Disclaimer- I obviously do not own Naruto or any of its characters
Italics – Personal thought. For example, 'damn this guy is tough'
"" – normal speech. For example, "Get out of the way Sakura"
Bold – Jutsu (Techniques). For example, Fire Style Great Fireball Jutsu.
Chapter 1- The One Eyed Kyuubi
In the shinobi world ninja are used as tools of war for their village and nothing more, they live, fight, kill and die without anyone blinking an eye. In this world supported by flawed and unforgiving ideologies there isn't room for those who would put the needs and safety of their comrades above the orders of their village. However, even through these unforgiving conditions there are still those who will fight for their ideals, those who wish the shinobi world would one day change, those who hope for true peace and pray for the safety of their fellow ninja.
On the bridge in the Land of Waves
The sound of battle rings throughout the typically quiet Land of Waves, a land once peaceful and prosperous, thriving on successful shipping routes used for trade and commerce, now ravaged by the vile forces of Gatō. The man, while small in stature, casts a domineering shadow over this land. Not by overwhelming power and skill, but though shady business dealings. While the land of waves is self-sufficient through the use its shipping routes, it has no connection by land to the outside world. Gatō has manipulated this weakness to his advantage by completely isolating the people from the mainland, cutting off any form of aid from any hidden villages. He weakened the peoples resolve through forcing them into poverty and limiting their food sources, leading to famine. This resulted in the complete demoralisation of the people of the Wave. Even with all the torment the Wave had been through, one citizen still held hope, Tazuna. Tazuna is a grey-haired bespectacled man with a large beard and dark eyes, he is renowned for being a master bridge builder. After his daughters' husband Kaiza was publicly executed he vowed to end Gatō's tyrannical reign. He decided to put his expertise to good use and build a bridge that would connect The Land of Waves to the mainland allowing them to receive assistance from the great hidden villages and explore new avenues of trade.
However, Gatō wasn't going to just allow this old man to end his take over of an entire land, how could he, he was making far too much money. Tazuna knew he needed help, so he hired shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves for protection. However, he hired them under the guise of needing protection only from simple bandits, not rogue ninja hired by a shipping mogul and drug kingpin. Therefore, upon the incomplete bridge a vicious battle is in process, a fight between both legends, and young prodigies.
Amongst the clatter of kunai and explosions of powerful chakra two legendary shinobi found in bingo books across the lands, Zabuza Momochi the Demon of the Mist Village, and Kakashi Hatake the Copy Ninja are locked in an epic battle to the death. While the battlefield was covered in a thick mist, impossible to see through to all but the Hyūga it was clear that the story of this fight would be told by generations of ninja to come.
"So, this is the power of Kakashi of the Sharingan, I expected more from the shinobi who copied 1000 jutsu." Zabuza Momochi wielder of the great Executioners Blade could be heard antagonising his opponent, a thing only the greatest of ninja could afford to do.
"I could say the same for you, the great demon of the hidden mist reduced to nothing but a common mercenary." Kakashi was not new to a war of words, but his calm tone hid the fact that he was in danger. The power of the Hidden Mist Jutsu was only amplified by Zabuza's proficiency in the silent kill.
"Try and keep your calm demeanour all you want, I know even with a fully matured Sharingan you can't see through this Jutsu." Zabuza responded cockily.
He's right I can't see anything but I have to say calm and finish this quickly so I can get to Naruto and Sasuke. Kakashi thought to himself.
"I know you're thinking of your students, but you shouldn't worry, I'm sure Haku will kill them quickly, besides you'll be seeing them soon in the afterlife."
Even though he's talking I still can't pinpoint his locations probably using water clones I just need to focus. Kakashi felt panic creep in his mind for the first time in a while.
Across the battlefield a dome made from mirrors of ice trapped two young ninja, a dark-haired boy, the young protégé Sasuke Uchiha, the last of the mighty Uchiha, and academy student of the year. Fighting with the young star was a blonde-haired boy dead last in the academy, but a kind-hearted and tenacious child, Naruto Uzumaki, also last of his clan but clearly the less competent fighter.
"Naruto I can track his movements with my Sharingan I think I can predict which mirror he'll jump to." Sasuke eyes were blazing red and darting around the mirror dome erratically trying to keep pace with the ninja attacking them.
"You're telling me you can see him moving, then blast him already what are you waiting for." Naruto responded impatiently as his shadow clones were quickly eliminated by a barrage of senbon needles.
"It's not that simple idiot I can't actually see him moving, when he moves his body changes the trajectory of the water floating in the air. I can't see exactly where he's going but hopefully, I can predict it. Can you make any more shadow clones?"
"Are you kidding I can keep this up all day Sasuke I got way more chakra than you ya know." Naruto responded cockily but deep down he knew he couldn't go for much longer, at the most he could make 20 more clones before he was in real trouble.
"Just shut up and do it last place." Sasuke kicked water from the ground into the air and focused his Sharingan.
"Whatever Uchiha, Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto summoned 10 shadow clones and lunged at 10 separate mirrors.
"It's pointless make as many clones as you want you cannot defeat my Crystal Ice Mirror Jutsu." The voice came from a feminine looking boy in a mask whose reflection could be seen on all 21 of the mirrors. (this is the actual amount in the jutsu according to the Naruto wiki please don't flame me).
"My master will kill the bridge builder to further his dream. I am an extension of my masters will, you oppose his will and therefore must die." The boy said in a monotone voice as his real body jumped mirrors.
"Shut up Haku, you are your own person, stop fighting for scum like Zabuza he doesn't care about you." Naruto yelled while he joined his clones in attacking.
"Naruto don't attack with your real body it's too dange…" Sasuke was too late, the poof of shadow clones could be heard in the dome and one by one the Naruto copies disappeared into smoke.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Back with Kakashi and Zabuza
Kakashi's focus was broken momentarily as Naruto's scream resonated across the incomplete bridge.
That was Naruto what is going on over there, just how strong is that boy. Kakashi was shaken from his thoughts as he was slashed down the chest by the Executioners Blade.
"You can't afford to get careless Kakashi, if you lose focus for any longer than a second you will die on this bridge, and with you gone who is powerful enough to stop me from killing your students and the old man." Zabuza bragged while disappearing back into the mist.
The slice while not lethal tore through Kakashi's flak jacket and cut into the skin from his chest to just about the bottom of his stomach. Blood pored out from the cut. It wasn't lethal, but the pain was noticeable.
Well that hurt, if I can't see him, I won't be able to win this fight. But there is another option. Kakashi thought to himself while pulling a scroll from his jacket
Back with Naruto and Sasuke
"Naruto are you hurt?" The panic was evident in his voice as he felt a weird pain in his chest, not a physical pain but something he hadn't felt since, that day.
I can't shake this feeling but why do I care so much about this loser he's done nothing but annoy me since the academy, always trying to prove himself. Even though he was dead last he wouldn't leave me alone always challenging me to spar and always yelling about becoming Hokage. But still I care so much, he's almost like a brother.
"Ah, he got my eye, I can't see out of it." Naruto was knocked on his back clutching where his right eye would be.
"Just lay down, I'll finish this myself." Sasuke sounded confident but he knew he probably couldn't win; his chakra reserves were low, and he'd already been hit with multiple senbon needles.
I just need to hold him off until Kakashi sensei beats Zabuza, he can beat this guy.
Haku noticed Sasuke getting lost in his own thoughts and took advantage.
"You hesitated, those mistakes get you killed on a battlefield, or in this case you get your half blind friend killed" Haku's monotonous voice dragged Sasuke from his thoughts back into reality. Haku unleashed one final barrage of senbon at the prone Naruto.
With his current injuries there's no way he can dodge, and he can't even see the attack. This is my fault if I hadn't lost focus this wouldn't have happened.
"SASUKE!" From his one good eye Naruto saw something that would come to haunt him for years.
"Sasuke, why? He wasn't attacking you, why take it for me. I didn't ask for this, I didn't need you to protect me."
"I don't know my body, moved on its own, there was no time to think." Sasuke managed through staggered breath.
"But Sasuke." He didn't get far before Sasuke interrupted.
"My brother, he's still out there, I swore a vow, I promised I would stay alive until I killed him. Naruto, don't let your dream die, become Hokage, you loser." He struggled to get the words out before appearing to die.
"He found a strength he didn't know he had, his body moved on its own, because he had to save someone precious to him, do you understand now, why I serve Zabuza as I do." Haku maintained his monotonous tone despite the dire situation.
An ominous power began to envelope the area.
"Shut up, you didn't know Sasuke, don't you dare try to speak for how he felt." Naruto's voice began to deepen into a low growl while an ominous presence could be felt on the bridge.
"Is this your first time seeing a friend fall on the field of battle, this is part of what it means to be a ninja fool." Haku responded
"I hated you too Sasuke, and yet, I'm so angry, I can't help it, I want to kill you Haku." The venom in his words was almost tangible.
The water from the partially melted mirrors began to evaporate around Naruto and rise to the top of the dome.
As Naruto stared at Sasuke's lifeless body the rage kept growing, his body was riddled with senbon. Naruto looked him over and with his very limited knowledge of field first aid and the human body he could tell the needles hit vital points. 2 needles in the neck 4 in the chest near the heart 1 in each wrist and the rest scattered among the torso possibly hitting the kidneys and stomach. Naruto knew he was dead.
"You killed him, after all he's been through, you killed him, his family slaughtered, he had nothing and no one. Even through all that he still was fighting hard to be the best shinobi he could be, and you killed him." Naruto's voice continued to deepen.
"His convictions were not as strong as my desire to fulfil my role as my master's weapon."
"SHUT UP," Naruto interrupted
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR DESIRE; I DON'T CARE ABOUT CONVICTIONS." His voice began to sound slightly demonic as orange chakra exploded from the ground.
Naruto's features began to change as his chakra flared. His fingernails grew out into claws, his eyes turned blood red and his pupils changed to black slits, and his whisker marks grew and darkened in colour. His yellow hair while typically unkempt became wild and almost doubled in length. The senbon previously lodged in his body and eye fell to the ground as his injuries started to heal. Scratches that previously covered his body disappeared, his eye however, was still useless.
For the first time during the fight Haku was the one losing his focus.
What is this chakra, the boy was on the brink of death 5 minutes ago and now? This chakra it's too strong I won't be able to contain him in my jutsu. Where did this power come from?
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU." Naruto practically roared at this point and dashed at Haku swinging at the ice mirror he was in. Haku quickly dashed into another mirror while Naruto punched the mirror shattering it completely.
One punch? How did he break my ice mirror so easily? This chakra can't be his it feels otherworldly, this boy is not human. Haku was snapped out of his thoughts as Naruto's fist connected with his face.
"I FOUND YOU, TIME TO DIE."
Back with Kakashi and Zabuza
What is that chakra, not Sasuke or Naruto and Sakura is still with the bridge builder, then could it be? No why now, the seal couldn't have broken. No, it's chakra is leaking out, but the seal still holds, the nine tails wont escape today. But still I must get to Naruto.
"It's time to end this Zabuza" Kakashi bit his finger drawing blood and spread it across his ninja scroll.
"You let your guard down again copy ninja, this will be your last battle, and maybe I'll take that eye of yours." Zabuza swung his oversized sword as hard as he could, completely cutting Kakashi in half.
"The legendary Kakashi of the sharingan brought down by nothing more than a bit of mist and a sword, to think he's known as a legend. So, this is the trash that the leaf calls elite, what a letdown, now let me take that eye you won't need it anymore." As Zabuza reached down to take Kakashi's sharingan, his 'dead body' poofed and was replaced by a log.
"Ninja Art, Summoning, Earth Style Fanged Pursuit Jutsu." The real Kakashi slammed the scroll to the ground.
"A substitution, oh well it doesn't matter, of what use is your jutsu when you can't even see me, you can't find me but now I can hear where the real you is."
Zabuza went to lunge when suddenly growls echoed through the mist and screams of terror could be heard as 8 ninja hounds burst from the ground and snared him, completely impairing his movement.
"I realised even with my sharingan I couldn't see you, so my only option was to smell you. You're currently trapped by my ninja hounds. You thought you had the upper hand when you slashed me didn't you. Little did you know you set up your own demise, my ninja hounds can track a scent no matter the thought I'd let my guard down earlier, you're a fool, I let you cut me. My blood on your sword is what they used to track you, and now you're trapped with nowhere to go. This eye of mine is very precious to me so I'm a little protective of it, and if you think I would let you get your scum rogue ninja hands on it then you're more stupid than I thought."
"So that was your plan all along huh copy ninja, well I guess I shouldn't have underestimated you." As Zabuza finished the heavy mist that once completely blinded those in the area began to dissipate.
"No, you shouldn't have, ah I see the mist is finally clearing and you know what I see, your death."
"Talk, talk do you plan to talk me to death?"
"In a way yes, my hounds are just playing with you right now, one word from me and they'll tear you apart, but first, what made you stoop so low as to work for swine like Gatō?"
"You defeated me, so I guess you've earned it. I know you've heard of my failed assassination attempt upon the Mizukage."
"So, a traitor decided to work for a pig, why am I not surprised."
"Be quiet, let me talk. Recently the Mizukage changed, Yagura used to be a strong leader, he was making true efforts to improve The Village Hidden in the Mist, made us stronger. One day though he changed and started the Kekkei Genkai wars, issued the order that those with them were too powerful and would one day betray the village. That's how I found Haku an orphan of the war whose parents had been murdered trying to protect him for the hunter ninja who were responsible for tracking those with special abilities down. It's like he was being controlled by someone else. Those with Kekkei Genkai made our village strong yet he tried to have them killed, I couldn't sit by and watch him destroy our village so I tried to kill him, I failed and now I'm a rogue ninja with no money, now I work for weak bitches like Gatō to earn money so I can return back to the village and finish what I started."
"While it's a noble goal, you're attempting to kill a more noble man. Tazuna is trying to save his land same as you but you work for the scum trying to ruin it. The bridge he is trying to build is the hope of this land and all it's people. You're like a disease, by attacking one you infect all and you don't care, that is not the way of the shinobi."
"You're right it's not, and I don't care why should I care about these people and their pathetic pipe dreams when I have a dream of my own."
"But to have a dream you must have a future, you don't, your future is all used up."
Silence was the only answer he received.
"You've been mentioning my eye a lot but to kill you I won't need it. I will end your pathetic life with my own jutsu, not a copied trick from other ninja. Have a taste of my ultimate technique." As Kakashi finished he started going through hand signs.
"Ox, Rabbit, Monkey, LIGHTNING STLYE, RAIKIRI!" As Kakashi finished his hand signs his fingers and palm were coated in powerful lightning chakra.
What is this, the chakra, so powerful it's tangible, he's holding pure chakra in his hand. This is the Raikiri, the lightning blade infamous for its ability to apparently cut through actual lightning.
"Die Zabuza!"
Back with Naruto and Haku
Haku is seen laying prone on the ground coughing blood as a raging Naruto awaits his opponent to finally get up.
"GET UP YOU HAVEN'T EARNED THE RIGHT TO DIE YET, YOU HAVEN'T SUFFERED ENOUGH."
Haku stood up, mask completely cracked, his body covered in scars and struggling to even remain standing.
"Kill me Naruto, I am useless to my master now a blunt weapon, now that I am of no use to Zabuza I have no reason to live so end me."
Naruto began to calm down, his claws started to retract, his eyes returned to their soothing blue, his trademark whiskers began to recede to their smaller size and his hair began to shrink.
"Why, why devote yourself so whole heartedly to someone who refuses to acknowledge you as a person. YOU'RE A PERSON HAKU not a weapon, no matter how much you go on about the shinobi way and the role of a ninja in our society, you're a person and it doesn't matter how many times you try to deny it. So, tell my why do you follow him?"
"It's for that exact reason, when Zabuza found me I was without a purpose or reason for living. He gave me both, my purpose, to carry out Zabuza's every wish, my reason or living to exist as his weapon and an extension of his will. When my parents were murdered to protect me from hunter ninja and paranoid villagers, I was left wandering aimlessly, until he found me."
"I understand your pain, I was just like you, dead parents, no friends and nowhere to go. That's when I thought that I would never be alone if I devoted myself to my village. I was wrong, I was isolated, all because of something I was born with, the way out of our depressing loneliness isn't blind devotion it's through our own friendships. Instead of seeing me as a weapon, old man Hokage treated me like family, showed me affection made sure I had some light in my life while it felt like I was being suffocated by the darkness. That's what you needed Haku a light to your dark, instead Zabuza manipulated that darkness until you were nothing but a shell of a human. That's when you became a tool, when instead of focussing on healing you were put to work like a slave, forced to become stronger and stronger until power was your identity."
It was hard to see due to his impaired vision, but he swore he saw a stray tear escape Haku's cold eyes. There was a brief silence, although no words were exchanged both fighters were in a state of mutual recognition. They were the same lonely orphans who held great power ostracised due to something they were born with. All it took was one person to completely alter these young peoples lives, had Haku had Hiruzen Sarutobi to watch over him, would he still an emotionless tool? They both knew the answer.
The silence was abruptly broken when the screams of the other battle shattered what little serenity remained.
"DIE ZABUZA"
"I'm sorry Naruto but there is one more thing I must do."
"What are you talking about?" Naruto barely finished before Haku had disappeared.
Back with Kakashi and Zabuza
Kakashi charged at Zabuza with killer intent, his hand engulfed in powerful lightning chakra.
So, this is how it ends, held down by dogs and a hole in my chest, if there is a good way to die, I'm sure this is it. He inwardly chuckled.
"RAIKIRI!" Kakashi felt his hand go perfectly through what he thought was Zabuza's chest, when he looked up to look his victim in the eyes, he was horrified to see the young boy Haku's face. The momentary shock was enough for Kakashi to lose his focus and release the summoning jutsu.
"Za Bu Za" Haku barely managed to stutter out his master's name before dying.
"So, I have no future? Wrong again Kakashi" Zabuza cockily yelled as he drew his sword.
"I knew I found a gem when I found you boy not only have you given me my life but also Kakashi's?" Zabuza began to swing his Executioners Blade down towards Kakashi's head."
He would cut through the boy to get me. Kakashi thought as he jumped back to dodge with his hand sill stuck in Haku's chest. He lay the boys body down to rest before facing Zabuza one last time.
"You'll pay for that" Naruto yelled while trying to enter the battlefield.
"No stay out of this Naruto, this is not your fight, Zabuza is mine" Kakashi responded while closing Haku's dead eyes.
The mist had finally died down and the final member of team 7 called out to Naruto. The pink haired Kunoichi Sakura Haruno 'protecting' the famed bridge builder Tazuna.
"Naruto, you're here so that must mean you and Sasuke are safe, so, where is he?" she called out to her blonde teammate.
Silence was the only response she got.
"Naruto?" She asked a lot weaker.
More silence.
"Sakura let me take you to him if I go to him you won't be disobeying your sensei if you stay by my side." Tazuna told the girl carefully.
"Thank you" was all Sakura could respond with.
They ran over to Sasuke's lifeless body passing Naruto not even acknowledging his existence.
When she finally got to Sasuke's body she dropped straight to her knees in despair crying out in sorrow.
"SASSSSUKKEEEE"
"Your students are weak Kakashi as soon as one comrade falls, they lose all focus and leave themselves open to attack." Zabuza proceeded to throw several kunai at what he thought was Naruto. As the kunai hit his body the image changed to reveal Naruto standing safely 2 feet to the left.
"What is, this?" Zabuza was shaken from his stoic bravado as he looked Kakashi in the eyes.
A small amount of blood fell from Kakashi's left eye as the three tomoe in his sharingan stopped spinning. Kakashi's breath was staggered as he clutched his eye wiping the blood from his cheek.
Damn I overused the sharingan and I'm low on chakra, but for now, my students are safe.
"So subtle Genjutsu is it, resorting to cheap tricks won't save you now. Your strength is all gone, now die." Zabuza lunged at Kakashi will killer intent.
As Zabuza was about to connect with his sword, Kakashi, channelling a small amount of chakra into his fist connecting with the side of Zabuza's face.
What is this, I thought he was exhausted, why can't I keep up with him. Zabuza went to lunge again but was cut off by two kunai being stuck in his right arm.
Shit, I can't move my arm. Zabuza grunted in pain
"You don't know what true strength is Zabuza, look at you, you're falling apart." Kakashi taunted Zabuza but knew he had to finish this quickly.
"I'll split you in half!" Zabuza switched his sword to his uninjured arm and lunged at Kakashi again.
Kakashi dodged as Zabuza brought his sword down with all his remaining strength and embedded the top of his sword into the bridge.
It's stuck and with one arm I don't have the strength to pull it out. Zabuza didn't have time to finish his thoughts as Kakashi appeared behind him grabbing the back of his neck.
"You spent your whole life looking down on those weaker than you. You used vulnerable people as tools and weapons, then as soon as you were done with them you threw them away like trash. Game over, you lose." As Kakashi was speaking he drew two more kunai and went to stab Zabuza in the neck.
As Kakashi was bringing his kunai down he noticed Zabuza managed to pull the sword out from the dent it made in the concrete. Zabuza swung the sword back with all the strength he could muster. Panicked Kakashi changed the trajectory of his stab and went for Zabuza's one good arm. They both hit their mark, Kakashi managed to ruin his opponents one good arm, while Zabuza connected with Kakashi's right arm.
"Well, well, well, this is how it turned out aye, poor Zabuza, you look like yesterdays sashimi. Hahaha." A short man wearing dark sunglasses appeared flanked by 100 mercenaries. There was nothing intimidating about this man, besides the hired killers. He walked with the assistance of a walking stick, had a large cast over his left arm and stood at t feet tall on a good day.
"Gatō." Zabuza spat as he said his name. "I don't understand, what is all this, why are you here and who are these thugs with you."
"Well, you see there's a new plan, and according to this plan you die here on this bridge. You're an expense I can no longer justify if I'm not going to get results. So, I've decided to take you off the payroll". He laughed to himself. 'But see even these thugs with me cost something so if you could take out a couple of them before they end your meaningless existence, I'd appreciate it."
"Kakashi, it appears our fight is over, since I am no longer In Gatō's employ, Tazuna is safe, therefore we have no quarrel."
"Yeah I suppose you're right."
Gatō walked over to Haku's dead body.
"You're the brat who grabbed me the other day and almost broke my arm. So, you couldn't protect your partner could you, demon of the mist." Gatō said in a mocking tone. "Look at you, you're about as demonic as a wet puppy." Gatō laughed as he poked Haku's dead face with his cane.
"This is for my arm you brat." Gatō angrily kicked Haku in the face.
"HOW DARE YOU, I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto began to run towards Gatō until he was grabbed by Kakashi.
"Stop Naruto use your head, you can't kill all those thugs, we've lost enough today." Kakashi brought Naruto into a hug as tears began to flow from the young ninja's face.
"Now what about you Zabuza! You gonna let him do that?" Naruto stopped crying and put on a face of pure determination.
"Shut up you fool, Haku's dead what does it matter."
"How can you say that. He idolised you and you're just gonna stand there and watch him be treated like a dog. You and Haku were together for years doesn't that mean anything to you."
"You don't understand the way of the shinobi boy, I merely used him the same as Gatō used me, now it's over, his usefulness has ended. The loss of his skill and power is unfortunate, but the boy, means nothing." Zabuza said maintaining his cold tone.
"If you mean that you're an even bigger rat than I thought."
"Naruto that's enough he's not our enemy anymore." Kakashi said interrupting his student.
"Shut up sensei, as far as I'm concerned, HE'S ENEMY NUMBER ONE. How can you say these things after all Haku did for you, HE LIVED FOR YOU, and then when he thought his use had run out, he threw his life away for you."
Naruto couldn't hold back his tears any longer.
"While he was sacrificing everything for your dream, you felt nothing. You never let him have a dream of his own but he didn't care, and when you were done with him you tossed him aside like he was nothing, a broken tool. That's so wrong, that's so wrong. If I become powerful like you, is this what I'll be. A cold unforgiving thing, you're not even recognisable as a human anymore. If this is the way of the shinobi, then I'll keep fighting until I change it, people like Haku, those with so much love to give won't have to rely on people like you, those wo would use them until they die, then dispose of them like trash. DO YOU HEAR ME ZABUZA?"
"You talk too much." Zabuza finally responded leading to a brief silence.
"Your words cut deep boy, deeper than any blade, while he fought you, his heart was breaking in two. You see Haku was always too soft and too kind, he felt pain and sorrow, and curse him now I feel it too. I also feel content that this is how it ends." Zabuza paused while tearing the bandages that covered his mouth with his teeth.
Naruto was silent as saw tears begin to drop to the ground.
"What's wrong boy are you so surprised to discover that I'm human. All shinobi are human, no matter how much we try to escape from that simple fact, we always fail, or at least, I failed." Zabuza's tears stopped flowing, and a terrifying look appeared on his face.
"Boy."
Naruto looked up at the rogue ninja.
"Hand me your kunai. I have some business to take care of."
Alright so that's the end of this chapter. A long one for my first ever. Hopefully you guys enjoyed leave a review if there's something you thought should be different of just any thoughts on my first ever chapter really. Please don't just mercilessly trash it ha-ha I am trying, and constructive criticism is welcome but please don't be toxic. Also let me know what you think of the chapter length, if it should be shorter or even if you want it longer just let me know.
Before answering people's questions from my Author's notes I'd like to give a huge shout out to the people that have favourited and followed this story before any real story was even written.
So big shout out to bluryface2412, WayDownBeLo, Tensa-Zangetsu102, Shiroyasha Gin-San, GunnerRyuu, Don Thomas, .ice.101, Usagi Sorano, Rhuan Vieira , Draco slayer 3 and WyrmTheFrostDragonSwordsman. Appreciate you guys following the story hope you enjoyed.
Also, to the people that favourited, Papaleta, anarion87, book lover reader and Mangafam7. To those who favourited and followed you guys are the real MVP's.
Now to Address the questions from chapter 0
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WayDownBeLo- I would answer your question but I don't want to spoil any plot points I have coming up so sorry. Appreciate the support hope you enjoyed the chapter
Papaleta- Thanks, I love the NaruHina pairing in most stories and there weren't any major objections to it, so I think I'm going to stick with it.
Shiroyasha Gin-San- I was considering doing a rarer pairing, Karin x Naruto was one I did think about, also Naruto x Fuu and even Naruto x Temari. But I didn't want to give myself too many differing things for my first story. My main concern is with such a drastic change I won't be able to make it flow perfectly so I decided to stick to the main source pairing. Thanks for the support.
bluryface2412- I do understand your worries, but as you will kinda see next chapter, when I said Darker Naruto it may have been slightly misleading. No, he will not be as happy go lucky as the anime and manga, he's seen the horrors of the shinobi lifestyle, and as such his personality will darken. However, his dream is still to be Hokage, he will still protect his friends with everything he has, but I'm thinking of making him quicker to anger and slightly more cynical. He's not gonna be full emo, but I was thinking that because of such a traumatic thing happening on his first real mission that maybe he is influenced by the nine tails chakra more. Hopefully that clears up what angle I'm taking. Thanks for your support.
I've already started writing chapter 2 but I will wait for any feedback before officially finishing it. Thanks guys and I'll catch you next time.