I make it to the bridge and see the fight is already underway. I have to wait for the right time to attack. Let's see. Sakura is protecting Tazuna. Sensei is fighting Zabuza. Leaving Sasuke with the mist anbu. Sensei is pretty capable, so I should help Sasuke. I run towards him and notice something peculiar. There are sheets of ice forming in front of him. Maybe if I... That's it! I run full force to him and push him outside of the dome.

Now then, "Why are you fighting us?" "Hey dobe! Now isn't the time for questions! And why the hell did you push me out?!" Didn't you just say no time for questions? "Usuratonkatchi." "WHAT?!" "I am fighting you at the wish of my master." Huh? Master? "You mean Zabuza?" "Yes." I have to tell him. "Then you should know that Gato plans on killing Zabuza today." He appears in front of me and grabs my shoulders. I'm not scared though. It's not a threatening grab, it's a fearful one. "What do you mean? And how would you know?" I look at him with serious eyes. "Because a few of the mercs he's hired attacked builder guy, Tazuna's, family just a moment ago. I fended them off and got answers from the leader. He said that Gato has over one hundred men ready to wipe you both out." My shoulders are released and even with the mask I can see the man thinking. "I... Can't disobey my master." What?! "Even if it means his life?! If you care for someone, you protect them right? Well right now he needs protection!" "You are a good kid but.." He's backing into an ice sheet. Wait, is he going INSIDE of it?! No way! That's seriously over powered. "...I have no choice but to kill you." Oh crap.

I do my best to evade the needles this guy is throwing but I can't see where they are coming from. Even with my goggles on. This is seriously bad. I feel a needle penetrate my knee and collapse to the ground. I pull it out but I still can't move. Fuck! I can see the barrage of needles getting closer but I can't do anything. I'm sorry Kuruma. Sorry Pinkie, sensei. Sorry Ducky and Lord Third. And, I'm sorry Dad. I didn't become the hero you wanted. How pitiful. Just as the needles are a metre in front of me, the light is cut off. I look up to see a familiar figure stood hunched over me. "DUCKY?!" "Heh. Found a way in." My eyes are wide and they sting. Damn moron! "Why did you come back?! I pushed you out for a reason!" "Yeah well, you didn't tell me what that reason was so..." Don't go blaming this on me! He falls over and I somehow manage to catch him. "No... Please don't..." He smiles. "Sorry, Naruto-Sama." "Stop calling me 'Sama'! I'm your friend, there's no need." His smile grows and I can feel the tears dripping down now. "What a fool. I hadn't intended on fighting him yet." Fool? Fool?! I grit my teeth and feel a surge of chakra. This isn't my chakra though. I see... Thank you Kuruma-Tou-San. "How dare you. He wasn't a fool... HE WAS MY FRIEND!"

I dive at the first ice sheet I see with his stupid fucking mask in it and punch it into pieces. I hear a gasp and assume it's the anbu. He's probably so cocky that he thinks no one can break this ice. "I'm going to kick the shit out of you. You will know what it's like to be helpless when your friend is being killed!" I continue to break the ice sheets. I can sense his fear. It's fuelling me. Once this is over, I'm going to beat some sense into Zabuza of the mist. I roar and the rest of the ice crumbles away, leaving me stood with a scared anbu. "What is this power?!" I grin and run towards the anbu. He doesn't move though, he's paralysed by fear. I reel back my fist then launch it into his face, breaking his mask in the process.

I walk over to where he landed and crouch next to him. "What's your name?" I can feel the chakra boost fading. Looks like I won't be kicking Zabuza's ass again. "Haku." Haku, what a strange name. "I'm Naruto. And the boy you killed was Sasuke. My first friend." He looks at me wide eyed. Now that I can see his face, he looks a lot like a woman. No offence. He probably gets it a lot. "First friend? Since you were kids..." "No." "Huh?" "I said no. I only became friends with him this year." "But that means, you were all alone before then." I nod. Now he looks sad. I'm pretty sure he's a he. Gah! Now I'm doubting myself. "I see. First friend becomes first death. I...apologize." "Apologizing won't bring him back." I stand up and walk to where Sensei and Zabuza are fighting. Sensei looks worried. "Naruto! Stand back!" "No." I've been saying that a lot today. Why am I so angry? I could hear it in my tone. I'm angry and hurt. Is this what losing a friend feels like? I hate it! Never again! "What an interesting kid. He has no fear. And that interesting chakra before." "Shut up." "Wha-" "I said shut it. Now listen up. Gato, the guy you're working for plans to have you killed soon... Probably in about five minutes. So you have a choice, stop fighting us and run or, stop fighting us and fight them." Everyone looks baffled. "Naruto? Why isn't he scared?" I hear Sakura gasp and tilt my head away. I don't want to see her when she figures it out. "Sasuke-Kun? Where's Sasuke-Kun?" I hear her scream and continue to narrow my eyes at Zabuza. "You know kid. You've got balls. Alright, I'll stop fighting you ninja but, I still want to fight so I'll fight the mercs Gato has sent." Haku walks so he's standing beside me. "I will fight too." Zabuza nods and Sensei lets him go.

Gato and his men arrive and I watch silently as Zabuza, Haku and Sensei take them down. One managed to get past them but I was swift in ending him. This pit in my stomach is making me uneasy. I don't understand what it is. Someone please tell me. "It's the pain of loss kit." "The pain, of loss?" "Yes. Your friend died. Now you are feeling the pain of knowing he won't be here anymore." "Oh, I see. I don't like it." "No one likes it kit. But we have to move on." Move on? To what?! Sasuke was one of the like five people who didn't hate my guts! How can I move on from that?! "Yeah..." "I'm sorry kit." "Me too."

I hear squealing and narrow my eyes. That squeal isn't a pained squeal that was Sakura's happy squeal. "Naruto! Naruto look!" I guess I have no choice. I turn around and see a miracle. My eyes widen as I open the gates for the river to flow. Through watery eyes, I see Sasuke. He's alive! HE'S ALIVE! I fall to my knees and move my goggles off of my face. I hold my hands to my eyes to postpone the flow of tears. I can't believe it. He's back. I felt the pain of loss and now I'm felling the happiness of when they return. I know I never want to feel loss again but, I can deal with this happiness. I wipe my eyes and look again. Wow, it's extremely hard to see. I sniffle up most of my remaining tears and put my goggles back on. Sasuke's smiling as he waves at me. I wave back. My kami this is a beautiful moment.

I feel a pat on my head and assume it's sensei but, I was wrong. Haku is patting my head. "Thank you." He smiles and Zabuza chuckles. "Haku has never been able to kill someone. Enemy or not." I look up at Zabuza and he smiles at me, revealing his shark like teeth. Geez, how does he brush those? I smile back and I can feel the tears starting again. "You know, for a smart and funny kid, you are such a cry-baby." Sensei steps up and nods. "Well, this is the first time he's ever been close enough to someone that it hurts when they die." Zabuza looks a little taken back. "A genius kid like him hasn't had friends before? Surely the Leaf loves him." I scowl as my tears stop. "Yeah right. That shithole can go suck a big fat one." Zabuza looks astonished, as does Haku, before he breaks into a hearty laugh. "This kid is hilarious. If you ever need a place to go kid, come find me." I smile and nod. "I'll think about it." He laughs again as he and Haku leave the area. Cool guy. Haku's cool too. Maybe I'll ask him to train me sometime.

We stayed with the bridge builder as he finished building. I was even allowed to stay in the house. I kindly refused though. I didn't feel deserving of it. Right now, we are stood on the bridge, about to head back. Inari looks sad. "Thank you for everything, all of you." We all bow and I smile to myself. Not such a bad village at all.

We turn to walk off when I feel a hand on my sleeve. I'm half considering complaining at the person for stretching my hoodie sleeve. That's when I turn and see a watery eyed Inari. "Naruto, please come back someday." Huh? I...er... I look to Sensei for help and he just smiles. Thanks for the help. "I guess... I may need to do a mission here again." Inari pouts. So he hasn't completely lost his childishness then. That's good. "Not just for missions." Help me Sensei! How do I reply?! He-help meeeee! "Say 'Of course'." "Really? That's it?" "Yes." I smile at him and get a smile in return. "Of course I will." He jumps for joy. "Yay! Naru-Nii-San will come back!" Nii-San? "Why did you call me Nii-San?" "Because you are officially my big brother." He looks determined. He gets emotional over the weirdest things. "Ok." Ah! What the hell Pinkie?! "He's being serious Naruto." "I know that!" "Then act like it." "Had I not been?" "Not really." "It's fine. Naru-Nii-San just needs time to adjust." He's very understanding. Let's offer him a smile. He smiles back and we leave. Sensei pats my head as we walk off. "You're making friends Naruto." Yeah, I am. I smile to myself and I make the rest of the trip in silence. Well, I would have if Pinkie hadn't insisted on us all playing twenty questions. Let's just say, we learnt some very, interesting, things about sensei.