Ch9 ) Battle On The Bridge

[I'm going to try and write this in a more traditional style of writing. So tell me which style you like better, after reading this chapter. Without further ado, on with the story.]

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the monkey and his teammates." Zabuza appeared out of the mist with the Hunter-Nin by his side. He glances over the Genin and The Jonin Sensei. "Look, the little ones still shaking." The Rogue Nin creates 10 water clones that surround the team.

A smirk showing up on his face, Sasuke replies in a cocky tone. "I'm shaking... from excitement." He pulls out a Kunai and waits for his Sensei's command.

"Do it, Sasuke!" Kakashi orders.

In a split second, Sasuke disappears and reappears back in his original spot. All the clones turn back into water and slosh to the ground.

"So the genin has gotten stronger has he?" Zabuza glances around, looking for Naruto. "Where's the blond one? I want to pay him back for what he did to me in our last fight," he says with an evil glint in his eyes.

Back at the House with Naruto

How could they leave Tsunami and Inari alone with Gato's thugs still out there, Naruto thought as he pretended to be asleep.

"They probably didn't think about it, Kit. Plus you're still here, so it's fine."

"Yeah I know. But imagine if I was actually asleep. Then what? The thugs would come and probably abduct the both of them, you know?"

"I guess you're right. So how long do you think we have to wait?"

"Assuming the battle is going on right now, Gato will send his thugs when he thinks we're busy. So it shouldn't be long."

Just then a knock sounds throughout the household. "I guess they're here."

The door bust open revealing two of Gato's men, both of them have a sword tied to their waist. "Are you Tazuna's daughter?" One of them asks Tsunami.

Filled with fear, she replies with a "yes."

"Good, you're coming with us," the second thug grabs her wrist, and drags her out the door.

The whole time, Inari was standing in the center of the room crying. He didn't want to lose his mother, but he couldn't do anything to prevent it from happening. He was too scared. He was a coward! The boy couldn't do anything but stand still and watch his mother get dragged away. Suddenly, the memory of what Naruto said to him a week ago, flashes through his mind. With a new found confidence, he rushes after the 2 thugs who were dragging his mother down the pier.

"Hey! Let my Mother go!" Inari yells, having finally caught up to them.

"Inari! What are you doing? Run away!" Tsunami yells back trying to protect her child.

"Quiet you!" One of the thugs warn, before knocking her to the ground. The same thug looks back towards Inari, "Get lost kid! Before something bad happens to you."

"No! Let my mother go!" Inari screams back at them, standing his ground.

"Don't say we didn't warn you, kid." The other thugs say as they both rush to Inari, swords drawn.

Inari closes his eyes waiting for the feeling of swords cutting through him. Nothing happens, so he opens his eyes, only to be shocked at the sight of both the thugs sprawled on the ground, with Naruto standing in front of him.

The blond genin turns around glancing at a bewildered Inari. "What's wrong?"

"What are you doing here? I thought you were resting."

Naruto kneels down staring directly at Inari, before responding, "I had to pretend to be resting so Kakashi would let me stay, just in case I was right about Gato sending his thugs after you guys, while he thought we were busy." Naruto explains to him.

"Oh, that makes sense." Inari smiles, "Thanks for making sure we were safe, Naruto."

"Of course, and I'm proud of you Inari. That was a very brave thing you did. Keep it up. Anyway, I gotta go catch up with the rest of them." He stands back up, ruffling Inari's hair. Naruto then turns around and jumps into the trees disappearing at untraceable speeds.

Back at The Bridge

"Naruto exhausted himself training this week. So I let him rest. Sorry to disappoint you." Kakashi answers, glaring at the rogue and the Hunter-Nin.

"Pity, well it looks like you finally have a rival. Eh Haku?" Zabuza asks the Hunter-Nin.

"It would appear so, Zabuza-Sama." Haku steps forward, ready to fight.

"Sasuke! You handle Haku. Sakura, guard Tazuna. I'll deal with Zabuza!" Kakashi instructs as he pulls up his headband, revealing his Sharingan.

Sasuke steps forward towards Haku, ready for a fight. He dashes forward with Kunai in hand, and clashes with a Senbon needle that Haku pulled out at the last second.

"You can't win. I now have two advantages in this fight." Haku warns.

"Oh yeah, and what would those be?" Sasuke questions, with smugness in his tone.

"One is the water on the ground. And two, I have one of your hands occupied. So you can only run from my attacks."

Before Sasuke could ask what she meant, Haku raises her hands performing a Jutsu.

What! one handed seals? I didn't know that was possible, Sasuke ponders as he watches Haku.

"Mizu no sutairu: Mizu no hari (Water style: Water Needles)" Haku mutters as the water on the ground forms into Senbon needles. They aim themselves toward Sasuke, and all fly at him at once. He jumps backwards, narrowly avoiding them.

"Well, that's new," Sasuke remarks as he lands back on the ground, only for Haku to rush him with a punch aimed at his head. He blocks with his left hand just in time. She then throws a kick to the side of his head. He blocks it with his right arm.

"You definitely have gotten faster. I'll admit that, but you still stand no chance against me." Haku warns, once again.

"Well see about that." Sasuke replies, before he vanishes and reappears behind Haku, throwing a kick to her back. Right before his foot can make contact, she jumps up to avoid it. Sasuke isn't finished. He pulls out a couple Kunai and Shuriken, and launches them at her while she can only block. She blocks all the projectiles with a Senbon. Sasuke vanishes once again, appearing above her head,coming at her with a downward kick. The Uchiha catches her off guard, and The Hunter-Nin's body slams into the bridge.

Zabuza, who has been watching the entire ordeal take place, was completely shocked. This Genin was actually standing a chance against Haku.

"I can't have you underestimating my team members, Zabuza. We never did tell you Sasuke's last name did we?" Kakashi boasts.

"No! There's no way," Zabuza responds, as he starts to realize who Haku was fighting.

"Yes, his full name is Sasuke Uchiha. He carries within him the famed blood of the Uchiha clan, including their Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Trait). The Sharingan."

"So, it appears that not everyone was eradicated as we were led to believe," Zabuza muses. "No matter. Haku also possesses a rare Kekkei Genkai," the Rogue informs, in an effort to strike fear into Kakashi.

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi asks, fear evident in his tone.

"Just watch." Zabuza glances back over to the fight.

"That was impressive, but you still can't beat me. I have one more trick up my sleeve." Haku lifts up her hand in another one-handed seal. "Aisu sutairu: Kurisutaruaisumirā! (Ice Style: Crystal Ice Mirrors)" She says as the water starts to form into a dome of mirrors that completely surround Sasuke, effectively trapping him, and preventing any type of rescue that his team may try to perform.

"What is that? I've never seen anything like it," Kakashi asks Zabuza.

"I told you, that's Haku's Kekkei Genkai. Ice Style: Crystal Ice Mirrors." A proud grin covers the Swordsman's face. "It's the reason I kept Haku with me all this time. It's why she's so valuable to me."

Kakashi makes a move to help Sasuke before Zabuza cuts him off with his sword. "Hold it Kakashi. If you try to save him, I'll just go and kill Tazuna and the pink haired girl while you're busy."

Damn it! What was he gonna do? If only Naruto was here. He could get Sasuke out of the prison and then help him defeat Haku.

As if answering his prayer, Naruto appears in a puff of Orange smoke in the center of the bridge. "Hey guys, what'd I miss?" Naruto looks around at the people on the bridge.

"Naruto, what are you doing? You should have stayed hidden, and attacked from out of site," Kakashi deadpanned.

"It's alright Sensei. Not like it'll matter anyway. These two can't possibly stand a chance against me." Naruto replies with a cocky grin.

"Is that so, Brat?!"

"Yes it is, No Brows." Naruto mocks Zabuza, in an effort to piss him off.

Zabuza glares at the blond. "Why you little! When I'm done with your sensei, I'm coming after you."

"Is that supposed to scare me." Naruto seemed bored with the fight already, which succeeded in pissing the Hidden Mist Nin off even further. "Hey Kakashi, where's Sasuke?"

"He is right over there." Kakashi points towards the ice dome.

"Ok thanks. I'll get him out." Naruto Vanishes.

This is good. With Naruto attacking from the outside, and Sasuke attacking from the inside. They might be able to get the Uchiha out of here. His thoughts were cut short as Naruto appeared in front of him. "What are you doing, you idiot!"

"Saving you, Duh." Naruto responds with a bored tone.

"But now you're trapped in here to Dobe!"

"Are you sure about that?" Naruto smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Before Sasuke can ask what he meant by that, he sees another Naruto standing outside of the dome. "You're a clone?"

"Duh. Did you really think I'd be stupid enough to actually come in here myself? Even though I could still probably get out anyway," Naruto adds as an afterthought.

"What makes you so sure about that?" Sasuke's curiosity for how calm Naruto is about the situation was getting the best of him.

"Just trust me on this." Naruto's smirk got even bigger. It reminded the Uchiha of a Fox. They were known as tricksters. If there was one word to describe the blond, that could certainly be one of them.

"So what's your plan, genius?" The Uchiha was getting tired of this conversation.

"Just follow my lead." Naruto stands up and turns to the Ninja in the Mirrors. "Hello again, Haku."

"Naruto." She responds glancing at him, curious as to how he was planning on beating her.

"Wait, you know each other?"

"We met a week ago, when I helped her collect herbs for Zabuza."

"Why would you help her heal the enemy, Naruto!?"

"Because I wanted to fight him again, duh."

"I don't understand you at all."

"And you never will. Now let's get back to the fight. Are you ready Haku?"

"Yes, and I'm curious to see how you'll back up all your tough talk, Naruto," She launches all her Senbon at him from multiple directions.

Before anyone can move, Naruto vanishes avoiding all the projectiles with ease. "Oh come on, you got to do better than that ,if you want to beat me, Haku." The blond baits her to up her game.

Once again Haku launches several Senbon at Naruto at even greater speeds than before. Still he avoids all of them like it was nothing. "I have to say, I'm not very impressed with your show of skill, or lack thereof." He says, infuriating Haku even more.

Why can't she hit him? she couldn't even see him when he moved. Haku launches her Senbon as fast as she can.

Done with this fight ,Naruto Vanishes and appears to the side of Haku. He grabs her arm and slams her into one of her mirrors, shattering the Jutsu.

She tries to remove her arm from his grip, but it's no use as he decides to tighten his hold on her appendage. She looks up at him, fear in her eyes, wondering what he'll do next. Naruto ripped off her mask and threw her across the bridge, 30 ft. away.

He stood there for a second, before crushing the mask in his hand. "Why do you even work for scum like Zabuza anyway?" Naruto's tone was eerily calm and somber. It threw Haku off her guard.

Haku flashes back to the memory of her parents, and how she accidentally killed her father after he murdered her mother, then tried to kill her. Then a memory of Zabuza finding her flashed through her mind. "He gave me a purpose in life. So as long as I live, I will honor his wishes no matter what the cost to my soul."

"That's ludicrous."

"Not to me. When you have someone to protect, that's when you truly become strong. Do you have anyone you want to protect Naruto."

"I guess. I never really thought about it."

"I am useless to Zabuza now." She pauses looking down at the ground for a second. "Naruto, I want you to kill me. If I can no longer be useful to Zabuza, I don't have any more purpose in life. Please kill me" A sad smile shows up on her face.

"You know if we met under different circumstances, we could have been friends. But if this is what you really want, and there's nothing I can do to change your mind?"

Haku's tone was solemn. "No, I'm useless now."

"All right." Naruto pulls out a kunai and rushes to Haku. Faster than anyone can see, including Haku, Naruto Stabs the Kunai into Her chest.

"Thank you, Naruto." She smiles with her head on his shoulder, before she falls to the ground dead. The Naruto who killed her vanishes in a puff of smoke.

That was a clone. Zabuza couldn't believe it, Haku actually lost and to a Genin. Even if it was the blons who beat her. "Where is the real one anyway?"

"Right here," Naruto appeared in front of Zabuza with a glare directed at him.

The K.I. was practically suffocating Zabuza. For the first time ever, he actually felt the fear of death.

No one did anything as Naruto raised his hands in a sign that was familiar to Kakashi. 5 chains shot out of Naruto, wrapping around Zabuza's arms, legs, and waist, effectively grounding him to the spot. Another clone appears by The real Naruto's side,holding the bloodied Kunai that killed Haku. The clone stands there for a second, waiting for a command. "Kill him!" There was no regret in his tone. The clone vanished and reappeared next to Zabuza. Before anyone could stop him, Zabuza's throat was slit with the same Kunai that killed Haku.

The clone disappeared, and so did the chains around Zabuza's body as he fell lifeless on the ground. For the longest time, there was only silence, as everyone stared at Naruto in Shock, Fear, and Awe, all at the same time. All the memories of both clones flooded into Naruto's mind, and a sad look appeared on his face.

Kakashi was the first to speak up. "Naruto, are you ok. You know, you didn't have to do that. I could have beaten him."

"I know." Naruto didn't bother to look at anybody.

"Why did you do it?" Kakashi worried for his student's emotional health.

"Because, he deserved it!" Naruto answered bitterly. "I don't want to talk about it anymore, ok." He began to walk away, and it was at that moment, that Gato and his men decided to show up.

"Well, well, well. It looks like Zabuza wasn't able to handle you puny Ninja! Demon of the Hidden Mist. Ha! More like kitty Demon of the Hidden Mist." He walks over to Haku, glares at her, and kicks her in the side. "That's for breaking my arm, you stupid girl!" The stubby man continues to kick her dead body, not noticing The rage in Naruto's eyes.

"Hey! Cut it out, you tiny little Bastard!" Naruto starts moving towards Gato, ignoring the protest of his sensei.

"What did you say to me you little brat," Gato responds in rage.

"You heard me." Naruto continues to walk toward Gato, his anger only rising in the process.

"Get him, men. Go teach him a lesson!" Gato yells at his crew of thugs and bandits.

"Aye, sir!" 5 men rush towards Naruto. In the blink of an eye, they lay dead on the ground next to him.

"Kill him!" Gato yells at more of his men.

This time 10 men rushed at Naruto. Once again, in the blink of an eye, they're dead at his feet. Uzumaki gets closer to Gato.

His voice quivering with fear, he commands all 200 of his remaining thugs to kill Naruto.

They all rush forward, not noticing the change of appearance to Naruto's eyes. He forms the shadow clone Jutsu and 50 Naruto's appear out of nowhere. They all began tearing through the crowd, each with only 1 kunai in hand. Leaving no men alive, they make it through the crowd of men. The clones disappear, leaving only Naruto standing in the wake of all the death.

Gato looks around at all his dead men and looks to Naruto in fear. "Please! I'll do anything you want. Give you anything you want. Money, power, anything!"

"Anything," Naruto ponders in a deep demonic voice, an evil glint in his now red and black slitted eyes.

"Yes, anything!" Gato says, hope evident in his voice.

"Okay, What I want..."

"Yes?"

"Is your death!" Naruto thrust his hand through Gato's chest, ripping out his heart, and crushing it in his hand.

Gato drops down off of Naruto's arm to the bridge floor dead.

Naruto's eyes return to their normal bright blue color. He glances at his team and the crowd of villagers including Inari and His mother, who must have shown up while he was on his killing spree. They all had one look in their eyes, fear. It didn't bother him though. He was used to it.

After a few minutes, the crowd of villagers erupted in cheers, as they realized that Gato's reign over them was finished. Every other person stared at Naruto with fear and worry.

"Are you ok, Naruto." Kakashi found himself asking once again.

"I'm fine, I told you I didn't wanna talk about it." He begins walking towards the other end of the bridge.

"Naruto! What was that?! How could you do that!? What were you thinking!? Sakura screams as he passes by.

The blond turns around and silences her with a look of K.I. that told her to back off!

Sasuke was surprised, awed, and pissed off all at once. His belief that he was catching up to Naruto in terms of skill, was just smashed after witnessing the previous events.

Naruto continued to walk away, not looking at anyone. He brought up his hands into the Seal for the shadow clone jutsu. Before anyone could blink, all the dead bodies were gone and the bridge was complete. "Great, now we can go home." He starts to leave,stopping when Inari runs up behind him.

"Wait, Naruto!"

"What?" Naruto replies, without turning around.

The kid flashes a bright smile. "Thanks for everything you've done for my family."

"Of course." Naruto walks away.

"Sasuke, Sakura, come on, lets go."

"Yes Sensei," Sakura responds.

"Hnn," Sasuke replies, still a little put off from the whole ordeal, but follows nonetheless.

[Alright, that's it for now. I know it was a little dark, but I felt it was the best way for the fight to happen. Especially because it shows what kind of person my version of Naruto is. Tell me what you think about the chapter, and which writing Format you like better.]

[Later.]