It had been seven days, and in that time there had been no sign of Zabuza or his partner. They were all sitting at the dinner table. The members of team seven were all joking and laughing with one another. Kakashi was telling what sounded like a tall tale of how he had once spotted Jiraiya peeping at a women's bathhouse back when he was still a stiff necked Genin. "So I tell him he is breaking the law and that his behavior goes against the ninja code."

"What happened next?" Kiba asked eagerly.

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. "Well he started doing this weird dance hopping about on one leg telling me he was a great and powerful ninja."

Naruto laughed. "Oh yeah! My mom calls that dance the, 'pervy shuffle.'"

"So what happened next Kakashi-sensei?" Hinata asked curious.

"Well I tried to perform a citizen's arrest and we started arguing, when who should come out of the baths, in nothing but a towel, but Tsunade?"

"Godmother?!" Naruto burst out.

Kakashi chuckled and nodded. "The very same. At the time they were still teammates. Well of course the second she saw him there she knew what he'd been up to. And she proceeded to beat him pretty much within an inch of his life."

"No way!" Kiba exclaimed. Akimaru barked his disbelief as well.

"Did that really happen or is this just another one of your silly lies?" Naruto looked suspicious.

Kakashi looked earnest. "Oh come now, have I ever lied to any of you?"

"YES!!" All three students shout in one voice. Immediately not only team seven but Tazuna and Tsunami burst out laughing.

Inari sat there miserable. As he sat there he began to weep.

Hinata was the first to notice. "Inari are you all right?" She asked with a concerned tone. "Why are you crying?"

The laughter dissipated and all eyes turned to the boy. A few days earlier Tazuna had explained how the boy's father figure, a hero in his eyes, had been executed trying to oppose Gato and his thugs.

"You're all idiots!" The boy declared loudly. "You train and you patrol and what good do you think it will do? No matter what you do you'll never be a match for Gato's thugs! You all act cool and talk tough but big strong guys like that are always too much for people weaker than they are. They'll destroy you!"

Kiba and Akamaru growled but Hinata put her hand over his and sent him a warning look.

Naruto leaned back in his chair and looked at the sobbing boy seriously but kindly. "We are not weak Inari. We are all ninjas from Konohagakure. If we seem confident it is because we are ready to protect your grandfather and fulfill our mission whatever the danger. And because we believe and have faith in one another. We are a team, we are one, and come what may we will stand by each other and by your grandfather."

"Just watching you ticks me off! You laugh and you joke like all of this is some stupid game! And you try and act like you have all the answers! You don't know what it's like to be me! You don't know a thing about suffering or loneliness or what my life is like!"

Naruto looked at Inari and thought about Haku. He felt the same sympathy for Inari as he did for Haku. "That's true Inari." Naruto answered quietly. "I won't pretend to understand the pain you've suffered or your loneliness. But I do know what it's like to weep. There's nothing wrong with tears Inari if they come in honest grief. But at some point the tears have to stop and you have to act. If things are wrong then you have to try and change them."

"What would you know about it?" The boy shot back.

"Your grandfather is with you right now because we chose to help him. We could have gone home when we found out that this mission was going to be a whole lot rougher than we expected. But we didn't. We are here now to help your grandfather and everyone in the Land of Waves. We will put ourselves in danger to try and help others. Isn't that what heroes would do?" He paused. "Isn't that what your father would do?"

"Shut up!" Inari ran from the table.

"Please excuse me." Tsunami got up and left as well.

The table was silent for a moment.

"Naruto." Kakashi said quietly.

"Yes ni… uhm sensei?"

Kakashi looked at him sadly. "You sounded very much like your father just then."

Naruto nodded in deep appreciation. "Thank you niisan."

Kakashi looked them over. "All right, I'm well enough to return to duty. Tomorrow Hinata, Kiba and I will accompany Tazuna to the bridge. Naruto I want you to stay here and protect Tazuna's family." They all nodded.

XXXXXXXXXX

Zabuza crushed an apple in his hand.

Haku nodded happily. "Most of your strength seems to have returned.

"Excellent!" Zabuza turned to Haku. "Tomorrow."

Haku nodded and smiled. He buried his concerns for Naruto. I will do as Zabuza-sama wishes.

XXXXXXXXXX

As Kakashi, Hinata, Kiba, and Tazuna came to the bridge they saw the workers were all down.

"What the hell?" Tazuna shouted.

"This is it." The team formed a tight circle around Tazuna. Kakashi switched his radio to send. "Naruto! Get to the bridge right now!"

"I'm on my way." His voice answered.

Four Zabuzas landed around them. They were dispatched almost instantly. The clones became water and splashed down on the bridge.

"I didn't think that would work." Zabuza called. Standing next to him was the same ninja in the same mask they had seen before. "You're one short it looks like. Where's the blonde with that damn sword?"

Kakashi smiled. "Don't worry he'll be here in a minute."

Zabuza chuckled. "Well then all the more reason not to waste any time and deal with you while you're short handed." Zabuza nodded to his partner and they began to approach, each from one side of the bridge, well apart.

Kakashi judged the situation and made a quick decision. "Zabuza is mine. Hinata, deal with his partner. Kiba, stay by Tazuna's side and protect him no matter what!"

"Right!" Kiba pulled out a kunai and bore his teeth.

"Yes, sensei." Hinata took a quick gulp and got moving. Her heart was beating fast, this was it. Her first real combat. I can do this! I have to do this. Tazuna and my team are depending on me. I won't let them down!

XXXXXXXXXX

The four clones that were on guard duty were all well hidden. When they spotted the two samurai approach one swiftly took out his kunai and slashed his palm, causing him to disappear. The real Naruto immediately received the memories and understood the situation. He quickly got to Tsunami and Inari. "Please come with me you need to hide." Ignoring their protests he got them quickly hidden.

The two samurai approached the front door with their swords already out. They didn't hear anything. Checking the front door they found it wasn't locked. Quickly and quietly they entered. They were soon in the living room. There they halted as they saw a young boy who was obviously a ninja standing there with a drawn katana.

"Hello!" He said in a chipper voice. "Can I help you with something?"

The two of them stepped apart and got into some sloppy fighting stances. "Where is Tsunami?"

"Oh I don't think she's the one you need to be worried about right now. I'll give the two of you one chance to surrender. Drop your swords and fall to your knees."

The two of them laughed nervously. "Is that a joke?" One of them asked. "You really think a little kid like you has a chance against us?"

Naruto sent them a cold grin. "I'm a ninja who has spent his life being trained for battle. You're just a couple of thugs with swords. Now who do you think is in trouble here?"

The samurai who had spoken shook his head. "Get real we're not surrendering to a pint size brat like you."

Naruto shrugged. "Fine, then you can be number nine and you can be number ten."

"Huh?" That was his last word as a sword pierced him from behind and went out the front of his chest. His friend met a similar fate. Neither one had even suspected there were a pair of clones behind them. Naruto had the clones take the bodies out so that Tsunami and Inari would at least be spared that sight. There was nothing he could do about the blood splatter all over the carpet though. Dipping his sword into some of the blood he wiped it off and hurried up the stairs as he holstered it. Opening the upstairs bedroom door he found Tsunami with Inari wrapped in her arms.

"It's over. But I think it would be best if the two of you went to a neighbor's for awhile. Do you have any friends you can stay with?"

Tsunami nodded. "Yes we do."

"Don't bother packing. I'll escort you there and stay to protect you." But then his radio came to life.

"Naruto! Get to the bridge right now!" Kakashi's voice called.

Naruto hit the send button. "I'm on my way." He looked back to the two of them. "Looks like it's happening. I have to go but my clones will stay to escort and protect you until I can come back."

Inari stared at him, his eyes weeping. "You're really going to fight Gato's men?"

"Of course!"

"But aren't you scared?" The boy wailed as he trembled in his mother's arms.

Naruto put a hand on the boy's shoulder and smiled at him. "I am scared. I'm always a little scared when I go into a fight. But even if you're scared you have to find the strength to do the right thing. That's what being a hero is all about. And just one more thing." With his other hand he gently wiped the boy's cheeks. "Try not to cry any more, except when you're happy. Now I have to go."

The two of them watched him rush off to battle.

"Mom."

Tsunami looked down at her son. He'd stopped trembling and didn't seem to be crying now. "Yes dear?"

He looked up at her. "I want to be a hero, like Naruto and daddy."

XXXXXXXXXX

"I do not require your death." Haku spoke. "If you would simply stand aside then I would not be forced to harm you."

"And would you hurt Tazuna-san?" Hinata asked.

"His life is forfeit." Haku answered simply.

"I won't allow that." She dropped into a jyuken fighting stance. "I will protect Tazuna and my teammates!" She had already activated her byakugan and was ready.

"Very well." Haku rushed in and tried to end it in one move.

Hinata was surprised at his speed but she was fast herself and with her byakugan was able to adjust. As he attacked she landed three strikes on his arm and a pair on his chest. Haku's eyes expanded as he felt his chakra system suddenly out of flux. He leapt back away from her.

"What did you do?" Haku said in alarm.

Zabuza had drawn his sword and was facing off with Kakashi, but for the moment they were both willing to just eye each other and check the progress of their teammates. Zabuza immediately realized what was happening. "She's a Hyuga using gentle fist! You can't fight her directly Haku you're no match for her and that style. If you continue she'll end up completely shutting down your chakra network. You know what you have to do now."

Haku nodded, just that one opening encounter had weakened him. Much more and he would not be able to use chakra. He eyed her carefully. "It seems I have no choice but to use my strongest jutsu." He ran through some complex hand signs. "Secret Art of Water Ice Crystal Magic Mirror Technique." Water from the ocean rose up onto the bridge and as they all watched Hinata was surrounded by a series of flat ice mirrors that were suspended in the air. Haku calmly walked into one of the mirrors and seemed to meld into it. His image quickly appeared to be in all of them.

Hinata looked about and felt just a little bit of panic. To her eyes the mirrors all seemed to hold the same amount of chakra. It was impossible for her to tell which of the images was real.

"Before I begin this I would like to ask you a question. Your blonde teammate, by any chance are you his girlfriend?"

She stared in surprise. "Why would you care about that?"

"I am merely curious."

She nodded. "Yes I am. I am Naruto-kun's girlfriend."

I am very sorry Naruto but it is Zabuza-sama's will. With that Haku began his work.

For Hinata the senbons seemed to rain down on her. She moved and dodges as best she could, but even with her blood line and fast moves she could not avoid them all. She cried out as number of them punched into her flesh.

"Hinata!" Kiba yelled.

"Kiba! Stay with Tazuna! I'll help Hinata!" Kakashi called. But as Kakashi moved to aid his student Zabuza rushed in to get a swing at him. Kakashi dodged it easily though it did cut him just a bit. He was forced to step away from where Hinata was.

"Oh I don't think so!" Zabuza laughed. "Let's not forget I'm your enemy Kakashi. If you go to help the girl I'll just slaughter the boy and the bridge builder."

"Damn it." Kakashi muttered. "Fine then," he pulled up his hitai-ite to reveal his sharingan.

"Ah, the sharingan again, how predictable! You know I've had some time to think about how to fight it. Tell me, what good does your eye do you if you're blind?" He performed hand signs. "Hiding Mist Technique." And as had happened once before a thick fog began to rise.

Kakashi listened to Zabuza's laughter from somewhere within the fog.

Hinata kept trying to dodge as best she could, but more and more senbons were sticking in her. There seemed no way to escape them as they continued to rain down mercilessly on her. If only I could do rotation!! But I still don't have it down! More senbons came at her and she tried to dodge, but the senbons in her legs were slowing her down.

When Naruto got to the bridge it was encased in a thick fog. "Kakashi-sensei!" he cried out.

"Naruto get to Hinata and help her!" Kakashi called out.

"Hinata-chan where are you?!" Naruto called out.

"Over here!" Her voice answered him.

He followed the sound of her voice until he came to a dome made of mirrors with Haku's image on all of them. Looking between the mirrors his heart skipped a beat. There in the middle of this odd dome was Hinata. She was huffing and covered in blood and there dozens of senbons sticking out of her. "Hinata-chan!"

And as she turned to answer he could only watch as a pair of needles jabbed into her neck. She gasped and began to fall. Without a second thought he raced in and managed to just catch her before she hit the concrete. Her eyes focused on him. "Naruto-kun…" she smiled for him.

"It's all right Hinata-chan I'm here now! You'll be fine!"

She barely shook her head. "No I won't." With one hand she reached up and gently touched his face. She was looking up at him with a peaceful expression. "I'm so glad I got to see you one more time."

"Hinata-chan don't talk like that!" He performed a diagnostic jutsu, one of the handful of medical jutsus he had actually been able to learn. And what the jutsu told him was that her heart was slowing and so was her breathing. "No!" he pulled her into his arms. "No! No! No! You're going to be all right!"

She simply smiled. "I am so very glad I got to tell you that I loved you. And thank you for loving me Naruto-kun. You made me very happy."

"Don't talk like that Hinata-chan, please!" He was crying. This can't be! Not her!

"Kiss me Naruto-kun, kiss me just once more." And he did. He leaned in and kissed her lips. Hinata looked content. "I love you." She whispered and closed her eyes.

Naruto saw her breathing stop and could not find a pulse. "No!" He howled and held her tight against him. "Hinata-chan I love you! Don't go! Don't leave me!"

"I am sorry." A polite voice said from behind him.

"Why?" He ground out as he slowly and gently laid Hinata down on the bridge.

"It was the will of Zabuza-sama, but I truly am sorry for your loss."

"Shut up!" he could feel the anger rise up in him. He could feel hatred and rage and an all consuming need to take revenge. His body began to shake as his eyes changed, his teeth sharpened and grew, his scars grew thick, and his hands became claws. The red chakra flowed out about his body and a single tail took form. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Both Zabuza and Kakashi felt it. The awesome amount of chakra and the evil that seemed to permeate it. Zabuza had no idea what it was. Kakashi knew instantly. He'd felt that same chakra on a night more than twelve years ago. Though then the chakra had been a hundred times stronger. He looked in the direction where the chakra was coming from. He could still see nothing in the damn fog. Has the seal broken? No, but it has definitely weakened! He quickly pulled out a scroll, bit down on his thumb and spread the blood on the scroll. "Listen Zabuza, you're a busy man, I'm a busy man, and we both have things to do. What do you say we wrap this up in one move?"

Laughter came out of the fog. "Sounds interesting, what do you have in mind?"

He performed some hand signs and slammed the scroll down. "Earth Style Fanged Vengeance Technique."

"This posturing will get you nowhere Kakashi. You can't even tell where I am. While I know exactly where you are." Zabuza continued to laugh. His laughter died in his throat as the concrete all around him began to crack and split open. From the bridge floor several dogs suddenly leaped out and sunk their teeth into him. "No!" he cried out.

"When your eyes and ears have let you down, you can always follow your nose!" he smiled as he saw the fog was beginning to lift. "When you cut me with your sword earlier you got my blood on you. This technique is designed specifically for tracking and that blood was all my pups needed to find you." He approached the now immobilized Zabuza. "I believe I told you this once before. Your future is death."

XXXXXXXXXX

What is this power? Where did it suddenly come from? Haku leapt back into the mirrors. He immediately began to shower senbons down on him. Is this the power of the demon he has inside of him? Naruto merely stood there, not even bothering to try and dodge. He laughed, and it sounded nothing like the laughter of the boy he had met in the forest. This laughter was tinged with hatred. "Is that the best you can do?" Naruto's voice was deeper and huskier than it had been.

Haku quickly performed a jutsu. The air around Naruto grew cold as half a dozen ice needles formed above him. They slammed down and shattered against the red chakra cloak.

"Hey Haku we are friends right?" Naruto called.

"Yes, Naruto we are."

Naruto had a wicked smile. "Then let me tell you something friend. You have one minute left to live." And now Naruto moved. With a speed that could barely be followed by the human eye. Half the mirrors seemed to shatter in an instant. Haku realized this was too much for him.

I have to try! From one of the shattered mirrors he leapt out in a vain attempt to stab Naruto with his senbons. But Naruto caught him with ease. In one hand he held Haku's right wrist and broke it with no effort. The other hand he drew back for a punch. I can't withstand this chakra anymore! Naruto punched him with all his might and sent him flying through the dome. The mask split and as Haku bounced to a stop the remaining mirrors all dissipated.

I have failed you Zabuza-sama I am a weak and broken tool and of no use to you now. Before Haku could even get to his hands and knees he was hauled up by Naruto. Naruto held him in one hand up off his feet. His eyes were blazing red and filled with hatred. How did I bring such hatred out in such a decent person? In my whole life he was the only one to offer me his friendship even knowing what I was. How could I make him hate me so?

"Your minute is almost up." Naruto said. He gathered red chakra and concentrated in into his right fist. "I have enough chakra in my hand to level a mountain; it won't leave anything of your head. Any last words?"

Haku shut his eyes and readied to die. "I am sorry."

"Sorry?! You're sorry!! Sorry doesn't bring Hinata-chan back to me!! I loved her and you killed her! Why?!"

"It was the will of Zabuza-sama and I am no more than his tool."

"You're not a tool you're a person! And you made your choice!" It was time to kill him.

Haku nodded. "That is true. I accept the responsibility for my choice. I deserve death not only because I failed Zabuza-sama but because I have also failed you. Please kill me now."

"What do you mean you failed me?"

"You offered me your friendship, and in return I have inflicted this upon you. I should have found some other way, even if we are enemies. Please know that your offer of friendship meant a great deal to me and that you are my second precious person."

Naruto stared at the boy. No! It doesn't matter he killed Hinata-chan! Even if he feels that way he has to pay for what he did. Yet Naruto held his fist where it was. He couldn't have said what he was feeling at that moment. Anger, sorrow, hatred, pity, all were a mad jumble inside within his heart. I've lost Hinata-chan she's gone forever.

"Damn it!!" Naruto slammed his fist into Haku's face.

XXXXXXXXXX

"The man you're trying to kill is the heart and soul of this place. And the bridge he is trying to build is this land's only hope. You're willing to sacrifice this place and everyone in it just to advance your own selfish ambitions. That is not what a true shinobi does." Kakashi spoke.

"Spare me the philosophy lesson. I'm fighting for my own dreams and I'm not about to stop." Zabuza said defiantly.

"Maybe not, but I'm going to stop you." In his palm he began to focus his chakra.

"What? I can see your chakra."

"This is my one and only original jutsu, it's called chidori; one thousand birds. It's my ultimate finishing move. And now I am going to use it to finish you." With that Kakashi ran forward. Zabuza knew he was finished and hoped that Haku would survive. He did not beg or plead for mercy for that was not the shinobi way. As Kakashi's chidori plunged into and obliterated his heart Momochi Zabuza died like a true shinobi and like a man who lived his life all out.

XXXXXXXXXX

The fog was gone and Kakashi was carefully approaching Naruto. The boy was surrounded by red chakra and was standing over his defeated opponent. Kakashi noted the other ninja's mask was gone and was lying unconscious on the ground. Kakashi was much more interested in Naruto. Naruto turned around to face him. His eyes were red and they were crying. Kakashi noted the other changes, the longer teeth the thicker scarring, and his hands seemed to have become claws.

"Naruto are you all right?" Kakashi asked warily. He knew he had to be very careful he had no idea just what shape the seal was in.

"No niisan I'm not. Hinata-chan is dead." Kakashi gasped and looked to where Hinata was lying; Kiba, Tazuna, and Akamaru were already there. He could hear both Kiba and Akamaru howling in despair. "And I couldn't even bring myself to avenge her."

"Naruto…"

"I knew Zabuza was nothing special!" All eyes turned to the short man in a business suit at the end of the bridge. All around him were gathered a large crowd of mercenaries obviously eager for blood. "Is that brat Haku still alive? I owe him a little something for what he did to my arm."

"Who wants to know?" Naruto asked and began walking towards him. Kakashi thought about telling him to stay but felt Naruto's killer intent and decided to just wait a bit.

"I'm Gato, the man in charge of this country. I want to thank you for ridding me of Zabuza, but now I'm afraid you and the bridge builder will have to go too."

"Is that a fact?" Naruto asked and continued to walk towards him. A number of the bandits rushed him with a shout. Naruto didn't make a move towards them, he didn't have to. Long arms formed from the red chakra cloak and they extended out to catch the men. Obeying Naruto's will the arms crushed their chests or their heads like ripe pieces of fruit. "Sixteen." Naruto said calmly as the bodies dropped in bloody heaps.

"What?!" Gato shouted suddenly frightened.

"Sixteen," Naruto repeated. "That's how many men I've killed." Naruto clarified.

"All right." Gato spoke and began drifting back into the ranks of the men who were suddenly not so eager to fight anymore. The mercenaries stood back and gave Naruto all sorts of room. Naruto just continued walking towards Gato.

"You have one minute to live Gato." Naruto held out his palm and began gathering chakra into a rasengan.

Gato looked around at the men desperately. "What are you fools doing kill him!"

The men all seemed to shake their heads and continue to back away. Gato quickly found himself at the edge of the bridge with Naruto coming towards him. "Look we can work something out! How about a million ryu cash?"

"No thanks I come from money. Besides there isn't enough money in the world to buy back what I lost today. You've got about thirty seconds left. Tell me, all the people you killed, all the lives you ruined, and all the misery you brought to this place. What exactly did you need the extra money for? You were already a billionaire. What could you have wanted that you couldn't already buy a thousand times over?"

Gato stared at him open mouthed. "I wanted to make more money." He said in a small voice.

Naruto looked at him as if he were something slimy he'd found underneath a rock. "Well I hope it was worth it to you, because your time is up." He lifted his hand to strike.

"Wait!" Gato shouted and held his hands up pleading. "I can give you anything you want just name it! Money, power, women, anything!"

Naruto smiled. "Anything?"

"Anything!"

"All right." Naruto said reasonably. "There is one thing I want. If you can give it to me I'll let you live."

"What is it?" Gato asked eagerly.

With his left hand he put Gato's neck in a vice. "BRING HINATA-CHAN BACK TO LIFE!" His right hand slammed into Gato's chest and his body exploded.

Naruto tossed what was left of the man into the ocean and turned around. The bandits were all staring at him in absolute terror. "If you want to live get off this bridge and never come back!"

There was a boat tied up to the end of the bridge that had brought these men here. A couple ladders led from the boat to the bridge. These were already full of men eager to get away. The moment Naruto made his announcement the men started leaping off the bridge and into the ocean.

With Gato dead and the threat ended Naruto was done. He let his anger go and with it the red chakra. He shuddered as the power left him and as his body transformed back to normal. With the power gone he felt suddenly weak. Just walking seemed to be all he was now capable of.

Kakashi, Kiba, and Tazuna were waiting for him by Haku. "Naruto!" Kiba called to him. "Where did that power come from?!" A little awe and little fear in his voice.

"I'll explain later I promise." Naruto said dejectedly.

"Are you all right Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

He looked to where Hinata was. "No, but I'll live I guess." I'm never going to see her smile again, or hear her giggle or dance with her. Oh Hinata-chan!

Kiba looked down at Haku and both Naruto and Kakashi could feel some killer intent. Haku's nose was broken and his face was blooded and bruised. He didn't look pretty at the moment. "This guy killed Hinata." Kiba said dangerously. Akimaru was on the ground growling.

"Kiba please don't hurt him." Naruto said quietly.

"Why not?" Kiba looked at him in surprise.

"Because as stupid as it sounds, he's a friend of mine."

Kiba stared at him. "You made friends with this guy while you were fighting him?"

"I'll explain later. I promise I'll explain everything later." Naruto said weakly.

"Hey did we miss the fight?"

They turned around to see Inari with a crossbow in his hands at the head of a large crowd of villagers.

"Inari!" Tazuna called out. "What are you doing here?"

The boy smiled. "I decided I wanted to be a hero and do the right thing! So did everybody else." The smile faded a little. "But I guess I didn't get here in time."

Naruto smiled just a bit. "It's o.k. I think you and everyone else who came to defend your homes are all heroes!" The crowd cheered and celebrated the end of Gato and his reign of terror. Tazuna went to his grandson's side while the three surviving members of team seven remained where they were.

XXXXXXXXXX

Haku slowly opened his eyes. It took him a moment to realize that it was snowing. He looked up to see a face looking down at him.

"Naruto?"

"You o.k. Haku?"

Haku looked up at him in confusion. "Why am I alive?"

"I guess I just don't have it in me to kill someone I consider a friend, even when they've taken away someone I love." Naruto answered tiredly.

"Zabuza-sama?"

"He's dead. I am sorry for your loss. I know what he meant to you." Considering who Zabuza was and what he'd been trying to do that seemed strange to say, but Naruto meant it.

Kiba looked at him confused by what he was hearing. He is so going to explain all of this later to me.

Haku closed his eyes. "She isn't dead."

Naruto's body stiffened. "What?!" he knew it wasn't possible but he couldn't help but suddenly hope.

"My last attack struck nerve points that put her into a death like state but she is alive and will probably wake soon."

Naruto, Kiba, and Kakashi were all staring down at him. "If this is a joke I'll kill you." Naruto said meaning it.

"And I'll help." Kiba stated.

The three of them hurried to where she was. Naruto knelt down by one side, Kiba by the other and Kakashi knelt by Hinata's head. Naruto performed the diagnostic jutsu. Oh please kami! Oh please, please, please! He rested his hand on her belly.

"She's alive! Her heart is beating and she's breathing!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Thank kami!" Kiba shouted.

"Yes, thank Kami." Kakashi said quietly. It had almost happened again. He had almost lost another teammate. But thankfully, this time, it looked like everyone had survived.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hinata slowly opened her eyes. She felt cold and there was snow falling down. Her eyes focused and she saw the faces of her three teammates all smiling down at her. "Naruto-kun," she whispered. "Am I dead? Is this heaven?'

He smiled at her. "No Hinata-chan," he gently pulled her up into his arms and held her tight. "You're alive my sweet Hinata-chan. You're alive."

As Naruto held her Kiba reached out and put his arms around both of them. Kakashi then leaned in and put his around all three of them. With an embrace team seven celebrated their victory on the bridge. But much more importantly they celebrated the fact that they had all survived.