Anko walked outside to find the same white fox sitting there. "I don't suppose you know where he is." It nodded. "Could you show me?" It looked up towards the top of the house. "Up there huh. Thanks for your help." It yipped and nuzzled against her leg. "Aren't you cute, I'll tell you what, if you don't tell the kid, I'll get you some dango when we get back." It sounded like it was purring as it lick her leg and ran off into the bushes. Anko sighed and start walking up the side of the house.

When she reached the top she saw Naruto was still sleeping, his swords close at hand, but his hand was wrapped around the needle he had shown her. She masked her chakra and started to creep up to him. When she got within five feet, his grip on the needle relaxed slightly. "You never were very good at hiding you chakra Hebi-hime." He sat up and yawned. "Time to go already? It fells like I just got to sleep." He opened his eyes to see the sun barely peeking over the sea. 'It's because it's true.' "Damn it, you could have let me sleep a little longer, it's not like Tazuna's up yet."

"Why do you think that?"

"He's an old guy, they like sleeping in as much, if not more, than kids do."

"I've seen the Hokage up at four in the morning."

"Were you up all night drinking?"

"Maybe, why?"

"If you were totally hammered, you could have seen anybody and thought it was the Hokage." He chuckled when she blush slightly. "Well it doesn't look like I'll be getting back to sleep now, so why did you wake me up?"

"I want to know if Kakashi's right, are you hiding something."

"You know I am."

"I meant from me."

"There are some things, one's not my place to say, one's my second purpose in life, one's what that dream was about that caused the chakra surge, and another that could jeopardize the well being of someone I care deeply for."

"Does any of it have to do with this mission?"

"Obviously, the dream one does since it happened during this mission, but otherwise it's not directly related. The last one however is."

"I need to know then."

"If I do tell you, it can't go farther then you. If someone else finds out, it will reach him and then it's over."

"You're not giving me a choice are you?"

"No I'm not. Either it ends with you or it dies with me."

"Fine, but we need somewhere we can talk."

"Not the forest or the bridge, and certainly not here. I know of a building in the village it's abandoned, but as long as we, and by we I mean you, don't yell, no one should notice."

"Fine, lead the way."

"Sorry, but I told you, I don't trust Kakashi." Naruto put his hand on her shoulder and they were gone in the flames. They appeared in a dust-covered room. Naruto nearly fell over for the amount of chakra it took to get them both there.

"Idiot, I could have told you that was going to happen."

"I wasn't going to be followed. Kakashi was standing below us on the wall." Naruto fell backwards into a sitting position.

"Are you alright kid, I've never seen you this tired."

"Lack of sleep and four hundred clones will do that."

"What were you doing this time?"

"Looking for Gato. It was my only chance."

"To do what?"

"To avoid fighting her."

"Her? Who do you… no, you can't mean…" The look on his face was more than enough. "You little bastard, you knew who the hunter-nin was and you didn't tell us? You better have a good damn reason."

"Just don't interrupt. Yes I knew who she was, her name is Haku. She was the girl who was looking for herbs. I knew it was her when we met in the woods and knew Zabuza was alive then. The reason I didn't tell you, is because I had her try and convince Zabuza not to finish the job and just leave. You would have thought he was dead, and as long as we killed Gato everyone else would too. He could have lived a peaceful life, but he refused. That was the day I told you he was alive."

"Haku left me a note telling me because she was ordered by him to kill me if she saw me. I burned the note and said I saw her watching me to explain how I knew he was alive and the needle. She really is as strong as I said, and neither of us want to fight the other. She is protective of Zabuza, and knows I won't let him hurt any of you."

"And you didn't want them to hear this because…"

"I love her. If Zabuza finds out, he'll kill her. She accepts me even though she knows about dad being sealed in me."

"But does she know he's your father?"

Naruto's eyes dropped. "No."

"Look kid, I'm all for you getting a girlfriend, but she's our enemy."

"You think I don't know that? Trust me I do, that was the first thing that I thought of when I realized how I felt, but she is probably the only one I'll ever find that doesn't care I'm a vessel to a demon. Even if he wasn't my father, any children I might have would probably have demonic chakra anyway."

"What about when we go home, do you think they'll welcome her with open arms?"

"She isn't a missing-nin like Zabuza, she was never part of a village. Zabuza found her and trained her. And the villagers can kiss my ass, because after the chunin exams, I won't be in the village very often and I'm sure he won't mind her coming with us."

"Who? What are you going to be doing?"

"Fulfilling my second purpose in life and maybe even the first if I find him. As for who, it's not my place to say, he will reveal himself when he's ready to."

"And the dream?"

"Orochimaru brutally murdered everyone I hold dear one by one, first the old man, my friend, you, and then Haku. I wasn't able to do anything to stop him. I was powerless, but my body didn't seem to agree."

"Kakashi wouldn't have cared about that."

"Maybe not, but it would have brought up unwanted questions that he hasn't earned the right for answers to."

"You are a real piece of work kid."

"You think? My father is the nine-tailed fox that attacked the village where I live, who's sealed in my navel. My life at home is shit except for when I'm with you, the old man, or by myself. I have a power that could kill me if I'm not careful and to top it all off, every night I'm in that village, I faced with the possibility of death while I sleep. I don't know anyone who wouldn't be fuck up after a day in my life. Now if we're done, we should head back. Zabuza won't wait at the bridge all day, he'll head for the house before long."

"Did she tell you this too?"

"Last night, she was the one my fox picked up. I went and spoke with her after you went back inside and then went looking for Gato." He stood up slowly. "I can get back to the house, but that's it, my chakra is all but gone."

"It's your own damn fault, I told you to sleep last night."

"I was, until you woke me up. I'm just lucky that I have some solider pills in my bag."

"You know I can't let you come with us now, you'll let your emotion cloud your judgment."

"Not if all I do is protect Tazuna, as long as I don't fight I'm can't compromise the mission." They both used Shunshin to appear in Tazuna's house, Naruto fell to the floor.

Tsunami came in to find out what happened. "Oh, it you two, your friends just left for the bridge." She left right after.

"See what you did brat, they just walked to their slaughter because you hid this shit from us."

"It's not my fault Kakashi's a dumb ass." He tried to get up, only to be pushed back down.

"You're staying here."

She stepped back and disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Like hell I am." Using a small amount of chakra, he called to his foxes, not surprisingly, the white one showed up. "I need you to get my bag from my room, you remember which one?" It nodded. "Good, please hurry." It took off and the next thing he heard was something falling down the stairs. He shook his head as the fox came back dragging the bag.

He quickly rummaged through it until he found the right one. He released the seal containing the solider pills and took four before sealing it again. He grimaced at the taste, but the effects were immediate. The power flowed through him again, but in his weakened state, he had failed to sense that every one of the foxes' chakra levels were raised.

He rushed to the kitchen were two sword carrying idiots were threatening Tsunami and Inari. "We only need one hostage, which one should we kill?"

"I say the boy. His mother would be a better bargaining chip."

"Those leaf ninja won't be expecting this, they'll kill Zabuza for us and we use the hostage to keep them in line." There was the sound of splattering and the man turned to see his partner's head was gone and the body fell to the ground.

"You want to run that by me again." Naruto aimed his killing intent towards the man who was now too afraid to move. "I'm sorry about the mess Tsunami, I'll take care of it." He created two clones who started the clean up.

'Kit, there's demonic chakra coming from the bridge. I'm pretty sure it's Isonade.'

'I can't let them kill the container!' "Please excuse me." Both Naruto and the other man burst into flames.

--------------------------

Naruto appeared on the bridge just as a dome of ice planes surround Sasuke. "Isn't someone going to help him?" He dropped the man next to Anko and Tazuna. They turned at his voice.

"You. Who do you think you are suggesting that I run?"

"I was trying to save lives, and give you a chance for a new life without fear of being hunted. As it is, Gato's already planning for you demise, that bastard went to take a hostage from Tazuna's house to keep us in line after we kill you."

"Why should I believe you?"

"You could wait till he wakes up, but I know you won't, so it doesn't matter what I say. Anko, could you keep an eye on this guy? I'm gonna go get Sasuke out of there, he doesn't stand a chance against her."

"So you're actually going to fight her?"

"Not if I can avoid it." He walked towards the dome. He went right up to one of the mirrors. "I know why you so easily accepted the truth about him."

"I was wondering when you would. Does it change anything?"

"No, but I'm still not the same as you. Mine is my actual father, he fell for my human mother. Can you love a person who is neither demon or human?"

"You have the best qualities of both."

"Thank you. I would prefer not to have to fight you, please stop this Haku."

"You know why I can't."

"Yes, but it doesn't change the fact that you are your own person and should make your own decisions."

"It was my decision to follow Zabuza and help him."

"Please allow me to switch place with Sasuke then, he wouldn't even be a good warm up for you."

"Very well, but if I win against you, it won't matter."

"Thank you." Haku moved two sections to allow him in and Naruto grabbed Sasuke and took him over to Anko and Tazuna. "He'll need some medical attention, but he should be fine." He set him down and went back towards the mirrors.

"Where are you going?"

"To make good on my deal." The planes closed behind him and he stopped in the center.

"That kid's a fool, no one can defeat Haku."

"He beat you."

"He got lucky with that flash attack, but that won't help him in a dome of mirrors. Nobody has ever escaped from that jutsu."

"He isn't nobody."

Naruto stood facing the mirror Haku is in. "Please, if I'm going to die, I would like to see your face while I do."

"Very well." She pulled off the mask and it hit the ground just outside the dome. "I want you to know it cause me great pain to fight you."

"It does for me as well. But seeing as how neither of us is willing to back down, we don't have much choice. This is pointless though, the ones we're trying to protect are out there fight each other anyway."

"Zabuza can defend himself against two jonin."

"I'm sure he can. Kakashi may be an asshole, but I will say he's strong and because of the Sharingan, he has the biggest arsenal of jutsu in Konoha, and Anko scares the hell out of me. I have no doubt that he can defend himself, but he'll have a hard time defeating them. But enough talking, I'm ready when you are." He just stood still watching as Haku appeared in every mirror. Instead of try to get out of the dome, he sat down cross-legged and stared into Haku's eyes.

"Are you going to let yourself be killed? Have you resigned to your death?" He gave no answer, but just continued to sit there. "Very well, I shall try to make it as painless as possible." All the images pulled out needles and readied to throw them. He closed his eyes and placed his hand together as if he were holding something, while his elbows rested on his legs. "I'm sorry it had to come to this." She let loose the needles, all heading straight for his chest, but they never made it. They clatter to the ground three feet from him. "What happened?"

"I have no intention to fight you Haku. As long as I have chakra, the field I put up will stop attacks."

"Then there is a way to get through, unless there are holes for air to get through, you'll suffocate."

"You're right, but I can make the holes wherever and whenever I want, and can close them just as quickly." Haku stepped out of the mirror and walked towards him. "Are you giving up?"

"No, but why waste my chakra keeping these mirrors up." The mirrors melted away, the water from the ones overhead fell on to Naruto's chakra dome. "This is impressive, I doubt anyone else could make this kind of defense. The control alone would have to be immense and the amount of chakra use it for long is more than most jonin could muster."

Naruto slowly stood up and walked towards her. "Haku, we don't have to continue this, together we could stop both sides from fighting. None of them can stand against us." He stood right in front of her, separated by only a few inches. He knew that if she wanted to, she could easily kill him, but he didn't care. He lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.

She and the ones watching this were stunned, well most were, Zabuza was pissed. She pulled away from the kiss, breathless and smiling. Kakashi took this moment of carelessness and started doing hand signs. "Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu." The ground cracked and six dogs, all wear blue kimonos, sprung out and grabbed on to Zabuza. He struggled to get free as Kakashi start more hand signs. He grabbed his right wrist as lightning crackled to life in his right hand.

Haku watched in horror as Kakashi moved towards Zabuza, she took off towards them, but Naruto got there first. He stopped Kakashi's attack with a Rasengan, and Kakashi's eyes widened. The two of them were engulfed in a dome of light. From outside, the dome turned black before shrinking. But inside, Naruto held Kakashi to a stalemate, never giving an inch. The dome started closing in on them and when it disappeared, Naruto punched Kakashi in the face, sending him to the ground.

"Where did you learn that jutsu?!"

"From a scroll the Hokage let me borrow." Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself when we get back."

"Why would you help me, we're enemies."

"There's no reason to kill you, that bastard over there is proof enough that I was telling the truth." He point towards the end of the bridge where Gato and a small army of men stood, brandishing several kinds of weapons.

"It seems these leaf ninja are just as incompetent as you are. You were even spared by a genin, some demon you are. I pay double to whoever brings me his head!" The thugs all smiled and Naruto quickly looked at the ninja around him. Kakashi's chakra was almost all gone from extended use of the Sharingan, Sasuke was still unconscious, Anko was alright, but if she went to fight, that would leave Tazuna basically defenseless. Haku was only slightly better off than Kakashi from her mirrors. Only Zabuza was at full strength, and Naruto hadn't even used that much to create the chakra dome. He felt pressure building in his stomach.

'Kit, it's the transformation, it's started.'

He removed Gesshoku, sheath and all, and threw it over to where Sasuke lay. He then stabbed Shin'en into the ground. "Zabuza, the others are in no condition to fight this many, only you and I have the strength at the moment."

"So you want to team up with me?"

"Yes, use Shin'en along with your sword. I won't need it."

"Alright, but do you really think you can use kunai and shuriken to win?"

"No I don't." The genjutsu dropped, but the only ones who could really see this was the army of in front of him. "Zabuza, when it's done, climb on and together we shall lay waste to those bastards.'

A wave of enormous power exploded from Naruto. Two steams of chakra swirled around him, one white and one black. The circled him in a cone and when they hit at the top, they fused together to form the shape of a fox's head as gray as the concrete beneath them. He fell to his knees and bent forward, his hands keeping the rest of his body from hitting the ground. His power continued to skyrocket, shaking the earth.

His face contorted and mutated into a muzzle, his teeth becoming fangs, his ears lengthened and moved to the top of his head. His hair turned white and spread across his body, his legs twisted so they bent the opposite way, his hands and feet become paws and three tails sprouted, each tipped with black, as were his ears. He started to grow until his head came to the same height he would be if he were standing in human form.

Everyone's eyes widened as they watched him change. He snarled at the men before him. Getting over the shock, Zabuza moved over to him and yanked Shin'en from the ground. He pulled his own sword and climbed up on to Naruto's back, a zanbato in each hand.