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AN. I had a lot of fun with this chapter and I hope you enjoy it.

Please review. I love hearing from you!

AveonThorn

Wave Arc

Chapter 10

How to save a life and when to let go

The mission office was quiet except for the shuffling of papers and the occasional cough. Sarutobi shuffled through the versus mission requests before him. The stack of papers mocked him as it seemed to never shrink. He stamped the top page and placed it to the side, then began to read through the next one.

An escort request of one Tazuna, a master bridge-builder, to the Land of Waves. Simple enough. A C-ranking would do as stated on the paper. 'Tazuna.' The old Hokage scratched his grey-whiskered chin. 'Why does that name sound familiar?' A moment passed before he remembered. 'He's the one that Naru-Chan mentioned.'

The girl had used their already established routine to give him more information about future advents. She used small scraps of paper for the messages, slipping them onto his person with a hug or placed them on his desk as she moved about his office. She didn't want to raise any suspicion, even among his ANBU guards. And having too many private meetings with an ostracized child would be suspicious. The first time he read one of the papers he was surprised to see it disintegrate into dust the moment his eyes left the written words.

Among the many bits of info, the girl had stated that it was important that her team was sent on the upcoming mission escorting Tazuna-Jiji. Sarutobi sat back in his chair as he brought his pipe to his lips, needing its calming effects, for the man felt slightly overwhelmed.

After all of the words spoken and information shared, it was this that killed any doubts he had of the girl's claims. Her proof in time, so to speak. He looked up at the large clock on the wall and sighed, gaining a few tired looks from the others in the office.

Kakashi had already come by to pick up two D-ranks that morning and should be reporting in with his team within the hour. With another sigh, the Hokage stamped the request and set it aside. Hopefully, Naruto won't get herself into too much trouble with this one.

What was he thinking? Of course, she will.


Tazuna Jiji was as drunk as the first time she'd meet him. Of course, this was the first time, technically. He was also just as rude. Sure, she was small but he didn't have to say it so loudly. Naruto pouted and crossed her arms as she watched the old bridge builder take another swig from his sake bottle. She could see the anxiety behind his alcohol-hazed eyes.

How could the others not?

She knew his lie and she knew that the only way he could continue on with it was to drink himself into a stupor. But that was no excuse for insulting her and her team! She narrowed her eyes at another one of his slurred comments before a grin graced her lips. The liquid slashed as Tazuna unsteadily moved the bottle to his chapped lips again. With the flick of a finger, she made a small blade of wind chakra and shattered the sake bottle.

The smell of the cheap alcohol filled the room.

Sakura covered her nose as she complained. And Sasuke noted a few of the older ninja in the room looking warily at Naruto though there was no sign that the loser had done anything except for the triumphant glint in the blonde's eyes.

The sound of a throat being cleared brought everyone's attention back to the Hokage. The village leader held his aged fist to his mouth, not only to cover a cough but to hide his smile. He sent Naruto a quick glance before turning to Kakashi. "Well then, here is the mission scroll. I expect your team to report at the east gate in the morning. Six sharp."

The silver-haired jonin stepped up to the mission desk and retrieved the scroll, tucking it into one of the many pockets on his olive green vest. "Well, team, you heard the Hokage. Go home and pack for a couple weeks on the road… but keep it light." He then turned to their client. "Tomorrow then." With a lazy wave, Kakashi left.

Sasuke left in a huff after their sensei and, of course, Sakura followed closely behind. The room fell into silence as most of the occupants began to continue their work of reviewing and sorting requests. Naruto glanced over to her former sensei. The academy teacher was currently lost in his own little world as he pouted.

He had objected Team Seven's first C rank mission when it was brought up only twenty minutes before. He had stated his case that the genin were not ready and just like last time Kakashi had stated that they were no longer his students "They are my soldiers." It hit the academy teacher quite hard.

Naruto took a few steps to stand in front of the sulking man. Tilting her head to get a better view of his face, she stated. "Ya know, he's right. Kakashi-sensei that is… I can't be your cute little student forever. That goes for Teme and Pinky as well."

At her words, Iruka lifted his head to protest again but stopped when he saw the look on her face. When had she become so mature and so sure of herself? He had only just gotten to know the real Naruto. Yet he felt then, that it would take a lifetime to understand the young Uzumaki girl.

"But" the girl before him continued when she saw that he was not going to say anything "I could be a trusted college if you give me a chance." The words were meant for him but they caught the ear of everyone in the room. Iruka nodded, still a little awed by the girl. Especially with the wide grin, she was now giving him.

"Great! And to celebrate, I'm making dinner. Don't be late." Naruto jumped up and bounded out of the room before another word could be said, leaving the occupants of the mission office confused.


Naruto went about preparing for the mission after the team went their separate ways. She checked her camping equipment, foodstuffs, weapons, ink, paper, and extra clothes even a set of civvies just in case. Then she sealed them all away and placed the scrolls in her equipment pouch. By the time she was done, she heard a knock on her front door. She left her newly constructed bedroom and crossed the unfinished wood floor. Naruto grinned when she opened the door.

Iruka stood with a melon in his arms. "I was on my way and saw this. Looked good so I got it." Honestly, when he 'accepted' her invitation it didn't accrue to him that they might be eating instant ramen. Something healthier was needed the night before such a long mission.

The girl leaned forward and eyed the fruit. "Looks like you got a good one." she looked up with a smile. "Come in. I hope you don't mind leftovers. Got to empty the fridge, ya know?"

Iruka had not been in the apartment since his first visit. He nearly dropped the melon in surprise. "What in the world…"

"I told you. Didn't I? I was going to clean up and make a few changes."

"This is more than a few changes. Wasn't there a wall here before!?"

"Ok, before you have a fit, I confirmed it with Jiji. And the whole buildings mine anyway so I can do what I want." She set out two bowls of curry and rice on the familiar table and made a clone to cut the melon for dessert.

They began to eat and Iruka was surprised that it was so good. He inquired about her skills and she answered that she had picked up a thing or two through the years but only just started enjoying cooking. She wasn't a master chef by any means but what she could cook she was fairly decent at.

For the rest of the visit, Iruka gave her advice for her first C-rank mission. And she gave him a tour of her unfinished handy work.


The next morning Naruto did not go straight to the gate. Instead, she went to the only place she could think of to find her sensei. The memorial stones. He was there. Standing alone.

She walked up beside him and started to scan the many names as she waited for him to acknowledge her presence. The stone seemed empty to her and a tear slipped down her cheek as another memory filled her mind.

The sound of chisel against rock drummed in her ears. The air was crisp. The sun setting. She watched as an old man went about his solemn duty. She never knew his name and never knew if his name was placed on the stone he spent so much time chiseling. 'I wonder if he wrote their names too.'

Her fingers rose and traced the names of her parents. The rock was rough against her still tender fingertips.

"You know?" The whisper was rushed and his sole gray eye watched her intently.

She hummed in response. Then turned to him with a smile. "Yeah, but there's no sense in wasting away here… is there? I mean what good are the memories of our loved ones if we don't live to honor them?" She then grabbed his hand and pulled him away. "Come along Kakashi-sensei. We've got a mission and we're late.

The silver-haired man's eye never strayed from his blonde student as they maneuvered the early morning streets. Her words ran through his mind. Live. How could he live when inside he felt so dead.

"You're not dead, Sensei." She had been watching him too. And she knew him better than he thought. Of course, it helped that she had the memory of the man breaking down in front of her, spilling his grief and pain. "You're just… broken. Everyone gets a little broken. You're just a bit more crack than normal."

"Hey"

With a wide grin, she ran ahead only to turn back, walking backward. "But now that I think of it," she voice rose above the other voices in the market street. "anyone with your taste in reading material is sure to be cracked."

"Hey!"


The sun was shining brightly to the east when they finally left the village gates. Naruto and Kakashi had arrived at the meeting spot thirty minutes after the appointed time. 'New record!' After the expected team seven banter in which Sakura shrieked, Sasuke hn'ed, and Naruto laughed; they signed out at gate office and was on their way.

It really was a beautiful day. The August heat didn't bother Naruto either. It felt more like a warm embrace as she skipped down the dirt path. "What's gotcha' in such a light mood, kid? You're acting like some animal let out of its cage." 'I'm going to die with these brats protecting me!'

The old bridge builder heard a light laugh come from the blonde. "You've pretty much hit the nail on the head there, Tazuna Jiji. This is my first time leaving the village… Oh! But don't worry." She tried to assure him when she saw him take an extra-long swig of his bottle of booze. "I'm stronger than I look."

It didn't seem to help.

The morning passed with nothing eventful. The old bridge builder got drunk and began to sing to pass the time. Sakura kept an eye on the man, afraid that he may fall at any moment. At noon, they stopped for lunch. Ration bars were being passed around when Naruto pulled out a scroll from her equipment pouch. The others watched the blonde open the rolled paper.

"What are you doing, dobe?"

"I packed real food. Not that tasteless crap." She let a little chakra glow at the tip of her finger before swiping the blue energy over an elaborately designed storage seal. In a small flash of light, the same large bento box from team placement day sat on top of the seal. Sasuke's hand lowered from its path to his mouth. The half-eaten bar forgotten.

"Tazuna Jiji, you get first choice," Naruto said this as she set the food out. "But before you eat I want you to drink this." She handed him a cup of purple liquid. It was something her future Sakura developed to sober up Tsunade if needed. The old man looked at the spicy smelling drink then back to the child before him.

She smiled brightly. "We're waiting." She motioned to the others who were eyeing the food. Had the man been thinking clearly, he would have outright refused the child. But in a moment of fuzziness, he downed the drink. It burned down his throat and sinuses and the man choked on the taste. "What is this stuff!?" He wheezed.

The blonde stifled a giggle but her eyes still gleamed with mirth. "Something to clear your mind and settle your stomach. I don't like seeing food wasted."

"I didn't want it clear." The man muttered as grumpily picked up a piece of eggroll. The group settled around the box. As they eat, Kakashi studied the parts of the seal that was not hidden by the food trays and wondered where the child had gotten it from. It looked quite similar to his sensei's work but whoever created this particular seal had a bolder hand then the Fourth's meticulous script.

His gaze fell onto Naruto. Intriguing.

After lunch, they began their trek again to Wave. Five hours from the time they left the gates of the Leaf, Naruto spotted a familiar puddle in the distance. She glanced at her team leader. His everpresent book was lifted to nose level but she saw his lone eye observing the puddle and she could tell that he had figured out the little trap. Before he returned his eye to his book, he swept his gaze across his team and caught her looking at him. She rose a golden brow and the man narrowed his eye slightly, wondering why the boy looked so amused. Naruto broke the little staring contest as they got closer to the puddle and returned to humming a tune with Tazuna.

The other three in the group remained oblivious until the attack started. Naruto felt the rush of wind as the assassins past her in their hast to kill the strongest of the group. She knew it was coming. She had replayed it several times in her head as they walked that day. But the sound of coiling metal and ripping flesh reverberated in her ears, making her feel as if the world had stopped.

It was Sakura's scream that broke her out of her moment of panic and Naruto quickly surveyed what was happening around her. Sakura had taken her post in front of their charge, despite the tears that leaked down her cheeks. And Sasuke leaped into action pinning the demon brother's chain to the tree like before. The blonde avoided looking down at the puddle of blood at her feet that she knew was only an illusion.

She dipped down to avoid an attack then dodged to the side. Using her momentum to spin around and land a solid kick to one of the brother's back. This sent the man stumbling forward only to set his sights on Sakura. Sasuke was too occupied with his opponent to notice in time. Cursing under her breath, Naruto released her weight seals and dashed to deflect the blades aimed for Sakura's neck.

The poisoned claws dug into her left forearm, red filled her vision as her blood flowed out. The pain shot up her arm and down her spine and the girl had to clench her jaw to force back a scream. The sound died as a chocked grunt in her throat.

Nausea returned with flashes of war. The things she had to do to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

Instinct kicked in then and she used the connection of flesh and metal to pull the man forwarded. The skin of her arm tearing further. Gritting her teeth as her right hand found her weapons pouch, she avoided looking at the man's face as his masked chin hit her shoulder. To an outsider, the position would almost look like an embrace. But the reality was cold steel slicing into flesh, warm liquid flowing over her hand, and a guttural noise escaping the man's lips before he slumped to her feet.

The road was silent. She could feel her sensei's presence again but she could not look up at him just yet. The blood on her right hand felt heavy and she could feel her body weaken. There was a lot more poison in her body than before. She had made it to the edge of the road before nausea hit again and she lost her lunch.

Kakashi watched as his blonde student stumbled away from the fallen man. She was covered in blood and he could not tell if it was the man's or her's until he saw her drop the bloody kunai.

It took a few minutes for Naruto to regain her composure. Contrary to what her team believed at the moment she was not going through the shock or moral dilemma of taking a life. She was thinking more about the consequences of the man's death. Though she did not know exactly what happened to the brothers last time, she had a good idea. They were taken to the T&I department. Information was gathered. And most likely ended up dead.

She had debated with herself before on this point. This was a war. A war to end… no, to prevent a war. There will be deaths. But… Maybe the dead brother had info that the other didn't. She may have messed something up that will coast a life of a fellow Leaf shinobi.

'Idiot. You're thinking too much, Kit.'

Her body twitched. 'Kurama! You're awake!'

'Hmm… Not for long.' His deep voice echoed through her mind. 'You know, I'll need more rest for this little mission of yours.'

'Yeah. Yeah. It's good to hear your voice again.' A small smile touched her lips as she sat back on the dirt path.

'Don't get mushy on me, Brat.'

She was interrupted from her inner conversation when a hand appeared on her shoulder. "Naruto, are you alright?"

'How many times will I be asked that?'

'At least, you know they care.'

The old fox was right. The smile remained but took on a sad quality when she saw the worried look on Kakashi's face. "I'll be fine, Sensei." She looked over to the body still crumpled were it fell. "Will he need to be burned or put in a storage scroll?"

Kakashi followed the blonde's gaze and replayed after weighing the options. "It would be best to store the body. But I only have a scroll strong enough to keep his head."

Naruto grimaced at the thought of cutting off the man's head and burning the rest. It always seemed barbaric to her. Kakashi stood and started toward the body but was held back by his smallest student. "I'll take care of my mess, Sensei"

"You know what to do?"

She hummed a 'yes' before walking over to the body and crouching over it. She barely registered Kakashi telling the others to watch her.

She turned the man over and pulled his mask down. Studying his face before closing his wide eyes in respect. This memory will serve as a reminder that her action had great consequences for the future. She will not forget this lesson.

She then searched his person for any items she could salvage. A few weapons and scrolls. Soldier pills. Poisons and antidote. Lucky. She gave the things that may be important to Kakashi. Though she kept the water jutsu scroll she found tucked in his pants leg.

She caught the look of disgust in Sakura's eyes as she handled the body. To think the girl will be a medic in the future. Naruto pulled out an extra scroll and ink. Then began to create a seal that could handle the whole body.

Kakashi leaned over her shoulder watching as she worked her brush and realized that the seal he saw earlier was made by the blonde before him. "Where did you learn to do this?" She glanced to the side then back to her work.

"Jiji gave me my inheritance. There were a few fuinjutsu books." All true. "I guess you could say it's in my blood." She gave him a pointed look. He nodded his understanding. It was an Uzumaki thing. By the time she sealed the body, Kakashi had reinforced the restraints on the living demon brother and sent a message to the nearest border patrol to pick him up. Naruto handed him the scroll now edged in black to indicate the content and he stashed it away for safe keeping.

Sakura's eyes had not left the Uzumaki from the moment the blonde jumped in front of her. She was amazed and disturbed at the same time. Naruto had killed someone. Yet, it was to save her. The moment she saw the man coming after her, she had frozen.

She felt useless.

Sasuke was also watching his blonde teammate as their sensei spoke with their client. The older man's plea for help and reasons for lying barely registered in his mind as he watched Naruto clean the blood away at the edge of the small clearing they had settled in. 'When? When did the dobe get so strong? And smart? Someone like him should not be able to surpass me. I am a proud Uchiha! He is nobody with no one!'

Naruto could feel the weight of Sasuke's glare but paid him no attention. She did not feel well enough to play with his ego. She knelt down on the grass and pored the canteen of water over her arms to wash away the drying blood. She debated on using the antidote that she found and decided that she could manage without. She will do what she did last time. Bleed it out. And if there was any left in her system, Kurama knew how to deal with it.

She lifted her mesh sleeve, a little amazed that it had not torn and placed a kunai to her already healing wounds. She pressed down and sliced through the reforming skin.

"What are you doing, dobe!?"

"Naruto, why are you cutting yourself!?"

She looked up stunned at the reaction. "Naruto. Do you have a reason for doing this?" Kakashi lightly held her hand with the kunai, his voice was worried. She looked him in the eye and blinked. 'Why are they getting so worked up?'

"I… Well, I can't let the poison get in the way of the mission. And this is the fastest way to get it out." She felt the blood dripping down her fingers to the ground and lifted her hand slightly to inspect the cut.

"Poison? You were injured?" Sasuke inquired as Kakashi pulled out his first-aid kit. She couldn't blame them for not noticing. She did well in hiding pain whether it be physical or emotional.

"Wasn't there an antidote? On the body. You held onto it. Did you take it?"

"Don't worry." She smiled. "It'll only be wasted on me. It's best to save it, ya know?" Before Kakashi could protest she pressed a finger to his masked lips and gave him a pointed look. "I'll be all healed up before you know it." The dripping had already stopped and she continued to clean and wrap her arm.

Kakashi sat back on his feet and eyed his stubborn student. "So, you feel well enough to continue?" He tested.

"Yes." The child stated as she finished with the bandage. "Tazuna Jiji and his family obviously need the help. Along with the whole of Wave," She stood to her full height. "I took on this mission with full intention to see it completed. That's as good as a promise to me. And I always keep my promises."