A/N - I am finally updating the wave arc. Don't kill me please! Kishimoto still owns Naruto... I think it's time someone reboots Naruto from Post Pain arc and writes a more realistic ending.

10-02-15

T72ndC - Wave Goodbye Part 1.

Despite the flawless operation to save Kaiza, Team 7 was worried about their upcoming confrontation with Zabuza. They knew Haku would be with him and likely the Demon Brothers. None of the team held out much hope in reaching the brothers, but they knew Haku was a different story and perhaps Zabuza. But that really was the question, what would it take to reach the Demon of the Mist?

Unlike the previous timeline this Team 7 wasn't lacking ability, far from it. Kakashi was fully war-ready. Since becoming conscious in this timeline his own personal workout had led him to retain the edge he'd had as an ANBU and sharpen it with those things he learned later about the Kamui. He did not use that particular jutsu openly, in fact except in training he had only used it a handful of times while running ANBU missions. The trio of 'Genin' also were far closer to Jonin level in tactics and base skills, though only just now with fully matured chakra coils were they approaching war-ready. Sasuke had awakened his Sharingan not long after his memories returned and Sakura was already storing up the chakra pool for the 1000 healings jutsu. In fact, of the three, only Naruto was lagging comparative to his abilities before, mainly due to the lack of ready Bijju cooperation, since they had yet to awaken. However, Naruto was perhaps more dangerous now... his arsenal included Fuinjutsu techniques.

Flashback 10 years

"Naruto, lets do some drawing... whatd'ya say?" Kushina handed her three year old boy a box of charcoal and paper. "Let's see if you can copy mommie? OK?" Kushina began to draw symbols on her paper in different orders. When the blond boy would ask what they were she simply said "They tell a story Naruto, when we finish I'll show you."

Over the next few months Naruto learned to draw the symbols, at first sloppily but later with more skill. He used the symbols to create stories like his mother showed him, each symbol representing a thing or an action and when drawn in a certain way she showed how they made a story come to life. In this way Naruto learned the story of the squirrel who stored nuts away for a later day. Or the camel who drank water, sometimes just a little and other times a whole lot. There were many stories and his mother showed how certain stories could be made together. This teaching method was how the Uzumaki clan became great seal masters, for they understood seals were not merely symbols but living ideas when chakra was added to them. From childhood, seals were their friends and could be counted on and understood like good friends. And just like real friendships, seals could be very complex, but to an Uzumaki they were like understanding an old friend. By the time Naruto had regained his memories of the past timeline he was well on the way to becoming a sealing specialist, and by the time he graduated the Academy only Kushina and Jiraiya could truly understand his aptitude.

End Flashback

Naruto created a series of sensor seals, he had his clones spread across the shoreline and main routes into the village, as well as some near Gato's headquarters. He even created a few clones that henged as Gato and some of his henchmen in that place just in case Zabuza managed to avoid the sensor grid.

"I'll know when they arrive. The sensor grid will activate if anyone with Chunin level chakra or higher approach." Naruto explained to Kakashi who marveled at the ease with which Naruto created each one. The seals when activated would trigger a seal Naruto had drawn upon his forearm, indicating the specific number of the seal triggered. Naruto also created a few seals which would seal away the chakra of whomever they were placed upon. These were often used by the T&I division itself on prisoners, and Naruto hoped they could place these at least upon the Demon Brothers and perhaps Haku. He had little hope they could place one on Zabuza before wearing the elite Jonin down enough to actually get it on him. Still there was always a chance.

The first day after the demise of Gato wore on without a signal from Naruto's sensor grid. Naruto wondered if perhaps Gato's men were mistaken that Zabuza would arrive so soon. Sakura had chosen to walk around the village to see if anyone was in need of medical attention due to neglect, accompanied by a Naruto clone who would notify her if Zabuza appeared. Meanwhile Sasuke and Kakashi took time to examine the extensive paperwork found in Gato's headquarters to collect anything of value to Konoha and set aside anything which would need to be returned to the citizens of the Land of Waves.

As the sun was nearing the western horizon a small vessel approached the land of waves and four individual disembarked. Two wore re-breathers while the tallest of the group had the infamous Kubikiribōchō strapped to his back, and the fourth, a slight built young man followed by his side.

"Zabuza sensai, can you trust this Gato?"

"It does not matter whether I can trust him, as long as his money is genuine. If he turns on us we will simply eliminate him. These rich fools all think they can buy safety, but they are weak, and ones like this Gato trust in numbers rather than skill Haku. We have little to worry about from him."

Team 7 sat around Tazuna's table eating the final meal of the day, not having any indication that Zabuza had arrived. All of them were anticipating the arrival of the Mist's Demon and his compatriots and were on edge.

Naruto tensed suddenly as the sensor seal on his forearm began to glow and change revealing the sensor which had triggered. "Kakashi, they're here."

"Where?" Kakashi looked at Naruto. Sasuke and Sakura stared at their teammate waiting on his reply.

"They've landed on the west shore not far from Gato's office, my clones can stall them only so long. We've got to act fast." All four of the team stood quickly and exited the kitchen.

Tsunami walked in carrying some desert "Where'd they go?"

The Mist missing ninja approached the building his instructions from the hiring agent described. "Somethings off, be on your guard!" Zabuza tilted his head at the Demon Brothers.

He had expected to see gangs of hired thugs, but instead only a few handful were scattered in the area. Not enough for a man of Gato's reputation. Thugs were cheap compared to Ninja, and in Zabuza's experience a man like Gato would squander the pittance it cost for them as a show of force, only opting for Ninja for the more extreme work, just to save a few Ryo. A single ninja might cost a little more than 30 thugs and not look so impressive, but they were worth far more in ability.

The thugs who were around the office were few and far between, and in fact acting far less like the dregs of society they were, that was the second tell for Zabuza. "Gōzu... Meizu

"Damn, that was no fun!" Gozu looked to his brother, but was caught short as a young girl came toward them with an outstretched hand and placed a seal on his shoulder before he could react. His brother wasn't so lucky, as another black haired teen had not only placed a seal on Meizu, but had pinned him to the ground with a knee to his back. "Who the hell are you?" Gozu shouted and then saw their Konoha badges. "Leaf scum heh? You think you can stop us that easy?" The pair of teens smirked at the brothers.

"I think you'll find you have little choice but to surrender, we don't want to kill you so just be nice little missing nin and shut up!" Sakura smiled but her voice was hard.

It didn't take long for Sasuke to bind the brothers in ninja wire. "That was easy. Let's get inside." The pair left the trussed up Demon Brothers and prepared to provide backup to Kakashi and Naruto if necessary.

Zabuza and Haku left the Demon Brothers behind them as they quickly made their way through the door of the office building. Within moments one shady looking thug stood in front of them. "Zabuza of the Mist?" But he quickly turned and sped from their sight.

"Zabuza sensai?" Haku questioned his master, uncertain what was going on. "It must be a trap."

"I'm certain of it Haku, but who set it?" He answered his own question. "It doesn't matter though, if it's Gato playing games they will pay one way or another."

Zabuza and Haku walked down several corridors, many times seeing thugs disappear around corners as they continued. Though not afraid, Zabuza was concerned the way this meeting was looking more like a setup and increased his guard. In another few moments they turned a corner and found themselves at an office door with Gato's name emblazoned on it. "Come in Zabuza of the Hidden Mist". A voice came from behind the door.

Zabuza had enough and charged the door drawing Kubikiribōchō to smash the door off it's hinges and splintering it into pieces that flew inward. Haku kept his guard up as well as he entered the office. Behind a large desk sat a high office chair turned away from them. "So you've finally come have you?"

"What is this game Gato or whom-ever you are?" Zabuza growled out as the chair rotated to reveal a lanky man with gravity defying silver hair and a sharingan spinning in one eye. Zabuza froze, instantly recognizing the visage from his bingo book.

"Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja..." Zabuza's senses were going off, this was indeed a trap. Before Kakashi said or did anything Zabuza brandished Kubikiribōchō across the desk intent on bisecting the ninja before him. But the blade merely bisected the chair and desk sending the pieces smashing to opposite walls as the shadow clone dispersed. "Haku... get out!" Zabuza turned the mighty blade of the Mist and tore a hole through the wall revealing another corridor. He continued to smash walls, making a quick path out of the building. Finally with a last strike the outside air streamed through a gaping hole as Zabuza and Haku exited the building opposite the side they had entered.

Standing in front of them were two ninjas. The real Kakashi and Naruto. "Finally made it out eh?" Kakashi eye smiled as he watched the duo exit the building.

"What does Konoha want with me? And where is Gato?" Zabuza seethed with tension, though only mildly tinted with anger.

"Only to talk... and Gato is dead" Kakashi said matter of factly. Zabuza eyed his opponent.

"Talk is for weaklings, and if you've killed Gato you've taken money out of my hand!" Zabuza made a quick hand sign calling forth his hidden mist jutsu, enveloping the area.

"We really don't have to do this you know." Kakashi sighed, though tensing his muscles for action.

"Haku, take the other one." Zabuza advanced on Kakashi position to engage him even as he instructed Haku.

"Yes Sensai." Haku sped toward the smaller figure of the two. "I do not know who you are, but I will not let you harm my master." Haku said as he appeared in front of the younger boy.

"I understand, you must do what you must to protect someone precious to you." Naruto said, causing Haku to tilt his head and narrow his eyes at the comment.

"Do you protect someone as well?" Haku said, wondering how this young boy was so similar to him.

"Yes Haku, I'm here to protect you and Zabuza from yourselves." The boy said without halting and in moments a set of seal-less shadow clones appeared beside him.

Haku halted as Naruto's words reached him. 'Protect you and Zabuza from yourselves.' What could the boy mean? Haku had never seen him before, how could he know anything about them, let alone them being precious to him. Surely his meaning must be a taunt? "I will not let you harm Zabuza sensai, I am his tool." Haku threw some ice senbon at Naruto to punctuate his words.

"No Haku, you are not, he is precious to you and you are precious to him, even if he doesn't know it himself." Even as he said that, Naruto slammed a seal to the ground which warped around the pair. Meanwhile the two clones he had summoned disappeared from their sight.

Making a two handed sign Haku drew forth his bloodline limit and created his Ice Dome jutsu trapping his opponent. "I am sorry, but I must destroy you first and assist Zabuza, my apologies." Entering one of the ice mirrors Haku's reflection appeared in all of the ice panels.

Naruto looked around, marveling at the jutsu from his past future. Things would be different this time, even as Haku began sending ice senbon toward Naruto at an increasing rate.

Haku watched as Naruto took a kunai and deflected all the senbon he threw even as he increased the rate. "You are fast, but you will fail to stop my jutsu."

Naruto laughed catching Haku off guard. "Haku, your jutsu is awesome it is true, but I am prepared for it." Naruto focused his chakra in his hand and began building a rasengan orb and then flattened it out like a cutting wheel. "This is my own awesome jutsu." And Naruto expanded the wheel to such a size that it began to grind against the dome's surface even as it was able to deflect senbon sent towards him. For a time it didn't seem to do anything to the dome as Haku's own chakra stabilized the damaged mirrors. But the constant damage continued, draining Haku's reserves.

"How can you be this powerful? You're younger than me?" Haku asked incredulous at the power displayed in front of him.

"Age makes no difference, simply the will to protect those precious to me gives me the strength to endure." Naruto said even as he tilted the rasenshriken style windscythe to apply pressure across even more mirrors. "I am sorry Haku, I know you believe in your sensai, but there is a lesson he must learn too." As Naruto spoke he added a small amount of fire chakra to the windsythe causing it to turn into a super heated scythe that melted the mirrors before Haku could repair them.

Haku's chakra was rapidly dropping as the connection to the jutsu was taxed so he finally released it as he propelled himself away from the superheated jutsu of his opponent. 'How can he be this strong?' Haku knew he was outclassed and understood there was nothing he could do against this young opponent. Only if he could reach Zabuza might he stand a chance, his sensai was much stronger. Making a quick single-hand sign Haku launch himself in a Shunshin, only to find he was blocked by a barrier. 'Why can't I leave?' Then he remembered the seal the boy had slammed to the ground, it must be isolating them.

"I told you, I am here to protect you from yourself Haku." Naruto said as he approach Haku from behind. "This barrier separates you from Zabuza so you can't do something foolish."