The Way

by Pibbinator

Even the smallest of changes can cause the biggest of consequences. How will the way of the ninja be affected by the survival of a single boy? Will it be the cause of it's destruction or salvation? Alive Obito. Smart/Powerful Naruto. Character Death. Reviews and Opinions Appreciated.

10. It's A Very Very Mad World

Disclaimer: I don't own this. You know now that I think about it, why don't I just copy and paste my disclaimers every time? It would save me the time of having to right this. But on the flip side, that makes me a lazy Millennial asshole douchebag who is too lazy to type four or five words on a keyboard. Quite the moral conundrum.

Author's Note: Hey guys, I'm back and I come with good tidings: A NEW CHAPTER! Yaaahh! I was so excited to write this chapter you have no idea. Not only have I hit the Chapter 10 mark, but it's gonna be full of action, romance, and intrigue! Ho yeah, so fucking pumped. Also, I drank a shit ton of Mountain Dew so I'm having a little bit of a sugar rush…anyway! Now Ben91 asked in his last review if Naruto was gonna have a harem or just multiple relationships. Now while I addressed this in the first chapter I'll remind everyone because I feel this is VERY IMPORTANT. Naruto will not, I repeat, WILL NOT have a harem. I don't hate them, sometimes (rarely) they work with the story. The only writer I've seen be able to do a harem right however is Kenchi618, but that's because he hardly ever really acknowledges the fact that it is indeed a harem but rather Naruto just being a player having sex but not really having an actual relationship with anyone of the women in said harem, if your confused just read The Sealed Kunai. So, like I said, NO HAREMS. Naruto will have multiple, singular relationships with different women in the Narutoverse, with me honestly leaning towards Aiko, Sakura, Ayame, Haku, and maybe Kurotsuchi. The reason I added Haku is because a very awesome reviewer going by the name of KingKiger gave a very valid reason as to why I should. As for Kurotsuchi, well I like the character and if I can figure out a way to put her in the story then I will. In fact, as I'm writing this I've kinda just figured out how I'm gonna do it. Well there you go. Now, onto my grammar. I know my spelling could use some work but it's hard to catch everything. Perhaps triple checking isn't enough. But, I'll try and improve as much as I can just bear with me. Last thing I swear, extra brownie points to the clever little Guest reviewer who deducted my hidden little Easter Eggs with my last few chapter titles. They weren't exactly hard to figure out if you listen to music like at all, but still! Okay, I'm done, we can get to the chapter now.

-x-

Chapter 10: It's A Very Very Mad World

-x-

Nekogigi Island, a small isle just a mile east off the shores of Misuto Island, the island of Kirigakure, was a surprisingly flat island in the family of mountainous islands that was Water Country. Covered by the foliage of trees and other plant life, the only other thing that could be seen by Naruto on the ship heading there was the massive look-out tower constructed in what looked to be the center of the island.

Curious, Naruto looked to Zabuza, "Hey Momochi, what's with the tower?"

Not bothering to look down at the young Namikaze he answered, "Nekogigi was originally a military outpost during the First Great Ninja War, however after the war ended as a way to show Water Country's civilians that our war was truly over, our Second Mizukage allowed the Water Daimyo to turn it into a civilian village. The village decided to keep the tower in honor of Lord Second and later named it Gengetsu Tower after his death."

Raising an eyebrow Naruto asked, "And how do you know that exactly?"

"I was born on Nekogigi. I went to Kiri as a boy after my mother died."

Naruto looked away, "Is that why you took this mission? To avenge your village?"

"No. Nekogiri is not my village. Kiri is."

Naruto nodded and was about to respond before he was interrupted.

"Doesn't mean I'm not going to bisect a few bastards for what they did." Zabuza said before walking away.

Huffing, Naruto looked back at the upcoming island, mentally preparing himself for battle.

"Hello young Namikaze." Naruto turned to see Yagura standing behind him. The Fourth Mizukage calmly made his way to where Zabuza had once been standing, "Do you have a moment?"

"Of course Lord Mizukage." Naruto said.

Yagura smiled a smile Naruto had seen before on his father before continuing, "I have heard many stories about you Namikaze, and it is fair to say that I am impressed."

Naruto blinked and with surprise in his voice he said, "Thank you, sir…"

Yagura kept that smile up, "You remind me of myself when I was your age. Early graduation, fast promotions, even our mission history and achievements, while different, are still similar."

"And um…how old are you exactly, sir?" Naruto asked.

"23." Yagura said with a chuckle.

"Really? You're so…"

"Short?"

"…"

"Height doesn't matter when you can do the things I can do Namikaze."

"Right."

The two stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Yagura spoke again, "Is it true that when you were 11 years-old, you assisted in the subduing of Han the Five Tail's Jinchuuriki?" Yagura asked.

Looking at Yagura with a sceptic eye Naruto nodded, "Yes. I assisted. My team captain at the time, Itachi Uchiha, did most of the work."

"But still, to survive an encounter with an enraged Jinchuuriki, even a Mid-Class one like the Five Tails, is an impressive feat. I from experience can attest to that."

That got Naruto's attention, "Have you fought a Jinchuuriki before?" To fight an enraged Jinchuuriki was a death wish for an average ninja, with freaks of nature like Itachi or his father being lucky to have fought one and come out unscathed. If Yagura had fought one and survived, that demanded Naruto's respect.

Yagura shook his head, "Not exactly." With that he turned to Naruto with his smile still in place as his pink eyes flashed red.

Seeing the surprised expression on Naruto's face, Yagura decided to end the conversation for the time being and walked away, but not before saying one last thing.

"Allow me to show you what a true Jinchuuriki can do Namikaze."

-x-

Back at Kiri

-x-

"I really don't like this sir."

"Calm down Kurenai. They'll be fine, the Mizukage is with them and he is an honorable man. He is the reason why Kiri is no longer called the Village Hidden in the Bloody Mist after all." Hiruzen said as he read a book in the apartment they were using.

Kuranai nodded, "I know, I just don't like being left behind like this. I feel so useless."

Hiruzen flipped to the next page, "They needed someone to stay and protect me Kurenai, you know this. And out of everyone on the team, you are the least suited for the Mizukage's mission. That is all."

Kurenai rolled her eyes, "As though you couldn't take care of yourself, Asuma still has that bruise on his face after your last spar with him."

The Third Hokage once again flipped to the next page, "Perhaps if he wasn't so busy with his personal life, he could actually get enough training in to where I wouldn't be able to beat him like a naughty child." He finished the sentence by looking at her pointedly, his glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose.

The red eyed Jonin turned away from her former Kage with a blush on her face.

-x-

At Nekogigi Island

-x-

Thank God for Genjutsu. It made getting onto Nekogigi unnoticed so much easier. The Kiri/Konoha ninja unit slowly trekked through the islands thick foliage, every one of them on the lookout for any Kaguya's running border patrol. After what felt like several hours of walking, Yagura stopped in his tracks while raising up a single fist. The squad stopped immediately, waiting for the Mizukage's orders.

"Ao. Do it."

From the group a man with spiky blue hair, an eye patch, and talismans for earrings walked forward. Placing his hand in a Horse seal, Naruto could feel his chakra spike. They all waited for a few minutes before Ao spoke up, "There's currently no one patrolling in this area, they all seem to be just outside the village."

The Mizukage seemed to process it for a second and then asked, "How many?"

Ao took several minutes then answered, "I count 73 men." Suddenly the man's chakra went back to normal as he let go of the hand sign.

"Any women and children?"

"Negative."

The Mizukage nodded, "Then this is the plan, we'll be dividing into teams of four, I don't care who's with who. These teams will enter the village at seven different points. While you all head to the center, I will act as a distraction and force the Kaguya to head towards me. You take out any you come across. No survivors. Don't worry about collateral damage." With that the ninja began to silently divide into teams.

"Hey, Namikaze."

Naruto turned to see Zabuza standing off to the side with Haku next to him. Walking over Naruto asked, "Yeah?"

"You're with me kid. I wanna see what you can do."

Naruto looked at Haku and while she didn't say anything, Naruto could see she agreed with Zabuza.

"Mind if I join you?" Naruto looked to his right to see Shisui, "I'm curious as well. From what Aiko and Itachi say you're rather impressive."

Naruto shrugged, "I don't care." Looking to Zabuza he said, "You?"

Naruto couldn't see it, but his experience with Kakashi told him Zabuza was smirking, "Sure, Ao's always talking about what the Body Flicker of Konoha can do."

Speaking of Kakashi, Naruto could see that he had somehow been roped into Mei's squad, much to his pleasure if the thumbs up he threw Naruto's way was any indication.

Going back to Yagura they waited for his next command, "Alright, Jinin your Squad A, Mei B, Zabuza C, Ameyuri D, Ao E, Mangetsu F, Saizo G." Pulling out a map of the village the squads could see where they were needed to go thanks to the X and their designated letter. "Each squad will infiltrate the village at their designated place. From there, you are to sweep through your area and make sure you kill any Kaguya who cross your path."

"And should we run into a Dead Bone Pulse user?" asked a random Jonin.

Not looking up from the map Yagura answered, "Should you run into one, shoot up a flare. I'll deal with the rest."

-x-

Designated Location of Squad C

-x-

"The Mizukage never did say what the signal will be."

"You'll know it when you see it brat."

"And how's that?"

"Would you shut up? We're supposed to be quiet here. You know…sneaky?"

"Your being louder than I am..."

"Both of you shut up."

Haku's frigid tone shut the two ninja in front of her up.

"Sorry." They said in unison.

Suddenly, all four ninja felt a massive spike in chakra. It was heavy, thick, and full of malice. Naruto knew this chakra immediately. The chakra of a Biju. Looking to where he could sense the mass of hatred coming from he saw the trees in that area had blown over from the force of Yagura's power. With a boom, debris and tree limbs went flying in the air as a glowing red rocket flew off into the sky. The rocket stopped at the height of its arch, and Naruto could see a dark purple ball had formed near the rocket before it blasted off towards Gengetsu Tower. It was obliterated in a second, leaving behind a massive crater within a cloud of ruble and dust. The rocket then decided to continue its previous trajectory, following the purple bombs path down to the crater that was once the center of the village. Once it landed, more smoke irrupted from the ground. All Naruto and company could hear next was the sound of a monstrous roar and several cries of anger, fear, and pain.

"There's the signal."

Looking at Zabuza, Naruto said, "Does he always do that?"

Zabuza shrugged, "Pretty much." He said before heading into the village with Shisui and Haku following after him.

Shaking his head Naruto ran after his team. Quickly catching up to them he said, "So what's the plan?"

Zabuza kept his gaze in front of them, "Simple…no survivors."

It was after Zabuza said this that a group of men ran out of a building. All three wore grey kominos with their brown hair tied in an intricate bun/pony tail. At first, the group of three's attention was on Yagura's direction, until they noticed the group of invaders behind them. They weren't allowed to do anything about it however, because Zabuza had quickly appeared in front of them, swinging his massive cleaver with a single hand. That single strike bisected the first two. Before their halved bodies could hit the ground, Zabuza used his other hand to grab ahold of the hilt of his sword to help stop the momentum of his previous swing. He then used both hands to give a horizontal slash towards the third man, effectively beheading him in an instant. As Zabuza stood there, allowing the three bodies to pool around him, he quickly brought up his sword to where the broad side was vertical with his body, protecting him from the barrage of arrows heading towards him.

Looking up, Zabuza spotted a quartet of Kaguyas, all of them carrying a bow and prepping another set of arrows to fire at him, "Archers!" He bellowed.

Shisui unsheathed his tanto as he said, "I got them." Before disappearing in Body Flicker.

All Naruto saw was a blur appear on the roof the Kaguyas occupied before he saw four more. Three in front of the other archers on the roof, and the last back at Shisui's original spot. Standing straight, Shisui resheathed his blade. With the click of the tanto fully entering the sheath, the four archers collapsed with blood spurting out of all of their necks.

Zabuza looked at Shisui with a raised eyebrow, "Well damn."

Shrugging Shisui made to move forward only to be interrupted by another group of Kaguya.

Readying his cleaver blade Zabuza said, "They're like fucking cockroaches."

"Ice Style: Certain-Kill Ice Spears."

With that, a barrage of spikes made out of ice erupted from the ground around the three new Kaguya, driving themselves into their victims with unrelenting brutality. As blood began to pool and freeze around the ice spikes, they shattered, allowing the men to fall to the ground to lay in a pool of water and blood.

Looking around, Naruto saw Haku holding up a one handed hand sign, showing that it in fact had been her that had killed those men, "Well damn."

"HEY!"

Looking in front of them, the Konoha/Kiri ninja could see at least 10 Kaguya men running towards them with weapons drawn.

Turning to Zabuza, Naruto could see the man looking at him expectantly.

Shrugging he said, "Fine." Suddenly, a white hot ball of fire appeared around Naruto's hands. It was so intense, Zabuza could feel a bead of sweat begin to roll down his temple.

"Inferno Style: Hiken."

Disappearing in a blur of speed, Naruto appeared in the air above the incoming men. Landing in between them all, he slammed his fist into the ground as he landed, causing a massive shock wave of fire to envelope the men around him. Those that weren't killed, were rolling around screaming from the overwhelming pain that was Naruto's fire. With his Hiken having disappeared, Naruto raised his hands into a Tiger handseal.

"Inferno Style: Kagutsuchi."

The men were taken out of their misery as the fire swallowing their clothes and flesh sprouted out spikes similar to Haku's, killing them immediately.

Is that what Tsunade was showing you?" Shisui asked.

Naruto looked at Shisui before giving a shrug, "All she showed me was how to channel chakra to my hands and maintain it. I took it from there." Looking at the rest of his squad-mates, Naruto said, "Let's go."

With that, the blond ran forward towards the direction of Yagura with the remaining three Jonin ninja following after him.

The journey was shorter than expected, it seemed like the rest of the Kaguya in the area went off to die fighting Yagura. Finally making their way to the village center, the Kiri/Konoha squad found what could only be described as a war zone. Flames, rubble, death. All these things could be found, with Yagura in the center. What once was a man of small stature, was now a towering monster resembling that of a demonic turtle with three long swishing tails. Its entire body was covered in a thick, liquidy, dark red chakra. The fighting seemed to have taken a lull, with the remaining Kiri squads (plus Kakashi) having made it themselves into the center of the village. After Yagura's assault, Naruto could count around 28 Kaguya, give or take, left in the village. Taking count of the Kiri/Konoha ninja, Naruto could see that they had taken some casualties themselves, with Naruto only able to see there were 19 of the Kiri ninja still standing. Notable ninja missing were Jinin Akebino, Ameyuri Ringo, and G squad leader Saizo.

It was as Naruto spotted Kakashi fighting alongside Mei against a group of burly Kaguya men did a glint of light catch his eye. Looking up he spotted another group of archers, only they were inside a building, taking aim through the highest level's windows. Feeling into his kunai pouch, he poked around until he found the kunai he was looking for. Pulling it out, he reached back before flinging it at one of the archers planning to snipe his sensei. His aim was dead on, with the kunai finding itself lodged in the archer's temple. His death caught the attention of the other two, who quickly shifted their aim in his direction. Before they could release their respective arrows, they were blown to smithereens by what turned out to be an explosive kunai. The explosion was a bit more powerful the Naruto expected however. The shockwave not only sent debris in their direction, but sent a ringing into the ears of everyone in the vicinity.

Rrriiiinggggggggg

Naruto's eyes were squinted shut as his ears drums vibrated from the explosion. Looking up, he could see Zabuza was holding off a group of Kaguya several yards away from them. Further away was Shisui, who was using the same technique Naruto saw Itachi used during the Suijin event during the Chunin Finals. Looking next to him he saw Haku, who like him was clutching her ears with her eyes squinted shut in agitation.

As the ringing faded, Naruto could barely make out what sounded like a man shouting, "Release him! Release him now!"

Confused Naruto looked around to see a man heading towards what looked like what used to be a bar. Deciding to not pay him any mind at the moment, he looked back at Haku to see she was looking at him her hands still on her ears. His attention wasn't on her for long, as he spotted a lanky Kaguya charging at her exposed back with a spear in hand. Seeing he was spotted, the Kaguya flung his spear towards what Naruto knew to be Haku's back. Shoving her out of the way, Naruto took the spear for himself. As he felt the spear drive its way into his shoulder, he felt it pierce its way all the way through his back.

The force of the throw threw Naruto off his feet. Landing on his back, Naruto grunted in pain as he felt the spear shift in his shoulder from the landing. Grasping the shaft of the spear, he broke it off before throwing it to the side. Looking up he could see that Haku had sent a barrage of ice needles into the man's neck, shredding it like a block of fresh cheese. Taking a couple harsh huffs of breath, he forced his body up and then propped his feet up underneath himself. Slowly standing up, he took ahold of the remaining handle of the spear, before shoving it all the way though his body until it fell out of his back in a bloody mess. Tearing off his jacket, he encompassed his hand in a healing aura before bringing it to his shoulder.

"Naruto…are you okay?"

Looking at Haku, he could see she was trying to hide her worry. Smiling he said, "Yeah, it's my fault anyway. I made that explosive seal a bit too strong." Moving his hand, Naruto could see he had healed it enough he wouldn't have to worry about bleeding out. But the fight wasn't over.

Taking off her cloak, Haku tore a long piece off. Walking up to him she quickly wrapped his shoulder as tight as she could, "Yeah…a bit." As Haku finished with a final knot, Naruto stopped to take notice of her outfit, something he had yet to see thanks to her all covering cloak. She was wearing a brown turtle neck battle dress with a dark green haori with white trimmings that was tired together by a matching brown sash around her waist. What was with this girl and her conservative clothing? He'd never seen any other woman in the ninja profession that wore such unrevealing clothes.

It was then that Haku and Naruto heard a man scream in pain. Looking in the direction of the scream, they saw that it came from the bar the Kaguya had gone in earlier. Seconds later the door opened to reveal a lanky man with long white hair that reached his mid-back. As Naruto looked at him, he could see he wasn't lanky, he was skinny. Malnourished skinny. He had no shirt, only a pair of flimsy and worn shorts that only reached his mid-thigh. As the man slowly walked forward, towards them, Naruto could see his bones through his skin, and he could've swore he could see his spine through his midsection. The man looked dazed, as though he hadn't seen daylight for years. Looking up at the sun, perhaps out of curiosity, he quickly covered his eyes with his hand. It was then that Naruto noticed what was in his other hand. A sword. Made of bone. The white sabre was covered in blood, blood Naruto could only guess came from the man that went into the bar.

Stepping forward, Naruto asked Haku, "Haku…is that a-"

"Yes…a Dead Pulse Bone user." Haku said with a nod.

"Shit…"

Their talking seemed to get his attention. Turning his head, they could that the curiosity in his eyes had disappeared in place of a completely blank stare. Slowly, the albino raised his boney hand in their direction with his fingers outstretched towards them. With a sickening squelch, thin buds of bone began to protrude from the tips of his fingers.

Quickly realizing what he was gonna do, Naruto shouted, "Move!"

And not a second too soon, because the buds became bullets that zoomed past them, cracking the pavement behind them. As Haku and Naruto split up, both planning to pincer the bone user in, the albino pointed his hand gun towards Naruto with several more bone bullets shot off at him. Taking cover behind a massive wall of rubble, Naruto could hear the bullets drive/ricochet themselves off the rubble wall.

The walking skeleton waited patiently for the blonde boy to jump out of cover, while also keeping an eye on the girl making her way towards him. Seeing the girl form a single handed seal, the albino's instincts went haywire. Knowing to trust his instincts, he jumped into the air, barely avoiding getting skewered by a hoard of ice spears. Looking over to where the blood had been taking cover, he saw said blonde running out of it towards another section of rubble. Not wanting to allow him the chance of getting closer, he fired off another barrage of bone bullets. The bullets struck true, with the bones plowing through the blonde child making him look like swish cheese. The boy suddenly disappeared in a poof of smoke. Confused, he looked around as he landed on the ground. Wincing, he looked down to see a set of ice needles had lodged themselves into his shoulder. Bringing up his bone sword, he blocked a swipe from the blonde child.

"You're pretty good. What's your name albino man?" Naruto asked.

The man looked at him blankly before muttering, "Albino…man?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Yeah…I'm making fun of you."

"…fun of me?"

"Look I don't have all day. I just wanna know your name."

"Name?"

"Good lord…what do people call you?"

"…It."

With that It reached towards the base of his neck. With another squelch, he pulled out what looked to be a whip made out of his own spine. Gross.

With a snap, It tested out his spine whip on Haku. The ice user barely managed to dodge the snap of the whip. Going through a set of single handed hand signs, Haku took a deep breath after saying, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough Jutsu!" A thick torrent of wind erupted out of Haku's lips. While Haku was doing that, Naruto had raised a single hand to his lips, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The combined attacks hit It at both sides at the same time. Thanking his Flame Retardant Seal for keeping him from getting burnt from his and Haku's combined attack, Naruto jumped back as he let It boil in the fire storm they had created. As the fire began to relent, they could see It was still standing there as though nothing had ever happened, only he looked like something from a horror film. His flesh had boiled and blackened, with bits and pieces having flaked away to reveal some of It's precious bone and muscle. His hair was gone, with only bits and pieces remaining. Naruto could no longer call him an albino either, because the white locks were now mixed with colors of blood red and burnt black. The man had to be in extreme pain, but other than his heavy breathing he didn't show it.

Unsheathing his katana Naruto said, "Inferno Style: Longsword of the Remnant Flame." Not only did the remaining flames around It swirl into Naruto's katana, but so did the flames all over the village center, completely ridding it of any fire. Leveling his sword horizontally, Naruto allowed his glowing red sword to hum in anticipation.

"I think we should put him out of his misery." Naruto said to Haku. Haku nodded going through handseals of her own. Raising her left hand, Haku allowed a spear of ice to slowly form, "Ice Release: Okami Spear." The spear's shaft was long, about half a foot taller than Haku herself, with the blade long itself at about a foot and a half. It was pretty wicked looking.

Looking at each other, the both nodded before sprinting off towards the living albino zombie. The man himself seemed to have decided to end it as well. With a roar, bones began to erupt out of his entire body as though he were a porcupine. It didn't end there, as a massive lance of bone began to form around his left arm. Limping forward, It snarled in rage at the oncoming ninja. Haku was the first to reach him, driving her Okami Spear into It's midsection, right in between his protruding rib cage. It proved for not, as another rib sprung forward, intercepting the blade of the spear. Haku smirked, as the rib quickly began to freeze. In anger, It jabbed his lance at Haku. Jumping back, she barely avoided death and skidded to a stop as Naruto made himself known. Clashing his Remnant Longsword with It's lance, Naruto's katana cut through his lance like a hot knife through butter. It roared in pain, and raised his hand gun at Naruto to shoot him away. Before he could fire however, he felt a cold shooting pain in his foot. Looking down, he saw that the Okami Spear had been driven into his foot, causing ice to surround his feet then his legs, keeping him in place.

Seeing the opening he needed, Naruto drove his Remnant Longsword into It's chest. Bones erupted from said chest in an attempt to stop Naruto's katana, but it was in vain, as the blade sliced through those bones just as easy as it had done with It's lance.

The blade drove all the way through It, forcing him to gasp in pain and surprise. Slowly, It's bones began to retract back into his body, leaving him in his normal, if horrifically burnt, state. Looking Naruto in the eyes, a single tear slip down his cheek, before he combusted in a burst of flames, leaving behind a sickeningly scorched skeleton behind. As Naruto withdrew his sword from the skeleton's chest, Haku could see that the sword had turned back to normal.

Huffing in exhaustion, Naruto looked around to see that the fighting had died down, with only one Kaguya left. The man was facing off against a still Bijufied Yagura, foolishly standing his ground.

"It's over Kakou. Your secret weapon has been killed. Your brethren have been killed. You're all alone."

With a crazed smile Kakou said, "Do you really think that I would care about any of that?! I'd have sacrificed the women and children of the Kaguya as well if it meant I could get what I wanted most!"

Narrowing his shining white eyes Yagura said, "No…I didn't."

Laughing like the crazed maniac he was, "And now I have what I want! To fight the Mizukage, and prove that the Kaguya are what makes Kirigakure strong!" With that crazy sentence, Kakou charged forward with his broad sword.

Yagura wasn't going to have any of it and quickly grabbed ahold of Kakou his massive chakra hand. Kakou struggled with all his might as Yagura squeezed him in his fist. With a bit more pressure, Kakou popped like a massive pimple. Blood, flesh, and bone splattered everywhere, covering the floor and Yagura with Kakou's blood. The blood quickly evaporated from the heat radiating off Yagura's chakra covered body.

Slowly, the liquid chakra began to recede back into Yagura's body before he was eventually back to his original form. Taking a look at the devastation he and the surrounding ninja had caused he sighed, "There…it's over."

-x-

Four Days Later

-x-

The funeral service for the nine ninja that were killed in action during what is now known as the Battle of Nekogigi Island was a slow one. But that was to be expected with the death of two members of the 7 Kiri Swordsman along with seven other Kiri Jonin, all of whom had families. Standing in the back row, he watched as the bodies of all nine ninja were burnt on a massive pyre. Naruto could see Haku and Zabuza standing up front, with Zabuza resting a hand on Haku's shoulder in comfort.

Looking at Kakashi he whispered, "When do we start the finishing negotiations?"

Not looking at the blonde next to him he said, "Tomorrow."

Nodding Naruto went back to paying his respects.

The funeral only lasted for another hour, with several staying behind to continue their mourning. Walking slowly with Kakashi and Kurenai Naruto said, "I can't believe the Third didn't come."

Kakashi shrugged, "He's been to countless funerals Naruto. I doubt he'd want to go to one unless he absolutely had to."

"Hey! Konoha ninja!"

Turning around they saw a man walking up to them. He was drunk.

"How dare you show your faces here! It was our people that died! Not yours!"

Kakashi let the man get in his face, and calmly replied, "I'm sorry for your loss Mr. Ringo.

Ameyuri Ringo's husband shoved Kakashi away, "Shut up! Why did she have to die?!" He slurred, "Why did she have to die, but you Konoha scum lived? Huh?!"

"Naoyuki stop."

The now named Naoyuki looked behind him to see Zabuza and Haku standing behind them. Fully turning around, he slurred, "Why? You know I'm right!" He said looking back at the Konoha group in anger.

Zabuza nodded, "Yeah you are." Naoyuki drunkenly smirked, "She didn't deserve to die. But to blame people who aren't responsible at all is spitting on her memory."

The drunken Naoyuki turned around to face Zabuza once again, "Shut up!" He screamed, throwing a fist a Zabuza's face.

The swordsman easily caught the punch, before sending a chop to Naoyuki's neck, knocking him out. With a huff, Zabuza lifted the knocked out drunk onto his shoulder, "I'll take him home I guess." Looking at Haku he said, "I'll see you later kid."

Haku nodded slowly, "Okay sensei."

Zabuza looked at Haku for a moment before looking at Naruto, "Hey Namikaze." Catching Naruto's attention, he continued, "Walk my student home." He didn't give Naruto or Haku time to respond as he body flickered away in a poof of smoke with Naoyuki in tow.

Haku gave an agitated sigh of frustration, "Whatever."

Looking at his teammates Naruto gave a confused shrug before walking off after the Ice Queen.

Kakashi gave a sigh of his own, "Come on Kurenai, let's go."

Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Are we really just going to let him wonder off alone like that? What if this is a trap or something?"

Looking at Kurenai with a gleam in his eye, "Trust me, you don't want to be there while they're doing what I think they're going to do."

It took a second for Kurenai to process what he said, "You don't really think that's what they're going to do, do you?! They're so young!"

Kakashi shrugged, "I would've when I was his age."

-x-

Chapter End

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Author's Note

Boom! Doooone! I'm kinda late with the update, but that was due to both school and a small case of writer's block. I had originally written the first half of this like a week and a half ago, but I just couldn't get out what I wanted. After a lot of mess ups and redos I think I've finally managed to get what I wanted. Now onto the chapter, I decided to give Zabuza a new bit of background, his home village. Now I know I didn't really do a lot fighting wise with Zabuza, I just couldn't figure out how to write him in the scenario I had him. Maybe if I can get him in a one on one fight with someone I can actually write out detailed fight, but we'll have to see. With Haku, I didn't have her use her Ice Mirrors because it would've been stupid to. That attack is for when you only have to worry about 1-3 people. But in here she'd have to worry about the people in the jutsu and the people outside. Onto her personality, I know in canon he's kind hearted. But for me, if she were raised in a village like Kiri, I feel like she wouldn't be as kind hearted as she was to where she completely refuses to kill. Before she only had the pressure of her master, here she had the pressure of her whole village. So she kills now. Some of you probably figured it out right away, but if not I'll clarify. It is Kimimaro Kaguya. The reason I made him like that was because he was never freed from Kaguya captivity, and if he was in isolation all his life, he'd be malnourished without the ability to act and speak like a regular human being. The reason I named him It, is because in this story that's all he was called, and if that's all he's called, even indirectly, then that's what he'll go by, It. Finally, Naruto and Haku will not have sex in the next chapter. Naruto's only 13, that's a bit too young. That was just Kakashi being Kakashi. So that's it. If you guys have any questions, please review and I'll try and answer in the next update.

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