Chapter 105 - A big matchstick

"It pains me to see you so torn, Naruto-kun." Haku apologized, "Without the venom in my body, you wouldn't have to see that. I would finish this combat already."

"Damnit!... The town is under attack as well! <Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu>!" the ice dome quickly filled with Naruto's duplicates. Haku was faster at exterminating the shadow copies than the blonde was in creating them. "Let me go! I need to help them, Haku-chan!"

"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. I can't do that."

Naruto's blue eyes turned red, his whiskers thickened, nasty fangs came out from under his lip, and the blonde hair frizzled a bit. The chains coming from his back spun around the boy's spine, turned redder, and started swinging like nine ominous tails.

-----

"In this mist, your Sharingan is useless, Kakashi." the disbodied voice sounded in the mist. The silver-haired man's body was seeping with blood.

"Tch... This terrible chakra. Did the Kyūbi broke the seal?" Kakashi's head turned towards the ice dome, remembering the dread from twelve years ago, "No, Kana-chan wouldn't let it happen. Zabuza! Neither of us has time to waste. <Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu> [Summoning: Earth Release: Tracking Fang Technique]" His palm slapped on the bridge's pavement.

"Useless, you can't find me, whatever you do. I know where you are. It's time to die, Kakashi." the concrete under Zabuza's feet trembled, "Huh? Argh!"

A pack of eight ninken [Ninja dogs] shot out from the ground catching Zabuza's body between their jaws.

"You didn't need sight to find me, Zabuza. But as you can see, I have a better nose." Kakashi walked towards his summoned helpers. "Playing around with me will be your doom. By drawing my blood, you soaked your weapons with my scent. Ninkens can easily discern and locate it. I'm sorry, Zabuza, I have to finish it fast to help my students." After using three hand-seals, Kakashi's hand lighted up in lightning-chakra so dense it was visible. His palm shot out bolts of lightning all around him, "<Raikiri> [Lightning Cutter]"

-----

"Then, I will have to kill you." his voice deepened.

"Eh? The cuts on your body are healing? And this bloodlust..." Haku tested the unexpected transformation by throwing a handful of needles at the boy's back.

"KRAAH!" Chakra enhanced yap was enough to deflect the sharp projectiles.

Haku jumped between her mirrors like a pinball ball and, in a heartbeat, found herself right above the boy. Dropping down onto his nape, she tried to neutralize the danger. She did not expect the exponential increase in speed.

Naruto's body swerved aside, destroying the pavement below his feet. His hand caught Haku by her ankle, just a moment before she bounced away towards the ice mirror. "GRAAH!" With Kyūbi's chakra filling his body, Naruto threw the teen towards one of the ice tiles, shattering it like a piece of glass.

Passing the ice dome border, he looked around. On the other side of the bridge, he noticed unconscious Sasuke and Hinata. Above the two stood a pair of men with kunais on his teammates' necks, preparing to deal the killing blow.

'No! I-I won't make it in time...' For the first time, Naruto was out of ideas. "...Sis," he murmured under his nose.

----

"Haah... haah..." the last clone stood guard in front of the town's entrance, his surroundings filled with broken and dead bodies of Gatō's thugs. Every time he obliterated one of the bandits, two new ones took his place. Retreating towards the town, he looked at the literal army in front of him. "... I hope Inari got everybody to run away. I'm bȧrėly holding myself back from popping."

"Hehe, what's up, gaki? Tired already? You're not so tough now, are you-GAH!?" a stone hit Zōri's temple.

"Leave the town!" Inari yelled, popping his head out of the nearest rooftop.

"WHY are you here?! I asked you to run!" Naruto pointed at Inari.

"I'm helping you? And I brought reinforcements!" At the young boy's call, numerous townsmen with farm tools jumped out from the closeby buildings, with Tazuna and Tsunami at the helm.

'Outnumbered civilians against armed bandits!? I need to think of something ~ttebayo!'

*CRASH*

The ground next to Naruto exploded, he noticed a long black staff thrust very deep into the soil. Looking up, the boy found his savior standing on the pole's tip, "Heh. Hi, Koji-senpai."

"Yo, kid. Protecting the population is not part of your mission. Your big sister allowed me to help ya a teensy-weensy bit~." the man smiled at the blonde.

The clone fell tiredly on the ground, "Hehe, sure go break some legs, senpai." Tired, Naruto's shadow clone popped out into a cloud of smoke.

"Inari-kun, people of Nami no Kuni [Land of the Waves]!" Koji shouted, "Stay there and watch." he pulled his staff from the earth and lightly tapped his back with it. He walked towards the bandits, "Now, who wants to feel a staff up their ȧss?"

"Who are you, punk?" Waraji pointed his sword at the shinobi.

"Your worst nightmare." Koji flickered out of their sight.

"He is a nin- AAHhhh...." with a powerful baseball-like smack on his bottom, the only trace of Waraji was his drifting away cry of pain.

"Hahaha!" Koji laughed out, massacring the army.

-----

Gaining impetus, he ran towards Zabuza. Kakashi's most powerful sure-kill lightning release technique in hand was crackling so much lightning it resembled birds trills.

Just two steps away from Zabuza, his young masked partner protected the man with her body. 'Not now! Too much momentum!' Kakashi tried, but the pure speed pulled him forward. A hair's breadth away from Haku's ċhėst, the silver-haired jōnin noticed a heeled sole in front of his face, that abruptly and brutally stopped his charge.

Collecting himself back from the ground, he saw a black-haired pregnant woman winking playfully at him and disappearing in a shunshin.

And then the shit hit the fan. Bloodlust flooded the bridge, the pressure easily dwarfed the one Kakashi felt fifteen seconds ago. His ninken got promptly sent off, as both Kakashi and Zabuza staggered when the enormous feeling of danger punched their bodies.

"ENOUGH!" Kaname's voice sounded out. A perfectly executed wind-nature technique blew the mist away, clearing the surroundings.

And there she stood next to Naruto on the other side of the bridge, leaning on Utakata's arm.

"...She really is here, old man."

"I noticed!" the aged shinobi from Iwagakure stared at the woman. Pressing kunai deeper into Sasuke's neck.

"Hehe, see Utakata? I knew the two missed me."

"So plan C, Kana-chan? I want to have some fun too."

"Don't move if you want the two alive!" the second jōnin pulled Hinata's hair and drew a drop of blood from her throat.

"No, let's go with plan B for now." she snorted.

"Sure, one more thing." Utakata parted the bangs over her eyes and lightly put his lips on her forehead, "Be careful, Kana-chan." He laughed, looking at Kaname blushing profusely, "Cute."

"Ugh, just go away."

"Haha, shy in public as always, Kana-chan." Utakata let her go and walked two steps forward. With his third stride, the man flickered away. He reappeared behind the two shinobis with the blue kimono sleeves fluttering behind him.

"...Wh-at is... going on?" the Kumogakure shinobi grunted out.

"... I can't... move." the elder one squawked.

"Don't bother. Your bees are useless as well." Utakata confidently walked towards the duo.

"What. Did you. Do?"

"No one minds a bit of moisture in the air, especially at the bridge. I won't explain it any further, old man." the jinchūriki smirked, pulling Sasuke's and Hinata's bodies out of their grasp.

"Woah, that was cool, what did Utakata do, Sis?"

"Heh, you know how versatile his soap bubbles are, Naru-chan?" Kaname patted the blonde's head.

"Yeah?"

"He just made them a lot smaller." she laughed.

"Naruto! Take the two to safety. Your Sis will take care of their wounds later." Utakata ordered aloud.

"Okay!" the blonde charged in, quickly taking over his prone friends.

"Now, it's time to finish with you." The brown-haired jinchūriki's eyes turned golden.

"Shit! Kill her! Now!" the Kumogakure shinobi cried out.

Zabuza fell down on Kaname like a bolt out of the blue. She sidestepped the attack. The cleaver's blade followed behind her. Kaname extended her empty hand, trying to catch the quickly gaining momentum massive sword.

"Sis!" Naruto shouted at her.

Instead of the blade clearly cutting through the flesh and continuing towards her head - it vanished in a blink of an eye.

"Huh?" Zabuza clenched his fist, missing the usual weight, "Wha? How? Where?"

"No sharp and stabby objects are not for bad boys. They're dangerous, Zabuza." Kaname snorted, "And to answer your elaborate questions in order, ninjutsu, and very, very far away."

"Ugh, you are a true pain in the ȧss. I'm sorry, I have to do this." the swordsman jumped away, preparing for unarmed combat.

"Nah. Let me guess. The two blackmailed you? Hmm, there is only one thing that could push you so far. What did they do to your little Hunter-chan?"

"... It's venom. She doesn't have a lot longer to live if I don't get the serum."

"Hoh! Interesting. Can you tell me what the symptoms are? You know, I'm one of the best iryōnin you could find."

"*Groan*... Quickly spreading dark purple veins, fever, headaches, pains in the area of the heart."

Kaname looked at the old man with confusion written on her face, "First time dealing with venoms or what? Hemotoxin, am I right?"

"*Growl*..." Utakata pushed the man's head towards Kaname.

"Rookie mistakes. Don't worry, Zabuza, I took hemotoxins for breakfast."

"Huh?" The swordsman shook his head incomprehensively.

"I did. Really. Hemotoxins are mostly present in snake venom. With my serpent problems, it was my first go-to to train my poison resistance. Give me an hour, and Hunter-chan will be as good as new."

His eyes narrowed at her, "Are you sure you can do that, Kaname?"

"No biggie, I always have that serum for an emergency meeting with the white shit."

Zabuza's head did a 120-degree rotation over his left arm and stared at the two downed shinobis' faces and Utakata quietly sitting on their backs. His eyes held no pity or remorse over the duo. The feeling of the threat the man exuded was almost palpable for Kaname. The pair of jōnins must have felt it as well, as they started to sweat profusely, looking back scared at the Demon of the Mist.

"Hehehe, hey Zabuza. Catch!" Kaname threw handle-first his trusted cleaver back.

"Hmm, I told you ȧssholes you would die today. I don't like for someone to call me a liar. What's even worse - I don't like being backstabbed by such dɨċkheads like you two. Utakata, release them!"

"Are you sure about that, Zabuza? You got pretty roughed up in your duel with Kakashi."

"I have more than enough strength for the likes of them. Go get pampered by your girl or something, you lil' shit."

"Pot calling the kettle back? Sure, brake a leg or something." Utakata stood up and walked towards Kaname's back. Each single of his step away allowed a little more freedom of movement for the two shinobis.

With the resounding battle behind his back, Utakata crouched next to Kaname, "How are they?"

"Some nasty stings and bruises, Hinata will be alright after two days of rest. Sasuke needs to rest a week or so in bed," she replied.

"Sensei!"

"Yeah, Izumi-chan? Job done?"

"Hehe." the brown-haired Uchiha put up a V-sign.

"Good. And Gatō?"

"With Torune-kun. He took all the fun from the hunt!" Izumi complained.

"Unhand me, do you know who I am?!" came a man's cry.

"Negative, Izumi-san." the masked jōnin flickered in, "I'm able to say, you exercised your own extensive portion of flames in the previous events."

"Yeah, I do believe she did..." Kaname deadpanned, looking at the huge pillar of smoke coming from over the horizon.

"Hey, it's not my fault this idiot built his own base out of wood! It lighted up like a matchstick!"

"I ORDERED YOU TO RELEASE ME!" Gatō struggled in his binds.

"Zip it already, little bitch!" Izumi kicked the man's face.

"Ugh... I promise my men will kill you all!"

"Gatō-san." Kaname called out, "I hoped we won't see each other again."

"W-who are you? I never met you!"

"Ah, right! Without my mask, your brain wouldn't understand something so complex. Utakata!" she called out.

He walked towards Kaname and stopped at her side. His eyes blazed with a golden light, while her lighted up in Sharingan red.

"I-it-it's you!" Gatō tried to crawl away.

"I asked you to obey the rules of our agreement. I was very unhappy with you once I heard you started to terrorize the local population." Kaname took a step in his direction.

"No-no! It can't be happening! Where are they?!"

"You mean the shinobis from Kumo and Iwa?" Kaname's head pointed to her right, "They're getting butchered by Zabuza somewhere out there. You shouldn't anger that man - it was extremely stupid."

"Wait! I-I can pay you! Whatever you want!" he pleaded.

"Not needed. Torune-kun, leave no traces. Izumi-chan, go with him."

"As you wish, Sensei." The masked young man bowed his head.

"Ugh, do I have to, Kaname-sensei? Last time I barfed all my breakfast out."

"Just go, Izumi-chan. We're finishing here."

"Hey, Sis. What is Torune-senpai going to do? How do you dispose of a corpse?"

"How to call it... Hmm, insect-food?" Kaname's reply caused a round of dry-heaving in Naruto.

------

"How are you feeling, Sasuke-chan?"

"Ugh, where am I, Nee-san? What about Hinata-chan and the Dobe?"

"You're safe. The two went out for a stroll around town. They kept you company for the last three days, Sasuke-chan. Unexpected, but you're one of the few Uchihas with friends outside the clan." she explained.

"Hmph," Sasuke grunted happily.

"You know I don't like the Uchiha's devolved responses, Sasuke-chan. Do it once again, I dare you." Kaname smiled sweetly at him.

"I-I'm sorry, Nee-san. It just came out. What about Kakashi?"

"Lost enough blood to faint after his duel. Kakashi occupies the next room, he will live." Kaname sat tiredly on the chair next to the bed, "So. What do you think about your first fight to the death, Sasuke-chan?"

"... I got destroyed, Nee-san - I couldn't do anything against him! The old man was just playing with me. Once he finished that, he knocked me down effortlessly." Sasuke fists tightly grasped the edge of his beddings.

"As expected. And? What are you gonna do about that?"

"I need more training to never get defeated again. Much more. Without additional power, I never will get past such opponents."

Kaname lightly bonked his head, "You're wrong, Sasuke-chan. Defeat is not a bad thing. What you need is experience, not power. Just look at me... My first five or so fights ended up with me half-dead and my friends saving my ȧss. Only thanks to endurance and determination, I survived to this day. You have amazing friends that are willing to give their life for you, never forget that."

"I... I know. I'm sorry, Nee-san. I just felt so hopeless fighting him."

"Heh, not a problem. Do you know I fought the same guy when I was your age as well? He, as you called it, destroyed me too. I was saved in the nick of time by Naruto's father."

"Dobe's? The Fourth?"

"Yep, it was the moment Minato-san received his moniker, The Yellow Flash." Kaname patted Sasuke's head, "It's not that bad to get defeated as long as you survive and draw lessons from the event. Do you understand that, Sasuke-chan?"

"Hmph." Sasuke noticed a dangerous glint in Kaname's eye, "Ah, shit! It just came out! I'm sorry, Nee-san!"

------

"Hahahaha! Why are you hanging upside down bound by your own bandages, Teme? Hahaha!"

"Not-even-a-word-more-Dobe."

"Hahahaha!"

"Good that you're here, kids. I prepared dinner. Hina-chan, pull Little Duckling back down. He had enough time to think everything through."

"Umm... Eto..." The girl stuttered, not sure of what she should do.

"Just do it fast, Hinata-chan." Sasuke pleaded.

"I-I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun." Hinata threw a shuriken cutting the bandages holding the Uchiha bound to the ceiling.

Sasuke landed back on a bed with a loud, "Uff... Thanks, Hinata-chan."

"Now, who wants pancakes?" Kaname smiled at the children.

After they ate, Naruto spoke out to Kaname, "By the way, where is Utakata ~ttebayo?"

"He went to meet with Zabuza to arrange our transport to Mizu," Kaname replied, spoon-feeding the blushing Sasuke.

"N-Nee-san, you're g-going to Mizu tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, Hina-chan."

"Ugh..." Naruto's face grimaced.

"Heh, don't worry, Naru-chan. It's only for one and a half-month. I'll be back faster than you think. You three remember our deal?"

"Yeah, if we see the white amoeba, we are to get away from the pedophile." Naruto laughed.

"Eh? What?"

"Hehe, I heard you talking like that with Utakata ~ttebayo."

"Well... At least you got that one. I called Orochimaru with considerably more inventive names... Just don't repeat that in front of grandma."

"Hehehe." Naruto scratched the back of his head.

"I will send a letter your way with a description of a job for all of you later this month," Kaname explained.

"I had enough trills for another month, can I ask for something... boring?"

"Heh," Kaname tussled Sasuke's hair, "Only expanding my seal array around Konoha, nothing exciting. But you will have chūnin exams in almost two weeks, Sasuke-chan, no rest for the wicked, you should get used to it."

"Ugh..."

-------

"Hello, Kaname-sama. Thank you once again for saving my life." Haku deeply bowed in front of her.

"Damnit, girl. How many times will you do that? I said it wasn't a problem."

"Each day I live through now is thanks to you, Kaname-sama. As I am only fourteen, there are a lot of bows I owe you."

"Ha! Haku is stubborn, Kaname. Don't bother fighting with her." Zabuza snorted.

"Yeah-yeah. Row the boat, Zabuza. It won't get us through the sea by itself." Kaname shot back.

"Fuck! Why didn't I thought of sails? All seven of us on one boat is too much." he growled.

"*Sigh* Stop complaining so much, Asshole." Utakata took a paddle from him and sat at Zabuza's side.

"Unexpected... Thanks, Fuckwad." the swordsman nodded.

'Hmm, yeah, I can see where the ȧsshole slur came out. But what about fuċkwad?' Seeing the men's somehow friendly attitude towards each other, Kaname's attention turned to the other side of the boat.

Haku blushed at Izumi's question, "... He is like a father to me. Being his tool is only empty talk, Izumi-san." she whispered.

"Are you sure? We may help you talk with Zabuza. We have indeed left you in a cold winter forest, but we were ambushed and taken captive, Haku-chan. It doesn't mean we ever stopped caring." Izumi patted the girl's shoulder.

"Yes, thank you. Everything is okay. Zabuza-sama is just too shy to express his feelings." Haku reassured.

"Hmm, not enough. I will make sure that he will call you a daughter this month." Izumi smirked, looking at the Demon of the Mists back.

"Please don't..."

"Don't you worry, everything is under control, Haku-chan."

------

"Haaah... Haaah... Fuck! Thank the gods for the wax clones." the old man gasped at the border of Nami no Kuni. "Zabuza almost killed me. Kaname Uchiha is even more dangerous than Ōnoki thought. She is to be eliminated right now - before she regains her full strength. I need to inform him about that post-haste..."

"Hey, look, Kakuzu! I found a half-dead worm, can I sacrifice him?" A man called out, pointing at the old man. He had medium-length grey hair that was slicked back and distinctive purple eyes. The man was shirtless but bore a black cloak with distinct white-red clouds, which he kept slightly opened, revealing his Yugakure forehead protector around his neck, an amulet on his neck, and a triple-headed red scythe.

"Oh, isn't this the retired leader of the Kamizuru clan? The Akatsuki could use his bounty, Hidan. Leave the head unharmed."

"Fuck yeah!"

"The Akatsuki?! WAIT! I can pay you!"

"No more talking!" Hidan punched the Iwagakure jōnin in the mouth, "Jashin-sama asks for your blood!"