Nothing Special

Chapter 8

Everyone stayed positioned where they stood.

" Sasuke, Naruto!" Sakura shouted. " Take this guy out! You can do it!"

" Don't Sakura," Aceso advised. " Don't push them."

" Huh? What would you even know about being a ninja?" Sakura asked. "All you do is stay in the hospital?" 

" Aceso is right," Kakashi agreed as Aceso glanced at the pink hair girl. " Even if they somehow found a way to overcome the mirror Jutsu, they still couldn't defeat this ninja.

" Uh. How can you be so sure?" Sakura demanded Zabuza start to laugh again.

" They have the desire to win, but they don't have the instinct to kill," Kakashi explained. "That boy is a whole other breed. He lives for pain. He thrives on it."

" Exactly," Zabuza confirmed. " Your village has become complacent. Your trainees never learn the most important lesson of all, to kill the feelings in their own hearts. To crush an opponent mercilessly. To destroy with no emotion or regret."

" Uh," Sakura breathed. " But then. Sensei, what are we going to do? Please tell us." Kakashi reached up to his headband, and Zabuza was laughing.

" Sharingan," Zabuza laughed. " You're no fun, Kakashi, using the same old trick. He then took off towards Kakashi in a run. Kakashi put one hand out, letting it get stabbed by a knife.

" Sensei, no!" Sakura cried out.

" If it's just an old trick, why did you just stop me?" Kakashi asked.

" Let your opponent see your Jutsu too many times, and he'll find a way to use it against you," Zabuza explained.

" The count yourself lucky," Kakashi stated, " You're the only man alive who's seen my Sharingan twice. Shows over. There won't be a third time."

" Even if you did defeat me, you'd have no chance against Haku," Zabuza declared. " When I found him, he was just a street kid. But I trained him in the most advanced ninja techniques. I taught him everything I know. Plus, he had special abilities that he refined on his own. The boy developed quickly. Soon, he could face the most powerful enemy, 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's become a unique fighting machine, a shinobi. In the end, his power surpassed even mine. His bloodline trait, the Kikegenkai, cannot be defeated by anyone. I've created a tool that can destroy anything that stands in my way. Unlike the useless punks who follow you around." He took out the knife." Though one of them is highly trained healing." He looked back laughing as Naruto and Sasuke battled Haku.

" You think those Genin punks together can beat Haku?" Zabuza laughed. " He's the ultimate, a battle of destruction."

" Are you finished bragging?" Kakashi asked. " You're starting to put me to sleep. Let's finish this. Now." He lifted his headband, revealing his eye.

" Fine," Zabuza agreed. " But there's one more thing you should know. A little more bragging, as you say."

"Hm?" Kakashi asked.

" Did you really think our last battle was just win or lose?" Zabuza asked. " That I took your attacks like some rank Genin? Haku was there, hiding, watching every move you made. Studying your Sharingan. Haku can see a Justu once and immediately devise a lethal counterattack. It's one of his gifts. " Sakura and Aceso glanced at each other. " I've been waiting to see the look on your face when you realize you're Sharingan has become worthless."

" No way," Aceso gasped.

" You once said the same Jutsu won't work twice on me," Zabuza recalled. " Well, now I'm telling you that."