Chapter 25: The Kyuubi's Resolve
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The team walked through the dirt ground as they made their way to the Land of Waves. They were taking their sweet time making their way to their rightful destination.
"We're about just in the territory." They nodded, noticing the slight mist roaming around the air. After a few more minutes of walking, they had finally caught sight of something from afar.
"Over there," said Tazuna, pointing right at the bottom of the bridge. There was a man there, waiting for them to arrive in time. They nodded and went towards the boat.
"Hello, Tazuna."
"Hello to you, too." They all got on the boat, slowly rowing down the waters of the wave. This did raised very large suspicion and had questions looming right over their heads.
"Why are we going so slow and why are we so quiet?" Asked Sakura, using a very quiet tone of hers. Tazuna and the man sighed, knowing that this was a time for explanation.
"This is so we don't get caught. People are after Tazuna for some odd reason." Sakura nodded at that explanation that was courtesy from Kakashi himself. He looked at Tazuna.
"I'll ask this nicely. Why are you being chased after? Who are you being chased after by? If you don't answer these two simple questions, I'll end this mission once we reach shoreline." Tazuna gulped, nodding his head knowing that this was bound to happen sooner or later.
"Fine, Fine. I'll give you an explanation, said Tazuna, readying himself for this deep and detailed explanation.
"This man that arrived at our country just over a year ago is responsible for all of this shenanigans that is currently happening." Kakashi raised an eyebrow, curious on what he was talking about.
"Who was it?"
"He was named Gato, one of the most richest businessmen in the entire nations." Kakashi slightly widened his eyes, now learning of this bit of information that Tazuna was talking about.
"When he came to our country just over a year ago, he took seize and control of everything in the Land of Waves. Be it being the economy, people, everything. The reason is because the Land of Waves is a country that is not connected to any other nation and is just an island." They nodded. Tazuna pointed towards the bridge that was right above them all.
They all looked up.
"But this bridge is what Gato fears. If this bridge is completed, everything that he has gained via drug-trafficking, illegal sales, etc — it will all be wiped due to the Land of Waves being connected to a nation." They were finally getting it now.
They suddenly entered a tunnel. Everyone looked at the front, wondering what could possibly be at the end of said tunnel. Once they got out of the exit, they saw the mist that was around them before magically be no longer there.
Everything was so vibrant and bright.
"We're almost there," said Kakashi, getting nods from the others. Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura got theirselves ready just incase they were going to be engaging into another battle.
They soon made it back on land where they actually belonged on.
"Alright, this is the stop. Now get off." Naruto could feel it — the man was scared beyond insanity. They all got off of the boat and once again walked on land.
"Keep guard," told Kakashi, getting another 4 nods from them all. They all walked around Tazuna as they entered a forest of some sorts. They all kept on walking on and on.
Naruto suddenly heard a bush rustle.
He pulled out a kunai from his holster and threw it towards the rustling bushes. They all turned at Naruto, slightly startled. Everyone eyed at Naruto, wondering what he had just heard.
"What the hell! You scared the hell out me!" Tazuna yelled with his eyes wide open. Naruto shrugged, walking in deeper to observe what was making the bushes rustle.
Naruto peered and saw. . .
A rabbit!
"Naruto, you almost killed a rabbit!" Sakura berated him, annoyed at what he had almost done to the poor rabbit. Though it seemed like Naruto didn't really care.
No, I was sure that someone was there. Naruto thought, eyeing the rabbit with his analytical eyes. The rabbit was pure-snow white. That was just very odd for Naruto.
Hm? A snow rabbit? It's quite sunny out here and it's not winter either. Then that must mean. . . Kakashi thought, suspiciously narrowing his eyes as he looked around the area for any suspicious movement.
They are already here. He thought. Kakashi then suddenly saw very large blade get thrown at them all.
"Watch out!" The all reacted immediately and ducked down, wondering what the hell was going on. Oh, it was just them being in danger once again. No big deal.
They all looked where Kakashi was looking at.
Everyone looked even further and saw the blade get rammed into the tree and getting itself stuck on it. Naruto narrowed his eyes, noticing a person suddenly appearing right on the hilt of the blade.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at him.
"Momochi Zabuza, a rogue-nin of Kirigakure." They widened their eyes, knowing that they were in very serious trouble. Zabuza had bandages that covered his mouth and a slashed forehead proctor.
"Kakashi of the Sharingan, pleasure to meet you." Satsuki widened her eyes. She looked at Kakashi with narrowed eyes at him. There were many things going through her head.
Sharingan? How? He's not from the Uchiha Clan. Satsuki thought, wanting to know more on how he had the Sharingan. Kakashi sloly placed his fingertips right over his forehead proctor that was covering his left eye.
"Quick, get into Manji Formation. Stay out of this fight." They nodded, getting into the formation that Kakashi had ordered them to use. Naruto stood at the middle while the other two stood right beside him.
"If we're going to fight, I'll have to use this." Kakashi pulled up his forehead proctor, revealing a Sharingan with 3-tomoes. Naruto saw this and internally noted this to himself.
Does he know about the Mangekyou Sharingan? Naruto thought, wondering if he too had access to the Mangekyou Sharingan like Obito. You might be wondering how Naruto knows about the Mangekyou Sharingan.
Well, it's quite simple really.
Madara told him about the eyes that surpassed the basic 3-levels of the Sharingan.
"It seems I'll be witnessing the power of the Sharingan in action. Quite an honor." Zabuza was still standing right on the blade that he had thrown earlier ago.
Sakura had many questions pop around her head on what they were talking about.
"What is a Sharingan that you're talking about?" Satsuki was about to explain a basic understanding of what the Sharingan is, but it seems Naruto has other ideas and did it himself.
"The Sharingan is a Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan that Satsuki is in. But you can just call it a doujutsu. Like any other Kekkei Genkai, a Sharingan is very unique to the Uchiha Clan. They get special properties from having the said eye." Satsuki narrowed her eyes at Naruto.
"Their visual prowess is practically limitless when using it. Their perception is heightened to very large lengths. They can even copy jutsus from other people. Though they are not able to copy other Kekkei Genkais or their jutsus. And they can also use very high-level genjutsu with just their eyes alone. A person with Sharingan can cast a genjutsu that is many levels better than any ordinary genjutsu used with hand seals." Satsuki widened her eyes, suspicious at the amount of knowledge that Naruto holds of the Uchiha Clan.
Kakashi also was surprised at this amount of knowledge. This also didn't help Naruto's case at all. Mist started to form all around them in the deepest parts of the area.
"It seems like I'll have to kill you first." Zabuza disappeared alongside the blade that he had. They all looked around, silently looking around them with much seriousness.
They then barely saw Zabuza standing right on top of the water. He then started to build masses amount of chakra all around him. Kakashi slightly widened both of his eyes.
Then just a moment later, he disappeared in utter silence. They then saw the mist thicken and get larger by the second.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Yelled Sakura, seeing him disappear and get engulfed by the mist. They barely had anywhere to go at all. They were all trapped around this mist!
"Eight points; Larynx, Spine, Lungs, Liver, Jugular, Subclavian artery, Kidneys, Heart." Zabuza's voice rang throughout the entire battlefield. Everyone tensed up at such a feeling surrounding their very core.
After a few more moments, the mist started to back away due to Kakashi charging large amounts of chakra. Satsuki was in absolute terror right now.
This feeling, this bloodlust. It was just like the feeling from that day. Satsuki thought, her heart was beating at a tremendous rate right now. She couldn't control the feeling of such dread.
"Wha?" She suddenly felt a hand right on her shoulder.
It was Naruto's.
He clenched his hand firmly,gazing at Satsuki with such intensity. "Calm down, Satsuki. You have us here, It'll be fine." How? How can Naruto be so calm in such a life or death situation?
His somehow got herself to regulate her breathing to a much more calmer state. Kakashi saw this whole exchanged and was impressed by Naruto's ability to handle the situation.
"Satsuki, Sakura." They suddenly heard their names get called out by Naruto. He slowly inhaled and exhaled. Naruto pulled out a kunai from his holster.
"Follow my lead. There is a high chance he will appear right in the center of this Manji Formation." They nodded with a hint of fear of both sides. Naruto had whispered this to the point where Zabuza wouldn't be able to hear.
He was a master of silent killing. With just one clean cut, you will be only considered a new corpse that has past away.
"You're all dead," said Zabuza appearing right in the center of their formation. He saw the eyes of Naruto just before he made his move to kill them all in a single swing.
Hm? He figured out where I was going? How? Zabuza had no time to think once more before he suddenly saw Kakashi intervene by stabbing a kunai right in his lungs.
Everyone stood back from the fight between these two high-level ninja that existed in the Elemental Nations. They felt the cold and silent air loom around them all.
But this fight was far from over.
Water dripped from Zabuza's stab instead of the expected blood that would spill out. But it was just simply a water clone that was used as an act of diversion.
"Behind you!"
The real Zabuza was right behind him and swung his blade cleanly through Kakashi's entire body. But it was soon found out that this Kakashi was merely a water clone also.
He widened his eyes.
That copy cat — he saw through everything with such precision. A kunai was focused at the front of his neck. "You're finished. Give up immediately." Kakashi had a serious tone right along with it.
There was a moment of silence.
"Kakashi, you're good. But. . ." Another Zabuza appeared right behind him. Kakashi widened his eyes, seeing the one in front of him suddenly turn into water.
"Not that good!" Zabuza swung his blade and aimed it to slice Kakashi apart. He ducked down, dodging the potential fatal blow that was coming from Zabuza.
Kakashi was about to attack, but was suddenly thrown away by Zabuza's foot. He landed right on the water. The water engulfed his entire body. Kakashi tried getting up slowly.
This water. . . It's way too heavy. Kakashi thought, suddenly widened his eyes as Zabuza appeared right behind him. "You're a fool, Hatake Kakashi!" He started to weave a multitude of hand seals.
Snake → Ram → Horse → Hare → Ram → Horse → Hare → Snake → Ox → Clap Hands
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu" Kakashi was now floating and encased inside a floating orb of water. He slightly gritted his teeth slightly, now knowing he was trapped.
He couldn't move at all. Kakashi looked at everyone.
"Guys! Get out! You have to get away from here! There's no time!" Kakashi yelled towards them. Zabuza created another water clone right next to him. The said clone then launched itself right in front of the other 4.
The water clone of Zabuza gazed at them with such intensity.
"You 3. . . acting like big shots just after becoming genins." There was a very deadly and sharp tone behind Zabuza's voice. Shit, they were in such a dangerous situation.
This isn't like the survival exercise that we all had experienced. Kakashi was barely using his full power. Fuck! I can;t believe this! Naruto thought, yelling at himself as he was starting to feel it.
The fear.
The other two were also feeling it. Satsuki gritted her teeth, analyzing the situation at hand.
There is no escape. Even if we flee, he'll track us down in no time. All we have to do a counterattack is now. But how will do it? Satsuki thought, gulping down the lump right on her throat.
This was way too fucking dangerous for them. But they had to do it. To save Kakashi.
"Do you know the Village hidden in the Mist? Kirigakure? That place is something you all can't handle at all. Do you know what you had to do to pass the graduation exam?" The clone held the blade very tightly.
Kakashi widened his eyes.
"We had to kill each other." The others widened their eyes, surprised at this information at hand. Naruto gritted his teeth slight, looking at the clone that was talking to them.
"You won;t ever get the feeling of killing everyone that you grew up with in utter cold blood. This is the power of a true ninja. Not some idiotic fresh meat that I can kill at any second." They all had eyes full of terror.
The only way I'll be ever to even go toe-to-toe with this lunatic is if I use. . . the Sharingan. Naruto thought. No, there is no way he can use that and risk the idea of showing them.
But he had to. No, no, he couldn't do it. He had to. No. But he had to. No. Had to. No. No. To, to, to, to. No, no, no,no!
"You're hesitating like a coward." Naruto slightly widened his eyes, hearing the voice that entered his head. He knew who this voice belonged to.
"Kyuubi. What?" There was no doubt about it.
"Yes, it's me. Who else do you think it is?!" He roared throughout Naruto's mind. But this did not shake off the feeling of Naruto's current dread.
"What do you want?" Asked Naruto, feeling his heart beat like fucking Namikaze Minato. Any moment now, Naruto could be killed in just a split second.
"Like I said, you're hesitating like a coward."
"What is that supposed to mean."
"It's simple: You're being a fucking coward! Do you hear me?! You're hesitating in a situation where you shouldn't be hesitating! You never hesitated when you killed your grandmother. You never hesitated when you beat the shit out of those arrogant graduates. What's different now?!" Naruto felt the Kyuubi roar in his own mind.
"This is different! I'm fighting against a killer. This is out of my league." He heard the Kyuubi growl loudly.
"Then use your accursed doujutsu. Use your fucking head." Naruto gritted his teeth. No, he couldn't use it. "I can't use it at all! I can't risk revealing anything!" He could practically see the Kyuubi grab the bars and giving him an ominous glare in return.
"Do it. Now! I won't let myself die and wait to reform because of your stupid decisions! Do you hear me?! I am the Kyuubi! I fear absolutely no body!" Naruto froze, looking at the ground as everything felt frozen in time.
Fear. Fear. Fear. Fear. Naruto hardened his features, knowing he had to meet the expectations now. He quickly made up his mind. Naruto threw his backpack on the ground, clenching his fists tightly.
"We're not running away. There is no time for a Manji Formation. Satsuki is with me. Sakura, defend that damn old man with everything you have." Naruto huffed, feeling the fear slowly subside.
"You know, you might not be so bad after all. Fucking softy." Naruto thought, looking at the ground as the Kyuubi yelled in his own brain. He swallowed the lump that was in his throat.
"Oh? Are you going to fight someone out of your league? Bring it." Satsuki looked at Naruto, his bangs shadowing right over his eyes. He was thinking at any possible moves that he can use.
There were many.
"6 years," said Naruto, a small huff at the end. This caused them to raise an eyebrow at what he meant. "6 whole long year that I managed to keep my shit a secret." They narrowed their eyes at him.
What does he mean by that?
"But I guess the ninja world has finally caught up to me. Yes, it's finally time." Naruto started to slowly raise his head up towards the water clone of Zabuza.
"I'll show you the power of my eyes — the real power of Uchiha Naruto." His Sharingan flared to life.
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AN(Shaxoss):
Naruto has finally revealed that he is an Uchiha. You might be wondering, why doesn't he just cover his fucking eyes with his hand? Simple.
His hand would've been holding him back. He would have to be careful on how fought since his hand could be knocked away at any given time.