The Golden Wind: A Naruto Fanfiction - Zabuza's Return and The Ice Mirrors (2024)

"Well, well, I was right," Kakashi deduced. "It was all just an act."

"An act?"

"With a cute little mask," Kakashi added.

"Phony," Sasuke accused.

"So, all that talk about being a tracker ninja who protected his village was just bullsh*t," Tazuna interjected.

"They look pretty chumy to me; I'd say they've been pulling scams like this for a long time," Kakashi observed.

"He's got some nerve showing up after pulling that trick!" Sakura exclaimed.

"And hiding behind a mask, who does he think he's fooling!?" Kakashi, the masked leaf ninja, questioned. Haku remained expressionless.

"Speak for yourself, Sensei," retorted Sakura.

"Enough, I'll kill him," Sasuke declared. "Who does he think he's fooling, hiding behind that mask."

"Wait a second, didn't I just say that?" Kakashi wondered to himself.

"That move gave us the first advantage, use it." ordered Zabuza, Haku nodded.

Sasuke watched Haku started spinning on his feet, getting faster and faster until he was nothing but a spinning blur. Sasuke got his feet ready as the human sized tornado got closer. Sasuke smirked as he neared.

----

Shirtless thugs skillfully sliced through the wall of Tazuna's house with their katanas. Tsunami turned in surprise. As they entered and fixed their gaze on her, one white-haired thug with a beanie inquired, "So you're Tazuna's daughter?" He declared regretfully, "Too bad, you'll have to come with us," just as he raised his sword to deflect a flying pot aimed at his head. He turned to see a little boy.

"Don't touch my mother," the boy growled.

The thug, while fending off the barrage of pans, wondered why the boy was armed with so many kitchen utensils at the doorway.

Growing weary, the thug charged at the boy.

*Clash*

Naruto countered the katana strike with his own blade. He tripped the thug and struck the hilt of his katana against the thug's temple, rendering him unconscious. He refrained from killing in front of civilians unless absolutely necessary.

The shirtless assailant lunged, aiming a strike at Naruto's head, but Naruto ducked just in time. The attacker, smirking, launched a kick towards Naruto's face, which Naruto skillfully sidestepped and grabbed the leg. As the man tried to maintain his balance on one leg, Naruto pulled the other, making the man slip and hit his head on the corner of the kitchen counter. Naruto then pushed him to the floor, lifted him by the collar, and delivered a punch to his stomach, causing him to cough up blood. Naruto spun around and hurled him back through the hole he had entered, then grabbed the leg of another thug and dragged him out as well. Turning back, he walked back in the house.

"You, okay? I've got to go to the bridge." Tsunami nodded dumbly. Naruto turned and walked over to Inari and patted his bucket hat.

"Good job! Just don't attack grown men with katanas next time please." Naruto smiled at him before vanishing in a whirlwind of leaves, taking the thugs with him.

----

A lengthy steel senbon collided with a kunai. Sasuke and Haku were at a deadlock. Sasuke gripped two kunai, his left hand pushing against Haku's right, which was clutching a senbon. "So... He can match Haku's speed," Zabuza pondered.

Haku and Sasuke sprang back and surged forward again, their weapons clashing. Sasuke aimed a kick at Haku, but Haku countered with a kick of her own. They pushed off each other's feet and charged again. Haku spun, adding momentum to her strike, while Sasuke evaded the blow. Sasuke prepared a counterattack, only to have it blocked.

"We want the bridge builder, not you," Haku declared as they remained locked in a battle of strength. "Step back now, and I won't have to kill you." Sasuke responded with a smirk. "You're making a mistake. You can't match my speed. I have two key advantages. First, we're surrounded by water," Sasuke noted, recalling Zabuza's earlier water clones. "Second, I've immobilized one of your hands; you're left with only one hand to defend yourself," he stated, forming a seal with his free hand.

"What! Using one hand." Sasuke spoke. Haku's started to make the hand seals, Kakashi watched in amazement.

"Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death." The water surrounding Sasuke levitated, not as vapor, but as a suspended liquid, poised for action. It morphed into senbon, awaiting a command. With eyes shut, Sasuke concentrated his chakra. At his signal, the needles surged forward in a swift assault. The needles connected and made a big explosion of mist and water. Haku jumped back to avoid damage and saw nothing but a water puddle. Haku rapidly backflipped and jumped back sending water splashing as a barrage of shuriken came from the sky. Haku came to a halt as the shuriken stopped.

"You're not as fast as you think," Sasuke declared from behind Haku. "From this point on, you're on the defensive." As Sasuke drew a kunai, Haku evaded swiftly.

Both Haku and Sasuke whirled and lunged at each other. Sasuke aimed a backhanded fist at Haku, who parried with one hand while clutching senbon in the other. Sasuke flung another kunai with his free hand, which Haku narrowly avoided by ducking. Crouched on the ground, Haku felt Sasuke's boot connect with his face, propelling him backward.

Haku hit the ground and slid, stopping next to Zabuza. Zabuza looked down on Haku wide eyed. "It's not possible, No one's faster than Haku." thought Zabuza.

"Thought you were quicker." mocked Sasuke, standing ready with his kunai. "What else will you lie about?"

"You made a big mistake insulting these ninjas, and calling them brats... That's just guaranteed to bring out Sasuke's attitude." Kakashi thought.

Zabuza laughed. "Haku, if we keep going like this. We'll be the victims. Get on with it!"

Haku stood up. "Right."

----

"Hey! Somebody help us!" exclaimed the thugs, bound to a pole in the middle of nowhere.

----

Blue chakra swirled around Haku's form. Sasuke sensed the air growing colder. "I am sorry it has come to this," Haku uttered, forming a unique hand sign. A tendril of ice sprang to life behind Sasuke, morphing into a mirror. "Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors!" Haku proclaimed as Sasuke found himself encased in a dome of mirrors.

Haku remained outside the dome, took a few steps forward, and approached one of the mirrors. He slipped through the mirror without emerging on the other side. Haku's reflection materialized on the surface. Now inside the mirror, Haku's image replicated across all the mirrors, with Sasuke watching in dismay as Haku's presence filled the dome.

Kakashi dashed toward the dome, but Zabuza materialized before him. "Enter this battle, and you face me. Your boy stands no chance against that jutsu."

Sasuke sat still, waiting. "Now, we'll begin. I'll show you what speed... really means."

Haku's reflection shifted in the mirror, and senbon flew at Sasuke before he could react, slicing through his right shirt sleeve. More senbon were hurled from behind, slashing his left sleeve. Sasuke found himself under a barrage of senbon, narrowly avoiding serious injury. Blood spattered as the senbon continued their assault, forcing Sasuke to curl up and shield his head.

"Just try and help the boy, and I'll kill the other two." Zabuza gestured to Tazuna and Sakura.

Sakura flicked a kunai at the mirror, Haku's arm peaked out the top mirror and caught the kunai by the handle. Haku stayed out the mirror and examined the kunai. Sasuke got a break from the senbon and collapsed to the floor, a bloody mess.