11. Friends...I Promise
"Just because I screwed up the first time doesn't mean I'm going to quit!" Naruto announced, moving his fingers into handsigns. "Shadow replication!"
"Stop!" Sasuke tried, but it was too late.
Naruto's clones leapt at the mirrors once more, but just as before, they were knocked down one by one, each disappearing in a puff of smoke. Before the last clone was hit, a sudden breeze rushed past my face and I felt a strike to my shoulder.
I cried out as the momentum forced me to my knees. Several needles were lodged in my shoulder. Gritting my teeth, I grasped them and tugged just as Sasuke called out and fell onto his back beside me. I called his name in concern as Naruto fell to the ground on my left. Sasuke and I quickly stumbled to our feet as Naruto immediately shot back up, undeterred.
"Shadow Replication!"
No warning from Sasuke this time. Instead, as Naruto and his clones leapt forward to attack, Sasuke ran forward and kicked at the ground, sending a splash of water into the air.
Haku's voice was ringing through the dome. "Can't you see that this is futile?"
I barely heard him, or the sounds of clones disappearing. My eyes were glued to the water Sasuke had splashed into the air. I saw the streams break apart, completely disappearing before it could return to the ground. Realization, and a rush of excitement, flooded me.
Sasuke can see Haku's movements! At least partially. He knew Haku was going to pass through that water…!
Caught up in the elation that we might yet survive, I turned to Sasuke. As I did so, something rammed into me, tearing at my chest. I hollered in pain, flying backwards before slamming onto my back. Naruto landed to my left a moment later, and Sasuke to my right the moment afterwards.
The boys immediately sprung to their feet. I tried, but faltered. My breath was coming out as great gasps as I felt for the needles in my chest. Giving myself no time to anticipate the pain, I yanked them out.
"One more time, Shadow Replication!"
Get up, Nakao! I winced and wheezed but I forced myself to my feet just as Sasuke blew a fireball in the direction of Naruto's clones. It rammed into a mirror and flickered out of existence, but Sasuke's resolve didn't dampen. As clones began to disappear, Sasuke tried again, shooting a fireball into the dwindling crowd of clones. Seconds later, Naruto flew back to us, hitting the ground with such a force he rolled over himself twice.
"Naruto!" I shortened the distance between us and knelt at his side. Grabbing him by the shoulders, I hauled him into a sitting position. Taking his arm tightly, I pulled him to his feet.
Naruto looked up hopefully to the image of Haku in the mirror directly in front of us and let out an aggravated sigh. "Ugh, so close!"
Confused at first, my eyes examined every inch of Haku. I sucked in a breath of excitement. The bottom of his left pant leg was singed!
"Naruto, can you still move?" Sasuke asked, turning to the blonde.
"Sasuke…" I glanced over to him cautiously but Naruto already had a stubborn look on his face.
"Of course!"
He can't keep this up, I glanced at Naruto in concern. That replication jutsu exhaust a lot of chakra…
I turned back to Sasuke. "What should I do?"
Sasuke glanced at me. "I want you and Naruto to try to get outside. We need someone to attack from outside the mirrors."
"Got it."
The mirrors flashed brightly and Sasuke ran through handsigns. "Go!"
We took off in opposite directions. I ran harder than I ever had in my life, focusing my attention on a particular gap in the mirrors. I heard Naruto cry out from behind me and I squeezed my eyes shut, willing my legs to move faster. Needles sank into my side.
I cried out, doubling over. Gasping, I looked back to the gap again. Ignoring the searing pain, I started running again. The sound of my feet hitting the wet pavement was the only sound I could hear over my ragged gasping.
The gap was getting closer and closer. I was almost there-could almost reach it-!
Something barreled into my chest and I had no air to use to scream as I flew back to the center of the dome.
"Dammit!" I cringed, struggling to my knees. Sasuke was kneeling on the ground, Naruto lay face first.
Before we could discuss any further plans, the mirrors flashed yet again. Something in me snapped. That blinding light filled me with rage and my body reacted. My fingers ran through practiced handsigns so fast they blurred together and I surged to my feet.
The needles came, but my wind came faster. With an enormous surge of chakra, it rushed from my pores, stinging my skin. It spread out around me and flowed around my teammates, completely encapsulating them. The needles that flew at them hit the barrier I'd created and they bounced away, falling harmlessly to the ground. But with my concentration so focused on protecting them, I'd left my backside open to attack.
Seconds after Haku's failed assault, I took a blow to the back. I fell forward and I cried out. Haku had stabbed me within an inch of my kidney and my flank was burning in agony. I smacked into the ground, whacking my chin hard against the cement and the protection I'd given the boys vanished instantly.
Sasuke and Naruto found themselves defenseless. Instead of an entire barrage of needles, however, Haku knocked into each boy once, sending them sprawling to the ground.
Naruto shot up immediately, scrambling over to me as I twitched in pain.
"Nakao! Are you okay!?" His worried eyes searched me.
"Y-yeah…I'm..fine…" I moaned as I tried to force myself to my knees. My shirt was sticking to my back from the blood freely leaking from my fresh wound. I shakily pushed myself onto my knees with gentle assistance from Naruto. I wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. I'd busted open my bottom lip when I'd hit my chin and blood was gushing down my front.
I could feel Naruto shaking before he soared to his feet. "Dammit!"
Sasuke offered me a quick glance over as I struggled to my feet. He turned his attention to Naruto. "I need you to try to get out again."
Naruto nodded. "Okay."
I glanced to him. "I can try to cover you, but I don't know how much time I can buy you. I can stop the needles from hitting but if he physically knocks into me, my wind isn't going to help. Without being able to see him I don't know where to reinforce my chakra. If he knocks me down, you're on your own."
The determination in his blue eyes never wavered. "Got it."
Naruto sprinted forwards I ran through handsigns again. I directed my wind to flow around him again, shielding him. I made to offer Sasuke some protection as well but he suddenly took off running too, surprising me.
Before I could exert any extra chakra to aid him, needles flew in his direction. One pierced his leg, halting him in his tracks. This split second of inaction was all Haku needed to send a handful more at him. They plowed into his upper body
The attack distracted Naruto and he stopped. "Sasuke!"
"Naruto, keep running!" I shouted at him.
The words has barely left my lips before I got hit from the side. I flew several feet, hitting the ground next to Sasuke. I grasped at my side. I found no needle but my shirt was soaked and the hand I pulled away was coated in crimson. Naruto smashed into the ground beside me.
As I struggled to my knees, a high-pitched scream pierced the air. Eyes wide, I spun my torso around, trying to peer through the gap in the mirrors, but the mist was too thick; I couldn't see a thing.
"S-Sakura…" Naruto muttered from beside me. His body was twitching as he tried to move, but he lay face down, too weak to move; at least it seemed to me. But although he groaned and panted, Naruto rose to his feet.
Where his sudden burst of energy came from, I'd no idea. But the blonde sprinted forward as fast as he could manage. Haku appeared in the mirror ahead of him, but Naruto back flipped and ran in the opposite direction. I could see Haku following him, rushing from mirror to mirror.
"Naruto, behind you!" I called desperately but Haku got to him before he could turn around, attacking him from behind.
"It is impossible to get out of here, I assure you of that," Haku said.
The frustration was palpable. How long had he been toying with us? Sending us sprawling to ground over and over and over.
Sasuke and I rushed to our fallen teammate. Despite his sudden display of energy, he wasn't getting up very quickly this time.
"Don't waste your chakra like that anymore, that's what he wants us to do," Sasuke told Naruto as he dropped down beside him to assess his injuries.
"I…know…" Naruto mumbled, trying to push himself up, but his arms gave out on him and his eyes flickered closed.
Fuck.
The mirrors flashed. I activated my kekki genki, sparing my teammates again and the needles fell to the ground like raindrops.
I took a blow to the back, sending me to my knees.
"Nakao! Didn't you just hear me? Stop!" Sasuke's voice was rough, but there was a definite edge to it. I wouldn't admit it was fear. I couldn't. Because if Sasuke gave in, how could I keep the three of us alive?
"I'm…f-fine…Sasuke…" I gritted out but a needle sailed out of nowhere and struck my shoulder. I doubled over and Haku took full advantage. I could actually sense the attack coming, but there was no way I'd have the time to stop it.
Sasuke suddenly slid in front of me. He'd grabbed a needle from the ground and I looked up just in time to see him use it to deflected the needles Haku had aimed at me.
"Get up, idiot!" Sasuke yelled over to Naruto as the assault of needles ended. He fell to one knee.
"I know! Stop being so annoying," Naruto grumbled, finally sitting up.
The mirrors flashed. Sasuke hopped to his feet, blocking the needles with his. I remained on my knees but activated my jutsu. The wind spread out around Naruto, encasing him in a dome. The needles that were sent at him were deflected, but they never seemed to end. Sasuke was panting some feet away from me as he tried to dodge and block the needles.
Sweat was forming at my hairline, freezing in the frigid air. My lips were beginning to chap and my eyes were stinging as I fluttered my eyelids in an attempt to moisturize them.
The Arashi Kamekaze was a taxing ability. It had originated from Sunagakure, the Land of Wind, where my clan had called home. The water molecules required for it to work came from the user's body. As it was released, it converted to air molecules but the water didn't just replenish itself. The body can only give so much.
I'd been told in dire circumstances, the molecular water found in the bloodstream could be utilized, but I didn't know how to do it. I didn't know how to pull against instinct and use my chakra to turn against its own source of existence. It was extremely dangerous and easily lethal even for the most experienced. And so Keitaro had never taught me; and I never thought I'd be in the situation to need it.
As I concentrated harder to protect Naruto, I could feel my body protesting. Exhaustion was trying to overcome me and I made a conscious effort to push it away.
The down pour of needles finally ended and I immediately canceled the jutsu in an effort to retain my stamina. My body fell forward and I just managed to catch myself on hands and knees.
"Th-thanks, Nakao," Naruto breathe from beside me. He was still so exhausted. I couldn't even respond.
I glanced up to find Haku in the mirror in front of us. He was still for a moment, as though examining us closely before he suddenly vanished. A chill swept over me, raising goosebumps on my skin.
Sasuke, on his feet, was wildly looking around himself. "Where did he go!? Naruto, you better not faint on us!"
I got to my feet, slowly glancing around the dome. I wiped at my chin, flaking off some dried blood.
"I don't need your help…" I heard Naruto mutter before he fell onto his back, eyes closed.
Sasuke and I glanced back at him before we looked to each other. The concern plastered to my face was mirrored in his. I bit down on my lip, reopening the unhealed wound there. Warm blood dribbled down my chin.
"Looks like that boy has reached his limits," Haku's voice rang throughout the dome.
We glanced up to find Haku peered down at us from the mirror that capped our prison. Sasuke gritted his teeth, sailing the needle in his hand at the mirror. It bounced off harmlessly and dropped to the ground.
"You move very brilliantly, but you are no match for me," Haku said, holding up a hand full of needles.
He sent them at Sasuke, who managed to dodge. The needles hit the mirror behind him instead. Haku began to flash from mirror to mirror, making me dizzy. Sasuke's eyes were trying to follow, but his senses were beginning to dull. Finally, Haku picked a mirror. The movement he made was subtle, but I caught it.
Just as Haku sent his needles at Sasuke, I ran through handsigns. With a surge of chakra, wind burst from my body and wrapped around Sasuke, protecting him from Haku's attack. I held it for several seconds, already feeling the strain, until something stabbed me in my already-injured side. A cry rang from my lips and the wind around Sasuke dissipated.
I collapsed to my knees. My side was searing in pain. The warmth of my own blood spread across my skin as I slumped forward, resting my forearms against the cold ground.
"You've reached your limit," Haku told me.
"Sasuke…I'm sorry…" I muttered weakly, falling onto my side, breathing heavily.
Sasuke gritted his teeth together, turning his head back to Haku, glaring. My fingers twitched, scraping at the concrete ground.
I can't let this happen. I can't leave him on his own.
I struggled to my feet, swaying as I did so. My muscles screamed in protest. I glanced tiredly up at Haku and he raised his hand, needles at the ready. I could only watch; there was no hope in dodging.
He released the needles.
I ducked my head and squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for impact. But I never felt the hit. I opened my eyes in surprise as Sasuke snaked an arm around my waist, grabbing Naruto with the other. He leapt backwards and the needles struck the ground hard where I'd been standing the moment prior.
Sasuke set us down where Naruto fell unceremoniously, still unconscious. I immediately looked up at Sasuke and gasped.
"Sasuke! Your eyes!"
Sasuke smirked. His eyes shone red. His right eye had two black commas circling where the pupil should be, and the left eye had one. I stared in amazement. His Sharingan had awakened.
"I see. So you, too, possess a kekki genki," Haku observed.
Haku began to flash from mirror to mirror once more, testing Sasuke. His eyes followed every movement. Haku, without stopping, threw a handful of needles straight for Sasuke, but he jumped backwards, several feet away from where he'd left Naruto and me.
Relief washed through me as I realized Sasuke would be able to predict Haku's movements. Just moments ago, I was preparing for our eminent demise.
Haku attempted several more times to land a hit on Sasuke but each time Sasuke would avoid the needles. Finally, Haku seemed to give up and stood in his mirror, completely still. He was thinking hard I could tell despite the fact his face was hidden behind his mask. I found myself hoping as hard as I could that he wouldn't find a plan to work around the Sharingan. And that's when I saw it.
It was the most subtle of movements; barely a twitch. But I caught it, and my blood chilled.
He had looked at us. More specifically, Naruto, who was still unconscious behind me. And I realized Haku had found his plan.
My throat was dry. I knew my chakra was tapped out and I wouldn't be able to activate my kekki genki. Kakashi-sensei's words ran through my head.
"That's what happens on a mission. Someone will die."
He was right. There was no way around it this time. My eyes found Sasuke, on the other side of the dome. Every time he'd jumped away from Haku's needles, he'd jumped further and further away from us. He couldn't save us this time.
He couldn't save me. But he could get here in time to save Naruto. If I could buy him just another minute.
I saw Haku's needles glint in his hand. My breathing shallowed as my heart raced. My body was trained from years of practice; stay alive! But my mind was set. All three of us were not going to make it out of this dome; but maybe two of us could. Were the lives of both Sasuke and Naruto worth my one life?
Yes.
I saw a blur of movement and I slid in front of Naruto. I fell over him, curling him beneath me. I needed to keep him from harm as much as I could. I squeezed my eyes shut and I waited.
Just a little more pain, Nakao, and then it'll be over.
I felt a breeze.
I waited, but the pain never came. Had the end come so quickly it had been painless? But…I was still cold. And I could still feel the blood pounding in my ears. My hearing tuned in to a sound from behind me. It sounded like the slow drip of a leaky faucet.
I slowly peeled open my eyes. Naruto's orange jacket was all I could see. I blinked and sat up. I peered over my shoulder to find the navy blue of Sasuke's shirt.
"Sasuke?"
I turned around. Past Sasuke, who stood protectively in front of us, was Haku. He was laying face-down on the ground several feet away.
Did I dare allow my heart to leap in my chest? Too late. Seeing Haku on the ground gave me more hope than I could have imagined. I turned back to Sasuke, a grin forming on my face, when my stomach dropped.
Everything seemed to slam into me at once. Sasuke was slouched forward, an arm wrapped around his abdomen. The dripping sound I had heard hadn't dissipated and I realized where it was coming from. A puddle of crimson blood was beginning to form under Sasuke.
"Really…you two…are such a burden…" Sasuke said weakly.
"Sasuke…" my mind seemed sluggish all of a sudden. I understood what was happening, and yet my mind didn't want to accept it.
Sasuke turned his head to look over his shoulder at me. I lost the air in my lungs. Blood was running down his bottom lip and chin. My heart stopped. Sasuke's arm dropped to his side and I could see, as he pivoted towards me, the large stain the spread through the fabric of his shirt.
"What's…with the stupid…face…" he muttered.
My body was trembling, and it had nothing to do with the cold. I felt helpless. And useless. The guilt nearly suffocated me. My voice cracked as I yelled. "You're stupid! Why did you jump in the way!? I had it! I had it!"
Sasuke's eyes fixated on something far away. There was the smallest of smirks on his face. "I…don't know…"
"Naruto...maybe you should uh, give Sasuke some personal space, yeah?"
"Nakao," Naruto turned his head to me in aggravated surprise. "You're one of them too!?"
I hissed as though the comment burned. "Never!"
With Naruto being a bit vertically challenged, his fist hit me in the upper back, sending me flying forward with an embarrassing flail. And the next thing I know I'm in a lovely lip-lock with no other than Uchiha Sasuke.
There was a collective gasp from the room. Naruto's hands flew to his mouth.
I pulled away sputtering with Sasuke and I both vigorously rubbing at our lips, though him doing it in a quiet, more dignified manner.
Sasuke cooties!
"Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke and Makase Nakao."
"WHAT!?"
"If Nakao doesn't give him her lunch, I'll give him mine. If she fails, we're failing too," Sasuke said, his eyes on the ground.
"Sasuke, you dick!"
"Don't be such a baby."
"Sasuke, chillax dude! I got your back, literally."
"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Sasuke snapped.
"Why would I know where she is?" Naruto countered, annoyed. "She must have snuck out after me."
"Well we need to go find her," Sasuke said impatiently.
"I…um…I can't get up…"
"You're such an idiot."
Tears were pooling in my eyes. My hands clenched into my fists and I glared at nothing in particular. "You idiot! I didn't ask you to do that!"
"My body just…moved."
Sasuke's body began to sway before he lost his balance and tipped backwards. I scrambled forwards, managing to catch him before he hit the ground. He now lay with his head cradled in the nook of my arm, his body resting atop my legs.
"Sasuke!" There was no hiding the panic, the sheer fear, in my voice.
Sasuke paid me no heed. His gaze was set on what should be the sky. But all he would see would be the top mirror of this damned prison. Still, his eyes were unfocused, unseeing. "I never did…get to…kill…Itachi."
I felt a lump form in my throat as the tears welled in my eyes more and more. The image of Sasuke began to blur as the tears obstructed my vision. I was afraid to speak; for I knew how small and broken my voice would sound, but the words fell from my lips anyway. "You-you weren't supposed to do that. I was supposed to die…"
Sasuke's eyes slowly wandered to my face. He stared at me for a long moment before I could see his onyx-colored eyes begin to fade. "What was that stupid thing we used to do as kids?"
There was the jolt of lightening I kept feeling since I'd been forced to spend time with Sasuke. A tear slipped down my cheek. "Y-You remember?"
"Of course I remember…idiot," Sasuke said softly before he winced in pain.
Several more tears fell from my eyes. Slowly, I lifted my free hand. I extended my thumb and pinkie forward. "Friends…" I held it a second before crossing my index and middle finger. "I promise."
"Yeah…that…" Sasuke smirked before his eyelids fluttered.
"Sasuke, wait Sasuke!" I pleaded, clutching him tightly, my eyes frantically roving his face.
Sasuke's eyes opened, finding my face. He slowly lifted a trembling hand, as though he meant to touch my face, but he couldn't seem to get it there. "You. Don't…die…"
His hand fell back to his body and his eyes flickered closed.
My mouth hung open slightly as my mind struggled to cope with what had just transpired. Warm tears were now leaking down my face, falling onto my lips, onto Sasuke's skin. A whimper escaped my trembling lips.
"Sasuke!" I shook the boy desperately, despite knowing he wouldn't open his eyes. "Sasuke, knock it off! Wake up! Wake up!"
But the boy didn't move. Didn't flinch. Another whimper and then, the sound like a wounded animal was ripped from my lungs. I pulled Sasuke closer to me, digging my head in his shoulder. The coppery scent of blood filled my nostrils, but underneath it, I could still smell his scent. He smelled like the forest in the early hours of the morning. He'd always smelled like that. My shoulders racked with sobs as I clung to my cold teammate.
"He jumped in the way to protect someone important to him. He is a ninja truly worthy of respect."
With a jerk, I moved my head away from Sasuke's shoulder. A hiccup escaped my lips, wisps of hair stuck to my cheeks from the tears. Haku was on his feet now, his masked face watching me.
"Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle? That is the path of a ninja."
More tears ran down my face as I watched the boy. My lips were trembling, so I shut them firmly. My chin began to tremble instead. I glanced down to Sasuke's face, scratched and bloody. Fresh, hot tears welled in my eyes before gushing down my cheeks.
"You. Don't…die…"
My head snapped back up so quickly that tears flew from my face. My violet-shaded eyes turned a dark purple, filled with rage and despair. But the anger rushed through my veins, momentarily blocking out the grief. I was seeing red, so angry that my ears were humming. I just stared at Haku standing there. The boy who had taken Sasuke from me.
My knuckles whitened as I clutched the fabric of Sasuke's shirt. Everything was trembling, from my limbs to my voice as I finally spoke. "I'm going to tear you apart!"