Naruto did the shadow clone hand seal and two shadow clones popped up behind, they ran a bit before sitting down in a meditating position. Naruto slowly bit his thumb while staring down at Zabuza.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu" Called Naruto before slamming his palm no the ground.
Both Tatsu and Kichi didn't ask any questions and instead got into battle position, which was on Naruto's shoulders.
"Oh my... Never thought i'd see a boy summon toads" Spoke Zabuza a bit impressed, the toads was a very honorable summoning animal. And even being a summoner is impressive, not even Zabuza had any kind of summon.
"Yogo, you take the girl, or boy, whatever it is!" Instructed Naruto. Yogo ran to the other side of the bridge, follow by the girl, or boy...
"Ehh Naruto, our skin is kinda itchy..." Whined Kichi. 'why? He was itchy before aswell...'
"Hahaha... Its because this water is not fresh water, its salt. You froggies don't belong here!" Said Zabuza as he suddenly rushed towards Naruto.
Naruto's taijutsu style was not , to be fast, deception and neither was it to dodge. It was to deflect hits and punch hard. Deflect and strike. Naruto didn't strike fast but it was very powerful hits, though without sage mode his strenght was only around chunin. So without sage mode he was pretty much scewed in Taijutsu, so that made Genjutsu and Ninjutsu avaliable. But as he sucked at Genjutsu he settled for Ninjutsu. It was risky but maybe he would have to try the swamp? But Zabuza was a swordman, they move around all the time. The toads realized they would be useless in this fight and teleported back. Kichi spent around 3 days with itchy skin from the last time, he didn't wanna be here for long.
Naruto settled for running around, making time for his sage mode to finally activate. He crouched, jumped and rolled to avoid Zabuza's hits. He was living up to his nickname 'demon of the hidden mist' thought Naruto grimly. After Naruto had run around a bit, he decided to be unpredictable. Precisely after Zabuza striked horizontally Naruto stopped running and went turned around and jumped into Zabuza, inside his personal bubble Zabuza's sword was just clumsy and useless. Naruto settled for a punch on his jaw before being kicked away.
"That tickles." Said Zabuza with a grin.
Though Naruto knew he didn't strike very hard, it stil angered him when people pointed it out.
"Well lets take it to another level if that's how you feel." Naruto ran towards Zabuza. Zabuza only did a few handsigns. Even though Naruto saw Zabuza do hand signs he thought of what to expect, but a stream of water drilling into his body wasn't one of them. Naruto breathed heavily, damn, who knew water could hurt so much, actully, he did. He looked towards Zabuza who was grinning. Suddenly the mist returned.
"I've spent alot of time in this mist." Spoke Zabuza, who was heard from all angles around Naruto. Naruto got a bit freaked out and tensed, being armed with his hands in a defensive manner.
"I got so many possible places to cut you from." Spoke Zabuza, before he erupted in laughter. Naruto only got more cautious/scared. He had to get sage mode soon. Suddenly Naruto heard something swish in the air, he tried to move away but it cut Naruto's abdoment. Another cut on his shoulder, but it was only graced. Naruto crouched under one swing. He was slashed on his leg, pretty deep. He screamed out in pain. Just as he was unprepared, Zabuza slashed with his broad sword horizontally but Naruto suddenly become very fast and crouched under it, jumping straight at Zabuza and delivering a right punch. And this one was powerful as Zabuza flew many meters before brutally colliding with a wall on the bridge.
"So strong..." Murmored Zabuza. Naruto got sage mode in the time, otherwise he'd be shark food.
Naruto now had a pretty good idea as to where Zabuza made his way over to him.
Zabuza must have heard him as he got up from the broken down wall and swished to where Naruto was. Hi's arm got cut, Naruto didn't care as of right now as he pummeled forward, intent on breaking some bones. And he did just that. He got a punch on Zabuza's arm, rendering it useless. After that he got kicked away, but it didn't stop there are Naruto was back on the chase. He jumped over the broad sword and just as he was about to punch he felt pain in both his arm and leg, rendering him frozen for a second. And that was all it took as Zabuza kicked his leg, making him collide brutally to the hard and solid ground. Naruto's wounds were taking a beating, he formed a plan inside his head, focus on Zabuza's other arm. Or legs...
Zabuza broke out in a weird maniac laughter. "You're pretty good kid, but i'll finish this right now." Called Zabuza as he began to pace slowly at first but eventually running towards Naruto. Naruto quickly formed a rasengan in the mist, but Zabuza must have probably felt the chakra being used. Naruto ran towards Zabuza, everything felt like slowmotion right now.
Naruto crouched down on the floor, intent on avoiding the blade, no such luck as Zabuza aimed lower and lower the further the swing went. Naruto got cut, a long cut, from shoulder to shoulder, but he managed to penetrate Zabuza's inner circle and swiped his Rasengan into Zabuza's chest. Zabuza exploaded back as soon as it hit. He collided with a wall, brutally hard as he coughed out mass amounts of blood. 'this kid brings me to this?'
The mist began to sparse, Zabuza thought it was useless, the kid semeed to know where he was anyway. Naruto ran towards Zabuza intent on finishing him. Zabuza just sat there, a small smile on his face. He was so hurt. Naruto created a rasengan in his right hand, just as he was about to penetrate Zabuza with the mass chakra, the other figure appeared, apparently a female, they locked eyes, then came the blow. She flew in a weird angle, Thought Naruto grimly, that girl would probably be dead after that. Zabuza now had a small frown on his face, though nothing the kid would see.
Naruto was unsure what to do now, Zabuza seemed to be no harm, but maybe he was faking? Nah, he would have really died if that girl didn't take the blow.
"Do you not care that she just died?" Asked Naruto, curious. Naruto dropped a kunai at his feet. Zabuza would die sooner or later, Naruto dropped it if he wanted it to go over faster. Although he didn't get an answer he settled for running over to Yogo.
xxxx
Yogo was a big mess, a big bloody mess. He coughed out blood everytime he coughed, his limbs hurting with such a pain he hadn't felt before. His chest trying to pump blood, doing it at such a fast pace Yogo actully hurt everytime it moved upwards.
This was the scene Naruto saw. He worriedly moved over to Yogo. He put his hands over him to try to heal him, Yogo painfully pushed them away. Naruto was confused.
"Let me... go to my parents... please." And yet another bloody cough. Naruto grimly nodded.
They sat in silence for a while, until Yogo asked a question Naruto hadn't been expecting.
"You're Naruto Uzu...Uzumaki, right?" Naruto just nodded sadly.
Yogo chuckled for a bit before it turned around and he coughed up alot of blood.
"Who knew... that the boy... i hated... would become m..." Said Yogo before another aggressive set of coughs interrupted him.
"Would become?" Asked Naruto.
Yogo shut his eyes, intent on sleeping.
"My best... friend." Spoke Yogo slowly and quietly before his pulse stopped. But he stil had a small smile on his face. Yogo was no more...
Naruto started actully crying a bit. He heard some ruckus from behind... It was a bunch of bandits. Naruto was fucking exhausted...
Zabuza seemed to move. He picked the kunai up with his mouth, no doubt his hands were in a terrible state right now.
He slowly picked himself up, moving towards the little man, Gato standing there mocking him. His pace going faster and faster until he was running, kunai in his mouth. Gato, running to the back of the bandits, Zabuza was following him, taking kicks and punches on his way over, he killed a few but no way would he be able to kill them all. Finally Zabuza took the remaining power and ran with all his might and managed to penetrate his kunai into Gato. Gato was shocked, as was the bandits. Naruto allowed a small smile to grace his face.
xxxx
Naruto took care of the bandits. Zabuza was determined to die where the girl was currently lying. But as his power was fading quite fast he was beginning to lose hope, but Naruto knew what he wanted and helped the guy. Zabuza didn't say anything but he was really thankful for being carried over to where the girl was currently lying.
"My sword..." Said Zabuza as he was finally put down to the ground. In the end he decided to spare his energy for Haku.
Zabuza stayed quiet, staring up into the sky.
"Haku, though i didn't say anything... you were a true friend." Said Zabuza in a whisper. 'hmm, so he had a heart deep inside...'
"Zabuza, the sword?" Asked Naruto. Zabuza had closed his eyes, allowing the peaceful everlasting sleep to take him in. It felt so nice, All the pain dissapearing, a light that warms up your whole body.
Tazuna and all the other workers that finally dared show themself, as there was no more sound came to the sight of hundreds of dead people. Some threw up, some got lightheaded and some prayed. Tazuna walked up to Naruto. Who was sitting staring at Zabuza. He winced inwardly at all the dead bodies, and the blood, god, the blood was evrywhere. Naruto finally lied down, he was exhausted, both mentally and physically. Not only that he was quite hurt aswell. He doubted he would die if he closed his eyes, but he didn't wanna risk it.
"Gato is dead." Spoke Naruto after a while. Tazuna just nodded, allowing a small smile grace his lips. Even if it was horrible that all these men were dead, most if not all were bandits.
"Though Yogo didn't make it..." Said Naruto, Tazuna didn't respond.
"Although i am a little sad... i am stil quite proud over what Yogo and i did." Spoke Naruto, staring up into the beatiful sky, the sun shining with a warmthness, Naruto couldn't help but feel good. (Outro with the camera shifting into the sky)
xxxx
Naruto had taken care of the broad sword, he didn't really know what to do with it. Anyhow, Naruto didn't wanna just keep this sword, it was very good and should be used. He would have to find a worthy wielder for it.
Naruto picked up the dead body of Yogo, he had found a perfect place for the burial. It was on a cliff, having a great view of both the village and the water. It looked really beatiful. He had also wanted the Zabuza and Zabuza's apprentice to be near this spot. It was a very good spot. Jiraiya used to always talk philosphicaly to Naruto, and he used to repeat this one phrase quite often. The true measure of a shinobi is not how he lives but how he dies. It's not what they do in life, but what they did before dying that proves their worth... Do well in remember that Naruto.
Naruto couldn't help but smile when that phrase came into his mind, he looked down upon the grave where he just put Yogo's lifeless body into. There were three graves, side by side. The first one was for Yogo, second for Zabuza and third for his apprentice, Haku.
Naruto stayed at the burial site for a while, just sitting there.
xxxx
Meanwhile below Konoha
A certain old man was thinking of a problem, this problem revolved around a certain jinchuuriki. He had a cane by his side, part of his head bandaged and an x-shaped scar on his chin. He did not know what to do about this boy... Although he could probably assasinate him, that would only make matters worse. If he imprisoned him, it would get consequenses, such as Jiraiya. Maybe if he could lure the boy back to the village...
Danzo rubbed his chin, before letting a small smile grace his face.
"Orders." Spoke Danzo and almost immediately came one of his loyal insubortinates and sat in a submissive manner, ready to take whatever order was thrown his way.
"Put a bounty on the a certain Uzumaki Naruto, spread his bounty throughout the Nations." Ordered Danzo and the masked nin was gone.
xxxx
Naruto had gone and said goodbyes to his host family. It was a little emotional, Inari even cried. Naruto left a happy village, sword strapped on his back. His next mission was to find a wothy wielder of the sword. It was one of the 7 legendary swords, maybe he should go to Kiri to find that someone? He decided against it, he wouldn't get involved in a civil war. Maybe go to Kumo or Iwa... it sounded reasonable. He could atleast go to earth country to try and gather some earth jutsu's. Well, earth or lightning it is!
The journey would take anywhere between a month or two, depending on his pace. Naruto though had no worries about time, and therefore walked. It was really peaceful. When thinking back he could really tell how much the climate changed, first forests, than the grassy meadows. Naruto didn't really take the normal paths, he didn't really wanna be seen as a threat with his big swords strapped on his back. This however, resulted in him getting lost. Alot. The only thing Naruto managed to figure out was where he was, which seemed to be grass country, thinking about all the grass. After many days of walking and sleeping, and some occasional training, he seemed to arrive at some sort of village. It was nothing to shabby, even at this time in the evening it was alot of life. It seems there was a celebration.
Naruto entered the village, most people didn't notice him. He just wanted to find an inn to spend the night. He wanted to sleep in a nice and comfortable bed for once! He smiled at the celebrations while he walked past. Some people got a bit scared of his sword, but Naruto only put his hand up. That managed to calm them down.
Naruto grunted in satisfaction as he finally arrived at an bar, but it rented out rooms.
He entered and saw it seemed to be quite alot of thugs. They looked around to see who had the balls to enter this inn. Naruto however had a big swords strapped on his back, so he looked a bit intimidating.
He walked up to a guy serving drinks.
"Id like a room." Said Naruto. The guy turned around and took a key of the wall.
"100 ryu." Said the man, making no small talk. Not that Naruto minded, he seemed a bit thuggish aswell.
Naruto took up his favorite toad, who he could always trust, Gama-chan. He payed the bartender for the key and went upstairs.
He walked a long corridor, noticing alot of people with a scimitar or sword. Though they didn't look like they would hurt anybody right now, he tried to be careful. All he wanted was to just sleep until morning and get out of this town. It was weird, there was celebrations outside but inside this inn there was none of that, just bandits and thugs drinking. Ohwell, aslong as they dont hurt anybody he was fine with it. Just as he pushed the key into the lock on his door, he noticed something behind him. It was a man with both a mustache and a beard. He had a iwa plate on some weird kind of hat/headband. They locked eyes for a second before Naruto twisted the key.
"Wait up." Said the man as Naruto was just about to enter. Naruto looked over his shoulder to see what the man wanted.
"What?" Asked Naruto.
"I said wait up." Said the man, walking towards Naruto. Naruto didn't think it would be a good idea to stand to close to a iwa shinobi. He took a step back into his room. The man followed Naruto inside and closed the door. He motioned towards the bed. Naruto relectantly did as told. This time the man stayed a few meters away.
"What is a Konoha jinchuuriki doing out here?" Asked the man while inspecting both Naruto and the big broad sword. Though Naruto didn't really fear this man from the begining. But now... how could he have known that?
"Who said im Konoha's jinchuuriki?" Asked Naruto. The man merely chuckled.
"Feisty one, huh? Well, im number four." Stated the man, Naruto looked confused.
"Your a jinchuuriki?" Asked Naruto
"I am." Said the man.
"Why are you telling me this?" Asked Naruto scepticly.
"It is not often you get to meet one another." Replied the man easily. Naruto was quiet for a while.
"What's your name?" Asked Naruto after a while of silence.
"My name's Rōshi."
"I see, my Name's Uzumaki Naruto." Introduced Naruto. The man smiled broadly.
"Well Naruto, what is a young boy such as yourself doing out here, long away from home?" Asked Rōshi. Naruto scowled a bit.
"Im a missing-nin. I didn't wanna be stuck in Konoha."
Rōshi laughed. This made Naruto's scowl turn into a frown. Finally Rōshi managed to calm down a bit.
"That's oddly foolish. A jinchuuriki is not gonna be left to be a missing-nin. How you managed to come all the way here is a miracle." Said the man.
"What are you doing all the way in grass country?" Asked Naruto.
"Well, i have permition to walk freely all over Earth country. But i wanted to explore in Grass aswell, so i went here unoticed." Explained the man. It was silent for a while.
"That sword, its almost as long as you. Why would you have that?" Asked Rōshi. Naruto was not sure what to tell him.
"Its a good sword. I wanted to give it to somebody who deserves it." The man blinked in surprise.
"And you don't?" Naruto grinned sheepishly while scratching the back of his head.
"I don't even know how to use a sword, nevermind a broad sword like this."
"Maybe when your older." Said the man with a small smile gracing his face.
"I doubt it." The man didn't say anything.
"So, what have you been doing the last few years?" Asked Naruto.
"Life for us isn't like normal people. I dont meet many people a year. I live in the wild for most of the time. Other than that i just wander the Earth country. Its not what most people would want for life, but for me its enough." Said Rōshi.
"Why not do something else for a change? Maybe get a girlfriend, have a child and live happily ever after!"
Rōshi smiled with a light chuckle.
"Its not that easy. Im a jinchuuriki, im not supposed to get bonds. I tried once and she got assasinated. We are human sacrifices, no bonds."
Naruto got really surprised. "What?! And you're just accepting it like a fact?! Your living in denial old man!" Shouted Naruto in outrage.
"Your a missing-nin, plus a jinchuuriki, if anybody should understand that its you." Concluded Rōshi.
"PFFT, no way!" Said Naruto stubbornly with a frown on his face. This made Rōshi smile, yet again. He was so stubborn, it reminded him of Ōnoki.
"What are you smiling at?!" Shouted Naruto.
Now that smile turned upside down.
"Am i not allowed to smile?" Spoke Rōshi.
"Well, your doing so even when there is no joke or funny thing involved, its kinda creepy ya know?" Asked Naruto with a smile.
"Your smiling right now! And nothing funny happened" Shouted Rōshi. This in turn made Naruto smile even more until he started laughing. Rōshi in turn also laughed a bit and soon both were laughing.
xxxx
Naruto woke up in his bed. He and this Rōshi had talked quite a long time yesterday. Aparently he was heading back tomorrow. Naruto had asked if he could join him. Rōshi had accepted. One thing Naruto had noticed was that Rōshi was stubborn, incredibly. Naruto had complained that he was to stubborn but he denied it with his stubborn nature...
Naruto made his way to Rōshi room. He knocked. He knocked twice. And he slammed the door in.
This made Rōshi jump out of bed thinking there was an assasin in the room.
"Yo." Said Naruto, standing by the door waving with one arm. Rōshi just frowned. Maybe he had made a misstake letting him come along...
End of chapter.
Soooo, we met another jinchuuriki. This chapter was a little short, but its fine, hopefully it was not to boring :X
Also im sorry if i did a bad job with Yogo dying, i don't really know how people react when they are about to die.