12 My Ninja Way

"Who, who are you!".

Naruto stood, feeling mad that he was kicked out of nowhere. He observed the figure who's only as tall as he is, wearing a creepy mask.

'Naruto-kun. It's over. We don't have to fight'.

"Damn it! Don't tell me it's over! As long as I am standing here I won't give up!".

Naruto gritted his teeth. He looked at Sasuke's dead body again. Even if, even if he die now, he won't back down! Just as he is about to take a step forward to punch him, Shou had to make the reality clear to him.

'Tazuna-san is dead'.

Badump. Naruto's entire body paused for a moment.

Ha? Naruto thought he misheard. His heart stopped for a second, hearing such a nonsense.

"What are you yapping about! Just what are... you...".

Naruto look at Shou in confusion.

"I killed him, Naruto-kun". 

Ha...?

He turned his head towards Kakashi and others. His mind is still in a daze, not sure how to process the words.

He heard it wrong doesn't he.

Naruto look towards Kakashi direction. Sakura is still lying on the ground, clasping her mouth. Kakashi is also stupefied while looking at Tazuna dead body.

***

"Hehe. You are wrong again, Kakashi".

Zabuza is also honestly surprised. Even he never expected Shou to kill Tazuna that way. He felt... really proud at his sudden growth, and yet, there's also a sense of sadness deep inside him that even he himself does not notice.

"If you have not cut my speech, I would have told you about Shou and maybe you would have been able to stop him! Hehe. He is as talented just as Haku is. Even I did not notice his presence all this time! Hehe. And he had killed his own heart and become a true shinobi unlike the brats you brought! Hehe".

Zabuza look at Kakashi who is still in a daze. Heh. He no longer listen to his bragging it seems. It felt really good to surprise his opponent with his trump card. Hahahaha. He laughed in his heart.

"Kakashi, you already failed. We don't have to fight anymore don't you agree".

Kakashi took a deep breath. Zabuza is right. Their mission has failed. There's no more reason to fight.

Wait. More importantly...

Kakashi looked towards Naruto direction. Shou had already move through his Ice Mirror to confront him.

He can't sense the Kyubi chakra anymore. He guessed it's fine now...

They can only report their failure back to Hiruzen.

Sigh... Naruto, this is your first real mission, and also your first failure to protect 'hope'. This is a cruel reality that Naruto had to face. He hopes Naruto can move forward from this.

'You are right'. Kakashi replied to Zabuza after leaving him hanging for seconds.

***

No... no way... old man...

Naruto look a the figure lying on the ground with blood pooling under him.

No... way...

Naruto took one step towards that figure, and another steps - slowly reaching toward the body.

Everyone just watch as Naruto come close step by step until he reached the corpse. 

Old man...

Sakura sees Naruto's expression. She blamed herself for being weak. She don't even notice it and suddenly... Tazuna had already...

'Naruto...'. Sakura can only call out to him to give him solace, and to apologise. 

Naruto had tears in his eyes looking down at the corpse. He fell on his knees, keeping his head down. He promised Inari that he would be a hero. He dreamed himself to become the best ninja. And yet... and yet...!

"Damn it!!!".

A terrifying aura once again envelope Naruto's body.

"Kyubi again??". Shou felt threatened. He had to raise his kunai, ready to defend himself or run into his mirrors.

'Naruto! Calm down! The fight is over'.

"How, how can you say that! He, he killed Tazuna! He's the enemy here!".

Naruto pointed at Shou distance away.

'I... I WILL KILL HIM!'. Red chakra once again enveloped Naruto. The eerie feeling crawled into everyone's spine once again.

"Naruto! Calm down!". Kakashi quickly took a chakra-suppressing seal he kept for this situation. But just as he's about to stick it to Naruto, his legs weaken from chakra overconsumption!

Kuh! He fell on one feet. Naruto!

Naruto rushed fast towards Shou with a clenched fist, he will kill him! His aura is so strong the gravel is shaking and thrown off the ground as he rushed to Shou.

Shou simply dashed into the mirror to barely dodge. Naruto quickly turn and wanted to keep going.

Ice Release: Demonic Ice Mirroring Technique.

Shou weaved hand seals fast and create more mirrors around. He simply dashed into them to dodge.

"UAAHHH!!!". Naruto screamed out his frustration, unleashing wave of chakra that cracks all the mirrors even the ground!

'This is so unfair...'. Shou lamented. He channeled a little bit chakra to fix the mirrors.

Naruto once again rushed to him and launched a fist! Shou moved away from the mirror to another. Seeing a chance, Shou moves and send a punch to his stomach!

Cough! Naruto coughed a little blood and was sent flying.

Grr...!!!

UUUAAA!!!!

He does not give up. He keep rushing to him!

"Sorry, Naruto-kun".

Ice Mirrors surrounded him, trapping him inside a dome. 

Khh! This jutsu again! He is so angry!

Naruto haven't realize a mirror had formed right beneath him on the ground while he's looking for Shou elsewhere.

Shou send fist right to Naruto's chin from below, sending him flying upward!

Myriad Demonic Strike.

Shou move from mirror to mirror, sending countless punches and kicks juggling Naruto in the air.

Ack! Kuh! AAh! Naruto can only scream in pain feeling his body beaten all over.

Everyone opened their eyes wide seeing Naruto beaten up badly at tremendous speed.

'Naruto!!!'. Sakura screamed seeing him being juggled in the air.

Naruto's chakra cloak recedes receiving too much beating.

'Now!'. 

Shou kicked Naruto, sending him flying high above. Shou move to the highest mirror and come down with an axe kick to finish him!

Boom!

Naruto was sent down crashing onto the ground.

Kuhh... Naruto winced in pain. His chakra cloak had already dispersed after being beaten badly.

Naruto gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, trying to stand up. 

"He's dead, Naruto-kun. Let's stop here...". Shou need to make Naruto give up.

Ahh!!!

Naruto still manage to stand up and rushed towards Shou. He stumbled on his feet for a second, yet he still try to punch him.

Sigh... 

Shou took a deep breath. He guessed, he need to let Naruto vent his frustration. Shou decides to just watch as Naruto fist come close to him, and finally reached him.

Pow!

Shou stumbled back from the force. His fist still hurts really.

"You... you monster!".

Pow! Pow!

Naruto quickly mounted on his chest, launching more fists to his face.

Pow! Pow!

POW! The mask was punched off his face.

Naruto wanted to send another fist but right before it hits, his eye widen seeing his face. His fist shook and stopped right above Shou's face.

"Shou...chan...?". Naruto furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

'...'.

It never crossed his mind it's Shou-chan. Shou-chan wouldn't, he wouldn't be so cruel. He's just a kid just like him. He can't make sense of it.

I know you can do it. You will be a Hokage for sure.

Naruto had a flashback of Shou, giving him that validation, and his pure smile and cute sheepish laugh during the short meeting they had. It never crossed his mind its him.

"...". Shou can't say anything to him. What can he say, he's the villain after all.

Naruto stood up. His whole body is shaking.

'Shou-chan.... why?'.

Shou took a deep breath.

"It's... to protect the ones precious to me".

'You mean, that guy!?'. Naruto glared and pointed at Zabuza.

'Why for a guy like that... He's a bad guy who takes money from a criminal! He works for the bad guys! Is that eye-browless freak that important to you!?!'.

...

Shou is not sure how to explain it to him. Zabuza may seems like... okay maybe he is a bad person. But... It's difficult to explain it to him. Zabuza is someone that he owe a lot of gratitude for. He had taught him many things. He, gave him hope in to live in this world. And then, there's also...

"It's also for my brother, Naruto-kun...". Shou look at Haku. Haku had tears in his eyes. He felt guilty that Shou had to truly kill his heart for them.

Haku went to stand next to Shou.

"Naruto-kun...".

"We both had people very dear to us long time ago... our parents". Haku went to tell Naruto their story, how happy they were in their in their little small snowy village.

Haku still remembers his parents, they were kind people.

"But... I realized the ways of the world. Shou had warned me but... I never get it until it happened...".

'What...? What happened?'.

... Shou had to look down down, he can't bear to remember them really. 

"My father killed my mother, then, he tried to kill both of us".

Naruto stood in shock once again.

Haku explains the situation in the Land of Water, where there are countless civil wars and those with Kekkei Genkai is ostracized and hated eventually to a point that many clans are purged by none other than the common people.

"That young man must also experience hardship. Those with special abilities are often feared". Haku looked at Sasuke in the distance.

Naruto digested his words and remembered Sasuke's words. How his clan is massacred.

"When I realized what I had done, I had killed him... my own father...".

Shou had to look at Haku's expression. That expression... It still hurts him to this day. While Shou still feel sorry for not be able to prevent it.

"And at that time... I thought, I was...".

"No, I had no other choice, and I realized why its the most painful I felt".

'Most painful?'.

"That, we are unwanted in this world".

!! It's the same as me...

Naruto can empathies as he too felt unwanted by the world. He was ostracized in childhood, everyone avoided him and he felt really lonely before he met the first person who acknowledges him, Iruka sensei.

"You said to me you wanted to become the best ninja in your village, wanted everyone to acknowledge you".

"Wouldn't that someone become the most important person to you?".

"Zabuza-san took us in. And even knowing we had Kekkei Genkai; the blood that everyone hated... He desired it...".

"I was so happy...". Haku let out a tear, reminisce the times back then.

"Zabuza-san gave us a home, gave us a purpose, and gave us power to live in this harsh world. Power to protect each other. He is, someone important to us". Shou expressed his own feelings.

Protect...

Naruto look at Shou and Haku, standing close to each other. They are a family, and its also for both of them. He gritted his teeth. He hates to admit that he understands...

Shou, having a more mature mind during childhood had a little different motivation when it comes to his loyalty for Zabuza. He knows their society beliefs of rejecting Kekkei Genkai is pure bullsh*t already. Although he wished it had been different.

Naruto hates that they killed Sasuke, and killed Tazuna-san. Sasuke is his friend. And Tazuna-san, he wanted to give hope to the people. And Inari...

Inari would be disappointed in him. He failed to be a hero like he said he would. Inari would really be devastated because he failed...

Where do he place this hatred...?

While Naruto has a conflict in his emotions; suddenly he hears a crowd coming towards them.

Everyone turned their head, to see Gato coming in with many of his men. Shou squinted his eyes.

Zabuza also looks at them with disdain. What is this about?

Thonk!

Gato knocked his staff on the ground.

"Ohh... You were beaten up... Well... You still finish your job at least, Zabuza".

'Gatou, why are you here... And what's up with the men with you?'.

"I was just checking up to see if you finish your job and brought them in case you can't do it".

Gato had planned to betrayed Zabuza, but, they are all alive and kicking. Zabuza is injured, but not enough. And there's Haku and Shou who he had an impression of being really strong back then. He cancelled that plan. It's just some money, its not worth dying for.

Zabuza does not believe it. But he does not care. He could beat them up if they planned to betray them.

Gato walk closer to Tazuna's body, wanting to see it up close.

But before he could, Shou suddenly appeared right in front of him.

!!!?

All his men stands on guard with their weapon.

"We have finished the job. Where's our payment".

Kuhh!

Gato felt intimidated. He can't even see when Shou move to him. He could have died just know from a single kunai stab. He almost regret walking forward so bravely.

"Kh! Your money is here! Give it to them!".

 One of his men throw the bag full of cash to Shou. Shou catch it and opened the zip to look. Well, its enough.

Gato had a sweat drop down his neck.

"W-Well, then our business is finished here!".

Gato quickly fled with his men to where-ever they come from. Tazuna is dead, and the bridge won't be completed without him. Unless there's another expert coming from somewhere else but he would hire another one to kill again.

Just as Gato and his men had gone, suddenly another crowd came from the opposite side of the bridge.

Inari had managed to lead all the villagers to fight for their bridge!

Seeing Naruto's courage, he wants to do something too! He want's to be a hero too! So he gather up all the villagers and went to help Naruto and the team!

The villagers carried weapons with them, ready to fight.

But... the fight is already over.

"Inari...". Naruto called out to him, with pain in his chest.

'Naruto, where's the enemy?'. Inari carries an aura of a protagonist. He look around and sees Zabuza, but he is beaten up. Then there's Kakashi opposite of him. And then there's Haku and Shou who's just standing there close to Naruto.

The pretty sisters does not seem like enemies...

Zabuza is already beaten up... so they already won!

"Haha! Sorry Naruto-nii chan I came in too late!". He can only smile silly.

Naruto had to look sideways, afraid to tell him.

"Naruto nii-chan? What's the matter?".

Inari is confused. He looked around again, and look passed Naruto. Because Naruto blocked his view, he didn't see Sakura and Tazuna earlier.

Eh?

Inari dropped his wooden crossbow seeing it. Is that grandpa...?

No...

The villagers lose their hope seeing Tazuna's dead body. Their eyes which had been filled with hope faded, replaced by emptiness and hopelessness. Who are they joking... how come there's still hope?

Inari walking sluggishly, even stumbling a little to see him.

"Grandpa... grandpa.... wake up... wuuuuwuuuu".

Inari fell on his knees.

"You lied! You told me you prove hero exist! You- Heroes really don't exist! There's no way! I shouldn't have believed you! Wuuuwuuu".

Inari screamed out, reaching Naruto's ears.

Inari held his grandpa's body. It's so cold. Grandpa body is so dead its really cold...

Shou immediately flickered and pull the child away.

"Let your grandpa rest...".

'Wuuuwuuu Who are you!? Hands off me!!'.

Shou scratched his cheek.

He looked around and molded his chakra to sense Gato and his men. They are gone far already. And he already got the money.

He looked at Zabuza. He's anxious really...

Inari sat down again and held his grandpa. Wuuwuuu.

As Inari's tear fell on his body, he sees grandpa's skin turned bluish...

?

Inari touched it, it's really cold. Like ice. He wipe his arm and the skin really turned more bluish... no... its clear and transparent somewhat.

?

Naruto come close and pat Inari's shoulder. 

"I am sorry Inari, I failed to be a hero. I broke my promise... I...".

'Naruto-nii-chan. Why grandpa is like this...'. Inari felt really confused and sad.

Naruto look at old man body and he's also confused. Why his arm is crystal clear... ice?

Shou is not sure how to satisfy everyone, so he had to do it in his own way. Complete the mission (get money), while not betraying Zabuza, not killing Kakashi or anyone. And so he decides this is the best way.

'What is the meaning of this...?'. Zabuza is also confused.

Kakashi is confused at first, but when Inari was crying just now his chakra recovered enough that his sharingan is functioning and sees the chakra inside that body.

That's... a clone? With transformation jutsu? When? Kakashi spun his head trying to figure out how and when.

Zabuza came close, and held his Executioner Blade above Tazuna's body.

"N-no!". Inari stood to protect him. Naruto also stood next to him. Zabuza felt irritated, and he wanted to slap these brats away.

Shou quickly pulled them away. Sooner or later everyone would know anyway...

He can't look at Zabuza's eyes at this time. He felt... ashamed.

Zabuza waste no shit and swung it directly!

Boom! The body shatters into pieces of ice.

Ice clone...

"Shou. What's the meaning of this". Zabuza look at Shou coldly, wanting an explanation. His emotions is complicated. Just... what...

 'I am sorry... Zabuza-san...'.

Shou can only apologise to him... he had, disobeyed his order in a sense. Or rather, he broke away from being a mere tool that follow commands, and had his own initiative and goal. That had broken their relationship...