The Tale Of Naruto Uzumaki

Chapter 14: The Sharingan Warrior

Sakura: Sasuke, Naruto, take this guy out! You can do it!
Sakura is barely able to stand up as she just beat Kashimo Kansi with her new move, Solid Gold Fist. Kashimo is tied up and bound, with even his mouth and eyes covered and wrapped.
Kakashi: Don't, Sakura, don't push them.
Sakura: Huh?
Kakashi: Even if they somehow found a way to overcome the Mirror Jutsu, they still couldn't defeat this ninja.
Sakura: Huh?
Kakashi: And, oh, Sakura, you did good.
Sakura: Thank you, Sensei.
Sakura starts to feel woozy, but Tazuna catches her and helps her stand.
Sakura: Thank you, Sensei. But how can you be so sure about that?
Zabuza: Hahaa!
Kakashi: They have a desire to win, but they don't have the instinct to kill.
Sakura: Uh...
Cut back to Naruto.
Kakashi: The boy is a whole other breed. He lives for pain, thrives on it.
Zabuza: Exactly. Your village has become complacent. Your trainees never learn the most important lesson of all: to kill the feelings in their own heart, to crush an opponent mercilessly, to destroy with no emotion or regret.
Zabuza lets off killing intent and malice.
Sakura: But then, Sensei, what are we going to do? Please tell me.
Kakashi thinking: I could make a break to save Naruto and Sasuke, but he'd slay the bridge builder. If I used Shadow Clones, he'd counter them with Water Clones. I'd be wasting chakra.
Kakashi: Hahah, so I have no choice. It's me and Zabuza here and now. I have to do this the hard way.
Sakura thinking: Sharingan...
Zabuza: Haha, Sharingan!
Zabuza: You're no fun, Kakashi, using that same old trick.
Zabuza starts to run at Kakashi with a kunai in his hand. Kakashi pulls up his headband. Zabuza stabs Kakashi's fingers.
Sakura: Sensei, no!
Drops of blood are now on the ground.
Kakashi: If it was just an old trick, why'd you try to stop me?
Zabuza: Haha, let your opponent see your jutsu too many times, and they'll find a way to use it against you.
Kakashi: Then count yourself lucky. You're the only man alive that's seen my Sharingan twice. Well, the show's over. You won't see it a third time.
Zabuza: Haha, even if you did defeat me, you'd have no chance against Haku.
Sakura: Huh?
Sakura looks at the crystal ice mirror.
Sakura thinking: Is that possible? That boy in the mask is stronger than Kakashi Sensei?
Zabuza: When I found him, he was a street kid, but I trained him in the most advanced shobi techniques.
Flashback.
Haku is throwing senbon at targets and hitting them all. Zabuza is watching from a tree above. Then Zabuza and Haku start battling in the trees. Zabuza throws three kunai at Haku, who jumps from the tree he was standing on to safety.
Zabuza: I taught him everything I know. Plus, he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly, and eventually, he could face some of the strongest enemies on his own. Outnumbered, in total darkness, it didn't matter. He could strike with perfect accuracy. He cared nothing for his own life or the lives of others. He became a quintessential fighting machine, a true shinobi.
Cut back to Zabuza and Kakashi.
Zabuza: In the end, his powers surpass even mine. His Kekkei Genkai cannot be defeated by anyone. I created a tool that could destroy anything that comes in his way, unlike the useless punks that follow you around.
Zabuza pulls his kunai out of Kakashi's palm.
Cut back to Haku vs. Naruto and Sasuke.
Naruto summons a bunch of clones to try to break the mirror.
Sasuke: Naruto!
The Naruto clones are getting destroyed quickly. Sasuke is getting pelted by senbon, and Naruto falls back down.
Naruto: How the hell is he doing that?
Sasuke thinking: It was slight, but I could see the trail of his movements.
Naruto: One more try! Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Naruto summons a bunch of clones. Sasuke runs and kicks up some water at the mirror. The clones are coming at the mirror straight on.
Haku: Don't you understand? This is useless!
Clones: Ahhhh!
Haku, in a blink of an eye, destroys all of Naruto's clones. Naruto falls back, and Sasuke starts to get up.
Sasuke thinking: Just because I can see his movement trail doesn't mean I could keep up with his speed. The water is being repelled... But what if it wasn't water? All right, next one is going to be my shot.
Zabuza laughing: Just because a bunch of scrap got together doesn't mean they can defeat Haku. Haku, he is the best tool!
Kakashi: Are you finished bragging? You're going to put me to sleep.
Kakashi: Let's finish this now.
Kakashi pulls up his headband, revealing his Sharingan.
Zabuza: Fine, but there's one more thing you should know. A little more bragging, as you would say.
Kakashi: Huh?
Zabuza: Did you really think our last battle was win or lose? That I took your attacks like some genin?
Cut back to when Kakashi beat Zabuza before, using Water Style: Water Vortex to beat him.
Zabuza: Haku was there, watching your every move, studying your Sharingan. Haku could see a jutsu once and immediately devise a lethal counterattack. One of his gifts.
Sakura: Shocked.
Zabuza: I've been waiting to see the look on your face when you realize your Sharingan becomes worthless.
Tazuna: Shocked.
Tazuna: Huh?
Zabuza: You once said the same jutsu wouldn't work on me twice. Now I'm telling you that.
Kakashi: Huh?
Zabuza: Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!
The mist picks up around them, making it hard to see. Sakura throws a kunai at Zabuza's face, and he jumps back to dodge it.
Kakashi: This is it.
Sakura is scared and out of energy but ready to protect Tazuna.
Tazuna: What's going on? The mist is so thick, visibility is zero.
Sakura: Sensei!
Kakashi: Sakura, stay with Tazuna.
Sakura: Yeah. I have to be strong and believe in my own abilities. Follow my lead, Tazuna, and whatever happens, I'll protect you.
Kashimo Kansi is wrapped up and tied down. He senses what's happening but can't act on it. He is now Team 7's captured foe.
Kashimo thinking: I was defeated like that? How was I defeated?
Kashimo is wrapped, but his arms are tied down. The only thing visible is his face, which is mutilated. He lost his eye and is now permanently disfigured.
Sakura: Stay close, Mr. Tazuna.
Tazuna: I'll stay right behind you.
Cut back to Naruto and Sasuke.
Haku thinking: I know you need me, Zabuza. I'll finish them off quickly.
Naruto runs at Haku.
Naruto: Ahh! Shadow Clone Jutsu!
A bunch of Naruto shadow clones appear.
Haku thinking: What? He just won't give up.
Sasuke is making the hand signs for the Fireball Jutsu behind all of Naruto's clones.
Haku thinking: What? Fireball Jutsu?
Haku ducks and moves from mirror to mirror to try to beat all of Naruto's clones.
Haku thinking: It shouldn't be taking this long.
Haku beats all of Naruto's clones. Sasuke blows out another Fireball, but it misses him. It does hit his lower robes though, with no damage. Naruto falls back down and rolls back towards Sasuke.
Sasuke thinking: Got him that time. I'm really starting to get a handle on the timing.
Cut to Kakashi.
Kakashi: It's the Hidden Mist Jutsu, but this mist is different. It's too thick, even for Zabuza. How can he fight like this?
Kakashi starts to hear a spinning sound.
Kakashi: Hah!
A dozen shuriken come wheezing at Kakashi, who pulls a kunai from his holster to block them.
Zabuza from the mist: Very skillful, as I'd expect from you, Kakashi.
Zabuza appears behind Kakashi.
Kakashi: Hah!
Kakashi thinking: His eyes are closed.
Zabuza: Next time you see me will be the last you'll see anything without your Sharingan. You'll be nothing.
Kakashi: What?
Zabuza: You wanted me to believe you could see through anything, even time.
Flashback to Kakashi beating Zabuza.
Zabuza: Laying against a tree.
Zabuza: How can you see into the future?
Kakashi: Yes, this is your last battle ever.
Cut back to now.
Zabuza: But your prediction was wrong. I'm alive, even now. So, you're a fraud, Kakashi. You can't read the future, and you can't read me. Your Sharingan is just a cheap trick that lets you see more powerfully than you are. I know your Sharingan has two separate elements: the piercing eye, which sees every detail, and the hypnotic eye, which mesmerizes your opponent. Employing these abilities, you can pull off multiple jutsu in quick succession. You can make it seem like you can look into the future.
Zabuza: First, with the piercing eye, you copied my movement. This replication of movements made me doubt my own thoughts. Once I was shaken, you infiltrated my mind, waiting for the slightest flutter to anticipate my actions, seeking any hints to anticipate my moves. You timed it precisely, waiting for the right moment. The instant my mind became unfocused, you created an illusion. You used Genjutsu to induce me to make hand signs that you were already ready to do. So, you were really controlling me. You were one step ahead. That's how you were able to use the Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu on me, Kakashi. Now that I know this, a very simple plan can defeat you. First, neutralize your piercing eye with zero visibility mist.
Kakashi jumps back. Zabuza throws shuriken.
Kakashi: The mist is slowing down my reaction time.
Zabuza: Next, neutralize your hypnotic eye by keeping my own eyes closed. You can't pry into my mind if you can't see into my eyes.
Kakashi: Brilliant, but with your eyes closed, you can't see me either.
Zabuza: Haha, have you forgotten who I am, Kakashi? I'm the Demon of the Hidden Mist, master of the kill. I can take you out by sound alone.
Kakashi is shocked.
Sakura creates 3 clones to surround Tazuna. Kashimo is wrapped up but can sense what's going on.
Sakura thinking: He really figured all that out. He's scary, real scary.
Cut back to Haku.
Haku thinking: He read my movements, but that's not possible.
Naruto: I was so close, but I couldn't quite get to him.
Sasuke: Naruto, can you do it again?
Naruto: Huh, of course! Nothing can stop me, believe it!
Sasuke thinking: He doesn't want to show it, but he's exhausted. His Shadow Clone Jutsu is using up so much chakra, but thanks to him, I figured it out. I know how to break through.
Sasuke has a smirk.
Haku thinking: The human eye cannot track my movements. It must have been a coincidence.
Sasuke: Naruto, run for it! Attack from the outside, hurry!
Naruto: Uhh, alright, I got it!
Naruto runs towards Haku but is blasted back. He tries again.
Sasuke: That's it! Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
Haku dodges and throws a senbon at Sasuke. Haku appears in front of Naruto and kicks him back. Haku goes back into his mirror.
Naruto: Hahaha, I could get past him!
Sasuke pulls the senbon out.
Sasuke: That was good, Naruto.
Naruto: Hah!
Sasuke: One more time!
Naruto: Yeah, let's do it!
Sasuke thinking: There must be a difference in his chakra. I can feel him slowing down.
Naruto runs at Haku.
Haku: No more games. I need to stop this now. This time, you'll stay down.
Haku throws senbon that pierce Sasuke.
Naruto: Sasuke!
Haku throws a bunch of senbon to pierce Naruto.
Cut to Kakashi.
Kakashi thinking: An enemy you can't see and can't hear. Hah, it's been a long time since I've faced anyone this tough. Sasuke and Naruto, I don't know if they can hold out. Stay calm, think. Where will he strike?
Kakashi: Hah, the bridge builder.
Zabuza appears behind Tazuna and Sakura, using a water clone.
Sakura/Tazuna: Hah!
Zabuza pulls out his sword.
Zabuza: Too late.
Blood goes everywhere.
Sakura lets out a blood-curdling scream.
End of chapter.