Reborn in the Mist

Utakata looked like he couldn’t control the smile on his face, he chuckled as he sprinted over but Zabuza wouldn’t let him get close.

“Whoa! What’s wrong?” Utakata worried, the bloody blade held up in his face kept him from taking another step.

Zabuza didn’t say a word. His head hung where he stood, a steady stream of water rolled along the cobble tiles of the clan compound, it mixed near the end with blood, loosening the thick substance.

Utakata took the silence as a sign. He looked around, back beyond Zabuza to where his victims lay and behind him where Tiger-mask was captured in his bubble. He was a smart shinobi.

“You…you weren’t a part of them, were you?”

Zabuza’s grip on his wakizashi tightened as he swallowed a thick knot and slowly lifted his head to face his former teammate. “What do you think?”

Utakata blinked, his breathing rising, Zabuza could smell his pores sweat out cortisol as he became even more stressed than before. His eyes widened, pupils narrowed as he shook his head. “I think you want something else. You just…right?”

Something else… That much was true. Zabuza had no interest in hounding the Hozuki or any other of the main clans, their blood will be shed by others without his involvement. But the Funato…

He lowered his blade and Utakata let out a sigh of relief, his smile hesitantly returning to his face. Zabuza had a measured look at him and then at the rest of the compound, he waved his blade at it, “Where is everyone else? Are you the only one defending the inside?” He asked.

Utakata shook his head. “No, I’m not the only one. I only came to help Rina, there are others hidden around in the waters, listening, watching but not retaliating.”

Not retaliating? As Zabuza came to think of it, it was quite strange that the only defenders were outside, fighting a protracted battle against the Funato clan for whatever ancient feud the two Main Clans had the gall to squabble about while caste clans and factions organized against them.

“Why? Why not step out and defend their homes? Why hide?” Zabuza asked, sliding his wakizashi into its scabbard.

Utakata scratched his head and shrugged. “Rina mentioned something about her grandmother, I think she might have given the clan some orders before she left.” The young Jinchuriki walked over, his pipe twirled between his fingers. “Besides, the people hidden aren’t fighters, most of them are Genin guarding their family or simply civilians who’ve mastered enough of their clan Hiden to disguise themselves in the waters around. There’s no reason why—”

The words lodged in Utakata’s throat as Zabuza fixed a glare at him. “There’s always a reason for non-combatants to die, Utakata, the Hozuki clan isn’t…they aren’t clean. They are as much oppressors as the Funato.”

Utakata gulped and nodded. “I wouldn’t understand, but I can sympathize. Do you think things will be different after this, better?”

Zabuza paused to think, the petering sounds of the Funato and Hozuki clashing outside drew his attention momentarily— they were rounding up, satisfied with how many they’ve killed or lost, content with the damage for now. Already he caught some Hozuki leaping back into the compound, retreating with their injured in hand.

He shook his head. “I think Lord Fourth is trying to play their wicked game, I just don’t know if they’ll be satisfied when he says it's over.” He turned to Utakata and asked, “You know him, personally. You’re both Jinchuriki after all.”

Utakata had an injured look on his face as he nodded, talking about his role as the village’s ultimate weapon was never a comforting topic, one of the few he’d actually retaliate against Zabuza for. But right now, he nodded, “Yes, we train together…before and after Yagura-sama became Mizukage.”

“Do you think he’ll do it?”

“Do what?”

“Execute dissenters. The ones who defy his new law when its time.” Zabuza said, studying Utakata’s face intently. The boy looked away, his eyes darted everywhere before settling on the Mizukage Tower in the distance, the building partly shrouded by mist stood amongst the new chaos as a watchtower with a cruel judge atop its height— at least Zabuza hoped so.

“Yes, Mizukage-sama wouldn’t go against his own word.” Utakata finally said, though it looked like he didn’t want it to be true.

Snorting Zabuza started walking off, it was time to move on, the Funato were dispersing and he’ll want to slip between their ranks to—

“Zabuza, wait!”

He looked over his shoulder, Utakata hurrying over with a pleading look. “Lord Fourth is giving us another chance.”

“Us?”

“Team 3!” He said excitedly.

“Oh…” the memories Zabuza had temporarily forgotten in Utakata’s welcoming presence surged forth, memories of his failure and inadequacies. His jaw set as he asked, “So?”

Utakata looked confused. “So? Uh…so do you want to give us another shot? Team 3? I think we can work together if we just understand each other, talk to each other.”

“You can’t keep up with me.”

Utakata chuckled lightly. “You know that’s not true, you may be a Demon but…I am its vessel. I’m stronger than you, Zabuza.”

His eyes went wide with outrage. “Want to test that theory!” Zabuza yelled, his hand already itching to his weapon but he didn’t so much as touch its scabbard much less pull it out. Utakata was smiling.

“We can train together, as a team. We can learn from each other, Zabuza, we don’t always have to fight and argue…though that is fun on its own sometimes.” He said, his hand outstretched.

Training together?

Zabuza had given it thought— running back to Captain Ao to beg for forgiveness, to take the blame solely on his shoulders and have the team reinstated. He’d even thought of begging the Mizukage if that didn’t work or even just for some extra help, but he feared both men terribly and didn’t dare bring himself to their presence, not after his failure, his over eagerness cost them all dearly.

And now…

“What about Rina?”

Here Utakata’s outstretched hand returned to his head, scratching it sheepishly as his smile turned to a mischievious grin. “She’s okay with it.”

Zabuza saw through him instantly. “You haven’t asked her yet, have you?”

Utakata grimaced and jogged after Zabuza as he returned to his power walk out of the compound. “You can’t blame me, things are a bit tough for her right now. Her clan is under attack and she’s a major target for—”

“For caste clan scum like myself? Right, so why would you bother asking if she wants to team up with another lowly caste shinobi.”

“That’s not what I said!”

Zabuza hopped out onto a rooftop and then again onto the clan’s fence where he studied the street. It was slick with blood and a small flowing river of red, muddy water. I wasted time chatting with this idiot.

The Funato and Hozuki had scattered already, only corpses too heavy or mutilated to carry were left in the street, most of them orange-haired. Good to see the Funato clan bleeds more. Around the gate were over two dozen Hozuki clan members, all huddled together with one of their prominent Jounin at the centre. Zabuza sighed, he couldn’t be bothered lingering here any longer, lest they turn their blades on him.

“Zabuza! Wait!” Utakata continued to yell. “I’ll tell her, I will so…will you give Team 3 another chance?”

Zabuza shook his head. “You ask her first, she’s the one who has to give me another chance, you too. If you both agree then…then maybe.”

Utakata smiled, though Zabuza could see his uncertainty even from the distance between them. Rina was vocal about her dislike for him and he hadn’t exactly made her time as team leader any easier with his behaviour.

Let her decide. If she can forgive me then…maybe I don’t have to be a Demon.