Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.

A/N: Just as a little note here, I will write all the jutsu in Japanese if I can but all the jutsu I made up or can't find the Japanese for them will be in English.

Chapter 11: Trip to Wave Part 6

Kakashi's P.O.V

We were at the foot of the bridge when I noticed something was off; there was too much mist for it to be natural. I suspected that Zabuza Momochi would indeed appear today but I needed to be sure so once we were on the bridge I looked around and what I saw surprised even me. There were dead bodies of Tazuna's workers littered everywhere. I heard a few gasps from behind me and I'm sure my eye widened in shock but I narrowed it in suspicion. Then the Demon of The Mist himself and his fake hunter-nin partner appeared a short distance away.

"Still babysitting those brats, Kakashi and Asuma? I would have thought that you'd have dumped them by now, but one seems to be missing, scared her off did I?" the missing-nin tried to taunt us but it didn't work as we all knew how bad Naruto's injuries were. "And look at that one, he's shaking in fear."

"I'm not shaking in fear, I'm shaking in excitement." Sasuke countered. It was true; Sasuke did get stronger and was looking forward to this battle out of everyone here. Zabuza created about ten water clones but I whistled to Sasuke and he quickly dispatched them. The Momochi made a comment about his speed rivalling the hunter-nin's and then Asuma and I told the team some instructions. Before we could put our plan into action, the ninja said another thing.

"I hope you don't mind Kakashi, but I brought a few friends along." As he said this about two dozen men walked up behind him. They all wore some type of leather armour and carried a sword, battleaxe, spear or a mace. Zabuza told them to kill Tazuna but then I shouted for my team to begin and the plan began. Asuma and I went straight for Zabuza while Ino, Sakura, Choji and Shikamaru blocked the thugs' path to the bridge builder and Tazuna. If my calculations were correct, with Haku's medicine and the Kyuubi's healing rate, Naruto should appear soon and join Sasuke in battling the fake hunter-nin. I just hope Sasuke can hold him off long enough for Naruto to make her grand entrance, if not then I pray Sasuke has enough strength to beat him on his own.

Shikamaru's P.O.V

'This is such a drag' I thought as the thugs surrounded us and Tazuna. Not only are we down one teammate, but Choji and I have to work with the troublesome girls and Sasuke gets the spotlight... again. I don't actually care about having the spotlight but I would rather someone else get it than the stuck-up Uchiha. Naruto has actually proven to be a decent ninja so why did she have to get an injury? That new Kekkei Genkai of hers is really troublesome because I can't recall much about it. All I know about the Kishi No Meiyo is that it only comes to those born in the head family of the Uzumaki clan. The clan itself is a mystery as it was almost destroyed and only a few members escaped and they were a big part of Konoha as on the jackets the Chuunin and Jonin get they have the Uzumaki spiral attached to them. How troublesome. These thugs are also very troublesome, they just keep coming. We've used our teamwork to take down a few of them but the numbers don't stop and at this rate I'm going to just have to rely on my taijutsu because my chakra will be running out soon with all the Kagemane Kage Shibari I was using. Choji was also using his Nikudan Sensha but was losing chakra fast as well. Ino couldn't really use her Shintenshin No Jutsu as our opponents kept moving around and even if she could her body would be left unattended, it would be too dangerous with all the grown men around, I didn't even want to think of the possibilities of what could happen if they got their hands on her. Sakura wasn't too bad using her kunai and shuriken, her taijutsu could use work but since she doesn't really have any jutsu as she is from a civilian family then there wasn't much she could do but I have to admit she was doing pretty well for s fan-girl, as was Ino.

'Where's Naruto when you need her?'

Sasuke's P.O.V

This hunter-nin and I have been fighting for a while until he did some weird jutsu and ice mirrors appeared around me, creating a dome. He appeared in the mirror in front of me, explaining what it was and that I should give up. Of course, I refused, wanting to give it a shot and defeat him. He kept appearing at the different mirrors and throwing senbon at me which I mostly dodged except from the occasional one or two that pierced my arms or legs. Earlier I had tried my Katon: Gokakyu No Jutsu but it didn't even scratch the ice so fire was out of the question. I wasn't really sure what I could do next except figure out how he- wait! I'm sure that if I looked closely enough, I could see a blur pass between the mirrors!

'So that's how he's doing it, he's using his speed to pass between mirrors. Come on, I've got to focus, I've got to see him and time it right...' Just then I felt a strange power flooding through me and the source seemed to come from my eyes, the Sharingan! I can feel it, and I can the hunter-nin. It isn't complete but it will do.

Meanwhile, With Naruto

Normal P.O.V

'God damn it! Every so often I feel extremely dizzy, why? It's taking me much longer then it should be to get to the stupid bridge!' were the thoughts of the Uzumaki who was jumping from tree branch to tree branch. It has been half an hour since she rescued the bridge builder's family and she keeps stopping to catch her breath while her strength is slowly disappearing. She was just about to land on another branch to stop for a while because of the dizziness again when she slipped.

"Fuck!" shouted the vixen as she fell and skidded on the ground for a bit before finally stopping at the base a tree. Her eye was half open (the other one was obviously closed behind her mask) and she was breathing very hard. For some reason she couldn't find the strength to get up again.

'Shit, I feel like shit'

She also felt like giving up but the thoughts of the villagers' taunting faces haunted her mind. They laughed and she heard their cries of victory when she decided, no. She wasn't going to give up just because of something stupid as being light-headed! The Jinchuriki got on her hands and knees and gritted her teeth as her small body protested. She somehow managed to stand up and start limping towards the bridge.

"Hey kid, I think I found the source of your weakness."

'You giving me headaches with all the crap you spout from that muzzle?'

"I'll let that one go. No, I think that whoever gave you that medicine slipped something in it and I can feel it in your blood stream. I'm sure they added a small chunk of a canis root which weakens the target for 24 hours. I can't get rid of it but I can make these attacks you're having lessen in strength so it can become 'bearable'."

'Thanks, I guess that would be better'

She was almost to the bridge when she saw the mist and the sounds of a battle. It would be suicide to just go charging in so using her tree climbing training she ran as silently as she could along the bottom of the bridge. When she heard the fighting above her she walked to the edge, walked up but stopped just before the bottom of the railing and looked over the top. She witnessed Kakashi, Asuma and Zabuza fighting the farthest away while Sakura, Choji, Shikamaru and Ino were battling against many thugs while protecting Tazuna. Through the gaps of the ice dome she could see Sasuke and the hunter-nin fighting and Sasuke using his now unlocked Sharingan. Naruto knew a jutsu she could try but she had to catch them by surprise.

"Don't bother, that ice won't melt, I can feel the chakra radiating from it. That kid has some Kekkei Genkai that specialises in ice."

'I know, that's why this will only be a distraction so I can get in there and help the teme'

'What is she up to...?'

Naruto jumped up and face the dome with her back to the Jonins' fight. She created the tiger hand seal and shouted, "Katon: Gouryuuka No Jutsu" and a giant fireball the size of a dragon head shot out of her mouth. It was about the size of Sasuke's Gokakyu No Jutsu but it was even more powerful. Everyone seemed to stop and looked at the source of the B-rank jutsu but when they saw Naruto standing there it was a huge shock. The jutsu exploded against the ice dome and gave Sasuke enough time to strike the hunter-nin and knock him out of the mirror he was currently in. Naruto then sneaked into the dome through the smoke and snuck up on Sasuke.

"What's the situation?" she asked in a commanding tone. The Uchiha was surprised for a moment before explaining the ice dome's properties and getting into a fighting stance while Naruto got into her stance beside him.

With Zabuza, Kakashi and Asuma

The Jonin heard a jutsu being used and looked over towards the ice dome area in time to see Naruto shoot a dragon head shaped fireball from her mouth at the dome. To say they were shocked was an understatement.

"Kakashi, where did that brat learn a B-rank jutsu like that?" asked the surprised but intrigued Momochi. It took a few seconds but the copy-cat ninja replied that he had no idea where his student had learnt such a powerful jutsu. Asuma was also shocked but was suspicious of the Kyuubi. He had figured that since Naruto had no other senseis except Kakashi and the Hokage certainly wouldn't teach her it, then that left the Kyuubi and he was one of the few people who knew that the Kyuubi, while it wasn't sealed into someone, could change into a human form and perform jutsus.

With Shikamaru, Tazuna, Ino, Sakura and Choji

The thugs, Tazuna and the Genins stood gaping at Naruto. Who knew she could use a jutsu like that. No one had seen her even studying scrolls so how could she possibly know that? Sure, they knew she possessed the ability to create shadow clones but that was the only other non-academy jutsu they knew she could use. Shikamaru used this distraction to possess four thugs with his Kagemane Kage Shibari and whistled to Choji to attack them, that also snapped the other three out of their shock and they too began to attack their selection of opponents.

With Haku, Sasuke and Naruto

Sasuke and Naruto were back to back with Sasuke's Sharingan active and in a stance while Naruto was in her stance. The Uzumaki activated her Kekkei Genkai and summoned something different. In each hand was a 20cm length blade with a 10cm black handle. The blade was shiny steel that had a curve inward near the top and on the other side of it near the bottom were two small points that curved outward. The handle the kanji for 'Fox' in silver on both sides and Naruto held them like daggers. Both Genins were prepared for the fight that was about to start.

'Her eye, is that the long lost Kishi No Meiyo? It hasn't been seen since the last member of the head Uzumaki clan family member was killed in the Kyuubi attack of Konoha twelve years ago... could she be the offspring of that clan member?' Haku was very interested now but also slightly worrying. First the boy had activated the Sharingan, now the girl had activated the Kishi No Meiyo? What now, the pink haired girl activates the Byakugan? The fake hunter-nin leapt into his ice mirrors once again while holding some senbon in his hands.

"Sasuke, your Sharingan can see his movements, correct? Good, use your kunai, shuriken and Gokakyu No Jutsu to try and hit him. While you are doing that, I will also try to attack him with kunai and shuriken while deflecting as many senbon as I can with my weapons." With that said she activated her Chakurabijon and looked for a good spot to aim her ninja tools at him.

Half an Hour Later

Both Genins looked like pin cushions and were panting badly. Sasuke's Sharingan had deactivated and Naruto Kishi No Meiyo had also deactivated and her weapons disappeared. The ground was littered with kunai, shuriken and senbon but most senbon had pierced the students' bodies. Their arms, legs, back and front were covered in them but they still stood on shaky legs.

"Give up and I won't kill you," the hunter-nin's mask was cracked a few times and his uniform was scorched a few times from Sasuke many uses of his main jutsu. "Please don't make me do this."

You could hear the sincerity in his voice but didn't stop Naruto from saying, "No, we won't run away we will keep trying no matter what."

The hunter-nin sighed and threw more senbon from all different directions. Sasuke and Naruto jumped away to try to avoid them. The hunter-nin appeared in the mirror behind Sasuke and threw more senbon at him, aiming to kill. The Uchiha turned round but realised it was too late to dodge so he closed his eyes but the pain of dozens of needles impaling his body never came. Blood splattered against the ground but it wasn't his blood. He opened his eyes and widened them in horror and the sight of Naruto's senbon covered body standing in front of his. She coughed up blood and wavered on her feet slightly before falling backwards into Sasuke's arms. He lowered her down to the ground and asked in a shaky voice, "Why?"

"I-I don't k-know. My body j-just moved on its o-own. Sasuke, I was g-going to show everyone what a p-powerful n-ninja I could be, I was going t-to show that horrible v-village that I won't take t-their shit anymore. Please, tell them I f-forgive them..." she was cut short as she closed her eye and her breathing stopped.

"Tell who Naruto? Who?! NARUTOOOO?!" Sasuke clutched the motionless body of his teammate and for once in a long time, cried. "Please Naruto, wake up! I don't want to lose someone again! First my whole family and now you?! Please, wake up!"

"I assume it's not the first time seeing someone close to you die?" the hunter-nin stepped out of his mirror with three senbon in his hand. The Uchiha placed Naruto body on the ground and stood up straight while picking of varies senbon. He kept looking at his fallen friend's body as he shook in rage and hatred. "Don't worry I will make your death-" he never finished his sentence as Sasuke slammed his fist into the ninja's face, sending his flying back against his mirror which shattered. His eyes were the blood red Sharingan again.

"Shut up." His voice was filled with only hatred as he glared at the fake hunter-nin, "How dare you... how dare you!" The Uchiha punched and kicked the ninja over and over again while getting his rage out until finally the mask broke. Sasuke was about to punch him again but stopped. The Genin realised that it was Haku, the boy who helped Naruto. "Why? Why help her then kill her?"

Haku coughed but replied, "I felt sorry for her, I didn't want to see her suffer and I didn't expect her to recover so fast so I figured she wouldn't fight here." Sasuke was still furious but lowered his fist. Haku coughed again but continued to say, "Kill me. You have defeated me so I am no longer any use to Zabuza-sama."

The Uchiha was confused, "Why die for someone like him?"

"Zabuza-sama saved me. He took me in after my mother was killed by my father for having a Kekkei Genkai. Before that I was on the streets until Zabuza raised me, therefore I will forever be his weapon and serve him in any way I can. So please, kill me."

Sasuke was about to reply until the sound of electricity reached their ears. They both looked over to see Zabuza immobilised by Kakashi's dog summons and Asuma with his trench knives next to the copy-cat ninja. The Hatake was bent down slightly with his hand stretched downwards and his other arm holding onto his upper arm where a ball of electricity was gathering in his hand.

"This is a technique I made myself, Chidori!" He then ran towards Zabuza with his arm aiming for the missing-nin's heart. Haku made a split-second decision and created a mirror and stepped into it. He reappeared in front of Zabuza just before Kakashi reached his destination, resulting in Haku getting hit instead.

"Sasuke!" shouted the lazy Nara as the other Genin and Tazuna ran up to him as they had just finished knocking out the thugs. "Where's Naruto?" Sasuke had the look of sorrow on his face as he looked down and gestured to the now breaking ice mirrors. They looked towards where he was looking at gasped. As the last of the ice broke away, they saw Naruto's motionless form covered in needles just lying in the middle of it. Cries of horror broke out as they all rushed towards her, except Sasuke who couldn't look at the one who saved him but paid the price.

With Naruto and the Rest of the Genins plus Tazuna

Sakura reached her first and she fell to her knees in front of Naruto. She couldn't bring herself to talk but was overcome with sadness that she burst into tears and cried on the Uzumaki's shoulder. The others reached her soon enough as Ino joined her on the ground and grasped Naruto's hand and cried as well. Choji let a few tears slip but Shikamaru couldn't even do that. Before Naruto's 'change', he, Naruto, Kiba and Choji had been best friends. They always played pranks together, ate lunch together, sat with each other and always hung out together. He looked away from his friend's body but he never cried. Shikamaru never cried and he wasn't going to start now, he couldn't even bring himself to. Tazuna didn't really know what to say. Sure, she had been pretty cold and didn't really get involved with anyone when she could but she gave Inari hope and he liked her for that. She was only twelve, even if she didn't look it with her height (140cm).

With Kakashi, Haku, Asuma and Zabuza

Haku was dead, Zabuza just tried to cut off Kakashi's head but the Hatake jumped back, taking Haku's body with him and Asuma attacked the missing-nin. Kakashi laid Haku's on the ground and joined Asuma in attacking Zabuza when a laugh reached their ears. Everyone, even the Genins and Tazuna, looked at the source of the laugh to see Gato, with a cast on his arm, and about all his men.

"Demon of the Mist? Ha, more like Baby of The Mist."

"What is this Gato?" asked an angered Zabuza.

"Well you ninja are all tired, so now my men can kill you. You see, I higher missing ninja so they do their job but get tired, so then my men kill them and I don't have to spend a single coin! Whoever brings me the bridge builder's head gets a bonus!" cheers rang from the thugs but before they even took a step, a crossbow bolt landed in front of them, Everyone looked back to see all the villagers with weapons and Inari leading them with a crossbow in one hand and Naruto's kunai in the other.

"We won't be pushed around anymore Gato! It's time to stand up for ourselves and become heroes!" Inari shouted and the villagers charged towards the thugs.

"Hey Kakashi, pass be a kunai." Kakashi threw a kunai in Zabuza direction and was caught by the missing-nin in the mouth that then joined the villagers and ended up being the one who killed Gato. Asuma and Kakashi walked over to Sasuke and asked what had happened.

"Naruto's dead..." that was all Sasuke could say. The three of them walked towards their team. Tazuna had stepped back and let them have their moment while he walked over to Tsunami and Inari to inform them of what had happened. Ino and Sakura were still holding onto their old friend when Sasuke crouched next to them. "She said something before she... you know..."

The girls looked over to Sasuke to see what he was going to say. The Uchiha was looked at his feet as he refused to look at the face of his fallen friend. "She asked me to tell them that she forgives them but I don't know who she was talking about. I know you three were close so I was wondering if you knew who it was."

The kunoichis gasped and more tears weld up in their eyes. They knew that she was talking about them, about their betrayal.

"Hey wait, there are needles in the back of her neck," Asuma stated while he had a look of happiness on his face, "remember how the fake hunter-nin took out Zabuza? He threw two needles at the back of his neck which made him seem like he was dead. The two senbon are in the exact same place as Zabuza's." That brought hope to the Genins so Kakashi squeezed past them and brought Naruto into a sitting position. He proceeded to slowly pull out two senbon that were lodged in her neck and her breathing returned to normal and he could feel her pulse.

"She's alive." Cries of happiness erupted from the Genins and Ino and Sakura hugged each other, which surprised everyone. They were brought out of it when Naruto coughed and slowly opened her eyes.

"Ugh... why do I feel like a hedgehog?," she then looked down and noticed all the senbon, "alright which asshole used me as target practice?" with the help of the other two kunoichis, Naruto pulled out the senbon and was going to stand up when she was pulled into a big hug from Ino and Sakura.

The Uzumaki hated hugs so she was going to push them off when they said at the same time, "I'm sorry." That completely caught her off guard and her eyes widened in surprise but went back to her emotionless face and she lightly pushed them off.

"I have no idea what brought that on but never, and I mean never, hug me again or I will punch you in the throat, are we clear?" the other two only just smiled. Their Naruto-chan may not be the same but she was still their Naruto-chan, their old friend.

"You hugged Inari."

'That was different, he is a small child, and they are two girls my age'

"Whatever..."

Tsunami's House One Week Later

The Konoha ninjas were outside the house all packed and recovered. Inari was crying tears of joy but also sadness because Naruto was leaving. They were about to head off as they had just finished saying goodbye when Inari ran up and hugged Naruto around the waist. Again, she was caught off guard because of a hug but she didn't show it, instead, she did the unexpected. Naruto placed her hand on top of Inari's head and lightly pushed him away. She then crouched down, hand still on his head, and looked Inari in the eyes.

"I'm going to miss you too Inari." The vixen stood up and walked back to her teammates who were a little shocked but walked with her away from Wave. She never said much, but Inari knew what it meant and smiled.

'Yeah, I will miss you, Naruto-neechan.'

A/N: Woo! The longest chapter yet and the end of the Wave Arc!

Naruto: "Yeah yeah, now when can I kick ass at the Chuunin Exams?"

We'll get to that. Anyway don't forget to vote on the poll and review!HH