Chapter Ten: Waters Disturbed
Disclaimer: Naruto, my friends, does not belong to me
The mist surrounded the group like a cloak – if a cloak could give you chills. Sasuke suppressed a shudder. He listened to his surroundings as best as he could, but the mist seemed to muffle his hearing in addition to making it impossible to see. For a moment, he wished that Karin was there; rather, he wished he had her ability to sense chakra. Sasuke kept imagining Zabuza arriving, walking toward them on the misty waters, his red eyes bent toward their destruction and Haku at his side.
Which was ridiculous, and Sasuke knew it. Even so, the nightmare that was Zabuza set Sasuke's teeth on edge. Zabuza and Haku. The boy who almost killed Naruto. The boy who did kill Sasuke in the original timeline, even if it was only for a minute. Haku had been his first truly tough opponent, and it was months before Sasuke slept through the night after his fight. His defeat.
Sasuke instinctively rested his hand on his chokutō's hilt at the memory. Haku isn't going to win this time.
"You planning on fighting someone?" Naruto asked, interrupting Sasuke's thoughts.
"I want to be prepared." He responded, looking onwards.
"You should all want to be prepared…" Tazuna muttered, taking a swig of sake.
They continued the boat ride in relative silence until the boat-master informed them that they would be arriving at the Land of the Waves soon. Sasuke watched as an impressive stone structure materialized out of the mist, a long line of tunnels resting beneath it. It was the unfinished bridge. Sakura gasped in awe, while Naruto remained uncharacteristically quiet.
"Tazuna, it looks like we've avoided detection so far, but just in case, we'll take the route that has vegetation. It'll make it harder to spot us." The boat-master murmured, looking around as he rowed.
"Thanks." Tazuna gave a tense nod, a physical representation of everyone's mood.
The mist began to thin out, allowing them to get a better look at the tunnel before them. As they traveled under, Sasuke took a brief glance at the others. Sakura looked ahead, tapping her finger on her knee while Naruto sat relaxed, his arms crossed. Kakashi had opened his book, though Sasuke doubted the jōnin could see very well even with the lights embedded in the tunnel's stone roof. Tazuna's grip on his bottle tightened and relaxed in intervals as he looked onward. The boat master had his eyes fixed ahead; his hand tight on the oar as he guided them forward.
"Look at that," Sakura whispered as the boat emerged from the tunnel.
A town appeared seemingly out of nowhere as the mist parted, tall trees with deep roots in the river. Houses rested on wooden docks that swayed with the river's gentle currents. What do they do during a flood? Sasuke idly wondered as the boat-master led them to a pier.
"This is it for me," the boat-master informed them. "Goodbye, and good luck."
Team Seven and Tazuna got out of the boat, Naruto nearly missing his step as he did so.
"Thanks again Isui-san." Tazuna said with a smile. "I owe you one."
"Just get your bridge finished." The boat-master said as he turned his motor on.
The group watched him speed away before they turned to the road, which led them into a forest. Sasuke kept a sharp eye out, his hand resting on the hilt of his chokutō – a battle was approaching. Sasuke could feel it, even without his memories pressing into his mind. Last time, Zabuza had taken them by surprise – this time, Sasuke knew what to expect.
When it came to brute strength and kenjutsu, Zabuza would win in every scenario – Sasuke would be a fool to think otherwise. Sasuke had undoubtedly achieved strength similar to a high level chunin, or perhaps a low-level jōnin, but even he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was a match for an elite jōnin.
Even so, I have a trick or two that may be effective against a beast like Zabuza… No one has to die today, so long as I'm careful.
Sasuke glanced over at his team again. It was strange; ever since their mission with Kiyoko-san, Sasuke felt strangely… protective of them. It reminded Sasuke of the old days before he defected. Sasuke scowled, and looked directly at the back of Naruto's head – This is ridiculous. I need to get a handle on my emotions. I won't get stronger if I stay here, playing with these two. And if I allow myself to get close to them again, then I might hesitate.
Sasuke clenched his fists, remembering the night he left Konoha. I cannot hesitate again.
"Naruto," Sakura growled, pulling Sasuke out of his thoughts. "Would you quit it? You're making me anxious!"
The blonde in question had his weapons drawn, looking around. Sakura continued to glare at Naruto, but he ignored her. When Naruto's eyes narrowed, Sasuke stepped closer to Tazuna, and drew out his sword.
"What are you-" Tazuna started, cutting himself off when Nartuo threw a shuriken that whizzed by his head.
The shuriken landed right in front of a rabbit, and Sasuke looked around him for a sign of an enemy. I don't feel any killing intent… And I don't see anything. Yet. Sasuke looked at Kakashi, and noticed him surveying the area, his relaxed posture slowly shifting to a defensive stance.
"Naruto!" Sakura complained loudly. "You almost killed a rabbit!"
"Hey!" Naruto said, trying to avoid Sakura's slap to the back of his head.
"Look at the color, Sakura." Sasuke said.
"Huh?" Sakura said, her hand still raised against Naruto.
She walked over to the rabbit, which had frozen in place, and tilted her head. "It's… white. In spring?"
The genin exchanged looks before forming a protective triangle around the bridge builder.
"Be on the loo–Get down!" Naruto shouted.
Dropping his sword, Sasuke instinctively grabbed Tazuna and Sakura, diving to the ground as a sword swung like a boomerang above them. They landed face down, Sasuke's arms over Sakura's and Tazuna's backs. Sakura shoved him off her, and he pretended he didn't feel offended.
"I… I could've gotten decapitated…" Tazuna whispered, voice hoarse.
Still on his knees, Sasuke glanced up at a pair of red eyes. Zabuza, The Demon of Kirigakure. Zabuza had landed on the hilt of his sword that had impaled the tree, glaring down at them with a predatory look in his eyes. Sasuke involuntarily gulped, and reached for his chokutō.
The group got up slowly, Sasuke's eyes not leaving Zabuza's. Am I strong enough to keep them alive? At the very least, we need to keep Tazuna safe.
"Sakura." Sasuke said.
"Yes, I know." Sakura snapped, already slamming her hands onto the ground. In seconds her mud wall formed a dome around Tazuna, and Zabuza continued to glare at them.
He could have killed us if he wanted to by now, Sasuke thought. Why's he just staring at us?
The answer became clear immediately. Zabuza's eyes drifted away from the genin, and settled on Kakashi. So, he's not attacking us because of Kakashi? Interesting.
"Do not enter the fight, guys." Kakashi commanded, raising his forehead protector away from his eye. "He's on a whole other level."
"Sharingan Kakashi…" The Demon tilted his head, his red eyes hungry. "Revealing the famous Sharingan already? I'm honored." he chuckled as a thick mist rose around them.
Kakashi tensed as the mist obscured their vision, and Zabuza's disembodied voice started listing off which body part he should target first.
Sasuke closed his eyes. One of the things Orochimaru had taught him was to fight in total darkness, using his other senses rather than relying solely on his sight. Sasuke envisioned his surroundings, straining his ears to locate Zabuza. Even snakes made noise, and Zabuza wasn't nearly as quiet…
There!
Zabuza jumped up – move! – grabbed his sword from the tree – I need to protect – and then Zabuza slashed. Sasuke shoved Sakura, and kicked Naruto away just as Zabuza's sword crashed into the dirt where they stood.
And in that moment, Sasuke unleashed a shock of electricity up through Zabuza's sword, zapping the demon a split second later.
Zabuza's arm twitched, and his eyes flashed dangerously. With a snarl, The Demon of Kirigakure rushed toward Sasuke at inhuman speed. This is it! Sasuke thought as he raised his sword in defense–
Kakashi materialized in front of Sasuke right as Zabuza raised his blade against the youth. Kakashi thwarted Zabuza's attack, and kicked him away.
"Away from my kid." Kakashi growled as Zabuza skidded back. "Your fight is with me."
Sasuke felt like a child as he looked up at his sensei, whose broad back blocked the demon from his sight.
Zabuza disappeared again, and Kakashi thrusted Sasuke back. Without his Sharingan, Sasuke struggled to keep up with the fight that enfolded before him. A flash here, the hiss of metal against metal there.
So, this is a battle between real ninja. Engaging in a battle for yourself was an entirely different experience than watching two elite jōnin go head to head. Sasuke couldn't help but stand in awe of Kakashi, the way he countered and seemed to predict Zabuza's every move. Though his eyes comprehended little, the little that Sasuke did see revealed Kakashi's superior skill.
Thrice Zabuza attempted to attack the genin, and each time Kakashi intercepted with a ferocity that Zabuza couldn't quite match against.
Sasuke darted his eyes to Naruto, who stood across from him, and Sakura, who guarded the barrier she had created for Tazuna.
Suddenly, Kakashi was still for just a moment, a moment that Zabuza took to slice their sensei clean through. Water replaced blood, and Kakashi attacked –
Kakashi was bleeding.
No, Sasuke thought as Kakashi leapt away from Zabuza, holding his side. No! Zabuza rushed with his sword high, and swung down.
Heart hammering in his chest, Sasuke started running toward Kakashi while Naruto released fifteen shadow clones.
Kakashi vanished, and Sasuke could breathe again. Sasuke narrowed his eyes as his sensei stood behind Zabuza, setting a kunai against the man's throat.
Not letting the moment pass, six of Naruto's clones soared into the air and threw a shuriken at the demon's chest – who turned into a puddle of water. Moving on pure instinct, Sasuke found himself throwing a chain around the real Naruto, and pulled him away just as a sword slashed where the blonde had stood.
The moment Sasuke let go, Naruto and another clone threw several more kunai. Meanwhile, sheathing his sword, Sasuke sprung up to throw a fireball more powerful and with better chakra control than he had ever done before.
I'll have to thank Sakura properly for teaching me better chakra control, Sasuke resolved as he released the jutsu.
Forced to dodge, Zabuza jumped up – but not before his pant leg caught on fire. Growling, Zabuza put the flames out in a single swift motion, but it was too late. Now hosting a mild burn wound on his shin, the demon set his bloodlust against Sasuke.
Zabuza charged at Sasuke with a roar, but Kakashi intervened, throwing a series of complex taijutsu attacks at the man. Naruto's clones jumped in, and Kakashi jumped back as all thirteen clones exploded, shooting shrapnel at Zabuza in all directions.
With a roar, Zabuza emerged bloody and hurled himself at Naruto. Naruto's eyes widened, but then his face disappeared behind a mud wall Sakura created.
Zabuza destroyed the wall with a single swing, revealing Kakashi behind it. He ducked underneath Zabuza's blade, and thrusted a kunai up toward the demon's heart.
The missing-nin responded by blocking the blade and kicking Kakashi away. Zabuza turned back to Naruto, and swung his sword at the blonde. Naruto back flipped into the water, sinking beneath the waves before the blade could touch him.
Zabuza flashed over to the blade in the air, and, throwing it like a spear, pierced the water where Naruto had fallen–
Sasuke began to move, but Kakashi had already dived into the lake before the sword even disturbed the waters.
Sasuke unleashed a series of weapons at Zabuza as the man fell. He seemed to block them with his bare arm, and disappeared beneath the water. Sasuke's eyes darted back and forth, looking for blonde or silver.
Suddenly Kakashi and Naruto emerged from the water with a gasp. Kakashi proceeded to throw Naruto onto dry land, and just as he started to rise up, Zabuza appeared behind him.
"Heh, fool." Zabuza said as water surrounded Kakashi.
Sasuke's heart leapt to his throat as he stepped forward, but Naruto was already on the move. Racing from the spot Kakashi had thrown him, Naruto created three clones.
"Naruto!" Sakura protested. She stepped one foot forward, but stopped before looking back at Tazuna's shelter. She scowled, but didn't move from her defensive position.
"No, Naruto!" Kakashi yelled at the same time, his voice distorted. "Run away!"
Naruto responded by throwing shuriken at Zabuza from every angle, trying to find an opening.
"Ha!" Zabuza laughed, destroying a clone. "What's this? You're actually attacking, acting like a real ninja." Zabuza dodged one clone easily, and decapitated another. "Listen here you little brat: you're not a real ninja. You're not even listed in my handbook!" Zabuza growled as he kicked the real Naruto.
"Naruto!" Sakura screamed as he flew back several feet in Sasuke's direction. Again, she moved forward toward Zabuza, but stopped herself, cursing loudly.
Sasuke jumped to catch the blonde, grunting with effort and nearly falling in the process. He helped Naruto to his feet, who had blood dripping from his mouth. Sakura looked over at them, clearly wanting to run over.
"What were you thinking, jumping in there all by yourself?" Sakura demanded. "The best way to defeat an opponent more powerful than you is by gaining up on them, together. Remember?"
"She's right, dobe." Sasuke muttered, causing Naruto to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
The surprise melted into a grin, and he nodded.
Zabuza started chuckling then, drawing their attention. The chuckling quickly rumbled into an outright cruel laugh.
"You've gotta be sh… Oh this is just too funny! You actually believe little children like yourselves will defeat me? Just by working together?" the man howled in laughter.
"Hey, eyebrow-less freak!" Naruto yelled, causing Zabuza to pause. "Put this in your handbook: these 'children' are the ones who will put an end to you!"
Naruto looked back and forth at Sasuke and Sakura – we're doing it, right? Naruto seemed to say.
"What are you doing?" Kakashi demanded. "Run away! This fight was over the moment he caught me! Our duty is to protect Tazuna-san! Did you forget that?"
The trio ignored their sensei.
Naruto and Sasuke attacked Zabuza at the same time, diverting his attention away from Sakura – her genjutsu wouldn't work if the man knew to stop her, after all.
The objective was simple: Sasuke and Naruto's clones act as a distraction, while Sakura tricked the opponent into believing there were not only more opponents than appeared, but also disguised where the real assault was happening.
Sasuke just hoped that Zabuza wouldn't notice Sakura's genjutsu.
Zabuza growled as he was forced to dodge and block Sasuke's and Naruto's attacks – both of whom remained just out of reach. Sasuke saw the tell-tale glaze over his eyes, and the boys wasted no time moving into position: Naruto appeared directly behind Zabuza, while Sasuke jumped onto land to his left.
Zabuza fought clones and invisible opponents while Sasuke and Naruto both threw shuriken at the arm that held Kakahsi's prison in place.
Zabuza yelled in surprise and pain – but they weren't done.
Naruto threw out his chains and – in record time, Sasuke noted – Sasuke and Sakura got ahold of the chains, tightening them around Zabuza.
However, before they could complete their attack, the demon escaped to the air.
Furious, Zabuza raised his sword to throw at Naruto, who was closest to him. Naruto's eyes widened, but Sakura and Sasuke were already in motion. They had just wrapped Naruto up in chains when Kakashi appeared before Zabuza.
"Your fight is with me!" Kakashi snarled, roundhouse kicking Zabuza back into the water with a large splash.
Naruto yelled in surprise as Sasuke and Sakura yanked him back onto land. They released Naruto right as Zabuza got out of the water, standing on the waves.
Naruto and Sasuke leapt over to where Sakura stood, in a defensive position. They watched as the two warriors fought on the water, Kakashi living up to his Copycat Ninja nickname.
Two dragons crashed into each other, and the boys stood their ground as the waves crashed down, each grabbing ahold of Sakura before the upsurge swept her away. Water washed down around their sensei and Zabuza, revealing Kakashi blocking Zabuza's mighty sword with just a kunai.
They leaped away from each other, Kakashi a perfect mirror of Zabuza's movements. The trio gave each other the barest glance before focusing back on the fight.
"Reading them," Kakashi suddenly said as Zabuza visibly flinched. "'Freaky eye is pissing me off,' right?"
Sasuke watched the exchange closely, his lips twitching into a smirk.
"Heh… all you're doing is copying me," Zabuza started.
"You can't beat me, you monkey!" Kakashi finished, mimicking the demon's movements.
Copycat Ninja indeed… Sasuke frowned. When I had my Sharingan, I never used it to bait my enemy in the same way Kakashi is doing now… It seems to be effective, though. Perhaps I should look into that, once I get my Sharingan back.
"I'll make it so you can never use that mouth again!" Zabuza shouted, raising his hands.
Sasuke snorted as a look of bewilderment crossed over Zabuza's face. Why are you surprised? The man isn't called the Copycat Ninja for nothing, Sasuke couldn't help but think with a roll of his eyes.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!" Kakashi called out.
Seemingly frozen, Zabuza exclaimed, "What? Impossible!"
Sasuke tried not to be impressed. Really, he did; he'd seen it before, after all. Yet, Sasuke's eyes widened in awe as a whirlpool of water came hurtling toward the demon, destroying several tree branches in the process.
"Brace yourselves!" Naruto said as water surged toward the trio.
Sasuke raised his arms to protect his face as the water splashed around them, squinting to see if he could see the outcome.
When the water dissipated, there stood their sensei, victorious. Several kunai pinned Zabuza to a tree, with Kakashi crouched on a branch hanging above the demon.
"It's over." Kakashi whispered.
Kakashi rose his kunai –
And needles covered Zabuza's body. Sasuke twitched as a boy materialized in front of Zabuza – Haku. Sasuke readied himself to attack the boy, but Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm. Sasuke turned his glare to the blonde, who shook his head. Sasuke growled, but remained where he stood.
"He's dead." The boy stated, unpinning the large ninja from the tree.
Sasuke watched in irritated silence as Kakashi checked Zabuza's vitals; seemingly satisfied, Kakashi rose with caution. The boy bowed in response.
"Thank you very much. I have been searching for an opportunity to kill Zabuza for some time now."
Sasuke twitched, reaching for his sword – but felt someone grab his wrist. Surprised by the contact, Sasuke's eyes snapped to Sakura's terrified ones.
Like Naruto, she shook her head, her grip tightening around his wrist. He stared at her pleading eyes. He frowned in protest, but gently pulled his wrist out of her grip, and crossed his arms.
Sasuke knew why they didn't want him to attack; they thought he would get himself killed in the process. They're wrong, of course, Sasuke decided. But… One look at his teammates and Sasuke could see the visible signs of exhaustion.
We aren't really in a state to fight, are we?
So, Sasuke watched as the boy took Zabuza and vanished. Watched, and did nothing. Sasuke growled.
It was then that Kakashi collapsed.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura screamed, racing toward him.
Naruto and Sasuke followed after her, the trio gathering around their sensei. Kakashi breathed hard, squeezing his eyes shut. Sakura raised her shaky hands over Kakashi's abdomen, and they began to glow.
Sasuke watched as the wound slowly closed a little, and color began to return to Kakashi's face. Kakashi opened his eyes, and looked at his students. Kakashi's eyes were soft, and glimmering with pride. He put his forehead protector over his Sharingan eye once more, and sighed in relief.
"It's not healing… why isn't it healing?" Sakura whispered as her eyebrows scrunched in frustration.
"That's enough, Sakura." Kakashi whispered, resting his hand over hers. "Save your strength."
"But…" Sakura protested as Kakashi sat up, wincing as he rummaged through his pack.
"Here, practice your first aid skills." Kakashi told her, handing Sakura medicine and bandages. "Dress the wound, and then wrap it." Sakura took the supplies, nodded, and helped him lay back down. "Though, you should probably let him out now."
The trio all turned their attention to Tazuna's shelter, which now sported a crack. Sakura released it, revealing Tazuna on his knees with his hands over his bowed head. He looked up.
"Is it over?" he asked.
They nodded. Sasuke turned to Sakura, who quickly averted her gaze as she finished cleaning and wrapping Kakashi's stab wound. Are we still doing this, then? Sasuke sighed.
"You three did exceptionally well." Kakashi said once he was on his feet. "I, however, clearly am out of shape."
Out of shape? Sasuke thought in disbelief. That was Kakashi out of shape? What kind of monster is he, then? Even with an abdomen wound, Kakashi managed to protect his students and defeat Zabuza. Compared to him, I'm…
Kakashi swayed, and Sakura steadied him.
"I barely did anything." Sakura murmured.
But you're alive, Sasuke thought to himself. None of them died. In fact, other than Kakashi's abdomen wound, they hadn't acquired any major injuries. By all accounts, they won their fight.
Sasuke glanced back to where Haku had disappeared with Zabuza, and a growl escaped from his lips.
No… not yet. But soon.
Author's Note:
Hidden Bane helpfully pointed out that since my Sasuke is stronger than canon Sasuke (who was already at chunin level), I have edited a line to imply that rather than regular chunin level, Sasuke is high chunin/perhaps low jonin level.