A/N: Hey guys I'm back with another chapter for my awesome readers. I am sorry that it has taken so long to do this, but we had a horrible storm out here and a lot of things got destroyed and we ended up losing water and power. That, of course, meant I had no wifi. Enough about my problems though, let's get to the story!
Time skip 5 days
The bridge has been getting built with little to no problems. My team and I have only had to fight a couple of bandits and about three assassins over the course of the week. Today, Kakashi-Sensei is supposed to be accompanying us. As I was sitting outside waiting for lunch, a small raven that I recognized flew right down in front of me.
"Hello Rin. Would you like a little bit of apple or something?" I asked with a smile. "Sadly Lady Raven, this isn't a friendly visit. Shadow wanted me to inform you that since you sent Jade to the assassin hideout, she has been investigating for days in case something happens. After a few days, a small man showed up and said his name was Gato and that he was there to see your uncle. Since then, she has been observing him closely."
"What did Jade find out? I assume she overheard something important if Shadow felt it necessary to have his swiftest family member report it to me." I asked, ready to run inside and tell the others as soon as I heard what had happened. "Apparently she overheard Gato paying off another group of assassins. He is planning to double-cross Zabuza because he feels that Zabuza is acting strange. He feels as if he is being set up. He plans to have Zabuza finish you, Tazuna and your team off. After he does so, he plans to have the group of new assassins kill Zabuza, Haku and the other bridge builders." Rin reported.
"Thank you for telling me. Can you do me a favor? Please fly to the hideout and tell Uncle Zabuza and Haku what you just told me. They have a right to know that they are about to be double-crossed. Tell them to be at the bridge in about 2 hours and not to be late." I ordered. "Yes ma'am." Rin said with a bow. In the blink of an eye, he was out of sight.
I then ran inside and told the others what I had just been told. "Well, it's a good thing your uncle and cousin have agreed to help us. If they hadn't, they would have a lot more than a group of assassins to worry about. Fortunately, they are strong allies. As for us, you kids better eat as much as you can. We are all gonna need our strength for the battle we have in store for us today." Kakashi said.
"What's the point in even trying? Gato and his men are going to win and kill you all anyway. It's pointless to try and be heroes. Granddad, just call off the construction now before you and all those innocent people get killed." Tazuna's grandson, Inari, pouted. "Why don't you quit being a whinny little brat already? A true ninja laughs at danger. Besides, you really think a fat short guy with a big ego and a couple of nimrods are gonna stop two jinchuuriki, the copy ninja of The Leaf, a shadow master, the demon of The Mist, and a purebred assassin from breathing and making sure this bridge is built? You are dead wrong if you think that! Believe it!" Naruto snapped angrily.
"Naruto, knock it off! He is just a little kid! He doesn't understand everything that's going on!" I shouted at my brother. "Yes I do! I know way more than what you think I do! I suppose you guys wouldn't understand. You guys have never been alone and had people turn their backs on you and look at you like a freak!"Inari said with tears in his eyes. Naruto and I then looked at each other and put our heads down. "Actually brat, you would be surprised. I spent most of my life with no friends and no family when I was younger. Everyone looked at me like I was a monster all because of the demon locked inside me." Naruto said holding back tears.
"I would know too kid. My mother left when I was 3. My older sister left when I was 4. My father was nothing but an abusive man who would lock me in a cell and starve me when I did something he didn't like. I only had one person to protect me." I said with a tear streaming down my cheek. "Don't you dare, ever say we don't understand. My brother and I, of all people, understand. We had nothing handed to us. We had to work hard to get to where we are! You think Naruto and I had it easy? You think we made it here by crying and thinking that the impossible is to be feared and gave up on? We pushed through everything! If you decide to sit around and be a baby about everything, then go ahead. Don't expect to get anywhere in life if you do though." I said angrily.
Shikamaru and Kakashi looked at each other and gave each other an understanding look. "Come on Raven; let's get you out of here." Shikamaru said. "No, I'm okay." I said wiping away tears. "Babe, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. Which way are we gonna go?" He said warningly. I looked over and noticed Kakashi giving Naruto the same speech. I made it clear it was going to have to be the hard way.
"Alright fine, you asked for it. Ninja Art: Shadow possession jutsu." Shikamaru then made me go with him outside. He made me walk with him to a river and released his hold on me. I then collapsed and started crying. Shikamaru walked toward me and held me. I buried my face in his chest and let out all the tears I had locked up inside for the sake of the mission. He then pulled me in close and tight and started stroking my middle back length red and black streaked hair that I had up in a ponytail.
"Shhh…it's okay baby. You are safe. No one is going to hurt you anymore. If anyone wants to hurt you, I promise they will have to go through me first." We then sat there like that for a long while. I felt like a little kid again. I felt like I was back to all those times when my dad would hurt me and Kabuto would hold me and tell me everything would be okay.
Time skip 1 hour
Shikamaru and I walked back to the house. When we got there, we saw Kakashi doing damage control and talking to the kid. When Shikamaru and I entered the house, we noticed lunch had been made and Naruto had dug in without us. "Well nice to see your feeling better." I said with a smirk. "Yeah well, Kakashi calmed me down and had me do some training to take my mind off of it. After that, I came back and saw that Kakashi was eating lunch and I dove in." Naruto stated with a grin.
We sat and ate for about a half hour then took off toward the bridge. By the time we got there, Zabuza was supposed to be there but never showed. After about 15 minutes, a group of assassins and a short, plump man with glasses who I assumed was Gato. "So you're the group of brats that have taken down all the people I've sent after that man. I don't see what the fuss is about. You guys are just little kids that probably don't even know how to fight all that well. Hell, I bet your leader did most of fighting." Gato chuckled.
The group of men erupted with laughter as well. "That's it, he's going down. Believe it!" Naruto said angrily. "Actually kid, Haku and I got this. Since I can see you have a problem with this joker, however, you can be the one to finish him off." A voice said behind us. "How nice of you to join us Uncle Zabuza." I said with a smirk. "Sorry for making you wait. We decided to check on the bridge builder's family on the way here and had to do a little fighting." Haku said.
"Better late than never." I replied. "So Raven, wanna help us out for old times' sake?" Zabuza said. "Certainly." I said with an evil smirk. Within a half hour, we had the whole group dead and gone. The only person left was Gato. "Well Naruto, your time to shine you want someone to hold him for ya or do you want to get him your own way?" I asked. "If he tries to run, Shikamaru I want you to catch him." He replied with an evil smirk.
"I love when he turns evil." I thought to myself. Naruto then took out his katana and smeared his blood on the blade. The blade then gave off a red aura. I was impressed and also proud that he wanted to go for the overkill. "I really have corrupted him. Maybe he can help with my mission eventually. Then again, probably wouldn't be too smart to try and recruit him. He may turn me in and/or kill me." I thought to myself.
Naturally, Gato was a coward and tried to run. That's when Shikamaru stopped him with his shadow possession. "Hey Kakashi, you wanna do a team up and help take this guy out? That way, we can all have done something." Naruto said with a smile. "I've got just the thing." Kakashi said. All of a sudden, Kakashi's hand was holding a bunch of chakra and it sounded like a bunch of birds chirping. It looked like lightning.
"Lightning blade!" Kakashi said. He and Naruto then began to charge Gato. Kakashi hit him in the stomach and Naruto chopped off his head. "Not bad kid." Zabuza said with an obvious smirk. "You really do have yourself one hell of a team." Zabuza said, seemingly impressed. "Thanks. Soon you will too Uncle Zabuza." I said with a smile.
Time skip 2 weeks
The bridge is finally finished. Zabuza and Haku have been helping us guard the workers for the remainder of the time. Haku and Naruto have been seen together a lot. I can tell Haku likes him. "I guess when we get home; I'll have to work my magic." I thought happily. We are getting ready to leave now. "Thank you all for helping the village regain their confidence. They are now filled with life and are brave warriors again. I haven't seen this since Inari's father was alive." Tazuna said. "No problem. We better get going." Kakashi said.
When we got to the bridge, the whole village was there to see us off. "Ya know Tazuna; we still need to name the bridge." One of the villagers said. "How about The Great Naruto Bridge?" said Tazuna. "After all, he is the one that killed Gato." "Yeah but we all put in effort. All I did was kill a guy. Zabuza, Haku, and Raven killed most the group of the assassins and Shikamaru and Kakashi helped me kill the guy. Wouldn't be fair if I got all the credit. How about The Great Ninja Bridge?" Naruto said. The crowd erupted in agreement. I then smiled and turned around. "Okay team, let's go home."
A/N: I hope you guys liked this chapter. I personally don't think it is one of my best, but I am still happy with it. I am so happy that I have such loyal readers. I will have the next chapter up whenever I have time to do it. Thank you guys so much for your support. Until next time, cya!