"That is her ultimate jutsu. Those two kids won't be able to survive it. No one has beaten it, ever," Zabuza bragged.
"Nothing's as boring as bragging. Let's go!" Kakashi said. Zabuza chuckled, and the mist thickened around them.
"You may be the Copy Ninja, but I'm superior when it comes to killing without sight," Zabuza said. Kakashi sighed and blocked three shuriken that Zabuza threw.
(In the Central Province of Nami no Kuni)
Within a heavily guarded five story building was a man named Gatō. He was a man who enjoyed keeping his mind open to any beneficial business opportunities he could get. His minions would make their rounds in terrorizing the citizens and ensuring the locals were kept in line.
Once in a while, the civilians would get a little unruly, and would need to be reminded of their place, but that didn't take more than a few choice words. Gatō would still get reports every now and then, but not frequently. He was currently checking his account books, calculating the numbers and watching them continue to increase.
"Boss, we got news for you," one of his minions said as he entered Gatō's office. Grumbling, the midget raised his head up from his desk to stare at his two mercenaries behind his very round sunglasses.
"This better be important for you to interrupt me while I'm busy," Gatō warned.
"Zabuza and his partner are at the bridge. They intend to finish the job and the contract today," a second former samurai spoke up.
"That's good news. He and that young girl with him were starting to prove to be waste of space anyway. Is there anything else you have to share with me?" Gatō asked with a frown
"The extra mercenaries you requested are at the mainland, sir. Believing the bridge to be closed for construction, they requested a ship to transport them here to this island," the second ex-samurai explained.
"Just the thought of that goddamn bridge pisses me off! I'll have to buy a shipment of dynamite to use on that bridge and have it blown down after Zabuza finishes his job," Gatō turned back to his reports. "With the new addition to my army and Zabuza finishing his contract, I'll have less to be concerned with."
"That's the other thing, boss," the first minion said, interrupting Gatō's work, "Zabuza is having a hard time against those ninjas he's fighting. Even as we speak, Zabuza and his partner could end up losing, or worse."
As a sinister smile grew on Gatō's lips, he spoke, "Now this is something. If Zabuza could, at the very least wear them down, he and the other shinobi will be vulnerable, and we can just kill all of them. Yes, that would do nicely."
"Understood, boss," the second minion snickered as he rubbed the hilt of his sword with anticipation. Gatō stood up from his desk and ledger, contemplating what was discussed.
"This could be a blessing in disguise. I think I'll go meet my new army at the mainland. That way, I'll have a front row seat to see what's become of Zabuza and that partner of his," Gatō said with a dark smile.
(Inside the Ice Dome)
Sasuke and Naruto looked around inside the dome of ice mirrors. In every mirror, there was an image of Haku holding several needles.
"What…Multiple bunshin?" Sasuke wondered out loud. He was answered by a shower of senbon needles, very few of which they managed to evade. The two Genin took out some shuriken and started throwing them at the mirrors. Haku traveled swiftly between the mirrors while Sasuke went through some hand signs, seeing his chance to attack.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique)!" Sasuke shouted as he took in a deep breath before releasing a blast of fire from his mouth towards Haku, who evaded the flames.
The black-haired Genin was able to follow my movements with his eyes, almost as if he has a bloodline limit of his own…Wait! His eyes are now red with tomoe on each of them! Did he just awaken a dormant kekkei genkai? Haku wondered as she escaped to the sanctuary of another ice mirror.
"You seemed stunned. I guess you never went up against an Uchiha before," said the now smirking Sasuke looking at Haku. Naruto took note of the fact that Sasuke's bloodline limit activated, but gave no verbal remark about it.
An Uchiha! Zabuza-sama warned me about that clan and their eyes. I heard they were all wiped out with the exception of two of them. This one must be the survivor of the massacre! Haku contemplated before speaking, "It makes no difference to me whether or not you're an Uchiha. Neither you nor Naruto-kun will escape this ice prison of my creation."
Senbon needles now came from every direction simultaneously. Sasuke tried to see when Haku threw the needles, but the Haku moved too fast. All Sasuke could see was a blur in front of the mirrors, and he felt a new cut. Sasuke started to get desperate as he tried to evade and block the needles with his kunai.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out, creating more clones. The clones stood in front of the boys before charging at Haku, or what they believed to be her. More senbon needles came flying at the clones before taking them down like the others, destroying the clones and striking both boys.
(Meanwhile)
"Damn it!" Kakashi cursed as he narrowly dodged another swipe from Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō. Even with his Sharingan eye, he couldn't see through the thick fog the former Kiri nin had summoned.
"What's wrong, Kakashi? I assumed that almighty eye of yours would at least see through the mist," Zabuza taunted, his voice echoing through the mist all around him.
"I need to come up with a strategy soon, otherwise he'll get me," Kakashi thought as he jumped out of the way of another strike from the missing nin.
What's happening in there? Sakura thought worriedly as she looked towards Haku's dome of ice mirrors. She would have run off to check on her teammates, but she refrained from doing so. She wasn't stupid; she knew a fierce battle was happening inside that dome. She was by no means deluded. She knew that she wouldn't last five seconds in there.
Then there was Tazuna, the bridge builder she was guarding. Sakura had seen the condition of Nami no Kuni over the course of the mission. It was abysmal, all its inhabitants were dressed in rags. Even small children had to scavenge for food. She couldn't stand to see their deplorable state. That was why they needed the bridge; that was why they couldn't risk having anything happen to Tazuna. His bridge would open up an invaluable trade route and save Nami no Kuni altogether. The entire future of Nami no Kuni rested on him, and if she left him, Zabuza might just take the opportunity to kill him, condemning the citizens of Nami no Kuni to their horrendous living conditions for the rest of their lives.
So Sakura stayed, watching with worried eyes and hoping Naruto and Sasuke were alright.
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