Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any other respective media, only my OC

Naruto – Chapter 5

Where A Hero Once Lived! The Demons of the Snow!

Part 2

General POV

The day after the chakra control exercise, Kakashi let both Toshirama and Sakura off to guard Tazuna and his construction team while Naruto and Sasuke continued their climbing as neither had completely completed the climb yet.

Both Toshirama and Sakura were at the construction site where the bridge site stood. Sakura was still yawning having just woken up recently while Toshirama was helping carry some supplies with some of the workers to help the best he can.

"You always this lazy?" Tazuna asked Sakura as she finished yawning. "Where's the other blonde head kind and the one with the attitude?"

"There off training, so Kakashi-sensei sent the both of us to help guard the site while you guys kept on building." Toshirama replied as he finish carrying some small metal girders.

"You, I understand, but the girl?" Tazuna replied in slight disbelief. Sakura was not happy.

"Grr." Sakura growled with Toshirama keeping her back.

As the three were talking another builder came to Tazuna and spoke, "Hey, Tazuna we need to talk, I've been thinking a lot about the bridge and I've decided that I've pushed my luck far enough."

Tazuna was shocked, "You just going to quiet, just like that you're kidding?!"

"I stayed because of our friendship, but I'm putting my neck on the line out here, Gato and his thugs will show up eventually, and then they'll kill you and bridge will never be finished." The worker said. "Tazuna, it's a lost cause, we should stop now while were alive."

Toshirama and Sakura looked on at the two men while Tazuna finally replied, "No chance, this OUR bridge, our island is poor and that'll keep happening unless we connect this bridge to the mainland. Commerce, trade and hope; that's what we're building here."

"Not going to be much hope if were all dead." The worker finished, defeated. "It's already noon, let's break for lunch." Tazuna said as he walked by the worker.

"Oh, and Giichi don't think of coming back already lunch." Tazuna finished as he walked away.

After the workers finished lunch, what remained of the team continued for a few more hours and then finished when the sun set.

Tazuna, Toshirama and Sakura all walked down the main street to the local market in order to buy some ingredients for dinner that night.

As the trio were walking Toshirama and Sakura were exposed to the poverty the people were under many were adults, some even children.

"Ah, here we are." Tazuna said as they made it to what looked like a marketplace, but one look would convince anyone else it wasn't; empty shelves with barely anything in them, it was an amazement any place could remain open under something like it.

As the three looked around, out of the corner of his eye Toshirama spotted a man looking suspiciously towards Sakura when the man tried to reach out towards her, he grabbed the man's wrist tightly squeezing.

"Ah, look kid it's not what you think…" The man tried to talk, but Toshirama wasn't buying it. "So, you resort to be a thief, is that your excuse… here if your looking to buy food or anything take the money and go." With that Toshirama gave the man a fistful of 600 ryo.

The man walked off with a small smirk as he counted the change in his hand, Tazuna replied "That was something kid, most people wouldn't do something like that."

"I know people here are desperate, but I can stand by and see something like this." Toshirama said with a sad look on his face.

"Thanks for that Toshirama, I thought that wise guy was just being a perv." Sakura replied.

"It's alright." Toshirama said as Sakura again felt as if she was being touched but they looked to see a little boy looking at them.

He held out both his hands with a big smile on his face as he said, "Please?" The two looked at the boy as they both decided to give him something.

Sakura took out some ryo of her own while Toshirama gave the boy some of his extra ration bars he had. The boy thanked them both as he ran away into the crowd.

After seeing all this suffering and sadness it stirred inside Toshirama as he boiled inside with fists balled tight, "To think that the people have almost lost in all, but even so if there are even a few like Tazuna, I know they'll achieve some form of courage again.

Later that night all of Team 7 and Tazuna's family gathered at the table to have dinner.

"Ha-ha, this is fantastic, we have had this many guests at the table in a while." Tazuna said as he scratched the back his head chucking. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Naruto were chugging down their dinner looking as if they didn't eat what they had it would disappear.

They both finished and said in unison, "I want some more!" Both looked at each as sparks flew for a few seconds until both puked out their dinner they just had.

"Don't eat so much if you're just going to puke it up!" Sakura yelled at the two seeing the fiasco between the two for long enough.

"Seriously you two, how are going to have the strength to train if you can't keep any of it down?" Toshirama inquired with a sweatdropped look.

"I have to eat." Sasuke replied. "And I have to eat more than him, it's the only way I can beat him." Naruto replied as well.

"True, but like Toshirama said puking won't help either of you." Kakashi replied with his arms crossed.

After dinner, Toshirama insisted on helping Tsunami with the dishes as everyone finished with some tea after dinner.

Sakura was looking at a torn photograph as she asked, "Excuse me, this picture is torn, is there some reason for that. Inari do you know anything you kept glancing at it throughout dinner, I mean…"

"Sakura, enough it's not our business!" Toshirama shouted as everyone turned to hear his loud voice silence Sakura.

"It's my husband." Tsunami replied as she continued washing but as Toshirama turned back to her she had small tears in her eyes. "He used to be hero in this land." Tazuna said as Inari left after hearing his grandfather.

"Inari, where are you going?" Tsunami turned to ask her son as he was already out the door. She followed after him before closing door turning to her father and saying, "Father, you know you can't talk like that in front of Inari, you know that!"

Tsunami left as Sakura began to carry a look of guilt on her face as she realized what she started.

Toshirama comforted her by saying, "Sakura, it's alright you didn't mean anything by it, but next time please just watch the mood about certain things, okay?"

She looked to Toshirama as she nodded and replied, "Yeah, you're right."

"I believe there might a story to all of this?" Kakashi inquired of Tazuna.

From there Tazuna explained how a fisherman from another land named Kaiza rescued Inari when he was just a boy from local bullies that took his dog and pushed him into the river knowing he couldn't swim.

Tazuna continued with how the man became like a father to Inari, how he was a source of courage to people on the island. How his actions almost saved the entire island, but the mood changed entirely when Tazuna first told about Gato's arrival.

Gato made an example of the people by beating Kaiza to a bloody pulp and when the time came, he destroyed the people's courage by executing Kaiza in front of a large crowd including Inari who saw it all as a little boy.

Everyone was silent as Tazuna finished Naruto however started to get up from is seat but fell over almost immediately.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sakura asked him as he struggled to get up. "You better take the day off, anymore chakra exhaustion and you could die." Kakashi tried to warn him

However, Naruto was stubborn and despite his shaky legs got up and replied, "I'll prove it to him... that real heroes are still in this world!"

With that Naruto left and never came back in the night, worrying for his friend Toshirama left the house in the dead of night, with a few extra blankets and a pillow and found Naruto passed out in a clearing.

"Hah, what am I going to do with you?" Toshirama said out loud as he the pillow underneath Naruto's head and put the blanket over him taking the kunai out of his hand so that Naruto didn't poke his own eye out. With that Toshirama went back to the house and fell asleep once more

The Next Morning

Everyone, except Naruto was at the table enjoying breakfast as Sakura finally arrived at the table. Tsunami gave her a small bowl of rice while Sasuke and Toshirama were about finished.

Kakashi sat patiently, but Toshirama noticed how Kakashi was scratching his greaves. "Sensei, is something wrong you look like your scratch your guards off?"

Kakashi brought himself out of stupor and turned towards his student, "Oh, its nothing just a bit of anxiety you know?"

"Naruto's not back, he must have been out all night?" Tazuna inquired noticing Naruto's absence.

"He's gone crazy, he went out training again to climb trees, he's probably up and passed out from chakra loss." Sakura explained.

"Well I sure hope he's alright, a young man shouldn't be in the woods alone." Tsunami replied.

"It's alright, Naruto maybe goofy but he's a full-fledged ninja, so I think he'll be alright." Kakashi replied answering her concerns.

"Sakura's right, Naruto's such a loser he's probably lying out there dead somewhere." Sasuke agreed with Sakura.

"I don't think so." Toshirama simply replied as he put away his dishes. Sasuke turned to him and asked, "Ha, and why's that?"

"Because he's a knucklehead who never quits. Being tired has never really stopped him from anything in the past." Toshirama answered as he put on his sandals and opened the door.

"Wait Toshirama were are you going?" Sakura asked. "To find Naruto, what else?" Toshirama replied as he left. Sasuke also left a few moments later following behind Toshirama.

Forest Space

Toshirama continued to walk around until he saw Naruto, but saw another person, someone who by looked feminine but even Toshirama could tell was a young man probably only a few years older.

"Naruto, there you…" Toshirama started until the other boy turned around and saw Toshirama on Naruto's right side. The blonde knucklehead still asleep as he saw him last night.

"Oh, hello there, I didn't see you I was looking for this knucklehead." Toshirama replied.

"I see so he's your friend?" The boy asked "Yes, for as much of a knucklehead he is, he's precious to me."

The boy looked at Toshirama in slight amazement, "Why do say he's precious to you?"

"Because he has a dream." Toshirama answered plainly. "A dream?" The boy asked.

"He wants to be respected, to be seen as somebody, we've known each other seen we were children, were both alike in a lot of ways yet different in some." Toshirama explained.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked once more. "He wants to be Hokage of our village, a lot of people make fun of him for it, but I want to see him succeed, because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be who I am today. That's why he's precious to me, I made a promise to myself that I would help him see his dream come true, no matter what." Toshirama finished.

The boy looked on in amazement at Toshirama, for someone as young as him to have something to live for and be willing to do anything for it. It was almost like looking in a mirror.

"I haven't told him yet, but one day I will, besides I've got about 3 other dreams I have look after now as well. I'll do what I can to help them, that's the promise I've made for myself." Toshirama said as they both saw Naruto wake up.

"Oh… hey big bro." Naruto said wheezily as he looked to his left and saw the young man in front of him.

"Oh, I mean, hey there what are you doing out here?" Naruto's cheeks tinged slightly at the girl standing in front of him.

Toshirama noticed Naruto's behavior, "I am not gonna let these guys live any of this down, I'll shout it to the whole ninja world before I die."

"I'm gathering herbs, they're for treating injuries and illnesses." The boy answered. Both of them decided to help in finding what was needed so they began collecting.

"You sure like to come out early sis." Naruto said as he noticed the basket with herbs in it. "I like it early, its more calming, but I never expected anyone else to be out here." The boy replied.

"I'm training." Naruto replied. The boy asked, "Then are you a ninja, because I noticed that headband your wearing or are you just making a fashion statement?"

"Oh this, only super-cool ninja can wear these." Naruto answered. "Oh, I see so that's why." The boy answered.

"But, does that mean your training for something dangerous?" He asked Naruto. "I'm just developing my skills so I can get stronger!" Naruto answered with his usual energy.

"You seem very strong now, isn't that enough?" The boy asked. "No, no; I need to get stronger and stronger; I have to keep practicing." Naruto replied.

"How so, why is it so important?" The boy asked curious as to why Naruto needed to push himself. "So that I can be stronger and be the best ninja in our village, so that everyone will respect me and there's a few people I have to beat first!" Naruto answered.

"So, are you doing this for these people you want to prove to or are you doing this for yourself?" The boy inquired of Naruto.

Naruto looked at the boy confused as to what he meant; the boy then giggled at Naruto's confused reaction.

"What's so funny?" Naruto said upset. "Is their someone whose precious to you?" The boy asked Naruto. "What, what do you mean precious?" Naruto asked.

The boy then looked sullen all of a sudden as he seemed to be remembering something, a thing that cut deep as he wasn't saying anything for quite some time. He came out of his stupor and told Naruto what he meant. Toshirama was listening as well

"You see, when a person has something precious to them that they want to protect, then they become genuinely strong." Haku explained to Naruto who know seemed to be thinking himself now.

One memory in particular came back to him though…

Flashback

Naruto and Toshirama had just escaped from the Leaf chunin once more as Naruto had once again pulled off one of his many pranks around the village.

The both of them made it to Toshirama's house as they were out of breath knowing the ninja would search at Naruto's house first.

"Hey, thanks big bro, they almost got me if it weren't for you." Naruto said as they were both out of breath.

"I had to otherwise I'd be bailing you out again." Toshirama replied. Both began laughing as Naruto had some lunch that Toshirama had leftover from one of his bentos.

Toshirama looked on at Naruto as he noticed his staring, "Big bro, what's the matter, why are you looking at me like that?"

Toshirama joined Naruto and began, "Nothing in particular, just that you're the best brother in the world, and that I wouldn't trade you for anything." Toshirama said as he smiled at Naruto. Naruto was happy to hear from Toshirama say something like that.

Back in the Present

"Yeah, I hear ya." Naruto said with a smile on his face. The boy picked up his basket and started leaving, "You will get strong, very strong. Goodbye, we'll meet again sometime. Oh, by the way… I'm a boy."

Naruto stood for a second until it hit him, What, no way?! He's even prettier than Sakura!" Toshirama began laughing as he was rolling on his back at Naruto's reaction. "Ha-ha-ha, how did not notice that? Perhaps you do swing that little bro, I won't judge you."

Toshirama continued to laugh as Naruto tackled him to the ground and two began wrestling the other in the mix-up.

Later on, Sasuke found the two and they went their separate ways, Toshirama returned to the house while Naruto and Sasuke went back to training.

After all of that; Kakashi, Toshirama and Sakura went out looking for Naruto and Sasuke since they hadn't come back after a while again.

"Naruto! Knowing him he could be anywhere and Sasuke hasn't comeback either, I wonder where they are." Sakura wondered as the three looked around.

Suddenly a kunai came out of a tree above and the trio looked up to see Naruto hanging off one of the branches.

"Woah, Naruto can climb that high with just his chakra, that's great." Sakura admitted surprised.

Kakashi watched Naruto, curious of what would happen as he tried to come back down

"Why do I get the feeling this is going to end badly?" Toshirama thought to himself. Naruto hot up but then suddenly lost his balance as he slipped off the branch but suddenly saved himself by attaching himself underneath the branch.

"Ha-ha-ha, just kidding!" Naruto said as he stopped his 'sudden' doom. But then he lost his concentration and slipped.

"Yep, I knew it, he's toast." Toshirama thought to himself as he watched Naruto falling until Sasuke saved Naruto by catching him by his ankle.

"You really a complete loser Naruto." Sasuke said as he held Naruto by his ankle with all his strength.

"Oh, Sasuke that was so cool!" Sakura cheered watching Sasuke. "If I'm still sane by the end of the time I finish their training it'll be a miracle." Kakashi thought to himself.

After that fiasco, the group returned to Tazuna's place. While Inari looked out the window at the ocean once more, he thought out loud to himself, "Naruto and Toshirama. Naruto Uzumaki and Toshirama Sora."

As the rest of the day went by Naruto and Sasuke continued their climbing exercises, everyone else was at the dinner table.

"It's getting late and their both gone, I never expected that from Sasuke." Sakura worried. Just then, the door opened showing Sasuke carrying Naruto on his shoulder.

"We both made it, climbed all the way to the top," Naruto informed them. "Good. Starting tomorrow you'll join Sakura and Toshirama in being Tazuna's bodyguards." Kakashi informed them.

In Naruto's excitement he took both him and Sasuke with him to the ground as Sasuke started complaining once more about Naruto being a loser. Everyone laughed at their antics as they all enjoyed their food.

By the end of the meal Tazuna shared some more important news, "In a few more days, the bridge will be finished, and I have you all to thank for that."

"You've all done great, but you still have to be careful." Tsunami warned. "I've been meaning to ask you, why did you stay when you realized I had lied to you?" Tazuna inquired.

Kakashi answered, "Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive." Both Tazuna and Tsunami were confused.

Toshirama answered, "If I remember that's a quote from the First Hokage." Kakashi nodded his head in agreement.

(Play Sadness and Sorrow – Naruto OST)

Inari listening to Kakashi looked back at Naruto and after a few moments started crying, "But why?"

Toshirama and Naruto turned to the boy as the latter said, "What did you say?"

Slamming his hands on the table, "All this stupid training is just a waste of time, Gato's got a whole army and they'll beat you down and then destroy you, these things you all say, they don't mean anything, no matter what you do the strong always win, and the weak always lose.

Naruto looked at Inari then put his head back on the table, "Speak for yourself, it won't be like that for me."

"Shut up! Just looking at you make's me sick, you don't know anything about this country, always laughing and playing around, you don't know what its like to suffer and be treated like dirt.

Toshirama and Naruto tensed in that moment. In that moment however, Toshirama had crushed the cup in his hand which caught everyone's attention.

"Listening to you whine, tell me then what's your purpose?" Toshirama looked at Inari who stopped crying and looked stunned at the young man's now stern face. Everyone now focused on Toshirama

"M-my purpose?" Inari asked.

"Looking at you whine, like you're the only one whose ever been a victim of anything it makes me sick, if you don't have anything to look forward to, anything to protect, then why do you keep going on with your life, I'll have you know you don't know pain like I've faced or Naruto, so before you start whining again look at yourself and others first before judging them." Toshirama said in an anger no one, not even Naruto had seen from his friend.

Naruto also joined in, "He's right, listen to yourself, whining and complaining like some sort of sorry, little victim." Inari was surprised at Naruto's reply as well.

"You can whimper all day for all I care, you're nothing but a coward!" Naruto yelled at Inari who still had tears in his eyes.

"Toshirama, Naruto; you both went to far!" Sakura chastised them. Still angry both Toshirama and Naruto headed outside together to walk and clear their heads.

"Toshirama, Naruto…" Sakura said as the two boys left. Inari continued to cry as Kakashi looked at the boy with sadness in his eye.

Pier behind Tazuna's Home - General POV

Inari sat in the deck behind the house he heard footsteps behind it and saw Kakashi standing behind him, "Can I talk to you?"

Kakashi took a seat beside the little boy and began talking to him, Naruto's always been… harsh. Toshirama on the other hand, he's always been a very nice kid, but he can get like that. But neither of them hate you."

Inari stood there listening, "Your grandfather told us what happened, to your father. You probably don't know this but neither Naruto nor Toshirama grew up with their fathers, in fact they've never known who their parents are. Before they met each other, they never had a single friend, until they meet each other."

"Huh?" Inari wondered now curious. "I've never seen either of them cry, sulk or give up in fact, its Toshirama that pushes Naruto to be his best, I think that's one reason he calls him his "Big Brother". Naruto's always eager to jump in, he wants to be respected, that's his dream, and he'll put his life on the line for that."

Kakashi continued, "Toshirama's like the older sibling of the two, he always watches Naruto's back and looks out for him when he's down, I think it was because of Naruto that Toshirama found his purpose in life to be a ninja, that's why he asked you that question. He's also willing to give his life to make sure his purpose of making sure Naruto succeeds comes true."

"My guess is Naruto got tired of crying, and Toshirama on the other hand wanted his own reason to live to give himself a purpose as a ninja, so they could both do something about that. Even though there both young and still learning they both know what it means to be strong. For Toshirama its an even stronger feeling to look for those he cares for and loves to protect them with all he's has, even if it may cost him." Kakashi still continued.

"I think those two understand better than any of us, what you're going through, as cruel as what they both said, Toshirama and Naruto have probably told themselves those things a hundred times." Kakashi finally finished.

The Next Day…

Toshirama's POV

As the next day came and rose, part of Squad 7 with no Naruto packed and headed for the construction site, when Naruto came back, he was exhausted as he used too much chakra as Toshirama had to drag him back.

"Alright, I leave Naruto in your hands, he's pushed his body to the limit, overdoing it as usual so he might not move today at all." Kakashi explained Tsunami as they were about ready to go.

"What about you, you're still recovering yourself." Tsunami warned Kakashi herself. "Why, do I look wobbly?" He countered.

"Come on, lets go." Tazuna said, and with that the group went off to the site. As we approached the site, we were shocked to see all the men who were already there were out cold.

"Hold on, what the heck is this?" Tazuna questioned shocked. "Someone was here, someone did this."

Toshirama ran to the closest man on the ground and checked his pulse, "He's alive and they all seem to be breathing."

Kakashi had a look of worry on his face, "I knew it, my prediction was right."

Suddenly a mist grew around the group, realizing the technique they all gathered around Tazuna in a defensive stance.

"All of you get ready, now!" Kakashi warned them as they each drew their weapons. Toshirama drew his tanto and waited, trying to sense Zabuza through the mist.

"I can barely sense anything in this mist, it's so thick with Chakra I can barely see my teammates." Toshirama thought to himself when he heard Zabuza's voice threw the mist.

"Sorry I kept you waiting Kakashi, and I see you still have the brats with you as well. That one's still trembling, pitiful." Zabuza taunted in the mist. Everyone looked to see six of Zabuza's clones surrounding them.

Sasuke brought a smile to his face, which caused one of Zabuza's to pause for a moment, "I'm trembling with excitement."

Zabuza's clones furrowed at the boy's calming attitude, "Go on Sasuke, Toshirama show them what you can do."

With that the two sprung into action taking out half of the water clones each in turn as they finished, Toshirama and Sasuke noticed the truth about them.

"So, water clones. Sensei, in front of us!" Toshirama shouted as they all looked in Kakashi's direction and saw Zabuza and the same tracker from, before with him by his side.

"Oh, so you both saw they were water clones… and we have a sensor-type with us, looks like you've got some rivals, Haku." Zabuza stated as the two confronted the group.

"So, it seems." Haku replied as both groups stared the other down, they knew this would be a long fight to come.

AN#1 – Here's my fifth chapter of my Naruto story, the final showdown between Squad 7 and Zabuza is finally upon us, who will be the victors?

Thanks for all of you who have voted on the poll so far, but there won't be a need for it since I've decided to compromise on this story, read my previous chapter 4 for that info. So, if the poll vanishes, don't panic.

AN#2 – Remember to Favorite, Follow and Review! I wouldn't be here without you guys! :)