16 Chapter 16: Desperate Struggle! Sudden Encounter!

Kakashi stared at Naruto's figure. He couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief. Things had been looking difficult for a moment there. He felt his nerves relax as he exhaled a breath he had been holding in.

Naruto scanned the area and noticed the large dome with the ice mirrors, which he knew Sasuke and Haku would be in. He saw Kakashi with Sakura, and Tazuna, and when he arrived, he had launched Zabuza away from them.

He breathed out in relief, looks like he made it in time after all. No one had died yet, but he knew Zabuza and Haku wouldn't give up until the very end. Luckily, if he could drag this fight out long enough, Gatou would sooner or later show up. Giving him a possible way to save Zabuza and Haku from dying.

Naruto looked over at Kakashi and saw the wounds Kakashi had received. He couldn't help getting angry at Zabuza but he calmed himself down. But he calmed himself down in order to take in the situation clearly. He had opened the first gate of the eight hidden gates formation and he could only maintain the state for about five minutes. Afterwards, he would be overwhelmed by a wave of exhaustion, which meant he only had three minutes remaining. So he needed to wrap things up quickly.

"Kakashi-sensei, are you alright?" Naruto asked.

"Heh, you're too young to be worrying about me Naruto." Kakashi said walking over and patting Naruto on the head.

"But thanks for the help." He smiled.

Naruto grinned back toward Kakashi. Zabuza glared at Naruto, if looks could kill, Zabuza would have killed Naruto a dozen times over.

"Now, looks live we have some unfinished business." Kakashi said, glancing at Zabuza.

"Right." Naruto nodded.

"Heheh, you think one more brat is going to change anything?!" Zabuza sneered.

Zabuza created a water clone and together, the two rushed at Kakashi and Naruto.

"Keep your guard up Naruto, Zabuza is a high level jonin!" Kakashi warned.

Kakashi and Naruto both stood back to back as they waited in anticipation for Zabuza's next attack. Zabuza came out of the mist slashing down at Kakashi while the clone slashed at Naruto. Naruto created two clones as the swords swung towards them.

"Kakashi-sensei! Grab on!" Naruto yelled.

The two grabbed onto the clones outstretched arms and were pulled away from where the swords landed. While in mid air, Naruto started forming hand seals.

Tiger → Ox → Dog → Rabbit → Snake

<Wind Release: Great Breakthrough Jutsu>

The wind blew away Zabuza and his water clone along with all the mist in the jutsu's path. Naruto grinned as he landed on the ground beside Kakashi.

"Now we can see perfectly fine." Naruto joked.

"Well done, Naruto!" Kakashi said.

<Water Dragon Blast Jutsu>

<Water Dragon Blast Jutsu>

The water below the bridge rose up creating two columns of water that were shaped like dragons as they crashed into each other. Water fell onto the bridge like heavy rain as the ground was soaked. Zabuza breathed heavily with rage as his plan had begun going awry as soon as the blond haired kid showed up.

Naruto was wrapped up in own thoughts as his gaze fell towards the direction of Sasuke. Could Sasuke defeat Haku? He thought, the reason Sasuke had gotten injured and fell unconscious in his previous life was because of him. So maybe if he didn't help Sasuke out, things would be different. But Naruto still couldn't help but feel worry for him, since he knew how difficult and dangerous it was to face Haku.

Kakashi noticed Naruto's gaze and knew what he was worried about.

"Naruto. Are you worried about Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.

Naruto shook his head. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but I trust Sasuke, so he'll be fine!" He grinned as he looked back at Kakashi.

Kakashi smiled back at Naruto, he had planned on saying something to help him calm down, but he found that there was no need.

"That's good, let's have faith in Sasuke while we take care of Zabuza."

"Right!" Naruto acknowledged.

The two returned their attention back onto Zabuza who had already created several water clones.

"Leave the clones to me!" Naruto shouted as he created shadow clones of his own.

The clones rushed each other and started crossing blades with one another while Naruto and Kakashi rushed Zabuza.

Sakura had been watching everything play out, but there was a tight bitter feeling within her chest as she gazed onto Naruto's back. They were the same age, yet all she could do was stand there and watch. She turned her gaze towards Sasuke and felt the same thing, again, she couldn't do anything at all. She was supposed to be a ninja like the other two, but she couldn't even stand on the same level as them. Why was she so weak, she wondered, she couldn't help but look up to the sky in frustration. Then she noticed that the clouds had gathered heavily around them. Is it about to storm over here? She wondered, but then she felt an ominous feeling as the clouds slowly began swirling around each other. Something's wrong! She thought.

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Sasuke was busy fighting Haku while Naruto and Kakashi teamed up against Zabuza. Haku had begun growing restless as he knew Zabuza was being pressured by the two. He had no time to waist, he had to finish off Sasuke and go help Zabuza in his own fight. But despite this desire, he just couldn't manage to land a finishing blow against Sasuke.

Sasuke landed on the ground after dodging another of Haku's attacks. He was breathing heavily, but he couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on his face. He had started to grow accustom to Haku's speed and attack patterns. If he could last just a little bit longer, then he would be able to defeat Haku. He felt that as long as he was able to dodge Haku's next attack, he would be able to counterattack.

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Kakashi evaded Zabuza's slash before slashing down at him with his kunai. Zabuza changed his grip on his Kubikiribocho and brought the blade up deflecting the kunai coming down on him and knocking it out of Kakashi's hand. He brought the blade around him as he swung it at Kakashi again. Kakashi brought his hands together and quickly performed his hand seals.

Tiger → Hare → Boar → Dog

<Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall Jutsu>

A wall made of earth rose from the ground blocking Zabuza's view as he sliced into it. Kakashi jumped up into the air above the wall and quickly formed a different set of hand seals.

Tiger → Ox → Tiger → Rat

<Water Release: Water Bullet Jutsu>

Zabuza jumped back away from the blast impact. Then he glared at Kakashi who landed on top of the earth wall. Naruto jumped from behind Zabuza and swung his staff down at his head. Zabuza who was a second late in noticing Naruto jumped to the side to avoid the blow. Naruto's staff landed on the ground piercing into it. He then swung himself around the staff embedded in the ground and kicked Zabuza with both of his feet who hadn't gotten away in time. Zabuza grabbed onto Naruto's ankle and pulled him as he brought his Kubikiribocho overhead and swung down at Naruto. Naruto used the substitution jutsu and was replaced by a log that got cut in half as he appeared right beside Kakashi and was breathing heavily.

Naruto only had about two minutes left before the first gate would close again, so he needed to finish things soon. Then he felt something coming from above, when he glanced up his eyes widened. The sky was filled with looming clouds that swirled in on themselves and in the center of it all, a black substance was forming. What the hell is that?! Naruto wondered. Kakashi and Zabuza had also noticed the strange chakra looming above their heads in the sky. The two of them had the exact same question Naruto did.

Soon however, the substance fell from the sky and landed on the ground where it began shifting within itself. Naruto and Kakashi raised their guard, especially Naruto, this was something that had never happened before. So he couldn't help but feel that he was somehow the cause of it. The substance reminded him of Black Zetsu, but the chakra signature was completely different. The chakra didn't have any kind of malice within it, but it felt unnatural.

The substance was in the shape of a sphere and soon, cracks started forming around it. Something's coming! Naruto, Kakashi, and Zabuza thought. The cracks grew larger until the sphere broke and shattered into pieces that began converging on the figure that had emerged. The figure was a pure white human and the black substance formed clothes around it. It then opened it's eyes revealing empty sockets. It gazed around it's surroundings until it landed on Naruto. Then, before anyone could react, it had stretched it's arm and pierced Naruto's chest.

What?! The three ninjas exclaimed. The figures arm had elongated into a spike that was pierced through Naruto's chest and extending out of his back. Naruto coughed out blood as Kakashi grabbed him and pulled him away. However, the figure remained motionless as he did so.

"Naruto, are you alright?!" Kakashi asked frantically. He didn't even have time to react to what had happened.

Naruto coughed up more blood. "Hah, I'll be fine..... just need.... some time to recover." Naruto said weakly, but he knew he wasn't fine.

Kakashi glared at the figure but was weary of it as well. So far, the only one it had attacked was Naruto, which confused him, because it hadn't shown any actions against anyone else. But then it started moving and began walking towards Zabuza.

Zabuza tensed up as the figure approached him, he couldn't follow it's movement when it had attacked Naruto, so he knew he couldn't let his guard down. Then he began coughing up blood as he fell over. What just happened?! Zabuza's mind raced, he looked down and saw that it had pierced his gut as well. How the hell did it do that? Zabuza couldn't figure it out.

Kakashi appeared behind the figure and was forming hand seals rapidly.

Ox → Rabbit → Monkey → Dragon → Rat → Bird → Ox → Snake → Dog → Tiger → Monkey

<Chidori>

He then pierced the figures body, while another Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza and pulled him away, landing where Naruto was. The figure turned it's head and looked at Kakashi before lifting it's other arm up and stabbed Kakashi. Kakashi vanished in a cloud of smoke, revealing a log in it's place.

Zabuza breathed heavily as he glanced up at Kakashi who was covered in sweat.

"Looks like we've been attacked by a real monster." Zabuza breathed out, as he coughed up blood as well.

"Yeah, things don't look good at all." Kakashi agreed. He held his chest as he had been grazed by the figures attack before he could escape.

Blood dripped from the figures hand as he looked at it with a blank expression.

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Haku and Sasuke had been fighting until Haku stopped as he sensed the foreboding chakra above. Then when they looked over, they witnessed the strange substance fall from the sky and change into some strange figure. Then they saw the figure attack Naruto and Zabuza and pierce them with ease, putting their lives in danger.

"I think we should call a truce for now." Haku immediately suggested, he was extremely worried about Zabuza.

"Agreed." Sasuke replied, he could feel how dangerous the situation had become.

The two nodded as Haku released his jutsu and the two ran over to where Kakashi and the others were.

Once they arrived, Sasuke saw how badly injured Naruto was as his breathing had become shallow. He grit his teeth in frustration as he crouched beside Kakashi. Haku had gone to Zabuza's side and inspected his injury. Zabuza slowly pushed himself up off the ground.

"Zabuza, don't push yourself, you're too injured!" Haku exclaimed in worry.

"Heh, regardless if I'm on the ground or not, I don't think it matters." Zabuza said weakly as he gazed in a certain direction.

When Haku followed his gaze to where Zabuza was looking, he saw the figure looking at them. He then knew what Zabuza was talking about. The figure was unlikely to let any of them go, they all thought as they prepared themselves for an intense battle.

Sakura had witnessed everything that happened and her legs had begun shaking, what could they do against that kind of monster? She thought. Naruto and Zabuza had been taken down so easily and even Kakashi-sensei's attack didn't do anything to it. She couldn't help but feel that this was the end for all of them.

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Naruto's breathing was shallow as his vision was beginning to blur. What's happening? He wondered. His hearing was also beginning to fade as the sounds around him grew distant, as if he was in another room. Am I dying? He wondered, but I have so many things I need to change! He tried to fight against the feeling that was tugging at his consciousness but no matter how hard he fought, he only felt himself getting further and further away. Is this really the end? He couldn't help but wonder as his mind became blank and his vision went black.

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"You're not dead yet." A voice said.

Naruto opened his eyes wide as he looked around. He was in a dark space with different lights dotting his surroundings. He was floating there looking around when he noticed a figure behind him, he turned and looked at him. The figure looked like a young man who didn't look older than 18, he had messy black hair and wore a simple black kimono robe. He was floating while cross legged, and his eyes were entirely black with nothing else in them.

"Who are you?!" Naruto asked.

"Haha, me? I'm not really anyone important, but I guess you can call me Hateshi." He answered.

"Hateshi?" Naruto repeated.

"Where are we?"

"Hmm, that's a pretty good question, how should I explain it?" Hateshi questioned as he places his finger on his lips and tilted his head in thought.

"I could say that we are nowhere, since this place doesn't really have a name. It's also strange that you're here, but I guess I shouldn't be too surprised."

Naruto stared at the figure speaking to himself confused. He had no idea what the guy was going on about, and he still hadn't explained anything at all.

"Well, you can just say that we are in The Void." Hateshi announced.

"The Void?" Naruto questioned.

"Yup!" Hateshi grinned.