The Tale Of Naruto Uzumaki

Chapter 11: Battle At The Bridge

Kakashi: Ok, I'll leave Naruto in your hands. He might not be able to move at all today, he overdid it as usual.
Cut to Naruto sleeping and snoring.
Tsunami: What about you? You're still recovering.
Kakashi: I'll be okay.
Tazuna: Alright, let's go.
Sakura, Sasuke, Tazuna, and Kakashi head to the bridge. Tsunami goes back into the house.
Cut to Gato sitting on his chair.
Gato: (on a walkie-talkie) Still sitting there licking your wounds, Zabuza? I hired you to do a job.
Cut to Zabuza, Haku, and Kashimo Kansi on a boat under the bridge.
Gato: (voiceover) Are you listening, Zabuza? Hey!
Zabuza crushes the walkie-talkie with his foot.
Zabuza: Haku, you ready?
Haku: (masked) Yes.
Cut to Naruto waking up.
Naruto: Why didn't someone wake me up?
Naruto runs to the kitchen where Tsunami is.
Naruto: Where is everybody? Where'd they all go?
Tsunami: (turning around) Oh, Naruto, your sensei wanted to let you rest. You got the day off.
Naruto: Knew it, they ditched me.
Naruto zips up his jumpsuit and fixes his headband.
Naruto: See ya.
Naruto leaves. Cut to Inari in his room, hearing Naruto leave.
Inari: Naruto...
Cut to Naruto running through the trees towards the bridge. He sees a dead boar.
Naruto: Huh?
Cut to Team 7 and Tazuna at the bridge.
Tazuna: Hold on, what the hell is this?
Tazuna's workers are all laying on the bridge knocked out.
Cut back to Tazuna's house.
Tsunami: (yelling) Inari, could you give me a hand here? Inari!
Inari: (offscreen) I'm coming down, give me a second.
Two of Gato's thugs show up at Tazuna's house, drawing their swords.
Cut to the bridge. The mist is picking up, making it hard to see.
Kakashi: This mist... Sakura, Sasuke, get ready. I knew he was still alive. He just couldn't wait for round two.
Sasuke: (pulling out kunai) Hah.
Zabuza: (voiceover) Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi. I see you still have those brats with you.
Zabuza's water clones surround them.
Sasuke: (thinking) I can see them.
Zabuza: Oh, so you can see their water clones, huh? The brats are improving.
Kashimo: Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja, nice to meet you.
Kakashi: Huh? Who are you?
Kashimo: I'm Kashimo Kansi, Gato's strongest soldier.
Sakura gets mad, remembering Kaiza.
Cut back to Naruto heading to Tazuna's house, sensing something's wrong.
Naruto: (jumping through trees) Ahh, I really hope I'm not too late.
Cut back to Team 7 showdown. Sakura and Sasuke are staring down the group.
Kakashi: Well, well, so I had it right. So it was all an act, Zabuza.
Zabuza: An act?
Kakashi: With a cute little mask.
Sakura: (doesn't understand) Huh?
Sasuke: You big phony, huh?
Tazuna: So I guess all that about being a tracker ninja protecting his village was just a bunch of bull.
Kakashi: They look pretty chummy to me.
Kashimo: (yelling) Hey, I'm still here!
Tazuna: Kashimo!
Kakashi: Tazuna, it's not the time for this.
Kakashi: Back to you guys, they've been pulling these scams for a long time.
Sakura: He's got some nerve facing us again after pulling that trick.
Kakashi: He's just hiding behind a mask. Who does he think he's fooling?
Sakura: Um, speak for yourself, Sensei.
Sasuke: That's it, I'm taking him out. How does he think he's fooling anyone, hiding behind that mask like some clown?
Kakashi: (thinking) Wait a second, didn't I say that?
Haku: He's impressive.
Zabuza: Hmm.
Haku: Even though they were just 1/10 the strength of the original Water Clone Jutsu, he did destroy them all.
Zabuza: That move did still give us an advantage. Now use it.
Haku: Right.
Haku rushes towards Sasuke, who pulls out a second kunai with his usual smug look.
Cut to Tsunami's house. The thugs cut down the door.
Tsunami: Huh?
Gato's two thugs break in.
Thug 1: So you're Tazuna's daughter, huh? Too bad, you'll have to come with us now.
Inari is in the bath washing his hands. He hears them breaking in and his mom screaming.
Inari: Huh?
Cut back to Tsunami. The thugs are now breaking plates and making her cower in fear. They're laughing.
Inari: What the...?
Tsunami: No, don't come out here! Run away, hurry!
One of the thugs turns back and looks at Inari.
Thug: Should we grab this one too?
Thug: Gato asked for just one hostage.
Thug: Alright then, let's waste him.
Inari is scared. The thug pulls out his sword.
Tsunami: Wait!
The thug looks back at her.
Tsunami: Please don't hurt my son, I'm begging you. He's just a boy.
Inari is still scared.
Tsunami: I'll do anything, just please don't hurt him.
Thug: Looks like your mom came through for you, kid. Lucky.
Inari is crying and falls on his knees.
Thug: What a waste, I was in the mood to cut something.
Thug: Put it to rest, you already drew blood today. Let's get her out of here.
They grab Tsunami's wrist and forcibly take her. Inari is balling and runs after them. They tie her wrist.
Inari: I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry, what could I do? I'm too weak to protect you.
Inari is crying.
Tsunami: (gives Inari a reassuring look)
Inari: I'm scared, I don't wanna die.
Inari is crying. He remembers Naruto's words.
Naruto: (flashback to yesterday) Listen to yourself, whining and crying, playing like some sorry little victim. You can whimper all day for all I care. You're just a coward.
And his sit-down talk with Kakashi about Naruto.
Kakashi: My guess, he just got tired from crying. He decided to do something about it. He knows what it means to be strong, like your father did.
Inari cries, slows down, and thinks about Kaiza, his dad, and his words he told him when he first met him.
Kaiza: If you really care about something, protect it. Even if you have to put your life on the line, protect it with both arms.
Inari wipes his tears and thinks about Naruto, Team 7, Kaiza, and Tazuna. Their determined looks go at hyper speed through his mind. Inari stops crying.
Inari: Can I... Can I be that strong too? Father...
The thugs and Tsunami are just out the door.
Thug: Hahaa, we're going to treat you just fine, so don't you worry your pretty little head.
They tie the rope on Tsunami's wrists tighter and it hurts her.
Thug: Come on, keep walking.
Inari: Stop!
Thug: Well, well, if it isn't the little tough guy.
Tsunami: Inari!
Thug: You come to save your mommy?
Inari: You better get away from my mom!
Inari runs at him.
Thug 1: This kid's a little short on brains, don't you think?
Thug 2: Take him down.
Inari: Ahhh!
Inari is still running at him.
Tsunami: If you hurt him, I swear I'll...
Thug 1 knocks her out.
Thug 1: Shut up, take a nap.
Tsunami: Inari...
Both thugs draw their blades.
Cut to the bridge. Sasuke and Haku are locked in combat. Sasuke is blocking Haku's senbon with his kunai, fighting for dominance.
Zabuza: So he can keep up with Haku's speed, huh?
Kakashi: Sakura, cover Tazuna and get back. Don't let Kashimo rush you and let Sasuke handle this guy.
Sakura: Right.
Sakura: Water Clone Jutsu.
Sakura: All right, guys, Manji formation.
The clones surround Tazuna, protecting him.
Back to Sasuke and Haku. They both jump back and rush back at each other. They both spin around, clashing Haku's senbon and Sasuke's kunai, both fighting for control and dominance over this fight.
Haku: We want the bridge builder, not you. If you back down, I won't have to kill you.
Sasuke: Save it.
Haku: You're making a mistake. You won't be able to keep up with my speed. I've gained two key advantages.
Sasuke: Yeah? What are they?
Haku: First, we're surrounded by water. Second, I've blocked one of your hands. Therefore, you only have one free hand to defend yourself.
Haku starts doing hand signs with his free hand.
Haku: (stomps on the ground)
Sasuke: (thinking) What? Using one hand?
Kakashi: Hand signs with a single hand. The only person I've seen do that was Minato Sensei.
Haku: Secret Jutsu: Thousand Needles of Death.
Zabuza: (thinking) He doesn't want to kill the kid, does he?
Sakura: Sasuke!
Needles start to form from the water and are turning to ice.
Sasuke: (thinking) Remember the training, summon my chakra at once.
The needles come at Sasuke at high speeds.
Cut back to Inari and Tsunami. The thugs cut at Inari, but it's a log.
Thug 1: Substitution Jutsu!
Thug 2: The woman, she's gone!
Naruto: Sorry I'm a little late.
Naruto sets down Tsunami. She is still knocked out.
Thug 1: Huh? Who's that?
Naruto: Well, you know, heroes usually show up at the last moment.
Inari: Naruto, it's you!
Inari puts Tsunami down.
Naruto: Who else?
Naruto: Inari, you did great. When you charged, they forgot about your mom for a minute. That gave me time to get her away from them.
Tsunami is breathing heavily.
Inari: Huh?
Inari: Naruto, how did you know these samurai guys were coming here?
Naruto: Uh, in the forest, I found a boar that had been attacked, and the trees were all cut up too. It's like someone had been practicing with a sword or something. The cuts led back towards the house, so I followed them here.
Inari: That was really smart, Naruto.
Thug 1: Blah blah, it's one of the puny ninja brats Tazuna hired.
Thug 2: Get 'em.
The thugs run at Naruto and Inari.
Inari: They're coming!
Naruto pulls 2 kunai out of his holster and throws them at the charging thugs. The thugs block the kunai.
Thug 2: Hah, try something else.
Naruto gives Inari a reassuring look.
Naruto: Haha, I did.
Thug 1: I want him, he's mine.
Two Naruto shadow clones kick the thugs away, knocking them out. The clones poof away.
Inari: Hah, you did it!
Naruto is happy, laughing.
Naruto: Yeah, believe it!
Inari starts laughing.
Inari: That was so excellent, like a real ninja.
Naruto: You twerp, I am a real ninja. That's what I've been telling you.
Inari and Naruto both laugh together.
Back to Sasuke vs. Haku.
Sasuke: (pumps chakra into his feet) Summon my chakra at once and direct it to my feet.
Haku jumps back.
Haku: (thinking) Huh? He vanished.
Haku is looking at the ice. Haku looks into the air and sees Sasuke. He throws shuriken at him, forcing him to backflip—1, 2, and 3 times jumping back. Suddenly, Sasuke appears behind Haku.
Sasuke: You're not as fast as you think. From this point on, you'll be the one defending my attacks.
Sasuke and Haku both jump back and spin around, clashing elbows and forearms.
Haku: Huh?
Sasuke uses the hand behind his back, armed with a kunai, and throws it at Haku, who narrowly dodges. Haku goes on all fours, but Sasuke kicks him away towards Zabuza.
Zabuza: (thinking) It's not possible. That boy is faster than Haku.
Sasuke: Thought you were quicker, Haku. Now, what else are you wrong about?
Kakashi: You messed up calling them brats. That's just guaranteed to bring out Sasuke's attitude. And Sakura here is an up-and-coming fighter and our sharpest mind. She is going to defeat Kashimo Kansi today, I'm sure of it. Last but not least, our number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja, Naruto.
Cut back to Naruto and Inari. Naruto wrapped and sled the ninja up, only leaving their heads out of the bag they're in. Also, Naruto duct-taped his mouth.
Naruto: (sneezes)
Inari: They say when you sneeze, somebody's talking about you somewhere.
Naruto: You don't believe that, do you? Also, sorry about yesterday.
Naruto rubs his head.
Naruto: Calling you a coward was pretty mean, I guess. Anyway, it's not true, you know.
Naruto rubs Inari's head.
Naruto: It's because you're really brave.
Inari starts crying.
Inari: Darn it, I promised myself I wouldn't cry anymore. You're going to make fun of me again and call me a baby, but I can't stop.
Naruto: (looks out at the sea) Why'd you talking about? You're happy.
Naruto is laughing.
Inari: (tears stop) Huh?
Naruto: When you're happy, it's okay to cry, really it is.
Inari: (crying) Naruto...
Naruto is laughing and looks out at the sea again.
Naruto: Ok, I can leave you things in charge of things now, right?
Inari: Yeah.
Naruto: Good, then I'm going to the bridge.
Naruto runs off.
Naruto: It's not easy being a hero. It's tough, believe it.
Inari puts his fist out, happy.
Inari: Believe it.
Back to the bridge.
Zabuza: (laughing) Haah, Haku, if we keep going like this, we'll be the victims instead of them. Get on with it.
Haku starts charging chakra.
Sasuke: What's that?
Haku: I'm sorry it's come to this.
Sasuke: The air, it's so cold.
Haku makes a sign, and ice mirrors start to form around Sasuke.
Haku: Secret Jutsu...
Sasuke is shocked, and Zabuza is pleased.
Sasuke: Hah.
Sakura: Sasuke!
Haku: Crystal Ice Mirrors.
Sasuke looks at the mirror.
Kakashi: What is that? How does it work?
Haku starts walking towards a mirror and steps in it, getting absorbed in. Sasuke is shocked. Haku is now in the mirror. You can see him. Haku starts appearing in all the mirrors.
Kakashi rushes towards Sasuke, but Zabuza stops him.
Zabuza: If you enter this fight, you fight me.
Cut back to Sasuke. The mirrors surround him.
Kakashi: Sasuke!
Senbon from all over Haku throw hit Sasuke, piercing him.
Sakura: Sasuke!
Cut back to Sasuke. He is on the ground in pain. The senbon are really taking their toll. A kunai rockets towards Haku and hits him out of the Crystal Ice Mirror. He is now laying on the ground like Sasuke. Suddenly, smoke appears.
Sasuke is laying on the ground, bleeding in pain.
Sasuke: What a fool.
Haku barely gets back up.
Haku: Number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja.
Everyone is in anticipation. It's Naruto.
Naruto: Naruto Uzumaki is here! Yeah, believe it! Haah!