18: The Weapons Known as Shinobi!
Suiren Uzumaki: The disclaimer: I do not own Naruto cause if I did then Sakura wouldn't be a useless fangirl in pre-shippuden, and Naruto would have his father's smarts while keeping his mother's personality and knows about seals and how to use to them. I do, however, own Ryurama Senju, Yuki Senju nee Miran, Raika Miran (Senju), & the White Tiger Summoning Contract (A/N: If there is already a White Tiger Summoning Contract…then please ignore the last part). Remember to Read and Review to let me know what you think. Also, if you don't like any twist that I might make then stop reading and find something else to read plus don't leave a review that's a flame or I will find a way to block you. Ja ne!
...My Line...
"Don't be ridicules," Tsunami told her son. "You're not going to the bridge all by yourself."
"I have to go by myself because none of the others will go with me," Inari informed her as he put on his shoes. "I have no choice."
"You shouldn't go at all," she stated as he finished and then stood up with crossbow in hand. "Stop this! You're just a child. What can you do?"
"I right," he agreed. "I am just a kid, but a kid, who knows how to stand and fight. I'm my father's kid."
This made her gasp as she pictured her husband in place of her son.
"Kaiza," she breathed as he opened the door. "No! Inari! Wait!"
Inari let out a gasp at the sight waiting outside.
...My Line...
"Huh?" Naruto asked as he looked around in shock. "What? Where'd he go? Huh? Hey. Huh? The fogs lifting." He then looked over to see images of three people. "Wait is that him?" The blonde then ran over to them to only come to a stop when he saw when he noticed his Sensei with his hand in Haku's chest. "What? I don't get it. What's the heck is going on here?"
...My Line...
"Isn't that the young man in the mask?" Tazuna asked in surprise.
...My Line...
"The boy threw himself in front of my attack," Kakashi growled. "He saved your worthless life at the cost of his own."
"Well, done Haku," Zabuza stated making the Hatake to let out a gasp as he looked at the man, who moves to attack.
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!" Sakura yelled. "WATCH OUT!"
'He'll hack through the boy to take me down?' the silver hair adult thought in shock.
"I knew I found a treasure when I found you, boy," Zabuza stated. "You've not only gave me, my life, but Kakashi's as well."
The Momochi goes charging at the Hatake and the boy to hack them.
...My Line...
"My time here is done Haku," Zabuza stated as they looked over Kirigakure no Sato. "Tonight, I cast aside the Land of Water. One day, I will return to seize this land and hold it in my hands. Many things must be done before that day comes and you will help me do them. But, I warn you...friendship, comfort, and encouragement...I do not need these things, nor should you expect them from me."
"I understand," Haku said as he looked at him with a smile. "I am yours, Zabuza. I am only an instrument of your will. Think of me as a weapon to be kept at your side and use as you see fit."
"Well, said child," the Momochi told him.
...My Line...
However, the Konoha ninja to jump into the air with the teen's body in his arms.
"Not bad for having a corpse in your arms."
"You'll pay for that!" Naruto yelled.
"No!" the silver hair adult called out. "Stay out of this Naruto." Kakashi put Haku's body down and looked at him for a bit before reaching out and closing his eyes. "This is my battle. Zabuza's mine."
"Naruto?" Sakura asked in confusion before she started to wave. "Over here! Naruto!"
'Sakura,' the blond thought sadly.
"So, you, Sasuke, and Raika are alright!" the pinkette called out.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked looking confused as he looked away from her. "Where is Sasuke and Raika anyways?"
The Hatake looked at them before looking away not at all happy about how this team is ending up just like his old one.
"Huh?"
"No," the Haruno said softly.
'Sakura," Kakashi thought sadly.
"Kakashi!" Zabuza yelled as he ran at him. "I'll stay focus if I were you!"
The Hatake placed his hands on the ground and kicked the Momochi in the jaw.
...My Line...
"Let me take you to them, Sakura?" Tazuna asked as he looked at her. "As long as we stay together, you won't be disobeying your Sensei's orders."
"Thank you," she breathed as she took his head.
The two of them ran past Naruto, who couldn't even look at his crush.
"Sasuke."
...My Line...
Raika was so caught up in removing the senbones from Sasuke that she didn't hear Sakura and Tazuna showed up. It wasn't until Sakura touch Sasuke's cheek did, she notice what was going on around her.
"He's bodies cold," Sakura stated the obvious. "This isn't just one of his Genjutsu tricks is it, Rin?"
"No Sakura it's not," the green hair Genin answered with a monotone as she continued to remove the senbone. "It's a death like state."
"Go on," Tazuna told Sakura. "You don't need to be brave or anything on my account. Go ahead and let your feelings out Sakura. It's alright."
"We were the best," Sakura started to say as she strokes Sasuke's cheek. "Aced ever test at the academy. The perfect students." Rin looked at Sakura having thought that the pink hair girl would talk about herself and not about the both of them. "Did you know there are more than 100 principles of Shinobi Conduct? Rin and I memorized every single one. I don't know about Raika, but I use to love it when they tested us on them. It gave me a chance to show how smart I was. I remember so clearly this one exam. They asked us to explain the 25th principle. We got it right of course." Sakura's shoulders started to shake as tears fall. "A Shinobi...never shows his feelings...no matter what the circumstances is...feelings are a weakness that only cloud his judgment...and weaken his since of duty." Sakura finally started to cry as she throws herself onto his chest. "Sasuke."
'To put such an unbearable burden on a young girl's shoulders,' Tazuna thought. 'If that's the Shinobi way? You can have it.'
All the greenette did was growl softly under her breath as she had to stop removing senbones or risk Sasuke really dying when Sakura got in her way.
...My Line...
However, not too far away Naruto scowled as he listened to Sakura's cries while fighting back his own tears.
...My Line...
The two Jonin level shinobis continue to clash before parting with two kunais sticking out of Zabuza's arm.
'Why?' the Rogue Mist Shinobi thought. 'Why can't I keep up with him?' Zabuza charged at him intent on killing the Hatake only to back handing him in the face and then doing a spinning back hand again that sent the other Jonin skidding away. "I'll split you in half!"
He tried once more to cut the silver Jonin in half only for him to dodge and then appear behind Zabuza with his hand on his neck.
"Look at you," the 27-year-old stated. "You're falling apart. I knew that you didn't have what it takes for the long haul."
"What did you say?" the Momochi asked.
"You have no idea what real strength is," Kakashi stated.
...My Line...
"Well, well," someone said. "This is how it turns out, huh?"
...My Line...
The Hatake spun a pair of kunais on his fingers before gripping them tightly.
"Game over," the silver hair Jonin growled. "You lose." Zabuza moved to try and hit Kakashi by swinging his sword arm at him, but the 27-year-old managed to stab the two kunais into his arm just as the arm hit the Konoha Ninja. This sent flying before he turned midair and landed on his feet while the blade landed away from them. "Now both of your arms are useless. What now? You can't even make hand signs."
The Momochi let out a growl at that before the sound of footsteps caught their attention.
"Did quiet the job on ya, didn't he, Zabuza?" a male voice asked. "You look like yesterday's sashimi." Zabuza looked out of the corner of his eyes. "I must say that I'm really...disappointed."
A short man stood at the end of the bridge in front of a group of men that were armed to the teeth.
"Gato?" the Momochi asked. "I don't understand. What is all this? Why are you here? And who are these thugs that you brought with you?"
"Well, you see, there's been a slight change of plan," Gato informed him. "According to the new plan you die right here on this bridge, Zabuza."
"What?"
"That's right. You too expensive so I've decided to take you off the pay roll. Of course, even these thugs that I brought with me cost something, so if you could slaughter a few of them before they take you down, I would appreciate it. Think that you can manage that Kiri no Akuma. Look at chya, you look about as demonic as a wet kitten."
This got a laugh out of the thugs that was with him.
'There's so many of them,' the Uzumaki thought. 'One rogue ninja was bad enough.'
"Well, well, Kakashi," Zabuza spoke up. "It would seem that our fight is at an end. Since I am no longer Gato's employ, Tazuna's safe. We have no coral."
"Yeah," the silver hair Jonin thought as Gato walked up to Haku's body. "I suppose you're right."
"That reminds me," Gato stated. "You little punk. You grabbed me and nearly broke my arm." He used his foot to nudge Haku's head repeatedly. "I've been meaning to repay you for that." Gato then kicked the boy's corpse making Naruto to gasp in shock. "I only wish that he was alive to feel that."
"Get away!" the Uzumaki yelled as he ran to attack the man. "Get away from him you scum!"
"Hey!" Kakashi yelled as he grabbed hold of the blonde. "Stop! Use your head!"
"Well, what about you, Zabuza?" Naruto asked once he stopped fighting his Sensei. "You're going to let him to do that?"
"Be quiet you fool," Zabuza answered. "Haku's dead. What does it matter?"
"What?" the Uzumaki asked in shock. "You mean that you can just stand there and watch him be treated like a dog? You and Haku were together for years! Doesn't that mean anything?"
"You don't understand the way of Shinobi," the Momochi stated. "I merely used him just like Gato used me."
"Huh?"
"Now, it's over. He's usefulness is at an end. The loss of his strength and skill, yes, that means something to me. But, the boy, nothing."
"If you mean that, you're even a bigger rat then I thought," Naruto stated.
"Ok, that's enough," the Hatake said as he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Calm down, Naruto. He's not the enemy. Not right now."
"UGH!" the blonde Uzumaki growled as he knocked the Jonin's hand from his shoulder. "Shut up! Far as I'm concerned…" He then pointed at the mist Jonin. "He's enemy number 1!" Zabuza looked back at him. "Why you...you ungrateful...After everything he did for you! Haku lived for you!"
...My Line...
"Is there someone precious to you?" Haku asked.
...My Line...
"You were the most important person to him!"
...My Line...
"For me there is only one person, who matters, and my purpose is to protect and serve him," Haku told Naruto. "And that purpose is what gives me, my strength."
...My Line...
"And he meant nothing to you?" Naruto asked. "Nothing at all?"
...My Line...
"The way of the Shinobi is very difficult for me."
...My Line...
"While he was sacrificing everything for you, you never felt anything at all for him!?" the blonde asked as tears came to the boy's blue eyes.
...My Line...
"But, I would do anything to see his dreams filled," Haku stated. "Even if it means becoming Shinobi if I must."
...My Line...
"If I become stronger does that mean that I will become as cold hearted as you are?" the Uzumaki asked. "He threw his life away and for what? For you and your dream!"
...My Line...
"I only want to make his dream come true. That is my dream."
...My Line...
"You never let him have a dream of his own, but he didn't care."
…My Line...
"I was happy."
…My Line...
"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 stated as he started to cry, too. "Your words cut deep. Deeper than any blade. While he fought you his heart was breaking in two. You see, Haku was always too soft and to kind. He felt pain and sorrow. And now, curse him, I feel them, too. And something else. I feel content that this is the way it ends." He then tore off the bandage. "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 fact. We always fail. Well, at least I have failed. Boy…"
"Huh?"
"Give me, you kunai?"
Naruto pulled out a kunai from his pouch before throwing it to him.
"Here."
Zabuza caught it in his mouth before taking off towards the thugs and Gato.
"AH!" Gato yelled as he ran to get to the back of the group. "Take him down now."
"Yeah!"
"He must be out of his mind. One against all of us. What is his thinking?"
The two Konoha Ninjas watched as Zabuza started to take down a good number of thugs though some of their weapons made their way into him.
"He's the devil!" Gato yelled just before Zabuza managed to stab Gato with the kunai before more of the thugs' weapons made their way into his back. "You crazy fool. If you're so eager to join your friend then go ahead, but you're not taking me. Not this time."
"No," Zabuza spoke up. "I won't be joining Haku. Where he's gone, I cannot follow."
"Stay back! Stay back! Stay back!"
"We wouldn't be welcomed where Haku's gone to," the Momochi told him as he got into his face. "Hells where we're going Gato. I can think of no fitting destination for a Demon Ninja. Can you? I'm told that there are many demons down there. Of all different shapes and sizes. Oh, yes. I should fit right in. You on the other hand Gato...well, I fear that you're in for a very long and painful eternity!" With many slashes, Zabuza managed to kill Gato shaking everyone before snapping his gaze onto the thugs, who then parted like the red sea, as he took a step forward towards the young died boy after dropping his kunai. "Haku…" He dropped to his knees and looked up. "So, this is goodbye at last. Not once did I ever thank you, Haku. Forgive me for that."
Zabuza then fell forward onto his front making Naruto to look away.
"Don't turn away," Kakashi spoke up. "When you live like a worrier this is how it ends."
...My Line...
Sakura and Tazuna, however, were unaware that Sasuke's heart had started to beat again as they shed tears for him. Raika on the other hand was twitching because of Sakura crying on the Uchiha's chest and not letting her remove the senbone from the teen.
'Where am I?' Sasuke thought. 'Am I alive or…' Sasuke opened his eyes to see the greenette glaring at something before he looked to the sounds of a crying voice. 'Sakura, Raika? Can it be? It is.' "Sakura it's hard to breath with you on top of me."
Sakura looked at him to see Sasuke blinking at them as the Miran stood up with an unhappy frown while she took in the senbone.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked before her eyes willed up again with tears. "Tazuna, he's alive, alive!"
The green hair Genin couldn't help the sweatdrop that appeared on the back of her heads.
"Ow!" Sasuke shouted out, "Sakura that hurts!"
"Sasuke!" Sakura cheered, "Sasuke!" After about a few minutes of Sakura making a fool of herself, she let go of him and Sasuke went and sat up. "No. No what are you doing? You shouldn't move."
"For once I agree with pinky," the greenette said. "Especially with the senbones still in you cause SOMEONE…" She shot the pink hair girl a glare. "Didn't let me finish removing them."
'So, things work out after all,' Tazuna thought as he whipped his eyes.
"How's Naruto?" Sasuke asked Sakura. "And what happened to that guy in the mask?"
"Naruto's just fine, but the...the one in the mask...he's dead."
"Died?" Sasuke asked unwilling looked at Sakura. "But, how? Did Naruto do it?"
"Oh, I...I came in late, so I'm not sure what happened," Sakura answered him making Raika to roll her eyes. "He was protecting Zabuza." Sakura clasped her hand together. "I had faith in you, Sasuke. I knew you pull through. Your too cool of a guy to stay down for long."
'He never meant to from the very beginning,' Sasuke thought as Sakura stood up.
...My Line...
"NARUTO!" Sakura was heard yelling. "OVER HERE!" Naruto flinched a bit, but still didn't turn around right away. "IT'S SASUKE!" This time Naruto turned around to see Sasuke standing up. "HE'S ALRIGHT! HE'S ALRIGHT!"
Sasuke raised a hand in greeting making tears come to Naruto's eyes.
"But, how?" he asked as he looked back at Haku.
…My Line…
"While he fought you, his heart was breaking in two. You see Haku was always to soft and to kind."
…My Line…
'I see.'
"Well, well wonders never cease," the Hatake said as he looked at them. "Amazing."
"Hey! YAHOO!"
"Don't go getting to comfortable."
"This party ain't over yet. Whose going to pay now that Gato's gone."
"No way are going to leave here empty handed. So, we're just going to have to hit that village and see what they got from us."
"Yeah! Yeah!"
"This isn't good."
"Come on Kakashi-Sensei. You must have a jutsu that can take care of this bunch of losers?"
"Not as a whole," the silver blonde hair Jonin answered.
"Get 'em boys!"
The two of them turned to watch as the thugs ran towards only for an arrow to land on the ground in front of them.
"There's one little thing you forgot about," a voice said making them to look over to see the villagers and Inari. "Before you set one foot in our village you'll have to get through all of us."
This got a yell of agreement from the villagers.
"Inari!"
"Heroes usually showed at the last minute, you know."
"They've all come. The whole village."
Naruto turned around with a smirk as he crossed his fingers.
"This is going to be fun," Raika said with a smirk as she also crossed her fingers.
'No way am I going to miss out on all the fun,' the blonde thought.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" the friends called out.
Four more Naruto's showed up while 10 more of the greenette appeared making the Jonin to sigh.
'Well, better than being useless,' Kakashi thought as he formed his own hand sighs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Shadow Clones appeared. "Kakashi Style!"
The thugs all stepped back in worry.
"So do you still want to fight?" the Hatake's Cones all asked.
"No thanks," the thugs answered before ran for the boat and most jumped into the water.
"Victory!" Inari shouted with joy.
The clones of Naruto, Rin, and the silver hair Jonin all vanished afterwards before the Konoha Jonin soon walked up to Zabuza as the villagers were all cheering.
"Sounds like it's over," Zabuza rasped out.
"Yeah."
"Kakashi, can I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Take me to him?" the Momochi asked. "Before I go I would like to see him one last time."
The Hatake pulled his forehead protector over his left eye.
"Sure," Kakashi agreed as he starts to remove the weapons in Zabuza's body.
The silver hair Jonin then picked him up and started to walked over to Haku's body as it started to snow taking everyone by surprise.
"Huh?"
"Impossible."
"Snow at this time of the year?"
'Is it you, Haku?' Zabuza asked. 'Are you weeping?' The Hatake placed the Momochi on the ground next to the body. "Thank you, Kakashi." The Konoha ninja walked over to Naruto and looked back. "You were always at my side. The least I can do is to beside you at the end." He started to raise his hand to place it on the boy's face. "I know that it cannot be, but I wish that I go to where you have gone. How I wish that I could join you there, Haku."
Zabuza made a choking sound before he finally took his last breath.
"He told me that were he came from it was always snowing," Naruto cried. "All the time."
"Of course," Kakashi sighed. "His spirit was as pure as the snow. You may never know Zabuza. You may join him there. Who's to say."
...My Line...
It's been a week since the fight with Zabuza and Haku and all five of squad 7 stood in front of their graves that was on a cliff that overlooked the village as the sun sat in the background. They bridge was finally finished thinks to the help of Naruto, Raika, and Sakura while Sasuke and Kakashi rested after the battle. Sakura was kneeling in front of Haku's grave prying before she looked up at the sun sat.
"Is that really it Kakashi-Sensei?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"Is that the ninja way?" she asked again as she looked at him. "To use and be used by people like tools?"
"Shinobi are all merely tools in the hands of destiny," Kakashi answered.
'When did he start hanging out with a Hyuuga?' Raika thought with a sweat drop.
"No point in wondering if it's right or wrong," Kakashi went on. "It just is. It's the same in the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
"Well, if you ask me if that what's bring a ninja is all about then some things out whack," Naruto told then. "Is that why we go through all this training to end up like them?"
"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke and Raika asked before they looked at each which resulted in the greenette glaring at him.
"Well, it's a question without an answer," Kakashi answered. "That is something we ninja have to deal with every day of our lives. Like Zabuza and the kid."
"Ok," Naruto said out of nowhere.
"Hmm?"
"I've just came to a discussion," Naruto told them. "From now on I'm finding my own ninja way. As that's straight and true and without any regrets. From now on I'm following the way of Naruto."
Kakashi smiled his one closed eye smile while Sasuke and Raika smirked at the blond though Sakura was looking at like he had grown an extra head.
...My Line...
All five of the ninjas where standing in front of the villager, Inari, his mother, and Tazuna.
"We could have never finished the bridge without you," Tazuna told them. "I can't tell you how mush we're going to miss you."
"Do be careful."
"Thank you for everything," Kakashi thanked.
"Now, now," Naruto told them. "Don't get all chocked up. We'll come back and visit really soon."
"You swear you well?" Inari asked with tears in his eyes.
"Of course," Naruto answered as tears came to his eyes. "You know, Inari it's alright to cry if you want. There's nothing wrong with that. Go for it."
"Who said I wanted to cry?" Inari asked him. "And anyway if there's nothing wrong with it? You go on ahead and cry."
"No, you first," Naruto told him before he turned around. "Forget it."
Raika and Sakura looked at Naruto like he was an idiot.
'Boys can be so pathetic,' the two girls thought.
With waves all five of them started to walk away down the bridge towards the mainland to head back to the village.
...My Line...
"It was all his doing," Tazuna stated. "That boy made you stronger, Inari, and you in turn made the rest of us stronger. It was thinks to that boy, we were able to build a bridge to a place, we've never known, a place where we've found our courage, a place to fill our dreams."
"Speaking of the bridge. Now that it's...huh...finished, shouldn't we name it?"
"Yes, of course," the bridge builder agreed. "And I know just the name."
"You do? What?"
"We'll call it the Great Naruto Bridge."
"That's a very good name," Tsunami giggled.
...My Line...
"As soon as we get back I'm going to let Iruka-Sensei fix me up a whole mess of ramen to celebrate a mission accomplish," Naruto told them as they walked along the bridge. "Oh, and just wait till I tell Konohamaru about all of my adventure. The kids going to warship me."
The redhead rolled her eyes though there was a soft smile on her face.
"Hey," Sakura said out of nowhere.
"Yeah?" Naruto asked.
"Not you, Naruto," Sakura told him. "Sasuke, when we get back do you want to go do something together?"
"I don't think so," Sasuke answered. "Thanks."
"Oh, ok," Sakura said with her head bowed as she stopped walking.
"Sakura, I'll do something with you if want?" Naruto asked as he stopped and went back to her as the others kept walking.
"What?" Sakura asked. "Hey, that was a privet conversion! Bet it!"
Raika looked back to see Sakura throw Naruto making her sweat drop at the pink hair Genin.
...My Line...
"Are you sure about that name Tazuna?"
"It's a name that brought us good luck," Tazuna answered. "It will do the same for the bridge. I think that this bridge will stand for a long, long time. Perhaps it'll even be famous one day. The name Naruto, known throughout the world. That would be something, wouldn't it?"