"Looks like even the Uchiha genius can't beat Haku. Hm-hm-hm-hm..." Zabuza laughed through his mask, standing half-turned before Kakashi, blocking his path. With his right hand, he constantly gripped the new hilt of his Kubikiribōchō and vigilantly watched both Kakashi and what was happening inside the ice mirror dome.
"Tch..." Kakashi clicked his tongue, seeing no opening for attack.
"He's the perfect tool... Possessor of an enhanced genome, whom I trained from childhood. I think he's as strong as me now, if not stronger." Suddenly, a kunai flew through the thick mist, and after Haku reacted and caught it mid-flight, smoke bombs exploded around the dome. "What?" Zabuza turned, and Kakashi attacked.
Using his Sharingan, he copied not only ninjutsu but all the opponent's movements. A low strike grazing the throat with the left hand. Kakashi aimed for the right carotid, but Zabuza sensed the danger at the last moment, released the sword hilt, and stopped the kunai strike with his palm, taking a wound but still grabbing Kakashi's arm. With his right hand, he threw a kunai from his sleeve and struck Kakashi low too, but aiming for his Sharingan.
"As expected from someone like you," Zabuza said. "Attacked at the first opportunity—what a guy... Couldn't wait for the young ones' fight to end?" The two jonin faced each other with punctured arms, trying to overpower one another. Every hand movement caused pain, but outwardly they looked impassive. Both masked, eyes filled with murderous intent.
"You think I'll lose easily now? Last time I wasn't just beaten like a fool. Haku observed you and analyzed your power... Your Sharingan no longer scares me!" With that, both broke distance. Further strength contest was pointless—even if one gained upper hand, one unexpected maneuver, jump, step, kick, and it could end in a second. No one wanted to wait for that. Experienced shinobi sense each other in battle and at least know when it's a stalemate.
Leaping back, Zabuza used the advantage and dissolved into the mist again.
"Damn him!" Kakashi thought. "The mist is thickening even more than last time." Kakashi could barely see his own hands. "At this density of mist veil, even Kyū won't help."
"So, how do you like this enhanced version of the technique, Copycat technique thief?" A voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere.
"Can you even see anything yourself?" Kakashi mocked.
"Ha-ha-ha... I don't need to. You forgot who I am..."
"Damn, he's right... He can navigate well by sound," Kakashi thought. "Think coolly..." he told himself. "Where will he strike from?" Rotating his head, he tried to spot anything. "Shit..."
"Even for our ocean-surrounded country, this is overkill..." Tazuna muttered. Sakura stood with two kunai in hands right in front of him. She hadn't seen her teacher or the dome the second enemy created for a while. If Tazuna hadn't spoken, she'd doubt he was even behind her—the mist was so thick, and it scared her for real. She concentrated to the limit and, like Sasuke and Naruto, tried to release some chakra, but she was far from them. However, she sensed the sudden wind gust and opponent's appearance, shuddered, stepped forward, raised two crossed kunai charged with chakra, and prepared for the strike.
The strike didn't take long.
Spotting the flying sword edge, she performed a full charge and blocked Zabuza's strike before he could fully swing, taking about half his real power.
"Damn..." he cursed. With a quick one-handed strike, he hoped to grievously wound the architect, then switch to full fight with Kakashi, but another dumb kid stood in his way, pissing him off.
Sakura felt her kunai crack from clashing with the opponent's blade. The recoil resonated in her bones, and holding the blade became unbearably hard. Zabuza raised the blade and swung it overhead again.
"Stupid girl!" he shouted before the strike, but something pushed her away—something very fast that intercepted his swing and counterattacked immediately. Only when he swung a kunai before his face did he notice Kakashi, recognizing him by the brightness of his Sharingan leaving a light trail in motion. Now Kakashi moved at his maximum speed, restrictions off, using full muscle power. Thanks to this, he not only protected Sakura but avoided being slashed or bisected. The blade cut his vest, body armor, and clothes underneath, leaving a shallow cut. However, enhanced by opening inner gates, he barely felt pain, though not for long. Zabuza swung his sword again, forcing Kakashi to leap away at high speed—each strike deadly. He nearly grazed his face with a kunai, meaning his Sharingan was targeting better.
Zabuza didn't stop moving with his swings either. He brushed Kakashi off like an annoying fly. The wound would slow him anyway. Like in a dance, taking steps forward and left in a circle, he performed a two-handed circular swing with his huge cleaver, the blade's mass carrying his body forward.
Sakura reacted in time again, recognizing her teacher Kakashi by his chakra. She rushed to Tazuna, tackled him down, and covered him with her body just in time, as the damn sword's edge whistled through the air where they had been.
"Tch..." Zabuza clicked his tongue, realizing he missed again. From the corner of his eye, he caught Kakashi's movement in the mist and leaped back sharply, evading his kunai thrust.
"Well done, Sakura!" Kakashi praised. "Don't move from there."
"Understood," she said, assuming stance again with a new kunai. "Teacher, how's Sasuke? Can you help him?"
"I believe in their strength. Right now, we need to focus on this opponent."
"Their strength?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah... Naruto came to his aid, and that guy does nothing without preparation. Together, they'll manage."
"Empty words, Kakashi..." Zabuza's voice echoed in the mist. "That problem kid is strong, but even piled-up leaves can't beat Haku."
"Well, let's check..."
Walking the corridor to the wide hall with the cage, each step was hard. I felt the weakness of my former body again, though I hadn't tried accelerating chakra in this form yet. But feeling the Fox's chakra meant even in this form, I was no longer ordinary. I was still me only as long as I felt that way. Funny that over twelve years in another body hadn't erased this image from my soul, though maybe after as many years in Naruto's body, I'd truly become him subconsciously...
I don't know...
Too many unknowns, especially now.
Of course, I'd thought about meeting the Fox before. Tried planning the most advantageous negotiation tactics, but when my former soul surfaced, everything went to hell, and now...
"YOU'RE NOT NARUTO! WHO ARE YOU!" The voice was terrifying and boomed loudly in the space. Echo added horror like oil to fire.
In the water, I saw my reflection again. Looked decent after twelve years. A thought flashed that I was even glad to see my old mug, but not now. Wanted to scratch my beard, but could barely move fingers from his chakra pressure. It chilled me to the bones. Never thought I'd be this scared of a drawn anime Fox. I couldn't even see him properly! Before me were just huge gates with thick iron bars sealed with paper saying "Seal" in Japanese. From the damn darkness, two sinister eyes stared, irises glowing bright red, narrow beast pupils.
Fuck...
Heart pounding like mad.
Left hand openly trembling.
Inhale-exhale...
"Well, hello, Kurama," I said, feeling sharp fluctuations of his chakra on my skin.
Finally swallowed.
"YOU..." The Fox pondered hard. No one could know that name. It instantly dispelled his drowsiness, and he examined the man before him more closely. Tall for locals. Skimming the last twelve years' memories, he found no match in the kid's body he was sealed in. For a fox living centuries, refreshing recent memory was easy. And he'd never seen this man. "WHO ARE YOU?! YOU CAN'T KNOW THAT NAME... THAT NAME IS KNOWN ONLY TO MY EQUALS AND ONE OTHER!" he shouted, recalling who gave it. "Old man... Could he be... No, impossible," the Fox thought.
"Is it that important to you?" I asked. "Just accept it... For convenience, you can call me the Wanderer."
"DON'T TALK NONSENSE!" the Fox roared, nearly knocking me back with dense chakra stream. "WHO ARE YOU?! SPEAK!" He struck the cage with a paw, showing claws. Yeah... Easy to rile him.
"I'm not talking nonsense..." I replied slowly, trying to steady the tremor, catching myself speaking Russian, but the Fox didn't care. No language barrier for tailed beasts?! It exists in this world. Third couldn't read my notes, and those hearing Russian words either ignored, stared blankly, or asked to repeat. "I'm the one inexplicably thrown into this kid's body. I am the Wanderer." I continued more confidently. "However, we're both where we don't want to be, right?"
"HM..." The Fox pondered, sensing I wasn't lying.
"I don't know about you, but I definitely..." I began lying.
Before speaking, I had to prepare and answer myself honestly.
Who am I now?
What do I want from this world? Any goal beyond survival?
If yes, what to do, why, and most importantly, how to think? Like former me or imitate locals?
Thus the Wanderer was born. At least a couple years before meeting the Fox.
I am me, ordinary guy from my world. Tried standing out but lived like most. Finished school unremarkably. Entered police academy to serve country, but without connections, money, or career drive after experience, now office clerk. And you want me hero? Become Naruto? World-saver? Pff...
Did I want power? Sure... Who wouldn't, but...
Now I'd feel Uncle Ben's "Great power brings great responsibility" on my skin.
Do I need it? Though who asked me...
Meeting the Fox and reverting to former self fully hit me: shinobi world isn't mine; I can't go full throttle. Tougher opponents ahead. Zabuza and Haku just warm-up, and I'm already mind-blown for lifetimes.
"So, Kurama, I'm not your enemy. We're sharing this body and can't leave. I propose a deal..."
"A DEAL?" the Fox asked.
"Though I said we can't leave, I know much. Like, besides your name, Fourth Hokage has your other half sealed, and I know ways to free you."
"WHERE?! WHERE DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS!" the Fox kept roaring.
"That's for me to keep. You're not enemy, but sorry, don't trust you. Even caged, you little can do, but... I know you want to break seal, seize control, escape—even at kid's death cost."
"THAT..." the Fox started, but I interrupted, raising index finger.
"Unwanted outcome for me—I don't know what happens to me if body dies. Likely... I die too, and I value my hide too much."
"WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT YOUR WISHES?!"
"Because better not try breaking seal. When time comes—in next few years... I'll do it myself. I can free you other ways, but need your help."
"HM..."
"First... Don't try seizing control. You know I can't compete. " I extended trembling hands. "Too weak now." Also need access to your power later. Benefits you—more chakra leaking weakens seal faster. " (Tactfully omitted seal's "second life" from Fourth's hidden chakra.)
"HA-HA-HA... You speak smoothly... But words only... Why need your help?! I'M NINE-TAILS DEMON FOX! LIKE OTHERS... YOU FEAR ME! SAY ANYTHING TO SAVE SKIN!" he roared from cage.
"True... Won't lie. Don't need my help like others... But anyone offered help?" Hit spot! Fox's chakra wavered. "Not best person... Hell, no reason help me, but that's why deal. Agree, swear on life... Won't regret, Kurama."
"HA-HA-HA-HA..." He laughed heartily. "Strange human. Swearing to someone like me..." Eyes closed briefly. "Not like anyone I've seen... Though..." Exhaled noisily, voice less booming. "Heh... Agreed, Wanderer." Suddenly, floor water boiled, evaporated. Chakra stream enveloped legs. Steam entered mouth/nose on inhale, but no pain—just incredible power and vigor surge. "Survive! Use my power! Won't hinder! But... If deceive by word or deed..."
"Understood," I said, turning with 32-tooth grin. "No need continue. I'll do everything for what we want... Both..."
Suddenly, Kakashi, Zabuza, Sakura, even Tazuna who barely sensed chakra, felt it pierce guts to bones and back.
"What was that?" Zabuza said, turning.
"What?" Tazuna whispered.
"Impossible!" Kakashi said.
"What feeling?" Sakura voiced. "Kyū? But..."
"Too much chakra for Kakashi..." Zabuza said. "That problem kid? No way..." He thought he heard a growl, then animal roar. Fox roar... Close yet echo-like. "What the hell is happening?!" Zabuza said as mist around him began dissipating.
"This chakra..." Kakashi whispered shakily. "Nine-Tails' seal... Fourth Hokage's seal—broken? Why now? What the hell?! No time investigate! Hey, Zabuza!" He shouted, pulling scroll, smearing blood from wound, unrolling and coating it lengthwise. "Let's end it here and now!" Kakashi rolled scroll sharply, slammed into ground, hands on top.
"What can you do?! Surprise me, Copy Ninja. Even as mist clears, you can't see me!"
"Not long, believe... Think I lived only by Sharingan? Show something new. 'Summoning Technique: Special Ninja Dog Squad!' " With scroll, he sent them underground.
"What..." Zabuza felt bridge vibrate oddly in spots, then eight dogs of various sizes burst from below, grabbing limbs at speed, immobilizing. Mist cleared more; he saw Kakashi's silhouette, then full figure approaching. "How..."
"Simple. My doggies tracked by scent. If eyes fail, ears deaf, use what's left. Nose... I'll say once: Momochi Zabuza—you lost. Surrender! Went too far after attempting Fourth Mizukage assassination—became missing-nin, barely bought off pursuit in small countries like this. Useful executing Gato's scum orders, untouched, but... Ambitions and rage led here. End."
"Hm-hm-hm-hm..." He laughed strainedly, enduring dog bites, winced as jaws tightened, growling. "No reason surrender. Caught me, but alive—nothing over; ambitions remain..."
"Then repeat... Didn't live only by Sharingan. Show my original technique." Kakashi formed ox, then rabbit and monkey seals for quick chakra-to-lightning conversion. Tensing fully, concentrated chakra in hand. Used so much, visible unaided. Hand like ball lightning, prominences lashing. Blinding white glow; Kakashi's Kyū narrowed to one-meter dense chakra circle fueling technique, containing lightning.
"What... Crap?" Zabuza whispered, knowing strike meant certain death.
"Repeat: surrender or die! 'Raikiri'!" Kakashi said, dropping right hand, stabilized left. Chakra enveloped like lightning glove. Raising eyes, he emanated one intent...
Straightening, hands clasped at chest, I rolled neck. Felt not just power surge...
I didn't even know how to put it into words. Before, it was like I was two-dimensional, but now... Now I could feel a vortex of unimaginably powerful chakra spinning around me at tremendous speed, slicing through the air all the way to the heavens. My muscles felt like they'd all filled with blood at once, and my heart started pounding at a speed impossible for a normal human. I could feel the wrinkles—Kurama's Whiskers—on my face swelling up. Closing my eyes and opening them again, I sensed my vision sharpen dramatically. Fangs and claws grew out, and my fingers gained an extra phalange. My feet felt tight in my boots; I was bursting with power and energy.
Most importantly, I felt all of this as my own chakra, even though its nature was different. I could sense my Kyu had multiplied several times over, surpassing even Kakashi's.
I stood there, raising my hand to my face and staring at my claws, clenching and unclenching my fist a few times. At that moment, I also felt a slight tingling in the spots where Haku's needles had hit me. In an instant, I no longer felt wounded or even scratched, and steam rose from under my jacket collar. The mist around me vanished abruptly, and I looked at Haku, who was horrified. I couldn't see his face because of that damn mask, but with my heightened sensitivity, I knew he was terrified.
The chakra vortex around me stopped accelerating and coiled into a thick spiral, enveloping me from head to toe. Above my head, the chakra took on a strange shape like a ghostly fox face. And I heard a whisper in my mind...
"Now they will fear you."
With that, the Fox's head roared at full force, mouth wide open, and vanished. The frozen asphalt under my feet crunched pleasantly as I turned toward Haku.
He was disappearing into one mirror and reappearing in another, gradually picking up speed. Now I could see his instantaneous movements, and catching him was easier than whack-a-mole. With each teleport, he held more and more needles between his fingers, and finally, he attacked.
The needles flew toward me slowly but steadily.
This time, he wasn't holding back, aiming precisely for vital organs. Waiting until he circled around and threw from all sides, I abruptly swung my right clawed hand and spun 180 degrees.
The effect was like my hand breaking the sound barrier—which it didn't, though it moved extremely fast. I channeled a bit of chakra into the motion. Just a bit, relative to my current reserves, of course—and the shockwave of compressed air charged with chakra blasted all the needles away. Crouching slightly and extending my right arm forward, I prepared to catch the bastard.
He took a few seconds of teleporting to build speed and finally burst out of a mirror, flying past me. I pretended I couldn't track him, and he immediately repeated the maneuver, charging at me with a kunai in hand.
A step aside, a spin, and he flies past me as I grab his ankle.
"How?!" I heard him cry out, and yanking him toward me, I released his leg and slashed across his face with my free hand, claws extended. His mask shattered below the forehead, and four deep gashes appeared on his face. With my right hand, I grabbed his throat, but his hands were already forming seals, and an ice mirror appeared right under him. I wanted to smash his head into the asphalt, but instead, I accelerated his teleport. My hand's impact shattered the mirror, and he came flying at me from above at increased speed.
Landing behind me, he immediately thrust his kunai at my heart.
I managed to turn and grab his arm at the last moment, deflecting the strike left of my heart. A punctured lung is better than instant death, but though blood gushed out the moment he struck, I barely felt the pain, and steam rose from the wound.
What regeneration! Grinning, I crushed Haku's hand with all my strength, breaking his fingers and shattering the bones in his wrist.
"AAAAH!" he screamed in agony.
I could imagine... I even felt sorry for him, but I wasn't stopping.
Clenching my fist, I delivered a perfect straight punch to the solar plexus. The impact sound was stunning. Haku doubled over and went limp instantly, vomiting blood mixed with saliva and stomach contents. Releasing his kunai hand, I followed with an uppercut that launched him three meters into the air, sending him crashing into another mirror.
As he flew, I yanked out the kunai and watched with my own eyes as the wound sealed instantly.
He was almost inside the mirror. I leaped forward and, as he entered it, smashed it with full force. The mirror shattered despite its thickness, and Haku, somehow grouping up mid-air, flew out, did a somersault, and landed on his feet. Spitting more blood and a few teeth onto the ground, he tried to attack again, but I easily dodged another kunai from his sleeve. Surging forward, I grabbed his throat and, misjudging the force, dragged him several meters across the ground with my feet. Ending up near the bridge railing, I held the kid by the throat with one hand, barely feeling his weight.
My grip crushed his throat, but he...
This kid was smiling...
Despite the pain and difficulty breathing, he smiled, closed his eyes, and tried to say something, but he couldn't speak with my hand squeezing his throat.
Lowering his arms and dropping the kunai, he mouthed...
"Kill me..." I read his lips.
What a fucking psycho...
For a second, I squeezed his throat harder, but feeling him go limp and life draining from his body, I let go. The kid's body slumped at my feet and started coughing a few seconds later.
"Cough-cough... Cough..." Blood dripped abundantly from his mouth, nose, and face. He spat it out with each cough. Trying to push himself up with trembling arms, he spoke. "You... Cough-cough... Still haven't become a true shinobi..." Damn. How little must you value your life to keep pissing off your opponent with bullshit?! You're done! Game over! Stop begging for death. If the enemy doesn't finish you off, be grateful, you little fool!
"Shut up!" I shouted and smashed my fist into his head like a sledgehammer, knocking off the mask remnants. His head bounced like a ball on the asphalt, but... He was still alive. I could feel it, though for a second I panicked seeing blood pour from the gash on his head.
He's alive, like Sasuke.
The moment Haku lost consciousness, the ice mirrors melted, dousing Sasuke's body with cold water, making him shiver and moan faintly. I walked slowly toward his body. Inhale-exhale, and I dispersed most of the Fox's chakra, stabilizing my Kyu.
Just as he said, I could control it. Chakra control would need perfecting, but at a basic level, I felt no interference or mind-clouding emotions.
Fangs and claws retracted. Normal vision returned, narrowing my field of view significantly. Like switching from 120 to 90 FOV in a game. But the vigor and surge of strength remained. This power had almost no downsides, but my instincts told me not to abuse it.
Stretching again, I heard a strange sound like a nearby transformer sparking and breaking down, followed by a muffled impact.
Guessing what was up as the mist began to dissipate, I picked up Sasuke's body and headed toward Kakashi.
Charging at full speed, Kakashi slammed into Zabuza. At the last moment before impact, all the dogs vanished, and his lightning-enveloped hand pierced the swordsman's chest at heart level. Zabuza just cried out and dropped his sword. Lightning arced across his body, hair standing on end and starting to smoke faintly. His body went limp, convulsing for a few seconds before Kakashi dispelled the technique.
He'd pierced him clean through; Kakashi's gloved hand protruded from his back, fingers twitching slightly. Thick blood poured onto the ground. Right then, as they stood frozen for seconds and Kakashi yanked his hand out of Zabuza, I appeared on the horizon carrying Sasuke.
Zabuza's body hit the ground back-first into its own blood puddle with a thud, expelling other fluids seconds later. It looked nasty. Passing by toward Kakashi, I glanced at the corpse with the hole in its chest and winced involuntarily.
I'd seen plenty of bodies before, but it was still unpleasant. Especially in such a gruesome state.
"Naruto, you..." Kakashi started, looking at me, then shifted to Sasuke. "He's..."
"Seems alive, but... I think he needs medical help." I laid Sasuke's body down about ten meters from Zabuza's corpse, toward Sakura.
The mist had mostly cleared with his death, and visibility was good now. Seeing the scene, Sakura and the architect rushed toward us and Kakashi, who was already checking Sasuke.
"Sasuke!" Sakura yelled on the run, pulling off her medkit pouch. "Teacher Kakashi, he's alive, right? He's okay?!" Kakashi nodded, finishing checking pulse, eyes, and wounds. "Phew... Thank god."
"Sakura, get the hemostatic. I'm pulling out all these needles. Also need alcohol, cotton, bandages, syringe with painkiller and anti-inflammatory. And water here—the wounds need rinsing..." They started first aid while Tazuna and I just watched. "Naruto, where's the second one?"
"There..." I pointed the direction as Kakashi pulled another needle.
"He's dead?" he asked cautiously. I shook my head no.
"Seems badly wounded, but I didn't... Finish him, teacher." Kakashi nodded.
The mist finally cleared completely, and in the distance on the unfinished bridge side, I saw a crowd of people, plus dozens more climbing ropes and ladders toward us.
Getting closer, I saw a shorty in round black glasses, cane, and ridiculous mustache leading over a hundred armed thugs.
"Respected sirs, can I help you?!" I called out, stepping forward a few paces. A few assholes raised weapons openly and laughed. Kakashi, Sakura, and Tazuna noticed the mob too.
"Damn... That's Gato!" Tazuna said.
"That shorty?" I said, lying. I'd recognized him almost immediately from the anime. He didn't look much different. Tazuna nodded. "Came to check the work himself... Interesting. Sakura, Teacher Kakashi, cover Mr. Tazuna. I'll handle this rabble."
"Heh... You got this?" Kakashi clarified, lowering his Leaf headband back over his left eye. I nodded and stepped forward a few more paces.
"So that's how it is..." Gato said, stopping and peering over my shoulder. "Looks like the legendary swordsman lost to a bunch of kids and one Leaf ninja. Pathetic sight... Where's that pretty boy who was always with him? Dead too?"
"Repeating the question, gentlemen. Can I help you?" I said, clenching my fist. "If not, get the hell out. Bridge is closed to visitors—emergency on site." The whole mob laughed.
"You better scram, kid, while you're whole. We've got 150 here! Looks like three of you, four with the old man. Just drop him and go while I'm nice! I'm giving you foreigners this chance 'cause I don't need your lives. Otherwise... I don't care who I finish off. Mist losers or Konoha ones."
"So that's it..."
"No mission's worth dying stupidly. Last chance... Get lost! Leaf shinobi!"
"Refuse!" I shouted. "You dumb little fuck have no idea who you're talking to! 150? Ha! Trash. Even if you had half a thousand, maybe a chance... Against me alone. Don't underestimate a shinobi!"
"Ha-ha-ha... Alright, kid... Impress me." He flicked two fingers my way, and ten thugs with various weapons stepped forward against me.
I formed the blade seal for a second, gathering chakra in key spots.
I dodged the first axeman on the run. The second with a sword got a shove to the side right after missing me. Like dancing, I evaded the third's one-handed spear. I was moving at max speed without extra Fox chakra boost. Using my reworked chakra overflowing me, but without power I didn't already have. Elbowed the third in the back and charged the fourth, who was in some guard and swinging a full halberd. I jabbed four fingers into his throat, dropping him limp, gathered chakra in my leg, and soccer-kicked the bastard into two others who toppled like pins under his body. Dodging another swordsman, I spotted the ones I'd left behind catching up. A spinning sweep dropped them all. Next got a nose strike, I swept his legs, hoisted his falling body on my shoulders, and tossed him into the pile. Then I drew three kunai and precisely pinned the legs of three charging idiots.
One farther back grabbed a crossbow. Spotting it, I rushed him, but the bastard fired, and the bolt was faster than expected—barely enough even for my speed. It grazed over my forehead, tearing my headband and leaving a cut. The headband clanged to the ground, and stumbling slightly, I reached the crossbow asshole and uppercut him into the air at his own height. A few decided to get up and attack again...
Bad move.
I deftly caught one swordsman's arm, sidestepping the attack line, twisted his wrist hard, locked his arm under mine, and elbow-smashed the joint, breaking it. Added a groin shot and jaw strike.
Another raised an ax from behind. Mimicking Sasuke's style, I dropped to all fours and kicked upward, disarming him. Smart one—he rushed to grapple as I stood. Tried using mass against a kid, but palm strikes to the ears and elbow to the nape dropped him limp. Finished with knee to groin and face.
Turning to the stunned mob who'd frozen for half a minute and wouldn't approach, I drew my katana from my back sheath, glaring at them from under my brow.
"Wanna try fighting fair?" I asked, extending my sword arm, releasing two fingers to form a cross seal. "Mass Shadow Clone Technique!" I shouted, creating about two hundred clones who quickly formed up, each holding a copy of my katana.
The clones stepped forward in sync, slashing air and yelling "HA!" For intimidation...
It worked. Gato and the thugs bolted at top speed, even fighting over boat spots. Only then did I dispel and return to Kakashi and the others, sheathing my sword.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had come to, though moving was still hard. Seeing me, he was surprised for a second, then just smirked, closed his eyes, and smiled. Sakura was busy rebandaging him.
"Let's go..." Kakashi called me. He gestured for Tazuna to follow. I got it immediately and led him to Haku's body.
Checking pulse and examining him, Kakashi gave the verdict.
"Alive, but not for long. Without help, an hour, maybe less. End?" I swallowed. I'd hit him too hard. "Want me to finish him?" Kakashi asked, turning to us and the architect.
"Teacher Kakashi... You..." I started, but he cut me off.
"I'm asking the client, Naruto—Mr. Tazuna. His call. Note: as long as the kid lives, he might try killing you later. Revenge at least..."
"He's... Just a child..." Tazuna murmured.
"He's a shinobi first, and dangerous. Decide fast. I can save him or..."
"No!" Tazuna blurted, eyes squeezed shut, fist clenched. "No matter what... Killing kids... That's inhuman. Help him, Kakashi-san." Kakashi nodded.
In the end... We sorted all that crap successfully, which I was thrilled about on the last day of our mission at the bridge opening. It was unofficial, but the bridge was fully ready on September 5th. The fights delayed construction a bit.
Those two thugs I tied up near the architect's house helped a lot—they were Gato's personal bodyguards and spilled to the local mayor, who passed it on. Kakashi and Tazuna handled negotiations. Agreed on hefty compensation for the architect, covering Leaf shinobi hire too. And ignoring Haku, per our request. He woke in the local hospital a week later. Kakashi talked to him, even took him to the basement holding those thugs, who repeated Gato planned to screw Zabuza and kill him and Haku post-bridge fight.
Surprisingly, he took it calmly, didn't even go after the scum. Took Zabuza's death calmly too. Spent minutes alone with the body, then wanted to bury him himself, sharing their meeting story.
No official bridge name yet—Tazuna brushed off questions, saying it'd be a surprise.
We left the Land of Waves on foot over the new bridge. Zabuza was buried on a hill right after, in the border zone between Wave and Fire.
Haku planted his Kubikiribōchō in the ground, piling stones around. His hand still healing from our fight (in a cast), he touched the stones with his left, used ice release, poured in tons of chakra, creating a pure, transparent ice cairn with half the sword protruding.
"Rest in peace, Zabuza-sensei." He said, and we all paid final respects with prayer. Total asshole, but he did a lot good for Haku.
"What now?" I asked.
"Think I'll find my path. First, clean out our Water Country hideouts and..." He faltered, glancing at Kakashi. "Sorry, but I won't let Gato live. Not right now..." He clenched his fist. "But I'll come back for him..."
"Fair enough. Your right." Kakashi exhaled. "But remember... Revenge never made anyone happy."
And on the horizon, our village gates appeared. Konoha...
Finally back...
Am I glad? Really...
Yeah... Seems I really am.
Didn't expect that from myself.
Damn, I was even glad to see the old geezer's face!
Never thought so, but this village really became home...
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan