Breaking Limits
So long as I still feel the vibes for typing this fic in the same week, I'll keep on.
Also, I'm planning another Universal Update while I sort out some life issues over on my end, as well as some recuperation. NO, it's not that I hurt myself, to all the smartasses who think I had a parkour accident. So the update will happen with the visual updates for everthing, as well as the fact that I'll be rewriting my schedule. That, and the fact that I'm still seeing way too many errors I missed during the proofreading I've done during January. It needs to be fixed. As for when you'll see me next, it'll be in around thirty days. Thereabouts…could be longer, or less. Maybe I'll be able to surprise you all with another double update. I know I've surprised myself in the past; I did these two chapters in...around five days.
Disclaimer: I own this work of fiction, done on another work of fiction. Said original work of fiction belongs to whoever the hell it belongs to, and that ain't me.
29.
"Hai…that's it. Right there."
Haku stepped back from her work and turned back to Tsunami. "Are you sure?"
The woman smiled pleasantly. "But of course. I should know how my own home looks originally, don't I?"
The ice user turned back to where she had positioned the lamp and shrugged. The woman was extremely specific as to the location of all the items, and ensured that the ice-user used all of her talents with Suiton to ensure that no water damage will occur in any part of the household that spent more than an hour under water. Although the water was all chakra and it 'faded' away to nothing upon its release from battle, water damage could still be a problem, in the same way that people had drowned in it.
It had been a week since that fight.
Naruto and his brothers had all the corpses hauled away and buried in some remote location, and that was after she had said a small prayer over her former comrades. It was more out of courtesy and obligation, not that she wanted to. While she was alright with working with them under Zabuza, she had disliked their brutality at times, as well as wearing their sexual deviations on their sleeves. One preferred…'younger girls', while the other liked rape. She approved of neither, and she supposed that it was mostly out of fear of Zabuza and actual respect for her why they left her alone.
"Tsunami-san, I know that I never had an earlier opportunity to apologize, but-"
"It's fine, dear."
"But-" She started to protest, but Tsunami would hear none of it.
"It's in the past. While you may have had your part to play, we all overcame, and that's what's important. Besides, you already told me yourself that you detested working for Gato."
Haku smiled. "Which sensible person wouldn't?"
The door was opened suddenly and the two females turned to it, only to see the Uzumaki walk in. "Konbanwa." He took off his sandals, and stared uneasily as they gazed at him. "What?"
"Where've you been?" His adoptive mother asked.
"Oh, just getting reintroduced to everyone by Inari. He left me in the square, and I got mobbed by old people pinching in my cheeks." He rubbed the side of his face woefully, but the pain had already been alleviated from his advanced healing. "Are my brothers back yet?"
"They're all outside to the back. They must have finished setting up everything by now, master." Haku answered.
"…Err, will you ever stop calling me that?" The boy asked, scratching his cheek uneasily. "You're starting to scare me."
"My apologies, master."
Tsunami sighed. "I can't get used to it, myself. When you first told me the details around that…" She trailed off with a marring frown. "Frankly, it made me wonder what the world was coming to, 'Naruto has a servant girl who calls him master', they all said, and then you tell me."
"I don't like it anymore than you do, Kaa-chan. But she's free to stop anytime she wants. This is going to be a trying five years." The raincloud that had seemingly settled over his head suddenly disappeared as his countenance brightened. "Anyway, I'm half-starved. I'm going to go wash up."
It was a mere fifteen minutes later when he donned a t-shirt and shin-length shorts and made his way downstairs, before going outside to the back. The fence had been pulled down and removed, and back there was now a long buffet-style table, at which there were enough seats set up for all those to be there. There was a wonderful mosaic of smells out there as the table was set up with enough food to fill everyone twice.
"Hey everyone."
All looked to him and hailed to him their own form of a greeting. It was a bit confusing, but with 'Focus', he was able to discern the pleasantries from Inari, his T13 brethren, Haku, his mother, Tazuna, and his fellow squad-mates from Team 8.
'Psychosis, Fate, Surge, Doc, Farsight?'
'Hmm?' (x5)
'Did you guys distribute enough food to the town already before cooking up this storm for us here?'
'Of course.' Psychosis retorted. 'After we all went to Kumo and bought all the food, we just created a few clones and distributed it. Everyone got a weeks worth. We didn't use the gold, though, we only used Gato's cash. It's easy to impersonate him and liquidize most of his assets to several bank accounts in our name. Or should I say, several of my names. But I made out one for you too, boss.'
Farsight shook his head. "Food now, business later. Now who will bless the meal?"
Naruto sat down at his place. It was in between Haku and Fate on one of the sides. Zabuza was seated at the foot of the table, and Tazuna at the head. Apart from that, the teams and families more or less sat close to one another. "The person who sat down first will do it."
Zabuza grumbled to himself. "For fuck's sakes, I was just hungry. Is that a crime, or some shit like that?"
"Language, Momochi." Tsunami chided. The nukenin decided that rather than get ousted from the table when he was famished, he'd comply. But only this once.
"Grrr…Fine. Kami, thank you for providing this food, and for all those who helped in the preparation of it." Without blinking a single eyelash, the man reached for large helping of meat with his bare hands and started eating it like a ruffian, daring someone to tell him to be more well behaved.
But instead, everyone ignored it and started eating. There was chatting of course, some careless statements and minor eating contests, but it was all in camaderie. It was truly a pity when it came to an end a couple hours later.
…
…
…
It took a lot of banking-information wrangling, threats, impersonation and other such identity theft from a dead man, before Wave practically had a turn around in a mere two weeks. Gato was now like a distant memory as hundreds of T13 kage bunshins crowded Wave like a miraculous working force. People had their homes renovated, mended, refurbished, bodies and minds healed, and cupboards packed with food. In fact, most of all the wares came from Konoha at Kurenai's behest, and in a bout of mutual gain, the Leaf got somewhat richer; thinking that a benevolent businessman was being charitable and Nami no Kuni became a far more ideal place to live in.
All that took was a mere twenty days.
The bridge was not neglected in attention or a substantial labor force either as more clones made themselves useful in the bridge's construction. All too soon, with a rather corrupting level of festivities, the entire populace of the village was out in the square, making merry as if the world was ending the next day.
Naruto smiled. It had been good mission after all, despite all of the completely unexpected trials of it. Many secrets of him were now known to both his family and team, but he didn't care. Perhaps it really had been for the best. It could also serve to make authority in Konoha sweat a little. He had a brand new ability, and couldn't wait to experiment with it when he got home.
However, the smile fell as he thought of how his adopted father had perished. He had avenged him, but it still didn't quench the need for closure. After all of his doings, he was still unhappy. While in his absence, maybe he could write letters to his family in Wave. He had not done so while in the Leaf, and it had cost him much, when it would have originally been so little.
A hand touched him on the shoulder and he nearly fell off of the roof where he sat, giving a small yell in alarm. As he turned to face the owner of said hand, he felt his heart rate drop safely back into its intended rhythm. "Haku?! Damn, you gave me a start."
"Gomenasai, master. I did not mean to startle you."
He had probably gotten used to her calling him by that title, which was why he did not protest against it. "It's fine. You're so...quiet! I didn't hear, or sense you coming." 'And 'Reflex' didn't warn me. Does it only warn of danger? Someone could give me a heart attack by scaring me, but can't kill me by throwing a silent knife? Or is it because of intentions? This needs some observation.'
"So I've been told. But I came up here to find you when I didn't see you in the square. Are you alright?"
He hesitated for a full minute, thinking about his potential answer. "Haku, did you really care about the fact that my father got killed?"
She herself decided to answer carefully, as well as to be truthful. "At the core of my being, I did care. But I tried to suppress that by trying to focus on my work. I was originally going to leave you alone, but when I heard you begging for me to return and crying, I knew that I had to come back."
"That sounds rather questionable...and something one would read out of a fantasy. It's the truth?"
"It is. When you stopped, I railed on myself to continue in my quest for damaging information."
"Wow, that really means a lot." He said sarcastically. "But yeah, thanks for the company, I guess. I suppose that if we hadn't met, we would have fought normally, and maybe I would've killed you. Yikes."
She frowned. "How are you so sure? For all you know, I could have been the one to kill you."
"I have an idea. Do you have some senbon on you?" Naruto remarked after further thought about 'Reflex'.
"Always. Why?"
"That's fine. I want you to throw it at my back when I least expect it. I'm going to sit on the other end of this roof." He got up and made off to his desired location.
"But if you ask me to, wouldn't that mean that you're expecting it?"
"Just do it! It's an experiment." He yelled back. "Anyway, here's the thing. I really think I'm stronger, be-"
"!"
He leaned forwards suddenly on his own body's volition to allow three senbon to pass over him. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought it's a fluke. It's a harmless fluke, but could still create complications." He got up and went back beside her. "What just happened is the reason why you can't beat me."
"You expected it. I timed you wrong."
"No, I didn't expect it." "!" He caught her fist in his palm, just before it smashed into his temple. "Didn't expect that, either. Just hear me out, okay?"
She pulled her arm back to herself, and nodded. "Alright."
"Can I trust you?"
"Hai. Of course, master."
He scrutinized her carefully. He decided that he could just come clean to her, seeing that she would soon have to live with him. And the fact that she was currently living for him. "I have an ability. It's called 'Reflex'."
He quickly explained how it worked, and she was skeptic. "But I scared you half to death earlier. How come it didn't work then?"
"Maybe it's because that you didn't mean to, or it's not an attack. I don't know why."
"Is it related to your eyes?" She queried curiously.
"No. Err, kinda. But we digress. Maybe we can spar when I go home...I mean, when we go home." He corrected himself. He sighed thankfully when he saw her nod acceptingly, but worried that she wouldn't be accepted into the village. He'd cross that line when he got to it, he supposed. "I think I'm stronger."
"Because you killed three anbu?"
"No. Because my body is aware of all danger and reacts as such. Because I cannot miss. Because I have millions of battle ideas going through my mind every second. Because I'm a jinchuriki."
"Do you fight for any precious people?"
"Precious people?" He echoed in question. She quickly explained the concept to him, and he wondered if he fell into that category, for having that general notion. "My brother keeps telling me that I have a tendency to be self-sacrificial. Does that count?"
"To some extent."
"It's not my reason why I fight. I fight for the less fortunate. I grew up in a more bastardized situation than most, and I try my best to make it, at the very least, easier for others to lead tolerable existences."
"You told me of that already. Can you be more specific?"
"You still trying to wheedle me for info?" He raised an eyebrow as he watched her fluster through a protest that she wasn't. "Then why?"
"I'm trying to get to know my new master, is all."
"I'm not sure if this 'master' thing is going to bode well with other people." He remarked, scratching the back of his head. "I have a reputation to keep up."
"What reputation? You're still the supposed me incarnate in the village."
"The village has no idea how much I've done for its sake." He answered aloud.
"Hmm?"
"I'm talking to my tailed beast." He said carelessly.
"Oh. I…see?" She hazarded carefully. "Is it friendly?"
"He considers himself a guy. He's fine. Anyway, I don't think I'll just off myself to protect 'precious people'. For the most part, it's probably because I don't have any. Sure, they're people I'm close to, but there's always a another solution besides commiting suicide for someone else to live. If I die for one person, how can I be there for a greater populous? Lets say that I have ten children, and I die to protect one. Who will take care of the nine?"
"…" She appeared deep in thought, trying to think of a way around his argument. "So this to the fact that you did not love the one child to die for him so that he could live?"
"I am well aware of sacrifices. In all things that I do, I have lost something, or had to go without it. Instead, I pray that I'll never come into a situation that demands a life of either the one I own, or that of someone close to me. I fear that my ideals, mentality, and my 'special talents' will clash over the end result."
"…" She looked down, while grasping her knees closer to herself. "When I resurfaced from the water, and you were supporting me in your arms, what happened back then?"
"My 'Reflex' ability wanted me to leap away."
"Why didn't you?"
"It wanted me to leave you behind, in self-preservation."
She smiled satisfactorily. "Indeed. Was I that precious to you?"
"I didn't wish harm on you, alright!" He defended vehemently. Knowing what she was about to say, he shut it down, saying that it was because she needn't die. "So I resisted. What if I hadn't gotten a new ability? We would have both perished."
"Fighting for someone precious makes you strong."
"I see what you're doing. You've been trying to drive me into a trap that will make me say that you were enough of a precious person to me to not abandon you to your death."
"So I'm not? You said so, not I," she asked in mock-disappointment.
"Time will tell."
"But of course, master. Time will also tell if you're precious to me as well."
"Uh huh. Anyway, thanks for hearing me ramble. So, you wanna go down to the square? They're supposed to be some drop-boxes for the Bridge's name. There will be voting for the name to be used tomorrow, and partying and such."
"I have a choice to go?" She asked, genuinely surprised.
"Of course you do-"
"I'm an extension of your will. I do what you tell me, only for I to obey." She said simply.
He thought a bit. "Alright. Haku, I demand that you tell me if you would like to go. Please." He added the last as a sign of courtesy.
"I would like to." She answered, wondering why he was now behaving in such a manner.
"That's fine. I now demand that you accompany me, and enjoy yourself at the festivities." He smiled. His high wattage smile only increased when she smiled back.
"Yes master."
=X=X=
"Well, I'm going to be frank. I read out all the suggestions to the bridge to myself last night and I laughed. But I swear to Kami, this one is the first I drew out at random and the one that I'm supposed to use, granted that everyone still finds the name in good taste." Tazuna spoke clearly.
"What's the name?!" Someone yelled out in the crowd.
"Not yet!" Tazuna yelled back in response while laughing. "I have to- Hah!- Tell you some of the names I found last night!"
"Like what?!" Inari shouted.
"I read names like "'The Mega Bridge', The Bridge of Health, The Bridge that Gato tried to Stop but got Turned into a Stain'-"
"I liked that one." Psychosis muttered to the rest of the others next to him. "I labored over that name."
"'Bridge of Killer Instincts'!"
"What the fuck's wrong with my suggestion?" The nukenin grumbled to Fate. "You and I both wrote that one."
By now, the crowd was cracking up, save for those who had entered in their suggestions, fuelling the Bridge Builder's cackling. "'The Bridge that Allows me to get out of Here', 'Best Bridge', 'Master Bridge'…well actually, I wrote that one but it's funny in hindsight, eh?"
The crowd howled in their laughter before they settled down a little later. "But seriously folks, I got a note on the same piece of paper as a suggestion. I would have just used the name anyway, but I felt like I had to read the note to you all." He cleared his throat very audibly, before he began.
"I haven't been around for long, so I wasn't present during Nami-no Kuni's heyday. I'm not a citizen, but I was able to witness Wave's turnaround from its oppressing and tribulations it suffered under Gato. I haven't done for Wave enough to be proud of, but I admire the land for its ability to emerge as somewhere stalwart, strong, but above all, I admire it for its resilence; to suffer, and to return even more robust than I have heard of it in the past."
Tazuna turned over the note and continued reading from the back.
"To be reduced to such a state under the thumb of one man and his lackeys, and to return as a land to be marveled at. It is a land of such, and it is my suggestion. Not on a whim, or personal fancy, but to describe it as what it is. The bridge will indicate as to what kind of place lies at its place of origin.
The Bridge of Resilience."
The man came to an obvious stop, and stared at the silent crowd. "What?! You're supposed to clap, you dummies!"
After an embarrassed bout of slow clapping, it soon grew louder and louder as palms lit afire, and numerous shouts made in approval. When it died down after a rather lengthy while later, and a brief period of people asking among themselves who could have wrote it, Tazuna decided that he wasn't getting any younger.
"I don't have a ribbon to cut, so I have to do the next best thing. Psychosis, get up here and give me a bottle of saki."
"What makes you think that I do have one?!" The torture specialist wailed.
"Nothing makes me think that you don't. Now give it here."
Narburei shrugged before walking to the front of the crowd while unsealing a bottle of saki midway to the man. After handing it to the man, he merely wandered off to the side, not particularly caring to return to the center of the congregated group.
The bridge builder, after a moment's thought, opened the bottle of saki, took a swig, and then re-corked it. "Just to know what I'll miss." The man muttered. "Nami no Kuni, I now declare the Bridge of Resilience, open!" He smashed the bottle against the side of the bridge, while waving a hand forward as if he were exasperated with them. "Now all those itchin' to leave, or to commit suicide by jumping off over the railing, feel free to do so!"
"That's our cue to leave." Kurenai called out over the din of cheering. "All the ninja here! Get on the bridge! It's time to go!" She grabbed Naruto's shoulder who had been standing next to her, but he went up in a puff of smoke. "What? Kage bunshin? Where's Naruto?" She asked aloud to the others.
=X=X=
His mental connection had been cut, and Kurama hadn't spoilt his location to any of his brothers. As of consequence, only Hinata had found him by pure chance, and it was purely by memory of his coming here, not because of her use of the byakugan. When she had made a remark about she had an idea on where to find him, Haku and the T13 members had joined her, and one of them told her that he was there, when they were close to the location.
"I remember." Psychosis stated. "We all do. But since Naruto's the main, he's more emotional than the rest of us."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Haku asked, befuddled.
"You're a smart girl. You'll figure it out."
They all continued walking, and soon they broke the treeline to find themselves on a bit of a flat-area that was located over a precipice. They were standing on a cliff, and all saw Naruto sitting on the edge with his legs dangling over the side.
"Naruto-kun? We've been looking all over for you!" The Hyuuga exclaimed. "It's time to-" She was about to continue but stopped as she recalled the significance of the place. She was sure that she had seen him grieving here the same night he had found out about his father's death. It could have been the rain, but more than likely, it was mixing in with his tears. "Is something wrong?"
"No." He answered without looking back.
"Naruto," Farsight hesitated, knowing that his original was more than likely in an emotional state. "We hope we're not interrupting anything, but we need to go."
"…"
"Naruto. You and I both know what you're doing." Psychosis blurted after a minute's worth of silence.
"He told me that you were the smartest. Maybe it's me now, but if you're so sure, tell me what I'm doing." Naruto muttered to those behind him. "Tell me, smart guy."
"You're trying to get closure."
Brown eyes flitted between both boys, before the owner started to connect the dots. "Master, we all offer our condolences, but you need to move on."
He turned savagely. "I'm trying to! Just leave- nah, forget it." He brought his legs up before rising, then dusted himself off. "It was a stupid idea. Let's just go."
Hinata was about to agree when she saw something come into being over the water. "Hmm?" The object wasn't there before, and practically wavered into existence like heat-lines one would see in the distance over a hot road. "What…or who is that?" She asked aloud, pointing to it.
All the others were about to leave when they turned to her, before looking to what they were pointing at. All of the boy's eyes widened, but only Naruto's were visible as he wasn't wearing any shades. "Oh…Kami…"
"What is it master?" Haku asked in alarm.
"Not what is it! It's who!" Naruto exclaimed. He hurridly took off his bandana mask from around his neck and started waving it around like a signal. He was like a madman in doing so, and the girls wondered why he was carrying on like that. "Kaiza! Tou-san! TOU-SAN!"
The others gawked at him, before turning back to the apparent person in the boat rowing out to sea. "This is it people. Only Kaiza waved with a red rag, when other people use white." Psychosis muttered to all. "If that guy's Kaiza, I…I…think I might really go mental."
The person in the boat seemed to look around at Naruto waving at him, but distance between the two couldn't really tell the difference for details like facial features. The man quit his rowing, and retrieved a rag to wave back.
It was red.
"BYE TOU-SAN!" Naruto shouted at the top of his lungs, still waving like a maniac.
If one listened carefully, which they all were, they heard a distant shout from the person saying 'Bye Naruto!' They were all shocked as the man continued waving for around half a minute more, before going back to his rowing.
And then his vehicle of travel, and all that the he was just wavered from sight, like dissipating steam.
Naruto started crying as he waved a few moments more, before ceasing. "Bye."
…
…
…
"He's dead. We all know he was," Narburei hazarded in speech as they walked back to the meeting place at the bridge. "We all saw him. We all heard him."
They nodded, although Naruto's was the most confident. "So…we're all crazy, or I really got what I wanted. I got some closure."
"…Or we're all crazy." Psychosis said firmly, in accordance to the first. "Anyway, your sensei is fit to have a cow. You don't have the time to talk this little incident with your family and all that-"
"I wasn't going to tell them. It was between me and him."
They all continued walking in silence until they made it back to the bridge. By now, all of the celebrating people had gone home, and all who were there were the family, Shino, Kurenai and Zabuza. The female teacher wasn't looking too pleased, but seemed fairly relieved that they didn't have to spend another day here because they found him too late. "Finally. It's time to go." She handed him his pack which he took gratefully.
"Hai, sensei."
Hinata took hers from Shino and put it on. "Arigato. So what happens now?"
"Farewells." The Aburame intoned.
"Yeah." Naruto drawled. "Kaa-chan, I'm going to miss you. Your cooking especially."
"Don't worry about that, Naruto-chan. Your brother that calls himself 'Farsight' is a good cook."
"Damn right I am." The sensory specialist piped up. "I've cooked things you wouldn't even dare dream of, lady."
"Like what?"
"I'm under oath not to tell any civilians."
Naruto waved him off. "Don't mind him. Oji-san, sayonara."
"You take care, brat. To be honest, I'm kinda glad you're leaving. You're always riding me about my drinking." The older man said, just before he was chastised verbally and physically by his daughter. Naruto smiled at the spectacle before he turned to Inari.
"Next time, eh otouto?"
The brothers hugged before Inari punched Naruto in the stomach. It was playful, and as of consequence, it didn't trigger the ninja's 'Reflex'; something only Haku took note of. "Don't take so long before 'next time.'"
The Uzumaki pretended to wheeze and nodded. "You hitting me in the gut only makes me want to come back sooner." He said sarcastically. "But I'll try, okay? Maybe I'll write letters. I'll do it first so you get my return address. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good. And bring back something nice on your next visit." Inari gushed.
Surge stepped forward to the two and handed Inari an animal-skin pouch. "Take this. Naruto wanted me to give you. But don't open it here. Do it at home."
Inari tried to get a feel of the contents but the skin of the bag was too thick and non malleable. "Alright. I hope it's not a prank though."
"You know me better than that!" 'I hope he doesn't freak out over the gold.' Naruto exclaimed with a grin, reassuring his brother. He strode off to his team, and they all started waving as they walked off "Bye everyone!"
"Bye Naruto!" "Bye sochi!" "Goodbye Naruto-nii!"
As the distance between them increased, Naruto forced himself to stare ahead of him. This wasn't going to be like last time. He would return someday. Also, there was no possible way this was like last time. Last time, it was just him (and Kurama, to be technical.) Now, it was he, his T13 brethren, Kurenai, Hinata, Shino and Zabuza. The last one made him somewhat confused, but thought nothing of it after a minute.
They walked on in silence. However, at the end of the bridge, they themselves said parting words to one another.
"Well, Naruto. Goodbye, and take care." Narburei said. "Stay in contact a bit more huh?"
"I will. Surge, Psychosis, Farsight, Fate, Doc. Sayonara." He looked to each of them in turn. They all nodded, before leaving in a shunshin of perfect accordance. 'Why do we even say goodbye out loud, huh? Mental links are the best.'
'Yeah. Anyway, we're going. Next time, yeah? Don't just call us when you in a tight spot next time.' Narburei called in thought before it faded like a distant echo.
And with that, they were truly gone.
"Your brothers are unusual." Haku stated simply. "Likeable, but unusual."
"They're about as unusual as you writing a note to go with your Bridge name suggestion." Naruto answered.
"How did you-"
"I've got a brain the size of Iron Country, is what I keep saying! And it was obvious. Anyway, shouldn't you be telling Zabuza goodbye? You do know that he's not going to Konoha, don't you?"
"That's right," the swordsman said. "This is the other direction away from Kiri. You didn't expect me to go towards the armies of Kiri ninja just yet, did you Haku?"
"No, Zabuza-sama."
"Look. I'm not Zabuza-sama anymore to you. While I find your actions of practically selling yourself downright atrocious and humiliating, it doesn't mean I don't appreciate the lengths you'd go to just to save my hide. T-…thank you, Haku."
"Douitashimashite. But where will you go?"
"Somewhere else." The man answered dryly. "Take good care of the kid. If he mistreats you, I'll-"
"I won't, Momochi. You have my word." Naruto interjected solemnly.
"Good. Sayonara, Haku."
With a small tear-filled goodbye to the man who had given her purpose enough to live, she told him 'sayonara'; after which the man left in a water shunshin that soon vanished without a trace.
Hoping he wasn't sending a wrong signal, Naruto side-hugged the girl to reassure her. She mumbled her thanks to him, and noted how Hinata seemed to have been upset with what was happening between them. Not upset as in angry, but more as in disapproving, and yet hesitant to say why. Filing away her observation, she turned to the others. "Shall we go?"
=X=X=
It took a mere exercise of veto power and the insinuation that Haku was in fact someone captured. It was fortuitous that Naruto had relieved Haku of all of her weapons (senbon) pre-arrival to the village, and they were able to pull off the façade. All in all, the chunin guards weren't gullible, but a story that sounded so plausible, and fantastic enough to include Zabuza Momochi felt like something only The Hokage should hear; their ears weren't that 'good' enough, so they let them through.
As they walked into the village, Yuki was taken aback by the sheer size and amount of bustle of the village. She had never been to the Kirigakure itself; only born in the countryside far from its outskirts. So a village of this magnitude, even the very gates itself felt larger than life. "Wow. It's so… it's so…"
"Extravagant? Opulent? Substantial? Voluminus? Considerable? Tremendous? Major? Tectonic?" The Uzumkai offered off in a rattle.
"What does 'tectonic' mean?"
"Having a large effect or impression."
"Then hai. I mean…all of those things? Half the words I don't know the meaning of, but if they are similar in meaning, then you finished my observation."
"That this is a big ass village? Hai." Naruto answered. "If all goes well, I'll make a clone to give you a tour later."
"That would be most appreciated, although I'm not to depart a far distance from your side."
Naruto sighed. "It was worth a try."
She seemed to have been trying to see everything at once as they walked, craning her neck to look this way and that. She was like a curious eight-year-old, but her behavior was understandable to those like her new 'master', and the jounin teacher who cautioned her to behave more like a docile prisoner, and not like an enemy ninja looking for cracks. Such a warning was well received, and she took it in stride.
Soon, they arrived at the Hokage's tower and made their way inside. Naruto told her to be as meek as possible unless it was safe otherwise as they went up the steps and knocked at the door. Hardly had Kurenai done so when they heard the Sandaime's voice inviting them inside by name. As ever, he knew that they were coming. It could be that he was using his crystal ball to monitor them inside the village, or the simpler fashion of knowing everyone's knocks separate, like a signature.
The jounin opened the door and took point to head inside first. "Kon-nichi wa, Hokaga-sama."
"Ah, Kurenai-san. Kon-nichi wa. You've returned from a productive C ranked mission, I take it?"
Shino, of all people, started to chuckle a bit, before he brought himself under control. Kurenai, upon hearing that question, had her stoic countenance fall into that of something akin to depression and disappointment. But who could say for sure?
"And who is the young lady behind Naruto? The one in the pink kimono?"
Naruto thanked his lucky stars that he had made the subservient girl get out of her battle dress, lest she ignite some confrontation on a misunderstanding. A harmless civilian wear like the one she was now in was sure to send only the 'right' messages.
"My name is Haku, Hokage-sama." She answered politely, after coming forward from behind the Uzumaki to his right side.
"That is your name, I'm sure." The man's eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. "But who are you?"
The ice-user began to get extremely nervous, and after a brief moment of hesitation, she answered as best she could, hoping that she wouldn't be antagonized. "I'm one of the enemies Team 8 crossed, but-"
"!" Naruto felt 'Reflex' kicking in and felt that he was about to dodge something. He knew that he had done nothing wrong, so why would-…and then he saw kunais about to embed themselves in Haku from the air above, a mere half meter away. He paused for the blink of an eyelash, and in the hopes that she'd live, he pushed her out of the way with as best he could with his right arm.
The sound of the steel of ninja knives slammed into flesh was like that of an axe chopping soggy wood. There was also the sound of someone tumbling away, and Naruto only paid that sound any mind, ignoring the fact that there were now a half dozen kunai sticking out of his arm. "Agh! D-damn! What the hell?!"
He unconsciously turned on his dojutsu and every combatant became lit up in a gray outline. He became shocked at the sight of anbu hidden in the room all over, but as he felt the rush of battle plans course through his mind, he gave himself over to it, hoping that it would not let him down, just like the first time.
As he took a dashing step towards her, he felt his own injured and bloody arm swiping across his own chest while taking out his tanto from over his shoulder with the other. It must have discretely disabled his gravity seal, he suddenly found himself in front of Haku just as she was gathering her wits about the situation. Just as she was about to try and intercept all threats to her master's safety, he instead did it for her as he repelled kunai and shuriken from all over with his tanto and somehow, found himself parrying a katana slash with his tanto hilt; the offender was a neko-masked anbu that was about to liberate Haku's life from her, via the neck.
And then Fire Shadow re-discovered his own existence.
"Everyone! Cease and desist!" The man's thundering voice boomed.
Naruto quickly reverted his eyes to his ceruleans and pushed away the katana from off of his tanto. "You tell 'em! But what the hell just happened, huh?! She said 'but'! Can't she finish a goddamn sentence before you try to kill her?!"
The anbu woman quit her gawking at the boy who had the strength and speed to stop her sword with a mere standard-issue tanto and returned her sword to its sheath. With a quick bow of her head to the Sandaime, she noiselessly retreated back to her hiding place, and then the quiet was lost as most started to yell to make themselves heard.
Without a word, Haku took Naruto's arm gently, before removing the kunai from them as best she could. All eyes turned to her as she then performed a Shosen to begin healing the boy's wounds that he had received for her sake. They began closing up rapidly, largely due to the fact of Naruto's vitality as an Uzumaki, not to mention the fact that he was a jinchuriki. She was done in just under thirty seconds, and all was quiet as she went about her task. When she was finished, all turned to face the Hokage when he cleared his throat.
"I…apologize for my anbu's mistreatment, young lady. Now, who did you say you were again?"
"My name is Haku. I'm one of the former enemies that crossed Team 8, but now, I'm Naruto's servant, fit to use as he wishes."
The aged man was about to light his pipe to smoke, but decided against it; perhaps the day he had ingested too much of the acrid tobacco had finally come. "Dear Kami. I'm afraid that this was not a normal C ranked mission…?"
"And you'd be correct, Hokage-sama." Kurenai stated. "This is a rather long story. There aren't any counts of insubordination for Naruto, but I'd suggest we all get some refreshments."
The Hokage nodded, before charging one of his anbu to inform his assistant downstairs to prepare refreshments as such, as well as clear him of any responsibilities and tasks for the rest of the time being. Without further ado, he instructed the jounin to tell her tale, while wondering why Naruto's eyes appeared strange for a moment…
…
…
…
(Three Hours Later)
The Hokage looked up from his writing to the others who appeared completely relaxed. "From all the summarized entries, I believe that I can plot the entire course of time for the whole problematic mission. Let's see…hmm…Team 8 is interrupted mid-journey by bandits, most of which are killed. Tazuna's drinking had delayed them for the night, which was fortuitous as Zabuza Momochi, the 'Demon of the Hidden Mist', was waiting for the client to kill him. He and his group departed in the early morning and unknowingly had Team 8 follow slowly in their footsteps to Wave."
Kurenai and Haku nodded. When he saw this, he nodded as well before continuing.
"There are many embroiling emotions leading up to the point of becoming very angst-filled, due to Naruto finding about Shino's spying on him, and nearly killing him with a Gokakyu that by all means, large and powerful enough to raze a tree to ashes in a split second, and was seen as a large conical flame from a lengthy distance away."
Shino muttered apologies to Naruto, and the Uzumaki did likewise.
"Naruto ran off into the woods to sort through his emotions, and meets Haku for the first time. It was her first intention to cunningly derive information from him, but there was sincerity, according to her, at the very least. Further along the line, the next day, the entire household is placed under a mock form of house-arrest, under threat of Zabuza himself, Haku, and the Demon Brothers, Gozu and Meizu. The act was supplemented by a 'deep mist that handicapped both kikaichu and the byakugan'."
All was silent as he read on.
"After four days of attrition, Naruto and Kurenai planned to distract the offenders at the front of the home, while Shino and Hinata to escort the family at the back. All fought, but at the end of it all, they had to retreat due to casualties, and the complication of barb-and-razor wired fence penning them in. That same day, there is more…unforeseen drama, and that's putting it lightly."
"Good grief," Naruto muttered. "That's lightly?"
The Hokage ignored him. "After Naruto's claim that he 'meditated', he drilled Shino with questions for his 'diagnosis'. After that, Naruto has a spat with Kurenai, upon which he admits to being the demon container of The Nine Tailed Fox; he then allows the Kyuubi to take control of him, and said tailed beast demonstrates 'decent' Oratory prowess, and speaks to all in turn. The Kyuubi also apologizes to Kurenai one last time, and then his presence is relinquished. Naruto wakes up an hour later."
Naruto nodded vigorously. "And he meant every word."
The Hokage sighed, before continuing. "Naruto then plans with everyone, save for Kurenai, that people were coming to help them. There were five of them the next morning; those five people helped the house's occupants to escape, and fed their hunger with food that Naruto only asked them about the day before. The fight kills the Demon Brothers, stuns Zabuza, but Haku escapes Raiton injury by using a body flicker to get into the wooden house."
All listened intently. But in the meantime, all Naruto could do was wait for the end, and the maelstrom of confusion that would accompany it.
"Those, save for the healer who rescued them stayed behind to capture Haku for some questioning, as well as to finish off Zabuza, but all is interrupted by twelve mist Hunter nin, who went versus all present. Naruto and the healer became alarmed and went to join the fight, leaving the rest in the cave to finish recuperating. After a bout of fighting to help his comrades, all six of the boys in uniform defeated their opponent, and were about to depart to the family to help them avoid the Kiri nin, when the young lady here pleaded with Naruto and his comrades to fight alongside herself and Zabuza, because they were fighting under certain handicaps."
"Hai." Was all Haku could, and would say.
"She, in her emotional moment, had sold herself to Naruto for their services, and Naruto unknowingly accepted the bargain. They then helped to fight the ninja to the death, upon which Kurenai killed the last while using a genjutsu to hide herself from the water sharks preoccupied with the others above. After that, all returned to the cave to fight off all of Gato's assorted crooks, that came up to be 106 in number, those killed and unconscious. Zabuza himself came to help, and after all crisis was averted, Naruto and his comrades put Gato on 'trial' before torturing the man. For the sake of younger ears, only Naruto will tell me afterwards what he did."
Naruto told him that he would, and the Sarutobi continued reading.
"Zabuza then killed Gato, and all of Wave had a period of renovation, construction to the bridge, health care and festivities with the use of increased manpower, courtesy of Naruto and his comrades who created clones. The bridge was then named 'The Bridge of Resilience' at Haku's anonymous suggestion, and all parted ways; Zabuza to his own, and Naruto's comrades to their own, and you lot came home, with Haku in tow."
"Yeah." Naruto groaned.
"You're all dismissed. Shino, Hinata, you may be excused, with signed statements as to testimonies that will be written by Kurenai-san and Naruto. Kurenai-san, you may leave, but I want a full report in three days. Naruto and Haku, you shall stay a while. We need to talk."
Kurenai wasn't feeling celebratory that Naruto was likely to receive flak from the Hokage. Not because that she had her duties, but it was due to Naruto why everyone actually lived through the mission. Perhaps she'd even find the time to formally apologize to him. Perhaps. If she didn't become completely buried in writing her mission testimony, she would.
All of those told to leave did so to go home, and left Naruto and Haku seated on chairs in front of the Hokage's desk. Both waited patiently for the man to have a highly probable upset reaction to all he had heard, but all the man did was sigh before he lit his pipe to smoke.
"Naruto…"
"Hai, Hokage-sama?"
"I'm so…very…tired. How much have you hidden from me?"
"A lot." Naruto said stoically.
"I suppose that's the very same for me as well." The man said grimly. "I won't ask. I'll simply say that you're entitled to your secrets, as do the rest of us. But tell me, how much can you trust me enough to tell me?"
"…" Naruto studied the man carefully. "I can tell you about my family in Wave. That brief time of happiness during my childhood." As he predicted, the man's countenance fell as he mentioned it, and tried to amend it. "Except for you, Ayame-neechan and Teuchi-oji, I suppose. It all started when I was six and met Kyuubi for the first time…"
…
…
…
"So that time when I thought you were acting strange, was all in all, a youki bunshin that the Kyuubi created as your double?"
"Yeah. That's right." Naruto grunted. "But I can only tell you about the family. Can't really tell you anything else."
"I was going to ask you why you had these vast emotional changes, how you've become so well versed in battlefield tactics and might and skill. You even blocked a sword from a strong kenjutsu user like Neko."
"The very same you sent to force-feed me vegetables?"
Neko chuckled a bit from her hiding place, but only she herself heard her own action.
"Hai…and your so-called brethren. By all counts, you said that these were adopted as your brethren-"
"I did. They weren't originally."
"Are they clones?"
"No." Naruto answered truthfully. 'They're not just that.' "They're living, human beings, and I adopted as my brothers, like Inari. They hide their faces because their identity is always at risk. People would target them in particular. Incognito for action; without masks, live normal lives." 'For the most part. And it's plausible enough to be true.'
"I see. I won't pry."
"Yup. You can never have too much family."
"Are there any others? Kurenai said that all of you had 'T13' over your backs. I thought that you were going through a phase when I saw you with that writing across the upper back of your clothes, but it was uncanny for all six of you to have the same writing."
"Hai. But not thirteen." 'Yes! Nailed it! I don't have thirteen of them. It's twelve.'
The man decided that he needed to smoke to help alleviate his growing headache. With a sigh to exhale the smoke, he resumed. "And now of Zabuza's former apprentice. Frankly, I would have expected you to fight the anbu."
"I was instructed by my master to be meek, in the hopes that I did not offend. I can understand why your gaurds would go to the lengths they did to ensure your safety." She answered matter-of-factly, now seeing that the Hokage was a most agreeable person, and easy to reason with. "It was an honest misunderstanding, and I now see why Naruto-sama wanted me to wear civilian clothing, rather than my usual battle-clothing. Nor did I have any of my weapons, namely senbon."
"You fight with senbon?"
"Hai. I consider myself an effective user of it."
"We digress, surely." Naruto spoke up. "I'm sure that your main focus was to decide if she were to remain with me, not on what her fighting skills include. That's minor in priority."
"Hai, hai. That's true, Naruto-kun." The Sarutobi affirmed. "But why did you, of all people, accept her as a servant?"
"We can talk about the morals afterward, in private. Can she stay with me?" Naruto asked bluntly.
"She can. There's no rule against having a servant. How old are you, Haku?"
"I'm just on fifteen."
"And Naruto's fourteenth birthday is close to two months away. You're older than him, and you don't find this…unusual and bizarre?" Hiruzen pressed, trying to feel her out for any cracks whatsoever.
"Not in the least."
"Naruto's place is rather…just cozy enough for one person." The man treaded carefully. "Where will you sleep-"
"I'm moving out." Naruto said shortly. "If I have to have a servant, then I won't have her uncomfortable."
"Don't let me put you out-!"
"Nonsense. Sad to say, I'm cashing in on the Demon Brother's bounties which were your associates, my supposed A rank pay for this mission, and…a bank account that was opened in my name. I should be roughly a billion ryo richer. Gato was nice enough to give it to me."
The Hokage got out of his seat without a word, and strode to his window where he looked out. 'He has no idea how rich he already was due to his heritage. Perhaps his current wealth is for the best. He's grown smarter, and I trust him to not do anything foolish. And he deserves to have some material happiness, considering that he had had to do without it for so long. Hai…It's for the best. For now, at least. If and when he finds out his ancestry...
After about five minutes of pondering, he returned to his seat. "You'll have to pardon that. It was a lot to take in, I'm sure that you're aware."
"I'll be sharing it. Anyway, I'll just move into a larger apartment; I'm not going to splurge it all away. Haku can have her own bedroom, I'll have mine-"
"No! Damn it boy! Sleep together!"
"Shut up!" Naruto struck the flat of his stomach to an effort to quell his inner beast. "Damn perve!"
"The Kyuubi is offering lewd advice again?" Haku asked.
"Yeah. Oh uh, gomen, Jiji." He stared at the man, who stared back. "You knew from the report that we can talk to each other. Hell, maybe he can talk to you later, if you want."
The Sandaime nodded…extremely slowly. "Err, hai…So you'll move out with immeadiate effect? It's rather late now, but I'll be sure to give you apartment options in the morning. So you will sleep in your current apartment for tonight, at the very least."
Naruto blinked slowly as Kurama laughed in a cheer. "Alright. Haku, I suppose now you can tell him what you're capable of, and then you'll have to give us some privacy. Saru-jiji looks like he still wants to chew me out."
…
…
…
"So you're actually doing this for her sake? Of all the-"
"It's true!" Naruto exclaimed. "He told me that because of her mentality, she can't live without a purpose. It is kinda his fault, but I gave my word that I'll care for her, and I will! She can even quit anytime she wants! Its all in her favor, and I'm not telling her to do anything improper."
"Oh really?" Hiruzen snapped. "You're also entitled to her virginity. That's rather low, Naruto."
"I didn't demand those terms, she volunteered it! I told her that's if we ever actually end up in relationship with each other. I have my morals. Basically, she'll live with me for five years, maybe I'll tell her to do the dishes every now and again, and then everything will be normal!" Naruto said loudly, as if trying to make himself believe his own statements.
"Oh! Of all the naivety! And after five years, who's to say that she won't find her life purposeless once more and then kill herself?! Did you think of that?"
"Of course I did! Well, actually, I'm hoping that she'll develop interests over time, realize that it sucks being subservient to anyone, then she'll live her own life! I'm doing this for her, and I consider her my friend!"
"Just a friend? To get your arm riddled with kunai, and fight off anbu operatives to save her life?"
"Need I remind you of Kimyō Town when everyone was bailing from a sinking ship? I stuck my neck out to save Iruka, who I look up to, and Ko, someone I hardly even know. Who's to say that I can't help a friend, huh?" Naruto argued. "Is this the only issue?"
"No. I also have to talk to you about what you did to Gato."
"There's nothing to talk about, 'cause he deserved it." The Uzumaki said firmly.
"No doubt that he did, given all the info that Haku gave us about his tendencies and dealings. On that note, I'll have to get the man's accounts sorted out."
"One of my comrades from Wave sorted through that already. Even his human trafficking had its own bank account and that was dissolved to give all the money to the victims, and their families if they had perished. The last thing left is his building; that will be either scuttled by the people of Wave for their own use of the things inside, or Tazuna-ojisan who claimed that he was going to make it his building, contracting mason and construction jobs and whatnot. Go commercial, was what he said."
"Even though you yourself tortured a man with your comrades by removing his organs and feeding it to dogs before his very eyes, it's fair to say that this C ranked mission turned A worked out for the best." The Sarutobi said grimly.
"Hai. It did."
"You've changed a lot, Naruto."
"Yeah." He got up robotically, cracking his joints. "I changed a whole lot. See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
Holy crap, this chapter. On second thought, it wasn't that holy.
This chapter needs/needed a lot of work…I deleted, I pressed backspace, I clicked 'cut'. After all of that, a pile of crap ended up being half a pile of crap. Maybe I'm selling myself short…I dunno.
Anyway, I can't recall when was the last time I did it, so I'll do it now.
Please start reviewing people! You've seen how the Wave Arc had been pulled together, and how…original I made it come out, despite being used a lot in fanfiction. Wasn't my way a new way to read it? C'mon, admit it! Aw!
The theme that extended from chapter 18 to this one is 'Family'. Do I have to go into a convoluted explanation to tell you how important Family is? Tell 'em you love them everyday, and that no one is to tell them any different. You never know that it might be the last thing you say to them, be it you or them who happen to pass on from this life. Believe me.
-His team and the Hokage (and Haku) knows that the T13 exist. That's as far as that goes. They have some suspicions, but nothing that Naruto can't dance his way around with 'tricky speech' and 'plausible deniability.'
-They now know that he has an adopted family in Wave.
-They know nothing about his abilities, save for Haku who knows the bulk of it. Honestly, I made Naruto tell her 'cause she's pretty observant, and she would have found out anyway. She does not know what his eyes do. To be specific, it could be argued that he told her of some talents, and that he has the ability to dodge attacks he himself wasn't aware of in the first place. Also, I should mention that when Psychosis was in the house with Haku, he was wearing his mask. She doesn't know any of the boys true faces. None of them know.
Its been messy, but I had always intended to make Naruto have to spoil some elements of his plans and efforts during the Wave Arc. All in all, this was fun for me to think up, plan, but not too fun to type. Carpel tunnel syndrome, ay ay ay!
That's it ladies and gentlemen. Until the next (UNIVERSAL) update.
Valete omnes,
MRAY 4TW.
