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End of one world, Chapter 10"No," Kakashi shook his head, pulling her back and forcing her to crouch down beside him. "It's what Sasuke wants." Sasuke's nose was bleeding and his lip had been cut under the might of Naruto's fists, but it was alright. Naruto's punches had lost most of their strength already and the fury was fading from the initial rage into something else. Something mellower and more serious.
Good, he thought to himself, watching it grimly. And very bad. Naruto was dealing with the brutal lesson in the only way he could, and Sasuke was willing to help him there, but just watching them made it painful obvious how very unprepared they both were for what had happened. Sasuke seemed to take it with easy indifference, but that was the most dangerous thing of all in a Shinobi, to shrug off trauma like it was nothing. And Naruto… well. It wasn't healthy, for any of them, not for Sasuke who could just take a beating like that, not for Naruto who was giving them, and not for those watching. But, as horrible as it was, it was safer to let Naruto vent it out than have him bottle it.
But Sakura hadn't realised any of it yet. She didn't know what Sasuke had intended, what he had planned - and where he had succeeded. "What? Are you insane? Sasuke -"
"Did it for him," Haku whispered behind them, making Sakura look at him with shock. Haku had look of shocked admiration in his face. "Naruto… Has never seen anyone die before?"
"Today was his first serious battle," Kakashi agreed.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked confusedly, still trying to break from the hold of Kakashi's hand. "Let go of me, sensei -"
"Well, well," Zabuza murmured with a sort of disturbed amusement, standing up and watching how Naruto caught his breath, his fists bloodied with Sasuke's blood. He looked like he wasn't sure where he was supposed to find the situation insulting or entertaining, whether he was supposed to be angry at Sasuke or thankful. "I have to say, Kakashi, your brats are interesting. This is your first real mission, right? Hah. I can see many interesting missions ahead of you."
Kakashi sighed. May you live in interesting times, he thought bitterly. No greater curse for a teacher. He frowned and looked away from his students. There was nothing he could do now without doing some damage. All he could do was to let it run its course and deal with the aftermath once things calmed down.
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