Hot 'N' Dangerous

Chapter 16: Advanced Bloodlines

"Goodbye! Please take care of Naruto!" Kakashi called as Tazuna and the four of us left, "He's pushed his body to the limit. I don't think he'll be able to move today," Kakashi said, concerned for Naruto's welfare.

"I will," replied Tsunami, waving us off.

"Okay then, let's go!" Tazuna shouted enthusiastically.

We set off towards the bridge and once we got there, we were greeted by a gruesome sight. Slain bridge builders were scattered all across the work site.

"Wha-what's this?" exclaimed a horrified Tazuna.

He quickly ran to one of the still breathing men and picked him up gingerly, "What? What happened?" Tazuna stuttered, cold sweat beading across his forehead.

"A-a m-m-monster," he rasped back.

"Kakashi-Sensei... is it him?" I asked looking to him for answers.

"Most likely," he nodded.

Mist began to congregate across the high platform making vision distance decrease drastically.

"Absolutely," Liz corrected and dropped into a fighting stance.

"Here they come!" warned Kakashi and we all surrounded Tazuna.

I pulled on my gloves and grabbed the hilt of my sword pulling it out in a swoosh of air. Liz pulled her rapier out from its sheath and faced forward, ready to pounce. Kakashi had his fingers to his lips, forming a seal.

"Kakashi-Sensei this is... this is Hidden Mist Jutsu, right?" Sakura asked timidly.

Sakura and Sasuke had a kunai in their hands and they were glancing in all directions. Sasuke began to tremble.

"Long time no see, Kakashi," came a sinister voice off in the distance.

Sakura stifled a gasp and Liz and I readjusted our grips on our swords.

"I see you're still with those brats," he laughed mildly, "The poor kid, he's shaking again," the mirthless laughter died away into the mist.

Suddenly, several clones appeared and surrounded us completely. One of them, I could sense, was within the circle.

"I'm shaking from excitement," Sasuke murmured confidently.

"Do it, Sasuke," encouraged Kakashi and Sasuke burst into action.

Dancing around us with lightning fast reflexes he stabbed his kunai into each of the clones on the outside of our circle and he ended with the one behind me, reaching past me with his kunai and turning the solid figure to a puddle with just a touch. He smiled at me and dashed back to his original spot. All the clones were reduced to just a few splashes of water here and there. The mist lifted a little on Sasuke's side and a sudden mass of chakra appeared, causing me to turn around.

"Hm, he saw through the water clones, that brat has grown," noted Zabuza.

But what I saw wasn't just one person. I saw Zabuza but next to him stood the boy with the Hunter-Nin Mask still on. I narrowed my eyes at the pair.

"It looks like you have a rival, Haku," Zabuza said with a teasing edge to his voice.

"It does indeed," came the familiar female-like voice.

Well, now I know his name, Haku, I thought.

I turned and went to stand beside Kakashi-Sensei, bringing Tazuna with me, so that he was still behind the team.

"It seems that my theory was correct," acknowledged Kakashi, "The masked one, he's obviously Zabuza's comrade, standing right next to him and all," realized Kakashi.