The Land Where a Hero Once Lived

Everyone turned their attention to the picture on the wall, with the top right hand corner torn out as the bridgebuilder finished telling us the story about Kaiza, a story I had already heard from both Inari and the other Tsunami while everyone was off training. It was still a heartwrenching story, though.

Naruto jumped up from the table, and then tripped and landed on his face.

"What are you doing down there, Naruto?" Sakura asked, impatiently as he scrambled to his feet.

"You'd better take the day off. No more training. You've used too much chakra. If you push any harder, it could kill you," Kakashi said.

"I'm gonna prove it!" Naruto cried.

"Hmm?" the bridgebuilder murmured.

"Prove what?" Sakura asked.

"I'll prove that...that it's true! That in this world...there are real heroes!"

Xxx

"Psst. Tsunami, are you awake?"

I sat up and rubbed my eyes, and then glanced at the window. It was the middle of the night, and everyone was sleeping, except for Naruto who was tapping on the window.

"Naruto?" I whispered clambering over to the window and opening it. "What are you doing here?"

"Come on! I have to show you something!" he hissed. I glanced back at Sasuke and Sakura, to make sure they were still sleeping soundly and then muttered,

"Fine."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and he put his hands on my waist to help me out the window.

"Did it ever occur to you," I started, slowly as we walked to the forest, where he had been training all night. "that you could have just called me out to the forest instead of walking all the way here?"

"Uhh...I didn't think of that," he admitted, sheepishly and I grinned.

"Figured. And now I have to walk all the way there!"

"I'm sorry!" he moaned, and I laughed.

"I'm kidding." We got to their training area and Naruto ran almost to the top of the tree before slashing the spot with his kunai and came falling down, landing on his feet like a cat.

"It took me all night to get up there! No way is Sasuke going to beat me tomorrow!" Naruto cried and then collapsed on his back. "Goddamn, am I tired!"

"Then come back to the house and go to bed," I replied, laying down next to him on the grass. He had his arms behind his head, and his right elbow was in my face. "I'm not very comfortable, you know."

"Oh, here," he said, sliding his right arm underneath my neck so that my head rested on his forearm.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Naruto turned to look at me. "It was really cool of you to come and help when I called you."

"It's not like I had a choice," I argued.

"But still," Naruto insisted, and slowly reached up his other hand to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. "You're a really good friend, Tsunami."

I tore away from his gaze so he wouldn't see me blushing. "Thanks, Naruto."

Xxx

"I can't wait for Zabuza to show up again! Then I can show him and everyone else how strong I am!" Naruto bragged as we walked back to the house.

"Well, be careful out there, slick. I don't want to see you getting killed or anything," I said as the bridgebuilder's house loomed into view.

"I won't."

"You won't get killed or you won't be careful?"

"I won't get killed!" he cried and I laughed.

"Good."

We walked up to the house and I started to climb back in through the window when Naruto tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to look at him. "What?"

"You're a good friend, Tsunami," he said and pressed his lips against my cheek before smiling at me and turning back towards the forest.

"Naruto...where are you going?" I asked, blushing like mad.

"Back to the forest! A good ninja's gotta stay sharp!" he yelled, his voice ringing into the cold night.