I've decided to just add Tsunami to the harem, since I apparently can't have more than one poll in my profile at once, and more than half of the votes were to add her to the harem, while the other three choices were all not to. That one choice got more than half the votes.
And no, Haku will not be part of the harem.
That doesn't mean it's full yet. The full harem (counting Anko and Tsunami) is six girls. Who the last two are, is a secret. XP
Feel free to guess if you like, there's no prize if you get it right, though.
Naruto stood, glaring at the cloaked man for several seconds, before he took several steps forward. "Kakuzu…" He growled. "Akatsuki… I'll kill every one of you, every single one!" Naruto yelled.
"I don't know what grudge you have against our organization, brat… I'm just here to destroy this bridge…" The man responded… and then he noticed the marks on the blonde's cheeks. "Jinchuuriki…"
"So, where's your partner? Isn't Hidan here, too?" Naruto asked guardedly, already preparing a Rasengan in one hand, and a kunai in the other.
"My partner is dead… and I don't know anyone by the name of Hidan." The cloaked man began walking forward. "If you are here to protect this place, I'm going to have to stop you… although I can't kill you."
Naruto flicked his wrist, and three kunai were held in his hand instead of one. "You know, Gato is just going to go back on your little deal…"
Kakuzu shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me. If he pays me, I get my money. If he doesn't, I'll kill him and take his entire fortune… In fact, I'm hoping he betrays me…"
"Ah, I see…" Naruto said, throwing the Kunai as a giant mass of swirling black tendrils emanating from a white mask in its center erupted from beneath the stone next to him. Kakuzu dodged all three projectiles as he commanded his beast to attack. A massive pillar of flame erupted from the mask, leaving only a puddle of molten stone and steel where the blonde had stood, as Naruto thrust his Rasengan into the man's back, having used Kawarimi to replace himself with one of his thrown kunai.
"Impressive, boy…" Kakuzu muttered, as the sphere of chakra ground against his stone-like skin. "But futile…"
"Is it?" Naruto mumbled, letting the sphere die down before placing his palm against his opponent's back. Kakuzu froze when the front of his chest exploded.
"H-how…?" He gurgled, dashing away from the blonde.
Naruto smirked. 'It's a damn good thing I remember the Jyuuken basics Hinata-chan taught me…' He chuckled. "Not perfect for every situation, but it has its moments…" He'd pumped enough chakra to make a hundred Kage Bunshin into a single lance from his palm, more than enough to pierce Kakuzu's 'ultimate defense'… Naruto sighed. When would people learn there was no such thing?
And then Naruto found that he was surrounded… a masked beast to each side and behind him, and Kakuzu ahead of him. "You know brat, it's been a long time since I've had to go all out…"
"Yeah, you're probably getting rusty, and you've only got your 'water' heart left…" Naruto smirked when Kakuzu's eyes widened. "It makes sense with all this water around that you'd keep water for yourself, since it's also the most powerful defensive element you have left."
He smirked behind the high collar of his Akatsuki cloak. "You are smarter than you look, brat… and skilled. I'll be sure to take your heart once our fight is over…"
Naruto gave the man a wide and obviously fake smile. "I'm wind affinity, by the way."
"Interesting…" Kakuzu muttered, forming a water dragon behind him as each of his masks prepared an attack of their own. Of course, he didn't know what he was aiming at was a Kage Bunshin, but that was the entire point, wasn't it?
Of course, when walls of ice rose up to block each of the attacks, Naruto knew Haku didn't notice either. Naruto flung himself up from the side of the bridge, and used a blade of wind to slice the fire mask in half. Now that his own elemental weakness was gone, his own disadvantage in the situation was lessened significantly. When he saw Haku step out of one of the massive mirrors, he smiled. "You know, that's not me…" He was silenced immediately when the massive form of Kubikiri Houchou was stabbed into the bridge in front of him.
"This blade is yours now… I will accompany you to Konoha, if your offer still stands?"
"Of course, as long as you answer one question for me…" Haku quirked an eyebrow behind the hunter-nin mask as Naruto wrenched the blade free. "I know you call yourself a boy, but you're really a girl, aren't you?"
Haku paused for a moment. "Yes, I am." She replied.
"HA! I knew it!" Naruto cheered. "Now, let's kick this guy's ass." Naruto's clone made another fifty clones which scattered, several heading off towards the Genin and Tazuna's family. Haku created several more mirrors which encircled them and their enemies as Naruto charged at Kakuzu, with several clones blitzing both of the remaining masks. Haku understood the unsaid orders to target the weaker enemies first, raining senbon down upon them
"Now, we're on even ground…" Kakuzu said stoically.
"Not really. If memory serves, you're restricted to water techniques, while I could easily hit you with an earth jutsu… that and I'm sure I've got more chakra than you, since I'm a Jinchuuriki." Naruto said, charging his blade full of wind chakra. "But since I don't know any offensive earth jutsu, I'll just beat you the old fashioned way." Naruto said, before he charged. Immediately, Naruto was reminded of his fight with Zabuza. His opponent was constantly on the defensive.
Naruto noticed Kakuzu flinch. One of his masks had been destroyed… now all that was left was water and wind. He needed to finish this quickly. And so, he leapt back and launched another water dragon at the blonde, who merely threw his blade at him, before being struck. It managed to nick his arm as it passed by, and the blonde… turned into a puff of smoke.
Naruto caught the blade and sprinted to strike Kakuzu from behind, but the man wasn't an S-Class criminal for nothing… he dodged almost effortlessly, wincing again. Now it was just him. Mirrors of ice formed all around them, and an image of Haku appeared in each of them. "If you see a clear shot, go ahead and take it… but I'm not backing away." Naruto said, before rushing forward again. Now, all of Naruto's clones were circling them, standing between the mirrors.
And so the dance began…
Naruto would swing, Kakuzu would dodge, and two to four senbon would be lodged in him somewhere. After a while, his arms, legs, and back were covered in needles. It amazed Naruto that the man hadn't slowed down more than he had, but this needed to be finished. Naruto threw the Kubikiri Houchou again, and Kakuzu dodged. The blonde then began to swing at him furiously with Hitsume-tipped claws, even as the sword was caught by a clone, and thrown straight back at the blonde. Naruto knew his opponent was tired and disoriented, and that was no doubt the only reason he could use Kawarimi on the man at all… either way, Naruto replaced himself with his opponent, just before the blade would've struck him, piercing his opponent's chest instead.
"I have to admit it, Kakuzu… you were one of the most difficult opponents I've ever faced. You deserved every bit of your rank." Just before the man let out his final breath, Naruto reached down, and pulled the ring off of the man's finger, and slid it onto his own. "And now this… is mine."
Naruto silently told one of his clones to dispel and notify the others that they should come to the bridge now. Haku was soundless as she made her way to the blonde. "Naruto-sama…?"
"Yes, Haku?" He answered.
"What… will become of me now?" She asked, her voice cracking in her sorrow.
He sighed. She shouldn't be this afraid of him… "How would you like to be my sister, Haku?" She blinked as he removed her mask, showing her teary eyes to the world.
"Wh-what?"
Naruto chuckled. "I need to rebuild my clan, Haku-chan… it'd be easier if I wasn't the only one in it…" He smiled warmly at her. "I'm wondering if you'd like to be inducted into my clan… if you want to be part of my family."
She couldn't keep standing any longer, collapsing in his arms and letting her tears flow. "Y-yes, I'd like that very much, Naruto-sama…"
Just as the other Genin and Tazuna's family arrived, a loud clapping was heard from behind the thick mist on the bridge. "Such a heart-warming scene! I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you all to die now…" Gato cheered happily, letting his thugs swarm around him. "Kill them all."
Naruto clutched Haku to his chest protectively, even as he knelt down onto the bridge. "You three… If you don't kill them, I will. Wipe them out… all of them."
The three nodded hesitantly before they and Naruto's remaining clones set to work. Tsunami knelt down beside the pair, worry in her eyes. "Naruto-kun?"
"Tsunami… hold Haku for me." Naruto mumbled, handing the girl off to the woman as he stood, hefting his sword onto his shoulder. "I need to go kill Gato now."
Said businessman was watching in horror as a bunch of kids slaughtered his mercenaries. He was backing away, readying his escape before he felt a chill behind him, and turned… The blonde stood there behind him ominously. "P-please, I'll give you anything! Money, women, power, anything!"
The blonde pointed his sword at the stubby little man, slowly lengthening its blade with wind chakra. "I have more than enough of each of those, thanks…" He said, before ramming the ethereal tip through the man's sternum.
--
When the carnage had run its course, the four ninja stood beside their clients and Haku, who was still holding onto Tsunami. "You all go on ahead… I'll clean up here." Naruto said, creating more clones to supplement the few that remained. "None of you should have to deal with this right now."
They all nodded, and started back for home. Naruto and his clones began picking up bodies and random parts, tossing them all into a pile about a half a mile away from the bridge. When they'd cleared it away, Naruto lit the entire pile on fire with a quick Goukakkyou. Naruto then sent his clones off to scrub the blood away from the stone of the bridge while he walked back to Tazuna's house.
While on his way there, he heard a high pitched mewling, and went to investigate it. What he found was a sickly kitten, only a few weeks old. How it could've possibly survived, he had no idea, but he couldn't leave it alone. It was probably looking for its mother… and Naruto smiled. He couldn't take it back to its own mother, but he could find it a new one. He knew Hinata was partial to cats, of course she'd love a kitten…
"Hey there little guy…" Naruto cooed, holding his hand out to the kitten. "Come on, I'm not going to hurt you…" The first thing the cat did was pounce on his hand, latching onto it with claw and fang. "Oww…" Naruto chuckled. The little guy must've been hungry… it didn't even look old enough for solid foods yet. Naruto felt a pang in his heart. "Come on, I'll take you home with me, and you'll be fed and given a nice name, wouldn't you like that?
The kitten stopped biting down on his hand, and looked up at him, mewing again. Naruto took this as its affirmative, and scooped it up in his arms. It just looked so tiny and frail… he nodded. He'd protect this little kitten, just like he'd protect Hinata and everyone else…
And so, he set off back to his temporary residence.
--
"Hey Tsunami!" Naruto yelled as he stepped through the doors. "We got any milk around here?"
The woman in question walked out of the kitchen, a half-dry plate in one hand, and a towel in the other. "Why do you ask, Naruto?" She asked, before a loud mew pierced the room, and Naruto showed the bundle in his arms to Tsunami. "Ohh, it's just adorable, Naruto! I'll be right back, I think we've got a little bit of milk left…" She said, rushing off back into the kitchen.
"You see?" Naruto asked, lightly scratching the top of the kitten's head. "I told you you'd be happy…"
"What's all the commotion about?" Tenten asked as she walked into the room. She was wearing clean clothes, and was currently drying her hair. Naruto always thought she looked better with her hair down.
"This little guy…" Naruto said, showing the kitten to Tenten.
She was at his side in an instant, reaching out to take the small creature from him. "It's so cuuuuute!" She cooed, holding it to her bosom. "What's his name? Is it a he? Where did you find him?" She asked, petting the kitten the entire time. It was purring loudly, and giving off the kitten equivalent of a bright smile.
"It doesn't have a name, and I'm not sure about what it is… he was just wandering around near the road. It was lucky I found him, huh?"
Tenten was heartily agreeing with him when Tsunami returned with a sake saucer and some milk. Filling it and setting it on the table, they set the kitten beside it, and cooed to it continuously. Naruto chuckled and started walking out of the room. "Don't try naming it, though… I'm going to give him to Hinata!"
Naruto couldn't help but laugh when he saw the both of them pout.
--
Eight days had passed, and it was finally the day to leave Wave country… everyone was sad to leave, or see their new friends off, but they had homes to go back to. Naruto walked up to Tsunami. "Don't worry, I'll tell you what… the Chuunin Exams are going to be in about a month, so why don't you three come to Konoha to watch, ne? I am a clan head, y'know… I can get you some pretty sweet tickets, even this close to the event…"
Tsunami brightened instantly. "We'd be happy to come, Naruto-kun!"
"Great!" Naruto cheered. "The exams start in about three weeks, but the actual tournament part that spectators can watch is a month after that, so just show up in about a month. We stayed at your place this whole time, so you should feel free to crash at my place anytime you want!"
Tsunami wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. Naruto looked down when he felt a tug on his shirt. "Naruto-nii?" Inari pulled a little harder, and Naruto knelt down next to him. The boy then leaned in and whispered into his ear. "Are you planning on being my new dad?"
Naruto blinked and blushed slightly. He looked at the boy for a while, and then glanced at Tsunami, who was still smiling warmly. Obviously, she hadn't heard what her son had said. Naruto chuckled and patted the boy's head. "We'll see, kid… maybe." Inari nodded at that, and ran back to his mother.
"Heheh, kids these days have too much energy, y'know?" Tazuna grumbled, patting a firm hand on Naruto's shoulder while sporting a forced smile. "You'd best not be planning anything at this exam thing, boy…"
Naruto chuckled. "Me? Try something? You've got to be kidding y'old drunk!" The blonde swatted away the elder man's hand. "I've got to be going now…"
"Bye, Tenten-chan…" Tsunami said, hugging the young woman. "I'll see you in a month, okay?" There was a mew, and Tsunami gave the kitten in Tenten's arms a quick petting. "You too… I'll miss all of you."
"We'll miss you too, Tsunami-san…" Tenten replied.
And then they were off. Too soon, they were already in the distance, and then out of view. "So, what should we name the bridge?" Someone asked.
"Hmm, I know a GREAT name for it!" Tazuna yelled exuberantly.
"The Great Naruto Bridge…" Tsunami said wistfully.
"Tch, that's what I was going to say…" Tazuna scoffed.
Inari pulled on his mother's dress to get her attention. "Mom, I was wondering… is Naruto going to be my new dad?" Tsunami blushed while Tazuna sputtered in response. Several chuckles were heard from the crowd.
She knelt down and placed her hand softly on his shoulder. "We'll see, dear… okay?"
"Okay!" He cheered. He loved his old father dearly, but that didn't mean he couldn't want a new dad, right?
--
The group of five entered the Sandaime's office tentatively. Naruto wasn't exactly sure how the old man would react, but if it came to it, Naruto had some strings he could pull… "Hey, Ojii-chan…" He said with a wave.
"Hello Naruto, Tenten, Neji, Lee… and who is this?" He asked when he saw Haku.
Naruto took a calming breath. "This is Haku… she was working with the man hired to kill our client. She's at least Chuunin level, and wants to become a kunoichi here in Konoha." The Sandaime eyed her carefully. "And I want to make her a member of my clan."
Sarutobi's eyes widened slightly. "You didn't tell me that when you sent that Kage Bunshin last week…"
Naruto chuckled, and scratched the back of his neck. "Well, I wanted it to be a surprise?"
The old man smiled as he took a puff on his pipe. "Don't worry, Naruto… if that's what you want, I'll have my secretary find the paperwork for you. The both of you can come in tomorrow and fill them out." The Sandaime pressed a button on his desk, and gave a few commands through it. In truth, all he said were to find a few documents, but none of the people in the room could figure out which ones, since he'd used the key codes… "Now that that's settled, there is someone that wants to see you all…"
A large green blur erupted from the side room, crashing into the three Genin standing just behind Naruto. "YOSH MY YOUTHFUL STUDENTS! TELL ME OF YOUR FIRST MISSION OUTSIDE OF MY GUIDANCE!"
"Gai, please stop crushing the Genin…" Sarutobi grumbled, and Gai let the three fall to the floor, all three taking in deep breaths.
"My apologies, my most youthful of students! I fear I may have harmed you in my exuberance, but I was just so worried!" Gai explained with teary eyes.
"They're fine, Gai…" Sarutobi sighed. "Now, tell me your opinion of how Naruto performed on this mission."
"Naruto-kun did great!" Tenten cheered. "He trained us, and he had a plan for everything. Even if the situation changed, he's just flow with it, and he even took down an A-Class missing-nin by himself!" Seeing the sad glint in Haku's eye, she turned to the girl and took her hand. "I'm sorry, Haku…"
"No, it's okay… everything you said was true…" She replied with a smile.
Lee nodded. "I concur with Tenten-san's assessment. After all, Naruto-sensei was able to subdue an S-Class missing-nin with only Haku-san's aid."
Gai's eyes widened. "What sort of mission were my Genin sent on, Hokage-sama!?"
"A C-rank escort mission that escalated into an A-rank due to shinobi involvement." The Hokage answered solemnly.
Gai nodded. It wasn't uncommon for missions to be ranked incorrectly. It wasn't even his team's first misranked mission, since they'd gotten that C-turned-B-rank almost half a year ago… but they'd returned to the village and thus, essentially failed the mission, even though they weren't required to complete anything that wasn't the appropriate rank. "Neji?" He asked, wanting to know what the stoic Hyuuga boy thought of the blonde.
"He performed… adequately in his leadership position." Neji answered in monotone.
Sarutobi smiled. "I see then… Naruto-kun, I believe this is yours now…" He said, pulling a flak vest from behind his desk. "By the authority of the office of Hokage, I hereby promote you to the rank of Chuunin. Congratulations."
Naruto took the vest in both hands, and nodded. "Thanks, Ojii-chan." Naruto then slid off his jacket, and put the Chuunin vest on, before replacing the outer clothing. Turning to the Genin, he gave off a wide smile. "So, how do I look?"
Tenten hopped up to him cheerfully. "You look great, Naruto-kun." A sharp mewl announced the waking of the kitten in Haku's arms, something both the Hokage and the Jounin had been wondering about. "Aww, we'd better get him home soon, huh?"
"Hmm? What do you mean, Tenten?" Gai asked when he saw the girl start dragging Naruto away by the hand.
The girl turned back to her teacher cheerfully. "Oh, I'm moving in with Naruto-kun!" She said before she finished dragging Naruto out into the hall, followed closely by Haku, leaving a gaping Sandaime and Gai behind.
"Gai-sensei…" Neji started, breaking the man from his shock. "Naruto-sensei said he wanted to continue training us, and asked us to notify you of it if he could not do so himself. His training methods are… unorthodox, but effective. I feel you would be proud of them."
Gai blinked before nodding. It wasn't that often that Neji spoke more than five words at once… "Yes, that would be fine… Now tell me of these training techniques!" He answered, his exuberance soon returning.
--
The three looked up at Naruto's home, the veritable mansion that it was… and sighed. This would be difficult to explain. And so, they walked up to the door, and Naruto opened it. "Hey, Anko-chan? Hinata-chan? I'm home!"
There were the sounds of many footsteps coming from the stairway, and then a large blur slammed into the blonde. "Naruto-kun! You're home!" Hinata cried.
"Yes I am, Hinata-chan, and I have some people I want you to meet…" Naruto said, looking between Hinata and Anko, who had just descended the stairs. "…well, you don't look pregnant…" He mused.
"They say some women just don't show it until later." She retorted with a shrug.
"Anyway, this is Tenten and Haku… I'm making Haku a member of the clan, so she'll be sorta' like a sister to me and everyone, and Tenten…" Naruto trailed off.
"Yes, Naruto-kun…?" Hinata mumbled, backing away slightly. She didn't like where this was going.
"Tenten-chan… and I… you see… the thing is, I like her, and we were wondering if you minded… umm…" Naruto fumbled around with his words until Tenten lightly smacked him in the back of his head.
"Hi! I'm Tenten, can I date Naruto-kun?" She asked.
Hinata wanted to cry… wasn't she enough for Naruto? What did this girl have that she didn't? What could possibly possess Naruto to do this to her? Hinata started trembling, before she walked back to Anko, and whispered in her ear. Anko nodded somewhat sagely, and stepped up to the blonde boy…
…Before cocking her arm back and smashing it into his jaw, knocking him into the wall. "Damn, I'm getting rusty… that should've sent him through… maybe it's the whole 'pregnancy' thing?" She mused.
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata whimpered, rushing to his side.
"She couldn't hit you, so she had me do it." Anko explained.
The blonde nodded. "Makes sense… that really hurt, by the way."
Anko slammed her fist into her palm. "It was supposed to."
A loud mew broke the tension in the room as the kitten stared at Naruto. Hinata was up and beside Haku in an instant, with Anko sidling up next to them soon after. "Aww, it's so cuuuute!" Hinata cooed, scratching just under his chin while petting him with her other hand. "What's his name?"
"I was waiting for you to come up with one… He's yours, after all…" Naruto groaned as he picked himself up.
Hinata was glancing between Naruto and Haku, as if looking for confirmation of this. "It's true…" Tenten said. "He wouldn't let us name him, saying that it was your kitten…" Haku then held out her hands to let Hinata take the baby cat.
Hinata stared down at it for the longest time… and it stared right back. He was adorable in every way… he had mostly white fur, but several silvery grey stripes down his sides, originating at a central grey line down his spine and tail, with grayish ears and paws… and his ice-blue eyes were simply adorable…
"Shiro-chan!" Hinata called out finally, scooping the small animal into her bosom.
"I guess this means she forgives you…" Anko muttered.
Hinata then turned to Tenten with a huff. "You can date Naruto-kun, but if he brings home any more strange girls, there'll be hell to pay…"
"Yes, Hinata-chan…" Naruto nodded in submission.
"…And no sex for a week." Hinata continued, causing Tenten and Haku to gape.
"That goes for me, too." Anko concurred.
"Aww dammit…" Naruto groaned… he was still happy to be home, though.
YES. I DID need to put that Palpatine quote in there, so MNEH! XP
And yes, I named the cat after Hitsugaya Toushiro (AKA Shiro-chan) from Bleach. It's an awesome name and an awesome character. I was going to ask for suggestions as far as the name went, but I figured, mneh… I'd best just name it m'self.
Shiro-chan is roughly based on one of my own cats. He's part Siamese, so his eyes are always blue, but he's a savage little thing… attacks anything that moves. (Shiro-chan isn't going to be like that) I believe my primary Beta (and best friend) wanted to have him named 'Shirosaki'…
