Konoha Crush: Part V

"Don't Haku!" I halted when I recognized that it was Naruto's voice.

And because of that slight distraction, Kankuro tugged the strings of his puppet and had one on me in an instant. The wooden clacking object had its dangly arms around me, stubbornly handing on and determined to break something before letting go.

I seriously thought it was over, but to my rescue, was the gruff not-cute at all Pug. He took a large bite out of the puppeteer's arm, sending him into a slight panic. I took this opportunity to mist away and tumble back into the shelter of my Ice Dome.

After buying me just enough time, Pakkun (Pug) was tossed to the side. Around the same time, my Ice Dome began melting. I didn't have the strength anymore.

Kankuro noticed that and snorted as he closed the distance. I ran forward, drawing the focus away from my unconscious comrades. I was greeted with a full meaty punch in the gut before slumping forward to be lifted by the collar and off my feet.

"Guess this is the end for you punk," Kankuro scoffed.

I looked over at the pug who intelligently found its way back into the Ice Dome that was once again put into place and in top condition. Thankfully, Puppet Man didn't notice.

"I guess so…" I smiled.

With one hand, I exposed the inside of my haori, revealing the explosives taped all over. He dropped me with no reserve, but I took ahold of his trembling wrist and bounded us together with my ice.

[…for the both of us.]

His eyes widened in horror as mine softened as I took one last glance at my teammates.

"Goodbye Team 7!" I yelled through my gritted teeth. Parting never felt so unready in my life.

"Hakkkkuuuuuuu!" two voices responded in the distance. I smiled, at least now I know Uchiha was still alive.

With one quick motion, before any more interruptions and my grip on Kankuro still held, I pointed two fingers to the sky and activated the finishing move.

[I'm coming…Zabuza.]

Or so I thought.

By a speed in which even I couldn't catch on to, my shirt was ripped off my back, exposing my pale skin to the still shining sun. Not even a second passed for me to process when a squall hit—sending cuts all over my already beat body. I flew backwards, but was supported by a familiar hand around my waist that found its way there as if by second nature. I didn't even have to look to know who it was.

"You're fucking late," I mumbled before allowing my full weight to collapse onto the pillar that I trusted enough to support me.

"You did well Haku," he paused, "you may rest now."

[Fuck yeah.]

….

My vision failed me soon after and I fell into another coma that would land me back into the now over-crowded, overworked, underpaid, understaffed Konoha infirmary (or what's left of it).