The Kyubii was; in most respects a deity – it's power was unimaginable, able to exert inconceivable forces to bring about it's will, yet it was defeated by a human. A human who hadn't had a blood-line; an ordinary human had beaten it the Kyubii, Lord of the Bjiuu. Yet as the nine-tails, as the pure elemental force of the Kyubii he had been little more than an animal, unable to think beyond the all-engulfing rage that had consumed him but with a host he was so much more – his mind spinning in so many directions that he held no one thought for more than a second.
Within this sea of unknown, unimaginable thought a single one leapt to the fore with surprising clarity - Naruto Uzimaki could not die; could not be allowed to die for he gave the fox all he was, in a way he was the fox just as the fox was born out of his thoughts. The fox was grateful to the blonde for giving him more than primordial rage.
So were the Kyubii's thoughts as he gave Naruto his Ckarkra; the fox's thoughts were of protecting the boy who was a father, mother, teacher and most importantly protector to him. The sheer power of the fox's chakra destroyed Haku's mirrors in an instant, sending slivers of ice out in all directions. Naruto was fully aware as the orange chakra spilled out in the form of a one tailed fox; engulfing him with power and he simply pointed his hand towards Haku who went flying backwards and smashed into the stonework of bridge, not hard enough to kill her but enough to take her out of the fight.
Zabuza and Kakashi both turned in an almost synchronized movement, both looking at Naruto and both feeling just what his chakra was.
"A Jinchurriki who can control their beast to such an extent is remarkable" Zabuza said, his eyes showing relief at the fact that Haku was still alive. Kakashi simply replied with a noncommittal grunt and looked wide eyed as Naruto strode slowly forward and spoke "You! Zabuza; you hurt my precious people, you hurt your own precious people! Haku was never meant to be a cold blooded killer and neither were you! You buried it beneath all your bravado and your attempts to convince yourself that you were evil. Is this what you want for Haku Zabuza!"
Naruto's speech had forced Zabuza to his knees and he was sparred any reason to reply when a high, whiny voice interrupted "So the 'Demon of the Mist' was nothing more than a toothless baby. Your pathetic apprentice lies dead and the bridge builder is still alive. Kill them then destroy this pathetic village men!"At which the shinobi saw the army of ronin and bandits behind Gato. They numbered around two hundred and the ninja would have had no problem but they were exhausted and the Kyubii's power had faded.
The army charged with a ferocious battle cry; however it's charge was halted when many of their number went down screaming, clutching arrows or crossbow bolts that had thundered into them and lodged themselves in the bandit's chests. Inari stepped out of the mist leading an army of villagers though they were still outnumbered at least two to one.
"Perhaps some reinforcements might be in order" Said Naruto with a fox-like grin, forming the Ram seal he shouted "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!" and from a cloud of smoke a third army of identical orange clad blondes.
The two forces met halfway down the bridge; clashing in a great maelstrom of swords against pitchforks, scythes against spears, kunai and shuriken against men who had never fought a shinobi before and never would again.
The army of shadow clones utterly annihilated whatever they came into contact with, killing with kunai to the eyes and shuriken to the neck and countless other ways to kill a human being with small metal weapons. The villagers were fighting with a burning desire to protect their homes and loved ones but they were being slowly overwhelmed by the grizzled experience of Gato's veteran force. Kakashi, Zabuza and Sakura entered the fray at this point; causing Gato's army to begin to rout. That was when the sound of iron-shod hooves was audible over the sounds of battle.
The cavalry from the Land of Rocks – though luckily no ninja – numbered around five hundred in total and were bounding down the main road of the village; they were headed straight for Team Seven and their allies. "Kid; pick up my sword and do what it tells you! Now's not the time to argue you are the only one with enough chakra to pull this off!" Zabuza barked his instructions out with something approaching panic colouring his voice.
Naruto picked up the Kubriki Houcho and felt a strange feeling of power wash over him. Making a siring of one-handed seals as though something else was telling him how Naruto breathed in and exhaled and a burst of wind so powerful in blew the first through to third ranks of cavalry away completely though it was still not enough to stop the cavalry's charge. Not even blinking at the destruction he had wroughtNaruto formed yet more seals, again they were one handed, and spat what seemed to be gigantic bullets of wind from his mouth. All seventeen wind bullets fired hit their mark and left grisly remains of man and beast.
The army of shadow clones and villagers charged as the cavalry halted; then began their charge again as the ninja joined the fray; Naruto was swinging Kubriki Houcho like a twig, carving a path of destruction trough the cavalry that left naught but destroyed bodies in it's wake. Kakashi had taken a soldier pill and shouted "Fire style: Flame Dragon" after performing a series of hand signs. The great dragon of flame descended on the horses and an entire section of the enemy army routed.
Naruto saw the archers just a second before they opened fire on Haku; who had just awoken from Naruto's blow. Zabuza saw them at the same time and was on his way there in under a second; he wasn't fast enough but he managed to get Haku out of the line of fire with only five arrows sticking out of his back.
Naruto was there almost immediately but even he knew that their was no hope for Zabuza – the long arrows had hit his vitals. "Haku..." at that point Zabuza stoped to cough up some blood. "Haku you are everything to me; you are like a daughter, please listen to me. Please live Haku, this is my last wish." He paused again to look at Naruto and this time he addressed Naruto "Naruto; take my sword and protect her. Take up the Kubriki Houcho and protect her. Please." Zabuza looked so desperate to get some form of response. "I promise you Zabuza, that's my nindo. To never go back on my promises." Naruto said that with such conviction in his voice that all who heard couldn't help but feel inspired.
Sasuke wasn't dead it turned out; only unconscious. Naruto, Haku, Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi were heroes – the people of wave had organized a great celebration for the ninjas. A mass of fish and seafood was served on a collection of tables as Tazuna's entire village had attended. Kakashi had spoken of heroes and of legends, of sacrifices and freedom. Then the time for Naruto, the proclaimed 'Hero of the Waves', to speak.
" I can not give you your husbands, your fathers, your brothers that you have lost in the fight for freedom. I can give the next generation the ability to grow up in a land where the people are free, where they will prosper, where injustice and corruption will be naught but words in a history book. The land of the Waves will be free and we shall all live to see it. Please; show your thanks with me in remembrance of those who died to give this land hope, to give this land freedom! To give this land and its children the future they deserve! To give this brave land the courage to seize it's future from the grasp of tyranny! Join with me; in hope and sadness; in sorrow and the light of a brighter future!" Naruto simply raised his hand with the Kubriki Houcho drawn and most of the villagers simply raised whatever happened to be in their hands. But Naruto wasn't done "Inari; get ready!" and then explosions of multicoloured light showered over the celebration as the fireworks that were found in one of Gato's warehouses were used to celebrate his demise.
That night Naruto had wandered off to look at the night sky, but he spoke up when he heard faint footsteps behind him "It's beautiful isn't it Haku? You can't see this much in the sky from Konoha." Haku looked thoughtful and joined Naruto on the log, which sat in the centre of a small clearing in the woods the surrounded Tazuna's village, upon which he sat. Haku's heart was beating fatser than it ever had before and her checks were practically crimson, she didn't know why, she mustered her courage "Naruto what you said to Zabuza; is it true?" Haku asked, her voice desperate, "Of course Haku; you are one of my precious people. And my nindo is to always keep my word. I would never let you get hurt. Ever." He said this with such conviction, such an impassioned voice that Haku instantly knew why her heart was beating so fast, why she could her the thump, thump, thump of her pulse. She was in love with Naruto. It had hit her like a bombshell and she acted on it before either she or Naruto could blink.
Haku kissed Naruto; full on the lips. Neither had kissed anyone before (Sasuke didn't count) so they weren't skilled but they made up for it with enormous amounts of passion. They kissed for about a minute before 'coming up for air' and lying next to each other in the soft, slightly wet grass. "I love you" was uttered by both of them at the same time and Haku kissed Naruto again before lying back and falling asleep almost instantly.
Sakura led Sasuke by the hand as they passed Naruto and Haku's sleeping forms and Sakura look genuinely pleased for her teammate as she and Sasuke shared a similar experience to the two of them in a different clearing, although Sasuke hadn't had a clue Sakura supposed that made sense as losing one's entire family did that to you.
Kakashi had seen the sleeping forms of his students and Haku, he smiled and decided that perhaps Minato would be proud. Sakura was already changing Sasuke and Naruto was already stacking up the accolades even at his young age. He surposed in hindsight he and Rin might have had a chance; if only he'd given her one she might not have… It was best not to think about that he decided. Still Naruto deserved so much after all, their was a good reason he was 'The Hero of the Waves'.
The next morning Naruto and Haku arrived at Tazunas house before Sasuke and Sakura (Though they didn't know it). Kakashi greeted them at the door with his eyes showing his amusement. "Already figuring out the perks of being a hero eh Naruto?" Kakashi said with an eye smile
"You're an idiot Kakashi-Sensei" Naruto replied in a light, humorous voice.
"You two didn't happen to see Sasuke and Sakura did you? I last saw them running off hand in hand in the direction you two were." Kakashi sounded genuinely inquisitive though they both knew he was faking when he started laughing at the dumbstruck faces.
A few hours later they turned up, sporting sheepish grins on their faces, Kakashi had a little talk with Sakura and she came out blushing furiously. Tsunami had a great laugh at the couples expense after their one-eyed teacher explained the situation. Tazuna was hung-over and spent the entire morning in bed grumbling about nothing. Kakashi had flirted shamelessly with Tsunami and she had lapped it up, causing much eye-rolling on Team Seven, Inari and Haku's part with Inari blushing furiously whenever his mother opened her mouth in front of Kakashi even if it was about something mundane like a the cracked windowsill on the second floor.
"Take one of these cards each" Kakashi was standing in a clearing with Team Seven, Haku simply sat on a thick branch and laughed quietly. It was around one o' clock and after a hearty lunch courtesy of Tsunami they had set out. "Channel you chakra into this card; only a little bit Naruto!" Team Seven did as their teacher instructed and Sakura's paper soaked itself almost instantly, Sasuke's card was crumpled before he – or anyone could blink and Naruto's card sliced itself into about a billion pieces.
"Well that's fortunate; Haku could you take Sakura and tell her a little about Suiton, Sasuke, Naruto come with me! And bring that sword." Naruto and Sauke ran after Kakashi with Naruto hefting up the Kubriki Houcho and stoping in his tracks after he heard what could only be described as a voice in his head. "Use Shadow Clones Naruto; you will remember whatever they learn after they are dispelled".
Naruto quickly caught up and soon they arrived at another clearing and Kakashi stoped and explained some basic Futon and Raiton exercises. Grinning, Naruto created around two hundred shadow clones and they left a tree without leaves as they all started to concentrate on cutting that stupid leaf in two.
Sometime later Naruto and Sasuke hand managed it, through both of them 'cheating' vigorously.
"Now Naruto," Kakashi paused to take out a freshly written scroll; then he continued "This scroll contains instructions for Futon: Gale Wind Palm and Futon: Great Breakthrough; make sure to use as many shadow clones as you can and I'll come and see how you're doing in about half an hour." Naruto ran off too a different clearing and created enough shadow clones too fill it.
"Hmm… let's see what Kakashi-sensei has in store." Naruto said as he unfurled the scroll.
Futon: Gale Wind Palm
Rank: C
Description: The user channels wind chakra into their palms and releases it in a straight line. The damage caused depends on how much chakra is used in the jutsu. This can also be used in Taijutsu using more precise and powerful bursts to coincide with physical attacks. May be used in either and 'blunt' or 'sharp' variations.
Futon: Great Breakthrough
Rank: C
Description: Breathing air and wind chakra into their lungs the user exhales and emits a powerful gust of wind that can be used to divert projectiles or even enemies.
Be careful with using anymore than the minimal amount of chakra with this technique as their can be some backlash.
The jutsu's in themselves were simple applications of basic elemental and shape moulding of chakra, however they seemed a bit off. He learnt them with little trouble and then started too experiment with wind chakra however his sensei interrupted to inquire how he was doing.
"Naruto! You seem to have those two down so I thought I'd come and tell you that Haku has a lesson prepared on stealth and evasion and she'd very much like you to attended." Kakashi said this quite fast, though not at a ridiculous pace, and Naruto simply watched as Kakashi disappeared in a swirl of leaves. "Damit!" Naruto exclaimed at the thought that Kakashi hadn't taught him the shushin yet, that he thought, would impress the Konohamaru corps as well as the Old Man Hokage.
Haku's 'lesson' appeared to be a game where Team Seven had to work together to evade a large group of villagers in the forest and retrieve Kakashi's Icha-Icha paradise book, which Haku had filched earlier. They had accomplished this , though not without some close calls. Then Haku had made them run it from different starting points as a race with a training kunai to take out 'guards' with, the villagers were amicable to this as they also had training kunai to make themselves feel better. Naruto had not needed the kunai as his days of out stealthing the ANBU after pranks had actually proved useful and he had won, with Sakura coming second as she had simply attacked every guard she found and discarded every notion of stealth, Sasuke had come last having also not needed the kunai but having taken it much slower than Naruto.
They had a meal with the villagers then headed back to Tazuna's house where Haku had announced she would move her bedroll into Naruto's room and that Sakura could manage to sleep on her own. This had caused Kakashi to giggle pervertedly and for an ice senbon to land just bellow a very sensitive area. Naruto had of course approaved of the idea and decided that in the future Haku would make all decisions about sleeping arrangements, as she made good ones.
They had dinner and headed up to bead after Kakashi had showed them how to file a complicated mission report such as the one the mission to wave had forced him to write. Naruto had a great laugh till Kakashi had said that they would all be forced to write one as missions as important as this one had been, and still was, demanded.
Haku looked around the room; it was bare and wooden but it had a large window overlooking the forest and since it was one the second floor and faced towards the sea it had a nice view and at night you could here the waves coming in. The only light was from the moon, which while it wasn't full it was large.
Haku asked Naruto "What do you intended to do with me once we get to Konoha?" Naruto had thought for a second before replying " I'll ask the Old Man Hokage if you can stay; he'll say yes I'm sure Haku! He's the best!" Naruto had replied, pride in his eyes as he had talked about the Sandaime. Haku had smiled and said that if the Hokage knew Naruto that well she was sure it would work. Halu was, of course, completely unsure that she would even get past the gate – after all she had a Kekai Gengai.
"Naruto; how do they treat bloodlines in Konoha?" Her tone made it seem as if it was an innocent question but it was nothing of the sort
"They treat them like their the best thing ever; see Haku that's why I'm sure they'll yet you cause you've got a really powerful one; right?" Naruto had said this with all his usual optimism and cheeriness but it reassured Haku, not greatly but a bit.
She moved her bedroll over to Naruto and hugged him and they talked in hushed voices late into the night of many things ranging from serious topics such as which famous ninja they liked and ideas for jutsu to sillier stuff such as placing bets on how much sake they could drink before being drunker than Tazuna was at all times. At the talk of sake Haku grined and raced downstairs; moving silently and coming back fast with a jug of sake and two saucers.
They had gotten drunk and their whispered discussion had turned into who was stronger; The Yondaime Hokage or Mizukage, Naruto had of course backed the Yondaime when Haku had pulled the 'demon-hitty-thing' card, she was very drunk at this point, Naruto hap pointed out the Yondaime beat the Kyubii; this had shut Haku up till they changed the topic.
Haku had started kissing Naruto, though not very well having missed him entirely several times, for some arcane reason and ended up with her shirt off for reasons only known to her at the time before Kakashi stepped in to protect his meagre reputation as a sensei.
The next day the training focused on Taijutsu and once again Haku took Sakura aside and Kakashi began to teach Sasuke how to intergrate his bloodline in close quarters combat and started to teach Naruto what little he knew of the Gale Wind Palms use in Taijutsu saying that it was used more in Suna.
After about two hours Kakashi told them to spar with only what they'd learned. Sasuke and Naruto had found a good, large clearing and Kakashi had shouted for them to start and Naruto had charged and fired of a dozen bursts of wind but Sasuke had dodged them all and sent a kick at him; Naruto had blocked and Sasuke twisted to dodge a return blow from Naruto almost before he had threw it. Jumping back the two combatants began to circle each other til Naruto burst into action and launched bursts of wind from his palms at seemingly random angles and Sasuke was caught by one in his shoulder and he was thrown back just as another hit him in his chest and another and another and another in a relentless rain of blows though they were not at full strength and blunted.
Sasuke finally had some small respite from the relentless rain of blows, he was lying in the grass and the pain was immense; his vision blurry and he was dragging himself along the ground and his Sharingan was gone from his eyes, with an immense effort he lifted himself up and raised his fits in a determined manner and reactivated his Sharingan.
"Sasuke; You can't win. You have already sarted to rely on the your bloodline to predict an opponent but that won't always work; it happened then and it will happen again, and besides, perhaps you should look down!" Naruto delivered all of that obviously pre-prepared speech with a stoic look on his face until the end when he had a very Naruto grin on his face. Almost fox-like.
Sasuke did look down and saw a smoke bomb about to go off between his legs and Kakashi behind him. It went off and the sound of Ninjas jumping trees could be heard along with roaring laughter and Kakashi's strange laugh that seemed to be as amused as the man got.
Naruto was proud of that prank, sure it was wasteful but he had a large supply of smoke bombs and the look on Sasuke's face had been priceless, plus Kakashi-sensei agreed with him and that, Naruto decided, sealed the deal. He headed back to the house and Haku ambushed him and started to chase him, Naruto having seen the look on her face had decided it wasn't good, so he ran. Haku did catch him though and told him that 'it was a test' and she hadn't enjoyed the tickling she'd given him.
That night; Kakashi received a message from the mouth of one of his dogs that looked utterly exhausted, having sprinted from Wave to Konoha, that contained a message from the Hokage that read as follows
Dog
I have sent a genin team commanded by my son Asuma to help protect Tazuna and mop up the some of the remnants of Gato's organization. I have also sent two ANBU squads under the command of Neko to deal with the Iwa pressance.
Monkey
A.N. The somewhat OOCness of Sasuke is a major point of chapter two so don't be two worried. Please review; come on it won't hurt you :)
Jutsu List as used by Naruto and acknolwged by him. (No Kubiriki Hocho state)
Futon: Gale Wind Palm
Rank: C
Description: The user channels wind chakra into their palms and releases it in a straight line. The damage caused depends on how much chakra is used in the jutsu. This can also be used in Taijutsu using more precise and powerful bursts to coincide with physical attacks. May be used in either and 'blunt' or 'sharp' variations.
Futon: Great Breakthrough
Rank: C
Description: Breathing air and wind chakra into their lungs the user exhales and emits a powerful gust of wind that can be used to divert projectiles or even enemies.
Be careful with using anymore than the minimal amount of chakra with this technique as their can be some backlash.