Chapter 8
Tazuna eyes widen in shock as he and the others arrive to the bridge to see the workers were beaten and unconscious. "What happened?! Someone was here! Someone got to them!" Tazuna stated
Kakashi looked at the scene before him Could it be?
Then out of nowhere a mist came and surrounded the whole bridge. Kakashi turned around to scan the area This mist?! "Sasuke! Hinata! Get ready!"
They both went on each side of the bridge builder, Sasuke already had his kunai in his hand ready for action while Hinata reached for her pouch, ready to pull out hers to strike if needed.
Kakashi formed a hand sign, getting ready for what to come "I knew he was still alive, he just couldn't wait for round two"
"S-Sensei, this is Zabuza's hidden m-mist jutsu, isn't i-it?" Hinata asked
Suddenly Zabuza's voice was heard "Sorry I kept you waiting, Kakashi. I see you still got those brats with you. That one's still trembling, pitiful." Zabuza said referring to Sasuke's hand shaking with the kunai in it.
Sasuke's eyes widen as he saw that he and the others were surrounded by multiple Zabuzas. He then smirks causing one of them to look confused "I'm trembling with excitement." Sasuke said
Kakashi turns to his student "Go on, Sasuke" and with that Sasuke went into action, slicing through all the Zabuza's that surrounded them. He went back to where he was standing before and watched as they all turned into water I can see it!
"Oh so you could see that they were water clones huh? The brat's improving" Zabuza said as he and the masked ninja, that carried him away, made their appearance " Looks like you've got a rival Haku"
"So it seems" the masked ninja named Haku said
"Well Well so I had it right! It was all an act" Kakashi stated
"An act?!" Tazuna asked
"With a cute little mask" Kakashi said
"What a big phony" Sasuke added
"So I guess all that about being a tracker ninja protecting his village was just a bunch of bull" Tazuna said
"They look pretty chummy to me. I'd say they've been pulling scams like that for a long time" Kakashi said
"I-It's shameful t-to use an important s-status as a t-tracker n-ninja f-for such things" Hinata said
"And hiding behind a mask? Who does he think he's fooling?" Kakashi asked rhetorically
He had most of us fooled Hinata thought
Haku turns to look at Zabuza "He's impressive, even though they were just one-tenth the strength of the original water clone jutsu, he did destroy them all"
Zabuza smiles through his bandages "That move still gave us the first advantage, now use it" he ordered
"Right" Haku said then he begins spinning, heading toward Sasuke.
Sasuke sees Haku as a mini tornado "What's this?" He said standing his ground
In a flash, Haku attacks Sasuke with a needle but Sasuke blocks it with his kunai and the two are at a bit of a standstill.
So he can keep at with Haku's speed Zabuza thought as he watched the two
Kakashi watched the conflict go on and said "Hinata, cover Tazuna and stay close to me, let Sasuke handle this"
Hinata nods, getting in front of Tazuna and watched how Sasuke blocked every attack Haku made.
"We want the bridge builder, not you. If you back down I won't have to kill you" Haku said
"Save it" Sasuke replied
Haku looked at him "You're making a mistake, you won't be able to keep up with my speed. I've gained two key advantages"
"Oh yeah, what are they?" Sasuke asked
"First, we're surrounded by water, second I've blocked one of your hands. Therefore you only have one free hand to defend yourself" Haku said as he started to form hands signs with only one hand.
Sasuke eyes widen in shock What?! Using one hand?!
Hand signs with a single hand?! I've never seen that before Kakashi thought as he watched Haku.
"Secret Jutsu, Thousand Needles of Death" Haku said as he stomped his foot, then the water surrounding him and Sasuke starts to float.
He doesn't want to kill the kid. Does he mean that? Zabuza thought to himself
Everyone eyes were on the water floating above the two. Kakashi and Hinata's eyes widen as the water turned into needles "Sasuke!" Hinata called to him
Sasuke heard her and concentrates on focusing his charka Focus, remember the training he thought of his tree climbing Summon my chakra at once!
The needles came at them fast, Haku jumped out of the way and watched his jutsu at work but was shocked to see Sasuke had disappeared. H-He vanished! Then he looked up to see that Sasuke was in the air, starting the throw shuriken at him. Haku jumped backwards to avoid each one.
Sasuke appeared behind Haku, holding his kunai "You're not as fast as you think. From this point on, you'll be the one defending against my attacks"
Haku blocks Sasuke's arm and was quick to see the throw the kunai Sasuke was holding headed his way and quickly ducked. As he did, Sasuke send him a powerful kick that caused Haku to land a good distance from him, right back to Zabuza.
Zabuza eyes widen as he looked at Haku on the ground It's not possible! No one is faster than Haku!
"Thought you were quick. Now what else are you wrong about?" Sasuke asked as he stands ready for what's to come next.
"You made a big mistake insulting these ninja and calling them brats. It just guarantee to bring out Sasuke's attitude and he's the best young fighter of the hidden leaf village." He turns to Hinata "And Hinata here is our eyes, she has the sharpest vision on this team"
Hinata blushes at the compliment "And last but not least, our number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja is Naruto Uzumaki"
Zabuza chuckles "Haku if we keep going like this, we'll be the victims instead of them. Get on with it!"
Haku gets onto his feet and a visible charka starts coming from his body "Right"
"What's that?" Sasuke asked as he saw Haku's display
"I'm sorry it's come to this" Haku said as he forms hand signs
"The air, it's so cold" Sasuke said then looked behind and around him as he saw the water that surrounded him turn into large mirrors of ice "Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors!" Haku said as his jutsu was complete
Kakashi looked at the mirrors with a nervous look "What is that?! How does it work?"
Everyone's eyes widen as they saw Haku walked up to one of the mirrors and fazes into it. Then his image appeared on the mirror he fazed into and all the others.
Mirrors? But how?! Sasuke thought as he looked around at all the mirrors
Kakashi grunts, running to the mirrors to help Sasuke but was blocked by Zabuza.
"If you enter this fight, you fight me. Your boy has no chance against that jutsu, he's finished" Zabuza stated
From the mirrors, Haku spoke to Sasuke "Now we'll begin and I'll show you what speed really means" Taking a stance in the mirrors, Haku begins his onslaught, attacking Sasuke from every direction with throwing needles. Sasuke grunts as each needle came, one of the needles was thrown with such force that the kunai he held was knocked out of his hand and lands in front of hinata's feet. Sasuke was reduce to covering his head and crouching on the ground.
"Sasuke!" Kakashi and Hinata called to him.
"Just try to help him and I'll call the other two in a heartbeat" Zabuza said
Hinata heard Sasuke's grunts and cries of pain "M-Mr. Tazuna I-I.."
"Say no more, go on" Tazuna said
Hinata removed to fallen kunai on the ground and ran to the mirrors "Sasuke, I'm coming!"
Zabuza looks at her as she came running "Foolish girl!" He was about to block her when she surprised him by jumping into the air and throwing the kunai to Sasuke. Hinata eyes widen as she saw that Haku had unfazed half of his body from the mirror to catch it "H-He caught it".
Surprises didn't stop as a shuriken came out of no where, succeeding in hitting it's target which was Haku. Haku fell to the ground, grunting as he pushes himself up.
Hinata looked shocked and relieved at this development "B-But who?"
As she started to ask that question, a large cloud of smoke appeared a short distance from the ice mirrors and everyone turned their heads to it.
What a fool, he's such a show off Sasuke thought as he knew full well who it was
Haku looked at the smoke and got to his feet "Number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja"
The smoke soon clears revealing Naruto in the middle of it "Naruto Uzumaki is here, Believe it! Now that I'm here everything will be alright"
"N-Naruto?!" Hinata said surprised
"You know how in stories, the hero usually shows up at the last minute and then kicks butt, well that's what I'm going to do right now, Believe it!" Naruto said pointing his finger to Haku
"Urgh, this brat again" Zabuza said annoyed
Sasuke had an annoyed face on him Shut up, Naruto!
What an idiot, if he had stayed hidden, he could have been so much more affective. Kakashi thought
Haku looked at Naruto closely, That boy. He thought as he remembers Naruto from the day he saw him sleeping in the woods.
Naruto faced Haku "Ok, you're history!" He starts to form hand signs for his shadow clone jutsu. Zabuza sees this and quickly throws shuriken at him.
Kakashi eyes widen at this "No! Naruto move!"
Naruto was too surprised to move as it came right for him. Just as the shuriken were inches away from him, throwing needles came and stopped the attack. Everyone eyes widen turning there sights to Haku as he was the one who stopped them.
"Amazing, their weapons canceled each other out!" Tazuna said
Hinata looked at Haku But why did he do that? Isn't he the enemy? Then turn her sights to Naruto "Naruto t-that was dangerous!"
"This is a battle, not a talent show! Don't let your opponent see your jutsu! The shinobi's art is deception, alway keep the enemy guessing. Even when executing a single jutsu, one must distract their opponent's attention, catch them off balance and outmaneuver them. You just turn yourself into a human target when you enter a battle like that" Kakashi said sternly to Naruto
Naruto looked panicked and frantic "I'm sorry! I was just trying to rescue everybody"
Kakashi turned his eyes to Haku "But there's another mystery here"
"Haku, what are you doing?" Zabuza asked annoyed with his partner
"Zabuza, this boy, please let me fight him my own way" Haku asked
Naruto held his fists up "Bring it on!"
"Hmph, so you want me to leave this to you. Is that it, Haku?" Zabuza asked looking at him "As usually, you're too soft"
"Forgive me" Haku said bowing his head
Front the mirror trap, Sasuke get on his feet and looked at his body Soft, hmm he's right. Look at these wounds, he cut me up with his needles yet he didn't hit a single vital stop. Why?! He thought looking at Haku Is he just trying to humiliate me?!
"I'm warning you, one way or another I'm gonna rip off that mask and take you apart" Naruto state to Haku
It's impossible, Naruto can't match this kid Kakashi thought getting ready to help I've got to..
Zabuza steps forward "Don't even think about it. You know the score Kakashi if you go after Haku, I go after the bridge builder"
Kakashi stiffens He's got me, I can't protect Tazuna and help Naruto and Sasuke at the same time. He looks over to Hinata, Hinata is strong but she can't fight Zabuza alone
"Relax Kakashi, sit back and enjoy the show. Let's see how they do one on one" Zabuza said looking back at Naruto and Haku
"That mask and that bogus story, you were with Zabuza all along! You think you can get away with a stunt like that?!" Naruto asked glaring at Haku
Haku bows his head "I'm sorry"
"Huh?"
"But as your sensei said deceiving your opponent, catching them off guard that is the art of the shinobi. Please don't take it personal" Haku asked
Thinking Haku was distracted, from the mirror trap Sasuke pulled out a kunai And well you're jabbering, I'll catch you off guard! And throw the kunai straight at him but was shocked that Haku dodged it.
Shocked at what happened, Naruto turns to see where the kunai came from and sees Sasuke in the crystal mirror trap "Sasuke?"
"I haven't forgotten about you, not for an instant" Haku said with Sasuke glaring at him
So that's where Sasuke is, he's pin down Naruto thought looking at the situation his teammate is in.
Haku turns to Sasuke "Some warriors accept defeat gracefully, they know when they are beaten. Others do not, so be it let us finish our battle to the death" He declares walking back to his mirrors.
"Hey where are you going?!" Naruto asked
Haku stops right in front of one of the mirrors "It's alright, Naruto. We'll have our fight next" with that said, he fazes back into the ice mirror.
Naruto looked shock at what just happened and grunts glaring at the trap What is he?!
Here he comes Sasuke thought as he look at Haru int the mirror in front of him and looks at the other and see them empty. So the real ones over there, reaches for his pouch Now..
"I'm behind you" Haku said as his image moved from the mirror in front of Sasuke to the mirror behind him.
He transported himself, in an instant! How?! Sasuke looked behind him at Haku in shock and watched as multiple images of Haku appeared in the other mirrors and eye widen as the onslaught of needles hit him causing him to drop to the ground.
"Sasuke!" Hinata and Naruto said as they saw what happened to their teammate.
What is that?! Sasuke's getting all ripped up and I can't even tell where the attacks are coming from. How is he doing that?! Naruto thought as he was looking at the mirrors
Sasuke sits up, holding his injured shoulder What kind of jutsu is this? Could it be...he has clones hiding it the mirrors? All throwing needles at the same time. He thinks back to the attacks No they're too fast, I can't even see where they're coming from. And if it was just a clone jutsu, then he wouldn't need the ice mirrors. Those mirrors are definitely the key to his attacks, but what's my next move?
"Sasuke, Naruto think! You need to attack from the outside and the inside at the same time" Kakashi advised
Hinata eyes widen in realization I see, that way they can figure out how the mirrors work!
I've got it! Naruto thought
Yes, it's all about position and Naruto and I are in the perfect position. If I attack him from here and Naruto hits him from outside, we can do it! Sasuke thought
"Hey, I snook in here to save you" Naruto said grinning at Sasuke
Sasuke looked surprised and annoyed
"Pretty cool move, huh Sasuke?!" Naruto said smiling
Sasuke grunts, his hand trembling in anger
Hinata looked at Naruto strangely Why would he go into the line of fire?
"Naruto, you sneak up on your enemy not your ally" Kakashi said sighing
Sasuke blows up at Naruto "You are a complete loser, you're a shinobi think carefully before you move!"
"What the hell is your damn problem?! You should thank me for coming in here to help you!"
"Naruto if we're both inside here" He shakes in anger "Forget it! I've had it with your mistakes"
"And I've had it with your attitude, Believe it!"
Naruto is building a reputation as the most clueless ninja in history. The more he helps, the worse things get Kakashi thought staring that the two.
Sasuke gets to his feet "That's it! I'm going to destroy theses mirrors right now" he said forming hand signs for his signature fire style jutsu
"Hey, what attack are you using?!" Naruto asked looking up at Sasuke
"These mirrors are made of ice, so how do you destroy ice? Figure it out!" Sasuke said then blows a large amount of fire at the ice mirrors. He looked at the mirrors and was shocked to see the mirrors were still standing.
Naruto gets up, annoyed "That didn't do anything at all!"
"You'll need a lot more heat than that to melt this ice" Haku said
Sasuke glares at the mirror in front of him
The mirrors begin to glow, Sasuke and Naruto eyes widen and was attacked by needles again, causing them to been thrown in to the ground.
Naruto was the first one to sit up "Where is he? Where is the needle attack coming at us from?! Are they clones?!" He then gets on his foot "We've gotta find the real one, which one is it?!" He said looking at the mirrors
"Look at every mirror as hard as you like, you will never learn the secret" Haku said
"Oh yeah?!" Naruto said forming hand signs "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"No, don't!" Sasuke warned him
But it was too late as Naruto's clones appeared and start to attack each mirror "You've got a hundred mirrors, then a hundred of me will smash them all, then I'll find where you really are" Naruto said. However Haku moved quickly from mirror to mirror, attacking all clones causing them to disappear and Naruto being thrown hard to the ground again.
"These mirrors only reflect my image, allowing me to transport myself at light speed. Through my eyes, you appear to be moving in slow motion" Haku explained
Kakashi's eyes widen in shock and horror "I knew it! It's a blood line trait, kekkei genkai!"
Zabuza chuckles
Hinata's eyed widen "K-Kekkei Genkai?! T-Then he's like me and Sasuke?!"
"That's right, like my sharingan and your eyes, You can't learn it, it has to be in your blood. In your genetic code pass down from generation to generation within a single clan" Kakashi explained
Hinata looks at him "S-So that m-means you can't learn it, can you sensei?"
Kakashi nods, glaring that the ice mirrors"It's true I can't, there's no way to destroy it and no way to stop him"
In the mirror trap, Naruto bows his head, covering his eyes "I couldn't break through, so what?! He's not gonna stop me!" Haku looked at him, surprised at what he just said "I'm not giving up and I'm not gonna lose here because I have a dream and no ones going to take it away from me!" He then looks up at Haku "Someday I'll be respected in my village, that's my dream, to be the greatest Hokage!"
Dreams... Haku thought as he remembered his past when he first meet Zabuza "It was not my desire to become a shinobi, it's painful. I don't want to kill you but if you advance I will have no choice. Then I will kill the kindness in my own heart and fulfill embrace the shinobi way and there will be no mercy, no turning back. This bridge will be the battle field where our dreams collide. Now I must fight for my dream, just as you fight for yours. Please do no blame me, I fight for someone who is precious to me, I live for him and I face death for him so that his dream may become reality. That is my dream." Haku looked at the boys, holding his needle tight in his handle, preparing to strike "And for the stake of the dream, if I must I will act as a shinobi and take your lives"
Hinata couldn't take seeing her teammates in danger and shouted "P-Please be c-careful you two, d-don't let him beat you!"
"No Hinata, it's best if you don't push them" Kakashi said
"B-But Sensei.."
"Even if they somehow found a way to overcome the mirror jutsu, they still couldn't defeat this ninja"
"Sensei! H-How can you say that?!"
"Because Hinata, they have the desire to win but they don't have the instinct to kill" Hinata gasps "That boy is a whole other breed, he lives for pain, he thrives on it"
Zabuza spoke "Exactly! Your village has become complacent, your trainees never learn the most important lesson of all..to kill the own feeling in their hearts, to crash an opponent mercilessly" His chakra building up at a fast rate "To destroy with no emotion or regret"
Hinata eyes widen, looking at Sasuke and Naruto and back at her teacher "I-If that is true, t-then what are we going to d-do sensei?! T-This can't continue like this, please s-sensei!"
Kakashi looked at the mirror trap I could make a break and save Naruto and Sasuke but he'd slay the bridge builder. I could use shadow clones but he'd just match them with water clones, I'd be wasting chakra He reaches to lift his headband So I have no choice, it's me or Zabuza here and now, I'll have to do this the hard way!
Hinata realizes what he's about to do The sharingan!
Zabuza just chuckles at this "Sharingan...You're no fun, Kakashi. Using the same old trick" He then rushes to Kakashi, coming at him with a kunai. Having no time, Kakashi had no choice but to stop him with his hand, causing Zabuza to stab right through it.
"Sensei!" Hinata yelled
"If it's just an old trick, why did you just stop me?" Kakashi asked Zabuza in a mocking tone
"Let your opponent see your jutsu too many times and he'll find a way to use it against you" Zabuza chuckled
"Then count yourself lucky, you're the only man alive that seen my Sharingan twice. Shows over, there won't be a third time!" Kakashi declared
"Even if you did defeat me, you'd have no chance against Haku." Zabuza confidently said
Hinata looked at the ice mirror with a worried expression on her face No chance? Against Sensei, the legendary copy ninja? How can that be? This boy in the mask is more powerful than Kakashi sensei? From where she was, she caught a glimpse of Sasuke, seeing all the cuts on his body her heart ached in worry.
"When I found him, he was just a street kid but I trained him in the most advanced ninja techniques. I taught him everything I know plus he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly, soon he could face the most powerful enemy. Out numbered, in total darkness, it didn't matter he could strike with perfect accuracy. He cared nothing for his own life or the lives of others, he'd become a unique fighting machine, a shinobi. Zabuza said as he thought back to the days he was training Haku "In the end, his power surpassed even mine, his bloodline trait, the Kekkei Genkai, can not be defeated by anyone. I've created a tool that can destroy anything that stands in my way." He then took out the kunai he stabbed Kakashi's hand with "Unlike the useless punks that follow you around"
"I didn't get to him but I'll try it again as many times as it takes!" Naruto said making shadow clones again. "Naruto, Don't!" Sasuke warned him again but was ignored as Naruto did the same thing as before. Like before, Haku moved from mirror to mirror at light speed destroying all of Naruto's clones but at the same time he attacked Sasuke with his needles again.
Naruto hit the ground next to Sasuke as his attacked failed again but quickly sat up "How is he doing that?!"
It was barely there but I saw it Sasuke thought thinking back on what just happened and got to his feet I could see the trails and follow his moves.
"One more time!" Naruto said as he continued to attack with shadow clones.
Sasuke followed quickly and kicked some water into the air in order to follow Haku's movement again.
"Don't you see that it's useless?!" Haku asked and attacked the boys again, sending both of them to the ground hard.
Sasuke was the first to get up and looked at Haku I can see his speed but that doesn't mean I can match it. The water...it's being repelled. What if I try something else? He looks around for an idea Not water but...yes now it's my move!
From outside the mirror trap, Zabuza chuckles at Kakashi "You think those genin punks together can beat Haku?" He asked looking that the mirrors "He's the ultimate, battle tool of destruction!"
"Are you finished bragging? You're starting to put me to sleep!" Kakashi said, revealing his sharingan "Let's finish this, now!"
Zabuza puts away his kunai "Fine, but there's one more thing you should know, a little more bragging as you say." Kakashi looked at him, curiously "Did you really think our last battle was win or lose? That I took your attacks like some ranked genin? Haku was there hiding, watching every move you made studying your sharingan. Haku can see a jutsu once and immediately come up with a lethal counterattack, it's one of his gifts. I've been waiting to see the look on your face when you realize that your Sharingan has become worthless! You once said the same jutsu won't work on me twice, well now I'm telling you that."
"Huh?!" Kakashi looked surprised as he saw Zabuza perform hand signs
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Sudden a thick mist surrounded the area and Zabuza was gone
This is it Kakashi stood ready for anything
Tazuna looked around him "What's going on? The mist is so thick, visibility is zero"
Hinata looked around her as she saw the mist thicken "Sensei.."
"Hinata, stay with Tazuna" Kakashi ordered
Hinata nods, running back to Tazuna I have a job to do and that is to protect . I must believe in everyone and hope for the best.
Tazuna sees Hinata running to him, standing in front of him "Hinata, you're back"
Hinata gets into a fighting stance "P-Please follow me M-Mr. Tazuna and n-no matter what, stay b-behind me!"
Tazuna nods "Alright, I'll stay close to you"
I know you need me, Zabuza. I'll finish them off quickly Haku thought but was surprised to see Naruto coming at him again He just won't give up. Haku goes to take out the clones when he sees a ball of fire coming at him Fire Ball Jutsu?! He quickly avoids it and continues to destroy the clones. It shouldn't be taking in long to defeat them.
Sasuke focused on watching Haku's moves and send another fire ball straight for Haku. However Haku dodged it but not before it burned a little of his pants off. Sasuke smirks I got him that time! I'm starting to get the timing.
It's the hidden mist jutsu but this mist is too thick even for Zabuza, how can he fight in it? Kakashi thought then he heard something coming at him, shuriken came into focus coming for him. He quickly takes out his kunai and deflected them
"Very skillful as I'd expect from Kakashi, the Sharingan warrior" Zabuza said from behind Kakashi. Kakashi turned around to see Zabuza and his eyes widen at what he saw, He's eyes are closed. "But next time you see me will be the last time you see anything. Without your sharingan, you're nothing" with that, he disappears again.
"What?!" Kakashi asked
"You wanted me to believe you can see through anything, even through time. Your predication was wrong that time, I'm still alive and you're a fraud Kakashi. You can't read the future and you can't read me, the sharingan is just a cheap trick that makes you seem more powerful than you are. I know now that your sharingan has two separate elements, the piercing eye that sees every detail and the hypnotic eye which mesmerizes your opponent. Using these abilities, you can execute multiple jutsu in quick succession to make it seem like you can see the future. First with the piercing eye, you copy my movements instantly, this replication of movement makes me doubt my own thoughts. Once I was shaken, you infiltrated my mind, waiting for the slightest flutter to anticipate my actions seeking out any hints to my next move. You time it perfectly waiting for the right moment, the instant my mind becomes unfocused you create a new illusion. With your hypnotic eye, you induce me to make hand signs while you seem to be copying me when actually you're controlling my movements. Now that I know this, a very simple plan can defeat you. First neutralize your piercing eye with zero visibility mist"
Kakashi was pushed back by a force but caught his balance "The mist is slowing my reaction time!"
"Next neutralize your hypnotic eye by keeping my eyes closed, you can't bore into my mind if you can't look into my eyes"
"Brilliant except with your eyes closed, you can't see me either"
"Have you forgotten who I am, Kakashi? I'm the demon of the hidden mist, master of the silent kill. I can take you out by sound alone!"
Sasuke glares at Haku, focusing his eyes for his next move.
He read my movements but that's not possible Haku thought looking at Sasuke
"I was so close but I couldn't quite get to him" Naruto said annoyed with himself
"Naruto, can you do it again?" Sasuke asked
Naruto looked at him, pumping his fists "Of course! Nothing can stop me, Believe it!"
Sasuke looked at his teammate He doesn't want to show it but he's exhausted. The shadow clone jutsu uses up so much chakra but thanks to him, I figured it out. He smirks I know how to break through!
The human eye cannot track my movements, it must have been a coincidence Haku thought as he was about to attack.
Sasuke sees this and quickly made hand signs "Naruto, run for it!"
"Huh?"
"Get out of here and attack from the outside, hurry!"
"Uh alright you got it!" Naruto said as starts running
"You cannot escape!" Haku said pushing Naruto back
Naruto falls to the ground but picked himself up and keeps going "You think you can keep me in here?! Forget it!"
Haku moves out one of the mirrors and goes after Naruto
"That's it! Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke sends a large fire ball Haku's way.
Haku turned his head to see the fireball coming at him and dodges it by moving under it and sends a throwing needle Sasuke's way, then he blocked Naruto and kicked him hard, back to where Sasuke was. He went back into the mirrors to see Sasuke with the needle he'd thrown in his arm and Naruto picking himself off the ground, both of them panting hard.
"I couldn't get passed him" Naruto said getting up
"That was good, Naruto" Sasuke said pulling the needle out of his shoulder, getting up "One more time!"
"Yeah let's do it!" Naruto said
There must be a limit to his chakra too, I can feel him slowing down Sasuke thought as he saw Naruto charging again and he ran in the other direction.
"No more games, I need to stop this now" Haku said coming out of the mirror "This time, you'll stay down!" Throwing his needles at Sasuke and Naruto, watch them cry out in pain
"An enemy you can't see and can't hear" Kakashi said Argh it's been a long time since I faced anyone this tough. And Sasuke and Naruto, I don't know if they can hold out. Stay calm, think where will he strike next? His eyes widen "The Bridge Builder!"
Zabuza comes behind Hinata and Tazuna, who were standing in the middle of the mist and when charging at them. Sudden Kakashi came in between Zabuza and them with a bewildered look "Too late!" Zabuza said striking.
Hinata's screams ripped through the silent air
As the scream was heard, Sasuke forget about everything, the pain from the needles in his body, Naruto laying next to him his face to the ground, the mirrors, everything. That scream...! "Hinata!" He said charging out the trap but was stopped by Haku's kick and hit the ground. He looked at giving Haku a dangerous look. That was hinata's scream, what's happening to her?! Where's Kakashi, he should be protecting her and Tazuna!
"H-Hinata is in trouble" Naruto said weakly
Sasuke looked at Naruto state and worried for Hinata We've got to break through, I need to get to her!
Naruto struggles onto his feet "I'll bust us out of here! I'll fake him out!"
Naruto... Sasuke looked at him
"You've exhausted my patience!" Haku said irritated
Naruto gets up, makes a hand sign building up a large amount of chakra and charges fast to an opening. He's see Haku move to the mirror near the opening and quickly changed direction and heads to the another one with Haku on his tail.
"Naruto! Behind you!" Sasuke yelled
Naruto looked behind him only to be attacked with needles by Haku, landing on the ground. "Naruto!" Sasuke yelled
"Your chances of escaping my house of mirrors is zero. That is absolute" Haku stated
Sasuke rushes to Naruto, kneels next to him "Naruto, are you able to get up?" He watched as Naruto was struggling to get up "Try not to use anymore chakra, that's only going to help him now"
Naruto weakly looks up "I know Sasuke, I know" then he collapses
Tch! We can't go on like this, he's blocking every move we make. I've got to find a way to outmaneuver him, Sasuke got to his feet My eyes have adjusted to his movements.
Haku appeared in the mirror facing Sasuke "Looking for a counterattack? I'll save you the trouble!" He attacks, throwing his needles
Sasuke quickly picked up one of the needles that was on the ground and deflect the ones coming at him.
"What?!" Haku said shocked
Sasuke kneels next to Naruto again "Get up, loser! We've gonna team up!" He watches as his teammate trying to get up.
I'm aiming at his vital spots now but I can't get a direct hit Haku thought as he sees Naruto weakly sitting up
"I know what we have to do, Believe it Sasuke." Naruto said
Haku appears in all the mirrors and strikes but Sasuke keeps deflecting his needles with the needles he has in his hand. It's not just luck, he's fighting to protect his friend and to get to the girl that's why he's so determine but he can't possibly see the needles coming Haku thought as he sees Sasuke push Naruto out of the way and moves out himself. My movements are beyond human speed and yet he's tracking them somehow. Whatever he's doing, I've got to stop him now.
Sasuke watched as Haku vanished "He disappeared! Where did he go?! How could he just vanish?! Naruto, you'd better not pass out again. Come let's go, I can't keep protecting you like this"
Struggling to keep conscious, Naruto said "Well then don't, I never asked for your help" with that said, he passes out.
Sasuke looked down at Naruto with worried look as Haku spoke "You can't revive him, he's reached his limits" Sasuke glares up at Haku as he chuckled and threw the needle at him but it just hit the ice mirror "Impressive, you have excellent moves, your attacks are very skillful" he said throwing more needles at Sasuke, who dodged them "But you've reached your limits as well. Motor functions, reflexes, judgment your abilities are weakening slowly but surely, now you're finished!"
"Here he comes" Sasuke said as he watched Haku appear and disappear in the mirrors. Stay calm...focus...concentrate, see everything, he sees Haku strike and quickly picked up Naruto and got out of the way.
Haku quickly went back into the mirrors He saw every move, but there's no way he could do that.
Sasuke pants as he lowered Naruto to the ground and glares at Haku, revealing his eyes. Haku was shocked at what he saw Impossible, those eyes...The sharingan "You're.."
It's not complete but I can see through his deceptions Sasuke thought looking at Haku
So, he too has a Kekkei Genkai, the power of a unique bloodline trait passed down within a clan. Interesting, even though it's not perfected to uncover this power in the mitts of a lethal attack is an amazing fee and because of that, I won't be able to fight much longer. My jutsu uses a large amount of charka and his swift movements also take energy, there's no doubt that the longer we fight, the more he will use the sharingan to proceed my moves. Even now, his eyes are tracking me. I can't target him directly, he'll just block a frontal attack so I'll have to throw him off guard by attacking his partner then I'll destroy him. Haku made his move, unfazing from the mirror and going after Naruto
Sasuke turns his sight and sees Haku going towards Naruto No! I have to stop him! He thought focusing chakra to his feet to give him a boost of speed.
Kakashi grunts in pain as blood drips from the wound Zabuza made across his chest when he jumped in the way to defend Hinata and Tazuna from his large blade.
"S-Sensei!" Hinata yelled seeing the blood dripping.
"You were late, Kakashi. You let your concern for those little punks safety cloud your mind, adding farther to the fog that already hinders your sharingan. Your eyes are sharp Kakashi but not sharp enough to read my moves, not anymore." Zabuza then chuckles "Come on Kakashi, I want this to be fun, I want to enjoy myself as I exact my revenge. As for those brats, don't worry they're at Haku's mercy, they're breathing their last breath right now!" Zabuza watched how Kakashi gave him a dangerous look and raised his sword "Relax, you'll have plenty of time to weep of an apology for failing those brats when you see them in the next life!" Zabuza continues to laugh that them as he disappears into the mist once again.
Hinata body starts shaking a little from what she heard "H-He said t-they would die, N-Naruto and S-Sasuke" Her body started shaking when she thought of Naruto dead but the thought of Sasuke dead, made her heart drop at the same time race. She shakes her head, mentally slapping herself "N-No I must have faith i-in them, Sasuke and N-Naruto will defeat t-the masked boy"
"Exactly" Hinata turns to hear her sensei talking to her "I-I believe in their abilities, I have faith in them as well. Naruto, the number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja and Sasuke, heir to the most powerful clan in the hidden leaf village" Kakashi said
Zabuza was hiding in the mist, his eyes widen as he had this "You mean.."
"Yes, his full name is Sasuke Uchiha, the unique powers of the Uchiha bloodline run through his veins. The Kekkei Genkai is his birthright"
"Ah I've heard that one young ninja survived the tragedy of the Uchiha clan. No wonder he advances so quickly but so does Haku, no one can match him. No one has ever stopped his secret jutsu, even the most skilled jonin fall before him, just as you will fall before me, right now!"
"Hinata!" Kakashi shouted
"Yes?" Hinata answered
"Stay with Tazuna, don't let anything happen to him."
"O-Of course Sensei!" She said getting in front of Tazuna and she watched Kakashi run into the mist
He's right, time to end this but he's the one who will fall! Kakashi thought as he kept running
Naruto wakes up grunting and looks up to Haku laying on the ground and Sasuke in front of him "Y-You away get in the way Naruto, it never fails" he said
Naruto sits up a bit, smiling "You beat him, Sasuke!" However his smile drops instantly and look of horror appeared on his face as he saw the state Sasuke was in.
Sasuke slowly turns his head and looks at Naruto "You should see the look on your face, You..you..look like a total loser" Naruto fully sits up, his expression didn't change "Why...why..did you save me? Why did you do it?"
"I don't know why, I-I just did" he said as he thought back to all the time he's spent with Naruto, a small smile appeared on his face "You...I...hated you"
Getting on his feet, Naruto said "Then Why? It's doesn't make any sense. Why did you..protect me?" He said clutching his fist with an angry look on his face, shouting "I didn't ask for this, I didn't ask for you to save me!"
"I don't know...my body..just moved, there was no time to think...Loser!" Sasuke began to fall to the ground.
Naruto saw this and quickly caught him, kneeling to the floor "Sasuke!"
Sasuke looks up at Naruto "He...He still out there...my brother. I'd promise myself..I'd stay alive..untiled..I kill him" he weakly held up his hand "Naruto, don't let ...your dream die" His final thought were now on Hinata, I really like you, Hinata. I..I'm sorry...I couldn't tell you "Please...protect Hinata...h-help her with..her dream" With that, what seem like Sasuke's last will of strength to live was gone and he laid there lifeless in Naruto's arms.
Naruto sat there, looking at the lifeless body of Sasuke and held him close.
Haku began to get up, thinking about how Sasuke defended Naruto, He found...a strength he didn't realize he had. Why?..because of a certain person who was precious to him. To save that person, he rushed in knowing it was a trap "He was a true ninja, worthy of honor. Was this the first time you have seen a friend die in battle? This is part of what it means to me a ninja" He said going back into the mirror
"Shut up!" Naruto said putting Sasuke down "I..I hated you too Sasuke and yet..." A ring of smoke surrounded Naruto and Sasuke "You'll pay for this!" The smoke soon turned into this red chakra swirling them, Naruto's eyes turned from blue to red, the whiskers on his face thickened, his nails grew long and his wounds began to heal themselves "I'm gonna kill you!"
W-What is this chakra? Chakra can't be seen and yet it's clearly visible. It's something gasping, I can feel the wrath, the bloodlust, like something evil itself! Haku then see the chakra take form of a fox, turning his sight to Naruto, he was shocked at what he saw, He's hand is healing and changing. This boy...what is he?!
Kakashi and Zabuza both gasps as they felt the power coming from Naruto. Is Zabuza creating this?! He's not, I know this chakra...there's no way! Kakashi thought
What is this energy? Something foul, is it coming from Kakashi? No, it's too powerful even for him! Where is it coming from?! Zabuza thought
Kakashi eyes widen as he realized what is was as he thought back to the day the nine tail fox attack their village. Naruto! This puts everyone in danger! Now, of all times, the seal has been broken, I have to stop it!
Naruto crouches to the ground on his hands and knees, glaring up at Haku and charges. Haku throws his needles at him but with a strong wave of chakra, Naruto deflects them. Haku quickly moves one of the mirrors high from the ground as Naruto got close. His chakra grow strong with every second, I must strike now! Haku appears in all of the mirrors and send an onslaught of needle to Naruto. The needle hit their target however Naruto removed them with a roar of his voice and causing all the images of Haku to disappear within the mirrors except for the one with the real one. Naruto charges at that mirror, scattering it with one punch. In one of the scattered piece, Haku come out to strike NarutoNow, NOW! But he missed his target as Naruto jumped, spinning out of the way, landing on his feet. Haku tries to move to another mirror but he was caught in Naruto's strong grip, looking at him T-Those eyes..
Could it be that the seal has been broken?! No, it's been loosen and a glimmer of the nine tail fox's chakra has slip through but the seal still holds...Kakashi took a scroll out of his pocket breast, throws it into the air. Taking some of his blood from the wound Zabuza gave him, he caught the scroll and smears it on the now opened scroll Good then maybe we still have a chance, just maybe "Zabuza, I don't mean to spoil your fun. I know how you like to stretch these things out but how about we put an end to this now. " Kakashi said twirling the opened scroll around for a minute then closing it, making a hand sign "Come on, what do ya say? We're both busy people"
"Hmm, tempting. I'm curious to see how you intend to back up such brave words. Show me Kakashi!" Zabuza shouted
Within the mirrors, Haku was still in Naruto's grip, trying to maintain the ice mirrors as the strong chakra waves Naruto gave off started to crack them I-I can't, his energy is too strong!
Naruto made a fist as he looked up at Haku with such fury that made him look like a demon and punched Haku straight in the face, causing him to fly through the mirror, breaking it. Haku landed on the ground, rolling away from his mirrors, do to the attack, he couldn't maintain his jutsu, causing his mirrors to scatter.
Naruto, still in his demon state, watched as Haku slowly stood to his feet. He started to charge at him with a roar. Haku was standing, motionless as his mask started to break part, watching Naruto running toward him. Zabuza...I am no match for this boy He watched as Naruto jumped into the air to attack him Master...I have failed you, his mask at that point completely broke apart.
Everything came to a stop and there was silence in the air. Naruto attacked stop, his fist only a few inches away from Haku's face. He looked at him, his eyes were blue again and no trace of the nine tails fox chakra lingered "So that guy in the woods, that was you?!" Naruto asked
"Why do you not strike?" Haku asked
"Huh?"
"Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade's death by killing me or was that vow just empty words?"
Naruto looked back at Sasuke's body that laid in the middle of the scattered mirror and back at Haku, shaking and grunts in anger hesitating but punches Haku in the face again, causing him to fall to the ground.
Haku pushed himself onto his hands and knees, spitting out blood,looking at Naruto "Oh no, that won't do you're stilling holding back. If that is all the strength you can put into it, you will never keep your vow. Perhaps he didn't mean as much to you as you pretend"
Naruto looked at him, thinking back to what Haku said to him back in the forest about someone precious to him and in the beginning of the battle about serving the one he holds most dear. Haku stood back up and faced Naruto "To show mercy to those who oppose the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live when you can strike them down, this is not compassion. It is a betrayal of your life's very purpose, for what reason do you exist then? You're of use to no one, your life has no meaning it is just existence day after day of pain and struggle signifying nothing"
"Yeah well speak for yourself!" Naruto said
"Are you really that blind little one? I am speaking of myself, this day as shown that I am no longer of any use to Zabuza" Haku said
Naruto grimaces at the name "Zabuza, why that guy anyway? To devote your life to a rotten shrunk who doesn't know the meaning of the word honor. If he's really the one person that matters to you, man that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard!"
"There were once others who matter to me long ago..my father and my mother. I was born in the Land of Water, in a village where that snows lays deep in the winter. My parents were farmers and very poor, our life was hard but we were contempt my parents were good to each other and kind to me. Yes we were hey once but then everything changed. Because of something that happened long before I was even born, everything changed."
"What do ya mean? What was it? What happened?!"
Haku wiped the trail of blood lingering on his chin and looked at it "It wasn't my doing, it is in the blood"
"Blood? So what was it?! You said something happened that changed everything!"
Looking up at Naruto, Haku said "It was my father who changed, he killed my mother and he almost killed me"
Naruto gasps, eyes widen in shock and disbelief
"After years of suffering the horrors of civil war, the people of my land have come to fear and hate anyone that carried the Kekkei Genkai in their blood"
"Kekkei Genkai?"
"The advance bloodline trait of a clan, it's jutsu and abilities pass down generation to generation. Because of their unique abilities, the clans we used as mercenaries, they fought in many battles and were much feared but when the wars were over, they were despised and shunned by the people who feared their presence would only bring more war and misfortune. So it was that after these wars, these clans went into hiding, denying the bloodline trait that flows down their veins, concealing their unique abilities, knowing that to be discovered meant certain death. If you would have searched that boy's memories, I'm sure you would have found it there." Haku said as he and Naruto looked at Sasuke "The cruelty of people, the fear of things they can't understand. For year, my mother was successful in hiding her bloodline trait, she met and fell in love with a simple farmer, they were married and then after that my mother thought she would live peaceful, ordinary life to the end of her days"
Haku went on and told Naruto about what happened after his father found out his secret. "When I was myself again, I was no longer myself my father and mother were gone but I knew that something else had been taken from me, something that was even more important and that is when I truly despaired."
"More important than your mother and father?! What?" Naruto asked
"My purpose, in all the world there was no one who needed me, I was unnecessary" Haku answered
Naruto eyes widen Just like...Me
"Why is it you're so determine to be Hokage? Because you want all eyes in your village to look on you and recognize you as a great ninja. You see it as only through the eyes of others that our little lives have little signification, when there is no one who sees or will even look at you, it's as if you do not exist. Then Zabuza came and looked at me and his eyes were not full of hate or fear, he did not shun me for my strangeness. Indeed my special powers is just what he wanted , he made me necessary again" Haku said remembering the first day he met Zabuza and smiled sadly "I was happy" then thinks back to what he said to Zabuza the day they left the Land of Waters "I have failed you Zabuza, I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use" Haku started to walk towards Naruto, stopping right in front of him "Naruto...kill me"
Kakashi made some hands signs and slammed the scroll to the ground "Ninja Art Summoning: Earth Style Fang Pursuit Jutsu!" The ground starts shaking under him a little but after a few moments stopped.
"I don't know why you bother, of what use is your jutsu if you can't even find me but I can find you" Zabuza said standing in the mist a few feet away from Kakashi "Blindly falling into my trap you disappoint me, Kakashi. I think you're right, it is time to put an end to this." The ground starts rumbling under his feet and gasps as he see the surface crumble, and out came a ninja hounds surrounding and jumping him.
From where they were at Hinata and Tazuna could hear the growls of the ninja hounds. "That dreadful noise! What could it be?!" Tazuna said
"I-It sounds l-like an animal" Hinata said as she made hand signs "Byakugan!" She scans the area So much chakra in this mist, it's hard to see anything, trying her best she looks closely and eyes widen at what she saw
"I realized that if I couldn't see you, I'd have to smell you out" Kakashi said as the mist cleared in front of him enough to see Zabuza a few feet away being bitten and pinned by his ninja hounds. "That was a summoning jutsu, I was calling forth my ninja hounds, they can track a scent anywhere. When you attacked me, I let you get pass my guard, I wanted you to cut me. You see it's the smell of my blood on your blade that led them to you, surprised? Looks like I wasn't the only one who was blind, falling into my trap, you disappoint me Zabuza" Kakashi said looking at him "Hah the mist is finally clearing and you know what I see your death"
"Talk, Talk! Do you mean to talk me to death?!" Zabuza said pissed
"In a way, yes right now my hounds are just playing with you but one word from me and they'll tear you apart. Poor Zabuza see where your ambition get you, you were always pushing things too far. You became famous even in the village hidden in the leafs for a fail assassination of the Mizukage and now you're crazy enough to go back and try it again but for that you need money. And to get it you've stoop so low as to be the hired thug of a swine like Gatou. Alright Zabuza, enough talk time to finish it but it won't be with sharingan, imitation of some other ninja tricks"Kakashi said forming hand signs "It's time I introduce you to my own jutsu!" A ring of chakra was at Kakashi's feet and lightening surge up from the ring and gathered in his right hand "Lightening Blade!"
Chakra so strong, it's visible! He holds it in his hand! Zabuza thought watching Kakashi
"I won't allow you to kill Tazuna, he's a brave man with a noble dream. The bridge he's building is the hope of this land and all it's people. You're like a disease, by attacking one you effect all and you don't care. That is not the way of the shinobi"
Zabuza smiles through his bandages and shouts "You're right, I don't care! It's useless people and their petty little dreams, why should they matter to me? I have a dream of my own."
The lightening blade in Kakashi's hand grew larger "But to have a dream, you need to have a future bit you don't. Your future is all used up Zabuza!"
"Go on strike, kill me. Why do you hesitate?" Haku asked
Naruto grunts in annoyance and backs away from him "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard. I mean he treats you like a slave, you're a human being not a weapon or a tool. How can you care about someone like that?!" Naruto asked frustrated and confused
"For that very reason"
"Huh?"
"Does that seem so strange to you?"
"Well yeah, a little"
"When he found me, I was without a purpose or reason for living, Zabuza gave me both." Haku thought back to a happy memory of him and Zabuza "But now my usefulness is over, the only thing that gave my life meaning. It's gone, I am a broken tool, a blunted weapon that is of no use to anyone. So go on Naruto, do it for both of our stakes. Do it, quickly" when he see Naruto backing away, he pushed on "Go on finish it, kill me! Why do you hesitate, I thought you wanted to be a mighty warrior"
Naruto grunts in annoyance "That's not what it's about! Do you really believe that's all there is to it, just fighting and killing until there's only one man left standing. There's a lot more to being shinobi than that and there are other ways of showing your strength than just by beating someone in battle"
"I've had a feeling all along from the first moment we met in the woods. We're a lot alike"
Naruto looked at him with disbelief
"I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm only sorry it must be your hand that is tainted with my unworthy blood"
"You sure about this? And you're positive it's the only way?"
"Yes"
Naruto closes his eyes "The weird thing is if we met in another time and place, I think that maybe we could have been friends" He then pulls out his kunai and with his heart beating charges.
"Yes, that's right, hold fast to your dreams"
"This is for Sasuke, because he also had a dream!"
Thank you Naruto, strike true Haku thought with a small smile closing his eyes
"At last, I think this blasted fog is lifting" Tazuna said looking around "Can you see what's happening?"
"Y-Yes they are squaring off" Hinata said then see Kakashi starts charging at Zabuza
Haku gasps as he felt Zabuza in danger and stopped Naruto's attack "Sorry Naruto, change of plan" He forms hand signs with one hand "I'm not ready to die just yet" with that he disappears
Zabuza sees Kakashi coming fast with his lightening blade, ready to strike "Is this the end?!" With a war cry, Kakashi thrust his blade to Zabuza. A powerful wind came from the impact of Kakashi's attack, causing Tazuna and Hinata's to shield their faces, when it died down they were shock to see what had happened. However they weren't as shocked as Kakashi and Zabuza as the lightening blade faded away to reveal that Haku had shielded Zabuza with his body. Blood spattered on the ground, Kakashi's ninja hounds disappeared do to needles in his scroll. Haku coughed up more of his blood and glared at Kakashi, griping his wrist tightly "Za..Bu..Za"
"So my future is all used up, huh?" Zabuza said looking at Kakashi with a wicked look, chuckling "Wrong, again Kakashi!"
Naruto looked around confused "Huh?! Where'd he go?! Huh, the fog is lifting!" He then sees figures in the distance "Wait, is that him?!" He said running to the figure and stopped when he saw the scene "W-What? I don't get it, what's going on here?"
"Isn't that the young boy in the mask?" Tazuna asked
"He threw himself in front of my attack. He saved your worthless live at the cost of his own" Kakashi said to Zabuza
Chuckling, Zabuza said "Well done Haku" with that, he reaches for his blade to strike.
"S-Sensei, he's going to strike!" Hinata shouted
He'd hack right through the boy to take me down?! Kakashi thought
"I knew I'd found a treasure when I found you, boy. You've not only given me my life but Kakashi well!" Zabuza said as his blade came close to them. Before his blade could hit them, Kakashi held Haku's body close and jumped out of the way, landing a few feet away from him. Zabuza looked at the ground his blade hit "Not bad for having a corpse in your arms"
"You'll pay for that!" Naruto said shaking in anger
"No, stay of of this Naruto!" Kakashi said looking at Haku's body, moving his hands to close Haku's eyes and laid him on the ground "This is my battle!" Glaring up at Zabuza "Zabuza's mine!"
Hinata looked confused at what her sensei first said "Naruto?" She looked around and notices him for the first time since he got there "N-Naruto, we're over h-here!"
Naruto looks in her direction and calms down Hinata...
"A-Are you and Sasuke o-ok?" She asked
Naruto looks the other way "Uhh..um"
"I-Is Sasuke resting? I-I don't see him with you" she said before getting a good look at Naruto's expression "N-Naruto, where is h-he?"
Naruto didn't look at Hinata "H-He said to help you with your dream a-and to protect you"
Hinata's heart dropped and a look of horror and disbelief appeared on her face "N-No" she whispered
"Hinata..." Kakashi said looking at his student
"Kakashi! I'd stay focused if I were you!" Zabuza said coming at Kakashi. Before Zabuza could swing his blade, Kakashi send a powerful kick to his face.
Tazuna look at Hinata and took her hand "Let me take you to him, Hinata. As long as we stay together, you won't be disobeying your sensei's orders"
Hinata slowly grips his hand "Thank you" she and Tazuna started running to the direction Naruto and Sasuke's battle with Haku was.
Naruto's head was down, his eyes closed, trying to prevent himself from crying
"Sasuke"
As Sasuke's body into view, Hinata let go of Tazuna's had and slowly walk to him and gasps to see his body laying there lifeless, needles sticking out of him, cuts around his body and blood lingering down the side of his mouth.
Tazuna looks in horror at the state Sasuke was in and looks away.
Hinata fell to her knees and slowly took his body, holding him close so that his head was resting on her chest and ran her hand across his cheek "His body is so cold, this is no genjutsu"
"Go on you don't need to be brave on my account. Go ahead and let your feeling out Hinata, it's alright" Tazuna said looking at her
Tears gathered in hinata's eyes but they didn't fall "I said that to him once"
Tazuna look down at Hinata confused
"It was during a small mission, he told me a ninja never shows his emotions, he was following one of the principles of shinobi conduct" Swallowing a lump in her throat, she continued "But I told him" her tears start falling "We are shinobi b-but we are also human, humans show their emotions!" She looked down at Sasuke again every encouraging thing he said to her and his smiles flowed in her mind, remembering them brought more tears to her eyes. She holds him tight and cried on his chest You were the only person who said those things to me, it made me so happy to hear them "S-Sasuke!" She wailed
To put such an unbearable burden on a young girl's shoulder, if that's the shinobi way, you can have it Tazuna thought as he watched Hinata cry
Naruto was shaking as he heard Hinata's cries, clutches his chest controlling his emotions.
Kakashi and Zabuza were a distance from each other, Zabuza was kneeling on the ground, panting with two kunai knives in his right arm, making it immobile. well Kakashi was on his feet, not looking tired at all, Why...Why can't I keep up with him? Zabuza thought hitting straight for him getting his swing ready but was stopped by a punch to the face by Kakashi. He regain his composer only to be kicked in the face. "I'll split you in half!" He said swinging his blade, trying to hit Kakashi but when his blade hit the concrete, Zabuza realized Kakashi was behind him, holding his neck
"Look at you, you're falling apart. I knew you didn't have what it takes for the long haul" Kakashi said
"Why did you say?!"
"You have no idea what real strength is" Kakashi said spinning two kunai knives in his fingers "Game over, you lose!" He then aimed them at Zabuza's neck but Zabuza moved in order to swing his blade backwards at Kakashi. Because of that, he stabbed Zabuza in his left arm, causing him to lose his immobility in his arm, making him lose his grip on the blade, causing it to slide away.
"Now both of your arms are useless, what now? You can't even make hand signs"
Before their battle could end, a voice spoke "Well, Well so this is how it turns out huh?
Kakashi, Zabuza and Naruto looked in the direction of where the voice came from
"Did quite a job on you, didn't he Zabuza? You look like yesterday's sashimi, I must say I'm disappointed" the voice came from the busy leader, Gatou and behind him was a gang of his hired thugs.
"Gatou, I don't understand what is all this? Why are you are here and who are these thugs you've bought with you?" Zabuza asked
"Well you see there's been a slight change in plan. According to the new plan, you die right here on his bridge, Zabuza" Gatou said smirking
Zabuza's eyes widen "What?"
"That's right, you're too expensive, so I decided to take you off the pay roll. Of course even these thugs I brought with me cost something so if you manage to slaughter a few of them before they take you down, I'd appreciate it. Think you can manage that, Demon Ninja of the Mist?" Gatou said chuckling "Look at you, you look as demonic as a wet kitten" with that said, the thugs behind began to laugh at him.
There are so many of them! One rouge ninja was bad enough! Naruto thought as he looked at the thugs
"Well Well Kakashi it would seem that our fight is at an end. Since I am no longer in Gatou's employ, Tazuna's safe and we have no quarrel." Zabuza said
"Yeah, I suppose you're right" Kakashi said to him as he watched Gatou walk up to Haku's body.
Gatou stopped right in front of Haku "That reminds me, you little punk! You grabbed me and nearly broke my arm!" He said lightly kicking Haku's face "I've been meaning to repay you for that!"
Naruto gasps as he saw send a strong kick to Haku's face
"I only wish he was alive to feel it" Gatou said, poking him with his cane
"Get away!" Naruto shouted, running to stop him "Get away from him, you scum!"
Kakashi sees this and quickly grabs hold of Naruto, pulling him back "Hey stop! Use your head"
Naruto gets out of Kakashi's hold, but stays put "Well what about you Zabuza?! You gotta let him do that?!"
"Be quiet, you fool. Haku's dead, what does it matter?" Zabuza said
"What?! You mean you can just stand there and watch him get treated like a dog! You and Haku were together for years, doesn't that mean anything?!"
"You don't understand the way of shinobi, I used him just as Gatou used him. Now it's over,his usefulness is at an end. The lost of his strength and skill, yes that means something to me but the boy nothing"
"If you mean that, you're an even bigger rat than I thought!"
Kakashi puts a hand on Naruto's shoulder "Ok that's enough calm down Naruto, he's not the enemy, not right now"
Naruto grunts loudly, shaking Kakashi's hand off "Shut up! As far as I'm concerned, he's enemy number 1!" He said pointing at Zabuza
Zabuza looked back at Naruto
Breathing heavy from anger, Naruto glared at him "Why you...you ungrateful, after everything he did for you, Haku lived for you!" He said point to Haku's body "You were the important thing in the world to him! And he meant nothing to you, nothing at all. Well he was sacrificing everything for you, you never felt anything at all for him!" Naruto starts tearing up "And if I become stronger, does that mean I'll become as coldhearted as you are?! He threw his life away and for what?! For you and your dream!" Tears began falling him his eyes "You never let him have a dream of his own but he didn't care and you just toss him aside like he was nothing, a broken tool! Man that's so wrong, so wrong!"
"You talk too much" Zabuza said
With tearful eyes, Naruto looked up, surprised to see that Zabuza was crying as well.
"Your words cut deep, deeper than any blade. Well he fought you, his heart was breaking in two you see Haku was alway too soft and too kind, he felt pain and sorrow now curse him I feel them too. And something else, I feel contempt that this is the way it ends." Zabuza said then ripping off the bandages around his mouth with his teeth "Well cat got your tongue, are you so surprise to discover that I'm human? Even shinobi are human no matter how hard we try to escape that simple face, we alway fail." He gives a small smile "Well at least I have failed. Boy give me your kunai"
Naruto looks at him and bows his head, pulling his kunai out of his pouch and tosses it to Zabuza "Here"
Zabuza grabs it with his teeth and runs full speed towards Gatou.
"Gahhh, that's enough of that, do it now take him out!" Gatou said retreating behind his thugs. But in the blink of an eyes, Zabuza slash his way through them, killing and injuring some of them. Some of the thugs manage to stick their weapons in his back but it did nothing as he continued to push through and made his way to Gatou.
Gatou eyes widen in fear and horror as he saw Zabuza come after him, with this illusion of the devil behind him "H-He's the devil!" Gatou screamed before he was stabbed in the chest by Zabuza.
Zabuza smiled around the kunai in mouth but the smile falls and his eyes widen as the thugs still alive stabbed their weapons into his back, causing him to stumble forward a little.
Gatou holds his chest, coughing out some blood "You crazy fool, if you're so eager to join your friend, then go ahead but you're not taking me, not this time"
"I won't be joining Haku, where he's gone I can not follow" Zabuza said walking towards Gatou
"No, stay back, stay back!" Gatou shouted backing away
Zabuza smiled wickedly, getting in Gatou's face "We wouldn't be welcome where Haku's gone to, Hell is where we're going, Gatou! I can't think of a more fitting destination for a demon ninja, can you? I'm told there are many demons down there of all shapes and sizes, oh yes I should fit right in , you on the other hand Gatou well I fear that you're in for a long and very painful eternity!" Zabuza took the kunai in to his mouth again and slashed through Gatou's body. When he deliver the final blow to Gatou, He sent him over the bridge, plummeting down to the ocean for a watery death.
Zabuza turns and looks at Haku's body, dropping the kunai in his mouth, he slowly makes his way to Haku. After a few steps his vision becomes blurry and collapses to his knees, looking at to see a illusion of Haku "Haku, so this..is goodbye at last. Not once did I ever thank you Haku, forgive..me for that" his whole body collapsed onto the ground
Naruto couldn't stand seeing Zabuza in the state in was in, turns his eyes away
"Don't turn away,when you life like a warrior, this is how it ends." Kakashi said
As if it was a miracle, Sasuke began to wake up slowly Where am I?..Am I alive or..then hears hinata's cries as his vision to come into focus Hinata? Can it be? She's ok As he was able to see clearly, he could see he was close to Hinata's body, his head laid where her heart was, listening to her heartbeat. His sight turned to seeing her head above his chest, feeling he shirt wet from her tears. He wanted to lay like this close to her, but not under the current circumstances, he couldn't stand to see her cry. Sasuke slowly brought his hand to her face and wipes her tears "Don't cry Hinata"
Hinata yelps as she felt the hand but forget about it when she heard Sasuke's voice, lifting her head, she looks down to see he was alive "S-Sasuke?!"
Sasuke looked up at her and gives her a weak smile "You have a nice smile too, so show it"
More tears came down her face, Hinata tried her best to smile and holds him close "M-Mr. Tazuna, h-he's alive! Sasuke, oh S-Sasuke!"
Sasuke winced, still in pain from his battle but ignores it because it meant Hinata would hold him longer A little pain never hurt anyone
So everything turned out well in the end Tazuna thought as he wipe the tears that gathered in his eyes
Remembering everything that happened from his blacked out, Sasuke struggled to sit up. Hinata eyes widen at this and holds him steady "Please y-you shouldn't be moving"
"How's Naruto and what happened to that guy in the mask? Sasuke asked her
"N-Naruto is alright but the n-ninja in the m-mask is dead" she answered
Sasuke's eyes widen and quickly turned his eyes to her "Dead?! But how?! Did Naruto do it?!"
Hinata shakes her head "No, S-Sensei was about to Zabuza but h-he shielded him with body, h-he died protecting Zabuza" she said turn if her sight to Haku's dead body
Sasuke turns his sights to him as well He never meant to from the very beginning. His eyes left Haku and back on Hinata "Are you ok too?"
"H-Huh?"
"I heard you screaming, are you hurt anywhere?"
Hinata blushes at his question Despite just coming back from death, he still worries about me..She smiles at him "Please don't w-worry I'm alright" she then gives Sasuke her hand and helps him up. "Naruto! S-Sasuke is o-ok now!"
Naruto hears hinata's voice and turns to her direction and smiles with relief and happiness when he sees Sasuke standing next to her, raising his arm showing him he's ok. "But how?" He asked himself then thinks back to what Zabuza said about Haku fighting them and smiles again I see
Kakashi looks for himself to see Sasuke "Well Well will what wonders never cease, amazing"
"Hey, yoo hoo" a voice said
Naruto turns to see it was one of the thugs and they looked pretty annoyed
"Don't go getting too comfortable" the thug said
"This party ain't over yet, who's gonna pay us now that's Gatou's gone?" The second thug said
"No way we're gonna leave here empty handed, so we're just that village and see what they've got for us" the first thug said and the other behind him cheered
"Not good" Kakashi said
"Come on Kakashi sensei, you must have a jutsu that can care of this bunch of losers!" Naruto said
"Not right now I used too much of my chakra"Kakashi stated
"Get them boys" the first thug said and all of them started coming toward them but before they could get far, an arrow landed in front of the thug that spoke. Everyone turned around and saw Inari and the other villagers holding weapons
"There's one little thing you're forgetting about" the worker that Tazuna argued with said "Before you set one foot in our village, you'll have to go through all of us" the villagers cheered behind him showing they're ready for battle
Naruto smiles at this "Inari!"
Inari giggles "Heroes usually show up at the last minute you know"
"They've all come, the whole village" Tazuna said with tears peeking out of his eyes
No way I'm going to miss out on all the fun Naruto thought making a hand sign "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" And 6 more Naruto's appeared
Hmm I just might have enough chakra left to help you out Kakashi thought copying Naruto's jutsu and about more than 50 clones of Kakashi appeared.
The thugs looked at them in fear as they were out numbered
"Alright, still want to fight?!" All Kakashi's clones said
The thugs started to run back to their body shouting "No thanks!"
"Victory!" Inari shouted and everyone cheered
As the crowd congratulated themselves, Kakashi went over to Zabuza, who was barley alive "Sound like it's over" Zabuza said
"Yeah"
"Kakashi, I have a favor to ask"
"What is it?"
"Take me to him. Before I go, I need to see him one last time"
Kakashi hid his sharingan eyes and gives Zabuza a understanding look "Sure" he started to take out the weapons in Zabuza's back and lifts him up. As he began to carry him to Haku, it started to snow.
Everyone was in awe at the sight
"Impossible" one of the villagers said "Snowing at this time of year"
As he was being carried, Zabuza looked at the snow "Is it you, Haku? Are you weeping?"
Kakashi stood a few inches away from Haku and laid Zabuza next to him
"Thank you Kakashi" Zabuza said then slowly turns his head to see Haku's face "You were alway at my side, the least I can do is to be beside you at the end" he said finding the strength to move his arm to touch Haku's cheek "I know I cannot be...but I wish could go to where you have gone..oh I wish I could join you there...Haku" with that name leaving his lips, Zabuza lays next to Haku dead.
"He told me where he came from it was snowing, all the time" Naruto said as he was crying
"Of course...he's spirit was as pure as the snow. You never know Zabuza maybe you will join him there...who's to say" Kakashi said
Time pass and everyone had recovered from their injuries. It was the day before Team 7 went back to their village, sun was setting and they were paying their respects to Zabuza's and Haku's graves.
Hinata kneels in front of them and laid flowers on each of them 'I-Is this really what b-being a shinobi is? For u-us to use and b-be used like tools?"
Kakashi helps Hinata to her feet and pats her head "Shinobi are all merely tools at the hands of destiny, no point in wondering whether it's right or wrong it just is. It's the same in the village hidden in the leaves"
Naruto turned to Kakashi "Well if you ask me, if that's what being a ninja is all about, something's out of whack. Is that why we go through all this training, just to end up like them?"
"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke asked Kakashi
Kakashi sighs "Well it's a question without an answer and that is something we ninja have to deal with everyday of our lives, like Zabuza and the kid"
Naruto looks at the graves, then up at the sky "Okay!"
Everyone looked at him "Hmm?"
"I've just come to a decision, from now on I'm finding my own ninja way, a way that straight and true without any regrets. From now on I'm following the way of Naruto!"
Kakashi looks at him and chuckles
The next day, All the people who worked on the bridge and Tazuna's family came to see Team 7 off.
"We could have never finished the bridge without you. I can't tell you how much we're going to miss you" Tazuna said
"Thank you for everything" Kakashi said to them
"I am going to miss having a girl around the house, please do stop by some time, Hinata" Tsunami said
Hinata smiles "I-I will thank you and a-also thank you for h-helping me realize something"
At first, Tsunami was confused but then realizes Hinata was talking about their conservation while shopping and gives her a sincere smile So, she realizes how she feel, I'm glad "You're welcome, you all be careful now"
"Now, Now don't get all chocked up, we'll come back and visit real soon" Naruto said
"You swear, you will?" Inari asked trying his best not to cry.
Naruto sees this and tries not to cry too "Of course..you know Inari, it's alright to cry for you want...There's nothing wrong with that go for it"
"Who says I want to cry?! Anyway if there's nothing wrong with it, why don't you go on and cry?"
"No..you first"
Inari and Naruto both try not to cry but Naruto breaks turning around "Ahh forget it!" And both of them end up crying.
Hinata watches this with a smile In the end, they turned out to be good friends, I'm so glad
"It was all his doing, that boy made you stronger Inari and you, in turn, made the rest of us stronger" Tazuna said as he watched the team leave on his new bridge "It was thanks to that boy we were able to build a bridge to a place we've never known, a place where we found our courage, a place to fulfill our dreams"
One of the workers spoke "Speaking of the bridge, now that it's finished shouldn't we name it?"
"Yes, of course and I know just the name" Tazuna said looking at Naruto as he walked down the bridge "We'll call it "The Great Naruto Bridge""
Tsunami giggles at the name "That's a very good name"
Naruto laughs "Ha Ha as soon as we get back, I'm gonna let Iruka sensei fix me up a whole mess of ramen to celebrate a mission accomplish." He grins "And just wait I tell Konohamaru and Sakura about my adventures, the kid will worship me and Sakura will be so impressed, she'll let me take her out on a date!" He said excited
Sasuke looks over to him, giving him a glare knowing Hinata had a crush on the loser. When he looked over to Hinata, he was surprised to see no sign of sadness, anger, or jealousy, in fact he saw her smiling at Naruto.
"I-I hope she d-does Naruto, g-good luck with that" Hinata said encouraging him
"Thanks, Hinata. Oh man I can't wait!" Naruto said walking faster, getting ahead of everyone
Kakashi follows after him "Hey, stay with the group, I don't need you getting lost"
As soon as Kakashi and Naruto were a good distance, Sasuke moved closer to walk besides Hinata "Are you ok?"
Hinata looks at him, confused "I-I feel fine, why d-do you ask?
"Well it's just that, when Naruto talking he well,,"
As if reading his mind, Hinata said "O-Oh, you're wondering w-why I'm not depressed or s-sad when Naruto s-said he wanted a date w-with Sakura, right?"
Sasuke nods, looking at her
Hinata looks ahead of her and smiles "D-During this mission, I-I've learned a lot and thanks to someone, I-I came to realize m-my feelings"
"So what does that mean?"
"It means t-that I still admire Naruto a-and I want him t-to acknowledge m-my strength and e-effort as a ninja but that's i-it. I just w-want to be his f-friend and teammate and nothing more"
On the outside, Sasuke was calm but on the inside, his heart was beating so fast. This meant he had a chance with her, he didn't need to make Naruto look bad in front of her. He smiles, look straightforward "There's going to be new things happening for us, maybe a new beginning for you, Hinata"
Hinata takes a good look at Sasuke "I suppose you're right" she said blushing
Naruto jumps up and down "Ahh man, I can't wait. Ramen and Sakura here I come!" He said running a full speed.
"Naruto, wait! Sasuke, Hinata pick up your speed. We need to follow that knucklehead before we lose him!" Kakashi said running after him
Without thinking, Sasuke grab hold of hinata's hand "Come on, let's catch up to that loser". Without giving her time to say nothing, Sasuke starts running with her.
Hinata was a little behind Sasuke as they were running hand in hand, She looked at him thinking about what he said. Gripping his hand a little, a smile appears on her blushing face as they tried to catch up with the others. A new beginning...That sounds good to me