CHAPTER 7:
SHINSO KEN
All three of us got ready. I handed both Shino and Hinata modified explosive tags. Because Sasuke and Naruto were inside, we could not use regular tags. But making modifying tags was quite easy for me. Both of them nodded and places the tags on the ice mirrors.
We are done. They signaled while jumping back.
"Katsu," I said while making the hand seal.
BOOM.BOOM.
The ice mirrors were blown to smithereens. All three of us moved in. I wasted no time in getting behind Naruto, who was still radiating nine-tail's chakra, and hit him in the back of the head, before he could react, he was knocked out. The pressure of the oppressive chakra started fading as well. Hinata immediately picked up Sasuke but was seen by Haku, who threw several senbon needles toward her.
I shunshined between them and blocked them with my sword. Hinata nodded towards me and took off carrying Sasuke with her. Shino also took Naruto to Sakura and handed him to her. Sakura, Hinata, and the bridgebuilder were now retreating.
Haku was fast. He tried to rush towards them, trying to cut off their escape. But was blocked by me as I threw several shurikens and attacked him with my sword.
CLANG.
He dodged the shuriken and parried my strike with a senbon. I could see his eyes widening slightly, through the slits in his mask.
"Well, it seems you are faster than the Uchiha?" his voice was cold as ice. His expression is still hidden from us. Suddenly his eyes narrowed as he threw several senbon in the air. One could have missed it but all of them were aimed at kikaichu.
"It appears that your teammate is from the famous Aburame clan. These insects have chakra in them. How intriguing." I could feel Shino stiffening behind me. The element of surprise was lost.
I tried to assess his intentions, "Well, yes they are quite intriguing but still not as interesting as a descendent of the infamous Yuki clan."
My sword was still in my hand, "And looking at your aim, I have to thank you for sparing my comrade. For that, I give you the opportunity to surrender. The bridge builder has escaped. I don't think, you can complete your objective now."
I could see him stiffening, as I blurted out his secret. He stiffened and started making hand seals with both hands, simultaneously. That was a lost art, replaced by two-handed seals because of their efficiency and ease.
"I am afraid I can not do that. I have been ordered by Zabuza-sama to kill the bridge builder and now you stand in my way."
I also got ready, my blade going back into its sheath as crouched down, into my stance.
"Shino, stay back." His Kikaichu could not survive in such a cold environment. Using them would require too much chakra in this situation which he should not waste.
"Ice style. Thousand needles of death." Haku finished and several thin needles of ice were aimed at me. I threw used substitution Jutsu to get out of the way. Molding my chakra.
"Ninpo; Rushed gale." Pushing chakra into my blade and my newly made scabbard. I was in front of him, my sword aimed at his neck. He tried to parry it but, his senbon broke on contact. He tried to jump back but the sword still found its mark.
HE jumped back and I could see a deep gash on one side of his chest. He was shocked at the power of my strike. I did not give him time to breathe as I rushed toward him once more. But this time he made several hand seals and the water froze in the air and rushed toward me
"Ice style: Destructive scythes."
I ducked under the first one but had to block the next two with my sword. Halting my approach. From the exchange, it was evident that I was better at short range, while most of Hakus's attacks gave him an advantage at long range. The speed advantage he had against Sasuke was lost against me.
"It seems I have underestimated you," He spoke.
I grinned, "Well, I never said I was not intriguing myself."
"Then I must take this seriously as well," he made a couple of hand seals, and three clones formed from the surrounding water. Two of them rushed towards me, as the third one aimed several senbon at me.
It was time to get serious as well. I made the necessary hand seals,
"Partial transformation Jutsu." Two more pairs of hands sprouted from my shoulders, blocking the attack from the two clones. I slashed with my sword., and they morphed back into the water. I jumped back to avoid the senbon. Taking my favorite dice from my pocket, I help them between my fingers, lightening the chakra and lacing my fingers and the dice.
"Lightening style: Railgun,"
And it vanished from my fingers, destroying the last clone as well. Haku was shocked, it was visible from his posture. The partial transformations vanished. I landed on the ground, crouched, and got into position once more. And vanished once more.
But this time my strike was off, missing his mask, as he saw this as an opportunity and rushed toward me. I grinned, as I made the hand seal.
"Ninpo: Sealed slash." And suddenly Haku was cut across the face. His speed saved him as he jumped backward once more. A slash of chakra at the place I struck, was visible.
Haku was now bleeding profusely from his shoulder. His mask was cut as well. He was clutching his bleeding shoulder. His breathing was now labored. Fury and surprise are visible across his face. He was painting.
"Still not thinking about surrendering," I questioned.
His expression contorted. And he began making hand seals.
"I can not fail Zabuza-sama. It seems that I have to kill you."
He started making hand seals once more. But this time the chakra he was gathering was massive. Whatever jutsu he was about to use was going to be huge. I could tell that this was his last big move. Whatever his Kekkei Genkai may be, his reserves should be diminished by quite a lot.
I had to strike as well, I stuck my blade into the scabbard. I pushed the chakra into the scabbard, but instead of the regular chakra. It was lightning natured. The scabbard gained a purplish hue. Lightning dances across.
This is still incomplete, but let's hope it works.
"Ice style.."
"Lightning style .."
"SHINO KUN, LOOK OUT!," Shino's warning came too late as Suddenly I was kicked in the gut. I rolled off the ground. My Jutsu was cut short as Shino rushed toward me.
But instead of attacking me, the newcomer vanished and appeared beside Haku holding his hand firmly stopping him from making further hand seals.
"It seems the reports were right, Zabuza did find a Yuki stray." He said while Haku tried to struggle but the man just struck his leg, probably fracturing it.
"Ahhh.." Haku's shout reverberated across the bridge. I could see two other shinobi appear on the other side of the bridge as well. So, no help from Kurenai and Kakashi could be expected.
"Hmm, Lady Mizukage will be pleased."
Haku was still struggling. But the man was restraining him effortlessly. He wore purple armor, visible under the black cloak. His face had several scars, and his forehead protector had the symbol of Kirigakure. His age and skill meant that he was at least a Tokubetsu jounin.
My hand was still in pain due to the discontinuation of the Jutsu. There were small burn marks on both of my palms. I could not flex my hand normally. Shino handed me my sword. From his posture, I could tell that he was anxious as well.
I took my sword and stood up. My reserves were still at halfway point. I had several smoke bombs and explosive tags in my pocket. I began to make plans for a retreat if possible.
The jounin suddenly looked at me, his eyes piercing.
"Sorry to barge in on the fun, But I have my orders to recover this little gremlin." He spoke, his sharp teeth visible through his smile.
I stayed quiet, he continued looking at me and his smile widened.
"Hmm, it seems you are not stupid. Plus, you did put this gremlin here through the rudder," he continued in his drawled voice.
"So, why don't you give me a demonstration." He said while hitting Haku on the healthy shoulder. He dislocated it. He turned towards me. A grin still adorned his face.
Shino nodded toward me.
BOOM.
He threw a smoke bomb covering us both.
"Oh, don't try to run away now. I don't bite."
From the smoke Shino rushed at him, attacking him with his kikaichu.
Aburame clan arts: Beetle swarm.
The intruder just made some hand seals.
Water style: water bullet.
He shot several bullets causing the swarms to disperse. He then vanished and was in front of Shino. But before he could land a hit.
Ninpo: Rushed gale.
I was between them, forcing him to block my attack with a kunai. His eyes narrowed and the smile across his face spread wide, his shiny sharp teeth visible in full.
"Oh, that was fast.. ." But before he could continue speaking a shout was heard from the other side.
"DISENGAGE AND MOVE OUT!"
"Cht. Just as I was about to have some fun." He disengaged and jumped back towards Haku who was still grunting from the pain.
"Tell me your name kid, I am kinda excited to see where you end up," he spoke as he sound Haku on his shoulder.
I looked at him. In shinobi, this was a sign of respect. He was asking for my name so he could stock me through Bingo book entries If I became infamous enough to gain one.
"Shinso Ken, my name is Shinso Ken," I replied. He nodded his head and turned away.
"You can search my name on the bingo book from your village," He said and after giving me a last glance he vanished along with the other two shinobi on the other side of the bridge.
I was tired. My chakra levels were low, but not dangerously low. Yet the biggest pain was from my hands. There were several burn marks, on both of them, and now blood was dripping from the blisters.
This is going to take a while.
As my vision blurred. I could see Sensei moving toward us. Shino put an arm around me, stopping me from head-butting the bridge.
"Are both of you fine?" Kurenai sensei asked. My vision was still blurry.
"Shinso Kun is injured. But nothing is life-threatening," Shino told sensei as he eased me into a sitting position against the railing.
I could hear, sensei's sigh of relief.
"Shinso," but I could not respond to her even if I tried to as the darkness assaulted me. Well, at least I survived fighting two Tokubetsu jounins. That calls for some rest.
0000000
And that is it. Two chapters and two fights. As you know I am just starting so comment and give me your thoughts.
I think Haku was nerfed in Naruto. It is alleged that one of the mizukages was a Yuki. So, being trained by Zabuza since the age of 5. I expect him to be at least Tokubetsu jounin.
You can support me on Patreon and read ahead. Kudos.
www.patre0n.com/drkest.