Waking, I shoved off the blanket. Damn, who thought to cover me? It's summer...
Muscles didn't ache like after week-long missions with weights, but light soreness lingered. Felt like 10 AM; clock showed I missed by ten minutes minus—10:10. Slept long, conked out around 9:30 PM.
Tazuna's house was spacious two-story seaside. Odd spot—weaker storm'd wreck or damage it. Lived well by my world's standards—great even. Several free rooms, big kitchen, dining, main hall where Kakashi was placed. Furniture sparse for size, but I don't need much. Couple cabinets, dressers, table, chairs...
Woke in separate room on floor futon. Easy to get used to floor sleeping—past life tent, bench, floor, piled chairs. Desperate, standing ok.
Someone took my stuff left bedside. Whatever, pack here—so white tee, belt pants with pouches attached. Jacket gone...
Left sword by pack, went corridor. Kid ~9-10, younger than me now, rushed past.
"Morning." I tried. Recognized Inari—Tazuna's grandson yesterday—but he ignored shinobi on principle. Only after dinner yelling from grandpa/mom did he grudgingly thank for saving grandpa, then fled to room.
Ignored greeting now, rushed upstairs. I shrugged, headed hall.
Hall: Sakura in armchair, nodding off fighting sleep. Kakashi blanketed nearby.
"Morning." I said entering open door; she jolted.
"Oh, Naruto..." She sighed relieved.
"Yeah, who else? Where's damn Sasuke?"
"Waiting for him—changed compresses on him and Kakashi all night. Both spiked fever bad. Mom once had bad fever, but not like this—thought they'd die. Sensei worst. Came to couple minutes night, just screamed leg pain."
"No way!" I exclaimed. "Why not wake me?!"
"Mr. Tazuna and Mrs. Tsunami insisted. They watched Sasuke, helped me with Kakashi—so I slept couple hours."
"Just couple?" I asked surprised. Felt guilty. "He's even without compress now, seems better. Where's damn Sasuke?"
"Here..." Wet-haired, toweling head. "Ran, warmed up, scouted, got food." Dark field pants, black tee—opposite me.
"Good you didn't croak. When up?"
"Two hours ago." Shrugged. "Sakura, thanks." Nodded. "Sleep; I'll watch Kakashi." Approaching.
"I'm ok... Help Mrs. Tsunami kitchen." Scratched head, smiling.
"You'll burn out." He said as I checked Kakashi. Didn't even remove mask? Wtf... "Sleep; Naruto'll cook." Added Sasuke, tying Leaf headband, sitting armchair.
"Naruto?" She asked surprised, eyeing me as I checked Kakashi's pulse.
"Yeah..." Sasuke nodded. "Surprisingly good cook."
"No way?!" She gaped.
"Hey, guys? Least remove his mask... Might breathe easier..."
"Naruto, you cook?" Sakura wouldn't drop.
"Doubts? Fed you salad camp..."
"You made that salad? No way! Thought bought..."
"That hurt." I said.
"Restaurant food money?" Sasuke added.
"Hey, that hurt twice right now," I said, raising my voice and turning to him. "In short, why didn't you guys take off his mask?"
"He always wears it," Sasuke shrugged.
"The teacher will definitely get mad if we take off the mask without permission," Sakura said.
"Fuck..." I muttered almost in a whisper in Russian and dropped my face into my palm. "Aren't you curious yourselves what he really looks like? No second chances..." I smiled and asked in Japanese.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Naruto!" Sakura insisted.
"In short, I'm taking it off," I said and reached out toward his face. Suddenly, a hand from under the blanket grabbed my forearm right at the wrist.
"What about the head?" Kakashi's voice came, and he opened one eye.
"Tch..." Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"Ha! So you're already awake?" I asked and tried several times to yank my hand free from the grip, but it was no use. He held on tight.
"Teacher, sorry, I tried to stop Naruto, but he never listens to anyone..."
"Alrighty," Kakashi winced in pain as he tried to sit up, releasing my hand in the process. "Argh... Damn..." Sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
"Teacher!" Sakura cried out and rushed to support him. "You should stay lying down! Using the Sharingan took too much out of you!"
"Heh..." Kakashi exhaled, while I scooted back a step and rubbed my wrist. "It's fine, Sakura. I just haven't used it in so long, and I overdid it this time. It'll be easier next time."
"I hope there won't be a next time with enemies that require that kind of power," Sakura said hopefully.
"And here, I'm afraid I have to deliver bad news..." Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Now that I'm thinking about it, Zabuza is alive."
At that moment, Sasuke and Sakura were thoroughly shocked.
"What?" Sasuke asked, nearly jumping out of his chair.
"How is he alive?" Sakura said, pressing her palm to her lips.
"You checked his pulse yourself and let that guy go," I added, feigning surprise.
"That's right," he nodded to me. "Embarrassing to admit, but they played us like kids."
"They played you," I insisted, glaring irritably right into Kakashi's eye.
"No arguments," he cut in. "The main thing now is figuring out what we do next."
"Ooh..." Tazuna said, entering the main room and seeing our merry little group. "You're awake already. Ahem... Tsunami washed some of your clothes; they should be dry by now, but better wait another hour just in case. When do you want breakfast?"
"Let Mrs. Tsunami call us when it's ready. We can send Naruto to help her out—he's pretty good in the kitchen," Sakura smiled back at him.
"Wow... So you're not just a genius shinobi, but a chef too?" Tazuna asked in surprise.
"Yeah, right..." I turned to him. "When you live without parents, you learn to cook if you don't want to live on instant noodles alone."
"Ah... Sorry," Tazuna raised his palms apologetically, realizing I was an orphan.
"Nah, it's fine," I replied.
"Then I'll tell Tsunami; she'll find you a cutting board and tools."
"Got it, I'll come when I'm free."
"Mr. Tazuna, please wait a moment," Kakashi requested.
"Huh?" He came closer and sat on the floor too. "You wanted to tell me something?" Kakashi nodded.
"Most likely, the one who tried to kill you is still alive."
"Uh..." Tazuna froze with his mouth open at the news. "But..."
"It happens... The thing is..." Kakashi began explaining about the Mist's special cleanup squad, the needles, and the pointlessness of moving Zabuza and his sword far away. He also mentioned pulse checks and ways to mask them.
"In short..." he wrapped up. "Either way, we shouldn't expect another attack right now. After what happened, even if I'm right and they were working together, they'll need time to regroup and prepare a strike. Naruto managed to deprive Zabuza of his main weapon back then, and we didn't see all his abilities. If he'd had his sword, we wouldn't have been fighting a regular Mist jonin—we'd have been up against one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and that would've been a whole different level. To be honest, Naruto, your dumb, risky stunt saved us. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are no joke. Even I might've lost..." Kakashi dropped that bombshell on us.
"Are those swordsmen that strong?" Sasuke asked.
"You saw it yourself," Kakashi shrugged. "Even all three of you together could barely do anything to him, and he wasn't even going all out. Looks like Mr. Tazuna is seriously pissing off someone very influential."
"It's not really about me..." Tazuna lowered his head. "The bridge... The bridge will connect our islands to the mainland, and trade with the Land of Fire will boom. Gato, our local oligarch, won't be able to jack up ship and dock rental prices anymore, or pay mercenaries—who also protect our government's interests, so he gets away with too much. " Kakashi nodded.
"You mentioned that in camp, but now I get it. A guy like that... They'll forgive him even hiring renegades—though no... Considering our Daimyo's interests are involved, only renegades like that would be available for hire," Kakashi mused aloud.
"Maybe we should pay attention to this Gato?" I tried to sound smart.
"Out of the question. We're here to protect Mr. Tazuna and his family, not smash a neighboring country's naval corporation."
"I'm not suggesting we go to war with the corporation. We could just convince him personally to call off the hit on Mr. Tazuna. No need to kill him. Probably..." I said uncertainly.
"The moment we show up on his horizon, that oligarch will run straight to the head of state and claim Leaf shinobi are pressuring him. That could pass for meddling in internal affairs, and we'd get recalled—and not patted on the head."
"Got it," I backed off quickly.
"The bridge will be done by late August if we speed up now," Tazuna announced. "My crew and I will give it everything we've got, plus there's a crew from your country working here too, so Gato can't stall construction any other way except killing the head architect. The build is funded by the government and thousands who donated for materials and specialists. The bridge is also guarded by our bigwigs and the Fire Daimyo, who visited a month before the first attempt on me. If we finish the bridge... Gato's done for, and he can't do a thing—or he'll get crushed for the audacity."
"But teacher, what if they bring in more shinobi, or even if they attack together? We won't stand a chance," Sakura said. "Shouldn't we report to the village and request backup?"
"Sakura, we shouldn't even be here after Mr. Tazuna's deception to avoid paying A-rank fees," Sasuke explained. "Report to the village, and we're pulled."
"Right," Kakashi said. "You two are spot on. Under normal conditions, we can't handle those two. And I'm out of commission for now, at least a week before I can even walk."
"So what do we do?" I asked. "If even our combined strength isn't enough..."
"Naruto, I said 'under normal conditions.' We need to change the battle conditions a bit."
"And how?"
"You three... Need to get stronger in two weeks. I figure they'll attack in two weeks—thirteen days now," Kakashi said. "Given their time limit, that's the minimum for Zabuza to recover and them to prep. Attacking is always harder than defending. I asked you before, but now it's real. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura!"
"Yes!" we replied in unison.
"Are you ready to stay and complete this mission at any cost? Don't rush. Think..." Kakashi closed his eye. "To get stronger and win, your resolve and feelings must be steel-strong. If you're sure you want this, I'll help fix your weaknesses, and together you'll have a shot not just to survive, but to win. So?"
"Ready," Sasuke said, arms crossed. "Doesn't matter who or how many—I can handle it. I will! If not... No... I can't afford to lose here! I will, Teacher Kakashi!"
"Ready," Sakura stood. "I'm the weak link now; I admit it. If needed, I'll do anything to fix it. I want this too, Teacher Kakashi. I want to win!"
Damn it... Nothing left for me but...
"Ready," I said, rising lazily. "I won't lose to bastards who kill innocents for cash!" In my world, I could do little against money's power. Colleagues sold out others just to please higher-ups or for cash. Citizens' interests? Nobody cared, and eventually people stopped caring about each other. I lived where "man is wolf to man" rang true. Now, for the first time in years, I saw resolve in people's eyes to help their neighbor. Save one life, help thousands of poor in this country. In my whole police career, I did less good than Naruto had on this mission. Even if it was just a screen image before, now it's real to me. "Now I see how wrong I was, Teacher Kakashi. This risk is more than worth it!"
But... Am I ready to become a killer for this?
"Right," Kakashi started when we finally reached the open forest clearing.
We could've gotten here in fifteen minutes if not for waiting for him to hobble on crutches. After a hearty breakfast and stretching, we hit this clearing. I was curious what Kakashi cooked up instead of tree- or water-walking training. Though Sakura could use that.
"I'd love to say I have individual training for each of you, but... You've developed such different powers, and as for Sakura..." She tensed. "You just need to pick an advanced development path. But... There's a basic element you all need to work on," Kakashi announced.
"Well? Spill it," I said.
"First, some theory..." Kakashi explained chakra, its components, chakra channels, basic concentration techniques, and chakra's effect on the five senses. "Chakra also ties into the sixth sense. Mostly only sensor-talented shinobi develop it, since for most, sensing chakra is useless."
"So why train chakra sensing now? We covered basics well in the academy, Teacher Kakashi," I really didn't get where he was going.
"Patience, Naruto. You'll see. Smart guy, how does a sensor's scanning technique work?"
Damn... It works like sonar, but I couldn't say that, even though in the academy I grasped it fast based on that. Had to recall the textbook...
"Well..." I started thoughtfully. "A sensor emits a very thin layer of chakra outward, almost undetectable by most. Spreads it out depending on power... Then chakra rushes back instantly, carrying reflected info that the sensor's brain processes—all in a split second. Faster the better, less chance other sensors detect it. That's one measure of their strength."
"Correct," Kakashi nodded. "But as you see, it needs virtuoso chakra control and huge sensitivity, which is almost impossible to develop. You're born with it or not."
Yeah, yeah... Got it, fuck off. He basically said the same thing twice.
"I insist 'almost' impossible, but... We don't need advanced. Basic level plus your five senses will do. Plus external chakra release, which you need to raise to advanced. Not demanding long range, but basic covers 25-30 meters."
"Uh..." I pondered. "We already release chakra outward when concentrating for techniques."
"Not quite, Naruto. You use seals to direct chakra through thickest channels—legs, arms, fingers. Best case, you pool it in minor channels on forehead, feet, palms and release gradually—that's second-level control," Kakashi explained, seeing our blank stares. "In short, you can't control pure chakra without techniques, away from your body. Your max release is beginner level... About a meter usually, but you guys... Sasuke and Naruto might hit three meters. Sakura, yours is around 140 cm."
"What about techniques?" Sasuke asked.
"Different. Techniques use pre-gathered internal chakra; once launched, no more control unless advanced like 'water dragon' that can redirect mid-attack. Even then, mostly transformed elemental chakra. Try making one from pure chakra? I'd lose half my reserves and burn it out nearby. Sensors use ultra-thin layers; even they need full focus, shutting other senses, for range. Separating big chakra masses, shaping, launching, and controlling? God-tier."
"Got the point..." Sasuke said. "But what do we do, and how does it make us stronger?"
"In short..." Kakashi formed a seal and, like in the Zabuza fight, pulsed chakra around us. His wave nearly knocked us over. Insanely powerful. Wind whipped up, mouth went dry, ears rang. "This is 'Kyu' technique. Chakra release. I'm spiraling chakra outward continuously and pulling it back, affecting the world and your senses!"
His jonin-level flow strained his throat; words came muffled. Stronger than in the Zabuza fight.
Holy shit!
He reeked of power!
We three stepped back as pressure built. He released the seal abruptly; pressure dropped, but his presence lingered.
Now I felt we were on "his turf"—move wrong, he'd react. Even blind and deaf, you'd sense the lethal danger!
Brrr...
If it hit me that hard, what about Sakura? Can't imagine.
She stood clutching one trembling hand with the other, barely movable.
"Yeah..." Sasuke said, sweat beading on his forehead.
Cheater bastard...
Looking at him, I saw his Sharingan active. He'd master this way faster.
"Now, stage one: release and gather pure chakra around you 20-25 meters like that. Flush your chakra channels. All of them. Then I'll teach sixth sense. Sakura!"
"Yes," she replied.
"Don't spend chakra like that yet. Naruto, make one shadow clone and send with us."
"As you say..." I made one. Kakashi took Sakura 100 meters to distant trees.
Later, dispelling the clone, I learned he had her tree-walk with first-level control, then second, under my clone's watch—since he'd monitor us.
We tried what he described.
It sucked...
As he said, first try: Sasuke and I hit 3-4 meters. Kakashi? Seventy.
Sasuke reached ten in three tries!
Sharingan genius, damn it...
Me?
No matter clapping or yelling, stuck at 4-5 meters till evening.
First time I felt like a loser. Like real Naruto at the start.
Kakashi explained in detail, but my chakra was too dense; couldn't do shit.
"AAAAAHHH!!!" My umpteenth try at sunset. Seven meters. Almost. Seemed decent, something worked, but...
"Hmm..." Sasuke strained less, hit fifteen by evening. No clones even.
Right... Shadow clones.
"Naruto, we missed lunch already," Kakashi said. "Time to head back. You'll damage channels at this rate. You have results; no need to overdo. Under Sasuke's watch, he crutched toward the village road.
"Hey, Sakura!" he called. She'd passed out under a tree after summiting it in one day. Damn genius too. Took me a week at nine...
"You go," I said. "No dinner for me. If anyone's up for it, grab my rations from my pack and bring here."
"After dinner," Sasuke said, and they left without fuss.
Phew... Time to warm up proper.
Now for real Naruto-style sweat-it-out training.
"Mass Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Kakashi-sensei..." Sakura asked post-dinner. "Shouldn't we check on Naruto? He hasn't come back; what if..."
"Doubt anything happened," Kakashi waved off.
"It's Naruto," Sasuke said. "He was more stubborn in the academy. Where's his pack? I'll drop rations and check."
"Wait, Sasuke-kun," Tsunami called. "Give you boys an inch, you'll ruin your stomachs," she smirked. "Wait fifteen minutes; I'll make a proper portion for him."
"Thanks, Tsunami-sama," Sasuke nodded, washing dishes and sitting back.
"But even Naruto could hurt himself overdoing it," Sakura persisted. "He's tough, but..."
"No need to worry..." Kakashi said. "If it were you or any genin, I'd forbid more training. But Naruto's different. Chakra like an elephant."
"Really?" Sakura perked. "How much..."
"He's surpassed even me, if only by a bit."
"WHAT?!"
"Fuck your mother..." I collapsed on my back. Last shadow clone nearby poofed. Now safe for Russian—no Third's ANBU. Bones ached, eyes heavy, muscles cottony but painless. Channels tingled near fingers, toes. Feeling them already said a lot.
"Looks like they gave up on me," I said aloud in Russian. By now, Sasuke should bring rations.
Sitting up, I drained my flask's last two gulps and stood.
Couple more tries and done. Current: twelve meters, thanks clones' turbo.
"Nuuu..." Eyes shut, spiraled chakra out and back.
Three... Smooth.
Five... Accelerated.
Seven... Much faster.
Nine... Losing some on return. Limit circle formed.
Fuck that.
Released seal, clapped, deep breath, emptied reserves pulling from solar plexus core.
Twelve... Unstable, choppy.
Limit?
Bullshit!
Interruptions wrecked flow focus; everything going to hell. Stream about to break... Mentally grabbed it. Deeper into source... Come on...
Burned like fire.
Body scalded!
Eyes snapped open; stream cut.
Holy fuck, wide awake. Wanted to scream pain, but gone in half-second.
No sleepies. Muscles fine, hands steady...
What the hell?!
Wasn't alone gawking.
Sasuke emerged from tree, not hiding, but startled seeing me.
"Uh, Naruto... Your hair's standing up..."
"Yeah?" I checked—yep, electrocuted look.
"Brought real dinner."
"Thanks."
"Thank Mrs. Tsunami, not me."
"Extra thanks to her!" I took plates, spread bag.
"Thought you passed out under the tree; your stream stopped pressing suddenly."
"Stopped pressing?" I mumbled mouth full.
"Yeah..." Sasuke blinked surprised.
"You were twenty meters out."
"Yep... Your chakra wave hit me good, then you cut it. Surprised nothing happened."
Twenty meters?
Till midnight, rode the buzz.
Caught up to Sasuke, as always—with clones. But that feeling? First time.
Next day, brain caught up it was that, but hard to believe.
Stage two: Dodge pebbles blindfolded, nose/mouth/ears plugged. Chakra sense only. First tries? Dumb shit...
But... Worked for me and Sasuke.
Kakashi: Even plain toss leaves chakra trace, like kunai, shuriken, techniques. Our field detects foreign bodies/motion in "Kyu" radius. Unstable—hard to sense small stuff with just chakra sense; direction error prone.
Next morning, dodged several kunai/shuriken. Then remove blindfolds, unblock senses.
Sparred after—unbelievable.
That's how this shit works?!
Could dodge/predict Sasuke's strikes blind, he my clones—sans Sharingan. Dodging/blocking weapons? Forget it. New level...
Fucking awesome.
At dinner, all gathered. Sasuke and I late, but justified—another spar; he won, but I only summoned seventy clones, no sword; he went near full, even Fireball once.
Dinner: Tsunami's rice with mushrooms—tasty, but repetitive like most women's. Quick, skilled, no flair. No blame; constant kitchen grind does that. Suggested fry mushrooms/onions in oil first, then boil with rice. Added sliced cukes, boiled egg. No bread here—or much in Konoha. Bakeries pricey for me. Were...
"Itadakimas!"
"This..." Tazuna said, nearly done. "One of your best, Tsunami."
"Agreed; short time here, but delicious, thanks," Kakashi complimented.
"No need... Naruto helped big. Mushrooms and onions—his tip."
"Naruto should've been a chef, not shinobi," Sasuke teased.
"Fuck off," I shot back.
"Naruto! At the table!" Kakashi raised voice mildly.
"Sorry, teacher," I fake-apologized.
"Now you're all stronger after such grub, ho-ho-ho..." Tazuna joked.
"Who cares!" his grandson near Sakura spat. "Like it matters dying full or hungry." Not his first jab. Tazuna apologized several times, shared story of kid's adoptive dad, town "hero."
"Inari! Apologize to guests now!" his mom yelled.
"Fuck you!" kid bolted up. "Fuck! You're all dead men! No sorry!" Near tears. "All high and mighty, but weaklings die—power's with armies and money!"
Yeah... Thought like that once. My old world's reality. This world similar, any human society, but different people.
Kinder...
Chakra lets one match hundreds/thousands—changes much. Use right, reshape world principles doable.
Ahem...
Too ambitious.
"So we let grandpa die?" I asked, eyes half-lidded.
"Not that—grandpa's stubborn like you. If he'd listened..."
"Then thousands still starving! No hope for bridge till another master came or born. You and mom poorer without his grind. Shut up, say thanks—or age be damned, I'll smack you!"
"Fuck you!" Echoed me, ran crying to room. "You're all dead!"
Kakashi later went to dock where kid sulked, talked. Didn't care. Next day, training over; one guarded house—me with kid/mom; others including Kakashi to bridge. Tenth day training start. Including travel/sleep, eleventh post-first Zabuza fight.
No attack expected; slept easy, jogged/stretched, checked gear, showered, geared up.
Tsunami miscalculated food, sent me shopping. Meant to leave clones—lazy.
Mistake.
Shopped hour; back, port district hushed, more armed folk. Hurried to Tazuna house—smart.
No Tsunami/Inari; broken dishes, outsider boot dirt.
"Let mom go!!!" Distant yell. Without, hundreds clones combing area. But...
Dropped bags, shouldered sword, dashed. One-eyed tattooed thug winding up to hack Tsunami limb punishment; full speed, clone-bounced air.
Sword parried midair; staggered him. Clones snatched Tsunami unseen; full throttle now.
"What?! Another brat? I'll..." Second drew katana.
"Hey, idiots... Something behind you," I faced them; clones smashed backs/knees, wrenched arms, took swords. Approached bare blade, pressed tip to one's throat.
Hand shook—scared... Looked up: Tsunami farther back, teary, shielding son's eyes. Wanted justice, but not witness brutal kill.
Thug at sword-point squeezed eyes shut, pissed self; other begged life.
"Hey, you, open your eyes!" I said, sheathing the sword on my back. He obediently opened them, and I, forming a hand seal and amplifying my voice with chakra, said... "Sleep!" And directing a stream of my chakra through my fingers, I touched the forehead of first one, then the second. Basic genjutsu—I don't excel at it, but it's academy level. I could have done it without touching them, just with my voice, but this way it's more reliable. Now they'll sleep for about ten hours. Or six-seven if they're really tough. If they were shinobi, it would have lasted only an hour or two.
It took me about half an hour to escort Tsunami and Inari home and tie up these two thugs.
Now I need to hurry to the bridge before it's too late...
"What the hell!" Tazuna exclaimed when they reached the needed section of the bridge. The construction was halted, and the workers around were unconscious.
Some workers were beaten, and part of the equipment was disabled. One excavator was missing its right track. The elevator cab was mangled. The generators had been filled with saltwater and were sparking and smoking.
"Looks like it's started," Kakashi said. "Everyone, maximum alertness!" The space around them began to fill with mist. "Sakura, Sasuke!"
"Yes!"
"Protect the architect. Move away from me about twenty meters that way..." Kakashi indicated the direction, freeing his left eye. "This time it's serious."
"Ho-ho-ho... You're right, Copy Ninja, little devil with the Sharingan from the Leaf. This time... It's VERY serious!"
Suddenly, a dozen of Zabuza's water clones surrounded them. This time he was dressed in something like a wrestler's singlet, but still with the same leg covers, his face wrapped in bandages as usual, and in the same high slippers.
"Right away?" Kakashi asked. In response, each clone assumed a stance with a huge sword and prepared to attack. "Forward, Sasuke."
The latter nodded and, using "Kyū" with two fingers, instantly charged at Zabuza's clones.
In one second, he slashed the vital points of all of them with a kunai, and they dissolved into water, pooling on the ground.
Sasuke immediately activated his Sharingan. Two figures emerged from the mist. It was the real Zabuza and Haku, discussing something between themselves.
Suddenly, Haku spun at tremendous speed like a whirlwind, gathering air around him, and attacked. Sasuke stood in his path, eyes wide open, using his Sharingan.
Easily predicting Haku's strikes, he blocked his senbon attacks with his kunai and even managed to counterattack, but Haku was no novice at evasion either.
"I see... So you're from that clan," Haku said, noticing the Sharingan in Sasuke's eyes. "This complicates things."
"That means victory is not in your future!" Sasuke shouted.
In response, Haku performed a sealing technique with one hand. Sasuke was very surprised. The water around them rose and turned into countless ice needles. Both used their "Kyū" to the maximum. This was no time for games. Sasuke also formed several seals with one hand, igniting the tip of his kunai and directing a weak stream of fire straight at his opponent's mask, forcing Haku to retreat. Then Sasuke jumped up with all his strength and unleashed a fireball.
Boom!
That was a mistake. Haku dodged effortlessly, gaining time and space to maneuver.
Haku decided to seize the initiative and attack from behind, but Sasuke just smiled. Throwing a kunai forward, he caught it with a chakra thread and redirected it back over his head straight at his opponent's face, not forgetting to ignite it. Then he struck with a spinning kick at the opponent.
Haku blocked the kick, but couldn't anticipate the low kunai throw and was forced to use instant relocation again.
This time, Sasuke sensed his appearances and movements. Dodging a senbon thrust, without looking back, he swung his kunai in a spinning strike, but missed Haku again. However, his spin also meant a kick to the face would follow from below.
And it did.
The powerful strike sent Haku flying several meters.
"Haku..." Zabuza addressed him as he began to rise. "You do realize that if you hold back, we'll have to retreat?"
"Understood..." Haku replied curtly and formed a strange seal with both hands.
A chill swept around, and an ice mirror formed behind Sasuke's back. Haku amplified his chakra release, and soon Sasuke was trapped in a five-meter dome of ice mirrors.
"With your permission, I'll begin..." Haku said. "I'll show you my true speed." With those words, Haku entered the ice mirror. He appeared in one mirror, then reflected in all simultaneously. The mirrors struck painfully at the eyes with bright light and...
"AAAAA!!!" Sasuke cried out. His body was covered in small scratches and cuts. He also distinctly felt punches to the face, back, and a sweep that dropped him to the ground. His face was bloody from a cut forehead. The Leaf headband had slipped off. Blood got into his eyes, hindering his Sharingan inspection of the technique. But the pain from wounds all over his body hindered him most.
Haku attacked again, this time with fists and feet.
Sasuke grunted, taking hits to the gut, back, and face.
No vital points were hit, but he was bleeding profusely, and a small puddle of blood had already spread under him.
"Your mother!" Sasuke thought. "At this rate, I'll just bleed out..." And he began to rise again.
"Damn!" Kakashi muttered under his breath and ran to help, but the real Zabuza intercepted him, assuming a stance with his sword on his shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going... Your opponent is me!"
"This is very bad," Kakashi said, raising a kunai.
"Wait, I suggest we just watch for now," Zabuza proposed.
"Yeah, and you won't attack?" Kakashi said ironically.
"You'll see everything with your Sharingan anyway," Zabuza shrugged. "I suggest enjoying the kids' fight."
"Sakura! Back!" Kakashi shouted, hearing her try to run past the two jonin to help Sasuke. "You're the only one who can protect Tazuna-san."
"Better just surrender and don't make me kill you," Haku's voice echoed from all sides as Sasuke rose again, overcoming the pain. Suddenly, a kunai flew from outside into the mirrors, but Haku's hand snatched it lightning-fast.
"A kunai with an explosive seal wrapped around the handle? Not interested..."
Haku instantly froze it a second before the explosion.
"Naruto..." Sasuke thought. At that moment, several more such kunai flew from outside the mirror dome, but all were intercepted. "Fire: Fireball Technique!" Sasuke tried to attack, but Haku hid in the mirrors in time, and after the flames quickly died, he landed several more senbon strikes on Sasuke, slashing his back and legs.
When Sasuke opened his eyes, Naruto's sword was already protruding from the ground nearby, but he himself was nowhere to be seen. Touching the sword, Sasuke understood everything. Several smoke bombs exploded around, enveloping the dome in smoke. Shadow clones began appearing from all sides, pelting the mirrors with shuriken from the outside. Haku masterfully deflected them at tremendous speed. Sasuke's Sharingan tracked his movements through the smoke fluctuations. He saw every appearance. Every time Haku stuck out a hand or half his body from a mirror outward, or every time he burst out himself, nothing escaped Sasuke's notice. The fight with the shadow clones was short, but Sasuke knew what to do. The moment Haku closed in for melee, he also created shadow clones and exhaled flames in all directions with all his might.
Even so, the flames couldn't destroy the mirrors but forced Haku to focus back on Sasuke, who, at the first touch of a senbon, tossed the sword into the air, and Naruto, dispelling his transformation technique, delivered a spinning strike, barely missing Haku.
"Damn!" I shouted, landing on my feet. I felt my foot brush his hair, but he accelerated sharply. His damn speed was too elusive.
"I see... Looks like I won't last long like this."
"Exactly!" Sasuke shouted and instantly attacked with fire from his hand, finally hitting Haku. His kimono caught fire but was instantly extinguished, and he became just a reflection in the mirrors again.
"Then I won't hold back and will kill you. Sorry..." Haku said, and I realized we were in deep shit. But I didn't get to fully grasp the depth of our predicament. Needles pierced my forearms, palms, shoulders, and legs. It happened instantly and hurt like hell! A dozen more needles were launched into my back.
Sasuke got twice as many. He was stuck like a porcupine and seemed to try to shield me.
"Khe..." He spat blood. "Shit..." he said in Russian, copying me. No way... He couldn't understand what that meant... Or could he?!
At that moment, he dropped to his knees. Several needles protruded from his chest too.
"Naruto... Your plan... Failed..." He said in Japanese and collapsed into a puddle of his own blood.
"Hey, what?!" I shouted, catching him. He was covered in blood and losing consciousness. "Open your eyes!" I slapped his cheeks several times.
"Shu... Up..." he whispered. "If you can escape, promise... You'll kill... Kill him... Ita... Khe..." He coughed again and winced in pain before passing out.
"I understand you," I said carefully, laying his body down.
"Now it's your turn," Haku said and attacked. I shielded myself with mass shadow cloning, but he closed in for melee and gave me solid hits to the gut, liver, and face, also slashing my shins with senbon. He sliced me up good overall. He stopped when I couldn't stand and slipped in the blood, collapsing.
"The next attack will kill you... Surrender... You were unlucky to face the Mist demons."
"Ha-ha-ha..." I remembered the training and what I felt after expending chakra. "So you say demons? Alright, kid, let me show you something. You shouldn't have reminded me..."
Struggling to my feet, I concentrated, using "Kyū."
This time I was calm, though it hurt a lot, but I pulled myself together, barely holding back tears. I delved into the essence of my power and closed my eyes.
Suddenly, I woke up in some basement with lots of pipes and corridors. There was almost no light, but somehow I could see everything. A minute later, I realized the light was coming from me, and also that I was no longer Naruto. I was back in my former body, and that's when I got uneasy... The surroundings resembled the Nine-Tails' habitat. And I have to go to him like this? As a baldish, slightly plump guy with a goatee. From another world?
After thinking, I decided to head toward the dim light from one of the corridors anyway.
A couple of minutes later, I reached a huge cage filled with darkness. Or maybe I just couldn't see shit.
Wading ankle-deep in water, I approached closer...
"CLOSER!" A voice boomed from inside. "COME CLOSER!"
Blood-red eyes opened, and it chilled me to the bone.
"YOU?" the voice questioned, and a stream of chakra flooded out from inside. Not like Kakashi's—much more diffuse, but... The volume...
Kakashi's chakra made you step back on release, but this hit me like a boxer's straight punch to the chest. Breath caught...
"Khe..." I coughed and, barely holding it together to not shit myself, peered into the darkness.
"YOU'RE NOT NARUTO?!" the voice roared indignantly. "WHO ARE YOU?!"
"Well, hello... Kurama."
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan