Now What Have I Gotten Myself Into? ~Enter Konoha's number one knuckle head

14

Chapter 14

Feeling Zabuza's blade come through the air, I leap backwards out of it's reach just long enough for it to safely pass by me. Pushing my chakra into my feet I chakra step up to him. Bringing my left blade down towards him. Hearing him chuckle just before his hand grabs the back of my hair and his knee shoves into my ribs. I could hear the sickening cracking of bones even before I am released from his hold. "Now this is to repay you!" He snarls. Fighting to breathe I feel his foot raise through the motions of kicking me. Dropping to the ground I let his kick pass over me before shoving with my hands off the ground and into the air. Successfully jumping back out of his reach coughing.

"Kira!" Naruto's shout echoes around me as I hold my ribs. I really wish all of the yelling would stop so I can focus. Tch.

"Listen, get the bridge builder and run! You can't win this fight! He's using all of his power to keep me in this prison so he can only fight you with his water clone but the clone can't go far from his real body, if you get away from him he cant follow. Now run!" Kakashi's voice was panicked. Worried for our safety. Growling I slide my blades back into their sheaths before raising my right hand towards my face.

"Don't you remember Kakashi. We're a team. I will never turn my back on a comrade!" With a smirk I wipe the blood from my chin. Zabuza just seems to chuckle.

"You say that but you rid yourself of your weapons? Either your stupid or the pain of your broken bones are clouding your judgment." Shaking my head I bend my knees ready to attack.

"Actually, I'm neither." I snap at him before running towards him. The eyes of my team, no, the eyes of my comrades are on me. Watching this. They aren't spiteful or hateful right now. I won't turn tail and run! I claim silently to myself. As I felt Zabuza's clone shift to block any attack I push chakra to my feet once again and leap into the air with a smirk. Moving my hands I perform the seals Rat, Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, Tiger. Building Chakra in my stomach I take in a deep breath before moving my right hand towards my mouth. Phoenix Flower Jutsu! I shout in my head just as I began blowing concentrated bursts of flames firing them at Zabuza's clone. Following it's every move. With the fifth ball I reach behind me withdrawing a kunai and paper bomb. I prepare the two quickly before throwing it with the last ball of fire.

Flipping backwards I land on one knee touching my chest where my broken ribs are. "Boom." I mutter just before the explosion takes place. All I could feel as I stood was the flames from the explosion. The burst of wind whipping my hair around. A sudden shift in the already movement ridden battle ground catches my attention. Diving forward I feel his foot slice through the air mere millimeters from my back. Planting my hands on the ground I spin my body as I shove myself back into the air. This time flying towards him as I pull one of my blades. As I feel him reach for me I grab his arm and use it to give me enough leverage to divert my decent. Burying my blade into the clone's chest just before my feet touch the wet ground my free hand now moving back to my painful ribs. A kick to my back caught me off guard knocking the air from my lungs sending me flying. A sudden burst of white flashed in front of my eyes as I hit something hard. "... A.. third clone?" I whimper reaching up to my forehead protector and lifting it up to clear my view. I found my eyes widen when I realize that as I had kept Zabuza's clones busy the others had freed Kakashi. The one that had struck me was somehow the real Zabuza. My vision fades in and out as I tried to stand.

"Kira!" I heard Naruto yell before turning to run to me. As Kakashi was now fighting Zabuza. Damn it! I shout at myself as my vision darkens again, yet this time it doesn't come back.

*

Slowly opening my eyes I groan at the stinging caused by the bright sun shining through a window where I was laying. "Damn, it's hard to breathe." I mutter before setting up, wincing now from how sore I still am. I move my hand to my chest to feel bandages now wrapping around my torso. "So that's why." I mutter to myself before standing, finding my ninja outfit cleaned and folded next to the futon I had been laying on. Reaching into my ninja pouch that was laying on top of my clothes I pull out a kunai. Cutting myself free from the restraints so I could freely take in a deep refreshing breath. Looking down at myself I notice the bruises covering me from my right shoulder down over my collar bone, coating my stomach purple. I find myself smirking at how bruised I am, before pressing my right index finger and thumb into my chest feeling around my ribs. Just to make sure they were healed and I, was just sore. Nodding in satisfaction I retrieve my clothes to get dressed before leaving the room to find the others.