Chapter Six

A Hero Emerged…

Team 7 plus two stood at the newly built bridge. The entirety of Wave stood facing them. Bittersweet exclamations were yelled out about their departure and quite a few people were holding back tears.

"Promise you'll come back and visit okay Onii-san!" Inari said hugging Naruto tightly.

"Yeah yeah, of course I will. I have to make sure you're not slacking off, don't I?" the whiskered boy asked. Inari beamed up at him.

"Come on, Dobe." Sasuke called exasperated by the display of affection, though his voice held no real bite to it.

"I'm coming teme." Naruto threw back. "Well, I gotta go see ya guys later!"

Naruto turned and ran back to his team. He inserted himself between Zabuza and Sakura, waving back at them all.

"Well, what should we name the bridge?" Someone called out from the crowd.

Tazuna grinned. "I know, how about the Great Tazuna Bridge? Named after yours truly." Tsunami slapped her father on the back of the head.

"How about the Great Naruto Bridge, after the boy who gave us back our hope?" Everyone cheered affirmations at that and smiled.

"Are you sure I'll be given asylum in your village? I'm a wanted man kid." Zabuza asked as they ran.

"Course you will! Especially since Jiji owes me a huge favor." Naruto yelled with a grin. They, besides Kakashi, were all left wondering exactly who this mysterious Jiji of his was to be able to sway the Hokage so easily. They would find out very soon as they were only half a mile away from the village gates.

Upon entering the Hokage's Office, the ANBU that were previously following them discreetly mostly dispersed, save for two who joined the rest of the ANBU tasked with guarding the Hokage. Kakashi mentally rolled his eyes as even Sasuke glanced at one of the corners they had settled into. The ANBU were getting sloppy. He'd have to talk to the current captain of the division, maybe he could even get some good training in himself.

The cyclops returned his attention to the Sandaime who looked carefully passive as his attention swept through the small group.

"Team 7 back from Wave, Hokage-sama." Kakashi said with a slight bow. His genin and the two tag alongs followed suit though Naruto seemed a bit confused at the action.

"Kakashi, please explain to me why you have brought an A-rank missing nin into my office." Sarutobi commanded casually.

And so Kakashi began the debrief if a bit nervous about his leader's reaction. "You should have turned back immediately or at least called for reinforcements. Your team was not ready for an A-rank mission." The old monkey scolded. Kakashi felt shame at that. He knew he could have lost anyone of his kids. Considering he had the last Uchiha and the Hokage's surrogate grandson on his team if that had occurred, he doubted he would still be living much less a Jounin. He shivered at the thought.

"I understand Lord Third." He bowed his head in shame.

"We'll discuss a fitting punishment later." Hiruzen leaned forward on his steepled hands. "I assume, Zabuza, you wish to join my village?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Zabuza had to admit he was terrified. He had heard stories about the God of Shinobi, and he wasn't someone to disrespect. Even now he could feel the cold stare of the leader. He may be old, but he wasn't a Kage for no reason. Anyone who dared to disrespect him would most likely be dead before they finished their next sentence.

"You've been assisting in the training of team 7 as well. I suppose that gives you a hand up in my decision. However, there is little you can bring to my village. In fact, taking you in might even put a strain on our relations with Kiri. The better and safest route would be to ship your body back to Kiri." Zabuza steeled himself and he couldn't help look at the blond boy beside him. He could gut him, to think he could be killed just because he had listened to this idiot.

Naruto's face remained in a pout. He had seen the Hokage in action plenty of times in his childhood. He knew how terrifying his Jiji could be. He had been on the receiving end of some of his most awful rages because of his more malicious pranks. He imagined that Zabuza was at the very least nervous, so he decided to step in before his Jiji could give an official judgment.

"Oi come on Jiji let him stay. He's been helping Kakashi train us!" Naruto took several steps forward so that he was right in front of the man's desk.

Everyone in the office was floored besides the ANBU and Kakashi who had seen similar scenarios play out all too many times before.

"Naruto, he is a missing-nin. He could be plotting to overthrow me, just like he did with the Mizukage." Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his head.

Naruto looked at the sword carrying ninja critically for a moment before turning back to the old monkey. "Come on! You can definitely take him! Besides, he wouldn't do that, he knows about… you know," the blonde motioned to his stomach with his eyes, "and he hasn't even tried to kill me yet! That would've been a huge tactical advantage right there so I doubt he would do something crazy like try to kill you."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed and looked at Naruto. Those unfamiliar with the two's relationship assumed that Naruto was about to be at the very least stripped of his rank, at the worst killed for disrespecting the Hokage.

"I suppose I could take the risk… besides, I do owe you that favor." He muttered the last part with a gentle smile. "Alright, but Naruto we need to have a talk about addressing me correctly during official business."

"Thanks, Jiji!" Naruto grinned at him completely ignoring his last comment.

"Zabuza it appears that Naruto has taken quite a liking to you, so I will grant you, citizen, into my village, but," The room's atmosphere grew heavy with killing intent, "if you hurt anyone in my village I will not hesitate to execute you."

Zabuza gulped and bowed. "Of course Hokage-sama."

"You will be given three months' probation in which you will be monitored by ANBU. Today you will meet with our head interrogator, Ibiki, and when you're cleared you can begin your duties as a Jounin. Neko will accompany you for now."

The ANBU in question materialized out of nowhere beside the former Kiri shinobi and showed him to the door. Haku went to follow but the Hokage stopped her.

"Haku-san do you wish to continue learning medical jutsu? Or would you like to be a standard ninja?" he asked with a puff of smoke from his pipe.

Haku was surprised he had given her any sort of choice. She couldn't help the smile on her face as she replied. "I would like to become an iryo-nin, Hokage-sama."

"Then I will talk to my student at the hospital. She might be willing to allow you to join the upcoming class." He said.

Haku bowed to him. "Thank you for your recommendation, sir."

"A-ano, Hokage-sama… could I also participate in the program? Haku has been teaching me some of the things that she knows and… well…" Sakura trailed off nervously.

The Hokage smiled at her. He was very proud to see the young girl begin to flourish into a splendid young kunoichi. "Hmm, why don't you and Haku take Naruto-kun to the hospital to see the program's head? I'm sure she would love to see him."

The three genin were surprised to note that Naruto would know someone so high up in Konoha's bureaucracy. "But for now will you three wait outside while I talk with Naruto and your sensei?"

His question was said as an inquiry but was meant as an order. The three genin who gave their teammate one last look exited the room and sat on the sofas outside next to the secretary's desk.

"What do you think they need to talk about?" Sakura asked.

"Besides the fact that Naruto just bribed the Hokage? Maybe it's about that power at the bridge." Sasuke shrugged.

Sakura nodded slowly. "Yeah you're probably right."

"Did you two know that he was close to the Hokage?" Haku asked after a moment.

"No way, I can't believe he calls him that! I mean my mother once said that he favors Naruto, but I didn't know he was so lenient."

Sasuke remained silent as he listened to the two. He turned his head to the door and wondered what they were really talking about in there.

"So, Naruto. Tell me more about this... Ikari." Hiruzen said leaning against his desk. Was this the moment he had been waiting all these years for? Ever since that moment in his office he hadn't been able to look at the boy without wondering what the future would hold. Was this the gift Kami had given him?

Naruto looked uncomfortable for a moment and began explaining. "Well Ikari was sealed inside of me with the Kyuubi, but they aren't the same." He said quickly. "Ikari is a part of my soul. He's a representation of me. He has always been with me even when my heart first began form within my mother."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed and Kakashi stiffened a bit at the last part. "Naruto, has Ikari given you any information on the identities of your parents?"

Naruto looked conflicted for a moment. "He told me who my mother was. He doesn't feel I'm ready to know who my father is yet."

His leader sighed and crossed his arms. Even if Kami herself had sent Ikari, it would be dangerous to allow him to spread that information around. "Naruto, I don't have to tell you how important it is that you keep this a secret do I?"

"No. I know that she had a lot of enemies and I'm her son so I will most likely inherit her problems. I… don't think I'm ready to deal with that right now." He said looking up at the old monkey.

"Good. Now, I doubt that Ikari is truly the Kyuubi pretending to be someone else. The seal on your stomach wouldn't allow for such a thing. Is there any way that you can summon him to this realm?" Sarutobi asked.

Naruto suddenly gave them a vulpine grin and closed his eyes. He looked deep within himself, passed his chakra, and into the world of snow and ice. Ikari had anticipated the Hokage's request and had planned for it. He had to concentrate on Ikari's presence and pull it forward into the staff, using it as a conduit. It had taken him days to figure out the right amount of chakra to use but he could do it easily now.

He opened his eyes and took a step away from his staff that remained standing despite nothing holding it up. Kakashi's eye narrowed at that and tensed as did the very cautious ANBU. Hiruzen continued watching his body tensing as well.

Right before their eyes the staff condensed into a ball of black metal. Then it began to expand, for a moment the contents of the room, besides Naruto, began to back away but soon it took shape. Soon it took the form of a human. He was tall and slim but muscled. His features were regal and strong. His eyes were blue, nearly silver but the look in them was animalistic, dangerous. His white hair that was tinted blue fell in a fierce mane around his head. Despite the color of his hair and eyes, he would easily be mistaken for an Inuzuka.

He bowed to the Hokage and the older shinobi relaxed a little at the action. "Hello, Hokage-dono."

Naruto grinned at his grandfather, obviously proud that he had completed the difficult task of bringing the leopard there.

"I thought that Naruto said that you were a leopard?" Hiruzen asked with a frown. This was uncharted territory. He wanted to know more about this power.

"I thought that you would be more comfortable speaking to me in this form." The newcomer said.

Hiruzen nodded his acceptance. "I see… Naruto says that you are a part of his soul. How is that possible? You seem to be an independent entity."

Ikari smiled demurely at Hiruzen, "Much like the Yondaime created artificial ties to the Kyuubi's and Naruto's soul, we are tied. The difference is my consciousness was born from Naruto long ago. I suppose I am independent but only in the sense that my memory is longer and far more complete than his."

"How much longer?" Kakashi cut in.

"I am absolutely ancient." Ikari chuckled sitting on one of the couches closest to him. He stretched himself out like a cat.

Hiruzen pondered that for a moment. It was confusing when he looked at it from up close, which was why Naruto's explanation was so lacking. He probably didn't understand fully what was going on. He had a suspicion but he didn't have the full story.

"You are the Shakujo he carries and you are sentient," Hiruzen said slowly. "What powers do you hold?"

"You do not understand, I was birthed from his power. The full extent of it was so… potent in needed a vessel to contain it safely within his body. I am that vessel. Though we seem separate we are both one soul." Ikari corrected. "We carry the very essence of wind and water, for now."

"For now?" the cyclops asked.

"Did you honestly forget how Gatou's life ended?" Kakashi tensed as images of the man's final moments passed through his mind. Naruto looked away at that. He hadn't remembered much of that moment but still the terror in his eyes was the only thing he needed to recall. "His soul was forever taken from the cycle of reincarnation."

Hiruzen was shaken. He looked from a confused Naruto to relaxing figure sitting upon his couch. Kakashi had explained that in the heat of the battle on the bridge, Naruto had pulled out a paler version of Gatou from the man's chest. Ikari had just confirmed it to be the man's soul. There wasn't many instances in history where that had occurred in fact there was only one man capable of such a thing.

"Perhaps I had pushed out more power than I meant to then but in any case, what you saw was still only a fraction of his true potential. Naruto's powers will continue to grow stronger within him. I am meant to be a balance within him, to keep his mortal body from being torn to shreds by his more… divine strength so that he may bring balance once again."

"There is only one staff in history that could hold such powers," the old Kage began, "but you have repeatedly stated that you are tied to his soul… that would mean…"

"I see you have caught up." The fair-skinned man stood and stretched. "I believe then that I shall return to rest until Naruto calls upon me again. Kakashi-san train your team well, they will need it in the coming months. Oh, and Hokage-dono," Hiruzen looked at him with a bit of amazement, "You should begin training again as well. Everyone in this village should."

Hiruzen tensed and nodded, taking note of the thinly veiled warning. Something was coming very soon.

Naruto for the most part had remained silent not because he had decided to allow his companion to explain everything but because he had only really kept up with half of the conversation. He understood that they were tied to each other but Ikari was talking as if he knew him long before he had been born. Like he had been simply waiting for him to return from somewhere. The conversation was strange because it felt like whatever they were talking about wasn't meant for him to understand. Like they were talking in a secret code and he got the feeling he wasn't meant to know yet. He sighed to himself as Ikari stood in front of him. He was a part of him and honestly if Ikari was really as old as he seemed then he knew better than anyone what was best for Naruto especially since he was Naruto in a sense.

"Naruto, give me your hand." His partner requested. Naruto did so without any hesitation. "It is not feasible for you to carry me around openly. I will be giving you access to a pocket dimension to house my other form. This will hurt so brace yourself." Naruto was about to protest before the older man sunk his teeth into his palm. The blond yelped at the pain in surprise but Ikari vanished before he could express his distaste.

Hiruzen and Kakashi were both too shell shocked by the revelations to stop the leopard. When they did look Ikari was gone and Naruto was cradling his wounded hand. Naruto examined it as the wounds closed and what looked like doodles appeared. "What the heck is this?"

"It's similar to sealing scrolls. When you want to remove the contents you must push chakra into it and when you want to place items into it you must do the same." The old Hokage answered tiredly leaning back into his chair.

Naruto tested it a couple of times before becoming satisfied. "Cool!"

"You're dismissed Naruto-kun. Please keep everything we talked about a secret for now." Hiruzen sighed. He jotted something down on a piece of paper before handing it to him. "This is an official recommendation for your two friends. The room number you're looking for is 432-F. Though she's probably making her rounds."

"Okay, Jiji! Thanks a bunch!" He said and rushed out the room, dragging his awaiting teammates with him.

"Now about your punishment…" Kakashi couldn't help but gulp.

Naruto was excited to see who the head of the Iryo ninja program was and subsequently had made the trip to the hospital into a race. Once they finally stopped at the doors of the hospital, Sasuke glared at his friend.

"Baka you didn't have to run so fast!" he hissed panting. Sakura was thanking Kami for the training they had been going through with Zabuza as she wasn't as winded as she would've been without it.

"I'm going to throttle you, Naruto." She said with her hands on her knees before taking a deep steadying breath.

Haku smiled at the blonde's enthusiasm. "Neh, sorry Sakura-chan. I'm just really excited!" He gushed. "Come on we have to go to room 432-F!"

He took a step in and was mindful not to rush in as his teammates might scold him more if he tried to leave them behind. They made their way up several flights of stairs until they made it the fourth floor. Surprisingly, there weren't many patient rooms there but instead several offices, and one had a secretary sitting outside it, one that Naruto immediately recognized.

"Shizune-nee!" Naruto screeched before leaping at the woman before anyone could stop him. The woman looked up startled for a moment before smiling at the incoming missile.

Alas before he could make contact with the dark-haired woman, the door flew open and he landed right into the chest of a young blonde woman's impressive breasts.

"Naru-chan!" She yelled hugging him tightly to him.

"Can't breath!" came a muffled reply.

The group was startled by the appearance of the woman before them, even more so that this was who the Hokage meant. Suffocating their friend and teammate was one of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade Senju herself in all her glory. They were all wondering how he knew her, first the Hokage and now one of the Legendary Sannin? What was going on?

Naruto pinched her on her under boob and she dropped him. He took a breath of fresh air before being smacked on the head with the force of an ox. "You brat where are your manners!" The older blond yelled.

"Maybe if you hadn't tried to kill me, I wouldn't have pinched your boob!" Naruto yelled back his vison still swimming from the blow.

Tsunade made to respond before Shizune stepped in. "You two we're in a hospital. I'm sure the patients on the floor below can hear you fairly well." She sighed.

"Naru-chan where have you been? The last time you visited you had just graduated." The blonde asked ignoring her assistant.

Naruto had the decency to look abashed. "I've been with my team… I totally forgot in all the excitement. Sorry, Baa-chan."

Sakura chose this time to break into the conversation. "Naruto do you know who you're talking to!?"

Naruto looked confused for a moment. "This is my Baa-chan. Well not really my Baa-chan but basically."

"Brat what have I told you about calling me that!" Tsunade cut in.

"But Baa-chan!" Naruto said making his eyes bigger and a pout forming.

The three teens viewing the spectacle was both awed and confused as the powerful Sannin member bent to the puppy dog eyes. "Aww, Naru-chan!" She ruffled his hair and he smiled at her fondly. "Introduce me to your friends."

Naruto immediately turned to his teammates. "This is Sakura, Sasuke, and Haku! We're here 'cus Haku and Sakura wanted to take lessons to become Iryo-nin! Here's the recommendation from Jiji!" They all bowed nervously.

"You mean you only visited us to give us more work?" Shizune joked with a smile as Tsunade read over the recommendation. It appeared that Haku had some experience with the art and had been teaching Sakura in the last couple of weeks.

"I didn't know you guys worked here!" He whined.

Tsunade was looking at the two young women before her critically. "You two," The two girls snapped to attention, "why do you want to become med-nins?"

Haku answered first. "I want to heal, not injure."

Sakura blushed as the older blonde's gaze met hers. "I-I want to protect my comrades and be able to stand beside them equally."

It was true since the mission to Wave she had felt completely worthless. She had barely contributed to the mission at all, she even had become incapacitated at one point. Whenever she thought about it, she wanted to become better and stronger. She didn't want to be the weak girl that sat on the sidelines.

Tsunade smiled at them. They both had solid reasons to want to take part in the program. To save and protect was the basis of their oath. Haku would go far in the program. Sakura, on the other hand, reminded her of herself. All those years ago she had wanted to stand beside her teammates and feel as though they were all equal. Jiraiya had taken an interest in fuinjutsu and Orochimaru had become adept in ninjutsu. She had found solace in the healing arts and had even improved her battle capabilities because of her need to be just as good as them. That same desire was written all over Sakura's face.

"Haku, I will give you entry into the upcoming class. You're a little advanced but that's fine. A refresher is always good. I'll give you the schedule tomorrow come back at six a.m. and don't be late. As for you Sakura, the courses that you want won't help you reach your dreams." Sakura looked as though she would cry and Naruto was about to protest when she continued, "I was like you once so I know, you don't want to be a regular Iryo-nin. Being a combat med nin is hard and a lot of people only learn the basics of combat medicine before going on to specialize in something else. We only have one class that specifically trains combat med nins and it has already started."

Sasuke frowned at the woman that was causing anguish to his teammate. He glanced at his blonde teammate who was looking at the woman suspiciously before he smiled at his pseudo grandmother. The raven relaxed a little but was still took a step toward his other teammate who was nearly in tears.

"So I wonder if you would be interested in an apprenticeship?" Tsunade said with a smile.

Sakura's eyes widened and she leaped toward the Senju giving her a hug as she did. "Yes! Thank you so much!"

Tsunade was surprised both at the gesture and at the amount of strength the girl was putting behind though she doubted the girl was really aware. On the inside, she was laughing evilly. The pinkette had a lot of potential to inherit Tsunade's monstrous strength. Shizune hadn't wanted to learn the technique behind claiming it simply wasn't her style but Sakura would take to it like a fish to water she was sure.

"Come on, get off now. Be here at the same time as Haku and be prepared to work harder than you've ever worked before." She said tearing the girl off her.

"Of course Tsunade-sama!" the two girls bowed and bid their teammates farewell before leaving.

Sasuke followed suit planning to find Zabuza and ask for some more training. That left the two blondes and Shizune to catch up. Naruto told them all about his mission but left out the parts about Ikari. When questioned about the tattoo on his palm he simply said they had to ask the Hokage. They accepted this answer and told him that he should come back to the Senju compound after they finished here for dinner, which Naruto quickly agreed.

When Naruto left the hospital he decided that he could still get in a bit of training before he had to go and meet back with Tsunade and Shizune so he made his way to the training grounds. He decided he would try to race to the training ground as fast as he could as part of a warm-up.

He was running so fast through the forests that separated the training grounds from the rest of the village that when three figures suddenly launched themselves out up and out of the coverage he couldn't stop himself from crashing into one of them. The two went tumbling towards the ground. Thinking quickly, he adjusted both of them so that they rolled safely to the ground instead of outright falling.

"OOF!" he grunted upon impact. When he opened his eyes he found the figure he had crashed into to be Hinata Hyuuga. Her eyes were closed and her face was slightly scrunched up as Naruto examined her. He had never been so close to her before, assuming that she had hated him just like most of his academy class. He had to admit she was really pretty. He blushed at that thought.

Her eyes opened and when she focused on him she turned bright red. She leaped off of him and began stuttering apologies. He was confused. Every Hyuuga he had ever met had been an ass, but she was apologizing to him when it was all clearly his fault.

"Ano… Hinata, that was definitely my fault. I should be apologizing to you." He said uncertainly.

Her mouth shut and her fingers came together in front of her. "N-Naruto-kun… i-its okay-ay."

He blushed at the honorific. "Uh…" Naruto was confused as to what to say and that puzzled him. He had never come across anyone that shut him up. I mean he was known for never shutting up so to be lost for words was new to him.

He was about to ask if she was okay when three other figures appeared from the tree line. "What the hell you bastard! What the hell were you running so fast for? Watch where you're going next time." Kiba yelled as he checked his teammate over for injuries much like a mother hen.

Naruto felt a twist in his gut upon observing that which fueled his anger at the feral boy's words. "It's not my fault you guys popped up out of nowhere!" He yelled, getting up and dusting himself off.

Kurenai couldn't help but sigh at the loud genin before her. Naruto had obviously not meant to tackle her student but Kiba was acting as though he had targeted the young girl purposefully. She was still working on his aggressive tendencies when it came to what he considered pack but there was still a long way to go. "Kiba, that's enough Naruto didn't mean to bump into her. Hinata are you alright?" The heiress shyly nodded her head.

"Bump into her? More like tackled her! He could've broken her neck!" Kiba raved with Akamaru yipping at his master to quiet down.

"K-Kiba-san, it's okay, h-he didn't m-mean t-to…" she trailed off.

Naruto sported a blush as he looked at the girl before him. His mind went back to the honorific she used with his name and he wondered why she hadn't used it with her teammate. For some reason, he felt a spark of joy run through him.

As Kurenhai set to scolding Kiba for his rudeness, Shino took in how quiet the usually loud boy was. He should be accelerating the situation with the Inuzuka and yet he was blushing at his shy teammate. He wondered if this was the first time they had interacted.

"A-ah sorry Hinata. I really didn't mean to run into you like that. I was warming up on my way to my team's training ground… and well I didn't see you guys and so… um…" he trailed off.

Hinata simply nodded not trusting her voice. "See Kiba, everything is fine." Kurenai sighed, noting quietly the awkward exchange and how eerily similar the two looked. 'I wonder…'

She was just as familiar with the blonde Jinjuriki in front of her as anyone else in the village but that didn't mean she agreed with what they said about him. Sure he was loud and pulled pranks but that was to be expected given how little attention Konoha as a whole seemed to give him. Considering her ward was practically in love with the boy, she doubted she could be anything less than friendly to him, and by the way he was looking at Hinata, she doubted this would be the last time they would be together. "Well, Naruto-kun you had better be on your way. We've still got some training to do."

"Ah right!" he said scratching his head. He gave one more glance at her female student before jumping into the trees. She grinned; she would definitely look forward to this. She wondered if she could arrange some cooperative training with Team 7 in the near future.

Hey everyone! You guys kept asking for a longer chapter so here it is or at least this is pretty long for me. I hope you guys enjoy it and review it! See you next time!