A Second Chance at Winter...

Chapter 4

Well, it's been a long while since I updated, sorry about that, my computer went Ka-put and I had to by a new one, and then I had writers block, then I wrote other stores and then finally lost my inspiration to write completely, oh well. Anyway, I've finally up dated this and my profile page, from now on I'll be posting things there for those who are interested. I also wish to thank all those who have reviewed, alerted and favorited this story, I'm going to do my best for you guys. Also please read the last authors note at the bottom of the chapter. It for all my fans and peoples who like my stuff. I've got great stuff.

~ Mugan Von Hellscream

Fading screams echoed through the forest. As the mist began to dissipate two unmoving figures could be seen on the ground, small crackles of blue chakra radiating from their bodies.

A few hours later the sun began to rise and a groan was heard. "...D-damn..." With a grunt Naruto pushed himself up from the ground. "... that fucking hurt..." Naruto shook his head and blinked. The snow had vanished, the ground was bare and all around there was green. A low moan pierced the silence that had descended upon the forest. Naruto rose on to one knee and turned to see Lee on this side, his clothes burnt and ripped in several places.

With a grunt Naruto rose to his feet and clutched his side. His ribs felt like they were on fire. With a expression of pain he stumbled over to Lee and fell to his knees again. "Hey Lee..." he called as he rolled friend over. Naruto gasped seeing the pained face of a younger Lee. Naruto hovered over him for a brief moment before shaking his head and staring again. "Holy shit!" Naruto finally noticed that his voice was a higher pitch and he pulled of his head band, which now had a large gash in the side and blinked at his reflection.

He too was younger, the thing was, How? He decided not to ponder that as Lee let out another moan. "Hang on Lee... I'll figure things out." Naruto made the seal for his number one favorite jutsu and in a poof of smoke a warped clone appeared before vanishing. "Shit, I guess whatever happened messed with my chakra." Naruto muttered before looking at Lee. Naruto then rose to his feet and through the pain lifted Lee up and half carried half dragged Lee away.

Naruto after an our of normal walking found himself at the edge of the village only to discover that some how the place had reverted back to the desperate village it used to be. Naruto eyes were wide as he scanned the area. It's exactly like it was before... Then it hit him.

"Oh Kami... We're... we're somehow it the past...!" Naruto then heard a scream.

"Oh no I over slept!" Came a voice that sounded exactly like his.

"What the... wait... that's me!" Naruto's eyes then wide. "This is the day... the day that Haku died..." Naruto then watched the incident with the two thugs while hiding behind a nearby building. Naruto bit his lip and then looked towards Lee. "Hang in there Lee... I'll be back for you." Naruto leaned Lee against the wall of the building out of sight from anyone who might see.

Naruto walked to the corner and listened as the other Naruto came rushing towards the bridge. Ten steps... Seven... four... Now! Naruto reached out and grabbed the other Naruto from the back of his jacket.

The other Naruto was jerked off his feet and looked back as he fell. What the hell?

Naruto then pressed the other Naruto into the wall and cocked back his fist to knock him out when something happened. The other Naruto eyes widened and he tried to speak. "Who the hell are..." He then began to glow with golden light. "What's happen-" He was cut off as he vanish in a shower of golden lightning that suddenly flew into Naruto's body sending him flying back.

Naruto rag dolled a few feet and gasped for air as it had been knocked out of him. Naruto's eyes shot open as everything the other Naruto had freshly remembered rammed itself into his brain. The sudden re-fresh of memories lasted a brief moment and before he gasped yet again. Haku's face as clear as day seemed to freeze for one brief second before rushing forward to the exact moment the other Naruto vanished.

Naruto shuddered at the pure terror and agony of becoming nothing and only hopped he would never experience that again. Is that what death feels like? Naruto's eyes then hardened. "I wont let her feel that again..." With that Naruto rose to his feet and he blinked. The pain he had felt had totally vanished as it had never been. Naruto then blinked. "Could it be that... We have to join for the pain to subside?" The thought of Lee suffering until the bridge was complete didn't sit well with him. Got to do this fast... Then I can help get the bridge done and you home.

Naruto then without another thought took like a bat out of hell. He jumped with chakra enhanced speed and zipped through the trees with precision. "Got to get there as fast as possible." He muttered before closing his eyes. A clear vision of the bridge entered his mind and Naruto made a hand seal. The falling leaves around him began to swirl of around him and Naruto's eyes flashed open. Naruto vanished and the sudden pull of Shunshin gripped him before flinging him towards his destination.

Naruto reappeared and was about to crash into the floor of the bridge but he twisted his body and skidded to a stop, one hand on the ground, both legs on the floor, and a hand inside his Kunai pouch. Naruto took everything in and noticed Sasuke looking about inside a dome of ice. If I interfere... Sasuke won't get his Sharingun... and maybe I can save him this time... but if I do... Lee might never get Sakura... I couldn't do that to him... Kami what the hell do I do...

Naruto stayed crouched watching the scene and after a moment growled. "Damn... It!" Naruto charged forward and slipped between the mirrors. Sasuke's back was turned, Naruto jumped and slammed a quick chop into the nerve cluster on his neck causing him to black out. Naruto quickly spun around in the air and deflected the wave of Senbon needles with his Kunai before landing on the ground just as Sasuke collapsed.

Haku stared in shock from within one of her mirrors. Why did Naruto do that? She thought. Naruto turned to her and she was about to attack when Naruto trusted his hand towards her and shouted.

"Haku, stop!" Naruto cried causing Haku to flinch. He had not known it was her the first time around, so he was sure to have caught her of guard. Haku's arms fell to her side and she slipped out of her mirror landing in front of him.

"How did you know it was me?" She asked, the pain in her voice telling him that she was ashamed. Naruto then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Haku was taken by surprise by this but relaxed and laid her head on his shoulder. "Naruto-kun... how can you-" She started but was cut off.

Naruto shook his head. "Shhh... It doesn't matter." He started. "What matters is I got here in time." Naruto then heard the beginning of Kakashi's Raikiri and he flinched. "We have to stop them," Naruto shouted panic lacing his voice as he pulled Haku towards Kakashi and Zabuza. "Gato never intended to pay you, we need to stop them now!"

Haku's eyes widened in shock then narrowed in anger. Naruto and Haku took off faster than then the eye could follow and the light of Kakashi's Raikiri came into view. "You get Zabuza, I'll stop Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto roared as he used an extra burst of chakra to rocket towards Kakashi.

"This ends now Zabuza, Rai-" Naruto suddenly appeared to his right and grabbed Kakashi's wrist forcing it into the ground and canceling his jutsu. "Naruto! What the hell ar-"

"Its a trap Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted his heart pumping a hundred miles a minute. "Gato never planned on paying Zabuza! He was going to wait till we were all worn out so he could overwhelm all of us with Merc'=s!"

Kakashi's and Zabuza's eyes widened in shock and Zabuza growled. "That no good rotten son of a bitch! I'm going to skin that midget alive!"

As if on cue clapping was heard from down the bridge. "Well, well, well," came a snide voice. "Looks like the brat figured it out... I don't know how you got that information, but it won't matter, I still plan on murdering all of you." The mist cleared as the jutsu was released by Zabuza. Gato stood there with his Mercs and sneered at them. "... But I think I'll have fun with the ice bitch before she's done..."

Gato's words echoed in Naruto's mind over and over again his eyes narrowing and he clenched his hands into fist. A sudden blast of Kyuubi's chakra encased Naruto in a red glow. "Over my dead body!" Naruto roared his pupil becoming slits as his teeth and nail elongated. Naruto crouched down and took of towards the Mercs, eyes leaving streaks of red as he moved.

Kakashi stared eyes wide. Is the seal breaking!

Naruto jumped into the air landed into the center of the mercs before spinning around, arms spread out as he raked his claws against them. A sudden circle of bodies dropped around Naruto and he roared. "This is not going to happen again, not this time!" Naruto reached into his hip pouch and pulled out a fist full of shuriken before throwing them into the mercs closest to him.

Zabuza after his brief shock growled and shook head. "No one, and I mean no one threatens my daughter like that!" Kakashi's nin-dogs released Zabuza and he turned to the silver haired Jonnin. "Kakashi!" Kakashi seeing exactly what Zabuza wanted tossed him a kunai which he caught in his mouth before taking off. "Nis ish gowin woo be faah!" Haku stared wide eyed as Zabuza had never called her that before.

(A/N: Welcome to Mugan's gibberish corner. For those who can't figure it out, shame on you if you don't, the phrase is translated to the following: "This is going to be fun.")

Zabuza dashed forward and began to slash at the mercs ducking and weaving around them. Before either knew it he was standing next to Naruto and at the end of the bridge, Gato's trembling on his ass as he stared at the two figures before him.

Naruto's eyes flickered to Zabuza's and Naruto's gave him a wicked smile. "Lets show him what 'real' Demons can do..."

Zabuza gave him a grin just as wicked and nodded. Gato scampered to his feet and tried to run but Zabuza appeared right in front of him before swinging his head down and shearing Gato's right arm off. Gato spun and screamed into Naruto who then shredded of the other. Gato's spin continued and Zabuza slammed his kunai into Gato's stomach before whipping his head back up in an arc gutting Gato like a fish. Gato spin came to a halt at the edge of the bridge and Naruto charged forward.

"This is for threatening my Haku-chan!" Naruto roared as he jumped in to the air with a spin, cocked back his fist, and slammed it into Gato's face. The mob boss's head erupted in a shower of blood, bone, and brain matter before his whole body was flung off the bridge.

Naruto and Zabuza stood there side by side as they watched the Gato's body crash into the water below. There was a moment of silence before a clang told Naruto Zabuza had dropped his kunai. Naruto turned and Zabuza grinned at him. "You did good kid... real good." Zabuza's eyes then began to roll as he fell on his back.

Naruto panicked and quickly checked his vitals. Naruto then chuckled and looked to the others, Haku was already running towards them. "He's ok, just unconscious."

He told her as she made it to them. It was then she crashed into him with a tackling hug.

Naruto sat there a moment before wrapping his arms around her. Naruto then took this moment to look out towards Kakashi and the others. Kakashi was staring at him with calculative eyes, he knew he would need to explain. He then looked onward to Tazuna and Sakura who were helping Sasuke to his feet. He then looked past them all towards the approaching villagers.

Everything is how it should have been... He thought with a smile. Then he frowned. But what's going to happen now. that everything's changed?

He then felt a shift in Haku's position and noticed she was staring up at him with affection clear as day in her eyes. Naruto smiled and then thought. I think I can handle it though... as long as I know your safe...

And its over! the long awaited chapter is done and thank god I got my inspiration back. I thought I would have brain fry forever. Now to all those who have waited patiently for it, I give you my sincerest apology. And hope you forgive me and review like crazy.