An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

Battle on the Bridge

The next morning, we headed back to the bridge to continue guarding Tazuna while construction continued.

The atmosphere between Sakura and me was painfully awkward after our argument the night before.

Neither of us acknowledged it.

Neither of us knew how to.

Naruto had stayed behind at the house to recover after exhausting himself during training, leaving the rest of us to escort Tazuna alone.

The moment we arrived at the bridge, something felt wrong.

Too quiet.

Then I saw them.

The workers.

Bodies littered the ground across the unfinished bridge.

"Tazuna!" Sakura gasped.

I immediately rushed forward, dropping beside the nearest injured worker while checking his pulse.

Relief washed through me moments later.

"They're alive," I said quickly. "Most of these injuries are minor."

I glanced over the scene carefully.

"This wasn't meant to kill them," I realised aloud. "It was a warning... or a distraction."

The second the words left my mouth, thick mist began rolling across the bridge.

Cold.

Dense.

Unnatural.

Every muscle in my body tensed instantly.

"Formation!" Kakashi shouted.

We moved immediately into the Manji Formation around Tazuna.

The mist thickened until I could barely see more than a few feet ahead.

Then came the voice.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi."

Dark laughter echoed through the fog.

"I see you still brought the brats with you."

My grip tightened on my kunai.

"And look at this one..." the voice continued mockingly. "He's shaking."

The mist shifted slightly, revealing Zabuza Momochi standing nearby with the masked hunter beside him.

Beside me, Sasuke's hands trembled slightly.

Fear.

I reached over and grabbed his hand instinctively.

His fingers tightened around mine immediately.

Then slowly—

Sasuke smirked.

"I'm not shaking from fear," he said coldly.

His Sharingan spun crimson in the mist.

"I'm shaking with excitement."

Before anyone could react, Sasuke launched forward.

The bridge exploded into motion.

Multiple Zabuzas suddenly emerged from the fog surrounding us from every direction.

Water Clones.

Sasuke tore through them with precise strikes, dispelling each one into puddles of water until the real Zabuza was finally exposed.

"Not bad," Zabuza admitted darkly.

Meanwhile, the masked hunter moved.

Fast.