Alright guys, right back into it. This chapter will be the conclusion to the Wave mission, though there may be some things different this go around. Naruto is definitely one to break the rules, even the ones placed by Kami herself. As always, I don't own anything except my name… barely. Also, there has been at least one review saying they expect for there to be lemons, however the rating on this story is T, meaning that is a no go. I don't know who you think I am, but I don't write porn. Let's get on with the show!
Chapter 7
With help from the rest of his team, Kakashi and Team seven make it to Tazuna's house. Kakashi promptly passes out from exhaustion, and the team simply waits for him to recuperate. Eventually, he wakes up, but he finds he can hardly move. Soon after he awakens, Tsunami walks into the room and notices him sit up. "Oh, you're finally awake," she says simply with genuine concern in her voice.
"Yeah, but it's almost impossible to move. My body will be feeling the effects of that battle for at least a week," he says calmly and sighs.
"Maybe it would be best if you don't move, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto says from his spot in the corner. He just woke up when he heard the movement in the room. He had been sitting in the corner, sitting guard of his sensei just in case. Kakashi turns to look at his student with awe. The level of concern and initiative shown by standing guard of his superior surprising him.
'He truly is just like his father, after all. He looks like he just fell asleep, like he's been up for days and just took a quick nap when I woke up,' Karachi thinks and simply nods. He lays back down and Naruto stands slowly to his feet. He leaves a shadow clone to stand guard, leaning against the corner he was just sleeping in, and he begins to walk out.
"Thank you for protecting us, sensei. We surely would have died without you," he says with a smile. Memories flood his mind of all the times Kakashi protected his team, and all the lessons he taught them. "Soon it'll be me protecting you. Just you watch, sensei," he says as he turns over his shoulder to look at his teacher. Kakashi simply smiles and closes his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Naruto then leaves the room and finds his bed, getting some much-needed rest.
In his mind-scape, while Naruto sleeps Kurama summons him and Naruto stretches his back and yawns. "Yo, Kurama-sama. What's the matter?" He asks, slightly irritated that his sleep was disturbed, even if his physical body is still sleeping.
"I know you don't want to hear this, but I think you should focus more on your training than anything else. That includes the blonde girl I've caught you thinking about. She's the reason you had to rely on the fake Uchiha to handle your enemy yesterday. You could have taken him down with the help of even just the pink-haired one. You're distracted," He explains and Naruto nods. He sighs and yawns once more.
"I didn't really plan it. It just sort of happened, and I liked how she reacted. I didn't mean to get so caught up so early. If I'd been focusing I know I could have gotten your link down already, maybe even master sage mode. I'll back off for now and redouble my efforts. Sorry for blowing you off for so long. I won't let Kami-sama's actions be in vain. We will stop Madara this time," he says and fades from the mind-scape and back into simple sleep.
Naruto wakes up refreshed the next morning and slips out of the house to a nearby wooded area in order to train. He creates clones to work on mastering Kurama's chakra link as well as some to work on his ninjutsu while he focuses on physical exercise himself. He removes a scroll of seals and pours chakra into several. Suddenly a set of full-body weights appear and he sighs, having to resort to Lee's style training in order to achieve the level he needs to be in order to achieve a better link with Kurama. He puts the weights on his wrists, and ankles, and even has a weighted hoodie and slips that on. He falls to his knees immediately under the weight and grits his teeth. He slowly forces himself to his feet and tries to get a feel for the added weight. He throws one sloppy punch and smirks, being able to move at least is its own victory. He channels chakra into his limbs and he jumps as high as possible, much lower than normal, but it's a work in progress. He lands in a huge thud, his body sprawled out on his back. 'Shit, this is tough. I didn't expect weight training to be this intense. I have a lot more respect for Lee now, but I won't let this keep me down for long. I'll just have to wear them all the time until I get used to it,' he thinks and slowly makes his way to his feet.
He thinks back to all the times he wasn't strong enough to protect those he cared about or complete the mission, and he grits his teeth. He remembers how he wasn't there to help Jiraiya fight against Pain, and the absolute crippling depression it caused him. The hole in his heart that formed from that loss present in his mind. He starts getting increasingly pissed off and adrenaline flows through his body, making it easier to move the weight and he forms two clones to fight against. He goes the first round with them and blocks the first few punches, however, a kick to his stomach slips through his slowed defenses and he stumbles. This allows the other clone to superman punch him in the face, and he glares at them. He shakes his head and continues this for about two hours, his defense slowly improving, but never being able to go on the offensive or even defend himself completely against them. In fact, he never even manages a punch on a single one and the same two remained throughout the duration of the training session. This continues for the duration of the week that Kakashi is out of commission while the other two work on the tree climbing exercise. Naruto sent a clone to demonstrate he has no issue with this exercise whatsoever and that he is training on his own, so Kakashi relented and allowed him to train himself during this time.
Eventually, the weight slows him still, but he's able to move almost at his top speed and throw attacks almost as strong as without the weights. He contemplates upping the weight but decides it best to give it more time. He also remembers the fight coming up and decides would be for the best if he didn't wear the weights for it. Kakashi can also move more freely and notices how hard Naruto has been pushing himself, so he decides to leave him behind to rest the day they go to continue the work on the bridge.
Naruto is already awake when they leave, however, he pretends to be asleep due to the fact that he clearly remembers the thugs that will be here to attack Tsunami and Inari that he was there to stop before. He can't in good conscience leave them to die. It's not his ninja way, so he devised a plan to go along with Kakashi's secret plot to not wake him. He waits for them to leave and get a good distance away before he begins his morning routine of physical exercise with his weighted clothes on. It proves less of a challenge than it had been the first few days he wore them, but still enough of a difficult task that he's glad he hadn't increased the weight. Any more weight and he surely wouldn't be able to complete his routine. He finishes and puts the rest of his clothes on for the day, finishing by tying his headband tightly around his head and he hears a scream. He quickly springs into action to intercept what he assumes has to be the criminals.
He positions himself on the roof and glares at the men. "Hey, they only said to take a hostage. The girl there looks pretty good, actually. I might have to keep her as my slave when the boss is done with her," the first one laughs to the second. There are two mangey-looking men standing before a cowering Tsunami. Inari is watching from another room, scared and pissed, but aware he's no match for these men. Naruto jumps down from the roof and knocks on the door. The two thugs turn to check it out and a clone sneaks in through the window. "Who the hell are you, brat?" They nearly yell while the clone removes a kunai for each hand. Naruto pretends to be a lost traveler and his clone takes advantage of the distraction by slashing an ankle each of theirs. When they drop to one knee in pain, Naruto performs a roundhouse kick to both their heads, which sends them flying backward into the clone's waiting kunai. They take their last breaths and Naruto glares into their eyes the entire time as they fade from life.
"Are you two alright? Tsunami-san, Inari-san," Naruto asks with concern in his voice. He helps Tsunami to her feet and his clone begins preparations to deal with the bodies. They both nod and thank him profusely and he shakes his head. "It was nothing. But I want to make sure you're alright before I join my team. They're in danger so I have to move fast," he says and they assure him they're fine. Naruto removes his hoodie and arm and leg weights. He marvels at just how much lighter he feels and stretches. "Alright, I'll be heading out now. I'll leave a squad of clones to protect you in case any more show up," he says and forms a squad of 20 clones who all set up a perimeter quickly around the house. Naruto then leaves with increased speed that he isn't quite used to yet, causing him to overshoot the branch he was aiming for and begins falling to the ground. He does a front flip on the way down and lands in a crouch. Using his momentum and body positioning he springboards off the ground and quickly adjusts to his new speed and strength, moving toward the bridge with a renewed sense of purpose.
When he arrives at the bridge he finds the battle has already started without him. Sasuke is completely encircled by Haku's ice mirrors jutsu and is being defeated easily. Naruto grits his teeth and performs a few hand signs while running toward the mirrors. He inhales deeply, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" He roars and spits a huge fireball that completely destroys the mirrors before he leaps in front of Sasuke and glares at Haku. "Your opponent is me. And I won't be letting you hurt my friends anymore!" He yells, quickly forming ten clones to provide backup. Haku gasps and Naruto rushes him fighting him with increasing intensity, having his clones switch in and out as he prepares a nonlethal takedown. Haku isn't evil, just sworn to an evil rogue ninja. One clone sweeps his legs, another kneels and the real Naruto uses his back as a springboard to get height, and performs a swift front flip kick into his stomach. Haku hits the ground hard after the attack, and Naruto ensures he doesn't rejoin the fight when Kakashi prepares his Chidori to end Zabuza. The attack lands this time, and Naruto has to stand on either of Haku's arms in order to keep him still. Zabuza's body falls limp to the ground and Haku starts sobbing.
"I know you aren't evil, so I wouldn't let you throw your life away to protect him. I know you were planning to jump in front of him, but I couldn't let you do that. Please understand that we harbor no ill will towards you. Your master attacked us twice now, and he had to be dealt with. You, however, don't have to die. Help us take down Gato and you can have your very own purpose beyond being a tool. You can rebuild your life here or travel the world and do as you see fit," Naruto says, trying to reason with the young boy no older than himself. Haku doesn't want to hear any of this, however, and flails his legs upwards into Naruto's back. He doesn't see this coming and gets flung over the side of the bridge, but sticks to the side and quickly jumps back over the side. "Alright, you wanna play it that way. Don't say I didn't give you a chance," he says and draws two kunai, his eyes suddenly extremely intense.
"You killed my master and wouldn't let me even fulfill my duty to be his shield! I don't care about you sparing my life. You stripped me of my purpose, and now you'll see why I was feared in Hidden Mist," Haku says, tears running freely down his face. Suddenly ice needles form all around Naruto and he sends them flying into him, spearing him in at least twenty places, but Naruto doesn't move a muscle. He's seemingly unfazed by the attack and grins. His clones from before jumping into action after this happens. One tackles the boy from behind and wraps its arms around his waist. Another slides into position on one knee ready for the incoming attack. Haku flails around wildly, but the real Naruto runs towards him and sends a high kick right into his mouth. The clone holding him uses the added momentum to suplex Haku to where his neck lands on the other clone's knee and there's a sudden snap. Haku falls limp at the clone's feet and Naruto hates himself for what he had to do. Haku had to die one way or the other it seems, and all Naruto had done was force Haku to have a dishonorable death rather than one fulfilling his purpose of protecting Zabuza. He sheds a few tears while facing away from his team, but quickly wipes his eyes. He suddenly feels the presence of many with intent to kill.
"Well done, brat. That kid had manners, but an air of defiance any time I was in the room. I was going to have him killed sooner or later, and you just spared me the trouble," Gato says from behind his army of thugs. Naruto turns around and glares intensely at them. He elects to use Kurama's chakra, but knows the link is too risky and much too advanced to be explainable to Kakashi. Much like when he was this age the first time he simply allows Kurama's chakra to surround him and he grows a single chakra tail. His features become more animalistic and pronounced. He throws his head back and roars in anger and many of the thugs begin to question if standing between him and Gato is a good idea. They don't have time to weigh their options, however, as Naruto is already among them, killing one after another.
Kakashi curses and joins Naruto in the fray, striking down several thugs of his own while Naruto continues his rampage through the already dead meat that was the criminals before him. He has picked up Zabuza's sword and is making short work of the thugs in his way. He is more concerned with Naruto using the Kyuubi's chakra and attempting to get him back under control than anything, but Naruto is moving too fast. He's cutting through the enemy like it's nothing with only his claws and he sees Gato running like a scared little child. He quickly leaps over the crowd and lands on the small man, pinning his arms and legs down and he glares into his eyes. "You really messed up, Gato-san. You pissed me off now, and I'm not really the forgiving type," he says as the Kyuubi's chakra begins to burn into Gato's skin. He's grabbed by several of Gato's men and pulled off him, but Naruto simply flings his body forward until he's bent over and they go flying. One of them lands on top of Gato, and Naruto walks over slowly to the boss. Kakashi makes it there just in time to see Naruto revert Kurama's chakra and grab Gato by his throat. He lifts him into the air and crushes his windpipe, staring into his eyes the entire time.
Kakaashi's eye widens and Naruto simply tosses the gang leader to the ground, turning around to glare at the rest of the thugs. They have the bright idea of jumping over the side of the bridge and Naruto begins feeling faint. He sways side to side for a moment and slowly falls. Kakashi catches him on his back and carries him back to the others. "You don't have to worry about Gato anymore, Tazuna-san. You may complete your work now. But just for good measure we'll remain and keep guard of you," he says, creating a clone to carry Sasuke's limp body back to Tazuna's house. There they recuperate for the rest of the day, and Tsunami gives Sasuke as much medical attention she can to at least keep his wounds from getting infected or bleeding any further.
The next day they go back to the bridge and Tazuna continues working on the bridge with an all new crew since his last one was all murdered by Zabuza. This time the entire surrounding area's civilians are helping and they finish it in a mere few days. Naruto even chips in by creating about a hundred clones to help speed the process along. Soon they say their goodbyes and Tazuna thanks Naruto and the rest of the team for sticking with the mission and for taking care of such a negative influence on their land.
This was more condensed bc most of what happened in the actual show was a lot of explanation of stuff we already know and it's mostly from Naruto's point of view so we didn't see what happened on the bridge while he was dealing with the thugs at Tazuna's house. Do you like how I changed things? Too dark? Lemme know what y'all think. I would've spent more time on this chapter but I wanted to put something out quick for y'all and I spent too much time finishing up my latest drawing after work so it's a bit short and condensed to finish out the Wave mission. Next, we have the chunin exams coming up, and how is Naruto going to act towards Ino after Kurama's talk with him? Guess ya gotta hang around till next time in order to find out.