Chapter 4

One Past Does not equal another

"Talking"

'Think'

Over the next week Naruto tried her hardest to get used to her new body. Tenten and Sakura ending up helping her a lot in those first few days, with anything from basic female needs and know how, to ninja training. Naruto training was going slowly, it turned out that her tail balanced her out no matter what she did normally, but if she started fighting her tail would throw her off and causing her to fall over again and again. It took her nearly 3 days to bring her even close to a school student level, but if she just used her tail she could handle herself.

It was at the end of the week of training that they met Tazuna 10 year old grandson, Inari. He had shown up part way through the meal and hearing them talking about the bridge. He told them straight out that they could not beat Gato at all. When Kiba and Sakura asked why, he only replied that Gato only cause pain and death. After that Inari stormed out of the room as everyone stared after him.

Tsunami came into the room, after Inari left, looking at the stairs that Inari had gone up. "He has been like that for a long time. I lost my first husband about a year after Inari was born, and he grew up without one, until about 5 years ago. He was saving a young dog that had been thrown into the water by some other kids which were teasing him, only he like the dog could not swim. It seemed that the dog learned to swim at that moment and left but Inari still did not know how to swim and started to drown." Everyone in the room sat and listened quietly as Tsunami continued the story, "and he would have drowned, had it not been for a passing fisherman that saw him that day and saved him he would not be with us now. As time slowly passed this man became like a father he never had, staying even in this house as he and Inari grew closer. Everything was going okay till a few years ago when Gato came to this village…"

/Flashback 1 year ago/

Gato, a small man in a black and white striped suit and dress paint, had called everyone together to show them something and prove his power was complete, "You all see this man here, and he has gone against my company. And tried to stop me from take over this little village and island of yours. So he is going to be an example to those who are thinking about being a hero."

Gato then gestured to the middle of a closed in chain link fences area where post stood up alone. Then through a gate two very large men, with hammers, came in the fenced area leading Kaiza, Tsunami husband, into it. Kaiza look very hurt, like he had been beaten for a long time, the two men then proceed to tie Kaiza to the post.

"This is what happens to those who defy me," Gato said gesturing to Kaiza, and then he gave a signal to one of the swordsmen that were by the gate door. The man nodded drawing his sword out of the sheath and walked towards the post before swinging it as he came up next to it. At first nothing seemed to happen before Kaiza head fell from his body, he was dead.

/flashback end/

"After that day this town has slowly gone downhill. Gato was drying up the town slowly before that but after well it took maybe three days before it was more like what you see now." Tsunami said before she got up and cleaned to table off of it plates and very little left over food.

Tazuna nodded, pulling out a small bottle of Sake, "Yes it was about a week later we started working on the plan for the bridge and about a month after that we actually started building it. Then about a month ago Gato found out about it and decide to kill me, thankfully I found out and went to your village for help." Tazuna opened the bottle and poured a small glass before continuing, "The second reason I ask for the mission level I did rather a higher one even, I figured Gato would only send his thugs after me, not a ninja." Team 7 and 9 both then understood why Tazuna acted the way he did, though it was still questionable if Tazuna was still lying to them about it.

The next day they Kakashi took off with his team to train. While Guy had his team guard Tazuna, or in Lee's case after a little bit helped moving large pieces of steel around. Kakashi on the other hand was having his team work on charka control, which they were quickly mastering it. Once they were done Kakashi had them running to the house and back then Taijustu practice

Naruto on the other hand was working only on Taijustu, since she had already mastered the charka control techniques Kakashi had shown them. Kakashi had been working with her personally since they had gotten started for the day, and one of the first things that Kakashi found out was never get in the way of her tail. He had had her working on it for the first part of the taijustu battle. He had been holding back a lot, when she forced him to use replacement with a log that was destroyed by the impacted from her tail. Then next they switched to her over all taijustu, though she was still not making much head way since she still fell over, if she moved to fast. She could run, walk, jump, or jog normally but any fast maneuvers were too hard for her to use just yet The style she was now learning was something Anko had taught her but until now had been little to no use to her, but now with her new body she could make full use of the flexible style. With her tail added to it, once she was able to fight without falling over, it had would be something to be truly feared.

At lunch time they went back to the house where they found Tsunami working on lunch. They quickly moved and sat down at the table, hoping for some good food. But that idea was changed as Inari walked in and saw them.

"Why do you keep fighting when you know you cannot win," he asked them angrily?

Kakashi hoping to stop a problem before it started spoke up, "Because even if we should face death we must follow the order we were given."

"Sure, death. I don't doubt you know death but do you know pain? I bet you all lead perfectly happy lives. How else is it that you can seem so positive and sure you will win!" Inari glared at them in a way they would make a person think they were the cause of his pain.

Tsunami and Kakashi both realized that the Inari had gone way too far, but before either of them reply, they felt Charka seemingly flood throughout the room. Sakura and Sasuke were forced to their knees from it, Tsunami was on her knees gasping for breath, and even Kakashi felt a little short of breath. Inari on the other hand was on the floor gasping for breath and very pale, and before anyone could react, Naruto's tail shot forward with lethal speed, her face full of rage and sadness at the same time.

Kakashi tried to move to stop Naruto, but even as he got within range to do something he knew he could not help in time. Inari could only watch as the tail blade flew towards him at high speed, but it never hit him, instead stopping a mere inch from his face as Naruto yelled fiercely at the young boy.

"Are you an idiot? NOTHING OF PAIN, A NINJA LIFE IS NOTHING BUT PAIN!" Naruto voiced seemed to fill the small room with hatred as she continued, her charka slowly forming flame like images around her body of blue, red, and black, "I MYSELF HAVE KNOWN ONLY PAIN FOR ALMOST MY INTIRE LIFE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS LIKE TO BE HUNTED ON YOUR BRITHDAY, OR THE NEED TO FEAR ANYONE THAT SAYS THEY ARE WILLING TO HELP YOU! I CAN SAY THAT AND MUCH MORE, SO NEVER SAY I DON'T KNOW PAIN BECAUSE I CAN SWEAR YOUR WORST DAY IS NOTHING COMPARED TO A NORMAL DAY IN MY LIFE." With every word Naruto shouted the Charka that poured out of Naruto seem to increase until even Kakashi was on the floor gasping. Then as Naruto finished yelling the charka faded completely, she looked around at everyone in the room. They all were still on the floor breathing hard or in a faint then spoke quietly almost sadly, "I am going to train and blow off some steam. So don't follow or you just might get hurt or killed." She then turned and left through the front door her tail lashing out at random almost hitting things as she passed, and in her eyes tears formed as she moved.

It was a few minutes after Naruto had left that everyone was able to breath and sit normally again. Tsunami started to say something but then was forced to stop as Guy came flying through the window. He landed looking around for who had cause the huge Charka spike he had felt from the bridge.

"What in the world was that charka from?" Guy asked Kakashi, after he looked around a noticed no danger in the area.

"That was Naruto he… she lost control of her temper a little bit," Kakashi said. Though team 7, Tsunami thoughts when Kakashi said a little bit they were hoping he was joking, but to be on the safe side they all made a promise to never ever get Naruto mad. Seeing as she could make even a seasoned Jonin fall to the ground with just her charka was reason enough to make that promise.

"A little bit? It felt like the Hokage was ready to utterly destroy someone from where I was."

"Yeah I bet, and yes a little bit she was just mad at what Inari here had said," Kakashi said. "Trust me if Naruto was truly mad then this house would not likely still be here let alone standing."

"I see what did you say Inari," Guy said looking over at the kid Kakashi had pointed to, but Inari just shook his head and ran for his room.

"I think he fears what just happened with Naruto to happen again if he said what he had said before," Kakashi explained before telling Guy all that had happened.

"I see and from how you say she drowned her story in sugar again," Guy said much to the shock of everyone else in the room.

"That is not possible. There is no way the dobe has had to go through that," Sasuke said, not able to believe that Naruto had been through. It should not be possible Sasuke thought and still act the way he… she did.

"I assure you Sasuke that he has indeed gone through all that," Kakashi said looking sadly at his students, "If you are wondering why he does not hate the village… not even I know the answer to that. By all right he… she should be a missing ninja wanting to utterly destroy the village, yet he… she fight for it willing to risk her very life to keep it safe."

Sasuke for once in his life was stun beyond belief Naruto life made his look like a bad dream. Sakura, who had never really understood pain beyond the few bullies she had dealt with, was mentally kicking herself over and over again. Tsunami was wondering if she could help Naruto in any way at all.

"Well seeing that is all, then I will step out and let you deal with Naruto. I need to get back to Tazuna and tell him everything is okay." With that Guy left, leaving everyone to their own thoughts.

/ out in the forest with Naruto /

Naruto in the mean time had summoned 50 clones and then had those all attack her at once. She punched, kicked, sliced, and pierced the clones, slowly killing every single clone. She did this another 16 times before she sat down by a tree and cried quietly to herself wondering why life was so against her. After a while she cried herself out and just sat staring at a tree wishing someone would just end her life, while her tail wrapped tightly around herself. Then as if answering her thoughts, some senbon came flying out of a nearby tree towards her to end her life in one shoot.

But she did not die as Tenten appeared in front of her and deflected all the senbon with a kunai. Naruto looked up, tears still clear visible in her eye, shock seeing Tenten appear in front of her, "Hay Naruto I heard what happened from Guy sensei, and well… I had to come and see if you were okay."

Naruto just nodded still with a sad look on her face and tears in her eyes, "Why did you not just let those senbon hit me?"

"What? Why shouldn't I stop them?" Tenten ask in slight shock at what she had just heard Naruto say, as she scanned the trees for the person who threw the Senbon.

"Because I am ready to end my life, that boy Inari he said I don't know pain. He was wrong," Naruto laugh spitefully, "I only have ever known pain and I want to stop dealing with that pain."

Tenten sighed wishing she could give Naruto a hug but it was not safe yet, "I guess you have a point Naruto, but right now I need you to live. I have started to grow attached to you and right now I would be really sad if my new friend die."

Naruto did not speak for a little bit causing Tenten to take her eyes off the trees for a little bit. "I guess you are right. If I did die right now there are a few people that I would cause a lot of pain for. My love ones and that is not going to happening."

Tenten smiled and helped Naruto up pulling her into a hug, "Agreed." It was at this moment that whoever had thrown the senbon decide to attack again. Tenten heard them and knew there was nothing she could do without endangering Naruto. Naruto on the other hand was not going to let either of them get hurt and moved her tail blade around knocking the senbon out of the air.

Tenten and Naruto stopped hugging and shot out to find their attacker, Naruto on the ground Tenten in the trees. Naruto found the attacker quickly and ran underneath her, while Tenten followed Naruto until Tenten too spotted the attacker. Tenten started attack with her throwing weapons forcing the attacker, a girl by the looks of it, to dodge around. As the girl dodged Naruto had time to climb up a tree and waited until the girl moved closer. As the girl landed on a bracket near Naruto, Naruto reacted sending out her tail and coiled it around her once before the girl could react. Quickly Naruto had her tail tighten and wrapped it four more times making sure the girl could not escape. Tenten jumped up by Naruto and looked at the young girl, who was probably no older than them probably 11, or 12, that had attacked them.

"So why did you attack us," asked Naruto as soon as Tenten was with them. The girl did not reply at all but instead tried to break free from Naruto's tail. But failed and stopped moving when she felt the tail blade against her neck. "You know you can either tell us or we can cause you a ton of pain," Naruto said making her tail blade press harder against the girls neck, almost causing the blade to cut her.

Still the girl said nothing Naruto and Tenten sighed as Tenten spoke, "Fine as you wish, Naruto think she can stand the acid?"

"Oh I am sure she can," Naruto said moving the pulling out a kunai. She then cut a part of her tail, without a lot of nerves to lessen the pain, and put a small cut on it. A little amount of red blood with a tint of green in it came out and fell onto the part of the tree. The girl looked at where the blood fell onto the tree, and then watched in horror as it melted straight through the tree with no sign of stopping. Naruto looked and saw at the look of fear pass over the eyes of the ninja, "So you want to tell us or would you rather keep quiet and let this happen to you." Naruto then held up the kunai which had been use to make the small cut, it was melted almost completely from the blood that had touched it.

"Fine I will tell you but not here," the girl answered.

Naruto nodded and had moved her tail away from the girl allowing Tenten to tie the girl up. Naruto then with Tenten made their way with the girl down the trees and slowly back to the house. Kakashi who had been sitting by the door waiting for them noticed the group coming towards him. Then he noticed one was the girl who was tied up and came running over.

"Well it seems you two have been busy," Kakashi said once he was by them, "you feeling better Naruto."

Naruto nodded, "Yes I am I guess. And yes we have. This is…"

"Haku, you may call me Haku," the now named Haku answered.

"Haku here attacked us and after catching her and well threatening her with a very painful death by acid, she agreed to answer some questions but only if we went somewhere else. So we came here." Naruto said looking at Kakashi with a slight smile and pride at being some help.

"I see very well done, take her to your room Naruto and make sure she does not leave. I will be up in a few moments after I have a word with Tenten here," Kakashi said giving Naruto an eye smile with his only visible eye. Naruto nodded leading before leading Haku into the house and up the stairs to her room that she now shared with Sakura and Tenten.

"It is about Naruto. You want to talk about right," Tenten stated more than question looking at Kakashi carefully.

"Yes, I would like to know what happened after you told me you were going after her. I am worried about her, not some much her heath as she can heal from almost anything, but her mental state." Kakashi said looking at Tenten with worry easily seen in his only visible eye.

Tenten sighed and looked down at the ground, "I am no medic who could tell you what is really like, but I think depressed after what happened would be a good start. She wanted to die when I found her…"

Kakashi eye widen a little bit and looked into the house after Naruto, "This is not the first time he… she has been like this. After some of the worse beating she has felt this way before but always seemed to get over it after the Hokage came and visited her."

"I bet. She has been very clamed up about her past, but from what I have been able to get out it was not fun or happy." Tenten sadly following Kakashi gaze into the house.

Kakashi nodded because even if he did not say it the phrase, not fun or happy, would be used for something like Sasuke case right now. But Naruto, you would find most people who had been to see Ikibi or Anko had it easier than Naruto when it came to physical or mental pain. While Naruto had not been beaten every day he had been alone a lot, and when he had been beaten even if it was once a month they were usually bad enough to put him in the hospital. That did not include all the poisoning and attempts on his life that had happened. "Tenten I would like you to stay with Naruto no matter what. I will let Guy know. After what happened I am very sure you can understand why. Now I think we have a person to ask questions about why they did and what they did."

"Okay I will keep an eye on Naruto; I would anyway after today." Tenten said before heading into the house followed by Kakashi.

They came into the room where Haku and Naruto were talking about something quietly; they stopped as they noticed Kakashi and Tenten enter into the room. Naruto smiled at them, "It seems Haku here attacked us because we were the ones to hurt her precious person, Zabuza."