Naruto stood solemnly before a pair of graves as the rain fell down around him, his mind replaying the events from a week prior. Zabuza and Haku, two powerful foes that were capable of killing without making a sound, were tasked with killing Tazuna, a bridge builder that Team 7 were ordered to protect. At first Naruto could careless about the two enemies, they had insulted and injured both Kakashi and Sasuke, the later of which he believed to be dead from the attack. But once he realized his enemy was the same boy who he'd had a heart to heart with, things changed. Naruto got to see first hand what it meant to lay one's life on the line to protect what something precious to them, and when Gato lay dead, Zabuza lamented his regret at not being able to tell his partner just how he felt before dying from his injuries.

Naruto had fallen into a kind of depression ever since, even when he realized that Sasuke was alive, it wasn't enough to bring back the fallen pair that had taught him so much. 'Why did we have to meet as enemies?' The blonde couldn't help the tear that fell down his cheek, he truly believed that if circumstances were different that they both could have been his allies instead of enemies.

"You'll get sick if you stay out in the rain all day." He hadn't even heard his teacher arrive, the gray haired jounin was standing against a tree his book nowhere in sight.

"I never get sick Kakashi-sensei, you know that."

"True, but you shouldn't chance it anyway. Naruto, I know that you don't want to hear this, but Zabuza and Haku were our enemies. As a ninja there will be times when killing is unavoidable, that's the reality of the path you choose when you put on that headband."

"I know that now sensei, they helped me see that. But they were more than just our enemies, they were human beings with feelings and dreams just like us, and it burns me up that in the end they were used by trash like Gato who planned to betray them when the job was done, to discard them like a blunt kunai."

Kakashi was behind him now, looking at the graves that he helped prepare for his one time foes. He couldn't argue, the way those two had died left him feeling more than a little uncomfortable, but he'd seen this since he was a child fighting in the third ninja war and over time he'd grown to accept that this fate was always a possibility. Truthfully this was the first time he'd ever seen another ninja care about the his enemy in such a way, especially when there was nothing but glory to be gained from the defeat of a notorious foe. 'Then again, Naruto has never been anywhere close to the norm. Well, he is your son sensei, maybe I can help him find a better path.'

"Naruto why don't you take his sword?"

Said blonde turned to give him a look of shock and disgust, his mind flabbergasted at the notion of taking such a trophy. Kakashi seemed to read his mind as he explained himself, "No no, not in that way. You said Zabuza and Haku deserved better, and you're right, so what better way to make sure their legacy is preserved than by you taking the torch so to speak."

Naruto calmed himself and looked at his teacher in confusion, "What do you mean sensei?"

"I mean that if you really want Zabuza and Haku to be remembered, then you should take his sword and the lessons they taught you to heart. Zabuza had no special abilities or complex jutsu, but he was still one of the toughest opponents I'd ever faced, and do you know what?"

Naruto shook his head, "No I don't."

"It's because he worked hard to master not just the basics, but his body and mind. Zabuza wasn't lying when he said he'd massacred an entire graduating class by himself, it was a sign of the times in his village, but it was quite the accomplishment none the less. After that his fame only continued to grow. He even earned a slot on the infamous Seven Swordsmen of The Hidden Mist, a group of master kenjutsu users with his generation as the strongest."

The orange clad ninja was in awe, he knew Zabuza was strong, but he had no idea of the height of his legacy. It was both intimidating and exciting, "I had no idea he was that famous. You really think I can do his legacy justice sensei?"

Kakashi gave him his patented eye smile, "Of course I do. Like I said, Zabuza didn't have a special ability or anything like that, it was just hard work, tactics, and of course teamwork. If you're willing to put in the work, then I believe that you will not only honor his memory, but even surpass him one day."

Eyes widening from the thought of surpassing someone like the demon of the mist, Naruto turned his eyes back to the grave, the rain still falling heavy but it didn't seem so oppressive anymore. He looked to the sword left behind, a rival for the giant of a man who wielded it, and for a moment Naruto could swear that the saw Zabuza in the blades reflection, staring down at him with a challenging smirk not unlike when he'd first encountered the man a month ago.

"Will you help me sensei? I know I'm always asking you for new jutsu but would you be able to teach me the jutsu that he had?"

Kakashi placed a hand on his sunkissed head and ruffled his hair around playfully, "Of course I will, that's my job after all. I might not be a master of kenjutsu nor can I say I've perfected his style of silent killing, but I can get you on the right path."

Naruto wasn't sure if the nod he received from the image was real or just his imagination.

Two weeks later and the bridge was complete. Tazuna and the rest of the village stood with bidding farewell to a partial Team 7. Sasuke had made a full recovery in that time and was anxious to get back to training. Sakura however just wanted to get back home to her beloved bed, "Where is Naruto? That idiot is has been missing since this morning."

Kakashi simple flipped another page in his book, "Mah he's just saying his farewells, he'll be here soon enough."

Sakura crossed her arms and huffed, "Who could he be saying goodbye to? Everyone in the village is just about here."

Sasuke was wondering the same thing, Tazuna and his family was here, and Naruto hadn't really talked to anyone else in the village. But soon his question was answered when the blonde appeared running awkwardly towards the bridge, the sword of their fallen enemy strapped to his back. Needless to say, Sakura was livid.

"NARUTO! You made us wait while you went grave robbing!?"

Before Naruto could stop and explain himself Sakura was already in action, whacking him several times with her fists as he tried in vain to defend himself.

"Ow! Sakura-chan its not like that honest! I'm going to honor them by learning how to use his sword!"

Sakura stopped her assault and looked at Naruto as if he'd grown a second head, 'Leave it to Naruto to think of something so absurd.'

"Naruto-"

"Whatever dobe, but you'd better not slow us down with that thing. I don't want to keep stopping because you're tired."

"Hey shut up bastard! I'll still be to go on longer that you even if I have twice the weight, believe it!"

Sakura watched the two trade insults before sighing to herself. If her teacher and Sasuke were ok with his actions then she wasn't going to harp on him about it, "Whatever. As long as you weren't planning on defiling their graves then I guess its ok."

Naruto gave her a pout, "That's mean Sakura-chan, you can't really think I'd do something like that would you?"

"This coming from the same person who pranked a sweet old lady by covering her in orange paint."

"Hey she had it coming! I swear she was always tossing out dirty water on me on purpose!"

End chapter one.

Meh meh so what do ya think? I always thought Zabuza was badass, and I really felt like Naruto learned a lot from the two of them. I haven't decided on a pairing as of yet, but I have decided that I'm going to make a functioning Team 7 for the most part. Sasuke is still an avenger, Sakura is still devoted to him, and Naruto is still going to hesitate to kill, but they aren't going to be at each others throats the entire time. Also, there will be a few OC's but I'll keep it tasteful.