The Light Of Konoha

Melting Like Butter

Aki's P.O.V

I reacted quickly, drawing my bow and charging an arrow in the blink of an eye.

'Okay, orange should do...'

I let it loose above their heads, clearing a small area for his escape, the ice shattering into miniature crystals.

'Good luck Sasuke.'

I was so concentrated, I didn't hear him sneak up.

"Nah- ah- Ah!" He said mockingly in my ear from behind me.
I flinched and whirled round as quickly as I could only to receive a strong kick to the stomach.

"AKI!!" Kakashi shrieked.

My sleeve ripped with the friction of skidding along the concrete, the force carrying me at least twenty metres to almost the edge of the bridge.

I looked up at his carefree stance with a wince, feeling the throbbing sensation on my stomach and a burning along my left arm and leg.

He chuckled behind his bandages,
"No interruptions please~ this is between Haku and the boy..."

I quickly brought my gaze back to the fight to see Sasuke ten metres in the air above thousands of ice crystals that had just collided.

He was staring at me with worry as he reached the peak of his jump, suspended in the air.

I gave him a hard look which said 'don't worry about me' and signalled towards his opponent with my eyes.

He got the message and appeared behind the moving Haku so fast that he seemed to disappear.

I struggled to my feet and glared at Zabuza.

'Should I try it? My new technique...?'

I grit my teeth,
'If I made myself fast enough, they wouldn't even notice what's going on...'

I turned my head after hearing three loud thuds of shuriken striking concrete to see Haku on the run from Sasuke's attacks.

I smirked, 'maybe I won't have to use it.'

Sasuke once again flashed behind Haku with impressive speed.
"You're not that fast,"
He said from his back, startling the hunter nin.
"Now you're the one who has to worry... About defending yourself from my attacks."

Haku whirled to block Sasuke's swing and only just managed to stop his attack with his forearm in a double armed block.
However Sasuke merely manipulated the kunai in his grip with his fingers and sent it flying with power towards a surprised Haku.

The kunai skimmed over his head as Haku dropped but was met with Sasuke's foot that was already swinging in advance.
The blow sent him flying weightlessly towards an observing Zabuza, a spray of blood trailing behind on the damp concrete.

He skidded to a stop in a crouch, his expression unreadable due to the mask.
However, Zabuza's expression was grave as he observed Sasuke with a new emotion present in his eyes.

Sasuke smirked,
"You're fast. I'm faster."

I tried to stifle my giggle.

"You had that coming... For underestimating my team... And for name calling. He may not look like much... But Sasuke here is the top-rated rookie from all of konohagakure village."