Chapter 10: Surprises in the Mist
Naruto, Sasuke and Haku collided into each other, kunai and senbon in hands. "Your speed is impressive. . .you sensei trained you well." Haku admitted with an honest tone as he saw that the two genin were very skill for just fresh new genin.
Naruto couldn't help but smirked at the that. "Thanks. . ." He responded as he forcefully started to push his kunai in.
"You're fast as well. . ." Sasuke said as he pushed his kunai in as well. "For a fake hunter-nin. . ." Satsuki added with an annoyed tone.
Behind Haku's mask, he let out a grunt as he tried to force his opponent's kunai back with his sendon. "You're strong as well. . ." He complimented as he then jumped back as he looked at the two. "But that won't be able stop me. . ." He then stated in a calm tone.
Sasuke readjust his kunai to that side as he took his battle stance. "Then I guess we'll have to prove you wrong. Let's do this dobe." He ordered.
Naruto nodded in agreement as he too took his own battle stance. "Got it teme!" He replied and the two charged at the fake Hunter Nin.
Kakashi and Zabuza meanwhile were having their own clash of metal on top of the bridge while Tazuna was being protected by the two kunoichis at a safe distance away.
CLANK!
The sound of Kakashi's kunai was soon locked in place with Zabuza's sword. "Well Zabuza, I must say that your apprentice is impressive. . ." He stated with his normal lazy tone that contracts with his serious expression.
Zabuza let out a chuckle to that statement as he smirked under his mask, then the Rogue Shinobi began to pushed back Kakashi as he had the advantage over jonin thanks to his Executioner's Blade. "Indeed he is. . ." He muttered with a hint of pride in his tone. "But I can say the same with yours students, but they shouldn't underestimate mine. . .for many reasons Kakashi Hatake." He then declared in a low and serious tone.
Kakashi however stood his ground as he held his kunai against the rogue's blade. "Oh is that so? And those reasons happen to be?" He questioned as he glared at him intensely.
Zabuza chuckled once more as he knew that this will shock his opponent. "Well, for one thing, that boy of mine comes from an extinct clan. . ." He hinted with a smirk
Kakashi's eyes widen at thought when he was told. "You don't mean. . .a Bloodline!" He deducted in surprised.
With that said, Zabuza used more force onto his blade that made Kakashi jumped backwards. "That's right. . .a bloodline which allows him to control and create ice." He corrected.
Kakashi had heard about a clan who controlled ice, the Yuki clan, but he had let to believe that the clan was completely slaughtered during the Bloodline Purge of the Mist. "Yeah. . .That could be a problem. . ." He muttered, as he was honestly not expecting for Zabuza having a Yuki clan member as he took a quick glance in the direction where his students were.
Zabuza used this momentary distraction for him to try another strike, but the jonin blocked it of, then he chuckled once more. "Not only that, but he's also got a special trick up his sleeve when it comes to hand signs." He then added, almost in a smug tone of voice since he knew exactly what his son is able to do.
Kakashi then went for a low sweep of the Rogue Shinobi's feet, but he manage to easily dodge it. "What do you mean by special trick Zabuza?" He questioned as he narrowed his eyes at the hint of smugness in his face.
"That's for your brats to find out. . ." Zabuza retorted still with a smug tone.
Kakashi then narrowed his eyes as he looked at his opponent. "What is he planning? Those two better be able to handle whatever that apprentice has planned. . ." He thought to himself, thought he had fate that they will pulled through.
With that the two high level Shinobi charge at each other once more, continuing their fight.
While the two high level shinobis fought, Anko and Hinata were guarding Tazuna with Anko gripping a kunai dipped in paralyzing poison and Hinata in her family's Gentle Fist Stance.
As the two kunoichi's were waiting for anything that may come their way, Hinata recalled something. "Um. . .Anko-san?" She asked, not once shifting from her stance.
Anko raised her eye to that as she slightly turned to the girl, curious as to what one of Kakashi's kids might want from someone like her. "Yeah? What is it kid?" She questioned in a serious tone as she was still focus on her surroundings.
"Um. . ." Hinata got out as she was hesitant at to asked, but was able to get past her nervousness. "Did. . .did you really mean what you said about teaching some tricks to Satsuki-chan?" She asked as she timidly looked at her. "Maybe she could me teach me a thing or two as well. . ." She thought with slight embarrassed tone.
To that question, Anko raised her eyes in surprised, but she then smirked at the Hyuga, clearly impressed with her rising confidence. "Yeah, the girls got some spunk when she's angry like that and I like spunk." She admitted while she chuckled quietly. "She reminds me of me when I was her age. . . . ." She then added as she unintentionally brought her hand to her shoulder, giving off a discomforting look. "Dammit. . ." She muttered to herself as she was forced to remembered bad memories.
Tazuna noticed the discomfort expression. "You alright Anko-san?" He asked with a worried tone.
This made Anko regain her focus, she then looked back at the bridge builder and chuckled. "Yeah, I'm alright. You don't need to worry about me." She replied with her normal cocky tone as she looked back at Hinata.
What the older kunoichi saw was Hinata looking forward with eye full concentrate on any danger, but what really impressed her was what as in her eyes and it wasn't just her bloodline, she saw a hidden ferocity and bravery that was hiding behind her shyness.
If Anko was honest with herself, she also started to like the girl as she could feel that the girl also had hidden spunk inside of her as well. "If you want, I can join your team in training and teach all three of you some new things." She told her with a pensive look to try and hide here impressed tone.
This shocked Hinata as she wasn't sure that Anko would simply agree, she then gave a indecisive look. "Our team will have to think about it. . .you'll also have to talk with Kakashi-sensei after we get back home to the village. But I'm sure Satsuki-chan and I would like it if you do join us." She replied with a smile
Anko nodded in agreement as they continued guarding the client. "I'll hold you to it." She replied with a joking tone, but deep down she was really looking forward spending time with the two young kunoichis.
Naruto and Sasuke threw blow after blow at their opponent, Naruto then let out a sigh. "Why don't you drop the mask already?" He questioned in a depressed tone.
"Straight to the point huh kit. . ." The Kyūbi remarked in a serious tone.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Sasuke got out.
". . ." The fake Hunter Shinobi said nothing in return to that.
Naruto soon narrowed his eyes as he knew what his opponent was doing."So acting dumb now?" He then asked.
It was then obvious to Haku that the blond knew his identity, knowing that there was no point in hiding it for the brief moment. ". . .Very well. . ." He soon replied as he took of his mask and show his face.
To this reveal, Sasuke's face was slightly surprised by this. "It's you. . ." Satsuki thought with surprised.
"I'm. . .surprised that you knew Naruto. . ." Haku then admitted in an emotionless tone.
"I told you last time. . .I got a good nose. . ." Naruto replied with a serious tone.
"So I see. . .That was my mistake not taking what you said serious. . ." Haku stated as he placed back his mask. "But regardless. . .I always fight with this mask. . ." He then declared.
"Enough talk, we need to finish this. . ." Sasuke declared as he gave the blond a side view as he nodded.
Then the two charge side by side as Naruto went left and Sasuke went right. They both tried to attack each of Haku's sides, but he easily countered each attack with his own and with a quick footwork he kicked the two back. "Damn, Haku's tough. . ." Naruto muttered.
Sasuke couldn't help but nod in agreement as he looked on at him. "He's got much more experience than us since he has traveled with a well-known rouge shinobi like Zabuza Momochi. . ." He reminded. "This is not going to be easy. . ." Satsuki added in her mind.
Haku then decided to take the initiative and charge the two. He first went for Naruto and with impressive speeds as the blond could just barely keep up as he was forced to backpedal from their charge all the while desperately blocking the strikes.
Acting quickly, Sasuke when in to help out his teammate. He reached the two as he tried to slash his back with a kunai. Haku saw this coming and kicked Naruto in the stomach and briefly knocked the air out of him and then turn back in time and block it.
Haku and Sasuke stare at each other as the two tried to win this clash. "As expected, you two are good. . ." He admitted.
Naruto cough a bit as he finally regain some air in his lungs. "Ok. . .He got me that time." He thought with pant.
"No shit kit. . ." The Kyūbi deadpanned.
Then Naruto stood back up and charge in to help his teammate. Haku's side vision saw this but he was unable to move as Sasuke pushed him so that he couldn't escape this clash. "Good teamwork. . ." He commented as Naruto was not right beside him. "But not good enough." He then added as he quickly went through hand signs using only one hand shocking the other two. "Hidden Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death!" He revealed.
"What the?!" Both genins got out as they were surrounded by many water made senbon.
"Ok! Thats cheating dattebayo!" Naruto declared with a panic tone.
Then just as the water senbon were near them Haku jumped out of the was leaving the two genin to be attack from multiple directions.
"SHIT!" They both thought as they were forced to deflect most of them with their kunais and to dodged the rest. However they still got some cuts, nothing life threatening, just slight flesh wounds.
"Well. . .that's a rarity. . ." The demonic fox admitted with a raised eyebrow.
Naruto and Sasuke were slightly out of breath as they had a few cuts here and there. "I didn't know one handed jutsu were possible!" He admitted in amazement and panic while panting a little.
Sasuke too was panting a little as he then narrowed his eyes at their opponent. "We'd better be careful from now on dobe, otherwise we'll become the first ever porcupine ninjas for hire." He joked, trying to ease the tension.
"NOT THE TIME FOR JOKES DATTEBAYO!" Naruto roared in annoyance.
Sasuke merely sighed in response to that. "Yeah yeah dobe. . .like your one to talk with jokes. . ." He grumbled out. "Sorry Naru-kun. . ." Satsuki depressingly responded.
"You realize you just yelled at one of your girlfriends right?" The Kyūbi then reminded.
Naruto's eyes then widen as he then remembered that fact. "SHIT! Satsuki-chan's so going to get me back for that!" He declared in his mind.
Back with the battle with Kakashi and Zabuza.
Both high level shinobis were still in intense combat before Zabuza had backed off long enough for Kakashi to catch a glimpse of the special trick he mentioned earlier.
"One hand seals. . ." Kakashi thought with very surprised tone, though the jonin had seen many things in his life, this was the first time he had ever seen such a thing.
Zabuza chuckled at the way his opponent had a slight surprised look in his face. "Like what you see, Kakashi?" He taunted the jonin as he was very proud of his adopted son for being able to accomplish such a thing by himself.
Kakashi turned back at the rogue shinobi. "I got to admit that you have trained him very well. . ." He told him with an honest tone.
"But that's just one of his tricks though, still confident that your brats can beat him?" Zabuza then asked.
Kakashi then gave an eye smile. "Without a doubt!" He replied.
Zabuza chuckle to that. "Well you know what they say, the victor gets to tell the tale." He stated as the two charge once more.
Naruto and Sasuke continued to fight against Haku as they were now slightly panting from the long fight.
Haku also knew that the battle was being drawn out to much. "I better not hold back anymore. . .even though they are involved with what father has planned." He muttered.
This was exactly what Haku was fighting so hard for, so that it wouldn't the plan, but now he could only hope to finish this as quickly as he could. Then Haku went through the hand signs. "Secret jutsu. . ." He began.
Then suddenly the water around Naruto and Sasuke started to rise, it then began to turned to ice and became a dome around them. "What the?!" Naruto muttered.
"Well will you look at that. . ." The Kyūbi got out in an intrigued tone.
"What is this?" Sasuke muttered. "What kind of jutsu is this?" Satsuki thought with confusion.
"Ice Style: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!" Haku finished as he then took a step back as he went into the mirror that was right behind him.
Naruto and Sasuke looked at this with bafflement as they saw their opponents reflecting being across all of them. "Let's see how you handle this kind of speed!" Haku then declared as he made another handsign within the ice mirrors.
"Oh son of a-" Naruto started as he was interrupted by sudden pain as he and Sasuke grunted out in pain.
They looked behind and saw that senbons were embedded onto their shoulders. "Damn!" Sasuke got out as he and Naruto pulled them off.
"Ok then. . ." The demonic fox started as he began to examine what just happened. "Give me time kit, I'll figure it out. . .eventually. . ." He added, though slightly unsure of the last part.
But before Naruto could respond, another barrage was lashed out at him.
Back at the Bridge Builder's house. . .
SLASH!
The sound of a blade suddenly was heard when the front door feel to piece and outside was the same two samurai thugs that had accompanied Gatō before.
Tsunami immediately turned in startlement to that and saw two thugs coming into her home. "Oh no. . ." She got out in fear.
"So you're Tazuna's daughter. . ." One of the man declared. "I'm sorry, but you're coming with us." He added but he really didn't meant a word of the apology as he grabbed the woman's wrist, causing her to scream loudly.
"Mommy?" A childish voice called out before Inari poked his head in before gasping.
"Well well, looks like I get to slash something after all!" The other thug declared with a bloodthirsty smirk as he began to unsheathe his blade.
At the sight of the blade, Inari was left petrified by fear and his fear didn't let him think of anything.
The thug let out a vicious chuckle at the sight of the scared kid. Then he raised his blade ready to cut or deeply wound the child.
"No!" Tsunami shouted in fear for his son's life.
"Oi, asshole. . .like to pick on the little guys" A voice called out from up the stairs.
The thug turn and saw nothing. "What the-" Was all he had to saw before he was sent flying out of the door via kick to the stomach.
The first thing was left with mouth wide open at this. "Who-?" He got out with a baffled tone, he then turned and saw that the one that send his partner flying was none other than Naruto.
"Then why not pick on me?" Naruto declared with a angry tone as he stood next to the frighten Inari.
Said little boy turn and was surprised that the same boy he said was nothing but a kid pretending to act like a hero was the one that save him from an instant death. "Why-?" Inari manage to mumble out.
The thug was still on the ground hurt and bruised but not out yet. "You little-" The second thug growl from the pain.
The blond then frowned as he looked at the downed thug. "What was that? I didn't hear you over me kicking you ass!" Naruto declared with narrow eyes and a serious tone.
The thug then struggled his head up as he looked at the blond. "Fuck. . .you. . .brat. . ." He grunted out as his eyes were bloodshot from anger after being made a fool by a brat. "I'm going to kill you!" He declared as he adjust his blade.
"Like I'd let you a third rate fail excuse of a samurai like you can beat me!" Naruto retorted as he took out a kunai, spinning it around his finger and then held in in his right hand. "Now want to do this the easy way were you ran with your tails in between your legs or the hard way where I kick your asses!" He roared with a ready to fight tone.
Inari was could only watch at the blond with a very intrigued, but confused expression.
"How about I just kill you instead!" The second thug roared as he charge at the blond.
Moving even faster that the thug, Naruto was already right in front of him and gave a kick to his chin which sent him flying upwards as blood came out of his mouth.
Then the thug landed on his back completely unconscious. "Well that was a let down." The clone thought with disappointment. "Now then-" Was all he manage to get out.
"Kya!" Tsunade screamed as she was being held down by her hair as a blade was on her neck.
"Why don't you stop right there unless you want this bitch to die!" The first thug ordered as he had a smirk on his face.
"Dammit! I let my guard down!" The clone thought to himself as he mentally kicked himself for this.
"That's right you little bastard, stay right there and the bitch here won't get hurt. . ." The first thug stated as he and Tsunami inched closer and closer to the door.
"You coward. . ." Naruto growled in anger at this.
This made the remaining thug laugh. "Wake up brat! This is how the real world works! We win because their idiots like you acting like heroes!" He declared with a vile smirk on his face. "You should remember this brat, heroes never win in this world we live in! And in this godforsaken piece of dirt, there aren't any heroes because we killed them like the idiots that they are!" He added.
This made Inari began to cry even more as he was about to lose his mother just like his father. All he could do is now whimper and tremble as he couldn't do anything. Then he heard someone moving, he raised his head and saw Naruto standing right in front of the door.
Naruto then balled his fist as he looked at the thug. "That's where your wrong asshole. . ." He started in a low tone, gaining Inari's attention. "It's not because we're idiots that we want to be heroes, it's because their assholes like you that heroes are made from the need to protect those precious to them!" He declared with conviction.
The thug stopped his slow walk when he heard that. "Enough of this stupid farce! Out of the way or I'll kill her!" He ordered as he brought his blade closer to the woman's neck.
Inari was so scared now for her mother's life but he too was scared of dying. Then he remembered the words of his father.
"Protect whatever is important to you with these two arms, even if is cost you your life."
"B-But I'm weak. . .I can't do anything there's no heroes to save me. . ." Inari thought with despair. Then the words of blond rang in his mind as well.
"Inari!" Naruto called out to him, the boy stopped as the blond looked at him with conviction. "There are heroes, if their aren't, then be a hero yourself. . ." He told that more to himself than to anyone else.
"Me. . .?" Inari thought to himself. "But what can I do?" He asked himself as he couldn't think of what could he could possibly do to help.
Inari looked up once more and saw Naruto's face but more specifically his eyes, his eyes didn't lose hope, he didn't give up even in this hopeless situation.
"I can't. . .give up. . ." Inari thought as he somehow could feel if only a little the same courage in the eyes of the blond's. "I will protect mom!" He declared as he desperately look around for anything he could do. Just then, he noticed that the thug's back wasn't protected at all.
The thug then gave off an annoyed expression as he prepared his blade. "If you don't move. . ." He began as he had enough.
"No!" Naruto shouted.
"Mom!" Inari roared and without thinking he charge at the thug.
The thug was more focus on the blond and the woman to even cared what the little boy would do. "Then say goodbye to this bitch!" He roared as he was about to slit her throat.
BANG!
"KYAAAAAAAAAA!" The thug let out a the most girlish scream possible as he let got of his blade and the woman.
Naruto cringed in pain to what he saw. What was infront of him was the thug barely able to stand as Inari had kicked him with all his strength into his balls. "Don't. . .hurt my mom!" The young boy roared as he then went and kicked him again and again.
This made Naruto cringe again as he saw that the thug didn't even scream as his eyes were already rolled back as foam was coming out of his mouth. "Ok. . .not what I would do, but it works!" He commented with an awkward chuckle. "Right in the nads though Inari. . ." He then added in a mutter.
Once the boy gave one last kick, he stopped when he saw his mom out of harm's way. "Mommy!" Inari then cried out as he went and hugged his mother while the thug fell forward with a thud.
"Inari!" Tsunami got out as she held his son tightly.
Now that both thugs were out of comission, Naruto took out some ninja wire and tied the two up. Once he was done he smack his hands together in a sign of a good job, then he turn to the mother and son and let out a happy yet sad smile. "Kind of jealous. . ." He thought but he was still happy for the two.
After another moment, both mother and son separate. "He did great there." The voice of the blond got Inari's attention.
"Naruto. . .-niichan?" Inari got out.
Naruto then gave him a proud smile and rub his head in a kind and proud matter. "Way to save your mom! Now your a real hero." He declared with a big grin on his face.
Inari had his eyes closed from the head rub as he then looked at Naruto. "A hero? Me?" He got out with confusion.
"That's right. . .a true hero that protects what he cares the most." Naruto clarified.
At those words, Inari's eyes began to shed many tears as those were the same words his father told him. All he could do was nodded as more tears began to fall while his mother held him close as she too was proud of him.
Naruto then narrowed his eyes as he looked towards the direction of the bridge. "Listen, I gotta let the boss know what happened here, do you two think you can handle it from here?" He then asked.
Inari clean his tears out as he tried to give the bravest face he could make. "Yes! I'll protect my mom! So please stop Gatō!" He declared with all his courage.
Naruto grinned at that. "Yeah! And once this is done I'll make sure that his reign of terror ends! That's what are heroes for!" He declared with conviction.
With that, the clone despaired and the memories of this went back to the original.
Elsewhere in the forest, four other clones that were surveying the area then got the memories of their fellow clone that protected Tsunami and Inari. "Alright, we better get going dattebayo!" The first clone stated.
The second clone nodded in agreement. "Yeah!" He responded as the four clones then dashed off to the bridge.
Once the got there the saw that the entire place was covered in mist. "Oh boy. . ." One of the clones got out as he and the other need what this meant.
"No brows and the fake Hunter Shinobi are here." The second stated what was in the clones minds.
"Better find Sensei and the rest to tell them what happen." The third clone stated.
"Right!" The rest agreed as they dashed into the unknown.
Back with Inari. . .
After Inari's mother had calmed down, the young boy went to the center of the village to find some help.
Inari was soon banging on the door on house as he had a determined look on his face. "Mister Gi'ichi! Open up Please!" He called out while knocked the door. "I need you to come with me to the Bridge! If we stick together, this time we can beat Gatō and his whole gang!" He declared with courage.
"I'm sorry. . ." Gi'ichi responded behind the door in a depressed tone. "Inari, we're not going to fight back anymore. . ." He stated.
"What!?" Inari got out.
"Your father. . .was a hero, but he's gone now." Gi'ichi stated the same tone. "If we fight, we'll be throwing away a lot of lives, we're already sacrificed and lost so much. None of us wants any more losses anymore. . .any more regrets." He then added with a defeated tone.
". . ." Inari lowered his head as he thought of what the man just said. "I. . .don't want any regrets either." He finally said.
". . ." Gi'ichi said nothing as he didn't had anything else to say.
"But that's why. . .I have to fight." Inari then declared with conviction.
"A man has to live his life so that he doesn't end it with any regrets. . ." The words of his dad came inside of Inari's mind.
"I love my mom. . .my grandpa. . .you and everyone in the village. . ." Inari stated.
". . ." Again Gi'ich said nothing.
Then Inari slightly turn backwards. "And I understand now. . .That I can't protect anyone by always crying and being a coward." He declared with courage before then he fully turned and began to ran back home.
Inari had finally reached his home as he began to gather his crossbow. "Wait! You can't go to the bridge alone!" His mother shouted.
"I have to. No one in the village was willing to go with me." Inari replied to his mother as he tied his shoes.
"But that doesn't mean-!" Tsunami tried to say, but Inari only stood up and headed towards the door. "You're just a little boy!" She finally finished.
Inari then placed a metal pot on his head like helmet. "Naruto-niichan and the others need help at the bridge. . ." He started. "How can I be the hero nii-chan said that I am if I can't help the guys protecting grandpa?" He then asked in a serious tone as he looked outside.
This left Tsunari stun as she saw his deceased husband figure behind Inari.
Inari open the door and stopped in his tracks from what he saw.
After the first round of Haku's attack, Naruto got the memories from one his clones that were guarding Tsunami and Inari, even when he still felt the pain of being struck by the senbons, the blond still smiled happily. "Good, they're safe." He panted out while taking more of the senbons out of his body.
Sasuke was also panting as well, then he turned towards his teammate. "What happened?" He asked as he was trying to do the same with the senbons in his body.
"Two samurai came to Tazuna's place." Naruto explained, causing the Uchiha to quickly turn his head towards him, worried for them. "Don't worry they're both safe thanks to the clone. But Inari's also learn to stop crying and gained his courage, now he's a real little hero." He revealed as he gave a determined expression.
"Is that so. . ." Sasuke got out as he soon smirked. "Guess we just need to end this then." He then added.
Naruto then nodded in agreement to that. "Got that right! And we need to show that heroes will put an end to all this suffering!" He declared.
Sasuke gave a small smile. "Good, come on dobe, let's get out of this and beat this guy." He ordered as he then activated his Sharingan, which had one tomoe in each of the red eyes.
"Right!" Naruto instantly replied.
The two genin then took their respective stances as they prepared for the next attack.
Haku looked on at the determined shinobis, mainly the black haired genin as he saw his eyes. "Hmm. . .the Sharingan. . .I had heard about them, they're a very powerful doujutsu." He thought as he recalled everything he had know about the Doujutsu. "Though it appears that it's still incomplete but regardless, it can still be a threat. . ." He added as he started sending out senbons out in every directions.
Away from the fighting, Anko groaned as she looked at the battles in motion. "Booooored. . ." She moaned out.
Hinata meanwhile kept the serious expression on her face as she looked on. "Anko-sensei. . .this is an important duty. . ." She stated.
Anko then sighed again as she twirled a kunai. "I know, I know, but still. . .: She got out.
Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard from where they came from.
Anko instantly reacted as she unleashed a very poisonous snake and bit the one approaching only for it too disappeared in a poof of smoke. "Oi! What was that for!?" A very familiar voice asked with annoyance.
This stopped Anko from attacking again when she, Hinata and Tazuna saw that there were three scared clones. "Oh. . .it's just you." She said without a hint of remorse in her tone.
"OI!" The remaining clones shouted in annoyance.
Hinata then widen her eyes. "Oh, Naruto-kun." She replied as she looked at the remaining clones. "I thought all of you were surveying the area." She remained.
At the voice of their cretain girlfriend, the clones of Naruto calmed down. "That's right! That's what we came here for." One of the clone remembered.
"Like we suspected, Gatō tried to kidnap Tsunami-san, but the clone there prevented it." The second stated.
"So we came here to help out." The last clone concluded.
This made the old bridge builder let out a sigh of immense relief. "Thanks you. . ." He told them with a grateful tone.
"Finally some backup!" Anko breathed out. "Now I can go kick some ass! You stay here while I get some action!" She then added in excitement as she dashed off into the mist.
Hinata stretched a hand out as she watched the woman dash away. "A-Anko-sensei!" She got out.
The clones only sweatdropped at that but they still stayed with Hinata and Tazuna.
Kakashi had unlocked himself from Zabuza's blade as he saw the dome of floating ice. "Sasuke, Naruto!" He called out as he tried to rush towards them.
Zabuza instantly stood in the his path as he smirked at him. "Your fight is with me Kakashi." He went through some hand signs. "Hidden Mist Jutsu!" He declared as the mist then started to get thicker and thicker, to the point where Kakashi could only see himself. "Your kids will never beat Haku." He stated as he was hidden within the mist.
"Why's that? Just cause of his bloodline and skill he's acquired from your training?" Kakashi asked. "No one likes someone that brags Zabuza." He added.
Zabuza merely chuckled to that. "You could say that." He started as he indeed was a bit bragging his son's skills. "You see I found the boy on the streets as a kid after the failed coup d'etat." He began to explain.
"Your attempted murder on the Mizukage." Kakashi stated as he took a defensive stance.
Zabuza remained quiet for a moment to that reminder. "Yeah. . .but back to Haku, he told me that his father killed his mother and tried to kill him just because of his bloodline." He stated as he remembered those times.
"The Bloodline Purge. . ." Kakashi thought to himself, even if he was never involved in them he still felt pity for all those people that had died.
"So I asked him to show me and he did after a while when he felt comfortable enough. I was amazed and told him I would bring him along with me for training and anything else I could think of." Zabuza said, feeling glad that he actually took Haku in instead of leaving him alone.
"Well aren't you the kind soul. . ." Kakashi joked but had a serious expression on his face as he held his kunai.
"Not going to like it though. . .I did wanted to use him as a weapon for me to use, but now his much more that that. . ." Zabuza then admitted as his voice echoed throughout the mist.
Kakashi just kept his guard up as he prepared for anything to come at him.
"But enough of the past, let's just focus on the here and now." Zabuza soon stated in a serious tone. "After all he knows everything I do to a certain degree, so your kids are done for. . ." He declared as he unleashed a large amount of killing intent that startled the jonin a bit. "And so are you. . ." He whispered.
"Damn!" Kakashi got out as he saw the rogue shinobi right behind him as he went to slash him in half.
"I don't think so!" A female voice declared as suddenly out of nowhere, a snake appeared and jumped at the rogue shinobi and tried to bite his shoulder.
However upon seeing this, the rogue shinobi jumped back on instinct. "Damn, almost had him. . ." Zabuza growled, but he knew had he not dodge the snake he would had been bitten by a very lethal snake. Then he looked at Kakashi and saw that it was Anko that had sent the snake. "So you came to join the fun, huh?" He joked with a smirk.
"I got bored so I let the little girl take cared of the old fart." Anko bluntly stated as she got near Kakashi and stood next to him. "You're getting sloppy Kakashi-kun." She then taunted with a teasing smirk.
Kakashi meanwhile groaned in response to that. "A little. . ." He admitted as he really wasn't in his top condition since his time in the Anbu.
Zabuza started to chuckle as he threw some shurikens. This made the two Konoha shinobi to blocked them. "I guess I'll have to take you both down then." He said as he disappeared in the mist once more. "I better concentrate on these two before dealing with the rest of them. . ." He muttered as he closed his eyes.
"Shit! He got away!" Anko swore as she couldn't see Zabuza anymore.
Suddenly, Kakashi got a large gash on his chest, courtesy of Zabuza slashing him with his sword. "Damn!" He swore out in a mutter.
"Kakashi!" Anko called out in shocked at the gash on his chest as blood started to come out.
Hinata and three clones were guarding Tazuna as they looked on into the mist.
"Naruto-kun. . .Satsuki-chan. . ." The Hyuga Heiress thought with concern.
One of the clones then saw the worried face on Hinata and knew what she was probably thinking. "Go on and help the boss Hinata-chan." He said.
"What? But what about-?" Hinata was about to ask, but was interrupted from a peck on the lips by one of the clones.
"Don't worry about us, we can take care of Tazuna." The second clone said.
Hinata pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll go." She then answered.
"Good luck." Tazuna reassured.
"Thank you." Hinata quickly rushed into the mist with her Byakugan activated. "Naruto-kun, Satsuki-chan. . .I'm coming!" She muttered as she went through the mist.
Back with Naruto and Sasuke. . .
Both genin weren't doing so well as they both were starting to look more like porcupines than human, as they were both on the ground on their knees, panting heavily, blood running down their their wounds and faces.
Naruto was panting heavily, even with his normal boost in his physical abilities and his enormous chakra levels, this fight was really wearing him down. "D-Damn it. . ." He struggled out.
On the other hand the last Uchiha, who only had a better physical condition then most was now reaching his limit. "D-Dobe. . ." Sasuke struggled out as his visual was turning hazy. "We aren't done yet right. . ." He declared. "We. . .gotta win this. . ." Satsuki thought.
Naruto took a deep breath and nodded. "Got that right. . .we won't give up. . .WE WILL PROTECT EVERYONE!" He roared with conviction.
Then the two began to struggle to get back on their feet as they tried as best as they could to ignore both the pain and fatigue their bodies were feeling. When the took their fighting stance. . .
"Naruto-kun! Sasuke-san!" A voice called out.
At the moment Naruto and Sasuke heard that, they turned their heads and saw Hinata rushing towards them with her Byakugan activated.
Both fellow teammates eyes widen. "No Hinata-chan don't!" Naruto yelled out.
"Hyuga, what the hell are you doing!?" Sasuke questioned in shock. "No! Hinata-chan!" Satsuki thought in a fear filled tone.
However it was too late and Hinata was in the dome, standing in front of him. "W-Why!?" He then got out as he looked at her while she got into a stance.
"What are you doing!? Sasuke chidded with narrow eyes.
Hinata turned back to him and smiled. "You already know the reason Naruto-kun. . ." She started as she looked at the mirrors surrounding her. "We are Team Seven. . .but we have become friends with everything we have been through and I don't want to leave you two. . . She explained in a calm tone.
"You could have at least stayed outside!" Sasuke then countered with an angry tone.
Hinata inwardly smiled happily because she knew it was because he was worried more so for her safety, but she then shook her head to that. "I don't have any jutsu that would work on the outside, so it's better to be inside." She then added.
Sasuke groaned at that because he knew she was right. "Damn it!" Satsuki cursed in her mind.
Haku then looked on at the newcomer. "You are willing to protect the friends you care about. . ." He then stated. "And even willing to die alongside them. . ." He added as he was thankful that he had his mask to hide his sad smile. "A brave but foolish thing to do. . ." He soon concluded as he took his senbons out in between his fingers.
Sasuke narrow his eyes as he found new strength to stand up. "We'll see about that. . ." He declared as he went beside Hinata and gave her a look. "Protect Naru-kun. . ." Was what Sasuke's eyes ordered as he looked at Hinata..
Hinata nodded as she understood the meaning in her teammates silent order, she then looked forward with her eyes were filled with determination. "Let's do this. . .Satsuki-chan. . ." She thought to herself.
Naruto looked at this with confusion, but then his eyes widen when he felt a cold feeling running down his spine. "N-No. . ." He struggled out as he tried get back up and then rush towards them but because of his tiredness he lost his balance and fell back onto the ground, some blood starting to leak out from the senbons that were plunged in his frontside. "DON'T DO IT!" He added.
At hearing their loved one's voice, the two kunoichi's turned their head back to him and smiled, not scared that they could lose their very lives. "Don't worry dobe. . ." Sasuke remarked with a smirk.
Hinata's smile didn't waver as she looked at the blond. "I will. . ." She started.
"Protect my comrades!/Always protect you!" They declared at the same time as they took the full amount of Haku's next attack, enduring the pain given to them.
Naruto's eyes widen in pure terror as he watched the two people who cared for him so deeply, the two girls that had fallen for him and who fell for himself, taking the multiple hits that were going for him as they each used their own bodies to block the attacks that was meant for him and took them on with full force.
"NO!" Naruto then yelled out as he couldn't do anything to help nor to stop their assault. All he could do was to shut his eyes as couldn't watch the attacks continued coming, ashamed that he wasn't able to help them. "DAMN IT!" He roared to his feeling of powerlessness.
Then the sound of two bodies fell to the ground was soon heard.
Naruto reopened his eyes with a gasp to see Hinata and Satsuki, lying on the ground. "No. . ." He got out as he struggled his body over to them.
The blond limped closer and closer as he saw both of his teammates as he tried to ignore the bloodied senbons that were embedded in them.
Naruto kneel down next to them. "Hinata-chan. . .Satsuki-chan. . ." He called out as he gently shook them, trying to wake them up. "Don't die. . .you can't die. . ." He begged in his mind before then he saw the Uchiha struggle to open her eyes. "Satsuki-chan!" He got out with wide eyes.
At this, Satsuki had dropped her male persona as she weakly smiled at the blond. "N-Naru-kun. . .are you. . .alright. . .?" She whispered.
Naruto nodded as he smiled with a fearful expression as he try to avoid his tears from falling. "Y-Yeah. . ." He then whispered back.
Then Hinata slowly regain some consciousness as she struggled her eyes open as well. "That's. . .good. . .thank kami. . ." She weakly responded.
Upon hearing her voice, Naruto turned to see Hinata had her eyes open. He quickly went towards her and try to brought the two next to each other on their back where they didn't had any senpons.
Satsuki slowly began to move her hand and with a lot of effort, she brought it up and touched the blond's face. "N-Naru-kun. . .I need you. . .to do something for me. . ." softly requested.
Naruto gently held her hand and nodded. "Anything. . ." He replied.
Satsuki then coughed a little as she looked at the one she loved. "My brother. . .he's still out there. . ." She struggled out as it was hard for her to talk. "I need you. . .to bring him in. . .for his crimes. . ." She finally manage to say.
Hinata's hand then also reached the blond's cheek as she caressed it. "Please Naruto-kun. . .don't die. . ." She soon struggled out.
Both girls then weakly smiled at the blond. "We. . .love. . .you. . ." The two said in unison as their eyes slowly closed and both of the girls hand went limp as they fell.
Naruto stared down at the bodies, motionless until he and struggled to each of their faces and kissed them both on the lips. "I loved you too. . .and. . .I will. . .Satsuki-chan. . ." He muttered out as tears ran down his eyes.
"Is this the first time you've lost a loved one in battle?" Haku suddenly asked after he watch everything in silence. "Trust me when I say it happens every day, for death is the way of the shinobi."
Naruto said nothing as he began to tighten his fist.
"You should be proud they died in battle, like true ninjas. Old age doesn't suit tools. They are replaced once they break or become useless." Haku explained in a calm tone.
Naruto then began to grind his teeth as his body began to shake. "Shut up. . ." He muttered in a low and very menacing tone.
"You want them to die?" A deep and feral voice questioned.
Inside of the Seal. . .
Naruto soon reopened his eyes to see he was in front of the cage where the demonic fox was. "What do you want!?" He roared in pure anger.
Kyūbi sighed as he understood what his host would act like this. "I ask again, do you want them to die?" He repeated his question.
"OF COURSE NOT YOU DAMN FOX!" Naruto yelled out.
Kyūbi saw the dedication in the boy, long gone was his normal perverted self as he too was being affected by his own anger and hatred that he has deep down. "Fine then kit," He began to say with a savage and vicious smirk on his face.
Then red chakra started to flow around Naruto as it wrapped him up, the young jinchūriki couldn't help but struggle in resistance as his whole body was being swallowed by the red chakra.
The Kyūbi's face turn been more sinister as he saw this. "I'll lend you my chakra for now. . .but bring pain to the ones that harmed your mates. . ." He then ordered. "MAKE THEM SUFFER!" He bellowed out as it completely encased the struggling Naruto.
Back in the real world. . .
"Shut up. . ." Naruto muttered, his voice a bit warped as red chakra started to flow around him like a raging tornado that began to let out screening sound.
Naruto's hair started to go wild as his eyes went from being bright blue to blood red with fox like slits. All of his wounds that he had gained from Haku's attacks started to heal at incredibles velocity as they completely vanished. Then his nails were slowly becoming more like claws, and the whisker birthmarks on his cheeks darkened becoming more pronounced that made him look more primal and savage.
"What!?" Haku gasped in shock as he looked on, clearly not expecting this outcome.
Once this transformation was completed, Naruto then stood on his arms and legs like a wild animal while being on top of the girls and looked at Haku with anger and fury like no other. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Naruto soon roared out in a demonic and hate filled tone and ran straight at the ice mirrors fully intent on killing whoever hurt them.
Back to the battle on the bridge. . .
Allf of the high rank shinobis stopped as they sense something dangerous as the fog started to dim from the huge amount of killing intent mixed with a demonic like chakra.
"What!?" Kakashi said as he looked in the direction. "No. . .can it be!? Has the seal been broken!?" He thought in fear of that happening.
"Crap!" Anko swore as she took knew what this could only mean. "What the hell happened over there!?" She then asked with a startled expression.
"What the hell!?" Zabuza muttered as he sensed the deadly power. "Haku. . .what did you do?!"
"Gotta end this quick!" Kakashi muttered out as he took a scroll out. He unrolled it and placed some of his blood on it in a streak as he twirled it around.
"It's time to end this Zabuza!" Anko yelled out as she released blood from her finger by biting it. She made a couple of hand signs and pressed her hand on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" She muttered.
Then many types of snakes began to appeared as the headed for multiple directions.
"You think that a little snake plague can stop me" Zabuza taunted as he had already killed some of the many dead snakes that manage to reached him.
Anko smirked at that. "That's what you think." She retorted as just behind her jacket, there was a large hole.
Zabuza narrow his eyes at that, then right behind him the ground began to crack.
Suddenly a yell went out as the mist dimmed more to see Zabuza as his limbs were restrained by constrictors and smaller snakes were biting him on his two arms. "Damn. . .my arms are shot now. . ." He muttered as the snake's venom went into his body as Anko explained it was paralyzes venom and how he wouldn't be using his arms for a while.
Inside the crystal dome. . .
Naruto's chakra cloak then began to move around him in a frenetic manner that even Haku could feel it inside of his mirror.
"W-What is this. . ." Haku got out as he has never felt such killing intent. "No. . .this isn't KI. . .this is bloodlust. . ." He corrected himself.
Naruto then slowly began to walked in front of the girls as he then rushed towards the mirror that the ice user was in. Just having a fraction of enough time, the black haired boy manage to disappear as he then started to punch through mirror and completely shattered it to pieces with brute strength alone. "WHERE ARE YOU!? I'LL KILL YOU YA PIECE OF SHIT!" He declared with a savage tone.
The demonic blond then when towards the next mirror that Haku had teleported in and he punched the mirror and it became nothing but shards as the ice melted to water.
Haku was now zooming through every mirror he had, but each time he stopped Naruto was there waiting with a incredibly brutal punch. "This boy is too strong!" Haku said as he continued trying to avoid his attacks.
Seeing that trying to avoid was useless he decided to go on the offensive as he jumped from his mirror and tried to launch many senbons at him, however the moment the senbons were about to land on them, they just bounced off him.
This shocked Haku to the core as he now knew that nothing he had will work anymore. "I don't stand a chance against him!" He shouted in his mind, but as he tried to escape into another mirror, Naruto managed to grab him by the arm.
Both stood there for what seems to be an eternity as the red chakra around Naruto screech even more as if it wanted blood, Haku could do nothing as with the pure feeling of the blonds bloodlust petrified him.
Naruto then began to channel some of his red chakra to his fist and then punch him in the face, the hit was so powerful that it didn't just sending him flying, from the brute force of the punch it was enough to even went through his own mirror, shattering to pieces.
As he continued to fly through the air, his mask cracked and fell off, shattering to pieces on impact as he then landed on the ground.
Naruto then began to channel more of the Kyūbi's chakra as he was getting ready to finish Haku.
Inside of the seal. . .
"That's enough brat. . ." The Kyūbi then ordered in a serious tone and narrow eyes. "The rage is getting to you." He then advised.
"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!?" Naruto roared at the hypocrisy of the demon fox's order.
"Yes." The demonic fox bluntly answered.
"THIS IS COMING FROM THE MASS FORM OF HATRED!" He roared back to his tenant in fury.
". . ." The Kyūbi said nothing to that. "You may be right about that. . ." He responded as he didn't even try to hide it, but then he narrow his eyes at the blond. "But are you?" He soon countered.
This calmed somewhat the enraged blond, but his appearance didn't change. "Aren't you the one that's trying to get me to be this way?" He then questioned in a feral tone.
The demonic fox then shook his head to that as he closed his eyes. "I at least have my reason for my anger. . .and a few moments ago, when I saw your anger, it also made my own surface, this made it took hold of me and let you use more chakra than you should have used." He stated in the same serious tone. "For that I am sorry, but if you keep doing what you we're about to do, you will be just like me. . ." He then added with a more deadly serious tone.
Naruto then balled his hands into fists as he shut his eyes with his whisker marks returning to normal. "Hinata-chan. . .Satsuki-chan. . ." He got out as he held back his tears. "They're dead because of Haku. . ." He then muttered.
To that, the Kyūbi let out a sigh. "There not dead." He simply clarified.
Naruto's eyes widen as he looked at the Bijū with a baffled expression. "What. . ." He got out. "W-What are you talking about you perverted fox?" He then asked.
The demonic fox then let out another sigh. "As I said, they aren't dead, just unconscious." He stated. "Now calm the fuck down and cut off the flow of my chakra, this fight with the boy is over." He then ordered.
Meanwhile back on the bridge, Haku finally manage to stand, though just barely as his whole body feel like it been pummeled so he could just barely stand. "It's over. . .I can't fight anymore. . .I failed. . ." He thought to himself as he then turned and saw that the blond wasn't moving anymore as his appearance had returned to normal. "What's wrong? Aren't you going to kill me?" He asked with a defeated tone.
Naruto didn't reply as he still looked at him with a pensive expression.
Haku then looked at the blond before looking at the girls. "Aren't you going to avenge those two?" He soon asked. "I did kill-" Was all he could say.
"They aren't dead. . ." Naruto interrupted the ice user.
Haku's face didn't change but he was surprised that Naruto had somehow knew that. He then looked at the ground in shame. "No Naruto-san. . .they aren't dead. . ." He got out as he looked at the depressed blond.
Naruto's eyes turned towards the two unconscious girls and felt immensely relief that they were ok while he took the senbons out of them.
Haku then calmed himself down as he looked at the girls. "Like I did with my father, I avoided all their vital points and they're in a death like state, however unlike him since it wasn't on the neck or any of vital blood passages they should wake up soon enough. . ." He explained as he confirmed the Bijū's earlier statement.
But before the blond could respond. . .
"Well isn't this a great sight to see. . .everyone here at their weakest point. This must be my lucky day. . . " The voice of a man suddenly said as the sound of a cane tapping and distant laughing on the bridge lured everyone's eyes to the end of the unfinished bridge to see a light brown haired short person in a business outfit with dark glasses.
Behind the short man were a large amount of armed, cocky looking mercenaries as they chuckled and grinned among themselves.
"Who. . ." Naruto started.
Haku grind his teeth as he saw the man. "Gatō. . ." He hissed out. "Like father said. . .he would be here. . .to betray us. . ." He thought with anger, annoyance and fear at his father's fears came to be.
With Kakashi, Anko, and Zabuza. . .
The three high level shinobis had turned and also saw Gatō and his small army of thugs. "I knew it. . ." Zabuza growled out.
Anko turn towards him when she heard that statement. "What do you mean?" She asked with a confused tone.
"Hold on. . ." Zabuza said as he turned to the short pig in the suit. "What the hell are you doing here Gatō!?" He called out with an annoyed and angry tone.
Kakashi then narrowed his eyes as he looked at the short man. "So that's him?" He muttered.
Gatō however snorted in response to the question. "I'm tired of waiting for you to get the damn job done you pathetic baby demon." He explained with a nod his head towards the giant mob behind him.
This made all the men chuckle as if it was humorous.
"That's why I have these guys here behind me. I wasn't really going to pay you anyways, you were way too expensive." Gatō stated as he turned back to the three jonin. "Now that all of you are tired, I can just sit back and watch as you both die, those konoha ninjas and the old drunk gets what's comin to him. . ." He declared as he began to smirk some more. "First to get the bridge builder gets that slutty looking whore in the tan coat! And I get those delectable looking young girls over there." He told the men with vile tone.
This provoked the mercenaries with the wanted reaction as the men got more motivated as they chuckled in a lustful way.
"Slutty whore!? Why that little snot-nosed bastard!" Anko hissed out, acting more like the Snake Mistress that she is known to be.
Zabuza's eyes narrowed as his worse fear came to be, then he let out a sigh. "Well Kakashi it seems I'm out of a job, I have no reason to fight you or to kill the bridge builder." He declared.
Hearing that, Kakashi nodded. "Anko." He simply said.
The snake mistress also knew what the meant so she called back the snakes holding the rogue shinobi as they disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Though now free, Zabuza could only stand as his arms were completely useless from the poison from the snakes. "How about we call a truce since I got backstabbed?" He offered.
"Hmm. . . that sounds reasonable to me." Kakashi agreed as he also wanted to get rid of Gatō.
"But your arms are shot. . .and don't got the antidote for those snakes that bit you." Anko commented.
The mist soon cleared as everything was visible again.
Zabuza sighed as he looked at the mob and began to think of the plan that he told his son, then Haku with Naruto and the unconscious Hinata and Satsuki. "Looks like it was just meant to be. . ." He thought to himself as his eyes had a determined look in them. Kakashi, could you do something for me?" He asked the jonin.
Kakashi let out a hum as he looked at his former enemy. "What is it?" He asked as he wondered what Zabuza wanted.
Then Zabuza turned to a specific direction. "I need you to give something to blondie. . ." He told him as he eyed his sword.
Kakashi notice that Zabuza was looking at the sword on the ground. "Zabuza. . .are you saying you want Naruto to have-?" He was interrupted by the rogue's chuckling.
"Yeah. . .he maybe a total shrimp. . ." Zabuza began as Anko could help but chuckle to that. "But I can see and feel it, the brat got potential to wield it even better than me. . .I get the feeling that he'll be able to used it better then me or anyone before him." He admitted.
This made the other two Konoha shinobi to be slightly startled, as they couldn't believe that one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist would actually say that about the young genin.
Zabuza then chuckled again as he figured what they were thinking. "Also, my son has something he'll need to give you. . . But he has to stay alive. . ." He stated.
Kakashi soon gave a confused look to that. "What do mean? What does he have to give me?" He then question.
Zabuza couldn't help but to chuckled again as he eyed the mercenaries. "My son will explain it. . .I'll end Gatō myself, just give me a kunai and I'll finish send him straight to the Shinigami's stomach myself." He said as he quickly ripped off the bandages from his mouth, revealing his shark like teeth.
". . ." Kakashi and Anko didn't said anything as he knew what this meant.
"Alright then. . ." Anko simply stated as she took out a kunai and threw it over to him as he caught it in his mouth.
Zabuza then slightly took a crouching posed as he looked at thugs with a bloodthirsty look. "Time for a midget to die!" He then roared out as he rushed in while looking like the demon he was titled throughout the world.
At the same time as Gatō ordered his men. . .
Naruto was now standing next to the unconscious girls as he was furious when he heard that as his eyes changed to the fox like. "NO WAY WILL I LET THAT PIECE OF SHIT LAY A FINGER ON HINATA-CHAN AND SATSUKI-CHAN!" He growled out.
"I may a pervert. . ." The Kyūbi began to say with a slightly joking manner before he then turned serious. "But a human lust now that will turned you into a monster that will take all of males or females free will, all for the sake of satisfy it. . ." The remarked.
The blond genin couldn't say anything to that as he was seeing what the Bijū just said and felt nothing but disgust at the poor excuse for human in front of him
Haku sighed as he struggled to move his feet and got closer to Naruto. "Don't worry, father will take care of them. . ." He stated as he said with a sad tone. "it's all part of his plan. . ." He then add.
This got Naruto's attention as he raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Plan?" He then asked.
Haku smiled sadly and nodded as looked on at the mob. "Naruto-san, father has asked you to give you something of his and use it as your own. . .if your willing to accept it. . ." He stated and then eyed the massive sword on the ground.
"Eh?" Naruto got out before he then looked in the ice user's direction, when he did he saw the massive blade and went wide-eyed. "No way. . ." He soon muttered in realization.
Haku then nodded as he watched the blond understand. "Yes. . .he's asking you to take his Executioner Blade as your own. . ." He stated.
The demonic fox then smirked widely as he then chuckled. "Hehe. . .excellent. . .a new toy. . ." He stated in hidden excitement.
"Shut it fox!" Naruto retorted as he looked at the ice user with a stun expression. "Not that I'm ungrateful or that I'm declining it, but. . .why me?" He then asked with confused tone.
"Your really gonna reject an offer like that Kit?" The Kyūbi deadpanned the question.
"I'm not! I would be a dead idiot to reject an awesome weapon like that!" Naruto roared in his mind. "I just want to know is all. . ." He then added.
The Ice user only gave a kind smile. "My father. . .believed that you had the most potential to wield it. . .better them himself even. . ." Haku explained.
This in turn left Naruto baffled with surprised and was left speechless as he couldn't believe that Zabuza would think of him that highly.
Haku then noticed that the girls were struggling to get their eyes open. "We'll talk more later, they're waking up." He stated as he left towards the older shinobi.
At that statement, Naruto regain his composure and turned to the two struggling girls, when he was then slowly waking up he could stopped from shedding some tears, not of sadness, but of joy and dashed towards them
"Am. . .I dead?" Satsuki weakly muttered as she struggled her eyes open to see Naruto.
Naruto couldn't help but grin as he pecked her on the lips. "Those that answer your question?" He stated as he continued to grin.
When Satsuki had felt his peck on her lips, her eyes widen and blushed. "N-Naru-kun?" She got out in both startlement and embarrassment. She then gave off a look of sadness and confusion. "So. . .you too?" She then asked before saw Naruto shake his head negatively still with a smile on his face.
"So. . .is this what death feels like?" Hinata thought as she slowly opened her eyes to see a head of blond hair before recognizing it. "Naruto-kun. . .?" She tried to move her body, but it hurt. "Why are you?" She got out before she saw the blond smile.
Naruto then chuckled as he pecked the Hyuga's lips, resulting in her blushing dark crimson. "Don't worry girls. . .I'm still alive. . ." He reassured as the two girls went wide-eyed.
"W-What?" Satsuki got out. "Y-You mean that. . ." She then added.
"Y-You mean. . ." Hinata continued. "A-Are we. . ." She muttered.
Naruto smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah. . .welcome back." He said as he dried the few tears falling from his eyes, then stood up and summoned two shadow clones.
Each of the clones picked one of the girls which made them slightly embarrassed, even if they were just clones they still had the same kind and caring smile of his.
"Let's get back to Kakashi-sensei, Anko and Tazuna." Naruto stated as the two girls regain their awareness and nodded in agreement as Naruto and his clones slowly started walking towards the older people.
Satsuki then cuddled up to her clone. "What. . .happened while we were out?" She then asked.
Hinata then snuggled up to her own clone. "Did we. . .miss anything?" She also asked.
Back in present time. . .
Zabuza charged like a true demon from hell as he used the kunai in his mouth to killed one mercenaries after the other with incredible velocity and brutality.
"DIE ALREADY!" One of the mercenaries shouted as they tried to kill Zabuza.
Zabuza didn't speak a word as he continued his way through the fray, with only one thing on his mind. "Kill Gatō!" Roared in his demon possessed mind as he was getting closer and closer to him
However, as he got closer many weapons started getting stabbed in the back, shoulders and nearly his spine area. But the Rogue Shinobi ignored the pain as he didn't stop for a moment because he knew he would die if he did so.
As Zabuza was getting closer to Gatō, the short man's expression turned to terror as he saw the demon slandering his mercenaries. He tried to run as back as he could as his ears could only hear the sound of flesh being cut and the screams of dying people.
Then when he turn his eyes widen in absolute terror when Zabuza was right in front of him, he didn't even got the chance to scream when the demon stab him in the shoulder with the kunai in his mouth.
"GAH!" Gatō got out from the pain. "M-Mercy!" He then cowardly cried out as blood poured from his wound. "I don't wanna die! I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT, MONEY, FAME, WOMEN! ANYTHING!" He pleaded.
Zabuza's eyes soon looked more demonic than ever before as he smirk just as demonic. "Not a chance you bastard!" He began with a wicked chuckle, causing the short man to pale at the sound of it. "I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL!" He declared as he ripped off the Kunai stocked in the man's shoulder and then with one swift movement, he decapitated Gatō in one slice, his head rolling to the ground as his scarred face was looked on by all of the hired mercenaries, before it and the rest of his body fell into the river below them.
Zabuza soon started to walk back as he fell in the middle of the two groups. The light quickly fading from his eyes as he smile to the sky. "Thank you Haku. . .and. . .take care of him for me, Kakashi. . ." These were the last words of the Rogue Shinobi as he closed his eyes, taking his final breath and finally perished, not once did he stopped smiling.
Anko couldn't help but whistle at the display of gore and violence. "Missing-nin or not, I have to say that was one hell of a way to got, but I get the feeling that was probably how he wanted to go. . .In battle." She commented.
"Indeed. . .father always wanted to die in battle. . .it was indeed worthy of death for shinobi like him. . ." A voice suddenly commented.
Kakashi and Anko turned to see Haku with tears in his slightly red and puffy eyes.
Haku however stopped as he knew he still had to do his father's last wishes, he slipped his hand into his pocket, no one saw that he used a hidden senbon to cut his finger as then touched a paper and it somehow absorbed the blood, then he pulled out the same piece of paper. "Here. . ." He hesitated for a moment. "It's. . . it's his last request. . ." He finished as he gave it to the jounin.
Kakashi took the paper in his hands he felt a slight sting in his fingers but when he looked he didn't saw any harm on them, thinking nothing of it he was about to read it. . .
"Hey you stupid bastard!" One of the mercenaries said as he finally snapped out of his stupor. "You just killed our meal ticket!" He roared in anger and annoyance as he didn't even care for his fallen comrades that just died.
"I guess that means we'll have to rummage that village up ahead and see what they have! Maybe they have good looking virgins!" Another mercenary said as they all cheered in selfish and sick delight.
Anko gave off a look of disgust before getting rid of it and started cracking her knuckles as Kakashi put the paper away. "Well then. . .I guess we gotta take care of them." She said with a smirk on her face.
"Indeed. . ." Haku said as he prepared some more senbons to attack with. "I'll have to avenge my last father. . ." He declared in a deep and menacing tone, something that was completely foreign to the normal kind boy.
"Last?" Was everyone's mutual thought but decided to worry about it later after everything is over and done with.
Then all of the remaining mercenaries quickly rushed in, ready to fight before a lone arrow struck one of them in his balls. "The hell!?" Another mercenary said as he and the others watched the guy who was hit on the flow screaming like a little girl that he was now.
Naruto, Satsuki, Hinata and the rest of the group turned to see Inari with a crossbow in his hand as they villagers were getting ready to fight. "Uh. . .whoops. . .my bad." Inari revealed as he realized he just destroyed a guy's sex organs without even realizing it.
"Yo Inari!" Naruto called out to him, Satsuki and Hinata still resting on his clones arms. "You made it!" He said with a big grin in his face.
Shaking himself out of it, Inari returned the grin. "Well, heroes usually show up at the last minute right?" He said, and with it, the crowd started cheering loudly as they prepared to fight for rid themselves of the last of Gatō's men.
"Naru-kun, you can put us down now. . ." Satsuki requested to the clone.
"I can feel my legs again. We can walk now." Hinata said as both of Naruto's clone place them down and dispelled with a puff of smoke. When they tried to stand, they try to keep their legs from shaking, but after a moment they were able to finally stand.
Satsuki then stretched her legs a little. "A little shaky, but nothing too serious. . ." She muttered out as she felt a little dizzy.
Hinata nodded in a agreement, although also feeling dizzy still. "Yes. . .those attacks were meant to slow our muscles, but thankfully it's not too bad." She stated as she looked at their blond boyfriend. "This is not over yet, right?" The Hyuga then requested with a kind smile.
Naruto smirked as he nodded to them. "Of course it isn't! Not until all the bad guys run like the cowards they are!" He declared as he then made his signature hand sign and made four clones.
One clone went off and grabbed Zabuza's sword, but he said it was heavy when he tried. "I'll have to train in using this thing when we get back. Give to Kakashi to hold to." The clone nodded as he struggled to bring it to Kakashi.
"So. . .you accept it?" Haku asked, desperately wanting to know, more so for his father's and his own sense of closure.
Naruto looked at the sword as he knew this was a much more deeper in just a simple yes or no, with that in mind, he turned to Haku and nodded with a serious expression. "We may have been enemies at the beginning, as well as we fight nearly trying to kill each other, but. . .you gotta respect a man for dying in battle like that. . .he died doing something he believed in didn't he?" He questioned.
Haku merely nodded to that as he prevented a single tear from running down his face. "Yes. . ." He answered.
That was all the young genin needed to hear. "Hey fox. . ." He called out with a very serious tone.
"What?" The Kyūbi simply asked.
Can you give just a bit of your chakra to strengthen my arms?" Naruto requested to the Bijū.
Said fox raised an eyebrow as he realized why he asked. "Fine. . ." He replied in a calm yet amused tone.
The blond then felt his arms getting the Bijū's chakra, then he went towards the blade and thanks to his the temporary strength, Naruto manage to picked up the blade and placed it on one of his shoulders. "I'll take care of it. . .and be the swordsman that he thought I could be. . ." He declared in a serious tone.
"Hehe. . .this is going to be amusing. . ." The Kyūbi soon chuckled out.
Haku smiled at hearing those words as he looked at the blade, the last thing of his deceased father as a he could see a silhouette of his father behind Naruto. "Father. . ." He thought as he shed a tear from knowing that his legacy would live own inside of Naruto. "Thank you. . .Naruto-san." He muttered.
Said boy slightly turn towards him and gave him a smile of reassurance and nodded. "Anytime Haku. . ." Naruto responded as he looked at the slightly dizzy girls. "I guess those two are more exhausted then they let on huh?" He then stated.
"That's an understatement. . ." The Kyūbi remarked. "They would be going nuts over the fact that your the owner of that massive blade." He then added.
Naruto then narrowed his eyes to that. "They aren't fangirls for my dattebayo. . ." He grumbled as he then looked at the mob of mercenaries. "Then let's just end this our own!" He then declared as he placed the sworn in front of him and did his signature seal. "MULTI SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" He roared as a massive smoke screen appeared all around the area the shinobis were.
"Ha! Think that's going to slow us down!" One of the mercenary barked and the rest soon either cheered in agreement or just chuckled at the weaken shinobis.
Then the smoke slowly started to dismissed as they slowly began to see that something was clearly wrong with what they were seeing.
What they saw now was a good hundred Naruto's all wielding the Executioner Blade, each smiling and grinning, ready to fight. This made the mercenaries look at the small army with a scared and frighten expressions.
"So?" The original Naruto began as he picked up his own blade and pointed at the mercenaries. "Still want to fight!?" They all asked.
This made some of the mercenaries to take a step or two back.
Kakashi chuckled at the stunned enemies. "Well he is the most unexpected shinobi I very seen." He commented and Anko chuckled at the comment.
"That's an understatement." Anko remarked with a chuckle
The jonin then stretched his tired arms as he stood up. "Well. . .I may not have as much as chakra as him, but I better help out as much as possible too." Kakashi said as he did the same seal to make the same amount of clones of his own, except it was a mixture of many regular illusion ones and very few low level shadow clones that wouldn't be able to attack.
"So a little scare tactic, huh?" Anko thought with a smirk.
"Like my cute student asked. . ." The real Kakashi lazily said. "Still want to fight?" The clones finished
Unfortunately he didn't get an answered as all of the mercenaries got scared from the numbers against them and began to run back to the boat, causing everyone to stare in surprise before Inari started screaming and yelling.
"Why are you screaming?" One of the villagers asked, thinking the kid has gone nuts.
"DON'T YOU SEE?! WE DID IT! WE WON!" Inari cheered.
Many of the villagers meanwhile stood there with baffled expression as they couldn't believe such words.
"We. . .won?" One of the villagers got out.
"We're. . .free?" Another also got out.
At those words, every single one of them began to smile as an overwhelming happiness began to filled their very beings.
"We're finally free!"
"After years of suffering!"
"It's finally over!"
The cheers of all of the villagers could be heard around the bridge as all of the shinobis looked at them with a smile on their faces.
A few hours later. . .
After the small celebration the villagers did on the bridge, they all when back home to enjoy their new found freedom.
Tazuna, Team Seven and Haku decided they would finish the bridge another day as they needed to return back to Tazuna's home so that both Hinata and Satsuki could get their much need rest.
Haku had soon bowed to the jonin and bridge builder as his head was to the floor. "Once again, I am sorry for what I had done to you three on the bridge. Me and father suspected what was going to happen, but because we never had any solid evidence, we decided that it would had been better to keep as we we're before." He apologized as he explained his and his father's reasonings.
Kakashi had properly sealed Zabuza's blade and explained how to unseal it for Naruto to use when he needs to. "It's alright, this is the way we shinobi's operate, we accept a mission do what we must without any personal issues involved and since it was Gatō that was the source of the betrayal, we don't have a reason to hate nor despise you or Zabuza anymore." He stated with an understanding tone.
Anko merely smirked as she waved her hand. "Yeah! What's done is done! Your dad killed the troll asshole, so let bygones be bygones." She added.
"Not to mention you made sure those brats live in the end." Tazuna then reminded with a smirk on his face and a bottle of alcohol in his hand.
"OI!" The echoed voice of a certain blond and two girls got out in unison from another room.
Haku then raised his head as he then sighed. "Thank you. . ." He muttered out.
After that, Kakashi and Anko were filling out the report to get it done with before giving the verbal one to the Hokage, when they were writing it, Kakashi remembered the paper that the ice user gave him. "That's right. . ." He got out as he took the paper out. "Zabuza said this was for me. . ." He said.
Anko stopped writing when she saw that. "What do you think it is?" She asked, curious about what's on it.
As Kakashi opened it, he smelled a familiar scent. "Blood. . .no, this is, my blood. . ." He said as he then remembered the small stinging sensation he got when he had touched the paper the first time, this made him go wide-eyed. "Zabuza. . .what did he-?" He got out and quickly opened the paper to see red writing on it.
The Jouni began to read through it, the more he did the color on his face slowly began to disappeared, as he finally reached the end of the paper, his face went completely white and shivering and sweating madly. "Oh boy. . ." He soon muttered.
Anko gave him a surprised and confused look, never seeing the well known shinobi in this kind of state before. "Yo. . .Kakashi, you ok? What is it?" She then asked in confusion.
Kakashi lightly chuckled as he looked at Anko. "It's. . .a will. . ." He hesitated revealed.
Anko raised an eyebrow. "So what? What's wrong with that?" She asked not understanding what's the problem.
Kakashi then gave another chuckle, but only this one was much more hollow. "And it also has an adoption form. . ." He then added.
Anko's eyes widened like dinner plates at that. "An adoption!? Give it here!" She said as she took the paper from the petrified jounin hands and read through it. After she read it, she look at Kakashi and the paper back and forth three times before bursting out into laughter. "HOLY SHIT KAKASHI! YOU'RE A DAD NOW!?" She exclaimed before laughing out loud.
Kakashi unintentionally nodded, feeling numb at the thought of all this happening. "Strangely enough. . .yeah. . .I am. . ." He just barely got out.
Anko couldn't help but continue laughing wildly as she drop to the floor and began to pounded the ground."AND TO ZABUZA'S BRAT OF ALL PEOPLE!?" She then stated in between laughs. "AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT CAUSE THERE'S A BLOOD BINDING SEAL MADE FROM YOUR BLOOD!" She then reminded. "HOLY CRAP, I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL EVERYONE BACK HOME ABOUT THIS!" She roared with uncontrollable laughter.
Kakashi meanwhile continued to sweat profusely. "This is not gonna end well for me. . ." He muttered as he watched Anko continue laughing until she grabbed her sides from the pain. "And there goes my reputation. . ." He thought in misery, swearing he could hear laughter throughout the air before crying anime tears.
On the second floor. . .
Naruto was looking over Hinata and Satsuki as they slept peacefully until he started hearing the laughter. "Wonder what's going on?" He muttered.
"Probably someone got screwed over big time." The Kyūbi guessed.
Naruto simply shrug and continued watching the girls.
Then the two girls soon began to wake up thanks to the sounds of laughter coming from the other room.
Satsuki was the first to wake up and the first thing she saw was Naruto. "Hey. . ." She said with a smile.
Hinata then struggled her eyes open as she looked at the blond. "Good morning Naruto-kun. . ." She responded with her own smile.
Naruto pecked Satsuki on the cheek as she smiled at the gesture. "Hey. ." He replied then went and did the same to Hinata. "You girls alright?" He then asked.
The two girls nodded in responce as they looked at the ceiling. "Yeah. . .I must still very tired at the moment." Satsuki said with a yawn.
"Same here. . ." Hinata agreed with a tired tone.
Afterwards there was a moment of silence.
"So. . .did we won?" Hinata asked.
Naruto nodded with a smile. "Yeah, Gatō is sleeping with the fishes, Zabuza made sure of that while sacrificing himself, the Land of Waves is free now and strangely enough. . ." He started before smile in a sad yet gentle way. "I got a new weapon. . ." He then revealed as he got the promise he made fresh in his mind.
"You do? What is it?" Satsuki asked, curious.
Naruto took the scroll with Zabuza's blade seal in it. "Haku had told me that Zabuza wanted me to take his sword as my own." He stated as he unsealed the blade as it made a loud thud. "It's a. . .heavy weapon, but I'll go through some training to get used to it." He declared with a committed tone. "I'll make him proud. . ." He added as he reseal the blade.
Satsuki's jaw meanwhile dropped slight to this as she sat up. "Wow Naru-kun!" She began with stars in her eyes. "Zabuza asked you to take his blade! That's awesome!" She exclaimed with excitement.
Hinata was amazed as well, but before she could say something, she heard the laughing from the female jonin outside. "Um. . .Naruto-kun, what going on with Anko-san?" She then asked.
Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me, maybe Haku will explain it to us." He answered.
"Oh yeah. . ." Satsuki stated. "Where is he? I still have a fuzzy memory of after we woke up after we fainted." She asked as Hinata wondered the same thing.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head as he looked towards the door. "He's down stairs at the moment apologizing to Kakashi-sensei and the others." He answered before he gave a depressed expression as he looked at the girls. "You really scared me with the almost death you went through. . ." He admitted with a sad and concerned tone. "I thought I lost the two of you. . ." He then muttered.
Hinata then gave off her own sadden expression at the sight of her love. "Naruto-kun. . .I'm sorry for that. . ." She got out as she sat herself up.
Satsuki in turn nodded in agreement to that. "We didn't want to scare you like that. . .it's just I really thought I was going to die back then. . ." She admitted with sad tone.
"Well. . .I'm glad that you two didn't die. . ." Naruto then responded as he pulled both girls in and hugged them tightly.
Both girls returned the hug and smiled happily. "Yeah." Satsuki replied as she really enjoyed the warmth from the blond hugging her.
"Hai." Hinata agreed as she also enjoyed the hug. "There is probably going to be stronger shinobis besides Haku. . ." She reminded.
"That's right, we have to get stronger. . .so we can protect ourselves. . ." Naruto agreed.
"Mmmhmm. . ." Satsuki nodded in agreement. "Haku was stronger than us and taught us that we still have a long way to go." She admitted. "After all, Haku did put a damn good fight. . ." She then muttered with a pout.
"Indeed I did. . ." A voice suddenly said.
The three were startled by that as they separated from their hug and turn to see that it was Haku standing at the doorway looking really quilty.
Haku then gave a very deep bow. "I apologize for what I did on the bridge. . .I had to act out the role I was asked to do by my father Zabuza. . ." He apologized.
Satsuki was the first to respond as she let out a sigh, then she scratch the back of her head as she looked at him. "Well, I guess since we aren't enemies anymore, I'll forgive you for now." She stated, this made Haku to stand up straighter, but only for him to she the girl glaring at him. "Just don't try to flirt with me or Hinata-chan, we're Naru-kun's." She declared as said Hyuga blushed at that along with the blond.
Haku blinked at that, before he chuckled at the comment. "Duly noted." He commented.
"So what are your plans now Haku?" Naruto asked the boy as the girls were also interested on that.
"Well. . .I've always been interested in Konoha and now actually get to be a shinobi there now." Haku replied with a smile on his face.
"Huh?" The three got out in confusion as they gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?" They all then asked unison.
"Oh, I'm coming back with you with my second dad, your sensei." Haku plainly said. "You may now call me Haku Momochi Hatake." He then fully presented himself towards the trio.
There was a deft like silent after they had heard that. . . Until. . . "EEEEEEEH!?" The yelled out in shock.
Meanwhile. . .
Anko was still banging on the floor as she heard the yells of shock coming from upstairs. This stopped the kunoichi for a moment and then realized what that could only mean. "BWAHAHA! HAKU TOLD THEM KAKASHI! YOUR SO BONED NOW!" SHe wailed out in between laughs.
Kakashi meanwhile groaned to this. "Jeez. . .things are gonna get hectic from now on. . .and I bet Obito would be laughing it up from beyond the grave. . ." He muttered.
Back with the four young shinobis. . .
"N-No way. . ." Hinata got out with a baffled tone.
"B-But how is that possible!?" Satsuki asked in confusion and shock.
"Kakashi-sensei adopted you!?" Naruto exclaimed. "How the hell did that happen dattebayo!?" He then added.
Haku couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle. "You remembered the laughing down stairs." He asked the trio, they nodded in response. "I am going to rightfully assume that miss Anko was taunting your sensei about the fact that he is now my new father." He answered.
"But how!?" Satsuki asked again.
Haku merely chuckled again to that. "Well Zabuza had already made his will and adoption with his own blood to make it binding, when I gave Kakashi-san the paper it was so that it could obtain some of his blood, this made it both official and binding for all parties." He explained as he saw the kids in front of him look like they are about to faint from the news if their mouths being wide open was any indication. "I know this is a lot to take in. . .but, let's get along in the future shall we, Naruto-san, Hinata-san, Satsuki-san?" He then requested.
Naruto then finally snap out of his stupefied state. "Y-Yeah. . .sure. ." He got out.
"I-I guess. . ." Hinata said as she wasn't sure what to say let alone what to reply.
Satsuki on the other hand could only nod dumbly, as she wasn't able to say a word to this.
After everything was said and done, it soon began to rain gently, causing the ninja to look out the window from the house and smile sadly as they thought of the sacrifice Zabuza made to help them.
"Even the Heavens are crying for Zabuza. . ." Haku soon muttered as he looked out the window before he looked on at the body of the true person who freed Wave. "Thank you father. . .I will live. . .for you. . ." He thought while giving a sad yet happy smile.
When Hinata saw the expression on the boys face she thought of something. "I think we should give Zabuza a proper burial." She suggested.
This startled the ice user. "W-What?" He questioned.
Satsuki nodded, agreeing with what she said. "Hinata-chan is right, he deserves to be buried, after he took out that troll he should have a good burial." She declared as she then got up. "I'll go ask Kakashi-sensei and Anko-san to see if we can do that." She then left the room.
"Is this really ok?" Haku asked as he really wanted to do it for the man he had saved him.
"Yeah! Zabuza died with honor, so he should be buried with honor as well." Naruto commented.
Haku then lowered his head as he looked at the ground. "Thank you. . ." He muttered with gratefulness.
Naruto only wave it off as he closed his eyes. "Hey Kyūbi." He started via mind-link.
"What?" The Kyuūbi responsed.
"Do you know any jutsu to bury him?" Naruto asked.
The Bijū didn't replied for a moment as he was thinking if he did had one. "I think there is an earth jutsu called Bodies of Terra, use that to bury Zabuza kit." The Kyūbi stated.
Naruto smiled happily at that and nodded before cutting off the mind-link. "I got a jutsu for such occasions." He told them.
"That's great Naruto-kun. Let go with Satsuki-chan and Kakashi-sensei then." Hinata requested with a smile.
"Yeah!" Naruto replied while Haku nodded in agreement.
Down stairs. . .
Satsuki had just finished telling Kakashi and Anko about what they wanted to do with Zabuza's body.
"A burial. . ." Kakashi started as he looked at the female Uchiha.
"Yeah, we thought that he deserved one after the way he died." Satsuki stated.
Before Kakashi could replied, Naruto, Hinata and Haku had came from the stairs. "It's something we all really want to give to him." Naruto then said.
Kakashi let out a sigh as he knew that his students were very stubborn and would never forgive them if he said no, that and the look of his new stepson made any doubt disappeared. "Alright, we can give him a proper burial." He stated.
This made the genin and Haku gain a happy and relief expression, while Anko only chuckled. "Awww, already getting into being a daddy huh Kakashi-kun." She then joked in a teasing tone.
This was answered by a loud groan by said jonin.
After a while. . .
The group decided to bury Zabuza at a edge of a cliff that could see the bridge.
Kakashi then unsealed Zabuza's body and lay it on the ground.
Naruto then headed to the body. "Ok, let's buried him. . ." He stated.
"How you do you plan to even bury him exactly?" Haku asked with curiosity.
"Like I said Haku, I have my ways." Naruto answered while grinning softly.
"Naru-kun, can you at least tell me and Hinata-chan?" Satsuki asked as she then gave off the dreaded and feared jutsu that will make any guy putty in a girl's arms, the Puppy Eyes Jutsu while cuddling into his arm. "Pleeeeeeeease?" She asked with big round sparkling eyes with slight tears coming from them. Then in a moment of courage she was joined by Hinata, who cuddled his other arm.
"Your on your own there kit. . ." The Kyūbi deadpanned with a witty and perverted smirk.
And like all male victims, even the blond fell for this forbidden jutsu's mighty power. "Ah dammit. . .they had to be adorable!" Naruto thought, wincing before he pointed at his stomach, as if trying to tell Hinata and Satsuki discreetly, not wanting to tell them anything while in front of Haku and Anko.
Satsuki and Hinata both stopped with their puppy eyes as soon as they caught Naruto's gesture before glancing towards the others. "Alright Naruto-kun, you don't have to tell us anything." Satsuki said with a small smile.
"Yeah, come on, let's bury Zabuza-san's body." Hinata requested with a small smile as well.
Naruto gave a relieved and grateful looked to the girls before stopping in the clearing of the cliff and stood in front of Zabuza's body, he took a deep breath and slowly started doing the hand signs as Kyūbi went through them in his mind. "Hope that it comes out ok." He thought as he has never done this jutsu before.
Naruto then began to channel as much as earth chakra he could. "Earth Style: Bodies of Terra. . ." He whispered.
Soon he and the others saw the ground underneath Zabuza slowly open and began sinking the body down, Naruto was visually struggling as he was forcing the jutsu to work, then slowly the body when down six feet.
Naruto then let out a gasp from the strain of the jutsu. "Almost. . .finish. . ." He panted between each breath.
The other were beginning to worry for the blond as he was already low in chakra from the fight, but he wave them off. "This is. . .the least. . .I can do. . .for him. . ." The blond declared as he continued the jutsu as it slowly began to encasing Zabuza in a tomb like structure and covering the spot back up leaving only a little mound.
Naruto soon would have nearly fell to the ground if it wasn't for Satsuki and Hinata catching him. "He'll be peaceful here surrounded by nature." He said as he turned and looked at the others with a small sad smile.
"I'm sure Zabuza would have been happy for you to do this for him." Satsuki said with a smile.
"Yes. . ." Hinata agreed as she looked at the mound.
Haku slowly walk next to the trio and looked at the tumb. "Thank you, Naruto-san. . ." He said as he began to shedding some tears.
Kakashi and Anko couldn't help but smile at this kind gesture to an enemy they just fought nearly to the death.
"Still though. . ." Hinata then started, gaining everyone's attention. "Is this really how a shinobi lives?" She asked.
"Yeah. . ." Satsuki then asked. "Is it going to be like that for the rest of our lives?" She then added.
"Ninjas are not supposed to seek their reason to exist. . ." Kakashi began, gaining the trio and Haku's attention. "It's important that they exist as a tool for their villages. . .it's the same in Konoha. . ." He then stated.
Anko merely sighed to that as she placed her hand behind her head. "You better get used to it. . .because most shinobi's live and die like this." She clarified. "I don't like it either, but it's just the way it has always been." She added with a depressed tone.
Haku said nothing as he too felt the same.
Satsuki and Hinata didn't know what to think little lone what to say to that as they lowered their heads in sadness.
Naruto also had his head down and his hair blocked his eyes. "If that's what it means to be a true shinobi. . ." Naruto began and gained everyone's attention as he raised his head and the all saw his eyes full of resolve. "Then screw that! I've made my mind! I'm going to follow my own way! My own nindo!" He declared with passion and conviction.
This startled all of them, but soon one by one started to either smile or chuckle at this.
"Yeah!" Satsuki then agreed. "Screw those rules! We're following our own!" She added as she pumped a fist into the air.
"Hai! So that we don't regret anything." A surprisingly confident Hinata stated.
The older shinobi's could help but feel proud at the trio's way of thinking.
Haku smiled happily as he would had wished him and Zabuza could had met Naruto sooner so that they two would had thought the same. "Father was right on choosing him. . ." He thought to himself.
Anko looked at them with a wide grin as she like that way the kids thought and had the backbone to not only try it and do it too. "I'm really starting to like these brats." She thought to herself.
"Alright then." Kakashi suddenly started, getting everyone's attention. "Come on kids, let's get back to the house, we need to rest and then protect Tazuna until he finished the bridge before heading back to the village." He ordered.
All of them nodded in agreement as they all headed back towards the bridge builder's house.
Kakashi was the last to leave as he looked at the tomb and then towards the trio with a smile behind his mask. "You three are going to grow up and become fine Shinobi. . .no. . .more like true heroes. . ." He thought as he continued looking at the backs of his three students.
JG (JGResidentEvil)'s A/N: What up everyone This is JGResidentEvil here with the first remastered chapter!
F2P (fight2protect)'s A/N: And like always our thoughts will be on the third remaster of chapter.
JG: So see you there! :)
F2P: See ya!