Chapter 5

And the Heavens Shook.

Naruto was breathing hard. He wanted to succumb to the creak in his bones and collapse right there but the mortal fear he felt as he dodged another strike was far more pressing.

It had been a full day since he had recovered. Sasuke and Sakura had interrogated him about his staff and how he had suddenly become so strong. It lasted nearly an hour before Kakashi had pulled them downstairs to train and Naruto hadn't missed the glint in his eye during the questioning as though he was punishing him.

Naruto rolled under a massive sword that nearly separated his head from his shoulders. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a couple strands of blond hair fall to the ground before refocusing on the sudden impact of a foot in his diaphragm. He tumbled to the ground, rolling to a stop on the other side of the large clearing they were in. He sputtered for a second before the hairs on his neck stood on end and he had to push himself up and away. He leapt into the air not unlike an animal and landed a couple of feet behind him on all fours. He had narrowly escaped being chopped in half.

Zabuza straightened and casually rested the absolutely ginormous weapon on his shoulder as if it was a bat. Naruto stayed still for a second before launching himself at the older shinobi. He extended his hand outward, ready to claw the mans face. In response, Zabuza swung his sword horizontally. The whiskered boy shifted his weight and rolled under the attack before jolting upwards inside his opponent's guard.

Zabuza lurched back surprised for a second before backhanding the younger boy's punch away. "Maa, that's enough." Kakashi's voice called. "It's Sasuke's turn."

The relief Naruto secretly felt that the torture was over was enough to carry him over to his awaiting teammates. Of course, as soon as he was within a foot of them he collapsed in a heap. Sakura, who had been working diligently with Haku on what little medical jutsu she knew handed him a canteen.

Haku smiled at him. "Alright Sakura it's time to apply what I showed you to a real body." She motioned for Naruto to unzip his jacket. When he did, both girls were confused. They had seen the boy be assaulted brutally for the passed five minutes. The wounds he sustained, though not life threatening, were still not something to be ignored. His clothes showed areas where the material had been cut clean through and were stained with his blood in some places, but upon closer inspection of his now bare torso and limbs all that was there were minor cuts and forming bruises.

Right before their eyes his wounds were closing up. Even those bruises were quickly forming before going through the process of disappearing. It was shocking to say the least.

"Why'd you ask me to take my jacket off, Haku-neechan?" Naruto pouted looking up at his close friend.

"Naruto… your injuries.." Sakura said awestruck. "They're gone."

"So?" Naruto asked gulping down more water. He swore he'd get that eyebrow less freak back for being so brutal in his spar. Honestly, it looked like he was being a little gentler to Sasuke, or at least not coming at him with the intent to kill the Uchiha.

Sakura and Haku both looked at each other in confused disbelief. "What do you mean so? Injuries don't just heal within minutes!" Sakura yelled.

The Uzumaki paused. Then he looked at her oddly. He had always healed fast. He trained hard because of it, taking full advantage of that fact. Sometimes even dragging himself to his apartment after breaking a bone or two. A good night's sleep and his injuries were usually healed. Poof, never to be thought of again. He thought that that was normal, but he had never had a reason to say otherwise. He hadn't really been around people when he was younger besides in the academy, so he didn't really have anything to compare his healing factor to. He was alone most of the time and when he wasn't no one had ever gotten hurt while with him. Except when he graduated… when Iruka had been injured. The chuunin had spent the night in the… hospital. Weren't that what that place was for? Healing people who were hurt or sick? Naruto had also never given that place a thought since he had never had a reason to visit it. He had never given any of this a thought actually, just accepting things as they were and choosing to remain ignorant. He had needed to focus on more important stuff like becoming Hokage. Now that it had been brought to his attention, though, he was confused.

"You don't heal like that?" Naruto asked.

Sakura was flabbergasted. What the hell did he mean in asking such a dumb question? "Of course not and you shouldn't be able to either!"

"Oh…" he said and took another sip of water. For a moment, he pondered what made him so different before he slapped himself. Kyuubi.

Haku was coming to a very different conclusion. She had watched how he went from confusion to understanding and the way he hadn't realized that he had an advanced healing factor. It meant he had probably had it since before whatever that power surge was on the bridge. She wondered if he had a bloodline.

"Is it a bloodline?" She asked grabbing both genin's attention.

Naruto blinked for several seconds before slowly nodding. "I guess you could say that."

Sakura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, it was, why hadn't she thought of that? Oh, right because Naruto was the dead last orphan. She winced at herself. Those thoughts were becoming more and more prevalent. Or maybe she was becoming more aware of them. Either way after watching her teammate slaughter hundreds of mercenaries in the name of protecting his teammates had shattered any and all misconceptions she had. He had showed he truly cared about his comrades. She could at least treat him well.

"Only you wouldn't realize you had a bloodline." She shook her head playfully.

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Dobe has a bloodline?" Sasuke panted flopping down beside them. Naruto stuck his tongue out at him as he handed him the canteen.

"Naruto's wounds healed within minutes!" Sakura said. Sasuke's head swiveled to the blonde.

He eyed him for a second. "Tch, good. He gets his ass kicked so much maybe now he can take it."

"Hey!" Naruto cried.

"That's enough you two. Sakura, heal Sasuke so that you can spar with Zabuza next." Kakashi called lazily from his perch in a nearby tree. He had of course been listening to the group but chose to listen to the outcome instead of immediately stepping in. If things looked like they would get uncomfortable for the blonde he had prepared the very same excuse Haku had given. Still nothing had prepared him for the way Sasuke had reacted to the news that his teammate had a bloodline. The cyclops thought he'd be upset, instead he had brushed it off, but he had also noticed a change in his team. They were far more receptive and open towards each other. They were forming friendships and he was incredibly relieved.

Truthfully, Sasuke had reflected on why he had shielded his teammate from the spray of senbon. He hadn't cared before, or at least he thought he hadn't. Upon further review he realized that he sort of liked the blonde's personality. His pranks had been funny and though he could be annoying and loud those instances were becoming fewer and fewer. Sakura had even stopped fangirling long enough to start studying medical jutsu and didn't flinch at the prospect of sparring. That had relieved him the most. He had found when she wasn't squawking about how awesome he was she wasn't so bad, however, it had only been a day so he reserved his opinions until further notice.

Naruto was silently relieved with Haku's convenient out. He had considered telling them his secret, but he knew he had to ask his Jiji first. He was slightly annoyed at Sasuke's joke but he was just floored that he had the ability to joke at all considering the stick that was shoved up his ass. He watch Haku give Sakura pointers on the Mystical Palm Jutsu and he found that he enjoyed the calmness. They had defeated Gato and liberated wave, found some new friends and the bridge was nearly complete. Everything had worked in their favor and he was glad.

One thing still bothered him though. Naruto folded his legs and brought his hands together in front of him. He allowed his mind to calm as he delved deep into his mind just as Ikari had showed him. Instead of opening his eyes to the winter wasteland he knew well, he came face to face with angry red eyes.

"So my container finally deems me worthy enough to visit." The Kyuubi's deep voice reverberated throughout the room.

Naruto's gaze landed on every surface of his mindscape. He wondered how this part of his mind was so different than where Ikari resided but decided he would save that question for later. He focused on the large mass of orange fur and claws behind the bars that extended far up and out of sight. He took a step forward in the murky water around him.

"Kyuubi." Naruto started then stopped. He considered him for a moment. "Ikari told me about the night of your attack. That you were being controlled…"

Kyuubi growled. "You know nothing of that night."

"Yeah yeah I get it. I can't remember anything so I can't understand blah blah blah. That's not why I'm here." Naruto said grinning up at the fox.

"Then why have you come." The Kyuubi growled.

"I'm here to introduce myself and maybe get your name. I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" He held out his hand, sticking his closed fist out. "And I'm hoping that you'll be my partner!"

There were too many things to unpack in that statement. The Kyuubi was shocked that this boy had offered his hand to him, that he wanted to know his name, and offered him a partnership instead of him simply siphoning his chakra from him. He wouldn't admit it but he was impressed. The Kyuubi, after all, wasn't a malicious, mindless beast. He had emotions and centuries of knowledge. He had watched humanity begin to use chakra to kill and mistreat each other. Humans were greedy and nothing could change his mind about that… except here was his container offering him a partnership. Wasn't that the sort of spirit he had been waiting for? What his father had asked him to look out for? Still, he had to be sure.

"When you ascend to the pinnacle of strength, what will you do?" he growled.

Naruto grinned up at him. "What a dumb question! I'll protect everyone."

"Even if you must kill to do it?"

Naruto frowned and dropped his hand. He looked down into the murky water before looking up with steel-blue eyes. "Sometimes… sometimes talking doesn't solve everything. Sometimes people just want power for the sake of control and sometimes people just want to hurt people. So, I have to be able to… kill… for the sake of my precious people."

Kyuubi stared down his nose at the human boy. His father would be happy to know that, finally he has found a suitable candidate for his legacy. Kyuubi lied on his stomach before the blonde boy and raised his fist to him. Naruto's eyes widened before he grinned and touched fists with Kyuubi.

"You may call me Kurama."

A/N: Hey there Reader! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Please give me feedback so I know you guys are actually enjoying my content by dropping a review. I really enjoy reading them!