Yelena watched her foe, now on the defensive, utilizing the Substitution Jutsu, escaping her Arts once more. She tsked, a frown that marred her face as she sent a ray of ice at him, but he escaped once more, instead piercing through a set of trees before they exploded into bits and pieces of themselves.
He lunged at her once more with his blade, but his movements were more sluggish, she, and he himself, knew. His slashes were slower and less focused, as his breaths came out in harsh gasps as he fought through fatigue and cold, his arms trembling as he blocked each slashes and blows delivered by her.
Cries and screams then decorated the air as both Yelena and her foe stopped fighting, turning to the source of the noise. All around the group of Yetis and Mist, the latter forces fell, being impaled by senbon or cut down as blood flew through the open air. Confusion filled the air, emanating from the Yetis as they stood tense. Then, they saw them. A masked figure was rapidly hurling senbon, locks of their hair flying back as they hurled their senbon to impale their bodies, and two figures, their gauntlets attached to each other, a serrated chain that sliced and teared open the Mist shinobi as they were caught off guard.
Many Mist were still stunned by the sudden emergence of a new adversary. Most of them were able to avoid or deflect the hail of senbon their way and evade the two men. Another few finally had the sense to attack back at the masked figure with long hair. A Mist shinobi hurled his fist towards the masked individual's face, only for them to catch it, gripping and snarring his foe tightly in place. Undeterred by the halt of his attack, he slammed his knee into the gut of the masked figure.
What happened next shocked all those within, even Yelena herself. The masked figure was revealed to be ice the next instance, before it violently exploded in a hailstorm that struck their foe and the surrounding Mist shinobi. The masked shinobi emerged once more as he struck his foes, freezing one to the next, the numbers further dwindling and plummeting.
For the Yetis, they were stunned by their own admission of what they were witnessing. The masked figure… Jutsu had seemingly the same element as beloved Sister Yelena.
Yelena could only narrow her gaze in curiosity and what was perhaps a near mirror of her Arts.
The masked figure then weaved hand signs and many of the Mist shinobi jumped back, already ready for a Jutsu, but were then shocked, along with Yelena and her Yetis, as a mirror of ice was formed, and the figure stepped into the ice, his body no longer, as he seemingly melded into the mirror before him.
The Mist shinobi in front only tensed his body in preparation for an attack, the masked figure simply standing in the mirror, only further giving a sense of confusion and bewilderment among them, and Yelena realized it as she saw the mirror from behind the unsuspecting Mist shinobi. His companions cried out, but it was far too late as he blurred into movement. In that instance, the Mist shinobi screamed as his body was rapidly sliced and reduced to bloody chunks as flesh tore open by the rapid fire strikes.
"Toho!"
Many of the Mist cried out as one of their more experienced Chunins went down. When the assault ended, his entire body was cut open like a surgeon, his eyes barely flickering out from consciousness and unconsciousness, death not claiming him, yet.
The sudden arrival made all turn back to the conflict once more. Many Mist shinobi began to fight back, the Yetis, beginning to exhaust, still had fight left in them as they retaliated.
Yelena turned back, only to watch the Mist Captain vanish in a Body Flicker as he lunged towards the downed shinobi the masked figure had taken down. Yelena did not give chase, regardless, their Body Flicker made them fast. Forming hand signs, he spat what remained of his chakra into a Fireball in the air as he cried out to all the Mist shinobi. "Retreat!"
The conflict abruptly ended with the cries of retreat. Many Mist shinobi, battered and exhausted, picked up their comrades who were still alive, unconscious, and dispersed into the technique the Yeti Squad had grown accustomed to. A few Yetis had raised their crossbows and weapons to fire at the retreating Mist, but Yelena held up her hand.
"Sister?"
"Let them go." No more violence. Not today. "Tend to the wounded."
Her brothers and sisters nodded as they dispersed, gathering up the wounded Yetis. Yelena began to walk over, her hands over the stomach of one of the more severely wounded Yetis, as she hummed softly, freezing the wound and preventing any more blood from flowing. Bandages and other medical supplies were passed around. She could see from the corner of her eye that the masked figure and their two companions awaited, and faintly see the weapons the latter was clenching, dripping with fresh blood.
The masked figure took a step forward, and her brothers stood, their weapons locked on them. They raised their hands, to show they were of no harm. "My apologies. Do you require any assistance? The Hidden Mist is known for their ruthless tactics and drive to win battles and conflicts no matter what, from what my Master told me and our battles with them. The fact you have pressured them into retreating shows how remarkable you have done." The voice was soft and effeminate, attempting to garner trust, but trust was a rarity, and it seemed that this world was no different in that regard. Yet there was no mockery, only honesty and compliments as a warrior. "I assure you that I or my companions mean no harm. The Hidden Mist we have fought before and they are powerful as they are deadly. When myself and the brothers of Gozu and Meizu arrived, we saw your fight with the Mist. My Master is going to another force the Mist is currently attacking." The old coot, she recognized. The masked figure lowered their head in a bow. "If I may, perhaps I will remove my mask?"
The removal of his mask was a sign of trust, to show that one truly meant for peace between them, and his offer, an offer to tend to her brothers and sisters. The reward outweighed the risk of a potential threat to her or her siblings, and she lowered her own head.
The masked figure raised his hand to his face to remove his mask. The effeminate face of a boy stared back at her.
"I am Haku. Haku Yuki" The young boy spoke. "You do not have to share. But what is your name, miss?" Gozu and Meizu unstrapped their bags for medical supplies to hand out to the Yetis.
Their hands met to comfort her brother. The ice cooled and the whimpers and cries became moans, ceasing the pain.
The blood of the battle still remained. But Yelena had learned that despite a battle, despite conflict, there could be something that could be found.
Yelena wondered if the boy was it.
"Yelena. You can call me Yelena."
A pair in ice was made that day.
Buldrokastee watched as the Mist shinobi retreated, disappearing in their Body Flicker techniques as they escaped the field of battle.
The man with his cleaver blade scoffed. "What a bunch of pussies. I came after they're done fighting you and your other guys and they're all chickening out. Guess they saw that Fireball in the sky. Yagura's definitely going to have a field day with this. Would love to see that look on his face once he receives the news his prized elites lost!" He hefted his blade on his shoulder with a short cackle.
Buldrokastee ordered his men to stand down. He approached the man, to where he turned and their eyes locked. "Though I and my guerrillas do not know who you are, we thank you for your assistance in the battle against the Mist."
Zabuza looked at the hand before brushing aside the gesture. "Eh. I just came 'cause my brat and I felt some cold presence. It definitely wasn't him, so it had to have been somewhere."
Yelena.
"Don't think this makes us bosom buddies or I'm under your command or whatnot. I don't know who the hell you or your guys are anyway. Never seen any type of shinobi with that armor or those weapons. Only things close to armor I've seen were those bastards from the Land of Snow and the samurai from the Land of Iron." He gave an intent stare at him and his guards, his weapon on display and flashing to them, letting them know that their alliance wasn't one, but rather they had seen a common enemy.
Buldrokastee nodded, "I do not know how to put this but we are not shinobi."
The piercing gaze turned up to meet his own. "No shit." He saw the sharpened teeth gleaming. "O'course you guys ain't. Question is where the hell you guys came from?"
Buldrokastee had avoided this question, though in large part, he had avoided towns because of his presence, he knew. The people he had seen were staring, their eyes wide with fear, but the fact that there had been no Originium anywhere, at least he had seen so far. With about over a week of traveling, Bulrokastee could only wager a guess that if this world had no traces of Originium.
"Unfortunately, I nor my men are not from anywhere within the Five Great Nations. We are from a different world entirely out of the scope of the geographical range here."
"Hmph. Really?" He glanced up at him. "Suppose I believe you then. Seen my fair share of shit around here, and you're so out of the fucking ordinary its ridiculous. No offense." He began to strode away, beckoning with his blade. "Let's go. The Mist won't attack back, but I wouldn't take it past anything they would do. Less you're suicidal and can fight forever then let's go. We're gonna get my brat and the rest of your gang."
"I have a few questions about the Hidden Mist, and the Nations, if you don't mind."
Zabuza shrugged, "Fire away. But after we get to Haku and the rest." He performed a hand sign. Buldrokastee and his guerrillas stared as Zabuza answered. "Found them. Haku's with some white haired girl I'm guessing is yours and… Hmph. They're all in white. Well, easy peasy." If they had been in the Land of Snow, they would have easily blended into the environment. He glanced back surreptitiously at Buldrokastee and his men. "I've noticed something and I got some questions for you."
"I will answer to the best of my ability."
"I couldn't sense any goddamn chakra from you. O'course I'm not a sensor type, but even I can tell while you were fighting Mist that you didn't have any Jutsus or what the hell not I've seen. Neither from what Haku told my Water Clone about your girl, so who the hell are either of you?"
Buldrokastee nodded, "Our questions will be answered once we get out of the Mist."
Buldrokastee and his allies moved, accompanied by their new companions.
Zabuza glanced over the expanse of the ocean that separated the Mist from the rest of the world. The boats Buldrokastee and his allies have used were nothing short of a gigantic mast, used to cross unto one of the Mist's nearby islands. Enough to squeeze them all into it, Yelena continued to fervently work with her brothers and sisters, Haku assisting with the limited Medical Ninjutsu he had knowledge of.
"I see…" Buldrokastee spoke, his mind working already with what to do with the new information. He and Yelena no longer desired to stay in the Elemental Nations any longer. It was of course not their world, but also, he knew in the Tundras of Ursus that there were still far too many Infected labor camps who cried out.
The rebellion in the Mist however, reminded him of Kazdel, and many groups of Infected decided to take matters into their own hands against the governments. Though Buldrokastee assisted others whenever possible, he could not assist a faction that he had no understanding of. As it seemed the man, Zabuza, had put it, it was their battle. Not his or Yelena. Their conflicts were not their own.
Defense of the Infected took utmost priority. The Tundras cried out for them.
"Strange that girl of yours uses… Arts." Zabuza was still interested, but also confused. When the concept of Arts was explained to him, it was foreign, for what it could do. It had a few similarities with Jutsus fueled chakra but also stark differences that set both apart from each other. When he saw the girl's Arts for the first time, he was looking into a mirror of Haku himself. But he felt the coldness himself, and knew that hers was much more potent than Haku.
"I apologize for we have nothing else to assist you with." Buldrokastee felt that the assistance with them against the Mist was a debt that could only be paid back with their assistance in some shape or form.
Zabuza shrugged, "None taken. To be frankly honest, I wouldn't really help you with your shit either. Haku, the two idiots, and I have bigger things to do than to help some disease ridden people." The Infected from what he heard, were treated like dogshit from the stuck up pricks in their fancy chairs and immaculate homes and those that sacrificed and exploited them. It was not far different from the Mist but Yagura's head, and the title of Mizukage cried out to him, and it was far more tempting. "No offense."
Buldrokastee accepted it with a nod of understanding. Their own goals were their own, and liberation of MIst and Infected clashed because of their varying worlds that did not connect and interests.
"After we reach land and away from the Land of Water, you guys are free to do whatever. Go travel back to your Terra or some shit, I don't care which, but you're on your own from then. Haku, those two, and I are gonna go around trying to get some supplies and funding to get another shot at the Mist." He gave a look at the towering giant that surmounted his own weapon. "A group that big as yours is sure to attract attention around the Nations. It won't be long until the entire world gets news of you or your group."
That Buldrokastee already knew, and was growing concerned about, and was all the more reason that he and Yelena and the rest needed to return back to the coldlands of Ursus. They had already grown a reputation within the Tundras, and with this new world they had hoped to keep under cover. Now, with the Mizukage, he heard from the former shinobi of his village's leader, would undoubtedly have knowledge of them, and news would spread.
But for now, he and them could at least relax. And the two continued to discuss as they moved away from the Mist, an acquaintance growing between the Demon of the Mist, and the Wendigo.
"T-thank you." One of her brothers spoke, and Haku nodded with a smile.
"It's no problem."
Yelena turned to him, her head lowering slightly. "Thank you for your assistance with my brothers and sisters."
Haku smiled, "It's quite alright. Master Zabuza and the brothers often got injured during our skirmishes against the Mist that one of us had to learn medical Ninjutsu. I would certainly not say I am the best at it, however." That title, of course, went to Konoha's Slug Princess, and widely considered the best medical shinobi in the entire Nations. Haku was a mere ant compared to her range and proficiency and even those who were much better than him.
Silence lapsed between the two, only hearing in on the chatter between Yetis and the Demon Brothers, the latter of which in Gozu displayed his gauntlets to the curious Yetis, while Meizu was chatting with the others.
But both Haku and Yelena smiled, and the pair in ice slowly began to grow.
"Found him in a gutter when I was passing by. Parents were already gone and the kid was so starving he could barely move."
Memories of finding Yelena on that day formed in his head.
Buldrokastee could not help but see Yelena in Zabuza's own protege.
Both continued to talk. He learned of Zabuza's formidable reputation as the Demon of the Mist and Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the latter being shinobi specializing in Kenjutsu and Mist's notorious reputation, before he was tired of the policies of the village and waged a coup to act against the village's torrid policies.
"Nobody knows when Yagura started the whole thing or why, but he did, and that's how the Mist became known as Bloody Mist." He spoke in both pride and disgust and Buldrokastee could not quite know which it was. He spoke highly of his reputation in his former home, but seemed also quite sickened by the policies the village adopted and then tainted the image. Warning signals let him know that the man was dangerous, but so far that it wasn't directed at him, and both sides made it clear that they were merely acquaintances and nothing more, a neutral force.
"You know, there is one thing you can do."
"What would that be?"
Zabuza smirked behind his mask and gripped his Executioner Blade. "You seem strong, since you held your own against Yagura's best. How about a match once we reach dry lands? Been a while since I had a challenge around here."
Buldrokastee acquiesced. The man in front of him desired a challenge that he clearly had not had in years, and so he accepted it. "Very well. I will not hold back."
Zabuza grinned in delight. "Any less and I'll think your survival against the Mist was pure luck."
Yes. Haku and Frostnova are a thing and the next confirmed pairing, since I'm also a sucker for Haku and Zabuza. For those who don't want the story to be another Naruto and Sasuke centric story, especially the former, because there's already plenty of crossovers with the title character, I am planning pairings for other characters. So for fans of Sakura, Lee, Tenten, Shino, and the rest of Konoha 11, rest assured that I am giving them pairings and building their relationships up or have a pairing set in mind in future chapters and they will be the central focus for their story arcs. It won't be just Naruto. Really, I am tired of him for being the only focus in crossovers and even the main story when there are so many other pairings that could fit even the rest of the cast, instead of people claiming that every Arknights character including Skadi fits with Naruto because why not?
Give my boy Lee a pairing and some love. Give even Tenten some love she never got in the original series! Yes, even Kiba!
These characters are just as interesting if not more so and it's a shame that they're tossed aside in stories when Kishimoto already tossed them aside after the original series and into Shippuden. If people don't like that the Naruto stories I make in universe or crossover aren't focused just on Naruto, then why are you here? Go make your own NarutoxArknights story that just gives him some girl and takes away the agency of every other character and reduces them to a shell of themselves. I prefer Sasuke as a character and I'm not going to pretend that his and Naruto's screen time in the series was overused that it took away and made all the other side characters irrelevant, yet Sasuke being the focus was the exact reason why and how Kishimoto was able to go into the lore and worldbuilding of the series.
Again, not hating either Sasuke or Naruto. If people already haven't figured it out, Sasuke's my favorite character and Naruto is okay. And hello? Penguin's NEST? Both Naruto and Sasuke are the focus in that story as well. You want a much more focused story from Naruto or Sasuke's POV, then go read that story.
I'm simply saying their focus in the main series largely took away from the side characters. Naruto has always appealed as a series because the side characters are so unique and they're tossed aside. Kishimoto dropped the ball with them. Penguin's NEST was the first leeway into exploring both Naruto and Sasuke's character further in a world where neither of them are right and a world filled with magical rock cancer, war, discrimination, and racism, while this story gives me more freedom with the plot since it's set in a timeline and setting that allows me full freedom to fully integrate whatever storylines and changes while exploring those same themes. Just because someone is the main character doesn't mean they're the entire focus. A major focus? Yes. But not entirely.
This story is an epic length multi chapter story that is supposed to represent the differences of changes and interactions between two worlds and how the lives of people are affected in both. If people have a problem with that, then again, go read Penguin's NEST or make your own story.
As for what and who they are for those people who do want the side characters to have their own pairings, please be patient. I will not reveal who they are yet.
I also hoped everyone enjoyed Patriot and Zabuza's interactions as much as I enjoyed writing about the two daddies of their adopted ice child.
Also, for those who have not noticed it yet, Patriot and Frostnova do not join Reunion, as it is not formed under the original story. Due to this, they never encountered Talulah who gave them the offer and so they kept traveling. Again, this is largely an AU. I will go out and say it now that this will not be a simple role reversal story, as there are major AU changes with the change.