This is chapter two written in Naruto's POV. Thank you kunoichi2006 for reviewing the first chapter. I'm really glad you like it so heres to you.

Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto in any type, shape, or form.

Pairings-Naru/Sasu, Haku/Zabu

Naruto's POV

My name is Naruto Uzumaki, soon to be Hokage, believe it. I just got back from this kick ass mission in the land of waves. And I kicked major ass. Well maybe not at the very beginning, but I just had to warm up. I not only showed the enemy that I'm not to be messed with, but I also showed Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, and most of all Sasuke that I'm not a scaredy cat. And that I've grown up and can handle myself.

It all started out when these chunin ninja decided to attack us. I froze up for a second and Sasuke had to come and steal my glory. Argh Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke. I hate him, but at the same time quite the opposite. He's just such a jerk, arrogant, Mr. Badass, and yet he's so damn hot. One minute I want to hit him the next minute I want to feel his arms around me, touching and caressing me.

Argh! Okay anyway as I was saying, I did freeze up and acted like a "scaredy cat" as Sasuke so elegantly put it. So after that confrontation I wanted to do better during the next time and I did. When Kakashi-Sensei got captured in Zabuza's Water Prison Jutsu I knew we had to free him and I came up with a pretty damn good idea. I formulated a plan to change myself into a kunai and with the help of Sasuke, he managed to throw me and Zabuza had no choice but to relinquish his hold on Kakashi-Sensei as we bombarded him with our attacks.

I'm smarter than I look, believe it. Once Kakashi-Sensei was free he was going to take out Zabuza. And he was about to do it too, but this tracker ninja came instead. Its unbelievable this kid, around the same age as me yet compared to him I'm useless and weak. It makes me feel worthless and puny. But when Kakashi-Sensei told us that Zabuza was still alive and the tracker ninja was working with Zabuza I was excited and I guess a little scared at the same time. Scared because I didn't want anyone to get hurt, but excited because I knew I could handle it.

When Kakashi-Sensei showed us how to control chakra through the soles of our feet to prepare for the next battle with Zabuza, I wanted to do better than Sasuke. That didn't work out exactly like I wanted to, especially when he saved me from falling out of the tree. Some how he always seems to do better than me, but the thing is I hate it and love it. Hate it because I want to be better than him, but love it because I admire his strength and power, plus he's really hot and…argh I'm acting like Sakura.

Speaking of Sakura she's such a little drooling chick. I admit I liked her at a point and I probably still do to a certain extent. Originally I wanted to get closer to her, but she was always fawning over Sasuke. So I decided to observe him and I found out why all the girls like him. I mean he just radiates this coolness factor and it draws you in. So yeah I wanted to show Sasuke I could be cool too and I was going to do it when Zabuza came back. However those bastards left to the bridge without me. How the hell was I supposed to show off my skills if they left me behind? However it wasn't a total loss because I did save Tamari and his mother before I made it to the bridge so by the time I got there I was pumped up.

But once again everyone was criticizing me. At first it was because I was making too big of an entrance and then it was because I snuck into Haku's Ice Mirror technique. You think Sasuke would thank me for saving his life. Oh no, he had to yell and call me a loser/idiot or whatever choice of words he used at that particular time. What I wasn't expecting was Haku's dangerous attack. I underestimated how strong this guy was. But no matter I decided to use my Shadow Clone Jutsu, it never failed me before. And even though Haku kept knocking away my attack I kept trying. I had to. I didn't know what else to do, but I knew I had to protect Sasuke and defeat Haku….but once again I failed. When Sasuke stepped in front of me and took the blunt of Haku's deadly attack I…I was shocked it wasn't supposed to be this way. I was supposed to come in, take out Haku and save Sasuke, but instead he saved me, again.

When I realized that might be it, that Sasuke could die my heart broke. I…I wanted to tell him I felt, but I couldn't not like that. His last words were. "I hated you." They rung clear in my ears and even though he couldn't hear me I told him I hated him too. I did, but I also loved him, which is why I think I found the strength to defeat Haku's jutsu. If Haku was fighting for Zabuza fine, but I was also fighting for a dream to stay alive…Sasuke's dream.

When I felt this indescribable power rush through me I knew it was the nine-tailed fox, but I didn't care at that moment I just wanted to destroy Haku. Yet when I found out that Haku was the same guy I met in the woods the day before who I thought was a chick I just couldn't do it. I couldn't believe that the same guy was my enemy he'd seem so nice before. Then he wanted me to finish him off because I was stronger and he couldn't defeat me. Hell no, I'm not going to kill someone just because they may be weaker than myself. It's not right, Haku just wanted to throw his life away just because he couldn't do what Zabuza wanted him to. Bullshit that's no way to live. Just a tool for someone else to use, not caring any about yourself. Even though I failed Sasuke I still wanted to live. And then Haku told me about his past I felt sorry for him. He was alone in the world just like me until Iruka took me in, unfortunately Haku found that bastard Zabuza who couldn't give a damn about anyone than his own life. As I readied to take Haku down I wondered if I could really kill someone in cold blood.

I was confused though when Haku blocked my kunai and disappeared after he told me I should finish him off. But then I saw him standing in front of Zabuza taking Kakashi-Sensei's deathblow. I'm not mad at Kakashi-Sensei. I wasn't then and I'm not now. He couldn't have known Haku would do that. Hell if I knew that I wouldn't have let Haku escape.

When the fog cleared and Sakura asked me how Sasuke was, it brought on another onslaught of emotions. I was so focused on Haku that I had pushed Sasuke dying out of my mind. I couldn't tell her what happened, but I think she knew.

I could hear her crying and I was going to comfort her, but I knew I would start crying as well and I didn't want her to see me like that. But when I heard Sakura yell out to me and tell me Sasuke was fine. I was extremely happy, yet sad at the same time. Haku had died, even though he fought us, he really wasn't that bad and I really believe that. He died, gave his life for a cause he believed right.

But what made me the most furious was when Zabuza was willing to cut through Haku to get to Kakashi-Sensei. He had no right, no honor. I wanted to believe Haku gave his life for a reason and that Zabuza would honor his death. Kakashi-Sensei was taking care of him though until Gato came and told Zabuza he was no longer needed and disgraced Haku's body. I couldn't take it anymore I would see this sorry excuse for a man take his last breath and take out all his thugs too. Yet Kakashi-Sensei stopped me, I know he meant the best, but Gato deserved the worst, yet if I couldn't do something about it, surely Zabuza would. Haku gave his life for Zabuza sacrificed everything and he was going to just stand there and do nothing.

I yelled and I cried. I believed that Zabuza wasn't that cold-hearted and if…if I gained that much power would I be just like Zabuza. Using people as tools to get what I wanted.

But Zabuza did want to do something. I gave him my kunai and even though his arms were of no use he still took out Gato and some of his thugs. Which ultimately meant he did care about Haku more than he let on.

Even though Zabuza ultimately fell, he did what he wanted to do, take out Gato. But there were still pieces of trash wanting to take us out. Kakashi-Sensei said he had used up too much chakra to take them out. But just as they were coming for us, Inari came and he brought the whole village with him so of course I had to join in with my legendary Shadow Clone Jutsu. And what was so cool was that Kakashi-Sensei did it too. His looked so cool, I mean not as cool as mine, when I do it, but still pretty close.

So after the battle when I went up to Sasuke I wanted to hug him, make sure he was really there you know, but Sakura was clinging on him like she usually does so I reframed myself. Plus I didn't know how Sasuke would take it.

When Kakashi-Sensei put the dying Zabuza next to Haku and it started snowing I couldn't help the tears again. I know a ninja is not supposed to show his emotions, but I've broken that rule several times today. Where Haku came from he said it always snowed and here we were in the Land Of Waves with snow falling for Haku like the heavens were sending a blessing for him and his dreams.

After we all went back to Tazuna's place, Kakashi-Sensei told Sasuke and I to rest up, but I didn't need too, I just wanted to make sure Sasuke was all right. So I watched over him while he slept. Sometimes I would just stare out the window thinking about my goals as a ninja and my values in life. But most of the time I would think about Sasuke and what he meant to me. Which is still confusing as hell and I've thought about asking Kakashi-Sensei about it, but I don't know if he would know too much about that. What was embarrassing though was sometimes I would be looking at Sasuke contemplating if I should kiss him while he slept and all of a sudden he would open his eyes and scare the crap out of me. I mean he wasn't supposed to do that, but you know being the cool smooth person I am I played it off.

Before we started making our way back to our village we stopped by Zabuza and Haku's grave that Kakashi-Sensei built. I asked Kakashi-Sensei if we training to become merciless killers and if that was how we would end up. But it didn't matter what he answered because I was determined to create my own ninja way.

It was while we were walking home when Sasuke talked to me and I mean we had an actual conversation, not him just telling me I was stupid and an idiot. Kakashi-Sensei and Sakura were walking ahead and I was trailing back to think alone, but Sasuke stayed behind also. Then out of the blue he asked me.

"What happened after I lost consciousness? How did you defeat Haku?"

I shrugged and answered. "It was nothing really, don't worry about it." I didn't feel like bragging. I was supposed to protect Sasuke and everybody else, but I failed.

I could tell Sasuke was shocked at my response so I apologized to him, which made him even more confused. He just didn't understand what I was feeling and thinking. So since Kakashi and Sakura were ahead, barely in view, I stopped and spoke to him. I didn't know what I was going to say at the time it just came to me.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help more. I'm sorry I'm such an idiot and I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm not as strong as I want to be. As I should be to protect the ones I care about." I felt embarrassed after I said that. I revealed more to him than I wanted to at the moment, but when Sasuke smiled and said.

"Don't worry about it I did it to protect your dream." I couldn't believe it, but he just shrugged and said. "I wanted to protect your dream of becoming a Hokage so you can show the others that Naruto Uzimaki is someone and not a nobody."

I just stared at him. It may have been rude, but Sasuke Uchiha was telling me, Naruto Uzimaki that he wanted to protect my dream…it just seemed very un-Sasuke like. I thought he only cared about himself, though I should have dismissed that thought when he saved me from Haku.

But that's not it, he didn't understand why I wanted to protect him and become stronger it's not just to Hokage anymore its something more.

"But that's the thing Sasuke, I wanted to protect your dream of defeating that certain someone and bring back honor to your family, but I couldn't, I failed."

But Sasuke just shook his head. "You didn't fail Naruto. It may have been Kakashi-Sensei that ultimately took out Haku, but you played a part in that as well. I don't know what you did to break Haku's jutsu but you did."

Sasuke was giving me words of encouragement and he shouldn't have. I cared so much abut him, more than he would ever know and he couldn't know.

I shouted. "Just forget it, you don't understand." And tried to storm away, but he grabbed my arm and stopped me.

Then Sasuke replied. "Then make me understand Naruto."

I looked straight at Sasuke he wanted to understand then fine, I would tell him everything he wanted to know.

"You want to know why I want to protect you so much. You want to know why I can't get you out of my head day in and day out Sasuke? It's because you're the one thing that's stable in my life Sasuke. I can always rely on you to make some comment on how much of a loser I am or saying something to me. Talking to me. And I don't care what it is as long as you are acknowledging me. That's why…that why I have got to become stronger…that's why I want to protect you, but I can't. I'm what you say I am a loser, stupid, and an idiot."

There I said it and I thought that would be the end of the conversation. I could go home and sulk about the person I could never have. Sasuke let go of my arm and I was going to walk away, but he spoke again.

"Forget that Naruto because I believe in you. When I said those things. I didn't really mean it. I really do believe in you."

I shook my head. "You shouldn't. No one should. I'm a failure."

"Well I do. I believe you can be the very best and nothing can stop you." At Sasuke's words I couldn't help the tears that filled my eyes. I thought he was lying, but he was looking straight at me with no smirk or a cocky smile.

"No one else has ever believed in me, but Iruka-sensei." I looked down, but Sasuke lifted my chin up.

"Well I do too and I also believe in an us Naruto." Now when Sasuke said that I was in totally shock and then he interlocked his hand in mine. But it didn't matter; Sasuke wanted to be with me and I wasn't going to complain so I took his hand in mine and started dragging him forward. It may seem a little sudden, but I didn't want Sasuke to change his mind because I didn't know if I could handle the rejection.

When we got back to the village Kakashi-Sensei left saying he had to file the mission report and Sakura said she was going home to see her mom. So it was just Sasuke and I, alone, together, so when he said I could go over to his place I jumped at the offer.

He was really nice and even offered to fix some ramen for me. I have to say I really liked the new side of Sasuke. He didn't seem so unemotional you know.

I commented "I would invite you to my house and all, but you know I'm not the best housekeeper so I didn't think that's such a good idea."

But Sasuke understood and he even said, get this. "Don't worry about it Naruto you are welcome at my house anytime you want."

I jumped out of my seat and engulfed Sasuke in a hug. I was just so happy. I admit I was a bit skeptical, but I wanted that moment to be real and having him with me confirmed that. I didn't expect him to return the hug, but he did, even though a bit hesitantly. But I could care less. Sasuke wanted me, just like I wanted him and despite what everyone else says or does we will be together I'll make sure of that, believe it.

So that was chapter two, longer than chapter one so sorry if I bored you. I know its some repetition, but the events happened the same way just focusing on different points of view so I tried to keep the dialogue the same. Any comments or suggestions I like to hear them. The next chapter will be in Sakura's point of view and will be considerably shorter, or at least that's the way I'm planning it.