Author's Note: Loyal readers! Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews! I love to hear your opinions! Now, updates: There are only THREE more chapters for the Pairing Poll. And, the poll for Sarutobi Hiruzen living or dying will end on Chapter 18. That's FOUR chapters away. Please vote now before the polls close! Thank you for your time, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 14: Tick Tick Tick Tick...
"I'm home," Tazuna called as he walked into the door, the three genin fallowing.
"Father," a women said running to him from the kitchen. "Your safe!"
"Thanks to these ninja," the old man said.
"Thank you," the women said. "My name is Tsunami. Welcome to our home."
"Thank you, for having us here," Naruto said. "Is there somewhere I can put him. He's kinda heavy."
Naruto pointed to Kakashi—who was still having an impromptu piggyback ride—, that was still unconscious.
"Yes, we have a spare room upstairs," Tsunami said. "Come. Follow me."
...Kakashi's POV: and unknown time later...
I woke up, and my body was sore all over. Thankfully, someone thought to cover my Sharingan eye. Quickly, I did a small body check. Arms, good. Legs, good. Pride? Not so good.
"Nii-san," Naruto sighed. "Your awake. Thank goodness. I was getting really worried."
"I'm fine, Naruto-kun," I said. "I've had far worse in the past."
Naruto just nodded, opting not to say anything. However, anyone could see he was still worried.
"Ah, I see your awake," Shikamaru said. "So how does showing off feel?"
I snorted in annoyed.
"It's logical to think he was doing his best," Shino said.
"He played better at shoji, and shoji has more stragey than he used against Zabuza," Shikamaru said. "I believe from the data I gathered about him, he was trying to show off to us since it was the first time we saw him fight seriously. However, that thinking obviously backfired, as WE had to save HIM."
Shino and Naruto nodded, however a tick mark was steadily forming on Kakashi's forehead.
"Alright," Kakashi said. "Enough about the fight. Zasuba—"
"Is alive," Shikamaru said. "We know. We've been discussing tactics while you were sleeping."
"Why do I have a feeling that if you weren't just genin, then you wouldn't need me," Kakashi said pouting.
"We need you, nii-san," Naruto said. "Now, can you help us plan and train?"
Kakashi nodded. "Tomorrow we train, but right now let's go over what we know..."
...The next day at an unknown clearing...
"Alright, my cute little students," Kakashi said. "Today I'm going to teach you something special!"
"What are we learning," Naruto asked.
"We're going to be learning your elemental affinities," Kakashi said.
"Are we ready for that," Shikamaru asked. "Usually people have to wait until they're Chunin to learn elemental jutsu."
"Well, you've all mastered the tree climbing and water walking exercisers," Kakashi said. "So you have the control for it. Plus, I believe I can trust you not to blow yourselves up."
The genin sweat dropped.
"Anyway," Kakashi said. "Take these pieces of paper and channel some of your chakra into it. If your element is fire it will burn, water will dampen it, earth will make it crumble, lighting will crinkle it, and wind will split it in half."
Shino was the first to pick up a piece of chakra paper. He channeled chakra through it and the paper crumbled.
"Earth," Kakashi said. "Not unexpected. A lot of people in your Clan are earth types."
Shikamaru was the next to grab a piece of chakra paper and channel his chakra through it. The paper dampened.
"Water," Kakashi said. "And, that's also not unexpected."
Naruto was the last to pick up the chakra paper. However, when he channeled his chakra through it it split in half and then set on fire.
"A prominent wind affinity with a partial affinity to fire," Kakashi said. "Well, now, that was unexpected. There are not many wind users in Konoha. In fact, wind affinities are pretty rare. Okay boys, here are is a scroll for your element. I want you to follow the instructions on how to manipulate your element before you try to do a jutsu. Now get started, I'm going to go guard Tazuna for the day."
The boys sat down and started to read their scrolls. After they read the instructions on the first training exercise, Naruto got up and picked up a leaf to try and cut it in half, Shikamaru took out a his canteen and tried to draw a line of water from it, and Shino picked up a rock and tried to crumble it with his chakra. The boys stayed like that for the rest of the day, only going in to eat lunch. By the time the sun darkened, their progress was minimal.
"Well, how's it going," Kakashi said as he popped into being.
"I have a small cut on the leaf," Naruto said.
"I'm able to move the water," Shikamaru said and he flopped onto his back.
"A small crack appeared on the rock," Shino said.
"That's wonderful," Kakashi said. "It takes a long time to completely master your elements. Sometimes it will take years. But, your doing a great job, keep up the good work.
...At Tazuna's House: Two Days Later...
It's been two days since Team Kakashi has arrived in Wave. Kakashi has started to move more easily, but they still estimated he will be fully healed in five more days—along with Zabuza. The boys' elemental training has been progressing nicely. Naruto can finally cut a leaf in half, Shino can crumble the rock, and Shikamaru is half way through the next step.
"Hey, Shika-nii," Naruto asked.
"Hmm," Shikamaru replied.
"What's it like having a mom," Naruto asked.
The question was barely above a whisper, but everyone heard it. Then, the table suddenly got very quite. Tazuna and Tsunami stared at Naruto in shock, and Shino and Kakashi were quietly waiting for the answer.
"Well, having a mother is like being warm," Shikamaru said. "It's having someone encourage you, fussing over you when your sick or hurt, whipping away tears. They read you stories and wrap you in hugs. They sing to you and make sure you eat your vegetables. They kiss your pains away and and shower you with love. Having a mother is like waking up to the sun after a cold night. They give you warmth and comfort."
Throughout Shikamaru's description, Naruto had his eyes closed trying to picture it. His eyes watered with grief for never knowing this warmth, and envy because his friend had it.
"Shino-nii, can you describe having a dad," Naruto asked.
"A dad is the curbstone," Shino said. "He's the one that lays down the rules and expects you to follow them. But, he is also kind and loving. He chases away your monsters and teaches you how to live in the world. He's stern, but a gentle guide. He's like a double edged sword. But, like a mother's warmth, you will always know that he will be there because he's a stern foundation."
Naruto got up, and started to walk up the stairs, but Shikamaru stopped him.
"Naru," Shika called. "You know that your apart of our family, right? Even our parents think that your like another son."
"I know," Naruto said. "But, sometimes I wonder what growing up with parents would be like. No one ever really told me growing up. And, when I asked Jiji he'd drift off, Bakuar-nii smiled and said that I was his family, and the villagers told me to go die. That I didn't deserve one."
"Naru," Shino breathed.
"It's okay," Naruto said. "I'm fine. It's just, now that I know what it's like to be loved, I wonder what my parents would've thought of you. What they'd be like... You know?"
Naruto sat back down and put his head in his hands, and Kakashi—who was sitting beside him—put his hand on his shoulder.
Naruto gave a dry laugh, "I'm sorry. I'm being silly. I should be focused on Zabuza and what's to come."
Before anyone could say anything, a small boy walked into the room.
Obviously misreading the situation he yelled, "Why are you trying so hard! Your all going to die!"
"We're ninja," Shino said. "It's logical to think we could die on any mission, but you shouldn't be worried. We'll protect your grandfather with our lives, and we will be prepared for what's coming."
"Why do you even care," Inari shouted. "Your all so happy! You know nothing about our suffering!"
Something in Naruto snapped, and his anger rose. Everyone around him tensed, feeling his unconscious release of KI.
"We don't know anything about suffering," Naruto asked. "Kid, we're ninja. We know all there is about suffering. Have you ever had to kill a man? We have. Have you ever had to walk into the room where your father killed himself? Your teammate dying in front of you? Or maybe you had to know your sensei sacrificed himself to the Shinigami to stop a raving bijuu leaving you all alone? No. Have you ever had your entire Clan killed by your brother? A kid in my village did. Have you had to grow up without a mother? No? Well, your obviously not an orphan. You never lived in the streets. You never had a village that hated you and wished you were dead. You never had an assassination attempt on you. You never had the hospital refuse you service or stores refusing to let you inside. You never had a brother that was killed for helping you! Who are you to talk about suffering! Your just a cry baby! So go sulk and do nothing!"
Naruto than turned sharply and stormed outside, and Inari ran to his room to cry.
Kakashi sighed and got up to go talk to Inari.
...The next morning...
An effeminate figure was walking in a clearing, humming as he looked for herbs. However, he stopped when he saw a boy with the brightest blonde hair he ever seen laying in underneath a tree. ...It was the same boy that fought against Zabuza, a Konoha Shinobi.
The figure walked over to the boy, reaching for a senbon. But, he stopped and decided to just wake the boy up.
"Hey there," he said. "You'll get a cold sleeping out here."
"I'm awake," Naruto said as he got up. "But, I should be asking what your doing here."
"I'm gathering herbs," the figure said. "My friend is sick."
"I see," Naruto said. "Do you need some help?"
"I'd like that," the figure said. "My name is Haku."
"Naruto," the genin replied. "What herb are you collecting?"
Haku held out a leaf to be inspected. However, much to his suprise, Naruto took it from his hands and started to feel it.
"Why don't you just memorize what it looks like," Haku asked.
"I can't," Naruto admitted. "I can't see."
"Then, how are you a ninja," Haku asked perplexed. "You are a ninja, aren't you."
"Yes I am," Naruto said laughing. "I know you might think that I have a disadvantage, and I do sort of, but I get can get by. I have my own ways of "seeing"."
Haku nodded, still confused.
"So," Haku asked. "Do you have any precious people?"
"Yes," Naruto said. "I do. They're the reason I get up in the morning."
"Then you must be strong," Haku said. "I believe that to be truly strong, you have to have someone you want to protect."
"My nii-san said something like that once," Naruto said. "And, sensei too. My nii-san said that to live you need someone to fight for, and to be strong you have to have known love. My sensei passed down what his teammate once told him, "Those that follow the rules are trash, but those that abandon their comrades are worse than trash"."
"They must be really strong," Haku said amazed.
"They are...were," Naruto said. "My nii-san and my sensei's teammate are both dead. But, Kakashi-sensei is still alive and giving pathetic excuses."
Haku laughed and got up while he dusted off his pants.
"Thank you for helping me," he said. "I hope we meet again."
"We will, hunter-nin-san," Naruto said. "Give my regards to Zabuza."
Naruto walked off, leaving a stunned Haku.
...Bridge...
"Are you sure that your clones can opperate long distances," Shikamaru asked again.
"I'm positive," Naruto said. "How do you think I pulled off my chain pranks around the village?"
"Those were you," Shikamaru yelled. "You pranked half a dozen places in under an hour!"
"Kami blessed Kage Bunshin," Naruto said.
Shikamaru sighed at his teammates antics, and said, "Well, let's just hope everything with Tsunami and Inari is alright..."
...Tazuna's House...
A woman screamed as she was tugged around and a blade was placed at her neck.
"Calm down and come with us, and we won't have to hurt you," a thug said.
"Mom," Inari called as he ran down the stairs.
"Inari," Tsunami yelled. "Don't come down here!"
It was too late as Inari was already in view.
"Gato didn't say anything about two hostages," a second thug said. "We should kill him."
"Don't you lay a hand on him," Tsunami yelled. "Or I'll bite off my tongue!"
Meanwhile, Inari was frozen in fear. Thoughts flew around his head until he remembered what Naruto and Kakashi said.
...Flashback...
"Inari," Kakashi said as he sat down beside the inconsolable boy. "Naruto didn't mean to be so harsh. But, what you said struck him. He's had a very hard life. Harder than your own. He's never had parents or a lot of people that cared about him. He once had a man that took care of him. Naruto called him "nii-san". However, the village hated Naruto so much that they killed the man. Naruto had to walk into his apartment one afternoon and find that his nii-san had been tortured and hung. All because the village hated him. Did you know that Naruto tried to kill himself after that? He used to cry and was so desprate for escape that he tried multiple times, but one dad the Hokage made him promise to stop. When that happened, Naruto finally realized what he was doing to the people he loved. He stopped crying, and tried to be strong for them. He wanted to make them proud, because that's what his nii-san would do. So you see, to Naruto, you crying and wallowing in your misery was offending to his nii-san, and Naruto got angry. That's why he yelled at you."
"So, Naruto was strong because of the people he loved," Inari said.
"Yes, Naruto once told me that his nii-san said, "To live you need someone to fight for, and to be strong you have to have known love. To love you have to give everything you are to protect that person. That is the secret to life and happiness"," Kakashi said.
...Flashback end...
"Let go of my mom," Inari yelled as he ran at the thugs.
Naruto, Inari thought. I want to be like you and your nii-san. I want to be strong. Please! I have to save my mom. I can't be scared anymore. I want to protect her. Give her everything I have... Just like you would. Iwill be strong!
One of the thugs raised his sword, but was stopped by a kuani to the heart, and the other thug got a kunai in the kidneys.
"Good job, Inari," another one of the clones said to distract the two civilians from the clones dragging out the bodies. "I'm proud of you. You protected your mom."
"Nii-san," Inari cried as he hugged the clone. "I did it! I gave everything I had like your nii-san said to!"
"And you were very brave," Naruto's clone said. "Stupid, but brave none the less."
...Bridge...
Mist was clouding up the bridge, and unconscious citizens were lying on the ground.
"He's here," Kakashi said. "Stay on guard."
"Well, well, well," Zabuza said. "I see everyone is here, good."
Zabuza made water clones, but the kikaichu that were flying around drained them of chakra before they could fully form.
"Smart," the missing nin said. "You had them flying around before you got here."
"Haku," Zabuza said.
"Hai, Zabuza-sama," Haku said.
"Shino, guard Tazuna," Kakashi said. "Shikamaru, Naruto, you two battle the fake hunter-nin."
"Hai, sensei," the tree said.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," Naruto called out as he charged forward.
The battle was short, as Haku made thousands ice needles that flew in every direction, shredding the clones.
"Shika," Naruto called out.
Shikamaru did his Kage Mane, but an ice mirror formed and Haku escaped. Haku then called out "Demon Ice Mirrors" and the two were trapped in a dome of ice. Haku then started to appear around the dome through the mirrors and pelt them with needles.
"Shika, plan," Naruto said as another hail of senbon needles rained on them.
Shikamaru was sitting down, his hands in his thinking pose.
"How far are you in your wind jutsus," Shikamaru asked.
"Not far," Naruto said. "I just finished the last stage."
"Can you try to do one," the shadow user asked.
Naruto nodded, and ran through the seals calling, "Wind Style: Great Break through!"
The needles flew in the opposite direction, and Shikamaru sighed in relief.
"How many times can you pull that off," Shikamaru asked.
"That was a lucky shot," Naruto admitted, sheepishly.
"Then, I don't know what to do," Shikamaru said. "He's shredding your clones, he's to fast for my shadow, and Shino isn't here for his bugs."
"What about a genjutsu," Naruto asked.
"It wouldn't be noticeable in the mist," Shikamaru said. "We only have perception genjutsus. For all we know is that it could help his aim."
Naruto sighed as he thought about the situation. He stared at Haku as he throw the senbon. By now him Shikamaru looked like a variation of a pincushion. Naruto analyzed the situation again and again, and he kept ending up with Haku's inhuman speed being the problem. Naruto growled as he watched Haku leap from mirror to mirror in an unknown pattern.
After what seemed like hours—but was just a couple seconds—Naruto started to hear a ticking noise. Naruto tried to block it out, as he tried to recognize the pattern Haku was using, but it kept getting louder. Then, suddenly it seemed as if Haku slowed down. And, Naruto finally saw a pattern.
"Shika," Naruto whispered. "Fourth mirror to your right. Throw your shadow there."
"What," Shikamaru asked. "Why?"
"Shika-nii," Naruto yelled. "NOW!"
Shikamaru sighed a "troublesome", but did as he was told. And, to his surprise, the fake hunter nin was caught in his shadow.
"How," Shikamaru asked.
"I don't know," Naruto said. "I just knew he was going to be there."
"Hurry," Shikamaru said. "Tie him up, I can't hold the shadow much longer."
Naruto nodded and tied him up, and suddenly, they heard lightning crackling.
Author's Note:
Here's how the poll is going so far:
Pairings
NaruHina- 10
NaruIno- 1
NaruTen- 16
NaruMei- 4
NaruTayu- 1
NaruAnko- 1
ShikaTem- 18
ShikaSaku- 2
ShinoHina- 12
ShinoFuu- 11
ShinoTen- 3
ShinoSuzumebachi- 1
ShinoOC- 1
KakaAnko- 5
Kaka no pairing-1
Sasuke's Defect
Yes- 8
No- 3
Sarutobi Hiruzen Lives
Yes- 7
No- 0
I got an interesting request. Someone asked me to kill off Sasuke. I decided I'll let you decide!
Sasuke Dead
Yes- 4
No- 0
WARNING: FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DIDN'T READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE BEGINING OF THE CHAPTER AND/OR FORGOT, THE POLL FOR BLOODLINES IS NOW CLOSED THIS CHAPTER! AND, THE PAIRING VOTE WILL END IN CHAPTER 17. PLEASE VOTE NOW BEFORE THE POLL CLOSES!