This is pretty sad chapter, fair warnings. make sure you're not around anyone who will think you're weird, get tissues and something/someone to cuddle, your heart will hurt :) Enjoy
Chapter 7. Wave Arc Part III Conclusion
Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura and Tazuna arrived at the bridge and gasped in horror as they saw the remaining builders laying on the ground unconscious.
"What's going on here!?" Tazuna said as mist started to roll in. Kakashi growled realizing the threat.
"Sasuke! Sakura!" He barked out sharply. They jumped in front of Tazuna and pulled out their kunai knowing what he needed them to do. "I knew he was still alive, he just couldn't wait for round two." he said.
"This is the hidden mist jutsu again." Sakura said with fear in her voice as Sasuke shook a little.
"Long time no see Kakashi, I see you still have those brats with you." His voice rang out from seemingly nowhere. "Pathetic! Look at that one, he's still shaking... although I see the one with potential isn't here." Zabuza taunted from the mist.
"I'm shaking…from excitement!" Sasuke said with a smirk as five Zabuza's suddenly appeared around them.
"Go ahead Sasuke." Kakashi said while keeping his eye open for the real Zabuza. Sasuke smirked and jumped in the air and sliced each of them down and they dropped into water.
"It seems your brat has gotten a little better." Zabuza said as he appeared from the mist with the hunter ninja. "Maybe you will have a rival Haku." he said.
"It seems so." he replied.
"So, I was right about you, you were is partner, but you wore the mask to fool people." Kakashi stated.
"You need to stop hiding behind that mask!" Sakura said.
"He's mine!" Sasuke said, Sakura gasped with a blush. "Hiding behind that mask like a clown! I hate guys like you the most, so stop hiding!" he said.
"You're so cool Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said.
'Didn't I just say that?'Kakashi thought and shook his head.'She'll never change...'He thought.
"He is impressive, even though they are water clones and not as strong...still..." Haku said.
"So what? That gave us the advantage, now use it." Zabuza ordered.
"Right!" he said and began to spin around, Sasuke gasped as he got enclosed in a dome of ice.
"What!?" he exclaimed in shock.
~o0o~
"Inari? Come help me with the dishes!" Tsunami called into her house.
"Coming!" he replied as he made his way to the kitchen.
The front door smashed open and Inari ran out and saw two men standing there known as Zori and Waraji, each holding their own katana.
"You're Tazuna's daughter right? Sorry, but you're coming with us." Waraji said.
"Mom!" Inari said coming out farther.
"A kid?" Zori questioned.
"Inari don't come in here! Run away!" Tsunami screamed.
"Should we take him too?" Waraji asked eyeing Inari.
"We were told only one hostage." Zori replied keeping his eye on the two.
"Then should I just kill him?" Waraji asked as he moved towards Inari raising his Katana causing him to freeze in fear and his body to start shaking violently.
"Stop!" Tsunami yelled, they looked back at the woman. "If you touch my son I'll bite off my tongue and kill myself. You need a hostage right?! Take me and leave him alone, I will go quietly." she said, Inari looked at his mom through his tears.
"Thank your mom kid." Zori replied.
"Damn, I wanted to cut something too with this new blade." Waraji stated sadly.
"You just cut up a bunch of stuff on the way here. Hurry up and grab her. We don't want to be late getting back to the boss." he said.
Inari sank to his knees as they left, he cried hard and buried his face into his knees. 'Mom, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm too weak to protect you, I don't want to die. I'm so scared.' He thought and gripped his arms tight.
"You don't know what I can or can't do."
"The only ignorant one here is you." Naru's voice echoed in his head, he blinked.
"Naru, she'll know better than any of us." Kakashi's voice echoed. "Naru's an orphan, she's been on her own her whole life and has gone through more than you know, more than any of us know... but in the time that I've been around her, I've never seen her really cry over it." He said with a shrug. "My guess is, she just got tired of crying because she realized that it never changes anything."
"You're just a big baby!"
"If you love something and if it's really important to you, even if it costs you your life, protect it with both your arms!" Kaiza's voice echoed.
Inari looked at his shaking hands. He then looked out the broken door and glared and got up. 'They're all so incredible, so cool, and so strong. I will also become strong! Like dad.' He thought and wiped the tears from his eyes.
Zori and Waraji walked from the house with Tsunami tied up walking between them.
"You know, looking at how pretty you are, it makes me a little disappointed knowing what's going to happen to you. Such a waste of a beautiful body." Waraji said eying her as Tsunami slowed down in disgust.
"Walk faster." Zori barked as he shoved her.
"WAIT!" they turned around and saw Inari standing there glaring at them.
"Inari!" Tsunami called in horror.
"It's that kid."
"You... You…get away from my mommy!" he yelled and charged at them.
"Stupid kid."
"Cut him."
"INARI!" Tsunami screamed earning a harsh punch to the gut. She gasped and fell to the dock and hit her head causing her to pass out. Inari closed his eyes as he got closer. They sliced at him but as their blades connected with him all of a sudden a log cut in three pieces hit the ground with Inari's hat on it. They gasped in shock.
"A substitution."
"Sorry for being late, but the Hero always arrives at the last minute." Naru said. They turned and glared as they saw Naru standing beside Mamoru with Inari on his back.
"Naru it's you..." Inari said as he climbed down off of Mamoru's back.
"Who else?" she said with a smile. "You're brave kid." she said.
"It's one of those puny brats Tazuna hired!"
"Get her!" they roared and ran towards her.
"They're coming!" He said in fear. Naru threw two kunai at them which they dodged.
"Try something else!" Inari shouted in a panic.
"I did." Naru said with a smile. There was a crack as Naru suddenly disappeared. Waraji screamed as Mamoru sliced at him with his claws. "One down." He said. Naru suddenly appeared next to the other and kicked Zori in the head causing him to fall into the water below.
"Whoa!" Inari said, Naru smiled. "How did you know they were coming?" Inari asked.
"Gut feeling." she said.
"Well, I'm sorry." he said, she blinked confused. "I judged you without knowing anything." he said.
"It's okay kid." she said. "Stay with your mom, they shouldn't be any more problems." she said, he nodded.
"Naru, we need to go now." Mamoru said, she nodded and pulled out a small tanto.
"Here." she said, handing it to him. He took it and gulped.
"Thanks." he said, she nodded and climbed on and they took off into the woods, Inari watched and helped his mom into the house again.
~o0o~
Sakura and Tazuna watched in shock as Sasuke tried to fight against Haku's jutsu but was having no success. Everything that Sasuke did to try to break the jutsu did not work. Haku threw senbon at him and Sasuke screamed in pain as he was cut and stabbed by the needles. He fell to the ground shaking in pain and struggled to get up. He got to his knees and paused, spitting blood out and growling in anger.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura screamed.
"Sakura! Pay attention!" Kakashi barked as he dodged Zabuza's swings towards him.
"Same goes for you Kakashi!" He taunted and disappeared into the thick mist. Kakashi looked around carefully trying to think where he would attack next. He gasped in shock and ran towards Sakura and Tazuna where he knew Zabuza would be.
Sasuke got up and ran towards the mirror about to punch it but he stumbled as a senbon went through his leg and it buckled as his nerves screamed in pain.
"Why do you get up?" Haku asked. "It's pointless you know." he said, Sasuke panted and glared at him, his eyes shining red. "Sharingan, so you have a bloodline limit too eh?" he said.
'It's not perfect but... at least I can now see where I need to hit... and it's right there!'He thought and ran towards the front as Haku got ready to take the boy down, holding three senbon in each hand and his reflection appeared in all the mirrors, Sasuke roared and launched his attack about to hit the weak spot.
Suddenly Sakura's loud bloodcurdling scream sounded, he stumbled and looked over.
'NOW!' Haku thought and threw the senbon, Sasuke screamed as he hit the ground and panted, his vision blurring and beginning to fade.
'No…I said…I wouldn't- not until I …. I... killed him. No.' He thought then slumped, he saw Haku appeared above him.'This is the end...'He thought.
Sakura shook in fear as Kakashi groaned in pain and held the large cut across his torso. He glanced over at Haku's jutsu not hearing Sasuke or Haku anymore. 'What's going on?' He thought.
"Don't worry Kakashi, your boy is done for, he's probably at Haku's mercy right now! You won't have to worry about bringing a dead student home because you will both be joining him too!" Zabuza said.
"Not Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said.
"Sakura, guard Tazuna and pay attention!" Kakashi barked as Zabuza focused and the mist on the bridge got thicker than before.
"Y... yes sir." She said and he ran into the mist disappearing from her sight, Tazuna stood close to Sakura on guard shaking. 'Sasuke-kun... be okay.' She prayed and bit her lip.
~o0o~
Haku pulled the kunai out that he had caught and held it. 'If he had that power the whole fight then it may have went in his favor.' He thought. He looked at Sasuke laying on the ground still, he sighed and heard the clashes of Zabuza and Kakashi's fight.
Haku paused as he heard a faint running. He peered through his dome and the mist and saw the faint shape of someone running. He realized it was Naru coming in, he glanced back and saw movement in the mist that he knew was Zabuza battling. He smirked releasing his jutsu and stepped back leaving Sasuke on the ground there as he focused and faded into the mist.
Naru held on to Mamoru as they ran on the bridge. "I can smell them close by." Mamoru rumbled, Naru nodded. Suddenly Mamoru skidded to a stop causing Naru to nearly fall.
"Mamoru?" she asked, he growled.
"A trap." he said, he grunted as he looked around.
"What's going on?"
"How can you consider yourself a ninja?" a voice echoed, Naru turned her head trying to find the source of the voice.
Mirrors suddenly formed around them causing Mamoru to look around in shock and growl as he watched Haku appear in the mirrors.
"It's just sad you know that?" he said.
"Who are you?" Naru growled.
"A blind ninja." he said, Naru stiffened and held Mamoru's collar tighter. "Someone who can't even live without a cat to help her? You'll never a great ninja." he said.
"Shut up!" Naru barked and gulped hard.
"I wanted to fight you since I met you the other day." he said, Naru frowned.
"Naru!" Mamoru barked and shoved her out of the way as Haku threw some senbon towards them.
"Sorry." she whispered.
"See? You'd be dead if it weren't for your pet cat." he said, Mamoru growled lowly.
Naru brought a hand towards her weapon pouch and let her chakra flow out in waves from her feet. 'Are those mirrors?' She thought with a frown.
"Be ready." Mamoru said, Naru nodded and pulled out a kunai and held it tight.
Haku launched some senbon out. Naru deflected them with all with her kunai, Mamoru smirked. 'Hmm.' Haku thought. He made his image appear all around and he shot senbon out, Naru dodged but yelped when she got cut up a few times. Mamoru growled and pulled a couple senbon from his leg.
"Are you okay?" he rumbled.
"Yeah." she said and continued to send her chakra out in waves trying to locate where her opponent was exactly. 'I can't tell which one is him... maybe if I...' She thought getting an idea.
She stepped back and focused. She charged forward towards Haku who got ready to counter her, but she suddenly disappeared. He looked around in shock. 'Where did she go!?' He thought in a panic. Naru appeared in front of the mirror he was in and punched it hard then kicked off.
She skidded back, Haku blinked as he saw a large crack in his mirror. 'Impossible!' He thought.
"Why are you fighting? You won't beat me, even your comrade has fallen to Me." he said trying to distract her, Naru cocked her head. "What's his name? Hmm?"
"Sasuke?" she whispered.
"Ah, yes, he fell quickly, pathetic really. It seems you have a little bit more talent than he did, but not much. I say again, what can a blind ninja do?" he said, Naru growled and threw her kunai out, Haku deflected it and Naru cried out and fell to the ground when three senbon were lodged in her leg, Mamoru jumped in front of her and roared, chakra shot out and hit Haku, the force knocked him out from his mirror, Naru got up slowly limping.
"We need to get out of here." Mamoru said.
"Yeah." Naru nodded, he ran to the mirror, he skidded to a stop as Haku appeared all around.
"No more games." he said, the dome shined and Naru screamed in pain as senbon shot out from all around repeatedly stabbing them both, Naru hit the ground and shook in pain and struggled up, Mamoru blinked and got up slowly limping, senbon needles sticking out of him in all directions.
"Why would you be fighting for someone like Zabuza?" Naru asked struggling to get up.
"Because, he is precious to me, I fight for his dreams to come true, and no one will stand in my way." he said.
'His voice is so familiar.'Naru thought trying place it.
Mamoru shoved Naru out of the way as senbon came out, he growled as he pulled the senbon from his paw, he snorted.
"Naru, pay attention." he growled, she nodded and gulped.
"Sorry." she said.
"You need to just give up! You won't get to accomplish your dream! A ninja like you as handicapped as you are, you'll be dead before you're 15!" he said, she growled and ran forward and punched at the mirror, Haku shot his senbon out, she dropped to the ground, Haku let out a snort, Naru got up and panted.
"Why not come out and fight us for real? Not in a mirror you chicken!" she shouted in anger.
"Why should I?" he asked, she growled a little. "Have you ever thought about your past? What caused you to be how you are now?" he asked.
"What?"
"What happened in your past? What led you to become what you are now?"
"I don't understand." Naru said.
"Naru, ignore him." Mamoru growled.
"Think about it!" Haku exclaimed. "You must have done something wrong in your life to be given the curse of being blind! What did you do that Kami decided to make your life a living Hell!" Haku said as he noticed her staring at him frozen in shock. "My curse was when I discovered I had a Kekkai Genkai which caused my father to try to murder me! My mother died protecting me and I ended up killing everyone else in my village." Haku shouted in anger bringing up the memory he wished he could just forget.
"SO TELL ME! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT MADE YOU LIKE THIS!? WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE LIKE YOU CAN CONTINUE ON THE ROAD YOU HAVE CHOSEN IN LIFE!?" Haku demanded.
"I…I don't know…" Naru said as she started to get teary eyed. "I don't know what I did to deserve…this." She said as she brought her hands up to her eyes and waved them in front of them. "I don't know why I have gone through my whole life being hated and ignored and rejected by everyone. It's not fair!" She shouted. "I used to be able to see until I was 9. Then I got attacked and kidnapped from my own home! I don't know what they did to me or why they did it, but it doesn't matter because the damage is done." Naru stated coldly.
"All I can do now is continue on living my life and trying to make it the best it can possibly be. For all the pain and misfortune this has caused me there was one single thing that has made this bearable for me. Because of this horrible incident in my life I got my one and only true friend Moru from it." She said reaching out for him.
Haku, realizing that his plans to demoralize her by forcing her to relive any painful memories from her past wasn't working, decided he needed to end this quickly because he noticed that her wounds were already healing from the Senbon that had nicked her. He quickly came up with a plan from one piece of precious information that she had unintentionally given to him.
He turned his attention towards the wounded Mamoru who was up on his feet but a little unsteady. Even so he knew that the large snow leopard wouldn't be easy to hit so he would need to formulate a plan.
"Naru." Mamoru whispered to her. "I have a plan that may help you win this fight. You remember back when you defended Iruka from Mizuki?" He asked.
-Flashback-
"They've been lying to you your whole life Naru. Since the decree twelve years ago." Mizuki said with a smirk.
"Wha…what decree?" Naru asked with hesitation.
"Why everyone knows it. Everyone except you. Even right now Iruka is trying to keep me from telling you about it." He replied.
"What is this decree? Why does everyone else know about it?" Naru questioned finally close to knowing why she was always treated the way she had been.
"No Mizuki! It's forbidden!" Iruka shouted in a panic.
"The decree is that no one can tell you that the Demon fox is inside you! The Fox spirit that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our village has taken over your body!" Mizuki said with a giant grin on his face.
Naru froze hearing that. 'So that's why everyone treats me the way they do. That's the reason why they did those things to me. That's the reason why I'm like this now…' She thought dejectedly.
"Now I'm going to do the world a favor and rid you from it!" Mizuki shouted as he threw his Fuma Shuriken at Naru who had dropped her guard.
"NARU GET DOWN!" Iruka shouted as he dove in the path of the Shuriken taking the blow that would have been fatal for Naru, earning him a nasty wound on his back.
"Naru…" Iruka gasped. "Run." He said before he collapsed on top of her.
Realizing the danger she was in she tried to get up but couldn't because she was trapped under Iruka's weight.
"Well looky here. He tried to protect you and in turn succeed in trapping you so that you couldn't escape." Mizuki said with a grin. "Now with no one coming to help you there is no way you can escape this time…" He started ready his other Fuma Shuriken but suddenly had to jump back as a figure leaped out at him.
'Hmm what a strange animal to be here in the Forest of Death. Must be something new to keep everyone on their toes.' He thought as he eyed the large Snow Leopard that had lunged at him.
"Naru!" Mamoru shouted as he appeared next to her getting out from under Iruka. Mizuki looked over in shock realizing that it wasn't an animal that had just attacked him but a summon that had.
She turned her head towards the direction she heard his voice come from. "Moru…Is…Is it true? Did you know what I am? Did you know that I…I am the Demon fox…" She asked him with fear in her voice.
"Naru…you are not the Nine-tailed fox." Iruka rasped. "You are Naru…Uzumaki. Citizen of Konoha. Not the Fox."
"You are still conscious from that hit? I thought I had hit you in the heart. Well no matter. This time I will finish you off!" Mizuki stated as he prepared to throw his last Fuma Shuriken only to be thrown off balance from an explosion of dark chakra.
"Don't even think about it! I will not let you hurt any of my friends!" Naru said growling as her Chakra continued to fill the air around them. As she stood there she started to notice something. She noticed that she was able to make out some figures in the immediate area around her.
'Wait a second. What's happening! I can sorta see again!' She thought excitedly.
As soon as she realized this she launched herself forward to attack Mizuki who was still off guard from the sudden appearance of this new dark chakra.
Naru gave Mizuki the beating of a life time due to the boost from the Fox's power. After she had knocked him out she started to walk in the direction she saw Iruka in only for the world to fade back to darkness.
'No. NO. NO. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!' She screamed in her mind. She tried to rush over to him before everything became dark again, just to see Iruka's face one more time. She wanted to finally see what Mamoru's face looked like.
In her haste she wasn't paying attention to her footing and ended up tripping and falling face first in the ground breaking out in tears realizing that the last thing she saw this time before the darkness was her own two feet as she tripped and landed on the ground before she finally passed out from exhaustion.
-End flashback-
"Yea Moru, I remember. I was able to see again, even though it was only for a short time. But how does that help us? We were never able to get it to happen again." She asked remembering how much time she spent trying to figure out how she had been able to see again.
"Naru I think it had something to do with the Fox's chakra being released. You tapped into it without knowing it. You haven't tapped into that power since that day and we just have to find a way to get you to do it again." Mamoru said.
As he finished telling her this he realized that Haku was about to launch an attack on Naru who still had left her guard down. 'OH NO!' he thought as his body moved instinctively to protect her.
"NARU!" Mamoru roared as Haku launched at her, she gasped and flinched. Mamoru launched up and slammed into Haku causing him to cry out in pain as Mamoru's large claws sliced into his chest and his other knocked his mask clean off of his face while being launched backwards. Haku hit the ground and rolled back to a kneeling position clutching as his wounds.
Naru pulsed her Chakra and saw Mamoru standing in between her and Haku, who was kneeling down panting hard. "Moru! You did it!" Naru started to cheer until Mamoru suddenly fell to the ground with a solid thump.
Naru gasped and crawled forward feeling her way towards where she heard him fall. As she came up on him she ran her hands across his body feeling the various Senbon sticking out, pulling them out as gently as she could. "It's going to be okay Moru." She said to him, as her eyes started to get teary, but not believing the words herself. She heard his breathing getting softer and his chest was rising and dropping slower and getting even slower.
"Mamoru…" Naru cried and pet him gently.
"Naru…I'm sorry." he panted.
"Wh... why?" she said shaking, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"I... I'm sorry, I'm... not... - uh... not gonna be here for you anymore." he said. "At least I was able to protect you for this short time." he said.
"Mamoru! No! Don't talk like that!" she cried out and wrapped her arms around his neck, he panted and closed his eyes. "No! You can't leave me!" she cried, tears fell and hit his face, he looked up at her and panted. "I need you!" she said.
"You can do it, I know you'll be... a great ninja." he panted and gasped and slumped letting out a breath of air, Naru gasped and ran her shaky hand through his fur, she let out a choked sob when she didn't feel his chest rising, she put her head down but couldn't hear his heart beating.
"Mamoru..." she sobbed and hugged him tight, burying her face into his soft fur.
"Is …. Is this the first time you've had a precious one die in front of you? It's part of being a ninja. You need to grow up." Haku rasped getting up, Naru stayed silent while shaking. "He died because he jumped in the way. It was stupid. He threw his life away. For what!? A -"
"Shut up." Naru growled, Haku watched, he blinked as smoke rose around her, she cried and gently set Mamoru's head down and sobbed, she growled and looked up, Haku gasped as he saw her once light blue eyes now blood red. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" she screamed as red Chakra exploded from her dispersing itself in the air around them both. Haku stumbled backwards at the sudden explosion and tried to head back into one of his mirrors.
Naru launched out with a roar and grabbed Haku. He cried out as she spun around and flung him into one of his mirrors putting a large crack in it. He fell to the ground and screamed in pain as he heard an audible snap letting him know that she had just broke some of his bones in his body.
'What's going on? She got so much faster and it's like she can see me now!'He thought. Naru disappeared, he looked around quickly trying to locate her only for Naru to appear above him and flip bringing her foot down on his shoulder. He cried out in pain and stumbled backwards, he looked at Naru, she growled at him, her canines were longer and cutting into her lips, she roared, he skidded back from the strength of the chakra.
'What is she?' He thought. Naru ran straight at him, he blinked in shock and moved to the side, she stumbled then went after him. 'How?! She shouldn't be able to track me! She's blind!'He thought in shock.
'I can see him now, just like last time. Thanks you stupid fox. I'm going to use this power to kill him!'Naru thought.
Naru fell and skidded when Haku launched senbon and it stabbed her leg, chakra began to bubble around her and the wounds on her body healed, Haku panted, Naru roared again and he froze, his body shaking in fear.
-*o*-
Kakashi panted and held his bleeding wound as he kept his guard up for Zabuza, he gasped as he felt the chakra shoot out. 'What is that chakra? Is it Zabuza? - No... I know this! It's-' he turned towards the area that the chakra was coming from. 'Naru... when did she get here? What's going on?' He thought then cursed. 'Damn it! I need a plan.' Kakashi thought as he suddenly sensed something. 'About damn time. Time to end this' He thought.
-*o*-
Naru launched and tackled Haku to the ground and began to punch and slice at him with her clawed hands. He let out a blood curdling cry and then went silent. Naru panted and finally look at what she had done. She gulped hard as the smell of blood hit her nose, she stumbled back and emptied her stomach. She let out a whimper and she felt the fox's chakra slowly start to fade. She sent some chakra out and crawled slowly towards Mamoru, where her chakra was bouncing off his location. She cried and fell to her knees and buried her face into his soft fur. "Mamoru..." she whimpered.
-*o*-
Zabuza yelled in pain as he was sliced with a sharp blade, the mist began to clear slowly and he looked to see Kakashi standing in front of him and behind stood another jounin with trench knives shining with chakra.
"About time Asuma." Kakashi said, he snorted.
"You seemed like you were in over your head." he said, Kakashi pulled out his kunai.
"Let's end this fast. I know you felt it too. We need to see what is happening right now." he said, Zabuza looked around and snorted as he saw Haku's body lying on the ground and blood leaking everywhere.
Kakashi and Asuma shot out, he swung his blade towards Kakashi, he dropped down and Zabuza growled in anger as Asuma sliced his arm, Kakashi kicked up and Zabuza sailed through the air and hit the ground hard, his blade sliding across the cement.
"SASUKE!" Kakashi heard, he looked and saw Sakura bawling over the Uchiha laying on the ground.
"Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata! Help them and defend the bridge builder." Asuma said, the three ran out to check on the Sakura and Sasuke.
Zabuza got up slowly stumbling and groaning in pain, he panted and glared at the two jounin.
"I'll destroy you!" he said and ran towards them roaring. Suddenly they heard the tapping of a cane. Zabuza stopped mid charge and turned to face a small man in a business suit looking at them.
"Well, well, well Zabuza, it seems you're having a problem here." he said and chuckled, there was a large group of thugs standing behind him.
"What is this Gato!?" he snarled.
"Simple, you're too expensive, so I decided to take you off the payroll." Gato replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What?!" he snarled.
"That's right. You've taken too long and look at you, you look as demonic as a wet kitten." he said. "But even these thugs cost a good amount, so if you can manage to take some of them out before you die, I'd appreciate it." he said and chuckled.
"Alright Kakashi, it seems I'm not his employee anymore, so our fight is over." Zabuza said.
"Yeah." Kakashi said.
Zabuza groaned and stepped forward, he grabbed his blade, just barely able to hold the heavy blade with his wounded arms. He glared at Gato and ran forward. The man screamed and ran away from him.
"Kill him!" he screamed, they cheered then gasped as Zabuza's chakra shot up, they froze then screamed as he ran through them slicing them clean in half, a few stabbed the man making him stumble Gato stopped at the edge of the bridge and watched in slow motion as Zabuza ran towards him.
"He's the devil!" he screamed, Zabuza roared and sliced, he cut him in half then groaned and fell to the ground still, the remaining thugs stared in shock at the sight and then started to flee. If a badly wounded Shinobi could do that, they wouldn't want to fight one who looked ready for battle while the other looked slightly tired.
Kakashi and Asuma watched in shock of the scene. "Sensei!" Shikamaru called, both shook their head and headed over to the group they could just barely see through the mist.
They came up, Kakashi looked down as he saw the Uchiha laying on the ground. Asuma sighed.
"Where is Naru?" Shikamaru asked looking around in a panic. Hinata focused and activated her Byakugan.
"There!" she pointed then gasped and looked down.
"What?!" Kakashi asked, they peered and saw Naru sitting next to Mamoru still running her hands through his fur shaking him. Kakashi cursed and looked away shaking in anger.
"Sakura, it's hard to breathe with you on top of Me." a voice rasped, they gasped and looked at the Uchiha laying there blinking, Sakura cried out and hugged him, he groaned in pain.
-*o*-
"I can't be without you Mamoru. Maybe... what he said... is... it true, maybe I could have done something to stop them that night..." she said. "Then we wouldn't of met... and you... you wouldn't of died for me..." she cried and hugged him again. "I can't be alone." she said and shook. "Not again." she said and sobbed in his fur and let out a scream of anger and sadness.
"Naru!" she heard Hinata's voice say, she ignored it and sat up slowly. "I'd rather die than be without you." she said and took in a shaky breath and gulped hard, she grabbed her kunai with a shaky hand and sniffled.
"I won't do this close to you. I know you hate bloodshed." she said and let out a shaky breath, she got up slowly and backed up a few steps.
"Naru!" Shikamaru's concerned voice rang to her ears.
"I'll see you soon Mamoru." she said and grabbed the kunai with both hands and pointed it to her stomach.
"NARU!" Kakashi yelled in horror lunging towards her as he saw what she was planning on doing. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath and heard them running towards her. Everything seemed to slow down as she gulped and brought the Kunai down towards her stomach...
-*o*-
They all looked at Naru as she screamed, Sakura helped Sasuke up and they looked towards her.
"Naru!" Hinata called trying to get the girl's attention but she ignored them.
"Did Haku take him down?" Asuma asked, Kakashi looked at his broken student crying her eyes out, she stood up and backed up.
"Naru!" Shikamaru yelled.
Naru closed her eyes and grabbed the kunai and pointed it towards her stomach, Kakashi gasped in horror seeing what she was about to do.
"NARU!" he yelled, they ran towards her but she brought it closer to her stomach.
They stopped when Naru abruptly stopped moving, the kunai mere inches from stabbing herself. Everyone froze and looked at Shikamaru standing there, his shadow stretched out and connected to Naru.
"Good job Shikamaru!" Asuma said with a smirk.
"LET ME GO SHIKAMARU!" Naru screamed. "I can't live without him! I don't want to be alone again!" she sobbed and shook, Shikamaru held his hand out making Naru do the same. "NO SHIKAMARU! DON'T STOP ME! LET ME GO BE WITH MORU! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE ALONE!" Naru screamed while tears were flowing down her face. He opened his hand, the kunai from Naru's hand dropped to the cement, she sobbed and struggled to get free from his shadow.
He walked forward and she did the same towards him while she kept struggling and sobbing. He finished walking towards her as she continued to scream at him to let her go. He dropped the jutsu and immediately grabbed her pulling her into a hug.
"LET ME GO SHIKA! LET ME BE WITH MAMORU!" Naru sobbed as she started to pound her fists on his back.
Realizing that he wasn't going to let her go she completely broke down and started to sob even harder into his shoulder.
"He died for me! I can't live without Mamoru! I won't!" she said and shook.
"Stop Naru." He said and held her. He looked at the large cat laying on the ground, he closed his eyes and listened to Naru's sobbing, she began to push against him, he held her tight stopping her movements, she bawled even harder.
"Naru, you're not alone." he whispered. "I'm here for you. You won't be alone." he whispered, he glanced back and saw both teams standing there watching, she cried louder and screamed.
"NO! I hate you! Leave me alone! I want to die! I can't be without him!" she screamed.
"Naru."
"NO!" she said, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"Stop it!" he barked, she stopped and blinked in shock never actually hearing Shikamaru yell before. "If you end your life right now then his sacrifice was for nothing!" he barked. "Mamoru gave his life for you! For you to keep going!" he said, Naru gulped then hung her head and shook her head.
"He's the only one I..." she stopped and cried, he hugged her again.
"You troublesome idiot. I already told you that you won't be alone." he whispered, Hinata came up and touched her shoulder and hugged her, she sobbed.
"You won't be alone Naru, I promise." Hinata whispered in her ear.
"Come on, we'll say goodbye." Shikamaru said and got up slowly pulling Naru with him, she hugged him and he walked with her over to Mamoru, Kakashi watched, his throat burned from the feeling of tears he was holding back.
Shikamaru stopped at Mamoru's body, he gently let Naru slide down to her knees. She sobbed and covered her face and shook her head.
"I can't..." she sobbed, he sighed and blinked a tear fell to the ground, he looked at Naru again then at Mamoru and blinked in shock as he saw the snow leopard's chest rising and falling a little, he crouched down and looked at Mamoru's face, his eyes opened a little and he blinked a few times.
Shikamaru gasped quietly, Naru let out a shaky breath and reached out to pet him again, his tail came up and tickled her nose, she giggled and rubbed it, she gasped and grabbed his tail, he let out a small purr and tickled her nose again like he use to do when they first met a few years ago when she was getting used to being blind.
"M…Moru?" She pleaded, hoping that what she thought happened actually happened. Mamoru groaned and stirred trying to sit up.
"Naru." he purred, she cried out and launched at him, he groaned in pain as she hugged him crying into his fur. "That hurts Naru-chan." he said letting his tail tickle her again, she sobbed and held him.
"I thought I lost you." she sobbed, he sighed curled his body around her, she held him and snuggled against his side.
~o0o~
Almost a week and a half later both teams were still resting at Tazuna's house, Naru was barely leaving Mamoru's side and was practically fussing over the large snow leopard, even though she was dealing with her own wounds and low chakra.
"Naru." he purred and bumped her.
"I wanna make sure you're okay." she said feeling his bandages.
"I'm fine." he said and smiled, he got up and stretched with a yowl and shook out.
"Where-?"
"I'm gonna get some lunch. Will you be okay?" he said.
"Yeah." she nodded with a smile, Shikamaru came in and smirked, Mamoru licked her cheek and trotted out and Shikamaru walked in, Naru looked towards him.
"It's me." he said, she nodded a little and leaned against the wall. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah." she said with a small shrug, Shikamaru crouched down next to her, she looked towards him.
"Naru, we gotta talk." he said, she cocked her head, he reached out and grabbed her head with his hand squeezing her cheeks a little, she blinked in shock. "You listen to me." he said quieter and in a serious voice. "You ever try that again and you'll get it, from me." he said.
"Wha-?"
"Trying to kill yourself." he said, she slunk a little. "You are far too important to me, I don't even want to find out or see you ever try to do that again! You understand."
"I thought everything was too troublesome for you." she said with a smirk.
"Naru." he said, the smile fell. "Things may be too troublesome, but you're not." he said, she blushed a little and he smirked. "Now, if you ever need me, you come find me." he said. "Understand?" he said nodding her head, she giggled.
"Yeah." she said.
"Good." he said and let her jaw go, she smiled a little, he reached out and brushed her bangs up, she blushed darker red and he chuckled, she stuck her tongue out, he laughed and pulled back and she blushed.
Steps sounded and Sakura came in followed by Sasuke and Kiba. "What's going on?" Shikamaru asked finally looking away from Naru.
"We're going home finally." Kiba said with bit of a complaint, Shikamaru rolled his eyes at Kiba's attitude.
"Nice." Naru said and got up slowly and held the wall and walked outside, she sat on the dock. "Moru?"
"Yeah?" he said holding a fish in his jaw, he bit down and it stopped flopping, he walked up to her.
"We're going to be heading home." she said, he put the fish down.
"Okay." he said, she smiled.
-*o*-
The next morning both teams headed out walking along the newly built bridge, Tazuna, Tsunami, Inari and a few workers walked with them, Naru had her hand on Mamoru's back, refusing to climb on his back with his wounds.
"We have a gift for Naru-chan." he said, she cocked her head looking back at him, he chuckled.
"It was my idea!" Inari said with a big grin, Naru smiled a little but her heart jumped as they said that, how would she know, Mamoru glanced at her knowing she was worried.
They arrived at the end and turned around, Mamoru looked up and smiled. "The great Naru bridge?" he said, Naru smiled with a blush.
"It's to say thanks for helping us." Inari said, she smiled.
"Thanks everyone." she said and rubbed her head.
"You better come back and visit sometime!" Inari said.
"I promise!" she said, Inari sniffled suddenly and ran forward and hugged her, she smiled and returned it.
"Thanks." he whispered, she chuckled and ruffled his hair. "H..here." he said and put the tanto in her hand that she gave him.
"Keep it." she said and winked, he took it back, she smiled and kissed his cheek, he blushed a little and smiled, she chuckled and got up.
"Alright everyone, let's get home." Asuma said, they nodded.
"Bye!" Naru waved and put her hand on Mamoru's back gently as they all waved and called their goodbyes.
The team walked along the path heading back to Konoha slowly, Naru sent chakra out as much as she could with her still somewhat exhausted chakra reserves, she grunted as she tripped on a rock and grumbled giving the ground a dirty look, Mamoru smirked.
"Hey, hop on." Mamoru said.
"No! You're still healing." she said. "I'm fine! I said." she said with a giggle.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru said while he reached out and wrapped his arm through hers and pulled her close to him causing her to get a large blush on her face. "If you won't listen to Mamoru then I guess I'm going to have to make sure you don't hurt yourself heading back." He replied lazily.
"Yeah Naru. Like we said. We won't leave you alone again." Hinata said with a smile while she came up on Naru's other side.
Kakashi watched them from over his book. He frowned a little. Asuma looked at him, he gave him his usual smile and he looked back at Naru.
'I think it's time I had a chat with someone…'He thought.