Chapter 27: land of the waves (part 4)

Kakashi charged towards Zabuza while, at the same time, a number of mirrors begin to surround Zabuza as protection. As the Lightning Cutter made contact with flesh, needles struck the bloody scroll, and the dogs holding Zabuza in place disappeared. To Kakashi's surprise, he impaled Haku, who had used the last of his strength to grab hold of Kakashi.

Naruto, confused by Haku's disappearance, rushed towards the figures he could see in the now fading mist. Upon his arrival, he found the gruesome scene of Haku's death, and Zabuza preparing to make good use of the opportunity Haku had given him. As Zabuza was about to finish the swing of his sword, Kakashi jumped out of the way, taking Haku's body with him. After removing his hand from Haku's body and laying his body down, Kakashi ordered Naruto to stay out of the fight. Sakura, now noticing Naruto, asked where Sasuke was. When Naruto looked away and didn't reply, she guessed at what had happened and quickly escorted Tazuna to Sasuke's body, where she broke the shinobi rules and cried.

Zabuza, meanwhile, was unable to touch Kakashi, and with every attempt to strike him down he was thrown backward.

...

"It seems that the fights are reaching the end. You can go to see Sasuke. I think he's just wounded and exhausted. But don't drop your guard."

"Yes, sensei," and Raven flickered where Sasuke was and started to look at the wounds.

Overjoying Sakura to no end to see Raven and to find out that Sasuke was still alive.

...

With one such parry, one of Zabuza's arms was made useless, and with another attack by Kakashi, the other arm was put out of commission. As Zabuza's defencelessness was made apparent, Gatō and his forces arrived to take the assassination of Tazuna into their own hands. As Zabuza and Kakashi decided that they no longer have a reason to fight each other, Gatō noticed Haku's body and defiled it as vengeance for an injury Haku had earlier given him.

As Zabuza began to reflect upon the pureness of Haku's heart and the devotion that Haku had held towards him, Zabuza tore away the cloth covering his mouth and borrowed a kunai from Naruto. Catching the kunai in his mouth, Zabuza charged through Gatō's forces, slaying anyone who got in his way even while being stabbed many times. Upon reaching Gatō, Zabuza proclaimed that he would not be able to go to the same resting place as Haku and that he would be taking Gatō with him to hell. With that, Zabuza ended Gatō's life. Using the last of his energy, he thanked Haku for everything and apologized, falling to the ground with exhaustion.

As Zabuza's life began to fade, Sasuke awakened seeing Raven healing him. After asking Raven to release him, Sasuke asked about Haku's fate. Learning that he had died, Sasuke realized that Haku had never meant to kill him or Naruto. Sakura called out to Naruto that Sasuke was all right, and Naruto was overwhelmed by the good news.

Gatō's men, meanwhile, were now without a paycheck and decided to loot the town as their payment for coming. As Naruto and Kakashi, both exhausted tried to figure out what to do, an arrow fell to the ground in front of the imposing forces. Everyone's attention was drawn to its source: Inari and the entirety of the town's population, who had come to start protecting themselves. To contribute to the already intimidating forces, Naruto and Kakashi used what little chakra they have left to create what appears to be a large number of shadow clones, causing the mercenaries to flee to the boat that they'd used to get to the bridge.

After that Anko flickered next to Kakashi.

"Your getting rusty, cyclops. Where is that old bastard, Kakashi of the Sharingan? One fight against one missing-nin? And your down for the count, are you kidding? I won't ask but here is some advice, stay in the village and get your shit in order. Because now you are not only taking care of the life of you but those three idiots too. So make sure the next time they are ready to exit the village before you leave again."

And Anko went to look for her student. Kakashi looked as she left him. 'She is correct, I have to get my shit together or there are going to be more casualties'

...

"So how is the Uchiha brat?"

"A lot of puncture wounds, all because of needles; But nothing fatal. He's ok for now. Naruto is just exhausted. So do I need to look at Kakashi?"

"Yes, go check him out too."

"Yes, Sensei." Raven left to check out Kakashi.

While checking out team 7 she asked," So? Any remarks?"

"Remarks?" Naruto asked. Sasuke stayed quiet, like he knew what Anko was saying. And Sakuro wasn't paying attention.

"Yeah, remarks. because the report I'm sending to the Hokage will have a lot of comments with my opinion if this team still has to stay a team."

"What, why would you do that?" "What, I can't be in a team with Sasuke anymore." "I don't need a team, as long as I get stronger."

"REALLY, YOU STUPID BRATS. You're lucky that hunter didn't want to kill." the three looked shocked. "What! you thought you were amazing. please, if that hunter had any intention to kill you. I would be looking at three corpses right now." They still didn't believe her.

"Oh, you still don't believe me. Uchiha brat, if even one of those needles was an inch to the left or right, you're dead. Orange brat, the moment you entered the dome you were in the losing position. Luckily the emo brat saved you. And Pink head, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU? A SHINOBI OR A BITCH IN HEAT? The only thing you think about is Sasuke this, Sasuke that. Did you even do anything during this mission? I even wondered why you are even here? You three brats really need a wake-up call, But that for that bastard cyclops to do. I can only report, but if you were mine. I WOULD HAVE SENT YOU BACK TO THE ACADEMY MONTHS AGO." With that Anko hoped to wake them up even a little. she went to see Kakashi.

...

"How is that your always this wounded, Kakashi? When you were training me you never got this bad?"

"You're a Genin, you're easy. Zabuza is a lot harder."

"I'll believe you," Raven turned as he hears Anko yelling, "It seems that Sensei is having it out at your team."

"Well, she has the right. I will never admit it but she's right about some of the things she said to me. And brat this will stay that way."

"Yeah, yeah, keep head-on. I won't tell you. It seems you ok this time. you have some bloodloss and a few wounds, but nothing major."

"That's great. A few more minutes and I'll go see my students."

"Fine by me." Raven got up. but instead of going to the genin, he was walking to the two corpses.

"What, you doing?" Kakashi asked.

Anko saw Raven going to the corpses, and couldn't stop smiling. 'from all the habits he could have picked up from me he had to pick that one.'

Seeing that raven wasn't answering he asked Anko. "What's he doing? there dead."

"Well, Raven has developed a small habit over the few months with me. It's a little stupid but hé if it doesn't do harm."

"What habit?" he was curious.

"Just watch," and Anko pointed at Raven.

...

Raven looked at the two shinobi, Missing-nin Zabuza, the demon of Kiri, and one of the seven swordmen of Kiri. And the hunter-nin, Haku Yuki, an Ice Kekkei Genkai user, maybe even one of the last. He checked their vitals. Dead as a doornail. he then checked their bodies for any scrolls. He didn't find a lot. one scroll each. He didn't open them he stored them. then he looked around, and he found what he was looking for. Haku's broken Hunter-nin mask and the price, Kubikiribōchō. Not even caring he stored them as well.

...

When Raven was searching the bodies, Kakashi looked at Anko, "Don't tell me?"

"Keep watching, cyclops."

After he found the scrolls and store them. seeing him look around. But then he saw him store the mask of Haku and the sword of Zabuza. Kakashi found out the habit, "He's a grave robber?"

"Well, no actually. Looking for information and scrolls is something all shinobis do. So that's not technically grave robbing. No his habit is collecting items of interest. Unique items or pieces. He is even a picky bastard. He doesn't always do it, but when he does he always keeps it. If it's not in the order it goes in his collection. I've only seen him do it twice through all the missions we did."

"But he won't be able to keep those."

"Oh, You going to try to take it from him. Small advice, don't try. He's like a dragon with his collection. you can look but don't try to take it. Trust me I tried once. I beat the crap out of him. Had to knock him out, but then forgot it's in his personal storage scroll. So I couldn't get it back."

"We have to report he has that sword, and I think it's even going to need to be returned to Kiri."

"Well, we will see."

...