Chapter 8 Part 2
The boat drifted slowly through fog-choked waters. Everyone was grim. Tense. After Akashi got back, she ran a very demonstrative interrogation of Tazuna — to get the truth out. Why demonstrative? Well — it sure looked to me like she was just going through the motions. She'd probably already ripped through those prisoners' heads with her Sharingan and had the whole picture. I think it was staged for the genin — so they'd grasp the situation themselves. Realize just how badly this cheap-booze-soaked man had set them up.
Reactions were mixed: Sakurai was righteously pissed and didn't want to continue, sensibly pointing out they're still genin — not ready to tangle with veterans from other villages. Especially since that Mist duo could've turned them into paste without Akashi.
Sasuko — though she looked uninterested — gave off a very different vibe. Watching her, you got the sense she was burning to push forward. Probably saw it as a challenge. A trial. Something to test her strength and get even stronger.
Naruko... she probably understood the least. In her worldview it went like this: bad guy hurts good guys, so bad guy gets beaten up. Even if the "good guy" is an old, nasty jerk. And for her, this was also a chance to "redeem" herself. At times like this, Naruko is easy to read — especially for me. It's hard to miss a knot of self-loathing and fear that dense — especially when it's radiating demonic chakra. The poor boatman and Tazuna — civilians — clearly weren't used to being near a compact nuclear reactor like the jinchuriki. Hell, even the other genin were on edge, searching for the source of their unease and not finding it.
The whole situation seemed ridiculous: who was Gato — billionaire, etcetera — compared to a handful of nobodies from the broke Land of Waves? And yet this corporate giant turns his gaze on ants and tries to crush them. The scales just don't match. But facts are facts — Gato needs these islands disconnected. Probably — I'm guessing — he wants to force cooperation rather than just slaughter everyone. Maybe it'd hurt his reputation? Coercion's one thing, genocide's another?.. Or maybe he needs the country "willingly" given to him? Who knows. What's certain: the millionaire slapped a full-on economic blockade on the Land of Waves. Cut off goods, currency — everything. Island nation — all shipping owned by Gato's company. You could say these people were literally walled off from the rest of the world.
That giant bridge? An act of desperation. The people's one shot at breaking free of a rich tyrant's whip. Though — thinking rationally — doomed from the start. Even if the bridge gets built — nothing stops Gato from just destroying it.
In other words: the Land of Waves suffers as long as Gato cares about it. As long as he's alive.
"Well... we're still doing the mission anyway," I thought, staring at the gigantic bridge taking shape through the fog. Impressive — especially from below. At least four meters wide. That's something.
Tazuna tried playing the pity card: Don't you worry about me, just leave me behind. My daughter'll be all alone — my grandson'll cry — oh well, our whole country can just be enslaved... Don't trouble yourselves — these are just our problems. No big deal! Not your fault, ha-ha-ha!..
Pretty slimy.
Though — when Akashi decided to keep going, it wasn't because of Tazuna's speech.
"We're shinobi of the Leaf. The Village's pride would take a hit if we dropped a mission halfway because it was 'too tough' for us. Reputation matters. So — we continue." She said it looking at the architect with barely veiled disgust.
Can't blame her one bit. Tazuna's scared — fine. He drowns his fear in booze. Still doesn't excuse him. Never mind deliberately lowballing the mission rank — basically sentencing the team to death. If it'd been a different group — less exceptional... I think Asuma or Guy could've handled Zabuza. Others? Way worse odds. The old man should be on his knees thanking the gods for this mercy. Instead he acts smug and keeps griping at the people helping him.
Nasty man.
"We're here," the boatman said grimly, steering through the bridge's huge arches. "I'll drop you near the shore — where the reeds are thickest. That's as far as I go."
"I'm grateful to you," Tazuna replied.
"Gods bless you, kind man," I thanked the boatman with a sincere smile.
"It's clearing up," the boatman muttered. True — by the shore the air was cleaner. No more fog hiding us. "Well. Good luck."
"Ah..." Not waiting for a reply, the boatman pushed off and vanished fast. "Fine. Just get me home."
"Let's go." The jonin cast her eyes skyward.
And we moved. The genin walked, scanning their surroundings. Naruko was especially intense about it. Too intense, I'd say. Everyone in the squad had already yanked back the hyperactive Uzumaki at least once. Though honestly — this wasn't about protecting the client. It was about finding enemies. And destroying them. The girl was dying for redemption — mostly in her own eyes, I think.
"Aha!.." Naruko suddenly screamed. Lucky me — I was right there and grabbed her by the scruff. Unluckily, the three shuriken she'd thrown in a spread pattern were already flying.
"Naruko." I shook my head, confiscating yet another throwing star. I knew she'd pull something. Five minutes since we last told her to knock it off, and she's already frantically scanning for enemies to beat. And now this.
Hah... Even I have limits. And Naruko's nearly burned through them.
"But! There was something there!" Uzumaki tried defending herself.
"Naruko, you dope!" Sakurai couldn't take it. "Stop causing trouble!"
"But!.."
"Mmaa... I wouldn't throw metal around here if I were you." Hatake put away her book and rubbed the bridge of her nose wearily. "Way too easy to hit someone."
"But something was really moving!!!" The girl declared, bolting for the bushes. I let go of her collar — otherwise she'd have dragged me with her. "See!!! Oh?!"
Poor, poor bunny. Though — it only suffered morally. The shuriken had dramatically "outlined" its silhouette, barely grazing the fur.
"Animal abuser," Haruno accused.
"Oh no, forgive me, Usa-chan!!!" The poor creature was seized and embraced. Which seemed to finish off whatever life it had left. Nearly in tears, Uzumaki squeezed the limp form, begging forgiveness.
"Pf... What an idiot," Uchiha muttered, watching the circus.
"Naruko, you're gonna finish it off at this rate." Taking pity on the animal, I came to the rescue.
"EVERYONE DOWN!" Akashi yelled, sweeping Tazuna's legs out from under him with a kick. And that last part was absolutely on purpose!
Something whistled overhead.
Oops...
"I got way too relaxed," I thought with an inner shudder, brushing several strands of hair to the ground. One more second!.. And I wouldn't have walked away with just an extreme haircut!!!
"And who do we have here?" A mocking, slightly raspy voice rolled through the trees. "Could that be Akashi 'Sharingan'?!"
"Ara — and you must be Momochi Zabuza-chan, right?" Hatake answered in the same tone. "What's one of the Mist's most famous rogue kunoichi doing in a backwater like this?"
Back on my feet, I could finally take a good look at our opponent. She stood on the hilt of her monster sword — blade buried in a tree. Short dark hair, a Kiri forehead protector tied around her head and shifted left. Minimal clothes: camo sleeves over her arms, a tight black tank top, simple pants, bandages wrapping the lower half of her face. Even from here you could tell — Zabuza was about half a head taller than Akashi. The tight clothes didn't hide her build, either. That said a lot about Momochi as a fighter: close-quarters, power-based, kenjutsu-focused. Obvious, really — for someone holding the title Mist Swordsman.
"Who's this chick?!" Naruko muttered under her breath. "Ah, screw it — I'll take her!.."
"Naruko." I let my displeasure leak through, yanking the blonde back by her collar yet again. "For your own good — Do. Not. Get. Involved."
"Koru-chan?!"
"Hush."
"Thank you, Kaoru-kun." Akashi nodded without turning. "You'd better fall back and focus on protecting Tazuna. Genin can't match her. Guard the client — I'll deal with this myself."
Saying it, she reached for the protector covering her left eye.
"Looks like I've gotta go through you before I finish the old man, huh?" From her voice, Zabuza didn't just accept this — she welcomed it.
"Fight me, Zabuza." Akashi's tone was dead serious as she lifted the protector. That said everything about where she stood.
"Ahh... I get a look at the famous Sharingan so soon? Such an honor!" Leaping off the sword, Zabuza hung from its hilt. "Enough talk. Let's begin!"
She kicked off the tree and vanished into the water. Immediately, fog started flooding the area.
"Brace yourselves!" Akashi ordered.
"Kirigakure no Jutsu." Zabuza's voice echoed through the forest — no way to tell where it came from.
"Dammit, I can't see anything!" Uzumaki snarled.
"Eight meters... five!.. The fog's getting thicker!" Sakurai muttered anxiously, kunai ready in a combat stance. "What do we do, sensei?!"
"Momochi Zabuza... even back in Kiri, she was famous. Master of silent killing. Most victims never knew they were already dead. But don't worry — she'll come for me first. Just stay sharp!"
"What'll it be?" Zabuza's voice echoed everywhere. "Liver, heart, throat, spine... Where should I put the finishing blow? It's so easy. One strike — dead. That simple. Just one strike..."
My soul was slowly being crushed in a vise of fear. Psychological pressure — that's what this was. Momochi was driving us into panic with cold, merciless words and an almost physical bloodlust. At one point, slitting your own throat felt easier than enduring the agony of waiting for her to do it. Just to end it.
"So heavy..." my lips muttered on their own. The crushing dread was horrifying. "But..."
I'm lucky I'm so sensitive to the demon's chakra. Whatever Naruko was feeling right now — it was pumping out Tailed Beast emanations strong enough to cut through Zabuza's terror. And I've gotten used to that furious malice. Like cures like, I guess.
"Thanks, Nine-Tails! Oh — and praise Amaterasu-sama, of course. Hm... hope she doesn't mind being second?.." I pulled a stack of paper amulets from my pouch. Murmuring a calming mantra, I almost physically felt my head cool down. Hah. When I've got time, I'm definitely visiting the Temple — bringing the Old Man the finest wine. Two bottles! Father taught me well.
A calm heart, a clear mind. Now I'm focused. This simple "spell" had burned out the last of the fear that enemy jonin had pumped into me. Alright then... I've been trying not to stand out too much. But it's about time I showed what I can do.
"The quiet whisper of the wind spirits," my lips breathed, soundless. Gusts from nowhere caught the amulets and scattered them everywhere. I pressed a concentration seal before my face, closed my eyes, and focused. Sticking to whatever they landed on, the amulets wove a perimeter — a thin barrier wall around our group. No idea if this'll work on someone as experienced as Zabuza, but those spirits spot Naruko sneaking into my place just fine. Any living soul crosses that line — I'll know. Hard to fool wind spirits who rule the air around us. Unless...
"Don't worry." Akashi's calm voice in the background. "I won't let her kill—"
"—unless she's already inside the barrier!" The thought whipped through my brain. The spirits were guarding SEVEN of us! Suddenly my back burned — the cold presence of another.
"Behind!!!"
"Too late!" An indifferent voice.
Something rushed past. A blink — and Akashi was already dispersing Zabuza's water clone, kunai through its chest.
"Not bad, but—" Appearing behind Hatake, Zabuza swung the Beheader for a crushing blow. Akashi split in two — collapsed as a splash of water. "?!"
"'Too late' — that's what you said, right?" Akashi inquired, kunai blade pressed to Zabuza's throat.
"Clever. Copied me in that moment, didn't you?" Momochi spoke without turning — totally unbothered. "Left a clone, hid, watched me yourself. Nice strategy. And that brat sensed me — late, but still. Not bad. But... not enough!"
"?!" Akashi twitched — a kunai blade now against her own throat.
"I'm not that simple." Momochi's voice came from behind her. With a gurgle, the water clone collapsed.
Strike. Akashi dodges, counterattacks.
"Unbelievable," Sakurai breathed, watching the jonin tear into each other. Yeah — impressive. A fight between veterans like this is way beyond us.
The situation was turning against us: Zabuza on her home field, clearly starting to push Akashi back. Another exchange — a kick sends the Konoha jonin flying into the water.
"It's over, Akashi!" Momochi declared with grim finality, diving after her.
Akashi surfaced, tried to leap out — but the water suddenly went thick as jelly, trapping her. Streams of it shot up and sealed her in a transparent bubble.
"Wha?!.. A trap!"
"Sensei!!!"
"'Water Prison,'" Zabuza announced, surfacing with one hand on the sphere. "Water confinement. I see you know water breathing? Too bad for you. I'll finish you later, Akashi. First — these annoying distractions. Enjoy the show! Mizu Bunshin."
From the water in front of her, a copy of Zabuza began forming.
"Damn! Run!" Akashi shouted, catching on fast. "Take Tazuna and fall back!"
"But you?!" Sakurai yelled.
"A water clone can't go far from its user! She can't follow while she's holding me! This is your chance!"
"That's right — run!" Zabuza joined in, mocking. "Buy yourselves... a few extra minutes of life. You're not leaving here alive anyway. But hey — you can try."
I looked at the genin. Even the haughty Uchiha could barely hold back her trembling — fear flooding her body. But she held on. The others went without saying: Sakurai was fighting it — you could see it in the big drops of sweat on his face. Naruko was in shock — pupils pulsing, dilating and contracting in her fear-widened eyes. Tazuna... just stunned. Barely able to move. Even into my own soul — past my mental defenses — a tiny tendril of fear had wormed its way back in.
Momochi Zabuza knows how to bring the terror. The closer that clone got, the heavier the pressure.
Then — it happened. Like a flash of fire searing my back.
"I WON'T RUN!!!" Naruko screamed, lunging forward. So sudden. Seems her fear got so deep it punched right into the bottom of her soul. Too far. Way too deep. It hit something that should never have been touched. And a wave of rage — woken by that fear — blasted everything else out, filling the empty spaces with itself.
Blazing with fury, Naruko was hurled backward by one massive blow. The clone reacted fast — a kick. She flew back, hit the ground, skidded. The sharp impact knocked the fury right out of her — the rage-fog fading fast.
"Heh... Lively, aren't you?" Zabuza snorted. "Stupid kid. But nice spirit! Keep that up — maybe someday I'd put your name in my special little notebook."
"That was reckless, Naruko!" One upside: her rage-burst shook the others out of their stupor too. Sakurai leaned over the girl curled on the ground. "We're just genin! We can't beat an enemy like that!"
"The hell we can't!.." Uzumaki hissed. "Hey — you, water hag! Don't think Leaf shinobi are so weak we can't take you!!!"
"Yes — good spirit," the Mist Swordsman praised her again. "Shame you'll die right here. Never becoming a real opponent."
Pressure mounting again. Alright. Enough.
"Phew. Okay. That was genuinely terrifying, you know?" I stepped forward, casual. Needed to distract the jonin. Shinobi love to talk — so I used that. "Could you maybe stop looking so scary, Zabuza-san? I'm so on edge my stomach hurts again."
"Don't worry about that. Soon you won't need to worry about your guts at all!" The water clone advanced — slow, steady. Alright, that didn't work. Oh well.
"Hah — I tried." Shrugging, I flung my hand up. Four kunai scattered, sinking into the dirt around us.
Concentration.
The water clone stepped forward, crossed an invisible line — and jolted. A dry crackle, brief flashes in the air, and then what used to be the clone hit the ground.
"A barrier?" Zabuza tilted her head.
"Yep." I nod. Actually? Boundary marker — and a couple of lightning spirits I befriended during that last thunderstorm. Technically you could call it a barrier. My version: I put the spirits in amulets and use their power for the perimeter. "Lightning's not much stronger than water — but water conducts it really well, neh?"
"Ho... You can do a few things, little genin? Wonder how long you can keep that up?" A new clone materialized at the boundary. "Still... with skills like that, you might've passed the Exam."
"Exam? What exam?" Whispering behind me.
"Used to be in the Mist. The graduation exam." Zabuza's voice carried a dark nostalgia. "That's how shinobi are made in my homeland."
"The Demon of the Bloody Mist," Akashi said grimly from her bubble.
"Oh — you know it? I'm almost flattered."
"'Demon of the Bloody Mist'? What's that?!" Naruko demanded.
"The Kiri graduation ritual. The final exam graduates took to become shinobi. Kiri used it since its founding. Until... that incident."
"Incident?! What kind of exam?! What happened?!" The jinchuriki was practically vibrating with impatient anger.
"Heh-heh..."
"Quit laughing!!! What exam?!"
"Oh, it's... Heh... A deathmatch between the graduates!" The genin shuddered — the cheerful cruelty in the rogue ninja's voice was something else. Lifting her head skyward, Zabuza sank into nostalgia. "Yeah... those were good times. A golden age."
"That time... only one graduated. A child — not even fully trained as a shinobi... slaughtered every single one of them. They named her the 'Demon of the Bloody Mist' — Momochi Zabuza!"
"Heh-heh-heeh... That's right. Kids — at your age, these hands were elbow-deep in blood!" Zabuza mocked. "That's why you're weak! You and your peaceful little villages! Because no one teaches you how to kill!"
"That's cruel. Sad." I shake my head. So this is what shinobi really are. Romanticize them all you want — the essence stays the same. Lucky for us the Leaf's leadership isn't full of psychopaths. Still — Kami-sama, what did I get myself into? "Still. Tragic backstory. But not really relevant right now, is it?"
"Yes. Time to die, children."
"Don't think so. I've held out long enough. Right, Naruko?"
"Kagebunshin no Jutsu!" A cloud of smoke burst behind me — and out of it charged dozens of Naruko's shadow clones. Screaming, they swarmed the lone Zabuza clone. "Take this!!!"
"Childish flailing!" Momochi snarled as her double started batting clones aside. One problem — she was alone. They were dozens. Hundreds.
"Go, you stupid hedgehog!!!" The real Uzumaki yelled, circling the clone brawl wide.
"Shut up, you loud idiot," Sasuko snapped, breaking the other way. "Katon: Great Fireball!"
"Chew on this, ugly!!!"
From both sides at once — a solid fireball spat by Sasuko and a handful of steel from Naruko flew toward the stationary Zabuza.
"Why you!!!" The singed Zabuza roared, bursting out of the water five meters from the blast. She'd had two choices: eat the attack — or retreat, releasing the most dangerous enemy from her grasp. Akashi.
"My students are pretty capable, don't you think?" Akashi straightened up, standing on the water, head tilted with a smile. But the warmth lasted half a second — then she was all focus again. "Now we fight. For real. You and me, Zabuza. And don't expect to walk away from me in one piece."
Notes:
* Tamaya! — Something like "Hooray!" Used specifically for launching/admiring fireworks.
* Namu — Short for "Namu Amida Butsu." A prayer for the deceased.