Previously, on Naruto…
"This is Tazuna, he's a bridge builder from the Land of Waves. Your mission is to take him back to his homeland." Hirzuen finished.
…
"Gato's the most powerful man in the land. Once my bridge is complete it will connect us to the mainland and finally break his control." Tazuna said.
…
"Enough I don't have any business with you Leaf ninja. Hand over the bridge builder." Zabuza ordered.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Zabuza." Kakashi responded.
(Finally! This is my big chance!) Naruto grinned.
He'll show Sasuke that he wasn't a scared cat! He was about to race into battle, but Kakashi stopped him. "Get back, you're in the way." he stated.
"Huh? But why sensei?!" the blonde boy asked, slightly frustrated.
"Because he's on a different level from those chunin that we fought earlier." Kakashi explained pulling at his headband.
(This guy means business.) Peri swallowed hard.
"Sasuke! Peri! Sakura! Naruto! Get into mangi formation and protect the bridge builder. And no matter what happens, stay out of this fight!" he ordered them.
The four genins positioned themselves around Tazuna in a circle-like formation with the weapons ready.
Zabuza scoffed at their amateur way to protect the bridge builder. Launching from the tree he swiped his blade at the silver-haired joy in who skillfully dodged it before striking his attack.
The two men were moving so fast they looked like blurs moving all over the place. The only thing that could be heard was the classic of blades over the water.
Everyone else looks at the two shinobi in amazement and pure awe. None of them could keep up with their moments; they looked like lightning bolts clashing against each other.
"Unbelievable! They're moving so fast!" Peri whispered.
"I can't even see them!" Naruto whispered in disbelief. Just then Zabuza and Kakashi leaped away from each other slightly out of breath.
"Are you alright sensei?" Sakura asked, but he didn't answer her, the only thing he did was nod his head.
"As expected from Kakashi the Copy Ninja. I would have never thought I would see the mighty Sharingan firsthand." Zabuza chuckled.
Sasuke froze. (That's impossible. The Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha Clan. My clan)
"Sensei has the Sharingan? But how can that be?" Peri pondered looking at her teacher in shock.
"What is that?" Sakura asked confused
"Sharingan. Sharingan. Will somebody tell me what that is?" Naruto asked
"The Sharingan is a rare power. It forms in the eyes allowing its user to see through ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. That's not all it can do, but it's the kekkei genkai of the Uchiha Clan." Sasuke explained to his teammates, slightly analyzing Kakashi. The jounin pulled his forehead away from his right eye.
Revealing a blazing Sharingan.
"So that's the Sharingan huh? But don't think you'll beat me with that fancy eye of yours. Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Zabuza said as a thick mist engulfed him until nobody was able to see him.
The most became so thick it was impossible to see anything in front of them. The copy ninja took a couple of steps towards his students, he knew that the rogue ninja would go after them first.
"Kakashi-sensei, who is that guy?" Sakura whimpered, trembling.
"Zabuza Momochi. He's a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village and he's a master of the Silent Killing." Kakashi answered.
"W-What t-t-the s-silent k-k-k-killing?" Tazuna trembled.
"Zabuza's specialty. In his mist, a person can lose his life in a blink before he knows what happened." the copy ninja explained.
Everyone except for the jounin shivered in fear. When they accepted this mission they didn't expect to be in a life or death situation.
(It's going to be difficult fighting Zabuza while protecting the others will be nearly impossible to do. I need to get Naruto, Sakura, Peri, and Sasuke away from here.) Kakashi analyzed.
"Eight points. Larynx. Spine. Lungs. Liver. Jugular. Collarbone. Kidney. Heart. Now which one will be my kill point?"
The Genin froze with fear.
"W-What's t-that?" Peri trembled
Sasuke's blood turned cold as he trembled in absolute fear. (So this is the blood list of two high-class ninja. Such an intense thirst for blood I can't even breathe…This atmosphere….if I stay here another moment I'll lose my mind…. I can't take it! I'd rather end it now!) He held up his kunai.
"Sasuke! Calm down. I will not allow my comrades to die." Kakashi smiled at them warmly.
"Don't make promises you can't keep Kakashi." Zabuza said, appearing right in the middle of the group.
The copy ninja made three clones. One of them grabbed the girls, the second grabbed the boys, and the third one grabbed
Tazuna. Kakashi charged at him, jamming his kunai in his stomach.
But the victory was short-lived as Zabuza dissolved into water.
( A water clone?!) Kakashi gasped as the real rogue ninja stood behind him chuckling evilly.
"No way that was a clone!" Naruto yelled in shock.
"You shouldn't underestimate me Kakashi." the real Zabuza laughed and swung his huge stored ready to chop off his head. The copy ninja ducked as the sword barely grazed him. Slamming his sword to the ground he pivoted his body roundhouse kicking the silver-haired ninja, sending him flying into the lake with a huge splash.
"Unbelievable...Sensei flew!" Peri gasp.
"Kakashi sensei!" Sakura wailed.
(He has amazing taijutsu skills.) Sasuke growled.
Still, in a daze, Kakashi focused his chakra on his feet as he sat on his knees on the surface of the water. (Why is the water so heavy?)
"It's all over now." Zabuza grinned behind him making hand signs.
"NO!" Kakashi yelled in horror as he tried to get away but he couldn't move.
"Water Prison Jutsu!"
The four genins and the bridge builder watched in horror as Kakashi was trapped in a circular prison made out of water. And now they were trapped because without their leader there was no way they could escape.
"Like it? It's my special prison jutsu, an inescapable prison that is. We can finish our battle later, Kakashi. First, I'll take care of these brats." Zabuza laughed, creating two more water clones.
Peri, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stepped in front of Tazuna pulling out their weapons.
Their mission was to protect the bridge builder and that's what they were going to be. They had to at least try even though they were no match for the rogue ninja. The man threw back his head and laughed at their act of bravery.
"Pathetic. Wearing those headbands and acting like ninjas but you wanna know something? A real ninja…. is somebody who has survived countless battles with their hands bathed in blood." he began making a one-hand sign seal.
(No way! He can use one hand signs!?) Peri gasped.
Naruto charged at their opponent but he was thrown back by the rogue ninja. Luckily, she was close enough to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Are you okay?" Peri asked for help.
"You're all just brats." the rogue ninja sneered.
"Listen to me! Take the bridge builder and get out of here! You guys can't beat him! As long as he keeps me trapped he can't move and the water clones won't go too far from his body. Run now!" Kakashi ordered them still in the water prison.
(We can't run away. Our change was gone when you got caught. Even if we did run he would catch us.) Sasuke growled angrily.
"The only way we're gonna survive is if we save you!" Sasuke yelled, starting his assault. The blonde Uzumaki threw a kunai which the rogue ninja dodged easily while the Uchiha appeared behind him with a kunai. But with a quick movement, Zabuza grabbed his grab, choking him slamming down.
"SASUKE!" the pink-haired girl screamed, crying hysterically.
"Sasuke was...defeated by that guy?" Naruto whispered. Zabuza's water clone stomped on Sasuke's chest, applying more and more pressure on his chest.
"No Sasuke!" Sakura yelled. Tazuna wanted to step in to help the children and take their place.
All of this was his fault, but he couldn't fight. If anything he would just be more of a burden to them than helping them.
(Please help me out Nebki!) Peri bit the tip of her fingertip wiping the blood on her left palm, and a mysterious eye responded to it.
"So native." Zabuza taunted raising his blade about to strike the ravenette
"Summoning Jutsu!" Peri yelled, a bright purple light glowed on the ground where her hand was as a white poof of smoke appeared.
Out of the smoke was a small tanuki creature with a monkey head with small fangs and a white mane, tiger legs, yellow eyes, and a snake-like tail.
The chibi-like tanuki leaped into the air and landed on Zabuza knocking him off balance.
"What the-GET OFF!" he yelled, giving Peri enough time to get Sasuke to safety as the rogue ninja pry the tanuki off.
The tanuki now known as Nebki scattered off back on the Senju's shoulders.
"Be careful Nebki. This man is dangerous." she said to her summoning.
(What kind of summoning creature is that? I've never seen or heard of summoning like that one) Kakashi thought to himself, narrowing his eyes.
"Are you good? " she asked
"Yeah I'm fine." Sasuke responded
Zabuza scoffed at them, grabbing his sword. And slammed it against the ground. "You guys never grow up. Still playing ninja, eh? When I was your age my hands were soaked with blood." he said.
"What do you mean by that?" Tazuna asked, confused.
Kakashi's face turned grim as he looked at them through the water prison.
"In the Hidden Mist Village often called the Blood Mist used to have a special graduation exam. Where the children had to kill each other in order to pass. There was one year...where one child killed every single one of his classmates.." Kakashi trailed off, not able to finish.
(How cruel.) Sakura thought.
Tazuna just trembled in fear upon hearing this.
"AND IT FELT SO GOOD!" Zabuza laughed maniacally
Everyone looked sick when he heard him.
"Imagine. Classmates eating lunch together and sharing their hopes and dreams. Forced to fight each other to the death." he continued.
"Naruto lets go again one more time." the Uchiha said
The two boys were about to attack while the rogue ninja was still talking, however, they were pulled back by Peri.
"What are you doing!?" Naruto yelled loudly
"Shut up and listen! We can't win just by using brute force, we need a plan!" Peri yelled just as loudly.
"Well do you have one then? We can't just stand around." Sasuke asked annoyed
"We need to free Kakashi-sensei is the only one who can beat this guy. That's why Zabuza is staying close to him. If we can get hito break his jutsu the water prison will break. In order to do that we need a diversion. So un…listen carefully." she explained pulling them closer to whisper in their ears.
She was going to have to be bare if she wanted to help her sensei no matter how afraid she was.
"Are you done with your little strategy meeting now?" Zabuza taunted them with malicious amusement.
"You guys, let's do what sensei says and just run! We have to protect Mr. Tazuna, don't fight this guy!" Sakura yelled as her teammates got into position.
But Tazuna shook his head and stepped away from the girl. "No. This is my fault anyway, I dragged you all into my mess and now it's time to fight. Don't worry about me. Fight with everything you got!" he grinned brightly.
"Thanks, Old Man! Sasuke! Peri! Let's do this!" Naruto said as the three of them went to their sensei again.
No matter what, they had to get Kakashi out of that prison to survive.
They would show him that they weren't brats.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yelled, creating a swarm of clones to fight Zabuza.
"NO!" the copy ninja yelled desperately trying to free himself.
"Oh..seems like your brats have some backbones Kakashi." Zabuza scoffed.
Swinging his gigantic sword the rouge ninja swapped at the clones easily. (Be brave Peri! You've to be brave to save Kakashi-sensei!) the light-brown haired Senju told herself throwing a smoke bomb appeared out of nowhere and went off at his face.
"What the-?!" he coughed and felt a blow to his stomach caught in a nasty punch by the Senju.
The rogue ninja stumbled backwards as four of Naruto clones grabbed Zabuza by the arms and legs. "Now you guys!" the clones yelled.
"What are you three doing!? Do what I say and run away you can't beat him!" Kakashi demanded
"We're gonna die if we don't get you out!"Sasuke snapped back at the same time.
Peri reached into her back before grabbing a large shuriken. "SASUKE CATCH!" she yelled, throwing a large shuriken towards the Uchiha.
Catching the wind shuriken with one arm with a serious expression, "Wind Mill of Shadows!" Sasuke yelled, throwing the gigantic shuriken at him.
"Those stupid brats!" he growled, releasing his water prison to dodge the incoming knife.
"Alright, it worked! Great job you guys!" Tazuna cheered.
"I have to hand it to you guys. That was brilliant." Kakashi praised the three genins. It was a brilliant strategy to stay the least. Sakura looked at them and was also impressed by their quick thinking as well.
"It was Peri's plan!" Naruto smiled
"I-NoittwastheguysIdidn'tdoanything!" Peri yelled, her face turned bright red making fast hand gestures.
"You're talking way too fast Peri, we can't understand you. But it was a genius plan." Kakashi chuckled, patting her head.
(Naruto, Sasuke, and Peri worked so perfectly together. Like a real team!) Sakura said to herself.
Despite the situation, she couldn't help but feel jealous of how close Sasuke and Peri were standing next to each other. Kakashi rushed at Zabuza with his kunai as they clashed again and again.
"Don't think this is over yet." he growled making hand signs
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Two gigantic water dragons rose from the lake behind them colliding against each other, spraying water everywhere. Zabuza's eyes widened in shock at the copy ninja.
(What! H-He copied my jutsu? But how?) Zabuza growled dumbfounded, stumbling back as Kakashi took a step forward.
(It's like he knows what I'm doing before I do it!)
"What are you? Can you see the future?" he asked.
"Yeah..and you're about to die." Kakashi said weaving a hand sign.
(This can't be happening!)
"Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!"
(NOOOOO!)
A large volume of water expelled high into the air resembling a waterfall and crashed on the fleeing rogue ninja at record speed. The rogue screamed in pain as he was thrown all over inside the waterfall. "Wow you did it!" Tazuna cheered
"You're amazing sensei! I've never seen such a strong water jutsu!" Peri cheered. Nebki, who was resting on top of her head, was bouncing up and down in a quite comical fashion. As the jutsu subsided the rogue ninja was barely standing defeated.
"T-This isn't -" he gasped as two senbon needles hit his unconscious and fell to the ground as a young boy wearing a mask appeared.
(Who is this boy? He took Zabuza out like it was nothing!) Sakura gasped.
"Who are you?" Kakashi asked
"Fear not, I am an ally. I'm apart of the Hidden Mist Anbu Black Ops and I've been tracking down Zabuza for weeks. I will take care of this now." the masked boy said before disappearing with the unconscious Zabuza
"WAIT!" Naruto yelled but they were already gone. He slammed his fist down in frustration ranting about how weak they were.
That stopped when a sudden sound made Kakashi launched himself at the trees again flashing out his Sharingan. A few seconds later, three unknown men fell to the ground unconscious. "Who are they? Are they friends with Zabuza?" Tazuna asked.
Peri grew pale.
"No, they aren't. But I must inform Lord Hokage about this." Kakashi said, summoning a small brown pug who was wearing a blue vest and a headband on the top of his head. "Hi Pakkun." he greeted, slightly out of breath
"Kakashi, these are members of the Foundation. What are they doing here?!" the dog asked before taking a note from his summoner's hand.
"I don't know but please inform Lord Hokage right away." the copy ninja ordered. The ninja hound nodded before sprinting away in the direction of the village. "I don't get what this Foundation is anyway?" Naruto asked.
"How should I know!" Sakura yelled, pushing him away.
Although the battle with Zabuza was over she was still scared of what would happen next. Everything she learned at the academy was nothing compared to this at all! The only reason Sakura wanted to be a kunoichi in the first place was so she could impress Sasuke and hopefully confess her feelings.
Just then Kakashi's vision began to blur as he swayed backward slightly.
(I used too much chakra. The Sharingan always wipes me out.) he thought to himself and fell to the ground unconscious to everyone's horror.
"KAKASHI SENSEI!"
Author's Notes
Good morning! Sorry again for the long hiatus but now that school and the holiday are over I should be able to update again. I'm already working on the chapter so it should be coming out soon.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a happy new year. We're all in a rough spot because of the pandemic so please everybody stay safe out there!
~SenjuPrincess~