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skull & bones

The wind roared outside viciously warning about an impending doom heading their way. He could always tell when a storm was coming. Trained to fixate on every detail of his surroundings. Trained into perfection. A tool did not feel yet always reacted accordingly. Its wielder never blinded by emotion or thought. Never faltering, never doubting.
Yet of lately, he had been losing his touch. His mind drifted back to only a few hours earlier.

Her piercing scream still echoed in his ears. Her body twitched uncontrollably against his as she could only stare in shock at the other brats lying lifeless with eyes wide open, reddening the ground below them. Their sensei, in a desperate attempt to save her, had just given him his much-needed advantage. The moment his blade made contact with the man's wrist, he knew he had struck right. The soft flesh felt like air beneath his sword, cutting through muscle, veins, soft tissue and even bones without the slightest bit resistance. The large blade gleamed brighter as warm blood flowed over it.
Blood had sprayed all on her pretty face and her shocked expression, unmoving body, proved she had succumbed to numbness at that point, probably out of shock.
The copy-ninja could only scream out in pain while he sprung back to save his own life.

She was fragile and useless but the perfect bait. She didn't even flinch when he had approached but he could almost hear the thundering of her heart. Unknowingly she took in a sharp breath.
'Leave no one behind,' one of the masked perpetrators said.
The voice made her snap out of it and look up, the hunter-ninja appeared in a flash before her. As he was about to end her life, Zabuza reached out and grabbed her again.
Ah, they were as ruthless as him. Hunter-ninja understood the assignment, track down men like him and leave no trace behind. Even if it were nothing but a mere girl. Yet she wore a headband…

But this generation was nothing like his or the ones before that. They were laughable weak and purposely kept stupid. This girl was ready to be slaughtered as livestock, because in the end that's all she was. A mere number. A part of the masses to threatened other nations into thinking the Land of Fire was to fear with their large army of ninja.
'Let her go!' Kakashi yelled at him.
He smirked, grabbing her by the chin and lifting her head up, placing his huge sword, the Executioner's Blade, as they liked to call it, against the soft flesh of her neck. He could feel her trembling underneath him. A scared, wounded little thing. Pathetic.
'Sakura! Don't, Zabuza!' her sensei screamed in agony, while trying to keep one of the hunter-ninja at bay. He could barely throw him off with his one hand missing, blood kept pouring while the tone of his skin was turning paperwhite.

It had been a three-man team, making it a rather unfair battle should he have faced them alone. However Zabuza could always count on his own flesh-made tool, Haku, to proof his worth.
Haku taken out the first and the second was already bleeding out. The third one had decided unfortunately to go after Kakashi Hatake, meaning he was only postponing his own end by going after the wrong target. Zabuza eyed his enemies and smirked cruelly.
Blood pooled out the spot where the limb was missing, smearing his clothes and that of his opponent. Covering his poor unfortunate students in it as well as he stood near their corpses.
A tragic sight to say the least.
Kakashi Hatake was taking his last breaths, and Zabuza couldn't decide which would be worse for him, killing her in front of his eyes or letting him wonder forever in death what had become of her.

As he was about to make a vicious comment, suddenly an incredible amount of chakra came from one of the boys. A fiery, deadly, chaos inducing force of nature.
It didn't take long to figure out what this could be, only those beasts held that amount of power and fear. Zabuza's eyes widened in shock.
With its host dead, its powers swirled out violently. Kakashi jumped away just in time while one of its tales impaled the last hunter ninja. Its claws shredded the remaining body next to the boy, while simultaneously viciously destroying the last parts of its host. The beast crawled out and strook whomever dared to stay close. Zabuza jumped, for some reason still holding on to the girl's throat while fighting one of its tales with his sword. He let go of the girl to clutch on to his sword with both hands more tightly, his feet sunk into the earth trying to defy the incredible power of the most feared beast in the world. He had to leave, find a way to escape. He wouldn't die a meaningless death, not after everything…!

When mist started to surround them and began to blind the nine-tailed fox of his surroundings, Zabuza shoved the tail off his sword and jumped, before it could strike back. Rubble flew around, leaving behind an enormous crater. Its tails struck again, and again. A piece of rubble hit him in the side, making him hiss out in pain and lose balance.
'Haku!'
The boy appeared out of nowhere, put his arm underneath him and without speaking a word, started to run. They both hardly escaped another vicious outburst from the beast.
As they ran, Zabuza couldn't help but ponder if he could use this situation in any way to his advantage. He knew he was incapable of taking out that beast, let alone seal it into Haku...

But it's power and the idea alone made him fantasize for a second. He eventually let out a sigh, knowing it was useless. He did not possess the power to control it nor take control over the situation. The beast roared while destroying everything in its path and calling out to the one eyed sharingan-wearer, blearing that its foul powers were useless.

Zabuza's eyes widened as it then clicked. Of course, the power of the sharingan could sustain the incredible beast. For a moment he envied his enemy again, who had proven to be more than a worthy opponent before the hunter-nin had appeared. He exceeded any expectation he had; his reputation was not an exaggeration of truth.

However right now Kakashi Hatake had little chance of surviving, no matter how far the power of his eye had led him. Today marked his dead and that of his pathetic little team.
He picked up the pace and heard Haku follow him wordlessly, leaving behind the beginning of a new phase for the world. A tailed beast unleashed, the death of a memorable ninja such as Kakashi Hatake… Yes, it had definitely set a few things in motion.

And yet, here he was. In his room. Alone. Pondering if he could have handled the situation better. Tools of war, he always said to Haku. But this tool lays uselessly in thought, he snickered inwardly.
Working for a thug and hanging around petty thieves and crooked criminals was not his idea of moving forward with his plans. Crossing the copy-ninja and the tailed beast had made that clear. Power was not going to be found playing the dull man's puppet. He needed to gain the upper hand. He needed the type money a dog like Gato had, associate with the rest of the underworld to become somewhat man of influence and power.

Having crossed his country's mark had him led down this path. And there was no other way now for him to be able to succeed.
Sometimes he thought about the scenario if he had stayed, if he had not acted on impulse, then perhaps he would've been able to obtain a position of powerful worth. Closer to home, closer to his own kind…

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and with a grunt he allowed Haku to enter. The kid was still fully drenched in blood. After getting back to the hideout, he said he had to do something and would be joining him soon. Haku had vanished before he could be questioned, meaning that whatever it was had been of great importance. It was nothing for Haku not to give him an explanation.
Meanwhile he had cleaned himself up, the side of his abdomen had been cut thoroughly by flying piece of rubble. Stitching it up and bandaging it as good as he could on his own. Bloody clothes lay scattered on the ground together with sword. With a wince, he pushed himself up from the bed to look at his pupil.

Haku was holding a small paper brown bag, which was also covered in blood. He seemed quite proud of his strange possession. Simply quirking up an eye at the sight, Zabuza asked without speaking to explain himself.

Haku took of his mask, revealing his bright expression. Smiling friendly, obviously glad to see his sensei had bothered to take care of himself.
'I was actually thinking I would find you still bleeding all over,' he snickered playfully.

Eying the clothes and bandages on the ground, 'I suppose keeping this place neat is still something you're not going to bother with.'
'Cut the crap, Haku,' he growled, feeling his body warning him of its extreme fatigue. The next days were going to have to be slow, rather he liked it or not.
'I found his head,' Haku chirpily announced while opening up the bag. 'I actually though the beast would have stomped on it but apparently I got lucky!'
'What? Who's?'
'The boy with the red eyes,' Haku explained while pulling out a jar and showing two glowing red eyes floating inside.
'I cut his head off in hopes of taking these, but I had to abandon the idea when the beast began to act so violently. I went back, and low behold, his head was still where I had thrown it.'

Zabuza snickered, 'You're so vicious, Haku.'

'Does it not please you? We could sell it for a hefty sum, I suppose,' Haku muttered, clearly not fully understanding what he was holding in his hands. Zabuza took hold of the jar and inspected the eyes, understanding they were tools of pure power. To have these in his possession, to have these…
'Where was that beast when you went back?'
Haku smiled again, 'Gone, it think it was heading south. Also the bridge problem is fully solved… No bridge or village left to speak of.'
'That will probably please him,' Zabuza muttered thinking of the foolish man he had to call his boss.
'And the copy-ninja?'
'Dead,' Haku answered. 'He was lying in a pool of his own blood. I unfortunately couldn't investigate much as I had to flee… ANBU was fast approaching and,' he hesitated for a moment before Zabuza gave him a look, 'There were men. Not ANBU. They were wearing black cloaks with red clouds… Their ominous presence alone made it clear that they were out of my league.'

'Could you see their faces?' Zabuza inquired while still watching the glowing red eyes. He pondered if it was the group one of his former comrades had joined.
'Afraid not. I just took what I had come for and left at once. They must've been tracking them, though,' Haku added in thought, referring to team Kakashi. 'They had arrived before ANBU had.'
'Probably,' Zabuza muttered as he handed back the jar to Haku. 'Keep this very safe, Haku. When we meet the right person, we can transplant them…'
'You think I can't do it?' Haku quipped, feeling slightly offended.
'It be foolish to take such a risk,' he sneered back. Though inside, he was simply uncertain of what to do with them. Yes, he could transplant them into his sockets or even Haku's. Preferably himself, of course. But at what cost? If these eyes were faulty in any way, he would be ruining his own chances. Blind he didn't stand a chance on the field. Haku was a good medic but this… this perhaps required more finesse.
'Fine, I'll keep them safe until we find the right person,' Haku smiled warmly while tucking the brown bag back in his backpack.
'Perhaps now is time for dinner?'
Zabuza only shrugged and as he was about to lay back down when Haku made a peculiar noise he knew all too well. It sounded playful and sweet, as if he had just thought of something. But after years with the boy Zabuza had learned this meant something dreadful had happened. Not to him or the boy of course, but to whomever crossed the boy's path.

'I have a little surprise,' he hummed as he walked back to the door.
Zabuza only stared, wondering what the hell he meant. He heard Haku talk soothingly and sweet, as when he was with his pet rabbit. He extended his hand but when whatever had been waiting in the hall didn't react, he roughly grabbed it and pulled it towards him. Pink tresses of hair, some stained red, fell to Haku's chest. The little thing trembled on her feet and whimpered when Haku turned her around pushed her towards his master. Falling on the ground, she looked up at him. She was such a pathetic little mess. Noticing her bright green eyes now, fearing him and his companion, while she frantically looked around to find a way out. He snickered in response but noticed she was a pretty girl.
'I thought we could use her. Or just sell her. Some of Gato's men were interested…'
'Use her?' Zabuza echoed confused. What possible use could he have for such a small thing? She was hardly a shinobi. She wasn't ruthless like him or Haku. Sure, she was in a state of shock, but he could see it in her eyes. She didn't understand how this world worked and had probably been raised with the foolish idea that there was a concept of right and wrong. Good and bad.

'You are always saying we are one man short…' Haku muttered. 'Now we have one. Or rather girl, in this case.'

Grabbing her by the chin, Zabuza pulled her face closer to him. Her eyes widened in fear and her trembling hands gripped the floor. Fingertips turning white. He only snickered, giving her a long hard look, taking in her entire being. She was a young teen. Probably the same age as Haku.
He could use another tool, but this… this girl wouldn't suffice. Perhaps if she had been a couple of years older, he could've turned her into a certain type of kunoichi that would yield in success.
But to sell this child-like girl to any man… Even he had some boundaries. He grabbed hold of the headband, and she flinched in response. Loosening the knot, he then tossed it away. The metal hit the floor several times. Her green eyes followed its movements before looking back at him, clearly fearful of what he was going to do to her.
'A genin is hardly a ninja.'

'P-please,' she whimpered as he roughly held her closer to his face. The little mouse had dared to make a sound. He only smirked in response.
Without her headband on, she looked nothing more than a pretty civilian girl. Could he use her? She wouldn't be a tool that he could use in a fight. She clearly didn't have it in her.

A slave of some sorts? A maid? No, that would be too much of a hassle. Besides, they had to move quickly sometimes and then this girl would be nothing but a liability. Imagine if she ever stayed behind and one of the hunter-nin found her…
'Not what I am looking for,' he mumbled letting go of her face and letting himself fall back on the bed. He heard her take in a sharp, deep breath, probably relieved of him letting go of her.
No, he thought, she was useless to him.
'Should I go look for good price?'
Zabuza made an approving noise before closing his eyes. He could still see her bright green eyes in his mind. Then they became red, and he snapped his eyes open. Did the girl know what Haku had collected?

'Don't worry, I found her after I went looking,' Haku said while starting to take off out of his bloodied clothes.
Zabuza rolled his eyes, and noted he definitely wasn't in need of another person in his life to read his thoughts. The brat had gotten annoyingly good at it over the years.

'Girl,' Zabuza said, noting how she hadn't moved. 'Until we sell, make yourself useful around here.'
He could hear her whimpering and though she wanted to obey, it was clear she had no idea of what to do.
'Sakura,' Haku said, his voice coming from the other room, 'Could you bring in Master Zabuza's clothes?'

Wordlessly, and almost without sound she got up and collected his things. Out of the corner of his eyes he looked at young girl. She was quiet enough to be shinobi once she knew what to do. Her hands however were still trembling. A clear sign of emotion.
Sakura, he thought to himself. What ridiculous name for a shinobi.

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to post this story on FF, since its very dark and R-rated. But I figured some readers of my other H/S/Z-stories might not be on Ao3. So here we are!
Beware that this story gets pretty dark. I have written Zabuza/Haku/Sakura before, but not as explicitly as this nor as bleak. The POV will change, sometimes within the chapters.

Basically a dark, gritty story that could be considered a novel in some twisted way. Enjoy (?) and let me know your thoughts