so much time together, you both lived together and fought together as a real family ...So how..? So HOW CAN YOU SAY HAKU MEANT NOTHING TO YOU AT ALL!?" Naruko yelled starting to get choked up on her words as all her emotions boiled to the surface, but she pushed on.
"Why? Why are the strong like you, so damn fixated on making the weak feel inferior? I don't understand that logic...I don't want to understand it! I'm afraid if I become strong like you I'll become just as cold hearted as you!" she cried shaking from the force of her sadness and grief as Sasuke's, Haku's and Kaede's lifeless bodies appeared in her mind.
"Haku threw his life away for you... you and your dream. You never gave him the chance to dream for himself and yet he looked at me with such happiness in his eye and said that he was happy to have been by your side... he didn't care he didn't have a dream of his own as long as he was by your side...But now you can toss him away, just like a broken tool... It's wrong...It's so wrong!" she cried letting her crystal clear tears flow.
Her sobs were of pure sadness as she spoke words of only truth and to the proud mist demon they struck him hard, harder than any attack he had ever received.
"Brat, you talk too much..." he said quietly as tears of true emotion feel from the demon's eyes and onto the ground. "Your words hold more power than any attack or blade I have ever taken and they make bleed the most..."
Zabuza turned to look at the little Kunoichi and saw her true heart felt tears streaming from her eyes and could only smile sadly at her.
"When Haku fought you I knew his heart was breaking in two. He was always too kind, he would feel sorrow and pain for others and curse him I feel it too, but I know I also started to figure out another feeling he had...Haku was very fond of you and now I can see why..." Zabuza mused looking at Naruko's confused face.
Within moments Zabuza had ripped the bandages from around his mouth to reveal jagged and pointed teeth, catching his watchers by surprise.
"Why so shocked little one? Amazed to find out I do have a heart or are you astounded by the fact Haku held affection for you? Doesn't matter. As Shinobi we try to harden our hearts so we can become detached tools of war, but fail. Or at least I have failed...Girl throw me you're Kunai!"
Taken back by Zabuza confession she didn't know how to reply and just simply sighed as she reached for her weapon pouch and tossed him her last Kunai.
With fast like reflexes Zabuza caught the knife in his jagged teeth and charged straight for Gatou. The rat like business man screamed in terror as he began to race back to the crowd of his hired thugs.
"AH! DON'T JUST STAND THERE! KILL HIM!" Gatou ordered fearfully as Zabuza closed in on him.
Zabuza paid the crowd of thugs no mind as he charged in. As the mob charged at him trying to slash away at him, the assassin would simply dodge and slash back at anyone blocking his path, drawing blood from them all. The thugs thought it was best to try and trap the mist ninja, but fail as he slashed and kicked them all away for he was a man on a mission. As he moved through the crowd closing in on Gatou flashbacks of his time with Haku would play in his mind fueling his desire even more. Some of the thugs managed to get a few hits into him but he ignored the pain as he summoned all of his strength to continue forward.
The thugs cowered back from him when they began to see a blue flamed demon appear behind Zabuza as he came through them all. Gatou who cowered at the very back of the group could do nothing as he saw Zabuza, the mist demon clear through his hired arms and beeline straight for him.
"GATOOOOOU!" Zabuza yelled furiously piercing the kunai into the man's abdomen and slashing him open.
Gatou screamed out in agony, but his torment was no over with yet. Even after Zabuza was stabbed multiple times the man would not fall and continued to hack away at Gatou fully intent on killing him as brutally as he could.
Gatou was at the edge of the unfinished bridge one step away from falling into the swirling water below him. He was bleeding from the multiple cuts and he was shaking in complete helpless fear as he faced Zabuza. "You...you're the devil! Just go rot in hell with that kid already!"
"You're wrong Gatou...I'm not going to the place where Haku has traveled to. Instead you and I are headed straight for hell. Save a spot for me will ya, I can't wait to show you what a true devil I can be!" he yelled stabbing Gatou in the throat one last time to decapitate the scumbag and letting his headless body and head fall into the water below.
The remaining thugs looked at Zabuza fearfully as he turned back to them and they saw that demon aura appear scaring them away from him as he stumbled, moving on wobbly legs to Haku.
"Haku..." he said breathlessly as he moved only to stumble and fall to his knees. Glancing up he saw a vision of Haku smiling at him. "I'm sorry Haku...Thank you for everything." he said softly before collapsing.
Naruko bit her lip and looked away not bearing the sight any longer, but Kakashi caught her head and turned it back as he petted her head softly.
"Don't look away. In his final moment he showed what a truly desperate Shinobi can be. Do not dishonor his last moment." he tells her softly.
Naruko nodded softly, but felt herself speak quietly to her sensei and brother. "Will...will you move him beside Haku...In the end I think they want to be beside each other..."
Kakashi smiled softly down at her patting her head again. "Sure."
"Did...Did I die...?"
"Sasuke-kun..." sobbed a familiar voice.
"Hinata... Ah my body feels heavy...and it hurts to open my eyes" he thought groggily as his eyes began to part to show the blurry image of Hinata crying over him.
The young Uchiha's heart clenched a bit to see the blue haired girl crying over him, but it also made him feel warm inside to know she cared enough about him to mourn for him even though he wasn't dead. Deciding now was a good time to alert the young Hyuga that he was in fact still alive.
"Hinata...can you get off me...It's kind of hard to breathe" he said in his usual tone of voice.
Hinata jerked up in surprise at the sound of Sasuke's voice and looked to his face to see groggy and tired onyx eyes staring back at her. Tazuna too was at a stun for words at this miracle that laid before him. Hinata's shock soon turned to absolute relief as she began to sob happily as she hugged Sasuke's neck crying into his shoulder, happy that he was indeed still alive.
As Sasuke worked out coming back from the apparent dead, Hinata filled him in on how Naruko was safe and how the masked ninja jumped in front of Kakashi's attack to save Zabuza.
"I'm glad she didn't kill him. I don't think she cope with more blood on her hands especially if she killed him out of revenge for me and it turns out I'm alive. The little Dobe would never forgive herself if that happened" Sasuke thought sitting up and holding his stomach at the pain he felt even from Naruko's last ditch heal up.
Hinata got to her feet while helping Sasuke steady himself upright before she turned towards Naruko. "Naru-chan!" she yelled getting her friend's attention watching as her blue eyes widen when she saw Sasuke standing beside her. "Naru-chan he's alright. Sasuke-kun's alive!"
Naruko face began to break out into a huge grin before she felt tears cloud up her eyes as she watched Sasuke stand up beside Hinata. "He's alive!"
She suddenly turned back towards Haku and felt her heart grieve for the boy all over again as Zabuza's words echoed in her mind. "You never planned on hurting us, you just wanted to protect us. Thank you Haku, you and I really could have been friends after all." she thought smiling sadly at the boy.
Not caring for the groups moment the thugs Gatou hired decided they were tired of being ignored and made themselves known by challenging everyone. "Since, you went and killed our cash cow it looks like we have to go attack that town now!"
"Like hell you will! I'm tired of people thinking they can push others around! You want to get into that village you're going to have to go through me!" Naruko yelled taking her stand only to get laughed at by the group of thugs.
"What the hells a little pipsqueak like you going to do on your own against all of us?!" the mob challenged.
Just as the insult was released from their mouths an arrow landed right at the mob's feet as another voice traveled through the air.
"She's not alone! If you want to enter our village you'll have to go through all of us to get there!" a man yelled from beside Inari and Tsunami with the rest of the village armed with weapons back him up with their own personal war cry.
"Inari!" Naruko yelled surprised and happy to see the boy and the riled up towns people.
Inari grinned at Naruko smirking at her as he gave her the thumbs up signal. "A hero always shows up at the last minute to save the day remember!"
Tazuna stood by Hinata and Sasuke feeling overwhelmed with happiness that his people have come together to protect what is theirs.
Naruko grinned back at the boy with a wave. "Inari you're definitely my hero right now, but I won't let you guys have all the fun! Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" she yelled creating five clones of herself.
"I may not have a lot of Chakra to one-shot them all, but I think I have enough to help out. Kage Bushin No Jutsu, Kakashi style!" Kakashi yelled out creating rows of copies of himself. "Are you ready to die?" the clones chorused together.
The mob seeing how outnumbered and out classed they were panicked and started fleeing by jumping over the sides of the bridge. When all the thugs were gone, the villagers let out a yell of victory declaring they were finally free. Tazuna ran to his daughter and grandson to celebrate with his fellow countrymen while Sasuke and Hinata walked over to Naruko's side as Kakashi approached Zabuza's.
"Is it over?" the barely breathing assassin asked.
"Yes, it's over. Naruko wants me to take you to Haku's side is that what you want?" he asked.
Zabuza smiled softly. "She has a way of knowing what others want. She'll make a fine Shinobi someday. It's funny how the last name to enter my bingo book would be a rookie ninja...Naruko Uzumaki I accept you with the title of ninja."
"She'll feel honored to know she made it in there" Kakashi tells him softly gently picking the wounded warrior up and carrying him to his destination as it began to snow.
The three students watched as their Sensei carried Zabuza over to Haku's side and placed him on the ground beside him before moving over to his students.
"Thank you, Kakashi and thank you girl" the mist ninja said gruffly turning towards Haku as it continued to snow. "You were always by my side so in the end I will be by yours...If it was possible I would like to travel to the place where you are going..." he said fondly as he used what little strength he had to caress Haku's cold cheek.
To symbolize the moment a single snowflake fell on Haku's closed eyelids, melting as if it was a tear as Zabuza took his last breath and died.
Everyone watched as the fearsome ninja said his final words. Naruko slowly walked up and grabbed the back of Kakashi's jacket silently crying. Kakashi pulled her into a hug as he looked towards the pair. "Go there Zabuza...You can...together."
~Two Weeks Later~
Team Seven has gathered together at the site of the finished bridge, packed and ready to head home. Tazuna, Tsunami, Inari and the rest of the little wave village too have come to see them off.
"Thank you. All of you thank you! With your help we have finally finished the bridge!" Tazuna cheered looking happy, but also a little sad. "I hate to admit this, but I'm going to miss you guys especially you brat!"
"Ah no worries ya old geezer! You'll see us around when we come and visit" Naruko declared wearing her typical smile.
"Promise?!" Inari called out looking close to crying.
Naruko caught on to that and gave him a softer smile. "Yea, I promise. Don't go getting all teary-eyed on me again! The next time I see you I want to see how much stronger you got. Remember you're a hero and a hero has to stay strong, but it's okay ever once in a while. Deal?" she asked stretching her fist out to him.
Inari sniffled as he cried a little bit, but was soon matching Naruko's goofy smile with his own as he tapped her fist with his own making her smile and giggle.
The sight made everyone smile as the two stepped away from each other indicating it was time to go. With one last farewell and thank you for all that they have done Team Seven walked away.
"Thanks to that girl Inari's heart was changed and thus Inari changed the hearts of the villagers. Thanks to her a bridge, known as courage, turned into hope." Tazuna thought watching the ninja's he's come to respect walk away.
"Eh. Tazuna-san. Now that the bridge is complete what should we name it?" a villager asked.
"I'm glad you asked. I have the perfect name for the bridge. It's a name that sparked the life and courage of our people and will be heard throughout the world and forever in history" Tazuna declared.
"What is it?" someone else asked.
Standing proudly facing the completed bridge and at the back of a certain blonde's head the old bridge builder smiled as he announced the name. "The Great Naruko Uzumaki Bridge!"
"I like that name. It suits the bridge very well" Tsunami giggled.
"Alright! I can't wait to get home~ Don't forget teme when we get back you owe me an all you can eat ramen dinner!" Naruko cheered.
"Dobe, I owe you one bowl of ramen" Sasuke countered.
"Nope, it's all you can eat now after that little stunt you pulled. Hinata and Nii-chan are coming too so you have to pay for them as well and maybe I'll invite Shika and the others too" Naruko mused only to get her pigtails yanked by Sasuke.
"I'm not buying for everyone Dobe!" he raged getting ready to throttle her, but she slipped out of his grasped and jogged ahead of him giggling and teasing him.
Kakashi and Hinata both laughed as they watched Sasuke chase after a giggling Naruko.
Not too far from the bridge, on a cliff overlooking the little wave country two graves stood beside one another. One was marked by a sword and the other contained a crown of flowers. Together the graves stood beside one another reflecting the light of the sun casting protective shadows over one another for all time. Though the two stories have ended, their memories live on in the hearts of the people who will remember them and learn from them.
Lazyfox: It's done! The wave arc has finally ended and I can now move forward to the Chunin Exams~
Magic, Random, and Summer: Finally~!
Kushina: More action and fighting! Let the blood battles begin Mwhahahaha~!
Minato: Ah the Chunin exams I remember those days.
Lazyfox: Yes folks I know the wait was long, but I hope this super long chapter makes up for the wait and the possible wait I might put you through again. As always please leave a review on what you thought of the chapter and don't forget to keep letting me know if you want to see changes during the exams. I admit I already have some matches changed up with many more twist coming your way, but I also like feedback on what you like to see changed up. So until next time...
Everyone: JAA-NEE~!