Disclaimer: I STILL don't own Naruto......T^T

Ch 5: The Masked Assistant
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Riko's POV

As Kakashi stands behind Zabuza with a kunai drawn to the latter's neck, the tension grows with each second. I stand with tense shoulders, clutching the sword I made from dirt and ignoring the cold sweat that trickles down my temple. I could hear the quickened and low breaths of my comrades as they, too, watch with anticipation.

But the tension gets cut when Zabuza throws a high kick towards Kakashi. With the sudden attack, our sensei didn't have enough time to deflect, instead he got hit and flew towards the water. Biting my lip, I watch as Zabuza runs towards the flying sensei.

Since Kakashi is a Jounin, he thinks fast and throws metal spikes as he's airborne. This buys him time, but not enough as he crashes into water. Zabuza, who's running after the silver haired nin, stops in his tracks before he steps on the small trap Kakashi produced.

"Heh, you think this will stop me. You're a fool," Zabuza insults as he smirks.

With that said, the Missing nin, jumps over the spikes and continues towards Kakashi. Our sensei on the other hand, appears above the surface of the water and looks around with utter confusion.

What's he thinking? Is it the water? What's wrong?

"Sensei, watch out," Naruto exclaims with worry.

I watch as Kakashi gets a look of realization as his eyes widen.

"Too late," Zabuza gloats with success. "Suirou no Jutsu," he announces as he makes the single hand sign.

A cloud of devastation falls onto our heads as we watch Zabuza trap Kakashi in the water Jutsu. The sphere of water holds Kakashi prisoner just as the name foretells.

Damn! Now what?

"Hehehe, I have you in an inescapable prison," Zabuza gloats. "It's tougher if you can't move, you know? Now, Kakashi, we can finish things later. First, I'll take of them," he says, gazing at us with a murderous and crazed look.

I visibly gulp as panic seems to overwhelm me. Think! What can I do? I take a look at my surroundings which is covered in trees and water. My teammates look just as panicked as I do, but Naruto has an underlying look of determination.

But that disappears as Water Clones appear from the ground, forming into copies of Zabuza.

"Hehe, wearing those headbands and acting like ninjas. A real ninja is someone who has survived numerous brushes with death," the clone states, looking down at us. "Only when you're good enough to listed in my handbook, can you start calling yourselves ninjas - you are not ninjas," he says before disappearing.

My eyes widen with alert, but mostly panic. Looking around as my heart hammers into my chest, I try to look for the clone. Once again, before I can do anything, Zabuza's clone reappears and kicks Naruto. The kick sends him away a few meters making him crash against the ground.

"Naruto," Sakura screams.

I turn to her with a glare, "shut it! Instead of yelling, protect Tazuna, he's our main priority," I hiss.

Raising my sword, I bring the attention to me. Zabuza's clone glances at me and what I assume, gives me a smirk.

"So, the girl thinks she's a ninja, huh? Well, let's see what you can do," he states before rushing towards me.

Thinking fast, I raise my sword and block the swing of his Kubikiribòchò. I ignore the shrill scream that escapes Sakura's mouth and push more of my weight into the sword. As the swords press against each other, I glare up at the clone.

"You have no say of what makes a ninja. You, yourself, aren't a ninja anymore. You're a criminal," I say through my teeth.

"Huh, the girl's smart," he sneers. "Too bad your intellect won't work here," the clone states before disappearing, once again.

With a rush of panic, my eyes dart back and forward as I try to find where he went. Unfortunately, before I get to do anything else, pain rushes up my back.

"Riko," Sakura screams.

Slamming against the ground, my sword flies out of my grip as I groan in pain.

"You're nothing, but a pathetic girl. You are not a ninja, you're a nuisance," Zabuza's clone growls as he walks closer.

Twisting my body around, I back up as I try create space in between us. No matter how far I back up, he just keeps on coming closer.

"Oh, yeah? Well, you're a criminal, you're not a ninja, you're just trash. You abandoned your village and your title of being a ninja. Look at you now! You're a low life criminal who spends his time doing petty jobs," I retort sharply. "You're nothing!"

This time he lets his anger overwhelm him as he rushes towards me. Kubikiribòchò raised to cut me down, he swings the long sword as he attends to finish the job.

Fingers brushing against cool metal, I quickly stand up and deflect the attack.

"I'm not pathetic! I didn't spend my time watching the grass grow, I spent my time training! I may not be as strong or as skilled as you, but I earned my title as ninja! So don't tell me what I am and what I'm not," I tell the clone.

Slashing, my sword slides out the way as I throw a kick to his side. As he slightly stumbles back, I twist my body and throw another kick. With even more space between us, I raise my hands over my head and bring the katana down with full force.

Growling in my direction, the clone jumps back to add more distance between us. With several space, Naruto comes running back and picks up his headband, which I now notice was lying on the ground. Turning to blonde, I smile.

"Naruto, we need a plan," I inform.

"A plan?"

"A plan to rescue Kakashi," I tell him.

It seems that Kakashi heard this because he's now screaming at us.

"No! Forget about me and run! You have to save Tazuna and complete the mission! The Zabuza outside is just a clone, it can't go very far. Listen to me and go," our sensei yells.

What?! We can't leave him! He preaches about teamwork and now he wants us to leave him behind? That's nonsense.

In my peripheral vision, I see Naruto raise his bandaged arm and look at it. Turning my head to look closer, I watch as his face shines with determination. Smirking, he raises his headband and ties it around his forehead, but he looks up at the clone.

"Hey, you eyebrowless freak, put this in your handbook. The man who will one day become Hokage, Leaf Village ninja, Uzamaki Naruto," he exclaims with a grin.

I smile, of course.

"Sasuke, listen," Naruto demands.

"What is it," Sasuke asks, curious to what Naruto has in mind.

"I have a plan," the blonde informs, peaking my interest.

Sasuke thinks for a moment before he narrows his eyes. "Pfft. Teamwork, from you," he scoffs.

"Hey, don't shoot it down, just listen," I defend.

Naruto smirks, "now, let's get wild!"

###

"A lot of arrogance, but do you stand a chance," Zabuza's clone muses.

But before we have a chance to answer, we're interrupted by Kakashi.

"What do you think you're doing?! Run away! This fight was over from the moment I was caught! Our duty is to protect Tazuna! Did you forget that," our sensei exclaims.

I bite my lip. It's true. Our duty is to protect Tazuna, but what about teamwork? Kakashi told us to never leave a comrade behind.

"Old man," Naruto asks, looking over to our client.

Tazuna looks down. "Well, I planted this seed myself. I'm not going to say that I desire to live so much that I'd stop you. I'm sorry guys, fight as much as you want," he says before looking up with a smile.

"Hn," Sasuke smirks. "You hear that," he calls over to Kakashi.

"Are you ready," Naruto asks.

"Ready," I smile, raising my katana.

Suddenly, we're interrupted by laughter. Dark, menacing laughter that makes my blood run cold.

"Hahahaha," Zabuza's clone bursts with laughter. "You guys will never grow up!"

"What," Naruto shouts with anger.

"Going to to keep playing ninja, eh," the clone insults. His hands twitch. "When I was about your age, these hands were already dyed red with blood," he informs sadistically.

"Devil Zabuza," Kakashi states, shocking us.

"Ah, so you've heard a little about it," the clone questions.

"Long ago, in the Hidden Mist Village, also called the Blood Mist Village, there was a final obstacle in becoming a ninja," Kakashi informs us of the past.

"Hm, you already know about that graduation exam," the clone asks.

"That exam," Naruto questions.

'That' exam? Blood Mist Village? Final obstacle? What is it?

"Hehehe."

"What's this graduation exam thing," Naruto questions.

The clone just keeps on laughing making Naruto's frustration grow.

The clone finally looks up, eyes filled with bloodlust. "Fights to the death between students," he informs.

My eyes widen, fights to t-the d-death?

"Friends that had trained and eaten lunch at the same table were pitted against each other and go at it, until one loses their life. Friends who had helped each other and shared dreams," the clone says, making cold sweat trail down my temple.

"...Terrible," Sakura states, her voice cracking.

"Ten years ago the Hidden Mist Village exam was forced to changed. This change came after the previous year when a devil appeared," Kakashi continues ominously.

"Change," Sakura speaks. She's met with silence. "What change? What did this devil do?"

"Without pause or hesitation, a young boy who wasn't even a ninja, had killed over a hundred of the students," Kakashi finishes with the story, leaving us all in shock.

"That was..." the clone says before stopping. He looks up, eyes crazed with bloodlust, "fun."

My eyes widen, fun?! Killing a hundred students was... FUN?!

Before I have the chance to blink, the clone flashes in front of Sasuke and punches him. The Uchiha bends down in sudden pain before Zabuza's clone punches him down to the ground. Falling, he spots out blood due to the damage and that's when the clone steps on Sasuke's chest, keeping him in place.

"Sasuke-kun," Sakura screams, worried about the boy she loves.

I ignore the slight pain in my heart and grip my katana tighter, ready to rush forward.

"Die," the clone announces.

It's Naruto who steps up as he produces the sign for Shadow Clones. With a sudden puff of clouds, several copies of Naruto surround Zabuza's lone clone.

I smirk, the number of clones that Naruto creates, always surprises me.

"Ah, shadow clones and a large amount," Zabuza's copy muses.

"Here I come," the army of Narutos exclaim in synch.

As Zabuza raises his Kubikiribòchò, the Narutos jump forward with kunais in their hands. Surrounding the lone clone, they all stab the water clone.

Rushing towards a kneeled Sasuke, I help him up before grabbing and jumping to safe distance. Wasting no time, I momentarily drop my Katana and heal Sasuke's wounds.

Raising my head to look at Naruto, I watch as the number of clones decrease. Rushing the healing process, I finish as it was only bruises and scrapes before I pick up my katana. That's when Zabuza wastes no time at slashing away the clones, making several disappear in puffs while the others skid back in the ground.

The real Naruto skids back in the ground as he quickly rummages through his backpack. Pulling something out, I smirk.

"Sasuke," Naruto yells before throwing the said object.

Without hesitation, Sasuke grabs the object to reveal a large shuriken.

"Evil Wind Shuriken, Shadow Windmill," Sasuke announces after he spins and opens it.

The clone scoffs, "a Shuriken won't work against me!"

That's when Sasuke throws it. Red eyes glued to the weapon, I watch with anticipation as it spins past Zabuza's clone.

"But I see you're aiming at the real me...," the clone muses.

When it spins closer, the real Zabuza catches the Shuriken like no big deal. "That's not enough!"

This is the point where my eyes widen, along with everyone else. There's another shuriken.

"Another one in the shuriken's shadow," Zabuza exclaims, shocked.

Perplexed, I watch as the other shuriken draws closer to Zabuza. I bite my lip with anticipation as it's mere inches from slicing Zabuza in half. Unfortunately, Zabuza, who's a high rank criminal, jumps over the shuriken leaving us devastated.

"Still not enough," Zabuza gloats.

"He dodged it," Sakura reveals.

I roll my eyes, I think we know that.

"Heh," Sasuke smirks.

Narrowing my eyes at him, realization smacks me across the face before I look back to the shuriken only for my eyes to widen, again. The shuriken puffs to a cloud only to reveal Naruto, who's holding a kunai and smirking.

Eyes widening, Zabuza looks back as Naruto throws the kunai. Aiming towards the hand that's keeping Kakashi locked in the jutsu, Zabuza has no choice, but to let go.

Relief washes over me, I see. So that was the plan all along. Naruto, threw the shuriken at Sasuke, but in reality he disguised himself as the second shuriken. When Sasuke caught the shuriken, he knew what Naruto did. Those two may be complete opposites, but their teamwork is flawless.

The relief doesn't last long as I watch Zabuza target Naruto, who's now left vulnerable. The shuriken in his hand, he aims it at the blonde only to be deflected by a soaking wet Kakashi (who looks hot by the way).

"Kakashi Sensei," Sakura cheers. I turn to glare at her, but I ignore it as I, too, am happy in the moment.

"Naruto, great plan. You guys have grown up," Kakashi says proudly.

Zabuza scoffs, "heh. I just got distracted and released the jutsu," he tries to lie.

"Wrong! You didn't release it! You were forced to release it," Kakashi tells him.

Zabuza glares.

"I'll tell you that I don't fall for the same jutsu twice. What will you do," out sensei asks.

The two men glare before jumping away to create distance. Feeling the air thicken with chakra, I watch as the two produce hand signs like lightning. Looking back and forward, I realize it.

They're doing the exact same jutsu!

"Water Dragon Blast no Jutsu," they both shout in synch.

The water in the river rises in level as it creates two water dragons. Twisting against one another, the dragons crash together only to create a big wave of water. Water rains down on us, but we ignore it as we continue to watch the two Jounins.

Metal whines as Zabuza attacks with the Kubikiribòchò and Kakashi deflects with a kunai, glaring at each other, they mimic each other's move. Well, more like Kakashi mirroring Zabuza's movements with his Sharingan.

Creating distance, I watch as they run in a perfect circle. Stopping, they raise the same hand in the same single hand sign while the other hand does the same hand sign as well. (This hurts my brain)

"Reading them," Kakashi speaks which shocks Zabuza.

Can he....no, that's impossible.

"Freaky eye is pissing me off, right," Kakashi asks. Zabuza's eyes widen. This proves my point.

It seems that Kakashi is somehow reading his mind. Or he's only playing mind tricks. But whatever it is, it's working because it's confusing Zabuza.

"Heh, all you're doing is copying me-"

"You can't beat me, you monkey bastard," Kakashi cuts off Zabuza only to finish his sentence.

Okay, this is freaking me out.

"Damn you, I'll make it so you'll never open that mouth again," Zabuza exclaims, only to freeze in his movements. "What?! Impossible!"

With Zabuza distracted, it seems that our sensei finished the Jutsu first because a barrel of water explodes towards the primary. With the large water explosion, the river rises and quickly floods towards us.

Adding chakra to the soles of my feet and raising my arms to cover my face, I block the water as it waves past me. Soaking wet, I ignore the yelps and grunts from my teammates as they, too, get covered in water.

The sound of metal hitting against flesh, catches my attention. Looking around, my eyes finally land in Zabuza as he's pinned to a tree.

"It's over," Kakashi states, squatting on a branch of the same tree.

"How? Can you see the future," Zabuza asks breathlessly.

"Yeah. You're gonna die," Kakashi says as he's about to finish the act.

But before he can move an inch, needles appear out of nowhere and pierce Zabuza's neck. I watch as Zabuza's eyes widen before his body goes still. He's dead?

W-who?

I look around and see no one. My eyes dart to Kakashi, who's also looking around. Suddenly, movement captures my attention.

"In the trees," I say, alerting everyone else.

On a branch is a masked person. Judging by his or her height, they look around my age.

"You're right. He's dead," they say nonchalantly.

###########################

TA DA! Finished with Chapter 5! I hope you liked it, also sorry for the long wait, my sincere apologies.

Anyways, feel free to give your honest opinions, I like the feedback.

Also, don't forget to,

COMMENT

VOTE

&

FAN!!!

JA NE, My dancing unicorn friends!