I apologize for not updating sooner, I had to focus on school and finals, but now that that's all over and done with, I can focus on this! More fanfiction! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Haku looks into Naruto's eyes with determination. "I'll do anything Zabuza-sama asks of me."
Kyuubi growls and Naruto clenches his fist. "I really didn't want to hear that, Haku…"
Just then, Zabuza puts his hand on Haku's shoulder as he glares at Naruto and Kyuubi. "I don't know who you are, but Haku seems to know you and I had told him not to come out. You two kids must be extremely strong for him to disobey orders." He glances down at Haku to see him slightly shrinking away. He glares back at the two boys with blank headbands. "Whoever you are, it seems that our battle is over…for now…"
With his hand still firmly on Haku's shoulder, Zabuza disappears into a mist, bringing Haku along with him.
Naruto stares at the spot where his long-lost friend had once been standing.
"He's not here, Naruto! Let's go!"
"B-but, Kyuu! What if he just left for a second! We have to wait!" Naruto says in protest.
"Haku's gone, Naru. He found his purpose. Let's get going. We don't have that much time to waste," Kyuubi says before grabbing Naruto's hand and pulling him along the snow-covered bridge.
Naruto looks sadly back at the spot where Haku had once been sitting in. 'I truly hope you're safe, Haku-san… Wherever you are…' Begrudgingly, Naruto turns around and follows Kyuubi out of the city.
Naruto frowns down at his feet. "K—er, Tenma…" Kyuubi turns and looks at Naruto. "I thought he was our friend…"
Kyuubi stares at Naruto's saddening face and he feels a surge of jealousy. 'Naruto's only supposed to be thinking about me!' "That just goes to show you that we can't trust any ninja!" He glances at the four Konoha ninja standing not too far off. "Even if you once knew them…" Naruto clenches his teeth together tightly and closes his eyes in an attempt to stop his tears.
"I don't mean to interrupt your…moment…but I have to get back home and would you two mind helping me get there?"
Naruto and Kyuubi look at Tazuna. Naruto grins and says, "No problem, Jiji!"
Kyuubi smirks and asks, "What, these third-rate ninja can't protect you?"
Kiba growls, "Who you callin' third rate! If we're third, that would make you first! HA!" The entire clearing stares at Kiba. "Oh wait…"
"Burn~," Naruto says with a grin. "You're so stupid you just insulted yourself!" He turns to Kyuubi. "Let's go, apparently these genin aren't ready for a real mission. They're still so weak." Naruto turns around and starts walking.
That was it. Sasuke had finally cracked. No one, NO ONE, calls him weak and gets away with it! Except his brother, but that's different! He pulls out a kunai and charges at "Raiden". His eyes widen when he suddenly disappears and a kunai is at his neck. "Before charging in blindly, always find out your opponents strengths and weaknesses."
Sasuke growls as Raiden moves away from him and back to his comrades. "Sensei," he grinds out in a strained voice. "Let's just get on with the mission." He looks back at Kakashi who is staring at Raiden. When Kakashi does not respond, Sasuke begrudgingly repeats himself, "Let's just get on with the mission, Sensei."
Kakashi stares at Raiden and doesn't hear Sasuke's first question. 'Why does he look so familiar?' He blinks and looks away from Raiden to Sasuke when he repeated himself. "Y-yeah…sure."
Kyuubi looks at Kakashi. "You, the jounin, do you want us to follow you to Wave and help you?" He glances at Naruto who shrugs. "Why, this is your team, right?" Kyuubi snorts. "How long ago were they in the academy?"
Kakashi looks at Tenma and shrugs. He puts back on his easy going demeanor and answers, "I'm cool with it." He looks over at his charges and asks, "What about you guys? Are you fine with it?" Ignoring the medley of negatives, Kakashi answers, "Of course they're fine with it, too!"
Raiden snorts and says, "You ignored his other question, dumbshit."
"What question?" Kakashi asks innocently. Raiden and Tenma both sweatdrop before turning back to Tazuna.
"Looks like we're gonna be accompanying you, Jiji!" Raiden says happily. He links his fingers behind his head and starts walking toward Wave.
Tenma shakes his head slowly. "I thought I was able to beat that habit out of you."
Kakashi's eyes widen in shock as he stares at the boy named, "Raiden". A flashback takes over his mind and he sees a little boy with blond hair walking with his hands linked behind his head. The boy turns around and smiles at him, murmuring, "Ne, you aren't skipping out on something again, are you, Kakashi-san?" Kakashi blinks and looks at the ground and starts walking. 'Where'd that come from? Don't tell me…that boy…Raiden is…?' "…Naruto," he quietly mutters as he looks at Raiden tense up ever so slightly before relaxing again. Kakashi's eyes narrow. 'There's no other solution. I've finally found your son, Sensei.'
Tenma glances back at Kakashi to see him glaring daggers at him. 'What's his problem?'
'Of course,' Kakashi thinks, 'that boy he's with…he must be the one who corrupted him!' Kakashi's hand involuntarily inches towards his kunai pouch. 'What is he? His chakra is so sinister…'
"Why are you so tense, jounin-san?" Kyuubi asks, venom slightly lacing his voice. Kakashi glares at him once more before stopping, causing Kiba, Sakura, and Sasuke to stop as well. Naruto, Kyuubi, and Tazuna all stop and turn around to face the on-guard jounin.
"What are you?" Kakashi grounds out, his left hand at his headband.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Tazuna shouts in fear.
Kakashi doesn't even glance at the old bridge builder. "S-sensei," Sakura whimpers. "What are you doing?"
"I asked you a question, Tenma! Or is that not your real name?"
Tenma grins evilly. "God, I've been waiting for a good fight! Maybe you'll give it to m—"
"Tenma! Do. Not. Fight. Them," Raiden says, his tone leaving no room for debate. Tenma growls before scoffing. "I know you told me not to trust them, but people change."
"Yeah, people change! There's no way in hell that the things in that village are human!" He shouts, his eyes flashing with bloodlust. "Those damn things in Konoha…don't tell me you forgot what they did to you! They're the monsters…" Naruto looks down sadly, his eyes glazed over as he remembers a particularly cruel beating he got from some chunin.
"You and I both know that those genin were too young to know anything. And Kakashi even tried to help me!" Kyuubi stops growling and stares at Naruto in shock.
"So it is you," Kakashi says in surprise. "Naruto…" Naruto looks at him in surprise. "My name was never said before you just did."
Naruto gasps slightly before muttering curses under his breath. He sighs and looks back at Kyuubi to see his still curious gaze. "He stopped so many of the villagers' beatings," he explains. "They weren't smart enough to plan ahead to attack me while he was out of the village. The shinobi on the other hand…" he trails off sadly. "He's patched me up so many times I lost count. So, as I said before, do. Not. Fight. Them."
Tenma falls silent and nods. He looks up at Kakashi and silently thanks him. 'Because of this man, my Naru's still alive. I owe him…'
"You know this boy, Sensei?" Sasuke asks curiously.
Kakashi glances at him before nodding. "Naruto was once a part of our village—"
"Well since he's out and not wearing a Konoha hitai-ate, that makes him a nuke-nin, right?" Sakura asks, wanting to look smart in front of Sasuke.
Naruto scoffs. "Do you really think they'd let a little kid become a genin. I'm months younger than you!" He crosses his arms and glares at Sakura. "Besides, if you haven't forgotten, I was in your class at the academy!"
Sasuke's eyes widen as he remembers a blond haired boy who always kept to himself. 'This…is that kid? Why is he so strong? Is this village making me weak?' He frowns and glances at the red head. 'I've never seen him before.'
"Naruto, who's that boy next to you?" Kakashi asks warily.
Naruto falls silent and says, "I think you and I both know the answer to that question, especially since I went to the Shizen no Genshou a lot." He smiles knowingly as Kakashi's eyes widen.
"I thought that place was a myth," he mutters under his breath. Naruto grins and shakes his head. Kakashi gulps and looks at the red head. 'The Kyuubi…damn.'
Sasuke looks at Kakashi strangely. 'What's with him? Why is he looking at that red head like that? Is he dangerous?'
Kakashi looks at Naruto. "Why?"
Naruto shrugs and smirks while saying, "I needed a trainer who I can trust."
"And you think you can trust him!" Kakashi growls out in anger.
Naruto falls silent and looks down at his feet. A memory flashes in his mind.
A blond haired ten year old boy walks across a clear lake, carrying a bucket and looking below the surface for fish. He stops as a school of bass swims slowly beneath his feet. He licks his lips and sits down Indian-style with the bucket on his lap. He stops concentrating the chakra in his left hand and reaches down into the water. He swiftly snatches four fish with his one hand and pulls them out, dropping them into his bucket.
He stands up and carefully carries the bucket of flailing fish back to the shore where his campsite resides. By the time his feet hit dry land, the bucket and fish inside have stilled. "I'm sorry, fishes," he mumbles as he sets the bucket next to the roaring fire. "But Kyuu and I haven't eaten in days, so…" He picks up a stick and waits for a bit to make sure the fish are really dead.
He blinks in thought. 'Speaking of Kyuu…where is he?' He glances around and lingers as he peers into the forest. He looks down sadly. 'Darn, I was really starting to like spending time with him.' Naruto's shoulders slump and he whimpers slightly. 'Kyuu…'
A man steps on a twig, "Shh," another man whispers from the bushes.
"It's just a young kid, it's not like he's gonna hear us!" the first man growls quietly and looks back as Naruto looks in the bucket once more.
"But you saw what he was doing! He was walking on water! He's not just any kid," the other man whispers, smacking the other guy on the back of the head.
"He's a ninja, so what? He's got good chakra control, that doesn't mean he's a good ninja! Let's just get him!" He jumps from the bushes and laughs. "What do we have here, a kid all alone in the forest." Naruto jumps up and holds a kunai out in front of his chest as he glares at the two men. "Aw, how cute. Look, he's gonna fight back."
The other laughs and grins intimidatingly at Naruto, saying, "Now, play nice, kiddie, and maybe we won't kill you."
Naruto growls and stares warily at the two men. "What the hell do you want?"
"Some supplies. It's expensive, you know. And that fish looks mighty tasty…"
Naruto growls and rushes forward. "Get out of here, you bastard!"
The two kunai clash and Naruto winces slightly when he feels the other man overpowering him in strength. "Didn't your mommy teach you to watch your mouth?" The man grins and flings Naruto's kunai into the woods, pushing him down in the process. "Now be a good kid and stay quiet!" The man grabs a rope and ties Naruto up the second he falls to the ground.
Naruto struggles quietly and glares at the two men as they rummage through his camp. 'No! I couldn't protect anything! My promise to Kyuu is ruined!' He can feel his lower lip starting to quiver and the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.
"Aw, is the kiddie gonna cry?" the first man teases. The other man looks over at the bound kid. "Hey," he says, causing his accomplice to look at him, "Let's have some fun with him…"
Naruto's eyes widen and he finally allows the tears to fall from his eyes. 'No… oh god, no!' Naruto gulps as the other man shrugs and they both make their way toward him, and closes his eyes. "Help me! Somebody help me!" he mutters under his breath.
"Don't worry, kid, we'll be nice and gentle," he says with a deep chuckle. Naruto starts hyperventilating and shrinks back, kicking at the ground, trying to escape. "Oh, there's no point in trying to escape us, kid! Now," he says, grabbing hold of Naruto's shirt and pulling him up towards his face. With the boy's lips a mere centimeter away from his, the man grins and says, "Stay quiet and I'll be sure to go easy while I take your virginity."
Naruto whimpers, closing his eyes, and just as the man moves his hand to pull Naruto in a kiss, the hand disappears and so does the bad breath that once engulfed his nose. Naruto opens his eyes and stares in awe as Kyuubi beats the two men into submission. He feels a single tear slide down his face. "Kyuu…" he whispers out.
Kyuubi stops with his beating of the already unconscious men to look back at Naruto. He frowns. "He didn't touch you, did he?" At Naruto's shake of his head, Kyuubi sighs in relief and smiles softly at Naruto. "I'm glad."
"Y-you saved me…"
Kyuubi blinks in shock before grinning at his tiny crush. "Of course I did! I'll always be around to protect you! Just say my name and I'll be there!" He suddenly gets serious as he walks over and unties Naruto's ropes. "I'll never let anything bad happen to you, and that's a promise."
"I trust him with my life…" Naruto's blood boils and he looks up at Kakashi with a heated glare, "And if you try to attack him, I swear I'll kill you in an instant!" He growls, his eyes changing into a demonic crimson. His fingernails and teeth almost double in length and the lines on his face become more defined. Kakashi tenses slightly at Naruto's change in appearance. He glances down at his team; they were all staring at Naruto in shock and fear.
He smiles warmly at Naruto, trying to get him to calm down. "Don't worry, Naruto. I wouldn't dream of doing that." He pauses before adding, "Just so long as he has no intention of hurting me, my team, or our client."
Kyuubi growls out, "What do you take me for, jounin! I'm sure you have absolutely no idea what happened that day twelve years ago! I'm innocent you bastard!" He crosses his arms and glares at Kakashi with a scowl set on his face.
"Hey, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, but could you explain it once I get back to my place?" Team seven shrug and start following Tazuna and Naruto and Kyuubi once more. Kiba stares warily at Naruto and Kyuubi still confused by the conversation between them and Kakashi only moments ago. Sasuke stares at Kyuubi in thought, wondering if this boy was willing to train him, if he was the reason Naruto got so strong, of course. Sakura, being completely oblivious as to what was going on, she stares in confusion at the two boys walking in front of them. Kakashi, still wary of Kyuubi's power, stays on guard as they walk towards Wave.
Naruto walks with his hands behind his head and grins and says, "I wonder if Inari is gonna recognize us, eh, Kyuu?"
Kyuubi smirks and says, "Oh, if he doesn't remember me…well, let's just say he's gonna need a new room." Naruto playfully shoves him.
"You're horrible!"
There it is. Tell me how you like it! I hope to add more chapters and new stories really soon.
Read and Review~! ^-^
-MosukeHinata
