Chapter 11: Of Demons, Midgets and Explanations.
Naruto and the rest of team 7 were walking down a dirt road on their way to Wave country. Naruto was in front, followed by Sakura and Sasuke who stood on each side of Tazuna the bridge builder. Kakashi brought up the rear, while simultaneously reading his porn.
Naruto wore his now standard Ninja attire, minus his sage cloak. He wore his trusty mask over his whiskered face. Both sides were framed with jaw length blonde hair. Kakashi had commented to Jiraiya days before that the young ninja resembled Minato a great deal.
"Sensei is there any Ninja in Wave Country?" Sakura asked from her place in the formation.
"No Sakura there is not. There are 5 large villages that make up the majority of the world's Ninja population. Each of these villages leaders as I am sure you remember, are called the Kage. These five villages are; Konoha led by the Hokage, Iwa led by the Tsuchikage, Kiri led by the Mizukage, Kumo led by the Raikage, and Suna led by the Kazekage. Aside from the 'Big Five' as they are commonly known, are numerous other small Shinobi villages with their own Shinobi forces. However only the leaders of the 'Big Five' are known as Kage. Wave however does not have its own military, but are bordered by Mist country and Fire Country." Kakashi explained.
"Hmm, okay but then why does everyone in Konoha call Naruto the 'Grandson of the Uzukage's'?"
Naruto heard the question and decided to answer that himself. "That's more of an honorary title more than anything Sakura. But to explain that we have to go back to the founding of Konoha. You see a very long time ago during the period before Shinobi villages, commonly known as the 'Great Clan Wars' the world as we knew it was in turmoil. Clans from all over were fighting other clans for land, honor, and prosperity. In Fire country the two biggest clans and the bitterest of rivals were the Senju and the Uchia. These two clans were at war constantly for a great many years. One day a Shinobi of the Senju who was fed up with the constant warring left the Clan to follow his passion for knowledge, Kenjutsu, the Sealing arts and the pursuit of peace. This man banded together with a few members of the Senju and a few members of smaller clans and formed what was later called the 'Village of Uzushiogakure' in the 'Land of the Whirling Tides.' This man then changed his name and he with his group of Shinobi founded the 'Uzumaki Clan.' The village was led by the head of the Uzumaki Clan throughout the years as their 'King.' So for a very long time the village was a Monarchy.
Over the years the war between the Senju and Uchia continued. Finally however Hashirama Senju the new clan head of the Senju, and longtime rival and childhood friend Madara Uchia the newest clan head of the Uchia, decided that the blood feud had gone on long enough. Hashirama and Madara came together with many of the other warring clans and founded Konoha. While the village was being constructed Hashirama decided to visit his cousins the Uzumaki. The current Clan head was my Great Great Grandfather Sephiroth.
Hashirama wanted the Uzumaki to come with him to Konoha and rejoin their family the Senju. Instead he discovered that Uzushiogakure was thriving and had been living in happiness and peace ever since it's founding. Also, the land was no longer a Monarchy. Sephiroth had decided that instead of a Royal Family they would be led by one central figure, chosen by the people to lead. Hashirama loved this idea, and moreover fell in love with his distant cousin and the sister of Sephiroth, Mito Uzumaki, a Kunoichi and seal mistress of unprecedented skill. Anyway Sephiroth turned down Hashirama's offer to move the clan to Konoha. However he noticed that Hashirama and Mito were quite taken with each other so he proposed a marriage. This marriage would not only tie Uzu and Konoha together, but would also retie the Senju and the Uzumaki clans as allies forever in blood.
Anyway after the marriage was conducted and Konoha was built, Hashirama brought forth the idea created by Sephiroth to let the people and the clan heads of the Shinobi Council decide who should lead the village. After much deliberation the choice was left between Hashirama and Madara. The people chose Hashirama and he was called the first 'Hokage' or 'Fire Shadow.' Madara however was angered. He believed that if the Senju ruled the village the Uchia would forever be slaves to them. He tried to rally the Uchia to revolt but they denied him. The Uchia too were tired of the constant war. Madara fled the village and tracked down the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the strongest of the Bijuu who was currently resting in the forests of fire country."
Naruto took a few seconds to catch his breath as he heard Kurama give a deep growl within his mind. He looked back at his audience to find that they were staring at him with rapt attention. Even Sasuke seemed genuinely intrigued with the story so far. While Sasuke knew the story of Madara Uchia, the entire bit about the Uzumaki was both new and interesting to him.
After sufficiently catching his breath Naruto continued. "Anyway Madara discovered the Kyuubi as he was resting and asked him to help him lay waste to Konoha. But the Kyuubi refused." At this Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura widened their eyes considerably. "The Kyuubi can talk?" They all asked. Naruto face vaulted and the Kyuubi began bashing against his cage.
"LET ME OUT NARUTO! IM GONNA FUCKING EAT THESE IGNORANT MONKEYES!"
Naruto dusted himself off and leveled a glare at his team. "Of course they can fucking talk. Despite what most people believe the Bijuu are not demons, nor mindless killing machines. They are beings made of incredible amounts of Chakra that were given consciousness by one of the most incredible human beings to have ever walked this earth. For hundreds of years they roamed the continents content to let humans be. But like all things that are different or misunderstood humans feared them and their incredible power so they began scorning and attacking them. The Bijuu's in turn defended themselves from their attackers which only increased the fear of the humans. The Kyuubi himself was once a gentle creature before he was consumed by the fear and hatred of our race." Naruto noticed his team understood, but still seemed quite surprised.
"Who was it that created them Naruto?" Kakashi asked. He had noticed the reverence in which Naruto talked about their creator.
"That is a longer and even more complicated story for another time Kakashi. And I still haven't finished my current story."
Kakashi nodded his head. 'Hmm, I'll be sure to ask later then.'
"Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, so the Kyuubi turned Madara down. So Madara used the power of his Sharingan to place the Kyuubi into a very powerful Genjutsu, and then placed a summoning seal upon him. He ventured to what is now known as the Valley of the end where he met Hashirama and his wife Mito. Hashirama knew that Madara would have to pass by the valley to get back to Konoha. He ushered his wife to stay out of the way while he met his once best friend. He urged Madara to come back to Konoha with him. Madara refused. He claimed that Hashirama would oppress both he and his clan. He told Hashirama that after he killed him, he would raze Konoha to the ground and destroy his quote 'Treacherous Clan' and start anew. He summoned the hypnotized Kyuubi and together they fought Hashirama to the death. However Hashirama knew from the Sharingan that were spinning in the Kyuubis eyes that he was under Madara's control so after he pushed Madara to a standstill he subdued the Kyuubi with his Mokuton and broke both the Genjutsu and the Summoning Seal. With the Kyuubi out of the fight Hashirama killed Madara. After the long and destructive fight was over the Kyuubi was still left subdued.
Hashirama and Mito were afraid that after the Kyuubi awoke he would take his anger for Madara out on Konoha, and in his wrath destroy the village and the peace that came from its creation. So Mito decided to seal him within herself. Now what you may not know is over the years that led up to this point, many had already tried to seal the Kyuubi. However no nonliving vessel could contain his power, and any Human vessel who tried before died soon after. You see Bijuu chakra is incredibly potent. It is basically toxic to humans. The Kyuubis chakra however, is more powerful in both its abundance, and its potency. Any human who tried to contain him before Mito had died either from exploded coils, or melted coils. Sometimes even both. Mito had hypothesized however that an Uzumaki would be able to survive the sealing. This is because Uzumaki's not only have an incredibly vast life force, often times living to be in their hundreds, but they also had an incredibly advanced chakra network meaning larger coils and larger reserves, and they also have an incredible gift for adaptability.
Anyway Mito successfully sealed the Kyuubi within herself. 'However the two did not have the greatest relationship'." Naruto muttered at the end. "Goddamn right we didn't. The infuriating old bitch." Naruto's eye twitched at the comment, but he let any retort go with a deep sigh.
"Anyway no one but the Hokage, Mito, and the clan elders that made up the village council knew that Mito was the Jinchuriki. The Shinobi later knew that someone held the Kyuubi but the actual identity of his vessel was always an S rank secret known to few. That was true with my mother, and would have been true with me but Jiji like my father, wanted me to be seen as a hero so he made it public. He however underestimated the level of hatred and ignorance Humans have toward things they do not understand. But I digress."
Kakashi visibly winced, and even Sasuke and Sakura looked sympathetic. Tazuna was too but he didn't have a clue what Naruto had been through in life.
"So not too long after Madara's defeat, word spread of Konoha and its Hokage. 4 other villages formed and together with Konoha they made up the 'Big Five.' The villages adopted the notion that the leader should be chosen by the council and the people of the village, and they decided that together these leaders would be called the Kage, just like Hashirama. That is the birth of the five Kage.
My grandfathers the leaders of Uzu were then given the honorary title of Uzukage, not only because Sephiroth created the idea for the election system that they all used, but because they recognized the power of Uzu and its people. Uzushiogakure did not have nearly the population of any of the Major villages, but they made up for quantity with quality. Also they were both revered and feared for their knowledge and use of the arcane art of Seals, and their mastery of Kenjutsu."
The team and bridge builder nodded in understanding. "But what happened to them? In the academy they talked about the Uzumaki as allies of Konoha, but we didn't go to deep into how they were destroyed or why." Sasuke this time asked.
Naruto nodded all the while frowning, visibly saddened at the choice of topic. "Uzushio was a deciding factor in Konoha's survival, and subsequent victory during the 1st Shinobi World War. Their use of Seals both in and out of combat scared the hell out of their enemies, and Uzu its self was virtually impregnable. Mito used her knowledge of seals to build many of Konoha's defenses which made laying a successful siege to Konoha almost impossible. In fact many of the defenses that are still in place today in Konoha, were built either by Mito, or based on Uzumaki seals and barrier jutsu's. This fear of the Uzumaki's skills, not to mention their growing prosperity and population made many of their enemies understandably nervous."
"Ok, I get that so what happened?" Tazuna asked.
"'Sigh' The Village was attacked."
"But I thought you said the village was Impregnable?" Sakura asked.
"It would have been… However years before the start of the 2nd Shinobi war Iwa embedded sleeper cell agents in both Konoha and Uzu. The Tsuchikage knew that both Konoha and Uzu's Defenses needed to fall before attacks on the villages could be successful. So these agents who were young teens, even children when they were sent to become shinobi of our villages were ordered to get positions in the Barrier Unit, T and I Unit, and even Anbu Black Ops.
One night towards the end of the war sometime after the Nidaime Hokage died, and Saidame-Jiji was appointed Hokage the defenses of Uzu fell and all hell broke loose. Uzu was surrounded on all sides by the conjoined forces of Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri. Paper bombs that were placed in the most strategic places within the village soon went off, and Uzumaki civilians were slaughtered on sight. Woman and children included. When my Grandfather Ichigo went to send distress Messages to Konoha, he found all of the messenger hawks were dead. One of his Anbu reported in that all of the Ninja working in the Barrier division and the Messenger division were murdered and the defenses had been visibly sabotaged. Then reports of Uzu Ninja turning on their Comrades soon came in. It was an inside job he realized, so he ordered a group of civilians who had survived the initial attack to be brought to him. It was a small group and my mother, his daughter who was only an academy student at the time was among them.
He gave her the mission of a lifetime. He made two copies of the Uzumaki Scroll of Seals. One was for Clan Eyes only and it contained all of the Clans jutsu, seals, Ken and Taijutsu stances and styles, and our greatest clan secrets. The second contained many of our Seals and Barrier Jutsu's along with a long list of Kinjutsu. The First scroll was to be kept by my Kaa-san, and the latter scroll was to be given to the Saidame Hokage, one of my grandfather's closets friends as a gift, and as a countermeasure incase Konoha was attacked. Before he kissed my mother goodbye he gave her a note for Hokage-Jiji explaining the situation, and the likely hood of double agents within Konoha. He rallied all of his surviving ninja and attempted to fight back the invaders of his home.
By dawn of the next day Uzu was destroyed and all of the Shinobi and civilians who were inside the village at the time were dead. Some Uzumaki were taken prisoner by Kumo, but what our enemies didn't realize was an Uzumaki would rather die than become a slave or breeding stock, so committed via suicide seals on their person."
"Why did they take prisoners, I thought you said they were to be killed on sight?" A teary Sakura asked.
"To contain the Bijuu. The Raikage had somehow discovered that Mito was the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi, and that only an Uzumaki could contain him. Kumo was and still is in possession of the Nibi, and the Hachibi, the latter of which they had always had trouble containing. He realized that if an Uzumaki could safely contain the Kyuubi, then they could also contain the slightly weaker, but still incredibly powerful Hachibi. The plan was to contain the Hachibi, and Matatabi in an Uzumaki, then forcefully use them to attack Konoha, Kill Mito and reseal the Kyuubi, giving them 3 Bijuu, 2 of them being the 2 strongest of the Bijuu.
However no one knew that my Grandfather had my Mother and the other refugees spirited out of Uzu with the information of the double agents within Konoha. After Hokage-Jiji got the letter, he searched through all of our shinobi and weeded out the spies. They were all interrogated and executed. Come the planned day of the Invasion of Konoha, the combined armies of Kumo, Kiri, and Iwa found that Konoha's defense system quite operational. (Star wars: P)
Led by a very pissed off Hokage-Jiji and an older yet, even more pissed off Mito Uzumaki. Konoha decimated their forces and the invasion failed. The war ended soon after and Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri lost. However they had succeeded in the near extinction of my clan.
My grandfather had the last laugh however because he sealed the clans library, treasury, and armory before he met them on the battlefield. And even more importantly a few Uzumaki survived his daughter among them. They may have destroyed Uzu, but the Uzumaki still live on. This is the reason why our Jonin where a red version of my Clans Emblem on their uniforms. It's to be a constant reminder of the sacrifice my Clan made, and the dedication Uzu had to its 'Sister' village Konoha. Naruto finished his story as a single tear fell from behind his fox mask. "Any questions?" He asked to the solemn group following behind him. They didn't ask many questions, and the journey continued with more pleasant conversation taking place. However Sasuke contemplated heavily on everything Naruto had told them. 'We are much more similar then I thought Do-… no… Naruto.'
(Hours later)
"Umm, Naruto… About the Kyuubi…" Sakura started.
"What is it Sakura?" Naruto asked his curiosity piqued.
"What's your relationship like?" Everyone else was interested as well.
Naruto, while walking couldn't help but reflect on the change his with relationship with Kurama had underwent the previous night
(FLASHBACK)
He was standing in front of the cage that housed Kurama in the center chamber of his psyche. He had not visited his tenant in quite a while. He thought that after their last discussion, that the powerful Bijuu needed some time to ponder his words.
"It's been a little while since my last visit Kurama." There was no reply, and to anyone else it would seem that Naruto was talking to a black void. "I stand by what I said before. I want us to work together. Have you given any thought to my proposal?" Suddenly the darkness of the cage cleared a bit and the massive fox revealed himself.
"Ningen, you are certainly an interesting one. But you look here! I am NOT your friend. I will work with you because it suits my needs, and may be beneficial to me in the future. However, the first moment you show any sign of weakness, or make me look bad as my Jinchuuriki, I will cease this arrangement. Is that CLEAR!?" Naruto nodded his consent. Kurama then continued.
"For this alliance to work however, you must do a few things for me. First and foremost, you must kill that bastard in the orange mask! Secondly you must change this dump you call a mindscape. It is your domain, so you have total power here. Lastly, you must give me access to your senses. I cannot help you if I don't know what is going on in the outside world. Are my terms agreeable?"
Naruto smiled a small but true smile at the great fox. "Yes, yes they are." Naruto concentrated, and soon the walls of his mindscape started to crack. The water drained and the floors began to crack as well. Suddenly the room expanded and the walls exploded. There was blinding flash of white light that both occupants had to close their eyes for.
Cautiously The Kyuubi opened his eyes and was shocked to see what had once been a dark, dank sewer was now an expansive plain with rolling hills. Lush green grass surrounded him below, and above was a dark blue sky, filled with drifting clouds. The massive field was surrounded on all sides by forest, and he could hear birds chirping somewhere. He looked into the sky and was surprised to see two moons, one full and the other crescent. His cage grew and grew, and finally it was less a cage, and more a massive dog kennel. It was big enough that he had plenty of room to move about in it.
Kurama looked at the smiling Naruto and then closed his eyes and laid his head on his massive paws. "This will do kit." Naruto nodded his head and then he summoned a great stone dais out of the ground. It was a massive marble structure with a small set of steps.
Naruto bent down and put his hands on the dais. He mentally conjured a seal that represented his senses. The seal sat in the center of the stone tablet, and Naruto asked Kurama to poor a bit of chakra into it. The fox did so, and when his chakra touched the seal it began to change. After the seal had been altered, Naruto made the dais sink back into the ground until it had disappeared.
"There you go Kurama. My senses are now linked to your chakra. Whatever I experience will now be experienced by you in real time. You and I however, can both shut off this mental link whenever we want. That way I can block out any private moments I don't want shared, or you simply want to sleep." The fox nodded his head and closed his eyes. "Good we have an accord then. Now get out of here. I grow tired."
(PRESENT TIME)
"We have an agreement. He keeps me alive, and offers me both advice and access to his chakra. In return I do not treat him like some animal, or try and dominate him. Also I am to work hard to be seen as a strong and competent Shinobi."
"Why the last one?" Kakashi asked from behind his book.
"It's the old, 'If you look good, I look good' situation. As his Jinjuriki My reputation effects his reputation."
Naruto's eyes snapped open. There was a noticeable puddle not far down the dirt road he and his team were walking on. The only problem was it hadn't rained in a few weeks. "It's a Genjutsu kit." Kurama told him from inside his mind. Naruto internally hummed in agreement.
Naruto placed his hands behind his head as he walked. He used Anbu hand signs to Kakashi to alert him of the 'hostiles ahead.' Kakashi put his book away and stuck his hands in his pockets. He walked to the front of the team and stood next to Naruto. Kakashi pulled his book out again, and brought his free hand under his chin where he flashed signs to Naruto.
'Let's play it cool. I want to see who their target is.' Naruto let his hands fall into his pockets and tilted his head to his Nii-san. The puddle was still a little ways away, so Naruto took Kakashi's place at the back of the formation. Sakura was completely oblivious to the situation, as was Tazuna. They simply thought Kakashi had wanted to walk in front for a while. Sasuke was on edge however as he read Naruto's hand signals.
As soon as the team walked past the puddle, two shinobi rose from it with a dangerous glint in their eyes. The two shinobi each wore a single big, clawed gauntlet on one of their arms. One of the shinobi chuckled as he threw his partner through the air. They wrapped their barbed chain around the seemingly shocked Naruto, and pulled tight.
"NARUTO! /NARUTO!" His teammates shouted as what looked to be body parts and gore fell to the ground. Sasuke and Kakashi leapt into action. Sasuke threw kunai at the chain connecting the two ninja together, effectively pinning it to a tree. Kakashi launched a snap kick at one of the Shinobi's faces, causing him to launch back and the chain to detach from both of the Shinobi's gauntlets.
The shinobi who was kicked in the face righted him-self in midair, and both he and his teammate sped towards Tazuna. Kakashi grabbed one in a choke hold and smashed his elbow into his head. Sakura took a defensive stance with a kunai in hand, hoping to defend against the armed assailant. Sasuke rushed in front of her (Much to her delight) but before the ninja got any closer however, a golden chain wrapped around his neck and pulled him back into Naruto's outstretched hand.
The ninja was about to look up before an elbow came crashing down on the back of his head, sending him to dream land. "Naruto your alive!" Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna looked to see remnants of a shattered log resting where they thought Naruto had died.
'Of course, he used the Kawarimi jutsu to escape their chains but used a Genjutsu to make it seem as though he hadn't.' Sasuke thought to himself. Naruto dropped the unconscious ninja to the ground, took off his mask and smiled at his teammates and client. Kakashi strolled up to his students merrily and dropped his opponent onto the ground.
"Good work everyone!" He eye smiled at his team. Naruto smiled as well before he and Kakashi grew serious. "Tazuna…" They both started at the same time. The two Jonin level ninja looked at each other with surprise before eye-smiling at each other. Turning back to the nervous bridge builder they continued. "We need to talk." They both finished.
(Later)
Team 7 was currently walking through a forested area. After Tazuna had told them of the land of Waves current situation after being taken over by the evil business tycoon Gato, the team had decided to see the mission through to the end. After being showered with thank you's from the old drunk, the team met up with his contact who ferried them from the Land of Fire, to the Land of Waves. As they were walking down the dirt path, Naruto suddenly whipped a kunai into the bushes. He sent a shadow clone to investigate, and found a white rabbit that was visibly freaked out.
'A white rabbit. But its fur should be brown. This rabbit must have been raised indoors away from the sunlight. This rabbit was used as a substitution.' Naruto and Kakashi both thought to themselves. "NARUTO ITS JUST a HELPLE-" She was cut off however when Naruto and Kakashi both turned to see a massive Zanbato hurling towards them.
"GET DOWN!" yelled Kakashi. Naruto however unsealed his Buster sword into his hand, and deflected the Zanbato into a nearby tree. A Shinobi dropped onto the embedded sword and studied his opponents. "Kakashi of the Sharingan." He said as he looked at the famous copy ninja. His eyes passed to masked Naruto for a second, before focusing on the blondes Zanbato. He smirked. "Heh, nice sword kid."
He looked back at Kakashi. "Anyway Hatake, I'm here for the old man. Give 'em up and I'll let you and your brats walk out of here alive." Kakashi readied a Kunai in his grip before answering. "Zabuza Momochi. Demon of the hidden mist, A-rank nuke-nin. I'm sorry but I will have to decline." He said as he raised his headband up revealing his Sharingan.
"Oh the Sharingan already? I'm honored. Well if you won't give me the old man we're gonna have to do this the fun way."
Zabuza dropped off the sword pulling it with him, and landed not far away from the group of Konoha Nin. "Manji Formation, protect Tazuna! And stay out of this! None of you are ready for this kind of fight." 'Except you Naruto, but the less Zabuza knows the better right now.'
Zabuza strapped his sword to his back and stood straight and still. He brought right arm to a ninety degree angle and his right hand into the Seal of Confrontation. His left arm was raised straight above his head.
"Ninpou: Kirigakure no Jutsu." (Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu.)
"Be careful. Zabuza is a master of the Silent Killing Technique. "Kakashi told his team.
"What's that mean Sensei?" asked a frantic Sakura.
"It means if we're not careful, Zabuza will kill us before we even realize it." Replied Naruto.
"Seems Blondie gets It." said a voice that was seeming coming from everywhere.
"There are eight places on the human body that can lead to an instant death; The Larynx, Spine, Liver, Lungs, Jugular, Subclavian artery, Kidneys, and Heart. What's your preference?"
'This guy's killing intent is unreal. Is this what a fight between Jonin is like? It's even worse than HIS. I can't take it anymore! I NEED to end this feeling!' Sasuke thought to himself as he slowly raised his kunai to his own throat.
"Calm down Sasuke. I won't allow any of you to die. You hear me? I will not allow my comrades to die." whispered Naruto.
Sasuke quickly calmed down, before a chilling voice whispered from behind them "Too late."
Naruto didn't hesitate, with incredible speed destroyed Zabuza's Water Clone with a well-placed kunai thrust.
Another Zabuza appeared a while away only to be destroyed by Kakashi. Kakashi was then stabbed by Zabuza only to disperse into water as well. "You're good Hatake. To be able to copy me even in this mist is impressive. You truly are worthy of your Moniker as the 'Copy Cat Nin.' Zabuza suddenly appeared in front of Kakashi with a downward sword strike. Kakashi blocked it with a kunai and suddenly the two were back at it. Sparks flew everywhere throughout the mist as the two were constantly in deadlock.
Zabuza got fed up with this constant back and forth so the next attack he threw was followed up with a chakra enhanced kick to Kakashi's unprotected stomach. The Blow propelled Kakashi backwards through the air until he crash landed in the nearby body of water.
'Something is wrong with this water, it's almost… heavy. Oh no!'
"Suiton: Suiro no Jutsu!" (Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu) Zabuza exclaimed.
Kakashi was trapped in a dome of chakra enforced water. He couldn't escape and only had maybe ten minutes before he ran out of air. 'This is bad. I have no doubts Naruto can beat him, but not without revealing his heritage. It's inevitable I suppose, but I was hoping it wouldn't be for a while.'
"NARUTO! You're in charge of the team. Take the client and RUN!"
Naruto broke formation and stepped forward. Zabuza had let the mist clear up so he could see team 7 and they him.
"You know I can't do that Kakashi-Sensei… What would they think if I left you here to die? What would HE say?"
"Naruto you don't have to do this, you know you'd be in danger if-"
"We both knew it was inevitable. The time table has just been changed is all. Remember what you taught me? Taught us? 'Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash.' Isn't that right? Your more than just my comrade, and no way in hell am I gonna let some eyebrow-less freak kill you." Naruto finished as Zabuza grew a tick mark.
"What are you two jabbering on about? You really expect me to believe some no name Genin can defeat me Kakashi? Kid, you're not worth shit until you're in my Bing Book." Zabuza finished with a sneer."
Unfazed Naruto turned his head to address his team. "Protect Tazuna."
With that he stepped forward, sealed away the Buster Sword in a flash of flames, and unsealed Zangetsu.
Zabuza froze, his eyes widening upon recognizing it. "HOW DO YOU HAVE THAT SWORD?"
Kakashi decided to answer for his Ototou. "His name is Naruto Uzumaki, and he is the Prince of Whirlpool. That sword is one of his birth-right."
Zabuza looked shocked. "UZUMAKI!? You're the son of the 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero' and the 'Yellow Flash' aren't you?! You're the Jinchuriki of the 9 tails!"
Naruto nodded his head, before sealing his mask away. "Yes I am. And I see you recognized my Grandfather Ichigo's sword. The fact is I'm quite proficient in Kenjutsu. I think it would be fitting to fight a fellow swordsman such as you, Momochi Zabuza." Zabuza laughed. "Well, I will certainly have fun taking that sword from you're dead hands brat."
Naruto smiled. "That's not going to happen. First things first though, "Your working for Gato?" Zabuza nodded.
"Well, I have heard about my brother Yagura, and his bloodline civil war." Zabuza narrowed his eyes, and his team just looked confused. "I hear you tried to assassinate Yagura. I assume then that you were part of the rebel faction that is trying to reclaim the village hidden in the Mist?" Zabuza glared at the blonde.
"What's your point brat?" "My point is I have an offer for you." Zabuza looked intrigued. "I wish to fight you. Swordsman to swordsman. If you win, I will give you Zangetsu, and double whatever Gato is paying you, and you will leave Tazuna alone." Zabuza smirked "And if you win?" Naruto smirked as well. "WHEN I win, I will still pay you double whatever Gato is paying you, plus a good percentage of the money from his hideout, after I kill the little fuck. And again, you will leave Tazuna and his family alone. So is it a deal?"
Zabuza thought it over for a second, but something was confusing him. "Why would you still pay me if you win?" Naruto grew somber. "Because, I support the rebels in their attempt to reclaim their freedom. Yagura, the Mizukage may be my fellow Jinjuriki, but what he is doing is wrong. All he is doing by committing his horrible deeds, is causing pain and suffering to innocent people, and making life even harder for the rest of the Jinjuriki." Zabuza nodded his head.
"It's a deal then. I will tell you this how-ever, if you try to renege on our deal I will kill you, your team, and Tazuna." Naruto nodded. "You have my word. Regardless of the outcome of our fight, you will be paid. Consider it a gift to the rebels from the Uzumaki Clan." Zabuza smirked.
"And can you call your friend out please?" Zabuza's eyes widened and Team 7 just looked confused again. "Haku!" An androgynies looking teen, wearing a Kiri Hunter Nin mask appeared beside Zabuza. "Yes master?" "Stand back, if his friends interfere, kill them." Haku nodded and jumped away from his master.
Zabuza let Kakashi out of the water prison, and he slowly walked past Naruto on his way back to the team. As he walked by Naruto whispered to him.
"Nii-san, whatever happens, do not interfere." Kakashi nodded. He trusted his Ototou, and he knew he could handle himself.
"Whenever you're ready brat." Zabuza said with a feral grin.
Naruto smiled back. "Hmmm, what sword should I use?" Zabuza looked confused until Naruto summoned Masamune, Kurikara, and his Buster Sword, and stabbed them each into the ground. Zabuza's eyes widened to extreme proportions. "T-t-t-that's..."
"Yes." Said Naruto. "Masamune and Kurikara. I possess the three legendary swords of the Uzukage's. My grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather's swords."
Even Naruto's teammates looked surprised and confused. "Kakashi-sensei? I don't get it. What's the big deal, their just swords." said Sakura. Kakashi eye-smiled at the ignorant girl.
"You stupid little brat! These swords are legendary! Each one was forged and wielded by an Uzukage! Your Teammates grandfathers were the three greatest swordsmen to ever live! Each of those swords alone are priceless! But with all three their total amount is insane! If the kid ever sold those swords he would be the richest man in the entire shinobi nations!" Screamed Zabuza at the young Kunoichi.
Tazuna, Sakura, and Sasuke looked completely shocked. "However I don't recognize that other sword." Added Zabuza.
Naruto smiled, and picked it up before answering. "This Zabuza is Basutāsōdo, The Buster Sword. I forged it myself. Going along with tradition this is my sword. The sword of the Prince of Uzu, I guess you could call it." Again Team 7 looked surprised.
"He made that Kakashi-Sensei?" Kakashi nodded. "Yes Sakura. The fact is, there is a lot that none of you know about my Ototou."
Zabuza was grinning like a mad man. Naruto resealed all of his swords with the exception of his buster sword. He picked it up as if it was the lightest thing in the world and got into his stance, his yellow fox mask re-appeared on his face in a blaze of blue flames. Zabuza at once let out all of his chakra and killing intent into the air. His body was shrouded with Chakra that formed a giant Oni mask behind him. Sakura, Tazuna, and Sasuke started to shake and shiver at the horrifying display of power.
"Gravity Seals: KAI! Resistance Seals: KAI! Chakra Restriction Seals: KAI!" The Ground around Naruto caved in, and everyone except Kakashi, Zabuza, and Haku had to struggle to stay standing as Naruto's oppressive chakra shrouded his body, and bled into the air in a massive maelstrom of power, that blew away any remaining mist.
"I'm ready now Zabuza-san. Come get some." In a burst of flash step Naruto was upon Zabuza, who had to use both hands to hold back the Buster sword. Zabuza pushed Naruto back and the two quickly began attacking each other with gusto. To everyone but Haku and Kakashi it was too fast to follow. All they saw were sparks flying. Once and awhile Zabuza and Naruto would appear, swords locked together before one of them pushed the other back and they disappeared again.
Naruto was having the time of his life. This was the first real challenge he had had since sparring with his Ancestors. Zabuza was going all out, and so was he. The two quickly increased their already fast pace, and Kakashi soon had to rely solely on his Sharingan to follow the two wild swordsman.
"T-this is incredible." said Tazuna, eyes wide and hands shaking.
Sakura nodded her head dumbly in agreement. Sasuke however was impressed, but also a bit envious. 'How does he already have so much power? I need to have this power too! I am an UCHIA! The elite of the elite! I need to be this strong if I'm ever going to stand a chance against Itachi!'
Haku was having thoughts of her own. 'This boy is indeed strong if he can match Zabuza-sama. I'm thankful that I don't have to fight him. He seems like a good person, I wonder what it is he fights for?'
Meanwhile Zabuza was having his own thoughts. 'This gaki is something else! I haven't had so much fun since sparring with Kisame.'
The fighting shinobi were unrelenting in their attacks, a constant flurry rapid swings, sudden blocks and powerful kicks. Not once did the other look away from his opponent. 'That damn mask is INFURIATING! I can't read him at all.'
"Hey gaki, how about we kick this up a notch?" Naruto nodded.
"I thought you'd never ask." Naruto said with some humor in his voice.
"Water Style: Water clone jutsu!"
Suddenly there were 5 water clones of Zabuza attacking Naruto. One ran up from his left, Naruto shifted his Buster sword into his left hand, and summoned his Kurikara into the other. He attacked at the real Zabuza with his left hand, and after Zabuza blocked it, he spun around and sliced down the water clone with Kurikara. He seal-Lesley summoned up 4 shadow clones, each with a Buster sword who broke off to attack the charging water clones. He resealed Kurikara and quickly had to use both hands to hold back Zabuza's Guillotine Sword. Sparks flew everywhere as the two swordsmen, and their clones fought on.
The sword fight went on for another 10 minutes, and now the two swordsmen stood across from each other on the water. Zabuza was looking worse for wear. The clones were long gone, and Zabuza's chest was a myriad of cuts and gashes. None were to severely life threatening, but they hurt like a bitch. He was breathing visibly hard as well. Naruto himself was sporting a few gashes, and his mask had a nice shallow scar across it. His breathing was a bit labored as well.
Naruto then decided this had gone on long enough. "Zabuza-san, as much fun as this is has been I think it is time we ended this. I really hope you can dodge this cause the truth is, I've never used it in combat before."
Everyone watching looked curious, Zabuza included. Suddenly Naruto's sword glowed blue as he lifted it in the air with both hands. "GETSUGA...TENSHO!" Naruto swung his body and the sword down in a diagonal slash.
A massive, blue chakra fang was expelled from the blonde's sword; it rushed at Zabuza who held up his sword to shield himself. The chakra fang hit him head on and blasted him back into a tree. Zabuza opened his eyes with a groan. His sword, which he was still holding in front of his face, suddenly grew a wicked scar before it broke in two pieces. Everyone watching had to pick their jaws of the floor as they looked at the destruction from the powerful attack.
"HOLY SHIIIIIIIT!" screamed Tazuna, at the upturned earth. (A/N Remember when Ichigo first used the Getsuga Tensho against Urahara?)
Haku was crouched next to her master in an instant. "Zabuza-sama, are you alright?"
"Cough, cough. Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Kami, gaki you did a number on me. You win, a deals a deal."
(Later)
After Haku had thoroughly checked out Zabuza, and the two swordsmen were bandaged up, the two men shook hands. Naruto unsealed a scroll and handed it to Zabuza. It contained about 2 million Ryo. Zabuza said it was too much, but Naruto insisted he take it. "It's for the cause." He said to the grateful mist shinobi.
Zabuza and Kakashi than came up with a plan, they decided that at the end of the week they would all meet on the bridge. They would stage a fight, and when Gato no doubt showed up with more of his thugs, they would kill the bastard. Naruto asked Zabuza for the man's broken sword, he said once they got in town he would find a forge and repair it for him. Naruto was to meet up with Haku in the forest outside of town in a few days to give her the sword for her master.
After all the plans were made Tazuna led Team 7 to his house where they were currently eating dinner. Tazuna explained to the team the story of Kaiza, and the heroic step father's death, after Inari ran upstairs depressed. After the saddening story however, Tazuna lifted the mood of the room by recounting the events of Naruto's fight to Tsunami.
"That was amazing Naruto. A really great fight!" said Tazuna, who had just finished telling the story to an impressed looking Tsunami.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly. "Hey, thanks. I'm just glad I finally got a chance to test myself against a true swordsman."
Kakashi eye-smiled. "Ototou, I'm so proud of you. Not only did you defeat an A-rank missing-nin, you also averted conflict. You made a deal that ended us from having to really fight to the death with Zabuza, and the money you gave him could potentially save many innocent lives in the Mist civil war. Your parents would be proud." Naruto looked down at his food with a small smile on his face. "Thanks Nii-san, that means a lot."
"So we take out Gato at the end of the week." Kakashi stated to his team.
Suddenly Tazuna's grandson Inari was looking at the gathered shinobi. "You're all gonna die." He said as if it were a fact of life. "Inari!" yelled Tsunami.
"Gato is too powerful, he's going to kill you all." Everyone was quiet. "You stupid ninja, you probably all have cushy lives at home. You don't know what it's like to suffer! You don't know the pain we've gone through!"
Sasuke glared hard at the young boy, and Naruto who had his hair shadowing his eyes started laughing humorlessly. Inari looked pissed, and everyone else looked strangely at Naruto, except for Kakashi who looked down somberly. Naruto raised his head and looked at Inari with such powerful intensity that Inari gasped and took an unconscious step back.
"We don't know pain you say? We don't know what it's like to suffer? While it's true your life hasn't been easy, at least you have a mother and a grandfather that love you. You have food on your table. Your life seems pretty good to some of us. Kakashi here lost his Mother when he was young, and his father not long after. Then, he lost both of his teammates, and years later the man he looked up to as his father figure.
Sasuke's own brother executed his entire family. My father and mother died on the night of my birth. My father gave his life to seal the Kyuubi no Yoko into my body. At the age of 4 the orphanage I lived in kicked me out into the streets, for 3 months I lived in an alleyway and ate food out of a dumpster, before the Hokage found out what happened. Every week I was beaten, some nights to the brink of death. This however intensified on my birthdays, where the beatings got, especially gruesome.
On my 5th birthday, after being cut and burned, I was… well it doesn't much matter."
By now Sasuke had his head down as did a pale looking Kakashi and Tazuna. (Kakashi even more so because he knew what Naruto was about to say.) Sakura was teary eyed as was a shocked looking Tsunami.
"So you sit there and tell me that we don't understand suffering? Kid your life is sad, and I truly sympathize, but remember this, someone always has it worse. Your father was murdered by Gato, and wave lost hope. It's sad, and I am sorry for your loss. However you still have your mother and your grandfather, who are both suffering just as much as you are. You however dishonor both of them when you act the way you have been. Your father lost his life fighting for the freedom of wave. He stood up to Gato, and what do you do? You sit here and whine about how sad your life is. If you want your life to be better change it. If you want something you fight for it, and if you want to protect someone you protect them. That's what your grandfather is doing right now. He's risking his life for you and your mother. He came to Konoha to hire us, knowing that he might not make it back alive. He is a great man, like your father. You however are a coward, like Gato." With his speech finished, Naruto stood up.
"I gotta go work on Zabuza's sword, don't wait up."
After Naruto left, Sakura asked the question that was on everybody's mind. "Kakashi-sensei, Naruto's life... It wasn't THAT bad was it?"
Kakashi looked at the girl, still looking downcast. "No Sakura, it was worse. Naruto has suffered more than anybody I know because of his Jinjuriki status. It's still amazing to me that he can still function like a normal human being. Anyone else would probably be in catatonic shock after the mental and physical trauma he endured at what was supposed to be, the happiest days of his life. Hell most people would have released the Kyuubi and let it destroy the village. But no, Naruto is still as bright and happy as he was when he was young, albeit much stronger, as you have seen."
"He…wasn't going to say what I think he was? Was he?" Tsunami asked after a second of hesitation.
A tear dropping from Kakashi's lone eye as he turned his head away from her was his answer.
Inari ran upstairs to be alone, and Sasuke left to go "Training." He had said. Tsunami, Sakura, and Tazuna spent the next few hours asking Kakashi about Naruto, and listening to different stories about the boy.
Chapter 12: Liberation
Naruto had found a forge in town that he paid the owner to use. It disgusted him how Gato had turned this nice community into the slum that it was today. Children were constantly tugging at his clothes begging for food. He gave them what he could, and he even gave out what Ryo he had left on him, after paying off Zabuza, and buying access to the blacksmiths forge.
He Hirashined to his house to get more Ryo, and plenty of chakra metal, and Hirashined back after sending a clone to tell the shocked, yet proud Hokage of the team's current situation.
After he got back and caught his breath from using the time/space Ninjutsu over such a long distance, he began his work. While repairing the broken sword, he infused chakra metal along the blade. After that was done, he broke out his sealing supplies and added a few seals. The first would allow the sword to repair itself with the iron found in blood. Anytime the blade was introduced to warm blood, the iron would collect and store into the seal. Anytime a crack or break formed the iron would leave the seal, and solidify in the crack. It was really a revolutionary seal so he made sure to add it to his own swords.
After he completed the task of fixing the Guillotine Sword, he decided to forge a katana. He figured it would make a nice gift for Haku and he figured the teens master would teach him the basics. After a few days the sword would be ready. It was to be made with chakra metal, and the blood repair seal was added to it. He bought the nicest sheath he could find from the blacksmith, and painted it a dark blue color. After he was done his work, he looked at the time and saw it was very late. He still wanted to take his mind off the situation with Inari, so he decided against returning to Tazuna's home. He walked into the forest and unsealed Kurikara. He summoned a thousand shadow clones and decided it was time for a good old fashioned "Battle Royale." He summoned his fox mask into place and shrouded himself and his sword in Blue Flames.
"Showtime."
(The Next Morning)
Haku was walking through the forest when she came upon a strange site. Naruto, still masked was passed out in the center of a clearing. All the trees around were splintered and gashed. The beautiful looking girl walked up to Naruto, basket in hand. 'I'm so glad I don't have to kill him.' He mused to himself. He leaned down and was about to wake Naruto.
As soon as his fingers were a centimeter from Naruto's chest she felt a sword touching his neck. Haku gasped and retracted his hand. Naruto sat up slowly, and who he recognized to be Haku he ripped off his mask and apologized. "Oh Kami, I'm so sorry!" He quickly sealed his sword and apologized to the amused girl.
"It's okay I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that."
Naruto smiled, and offered his hand. We never were properly introduced. My name is Naruto Uzumaki."
"So what were you doing sleeping out here Naruto-kun?" Naruto chuckled a little bit. "I was blowing off some steam I guess you could say."
Haku was about to inquire as to what made him angry enough to cause so much destruction when he was cut off. "Hey I finished Zabuza's sword early." He unsealed the sword and presented it to Haku along with a sealing scroll.
Haku thanked the boy and sealed the scroll. She tucked it into her kimono. Naruto and Haku spent the next few hours talking. Naruto for some strange reason told his life story to the girl, who by the end of it was crying. For some reason her eyes just told him she could relate, that she could be trusted.
Haku in turn told her life story to Naruto, about her parents and her Hyoton bloodline and explained that she was saved by Zabuza. She explained that she thought of Zabuza as a father, but regardless if the feeling was mutual, in the end she was a tool for Zabuza to use.
Naruto was a bit pissed off that the nice girl could think so little of herself, but in the end Haku wouldn't budge on the subject.
"Do you have anyone who is precious to you Naruto-kun?" Naruto smiled at the girl.
"Yes I do why do you ask Haku-Chan?"
"To me one becomes truly strong when they fight to protect that are precious to them."
Naruto beamed at the response, and nodded his head. "Yes Haku, your right, a person becomes truly strong when they fight for the ones they love."
Haku smiled back happy that someone agreed with her belief. "That is what Zabuza is to me Naruto-kun, he is my precious person and I would give my life for him, if it meant he would live to be happy."
The two shinobi shook hands after some more conversation. Both believed that they had found a lifelong friend.
(6 days later)
Naruto spent the entire week spamming shadow clones to help Tazuna rebuild the bridge after he finished Haku's Katana. He even had clones apply seals all along the bridge that would prevent it from running down, or weathering. He added some seals to add extra strength so it could hold up against even low level jutsu, and low grade exploding tags.
Kakashi trained Sakura and Sasuke in water walking (Having been taught Tree Walking shortly after becoming a team) while Naruto had clones protecting Tazuna's house, as he himself protected Tazuna daily. After the two Genin had finished learning water walking they advanced to learning a few low level jutsu.
Finally the day had arrived. Naruto made a contingency of shadow clones to watch over Tsunami and Inari, while he and his team escorted Tazuna to the bridge. The day before Tazuna had told all of his workers not to come in for the day. When they got to the bridge they were greeted to the site of Haku and Zabuza standing in the center. Fog covered the bridge from onlookers and team 7 came to a stop in front of the two mist ninja.
"Gaki, you did an excellent job with my sword I have to tell ya." Naruto smiled at the man. He quickly summed up the seals he added, and the infusion of chakra metal into the blade. Zabuza was really impressed with the work.
"Care to test it out?" Naruto asked with a smirk. Zabuza gained a feral grin. "Most definitely." The two crossed blades once again. Meanwhile Haku asked Sasuke if he would like a spar. Sasuke took it as a chance to test his development, and soon Sakura, Kakashi, and Tazuna were witnessing two epic battles.
(20 minutes later)
Sasuke was wiped, and Haku was a little winded herself. Zabuza was breathing heavy, and sported shallow cuts and gashes. Naruto hardly seemed winded, though his clothes were a little cut up, and his chest was bleeding a bit. "I guess that's 2 Naruto-sama and 0 Zabuza-Chan!" Naruto laughed. Zabuza grew a popped vein, but then laughed it off.
"You're right gaki. You are skilled with that sword. It's really too bad you weren't a Mist shinobi, I would have been honored to make you my successor." Naruto nodded and smiled. "The honor would have been all mine I assure you, Zabuza-Momochi." Naruto bowed to the man. Zabuza smiled and bowed back. Suddenly they heard tapping at the end of the bridge. Zabuza dispelled the mist to reveal Gato, and 200 henchmen.
(Meanwhile)
The Naruto clones at Tazuna's house were in one of the bedrooms playing cards.
"I wonder how it's going over at the bridge?" asked one of the clones.
Another answered "Just shut up and deal you baka." The clone was about to retort, until he heard glass breaking downstairs. The clones nodded and leapt into action.
They climbed out the windows and covered the front and back of the house. A Naruto clone looked through one of the windows to see Tsunami being dragged out crying by two men with swords on their hips. Inari sat in a corner crying.
The Naruto clones were about to jump into action before Inari bolted out of the house screaming for them to release his mother. The youth had taken words to heart, and decided then and there he was going to fight for someone he loved. The thugs drew their swords and were about to cut down the young boy in front of the screaming and crying Tsunami. They brought their swords down, only to hear metal clash. Naruto stood before the amazed Inari, Masamune holding off the thug's attacks.
"Naruto-Niisan!"
The Naruto clone chuckled. "Hey the hero is supposed to show up at the last minute dattebyo. Now, you guys made a real big mistake trying to hurt my Ototou." He quickly killed the two and sealed their bodies away for later disposal.
(Back on the bridge)
"Look at this boys! The baby demon couldn't get the job done!" The gathered thugs laughed with their boss. "What's the matter Zabu-chan? Can't deal with a couple of brats?"
Zabuza laughed in reply. "These brats aren't exactly normal Gato, as you will see in a minute."
"Bah, kill them all, I was gonna kill you anyway Zabuza, then sell that little whore of yours to one of my brothels. On second thought, keep the whore alive boys, her and that cute little pink haired bitch."
Zabuza, Kakashi, and Sasuke were about to step forward when, but they were frozen on the spot by the killing intent leaking from a very pissed off Naruto.
"Filthy pigs like you disgust me." Said Naruto has he lifted his head to reveal to the shocked crowd, (team 7 included) his demonic looking features. His hair had grown longer, and spikey-er. His canine's elongated and his whisker marks thickened and darkened. His eyes had slit and turned crimson, and his lips turned a blackish color. Red chakra shrouded his body as his nails turned into long black claws.
"I'm the demon you should have been wary of." 2 Golden Chakra Chains burst from his lower back, each shrouded in the Kyuubis chakra. One held Masamune, and the other held Kurikara. Naruto unsealed Zangetsu in his right hand, and in his left hand was the Buster Sword.
"N-Naruto." stuttered his teammates.
Haku was shocked and a little frightened, and two words floated across to Zabuza's mind.
'Such Power!'
"Don't worry guys. I'm completely in control of my emotions. This is me, using the fox's power Nii-san, not the other way around." Kakashi visibly relaxed.
"Let's show 'em fear kit. TEAR THEM APART!" Screamed Kurama from Naruto's mind.
Naruto summoned his fox mask into position over his face. "LET'S ROCK!"
Naruto whipped his arms over his head and swung his mighty swords. With a kyuubified cry of "GETSUGA TENSHO!" He unleashed hell upon his enemies. Two massive black Getsuga Tensho outlined in red, surged toward the group of thugs.
When it hit everyone in its path was obliterated. Naruto didn't stop though. He flash stepped forward and began slaughtering them all. Dead bodies littered the opening of the bridge. There were about 100 thugs left. Naruto grabbed Gato by the neck, and threw a Hirashin kunai back over to his team. He reappeared in a flash of red. (He's using Kyuubis Chakra)
"H-he knows his Father's Hirashin?!" asked Zabuza to Kakashi.
Kakashi nodded his head. "And the Rasengan." Zabuza paled, and suddenly felt a hell of a lot better about losing twice to the young ninja.
"Sasuke." Naruto said in his still demonic voice.
"Y-yeah Naruto?"
"Feel free to handle the rest of them if you want." Sasuke nodded, than smirked upon seeing the shitting thugs. When they saw the Uchia coming instead of Naruto, they suddenly gained back some of their courage, stupid move.
Sasuke joined by Kakashi finished off the weaklings. 50 however escaped onto a boat and were trying to flee. Naruto was having none of that however. He flew straight up into the air and hovered above the boat. He sealed away his swords and canceled his chakra chains. "Fire style: FIRE DRAGON JUTSU" He flew through hand seals and suddenly a massive purple fire dragon nose-dived into the boat vaporizing any passengers.
(3 days later)
Team 7 was standing on the newly finished bridge about to leave. Zabuza and Haku were there as well, along with the entire village of Wave.
"Naruto-Niisan. You really have to leave?" Naruto chuckled and ruffled the teary eyed boy's hair.
"Yes Ototou, I really have to leave. But this isn't goodbye forever. I will be sure to drop by if I am ever in the area. But I have something for you. Naruto pulled out a necklace with smaller sized Hirashin Kunai on it. "Protect your mom and grandfather with everything you have, but if you ever truly need my help again, throw this kunai and I'll be there in a flash." Naruto said with a smirk.
Inari happily put it on. "Haku Zabuza, I have one for you two as well." He gave his new friends a similar necklace with a full sized kunai which they put on immediately.
"I also made you this Haku-chan." Naruto unsealed a beautiful katana. Its sheath was dark blue like its handle. Stylized on the sheath were white flowers which petals looked like snow-flakes. Hanging from the handle was a small silver chain and hanging from it was a small jeweled snowflake.
"Use this to protect your precious people. Make this sword as legendary as the person wielding it. Her name is Sode no Shirayuki, take good care of her.
Haku accepted the sword with great reverence. "She is beautiful Naruto, thank you, I will."
After everyone had said their goodbyes team 7 left wave. The last thing Zabuza had said to them was "Gaki! You're gonna be famous someday soon!"
Tazuna was currently deciding what to name the bridge.
"I know!" said Inari. "The Great Naruto Bridge!" Everyone cheered in agreement. They would name the bridge for the young shinobi who liberated them, and gave them back their hope, and their courage.
As it turns out Naruto, before killing Gato had taken the man to his mansion where he made him sign over all deeds, titles, and documents to Tazuna. He recovered millions of Ryo, which he divided among Tazuna and the village, and Zabuza. Naruto then gave all the deeds and titles to Tazuna who was now the majority land holder of Wave country. Tazuna had given his people all of their money and land back. Then Gato was executed publicly, before Naruto made the detestable man sign over Gato Corp. to him.
Naruto gave the entire land of waves a small stake in the multi Billion Ryo Company; he then promised them all that the cost of the A-rank was more than paid in full.
(A few days later Konoha)
"Hokage-sama! YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!"
"Hmm see what." The Chunin that burst into the Hokage's office handed him a bingo book. Hiruzen turned to the bookmarked page and nearly choked on his pipe. On the page was a picture of Naruto, next to it was a picture of Naruto in his yellow fox mask. The description read as follows;
Naruto Uzumaki/Namikaze
AKA: The Golden Fox
AKA: The Prince of Uzu
AKA: The Kitsune Swordsman
AKA: Naruto of the Limitless Shadow Clones
Age: 12-13
Gender: Male
Rank: Genin Shinobi of Konoha
Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi No Yoko
Prince and Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan
Known Family: Relation: Current status:
Princess Kushina Uzumaki "The Red-Hot Habanero" (MOTHER) (DECEASED)
The Yondaime Hokage Minato Namikaze "Konoha's Yellow Flash" (FATHER) (DECEASED)
The Sandaime Uzukage Ichigo Uzumaki (GRANDFATHER) (DECEASED)
The Nidaime Uzukage Rin Uzumaki (GREAT GRANDFATHER) (DECEASED)
The Shodai Uzukage Sephiroth Uzumaki (GREAT GRANDFATHER) (DECEASED)
Jiraiya of The Sannin AKA "Jiraiya The Toad Sage" (GODFATHER) (ACTIVE)
Known Bloodlines/Special Abilities/Abilities: Blue Flames, Chakra Chains,
Taijutsu: ? - Ninjutsu: A-S - Genjutsu: ? - Kenjutsu : S Fuuinjutsu : S
Overall Rank : Presumed A-S
Frequently used or signature Ninjutsu : Hirashin, Rasengan, Shadow clone Jutsu
Extra Note: Can summon seemingly limitless Shadow Clones and is able to fly
Wields "Masamune", "Zangetsu", and "Kurikara" The Swords of The Uzukage's
Also, forged and uses his own Sword "Basutāsōdo"
Accolades: Single handedly defeated Zabuza Momochi twice
The Hokage sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. "Naruto, how the hell you made it into the Bingo books on your first C-rank mission is beyond me. I'm getting to old for this shit."