Chapter 10: The demon's burial

First off I'm sorry I didn't get a bunch of reviews for chapter 9. Also thanks everyone for my 30,000 hit. Yay!!! I know it's not much but it still a milestone accomplishment. To be honest I predicted around that much only by the end of the story

None: Unfortunately I only got the die comment afterward but you'll be happy to see death was involved.

Austln: Thank you fore the review. What was really interesting was I woke up this morning and decided to check how many reviews I had before school. Anyway I had eleven but you were the only one I got for chapter 19.

RasenganFin: I was very happy when I got your multiple reviews and now to answer your question. Maybe what you said was rhetorical (I'm stuoid like that) but if it wasn't all he did was create a clone that was a better version of himself. HAHAHA man, my next idea on this is crazy. Also I don't trust anyone… Or more to the point I just don't want to haha. I'm mean.

Intelligo: Thank you so much. You are awesome. Thanks for the site.

Reaper: Thanks for the review but I have to admit I was a little glad when I got this review after I posted the other chapter I like Gai a lot he's cool and you would have killed him off.

abhishek20: Sure I'll tell you. Also thanks for asking me in review form.

Dargon Sheinto: Thank you for the review as well as answering my question. I think you will like the answer to his injury.

R-Krulle: Thank you very much for the review and positive feedback.

Sebastion: Thank you for the review and the vote. I take it you want naruhina. But my guess is you probably saw afterwards that the voting had ended. I do the same thing.

"Blah"-someone talking

'Blah'- someone thinking

"Blah"- Demon talking

'Blah'- Demon thinking

Here it is:

Shikamaru ran and found Gai sucking wind on the floor the Whirl pool defense no justu had stopped as soon as Zabuza died.

As soon as Gai recovered the two ninjas quickly picked up their fallen comrades and brought them back to where Naruto lay.

Unfortunately neither of the conscious ninja knew any medical jutsus so they made a camp and waited for Kurenai to wake up.

Gai was very frustrated with how useless he felt. I have to help Naruto but how… 'Kurenai would know what to do.' Gai thought anxiously awaiting the other to awake.

In the meantime Naruto lay on the floor shaking in pain. Every now in then Naruto would seem to stop before starting a more violent seizure than the last.

Shikamaru and Gai decided it would be better not to touch him even though both wanted to put him in a bed.

Shikamaru expression was furrowed yet he did not speak or question his leader knowing fully that Gai did not know anything more than him.

'Come on Naruto what's wrong with you.'

Three hours later

Neji and Tenten were awake and had made a fire both were quiet and were waiting for Hinata and Kurenia to recover. Lee too had awoken but since he had only been asleep no one really bothered with him.

The camp was silent for close to an hour before Tenten spoke up.

"Damn it! Gai-sensei we should go back to Konohana and request additional units and get medical assistance for Lee and Naruto."

Gai face contorted he agreed but it was out of the question.

Neji spoke to answer the question "We can't we aren't being paid for more than a D-rank mission. Also we can't afford to waste time. If the chunin exam was delayed it would be very embarrassing and would hurt the pride of Konoha."

Tenten looked at Neji her eyes grew opened as much as they could. "Neji to you even care about your teammates???"

"Of course but you know better than me that Naruto and especially Lee want us to keep going."

Everyone's attention turned to Kurenai who had just emerged from her tent.

"Sorry I got knocked out guy's, I hope everyone else is alright." She asked smiling at the ninja in front of her.

The genin looked down.

"Naruto is in terrible condition and you are the only one with any medical knowledge here do you think you could see what you could do?" Shikamaru asked.

Kurenai was already in the tent Gai had put up around Naruto. "I need Hinata now!" she shouted in anger. 'How could they not have done anything for him.'

Naruto was sweating fiercely but was only shivering.

"I'm sorry Kurenai-sensei but Hinata is still unconscious." Tenten responded quickly.

"Where is she?"

"Well she was actually in your tent."

"… Oh…" finally she came to realization that this wasn't the time to get embarrassed. "Wake her up now."

"Why???"

"Just do it! Kurenai said raising her voice. Tenten looked in wonder and suspicion at her female leader.

"NOW!!!" Kurenai screamed seeing Naruto beginning to shake faster and more powerfully.

Tenten ran over to Hinata's tent. Pushing open the tents sleeves she found Hinata sitting up rubbing her eyes.

"Hinata I'm glad to see your up. You're needed by Kurenai-sensei."

"Oh. Th-Thank you Tenten-san." Hinata mumbled slowly getting up. Hinata quickly walked outside only to see Shikamaru and Neji, Gai having gone to check on Lee, Shikamaru nodded his head toward the tent Kurenai was in.

Hinata nodded and walked swiftly into the tent and to her horror see Naruto flailing and whimpering in pain.

Kurenai looked sternly at her student. "Please, lend me your skills Hinata."

Hinata could only nod seeing Kurenai sadness.

"This is my first genin team's first mission. I can't let Naruto die."

Hinata concentrated and doing the signs opened her Byakugan. But the moment the veins could be seen distinctively on her head she let out a soft scream.

"What is it Hinata?" Kurenai asked urgently.

"Naruto's cha-chakra is ea-eating him."

"WHAT??!?!"

"To be honest I'm not rea-really sure what's happening b-but it seems to be slowly stopping."

Kurenai sighed in relief. "So… Just how long will it take for Naruto to recover?" she carefully questioned.

"A-at this rate he'll be up by to-tomorrow but we will only be able to go at a civilian pace." Hinata said queitly

"Hmmm… Hinata please bring Gai in here now." Kurenai told her student.

Hinata left and a minute later Gai sprinted in the tent creating a gust of wind that knocked over all the papers Kurenai had only just finished, neatly, organizing.

Kurenai just fought to control her temper and took deep breaths. Finally regaining her composure she bent down and along with Gai began picking up the papers.

Gai looked flustered and very serious but she disregarded the man.

"Gai I have been looking over our situation and have decided the best course of action would be for you to go get the list of Ninjas for the chunin exam or see if there are any coming from the land of water."

"Um well I don't think your decision included the young rogue ninja you fought being alive."

"Wh-What are you talking about??? How could he be alive he why didn't you kill him"

"I, thought I did but the gender confused girl has a very strong will to live." Gai said admiration in his voice.

"That changes everything! We were originally going to sail to cloud country but now it seems we should head back to Konoha. What do you think Gai?" Kurenai asked impatiently as he thought for a moment.

"Even though we will lose two days time going back it is our best option. But I say we let the power of youth decide. The ninja is in a coma but is breathing and the heartbeats are becoming stronger as well"

Kurenai raised an eye at him "Are you serious? We will give them more leadership opportunities in the future but right now we're supposed to teach them how to analyze situations and you know they would just choose to continue on."

"Maybe that's what we should do." Gai replied staying serious.

"Not with a dangerous criminal like him with us. How about this you go bring Haku back to Konoha and then catch back up."

Gai did his good guy pose and tried to ignore the fact going back meant telling the Hokage he has taken genin on what was now an A class mission for their first mission.

"Well I'll just get the list first then after I'll deliver the oppressor of youth to the jail cells of Kohona. I'll meet you in cloud country. Oh and keep an eye on that ninja" Gai then disappeared to accomplish his task.

Next morning

Naruto awoke and bolted up right. But as soon as he was sitting up he felt a pain slam into his body and cause him to fall back down.

Slowly he shifted to his side to see Hinata asleep on the ground. "Hinata" he said in a curious voice. "What are you doing here?" he smiled her face seemed so peaceful and content.

Not like the usual look of fear and nervousness. 'She's like a completely different person asleep. Better not wake her up.'

Hinata did not stir but did mumble something incoherent. Suddenly Naruto's nose picked up the scent of food but he was still too weak to distinguish what food was producing the smell.

Naruto a few seconds after smelling the aroma began to shake with hunger. Not wanting to wake Hinata he crawled out from under the blanket covering him and followed the scent collapsing once or twice as he exited the tent.

The stars still shown in the sky as dawn had not yet arrived. Naruto reckoned it was around 5 a.m. He stopped a second to take in the feeling he had.

A beautiful, pinkish, stream of color was beginning to streak it's way across the sky and a cool breeze rustled the blondes hair gently. As gently as Ryoku did sometimes when he thought the blonde boy was asleep.

It was the temperature that was perfect for a long sleeve shirt and pants, so you could run around without feeling hot, or could sit back and lay down feeling like you could lie there forever.

It was perfect. He sighed how something so tranquil could exist at a time when no one was awake to see it?

"I'm glad your up Naruto can I get you something to eat?" The red eyed jonin asked imensly pleased her student was up.

"Yes please." Naruto said weakly.

"Every one was worried about you Naruto, no one knew what was wrong." Kurenai said calmly while making breakfast.

Naruto only nodded lost in thought.

After eating a large breakfast in silence he got up. He still felt very hungry even though he had eaten two thousand calories in one sitting, but he knew his stomach couldn't handle any more food.

He then began his walk down to the place he had killed Zabuza.

Kurenai began to open her mouth but decided not to say anything and instead watched the solemn boy limp badly down the hill they were currently using as a base.

Soon he came across the broken body of Zabuza still unmoved from where he had struggled to get to. The man lay alone, Haku having been taken by Gai earlier that morning.

Naruto fell to one knee next to Zabuza. "I'm sorry for killing you Zabuza, but whatt have you done to me. Was it your sword? Or maybe just the guilt you have caused me wrecked me to this degree."

"In any case I never knew who you were but hopefully the story of your life was what you wanted. I have to go now but before I do I will leave you a parting gift for helping me reach another milestone on the road to becoming Hokage."

Naruto slowly reached over and grabbed Zabuza's sword then taking out a sealing scroll and forming the correct hand signs Naruto hid the sword in the scroll.

After putting the sword in his orange jacket he stood up. "Earth release: Death tomb enshrinement." Zabuza's body was quickly sucked under the earth and vanished from existence.

At the place above where Zabuza's head had been Naruto had found the perfect size rock for a grave stone and with a Kunai set to work carving in Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Mist.

Kurenai was worried. Naruto had returned a few hours later and was back to his normal self.

'How could he be smiling and acting like his goofy self when he was in the condition he was in?' She wondered watching Naruto building a fire with Lee who was now up as well.

Kurenai just shook her head trying to get rid of the questions bothering her.

'Why should I care that after Naruto lost half the muscle tissue in his body and after he killed his first ninja he go around like nothing had happened? He's alive and that's all that matters.'

She nodded and decided it didn't matter. If she couldn't understand it why should she be confused? 'Just let go.'

She fell back on her bag in her tent and watched the activity that was going on outside.

Naruto and Lee were hitting each others with logs they had taken from the pile of firewood.

Tenten was asking Hinata something which caused Hinata to blush brightly. While Neji sat watching the birds and Shikamaru was lazily watching the clouds slowly roll through the ever darkening sky.

Kurenai's trance was soon interrupted as shouts of "NARUTO!!!" were blazed into her skull.

Quickly rising she walked over to see Lee laying on the ground a large bump on his head while Naruto looked around innocently holding a broken log behind his back.

Sometimes Kurenai felt more like a babysitter than a teacher of ninja that would one day go on to kill many criminals.

After dinner the group packed every thing and set out to quickly pass through wave country.

Naruto and Lee were last in the line, behind Tenten, walking over the still water to the main land of water country.

And being in the back they were the last to reach the sandy coast of the main land and also last to see the huge amount of armed men in front of them. In front of the horde, stood a short man wearing all black.

"I don't know how a bunch of children killed Zabuza but it doesn't matter. You will die here! Men for each one of the brats you kill you get twice the money you were already getting. Now go"

The thugs excitement increased and with it the blood lust soared. The first man to charge strode to the shore wielding a chipped sword. He barely made it two feet before his legs were filled with shuriken from Tenten, Naruto, and Lee.

The others sprinted to the shore thinking of the money that would be theirs. The largest man as soon as he reached the ninjas raised a huge club in attempt to take them out in one hit

All the ninjas jumped backed except Neji who gracefully ducked his head in a spin and gently touched the man's heart.

The result was the giant staggering backwards, blood dripping down his chin before falling unconscious.

The men looked worriedly at Neji who had a smirk on his face to fit the craziest Hyuga. (Which as you all know he is)

"There are more of you than those children and women no less, are you really afraid?" Gato asked disgusted that the men would stop their duty protecting his operations.

The thugs lifted their weapons again but waited for the attack, not wanting to rush in only to die.

For ten seconds everyone was silent and all that could be heard was the wind whistling against the weapons and the shuffling of feet.

Then Naruto gathered his chakra "I'm not going to wait for these guys they're gonna get their asses kicked now. Taju kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Fifty clones raised kunais towards the men and then they charged.

Gato's body guard went wide eyed. One man dropped his sword and ran. A domino effect started and soon many of the other men dropped their weapons and ran.

"What are you doing get back here and kill them!" Gato screamed in desperation but his cries only made things worse and finally all the thugs had disappeared leaving Gato alone with seven shinobis.

"Ha I see you've passed my test." Gato explained while lifting his hands, defensively, up in front of him.

"You've proven yourselves to be worthy of being my bodyguard and will each be paid handsomely." Gato continued while slowly backing away.

Kurenai clenched her fist until blood could be seen rolling down her fingers. She was trying to remain in control trying to keep her composure in front of her students but… She was losing.

"Why do you think you can bide time with that lame excuse? You are going to die for the crimes you've committed." Kurenai spat her face had contorted upon recognizing the man.

"You better not pretend you don't know that Konohana has been trying to arrest you for years. You may have had protection before but now I will kill you!"

Before anyone of the genin could stop her she had dashed over the short man and grabbed him and lifted him up by the collar.

Sweat began to roll down Gato's face "Mercy please, I didn't do anything, it was those brutes"

"You never showed m brother any mercy when your men killed his group of chunin coming to arrest you. I-I saw the scene a-afterwards. I know you to-tor-tortured him and Ibiki said… He said you made is group watch as you cut him apart. And now I will avenge him."

"Me, no I never killed anyone it's a lie please let me go. I'll go to prison and due my sentence, but please spare me." Gato begged his hands clasped together in front of his face.

Kurenai closed her eyes to slow the flood of tears pouring out of them and reached to her bag of weapons.

Narutos POV

Naruto stood unable to move as his teacher lifted her Kunai with a trembling arm and cut the throat of mobster named Gato.

"Kurenai sensei?" he whispered using shunshin to reach his teacher as she collapsed.

"I-I don't kn-know what came over me. M-My brother… He wou-wouldn't have wanted...This." Kurenai choked out as her tears fell onto Naruto's arm.

Naruto was at a loss for what to do was he supposed to say something. Naruto sighed softly and hugged the older woman.

The rest of the group stared in shock at the scene before them. Their teacher sat crying her head buried in their teammates chest while the body of a villain lay eroding on the ground.

Slowly Kurenai stood up. 'I have to stop. It's just…'

Flashback

Kurenai and Asuma rushed to the site where anbu stood talking quietly while pointing to different spots. The spots they were pointing to were, of course, spots where blood had stained the ground.

Three bodies lay very dead on the ground while a third lay not very far off to the side. The fourth body was that of a girl. She was cut up very badly but she would live.

That's when Kurenai recognized who the girl was she was one of the chunin her brother had taken on his mission a few days ago.

Kurenai lifted her trembling hand to her mouth. Even though she couldn't tell who the bodies belonged to by looking at them she knew her brother was one of the dead. Himura was dead.

All of a sudden she felt weak and her body began to go limp, but before she began to fall she felt an arm wrap around her and pull her into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry." Asuma whispered sadly tears rolling down his face.

She opened her mouth but closed it not being able to think. 'This isn't any easier for him. Himura and Asuma have been…Had been best friends since they were in the Academy. My brother would not want me to be sad for him so I will honor his memory by not trying to forget him'

Kurenai hugged Asuma back and tried to maintain as much of her composure as she could.

Finally after what seemed like an hour she released her grip and Asuma followed.

Asuma quickly wiped his eyes which caused the area around his eyes to turn red. Kurenai on the other hand hadn't shed a tear. She stood stoically gazing at the burnt flesh of the only body the correct size to be her brother.

Asuma looked questioningly at his best friend's sister he knew a shinobi must always hide his or her emotions but still.

'Her brother was tortured. Even the best Anbu agent would shed a tear if this happened to them.'

Kurenai then took a deep breath and walked over to a medical anbu agent who was finishing an autopsy on the bodies. Kurenai tapped the shoulder of the rising man who turned around curious to know who was crazy enough to tap an ANBU agent on the shoulder.

"I was wondering if I could assist in taking my brothers body back to the village." She asked in a calm and collected voice.

"Of course," The man answered as if there was nothing wrong with the question (like do you actually want to carry the blackened corpse of your brother?), "But which one is your brother?"

"He's the tallest one." She said her voice cracking slightly as she reached down to stroke his charred face.

End Flashback

'Not once on the way back did I shed a tear. I haven't cried once for him until now… Why now when I am teaching students to lose their emotions?'

Kurenai immediately forced the tears current to ease and finally stop. Then she walked over to where the other genin stood Naruto following close behind. Her face though red was much calmer.

"Are you alright sensei?" Hinata asked, saliently not stuttering.

Kurenai smiled back at her student who seemed completely angelically focused on making sure her teacher was alright.

"Yes… I'm fine." Kurenai paused for one last time to collect herself and her thoughts and take a breath. "Now we must head to the Cloud side dock, which is approximately five miles north-east from here."

"Alright!" Naruto shouted "Then we'll get to fight some more enemies and see my friends from cloud country.

"Yosh the youthful spirit here is returning!" Lee shouted, "I felt sick in the atmosphere a few minutes ag-"

Before Lee could finish his line Tenten had quickly stopped him with a punch to the back of the head.

Neji nodded approvingly at Tenten's decision and threw Lee over his shoulder.

Shikamaru sighed 'How the mood changes when you're with these people.' He just began to run after the other ninjas into the heart of wave country.

Ten minutes later

After walking awkwardly (mainly due to the considerable amount of stares they were receiving) through the town for food and in Naruto's case sending clones out to find ramen the ninja's luck had barely held out.

All the konoha ninja sat at a booth in the small sushi stand. This shop happened to be the only food stand in the village, on the other hand the food was great, and the only person not eating the food was Naruto.

He sat at the end of the row of chairs his head propped up with his right arm and his expression was killing Hinata.

"You kn-know Naruto there are other great foods besides ramen." Hinata said as nicely as she could.

Naruto just scowled, "Well I'm going for a walk."

Tenten just shrugged and continued eating while Neji shook his head. Of course the reason Neji shook his head was probably more to Lee who had fallen off the chair, his face extremely red and eyes spinning, "Wow… So good" he managed to choke out.

"What did he eat?" Kurenai asked in annoyance.

"He tried to eat this place's most spicy dish in one bite, to prove how youthful he was." Shikamaru replied his head resting in his folded arms. Then with a sigh he shifted his head and blocked out the annoying ruckus that was lee.

Naruto's POV

Naruto was exploring the dirty streets and broken buildings when he heard a shout.

"Stop! Help me, somebody!" The voice which Naruto could tell was a woman's was being muffled to a volume only a trained ninja could here and luckily Naruto heard it.

Sprinting at a speed no civilian could see he followed the muffled cries until he reached a small but well maintained house.

With a powerful kick off the ground Naruto cleared the house and landed in front of three men who were drag away a pretty woman and trying to get her to shut up.

The black haired woman had bruised all over her face from where the men had hit her. She was conscious but barely.

'These bastards are the cowards who ran away from us when Gato ordered them to attack. I'll end their worthless lives.'

"What are you doing." Naruto said the fierceness in his voice had the rip like tone of skin being cut with a dull blade.

The men faces fell a bit but they collected themselves.

"Hey kid I suggest you run back home to your friends they aren't here to protect you." The one holding the woman said while backing away slowly.

"I am not going to waste my time listening to you pieces of trash." Naruto said dashing towards them.

Naruto threw the first man he got to and threw him to the ground. Then with lightning speed he jerked the man's arm back till the arm's elbow rested above his head. With the mans arm sufficiently broken he turned to the next guy who was heavily built.

The man raised his staff defensively only to watch the blonde headed ninja disappear. He was knocked unconscious before he could realize Naruto was behind him. Finally Naruto gaze was fixed upon the man holding the woman

Hesitantly the man let go of the beaten woman but it was too late. Naruto kneed the man in the stomach and pulled back his arm to finish him off.

Snap

Naruto's eye shot completely open and grew stiff and rigid. Slowly he released the man's neck and sank next to the woman.

The man still to scared to do anything usefully like take Naruto down slowly backed away in a sitting position before getting up turning around and running.

"What's with my body?" Naruto asked as his arm began to burn. He valiantly fought the urge to cry and scream out.

Sending all his chakra out of his arm Naruto was able to rise. His limp right arm dangled pathetically as he threw the woman over his shoulder and walked towards the house.

Naruto opened the door to the house to see a small child in a hat poke his head out from behind a wall.

"Mom?" he said tears filling his eyes. He rushed to her "Mom!!".

Naruto smiled at the kid. "Hello" the blonde said half heartedly.

The boy looked suspiciously at Naruto. Thank you for saving my mom… But I'm not allowed to talk to strangers. So I'll get my grandpa. Ok?" the boy asked.

Naruto nodded "That would be fine."

"Grandpa there's a funny looking guy in the house."

Naruto raised his good arm "What the hell brat!! How can you say that to a hero?"

Inari shot naruto an angry look and Naruto just shook it off.

"Oh Inari I was just finishing my discussion with my friend here." Naruto turned to see the masked man.

"Hello Naruto."