Once he'd heard Naruto name a sword, he'd brought up what details he could from his last reading of a Bingo Book. Kubikiribocho - the Decapitating Carving Knife wielded by Zabuza Momochi, missing-nin and one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.
"Something wrong, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Naruto.
"What makes you think something's wrong?" asked Kakashi. "At least more than previously."
"You stopped going through your book," observed Naruto.
Kakashi blinked, realized this was so, and that the other two hadn't picked up on that little tell. "Well, the lighting isn't really conducive to reading."
Naruto accepted that, while the other two didn't quite believe that and were on re-heightened alert. So, give Naruto one point for observation and take away two points for gullibility.
"I..." Naruto twisted his neck so quickly it might have gotten a cramp. "Sixteen senbon, four poisoned. Eight kunai. Ninjato, old but well cared for."
Everyone went on immediate edge for that.
"Oh. It's gone now," said Naruto.
"Baka," said Sakura, pulling back one hand. "Don't give out false alarms..."
"Duck!" said Kakashi, pulling down the client.
CLANG! went the strident sound of metal striking metal.
Naruto held the pose for a moment, a second Kubikiribocho in his hands blocking the one that had struck, before sinking to his knees and dissolving the summoned one.
"What the hell?!" said a rough voice.
"Naruto, you're still trying to get the basics down on that technique, so I'd suggest not doing it in combat," said Kakashi lightly.
"So your pupil there is able to craft a third-rate copy of my sword?" said the figure looming out of the mist. "Intriguing. What a pity that he's going to die before he gets any better at that."
Rin stepped forward.
"WHAT?!" asked Zabuza Momochi. "You?!"
"Huh?" asked more than one of those present.
"Hello, Cousin," said Rin.
"What kind of trick is this?" asked Zabuza.
"A very good one actually," said Rin. "Apparently I was dead. Also apparently, I got better."
"That would be a good trick," admitted Zabuza. "Sharingan Kakashi, you have a jutsu that allows you to bring the dead back? That complicates the hell out of my work you know."
"No, actually, it was a Series of Fortunate Events," said Kakashi. "I don't suppose you're willing to leave the client alone for this."
"No, sadly," said Zabuza. "Even if I believed you, the mission comes first."
"'Cousin'?" asked Sakura, looking askance at the medic-nin.
"It's complicated," answered Rin.
"Very," agreed Kakashi.
"True. On the other hand, if you DID have a jutsu that did that," mused Zabuza thoughtfully, "I could charge extra for killing someone in a way that you couldn't fix it. Hmmm."
"It was actually something the kid did," said Rin, pointing to the still shaky Naruto. "Kekkei genkai, other factors."
"Eh?" asked Naruto.
"Well, that's interesting, but we have to get on to business," said Zabuza. "Kirigakure no jutsu!"
"Chinkou No Jutsu!" answered Rin.
Fog thickened, then thinned.
Zabuza glared at Rin. Rin glared back.
"What just happened?" asked Naruto.
"Zabuza used the 'hiding in the mist' jutsu, a specialty of his village," said Kakashi. "Rin just used a counter she'd developed, which precipitates the water out of the air. That particular jutsu requires precision, exceptional chakra control, and a strong water affinity. Which is why Rin is the only one here who can make use of it."
"Rin Nohara is the only one rumored to have that, though since the time of her death - there's a wind variant that's been developed," said Zabuza, his annoyance lowering a bit as he considered the medic-nin. "You really are Rin Nohara somehow."
"Loyal medic-nin of Konohagakure, Rin Nohara," answered Rin. "Registration number 010885."
"Ah, well, this is the sad fate of a ninja, even a missing-nin," philosophized Zabuza. "Having to kill one's own blood, and one with a unique talent at that. Though admittedly having to kill them after they've come back is a bit more unique."
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(Posted Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:37)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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