Chapter 39 - 37

At the spot where Hikaru "killed" Zabuza, a young teen wearing a mask knelt down in front of Zabuza. The teen cried behind the mask but she picked up the unconscious body of Zabuza.

That's right, Zabuza did not die, even after falling 100 feet from the sky and getting drop kicked by Hikaru from 100 feet high. You see, just after Zabuza crashed into the ground, he used his chakra to block the fall damage, and when Hikaru drop kicked him, he used his last remaining chakra to block it. Of course, the protection broke but he managed to live.

Haku used her needles to fake Zabuza's death. Although, it was really risky. The moment Hikaru drop kicked, Haku managed to used her needles just in time for Hikaru to crash onto Zabuza.

Though, she believes that Zabuza may no longer be able to speak due to Hikaru destroying his jaws. And also, his right arm was cut off when Kakashi used Kamui. He now has one arm less in his body.

She carried him towards their base and just hoped that no hunter-nin from Kiri gets them.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

(Inside Gato's mansion, in his office)

"What!? Tazuna returned safe and sound to his home?!" Gato yelled.

"Yes, Gato-sama. It seems like Zabuza failed." One of his thugs said.

"Tch, useless fool!" He proceeded to smash his expensive tea cup on the thug's head, in which the thug did nothing as his head bleeds from the injury.

"Contact Akatsuki, it seems like I'll have to go all out. Tell them I'll give them 300 Million Ryo to kill that bridge builder. If that fool manages to build that bridge, it would be the end of me." Gato said while drinking some expensive wine.

"Hai, I'll get into it soon, Gato-sama." Without wasting any time, the thug left the office to contact the akatsuki while holding his bleeding head.

"Hmph, let's see you finishing that bridge, Tazuna. No ninja in Konoha will be able to help you now. Hahaha, "Gato laughed wickedly as he called the p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e by his side.

(With Hikaru and Azumi)

On the forest just near Tazuna's house, Azumi sat under a tree as Hikaru walks towards her and sat right beside her.

She looks at him and said, "Hikaru-kun..." Her eyes were a little puffy, evidence that she cried.

Hikaru held her cheek with his right hand and said, "Why were you crying, Azumi? Because of what that boy said?"

She nodded shyly.

"You silly girl, don't be affected by such things. That boy was just a child. You don't know, maybe he had a very terrible memory of something. Let's go back." He stood up and stretched his hand towards her.

"Okay." But just as she was about to take his hand, instead of standing up, she pulled him down, making him fall towards her, before kissing him in his lips, french style.

As her tongue connected to his, she couldn't help but savor his saliva. It tasted like the food they ate together earlier.

"Mpmh...?"

Hikaru wanted to stop this right now because their position will make someone uncomfortable. He is on top of her while she's kissing him directly.

She pulled her lips along with her tongue, making a silvery line made of their saliva and she said cutely, "Hikaru-kun, please kiss back."

He just couldn't resist her cuteness, and this time, he's the one who started kissing her.

They proceeded to stay there for half an hour before going back to Tazuna's house.

After they've gone baclk, they saw that Tsunami was already cleaning the table while the others were no where to be seen.

"Tsunami-san, where is everybody?" Hikaru asked while holding Azumi's hand.

She stopped what she was doing and said, "Your sensei has already awoken, though he seems to be quite weak. It had something to do to what you ninjas call "chakra depletion". They're just upstairs."

"Thank you, Tsunami-san." Hikaru said as he went upstairs of the house with Azumi. The two of them entered the room they occupied and saw Kakashi inside, still bedridden, but he was awake.

"Oh, Hikaru and Azumi. I heard what happened. I'm just glad you're all okay." Kakashi said as he weakly eye smiled.

"Yeah, anyway, you really shouldn't tire yourself like that. The mangekyou may be powerful but it has its limits, always remember that." Hikaru said.

Sasuke heard what he said and asks, "I didn't want to ask Kakashi about why his sharingan eye changed mid-way during the battle because he's quite exhausted, but you seem to know. What was that?"

Hikaru looks at Sasuke and thought that it would do no harm to tell him what the mangekyou is.

"What you saw was the Mangekyou Sharingan, only a handful of Uchihas had ever awakened those eyes throughout its history. The first one to awaken those eyes was Madara Uchiha, one of the creators of Konoha."

Sasuke may not admit it, but he's learning more from Hikaru's mouth than the shinobi academy. I mean, why would there be a whole test about what the first Hokage drinks? In the academy, there weren't anything about Madara Uchiha. It was only about Hashirama Senju and blah blah blah. It kinda pissed him off, it was like saying that the Uchihas were naturally evil.

"To awaken these eyes, you will have to witness a death of your loved ones. Though, I really don't understand why you still haven't awaken your sharingan." Hikaru said with a mocking light appearing in his eyes.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes dangerously and said, "Why?"

"You have seen your entire clan slaughtered right in front of you, you even saw your parents being killed by your "dear" older brother. Is it because you're less talented? I mean, isn't your goal supposed to be killing Itachi? How can you even do that when he was an Anbu Captain when he was your age?"

Every word pierced Sasuke and he knew that everything was true. His father always told him to his face that he was less talented than his brother. He wanted to prove himself and he worked himself day and night when he was young just to learn the Fireball Jutsu, and the only thing he got from his father was a nod. A simple nod, yet, that was not enough. Itachi was always the better one, always the greatest, always the best in his parents' eyes. And he hated that.

"Shut up!" Sasuke snapped at Hikaru.

"Hmm? Why would I? Everything I said was the truth, wasn't it? Uchiha Sasuke, the weakest Uchiha to ever exist, hahaha." Hikaru laughed out loud.

Now, this sudden turn of events might confuse you. but Hikaru is doing this for a reason.

He realized that except for him, Kakashi and Azumi, everyone else in his team was weak. Mainly Sasuke and Sakura. That battle with Zabuza was a wake up call, this team is extremely unbalanced.

Now, you might be asking why Hikaru is agitating Sasuke, well it's because, mainly to anger him, secondly just for fun. The reason for angering him is simple, that is for Sasuke to face near-death experience with Hikaru. Soon, just as planned, Sasuke will challenge Hikaru in his rage.

Sasuke pointed at Hikaru and said, "Out, now!"

See?

Both of them went out, with Sasuke being a hotheaded.

Sakura and Azumi stayed with Kakashi, mainly because Hikaru told them to. They might not like what he will do to Sasuke. Kakashi tried to stop them but he was powerless.

In a pond near Tazuna's house, Sasuke and Hikaru stood 10 meters away from each other.

"I will show you the power of an Uchiha!" Sasuke shouted as he started weaving hand signs for the fireball jutsu.

He rushed at Hikaru as he inhaled deeply before shouting, "Katon: Goukakyuu Jutsu!"

A large fireball as large as a small house fired from Sasuke's mouth.

The large fireball shot at Hikaru but, just as the fireball got closer to him, the fireball suddenly shrunk in size before it completely became at the size of a palm.

Hikaru held the now small fireball in his hand and said, "Is this the best you've got? How disappointing."

Sasuke's eyes widened, "That's impossible!" He shouted.

"In this world, the things you deem impossible are sometimes possible. Now, quit whining because It's my turn now."

Hikaru suddenly released a huge amount of killing intent.

"Caw, caw, caw"

"Kishi, kishi, kishi." (Note: The sound of critters running away.)

The birds hiding in the trees flew away, the little critters ran away with their small little legs. For they knew, the monster in front of them is very dangerous.

Every creatures in the forest ran away from Hikaru, even though the killing intent wasn't directed at them but at Sasuke.

Earlier, he was completely blinded by rage that he dared to challenge Hikaru to a fight. But now, he can see... the monster in front of him.

He felt it, it's like he is in a very terrible nightmare.

The dark depths of the water slowly raised a claw to grab his leg.

He tried screaming, struggling, but no matter what he did, all he could ever do was try but with no success.

He tried everything but it was futile.

Slowly, as his body was forcefully dragged into the depths of the raging ocean, he started to think.

"Is this how my story ends? Nothing but an avenger that, in the end, can never do anything. Is this really going to be my story?"

He closed his eyes, as if he was ready to accept it, but suddenly, he opened his eyes with more determination than ever.

"....NO! My story is still not yet finished! Uchiha or not, this time, I will control my life! Not for revenge, but for myself!" He roared as his eyes slowly transformed.

Two Tomoe Sharingan!

Then, suddenly, the surroundings started to crack like glass before it fully broke. He opened his eyes, only to see that he was back in the room with his team.

"Huh? What just... happened?" He wondered outloud.

Hikaru smiled at him and said, "Congratulations, you just broke my genjutsu."