Take it to Heart

Normal Monologue

Thoughts/Emphasis

Jutsu

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Previously—

Naruto watched his sensei go, his expression thoughtful. Sakura for a second thought that he had spotted her and decided it was best to just try and sneak away now. She started to walk away, but the teen's next words stopped her in her tracks.

"I wish I could, but I'm just...too dangerous."

Take it to Heart—

It was only a few minutes past midnight, the moon just past its quarter state. The subtle, yet brilliant light shone down on the Wave's main port city, illuminating the silent down in the darkness. Down by the harbor, the ocean lapped at its shores with a quiet lull, the crests crashing against the sand and wood of the docks.

It was at this point that the serenity of the night was broken by a loud crash and a string of profanities following it. A middle-aged man with scruffy black hair kneeled down and inspected the crate he had just dropped, his mouth set into a scowl. Another older male appeared from around the corner of a store house, his eyes furious.

"What was that?" he demanded, storming over to the crouched figure. The man nearest to the broken cargo sighed.

"I'm sorry Tasuki, it slipped from my grasp." he replied, gathering the splintered wood in his arms. Tasuki exhaled noisily.

"Be more careful you oaf! Do you want Gato's thugs at our doorstep?! What part of 'hidden' don't you understand?" he shouted in a whispering voice, though the anger had turned to fear as he glanced around the harbor. The loader sighed.

"I'm sorry." he repeated again, walking quickly over to a slightly ajar door on the storage wall. Tasuki ran his fingers through his hair and clenched his jaw. Haich was a good man and a hard worker too. But that one little mistake jeopardized the whole operation. If Gato's thugs discovered what they were doing...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty in the least.

Tasuki, Haich, and about two dozen other men were part of a nameless organization that worked secretly against Gato's changes. They bailed people of their security cell not too far from the store, housed refugees that had also been fighting against the small tyrant, but had lost. And they sold smuggled in goods at a price Gato would call stealing. That was exactly what they were doing tonight. Unloading a ship that had sailed in only 10 minutes before, delivering precious cargo that would hopefully hold the city over until the bridge was completed.

Tasuki turned to return to the back-breaking labor awaiting him inside the storage house when a dark figure landed in front of him, crouched low to the ground. When he rose to his full height, the man was a good foot and a-half taller then Tasuki. The loader stumbled backwards slightly in shock, his eyes wide. The figure chuckled darkly, the sound low and raspy.

"Nice little party you have goin' on in there. Was I invited?" he asked, taking a step toward Tasuki, who took a retreating step back. The figure chuckled again, the action apparent that he had a smile stretched across his face. "And would Gato know of your smuggled produce? I don't believe he would be very happy." the voice added. For good measure, he kicked over a couple of boxes that were stacked near him, the pile toppling over, spewing apples and oranges all over the ground.

By now, the commotion had attracted the attention of the workers inside. A couple poked their heads out the door and a gasp was head when Haich saw what was going on. He ducked back inside and in only a few seconds, a great mass of loaders where pouring out the door, pipes and crow bars in hand. The dark figure smirked drawing a large sword from its place on his back.

"This will be fun." he muttered, whipping around to meet the first person that approached. His blade clashed with a crow bar, sparks flying from the instant contact. The figure spun on his heel, flipping around until he was behind his attacker, in a great spot to go in for a kill.

But he didn't. He only knocked him in the back with the handle, making the man slump to the ground, unconscious. A second and third opponent came at him, quite positive that he wouldn't kill them. But they didn't know how wrong they were. Oddly enough, he didn't show the next few the mercy he had with the first. He swung strongly to the right, taking off the hand of the loader that had tried to clunk him on the head with a heavy metal pipe. The worker fell to the ground with a scream of pain, clutching the stub close to his side. The third was cut across the chest, the gouge deep and threatening. The fourth and fifth were just knocked aside, both sent sprawling into the water six feet below. Number seven almost got his head sliced clean off, but he ducked at the last second, avoiding the death blow. But he didn't get clean out of the water; he received a jarring kick to the head instead, causing him to fly into the brick wall opposite of the fight.

In a matter of a minute, all of the brave people that had attacked the mysterious thug were either unconscious or in the bay. All that was left was Tasuki, kneeling on the ground near the man that had been cut deeply. The figure began to approach him, his footsteps heavy, echoing around the silent alleyway.

"You must pay for your treachery...as all you 'heroes' do." the man spat, coming closer still, his sword shining deadly in the moonlight. Tasuki closed his eyes tight, waiting for the pain of death to hit him. He heard the sound of metal slicing through the air, and then...nothing. The loader dared to open his eye a crack, his curiosity being more dominant then his fear for the a few seconds. But what he saw caused him to gasp in shock.

Standing in front of was a boy, his back to him. He was wearing black cargo pants, complimented by a dark crimson T-shirt. A black sash was wrapped around his chest, flowing from the right shoulder to the left side. He had shaggy raven hair, with stuck out wildly in all directions. Black armor was protecting his arms, starting at his wrist and ending at his elbow; he was using this to his advantage and blocking the man's large blade. The first figure scowled.

"Standing in my way is never a good idea...especially if you're child." the man chided. The boy growled lowly, the sound threatening.

"Even as a child, I have more power then you would ever dream to have Zabuza Momochi." the teen retorted coolly, the tone of his voice strong and confident. The first shinobi, Zabuza, recoiled in shock, but quickly regained his stature. He lifted his large sword from the boy's raised arm, slamming it into the ground, the tip digging in a few inches.

"How do you know my name?" Zabuza asked, his voice truly perplexed and surprised. The teen chuckled, the action short and instant.

"Tell me Zabuza...do you really believe that I would be so naive as to give out information? I would think someone as...intelligent, and I use the word loosely, would know that." the teen replied sarcastically, the cockiness practically dripping from his words. Zabuza made a move, like he was about to attack the boy but stopped, his body tense.

"Well...I see how it is. A tough guy with attitude." he spat, his teeth gritted in pure fury. He raised his blade again, the cold metal glinting fiercely in the two's eyes. The teen didn't waste a second waiting for something to happen; he moved. In the blink of an eye, he grasped Tasuki's collar and flashed over to the storage door, setting him on the steps.

"Stay here." the teen said firmly. He drew a single katana from a sheath that was strapped to his back. The blade was long; about three-quarters of his body length. The metal was a deep red in color with black flames climbing up from the base, swirling in dancing patterns. The hilt was a shining gold with engraved symbols, though the loader couldn't tell what they said from here. The handle was covered with thick, black leather, creating a grip that would be harder to dislodge then a normal material.

This took only a matter of seconds and by now, Zabuza had discovered where they had vanished to. He charged, sword at his side, coming up fast on the teen. Just as he was a few feet away, the boy sprang into action, launching himself at the Mist shinobi. He flipped over his head while at the same time lashing outward, cutting him across the soldier. He landed softly on his feet and attacked again, this time slashing a deep gouge across his back. Zabuza grunted in pain and twisted wildly, trying to land a blow on the teen that was doing such a number on the high-class murderer.

The teen jumped away, crouching on a wall about seven feet from the ground. He stood to full height and went through a string of hand seals, lifting his fingers to his mouth and said "Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

A large raging fireball sped toward the Mist shinobi, but he wasn't to be outdone. Zabuza speedily molded his chakra and returned, "Suiryuudan no Jutsu!"

The water and fire met and in a cloud of steam, both attacks dissipated, filling the air with a shroud. Zabuza saw this as his perfect chance and flashed over to the wall the boy had been standing on. But once he arrived only a second later, he glanced up to see...that he was gone. He looked around, his eyes scrutinizing every shadow and silhouette, searching for the unknown, yet powerful teenage boy.

A jarring blow to his back sent him sprawling into the brick wall in front of him, the impact smashing his face painfully. He stepped back almost instantly, his hand flying to his nose, which felt broken. But the raven-haired teen was relentless. He whipped out again, this time kicking Zabuza in the stomach, causing him to soar upwards. He flashed quickly up, rising above Zabuza's body. He flipped in a tight circle in mid-air and then slammed his heel into his back. Zabuza spiraled down to the ground and hit it hard. His body left an indent in the cement, dust and bits of debris floating in the air around him. Zabuza peeled himself out of his ditch and stood shakily, his hand clutching his side, his eye squeezed shut in pain. The boy landed only a few feet away from him, his face hidden by the shadows. Zabuza's breath was labored; he still hadn't recovered completely from the battle with the Konaha ninja only two days ago.

"Who are you?" the Mist shinobi asked. The boy smirked and stepped out of the shadow, revealing what he had been hiding for so long. The action didn't answer the question what so ever. His face was covered by a mask, concealing his eyes and left cheek. The edge went from his high cheekbone on the right, across his face and the bridge of his nose, dancing across his left cheek and ending on the side of his jaw. There was a thin white line going down the center of the mask, separating the black side on the bottom and the red side on the top. The teen's blood red eyes shone greatly, his smile small yet cocky.

"They call me...Fire Fox.", he stated. Zabuza's eyes widened; he had heard much about the teen that was saving people left and right across the Five Great Nations.. He was considered a hero...a living legend. And he was only 13 years old.

Before Zabuza could say anything to Fire Fox, the teen smirked again and glanced at Tasuki, who was still sitting still as stone by the door of the storage house. He nodded to the man and slowly raised his arm, a single 'kanji' held in front of his chest. He looked back at Zabuza and winked.

Then, in a burst of fire...was gone.

The Next Morning—

Tsunami placed another bowl of rice on the table and smiled as she sat down. Sasuke reached over and took it, piling on third helping of the stuff on his plate. Sakura was quietly talking with Tsunami about the town while Kakashi and Tazuna discussed the bridge's production. Through all this commotion, Tsunami's son, Inari, was picking at his food silently, his eyes on the ground.

A loud crash in the direction of the stairs interrupted the conversations. Their eyes all shot to the doorway and Naruto immerged, his hand on his forehead. He sat heavily in a chair across from Inari and next to Sakura, grabbing a small bowl of rice and digging in. Sasuke smirked subtly and opened his mouth to speak, but Naruto beat him to the chase.

"Shut it." he muttered, shoving a bite in his mouth. Sasuke smirked again, this time wider.

"Did you fall down the stairs?" he asked incredulously. Naruto scowled deeply and stood up abruptly. He walked over to where Sasuke was sitting on his other side, his bowl in hand. He smirked and flipped the bowl over, the rice dumping all over the raven-haired boy's head. The blonde walked into the kitchen and placed the now-empty dish in the sink. He strolled back out and headed towards the backdoor. Sasuke was brushing wet rice bits out of his hair, his onyx eyes following the boy with a glare hidden in them, masked by the subtle impassiveness that usually rested in them. His good mood had vanished along with Naruto's outer exhaustion.

"I'll be out training." he stated and with a sudden jolt forward lurched out the door and into the woods.

In the Market, Later that Day—

Sakura and Tazuna were walking to the last store for the day, their arms loaded with bags full of various items. Wood, nails, clothes, medicine, and some ninja tools Kakashi had requested. Their final stop was a discount shop stocked with food and eating utensils for a cheap price. When the two entered the door, the manager glanced up and his eyes lit up instantly. He rushed over, leaving a man at the counter in mid-purchase. He approached Tazuna and whispered something unheard in the old man's ear. Tazuna's eyes widened and he nodded at the clerk, handing Sakura a list and some money, and then following him to a back room. The man at the counter exhaled noisily and slammed some bills down on the table, picked up his bags and left in a frustrated rush.

The pink-haired girl wandered around the tiny shack, searching for the items that Tsunami had asked for them to buy. Some Sakura was familiar with and others were just down-right weird. A fruit in the shape of a star, a vegetable that twisted more then a pretzel - she couldn't even pronounce the names. Good thing Tsunami had written down what they looked like, otherwise Sakura would be completely lost.

Just as the medic was pulling out the money, Tazuna emerged from the back room, his friend coming behind him. He returned to his post at the register and smiled as he took the shinobi's money. Sakura nodded in thanks and chased after the back of the retreating bridge builder. When she caught up his expression was one of thoughtfulness, his wrinkled face upturned in wonder.

"What is it Tazuna?" Sakura asked. The bridge builder sighed and ran a hand through his grey hair. He glanced around and lowered his voice, as though not to give away their conversation.

"Gato makes the price on all his merchandise triple of what they would be. It puts people in debt and causes them to go bankrupt...and that's if they can even afford it in the first place. Others go hungry night after night and the death rate had rose a little every year since Gato moved into the port. So, a few months ago, a few people and I started an organization...one that resisted Gato's ideas secretly. The organization has greatly increased in members, reaching to about 30. But basically, we help people that are under Gato's hand of cruelty. It could range from taking in refugees that Gato's thugs are searching for or bringing in smuggled goods that we sell at a really low price. Like the store we were just in; it's run by my long-time friend - he's in the organization as well."

"Last night, a ship came in bearing a big load of supplies that would last us over until the bridge was finished. But while the loaders were storing in the warehouse, they were attacked by one of Gato's thugs...the same one that fought Naruto on the way here." he explained. Sakura stopped short in her tracks, her eyes wide. Zabuza...was alive? She thought he had been killed by that ANBU, but...then how was he here? And if he was here, in the port, when would his next attack be?

Sakura glanced around subtly, her eyes scoping for any potential threats in the nearby area. But it was all clean; not a Mist swordsman in sight.

"He beat all the loaders that came at them, though thankfully, none were killed. Gravely injured, yes…but alive at least. It was only the main leader of that night's cargo, Tasuki that remained. We think Zabuza was sent to kill him and then destroy all the produce that had been shipped. But just as he was moving in to finish the job, a boy appeared."

Sakura looked up in interest; a boy? From what she knew, the port didn't have a ninja academy or even a team of shinobi to protect them. What child would be brave…or foolish enough to take on a skilled swordsman alone?

"The boy, about your age I heard, fought with Zabuza for only a few minutes and beat him, easily by the looks of things. He had the man gasping for breath with only a couple of blows. When Zabuza asked him his name, he answered, but it was very peculiar. He said, 'They call me…Fire Fox.'".

Tsunami's House, Dinner—

"He was here! He was actually here!!" Sakura chanted to herself, though most people at the table could hear her.

"Yup. Tasuki said he said that and then vanished in a burst of fire. Zabuza disappeared directly after that…probably going after the boy." Tazuna explained his face lit up in a small smile. Sakura nodded.

"He beat him single-handed! And in only a matter of minutes!!" she exclaimed, her face flush with excitement. Sasuke scoffed.

"Please. He's just some hot shot trying to get the attention of big money payers. It's all about the reward for him, I can bet you." he murmured, gaining a glare from the pink-haired girl.

"If he was really after the money, then don't you think he'd stick around after he saves people? He always disappears after the job's done…I can't think of a time where he's ever gotten a payment for the things he's done." she countered. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"He's nothing more then a show-off." he insisted, taking a sip of his water. Naruto sat silently next to him, his expression blank, and his eyes on the wood of the table.

"He's a hero, a legend!" Sakura replied, gaining a small smile from Naruto, un-noticed by everyone. "He's incredibly strong, brave, and gracious. He's never killed a man no matter what the situation and has never asked for anything in return. A lot of people look up to him, admire him! Now tell me Sasuke…what have been your accomplishments in life so far?" she ranted, slamming the Uchiha for once in her life. The room was silent, Naruto laughing hysterically in his mind. The serene was broken by a soft, un-laughing chuckle.

"There's no such thing as heroes." Tsunami's son, Inari, muttered under his breath, though everyone heard him as clearly as if he had spoken aloud. Naruto raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Without heroes this world would be in complete chaos." he commented coolly. Inari snorted.

"Bad guys would just leave us alone if there weren't any heroes." he retorted, the brim of his hat shadowing his eyes. The blonde leaned forward; he was always eager for a challenge.

"If you really believe that then you're not as smart as I thought." the teen shot back, his voice still calm, his face still impassive. Inari's jaw set into a grimace.

"Look who's talking! And besides, all heroes do is die anyways!! What's so heroic about that?!" he yelled in return, his face slightly pink with anger. Naruto gritted his teeth; man, this kid was annoying.

"If they're dying for something important to them then it doesn't matter what happens to them in the long run. As long as their important thing is safe, everything else is worthless…including their life." The teen explained, trying to get the boy to understand. But boy was he thick headed.

"But they don't even think of how that would affect the people their 'protecting'. Don't they put into account of what their important people would react when they die?" he said, his eyes starting to pool slightly with tears. Naruto sighed deeply, exasperated, but his next words were soft.

"Of course they do. But that doesn't mean it's going to stop them. If their family is on the line and it's the choice between their death and yours, the answer is pretty obvious." Naruto said his words quiet and heart-felt; something very rare from the blonde. Inari glared at the young teen, his eyes hard and angry.

"What would you know!? You have a perfect life, surrounded by friends and a job you love doing!!!! You wouldn't know that first thing about losing someone important to you!! You don't even comprehend what it's like to be alone!!!! YOU JUST DON'T KNOW!!" Inari shouted, his fury burning bright.

Instantly after the words left his mouth, Naruto changed. His warm expression in his eyes vanished in a second, replaced by the hard, steely look they usually had. His fists clenched tightly, so hard that the fork he forgot he was holding dug into his palm, drawing three drops of blood. He stood up abruptly, slamming his hands on the table and releasing the silverware in his grasp. He forcefully shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and started to walk away, his expression for once clear – anger.

"Naruto?" Sakura called after him, starting to get up.

"Don't even." he answered in a low, menacing voice, clearly meaning stay away.

"But Naruto, please just-"

"Sakura…please. Just…leave me alone." the boy interrupted, but it wasn't rage in his tone now. It was one of deep sorrow and when he glanced back, trying to instill a firm look in his eye, they could see that he failed. His cerulean orbs were unmasked for the first time in their eyes and it hurt just to look at him. The pure pain and sadness radiating from him at that moment was overwhelming, like a wave of the ocean pushing over a mighty boat.

And without another word from anyone, he walked out the door, leaving behind a silent thicker then wood.

Woods, a Distance away from Tsunami's House—

The blonde was sitting on the shore of a small pond, staring at his reflection in its glassy surface. He absently threw pebbles into the water, the ripples of the impact stirring his image, making it shaky and uneven…just like how he felt inside right now.

A soft thud behind him tore him from his thoughts, his eyes flashing behind him, yet his body never moving. He only had to wait a few seconds as the figure approached, and soon Kakashi's hair appeared in the pond's surface.

He sighed and took a seat next to his pupil, his mind whirring for words to say. He opened his mouth several times, trying to start up a conversation, but stopped, deciding it wasn't right. Finally, he said something simple.

"What happened back there? I've never seen so much raw emotion in your face." he asked quietly, watching the blonde closely, as to interpret his actions. Naruto shrugged.

"Nothing…and it was a temporary slip up. It won't happen again." the teen muttered, his eyes only on the ground. Kakashi ran a hand through his hair and was about to comment but Naruto broke through his words.

"Kakashi-sensei…I thought about what you told me the other day. And…I really do want to trust people. I just don't know how." the boy admitted. Kakashi smirked; maybe they were getting somewhere after all.

"We'll get you started…like training with Sasuke and Sakura as a team. That'll help." he suggested. Naruto smiled faintly and nodded. His eyes returned to the water and suddenly his eyes sparked.

"But first…I have a request." the blonde added. Kakashi glanced at him in question. Naruto's smile grew, if only a little.

"Can you teach me that walk on water thing?"

~12 pages…longer then my usual 7-8. People were saying longer chapters would be good and though I never thought it would be this long…well, I guess it just worked out. Until next time, Happy 2009!

Next Update: January 10

Kyubbi-Kitsune

Next Chapter: Trust

"Hey Sakura…could I talk to you for a second?"

Jutsu—

Suiryuudan no Jutsu: Water Dragon Projectile

Goukakyuu no Jutsu: Great Fireball