Chapter 7: The Land of Waves - Part II: Similar Pain
March 16th, 64 AFL
The following day Kakashi finally awoke to the sounds of his teammates arguing,
"Shut up dobe!" Sasuke yelled at Naruto, "Screw you teme you're just mad because I'm stronger than you, believe it!" Naruto argued back. "Will you two please just shut up!" Sakura growled at the two boys, "I'm glad to see your all getting along well," Kakashi said, effectively stopping their argument as Naruto and Sakura proceeded to swarm the jonin,
"Sensei, your awake, believe it!" Naruto cried out in happiness. "Take it easy sensei you overused your sharingan, I think, I doubt you'll be able to move for a little while at least," Sakura said in concern.
"Yeah I won't be able to move for at least a week I think," Kakashi replied to her and then frowned remembering yesterday's battle with Zabuza and that odd boy who had appeared and apparently finished him off. A thought struck Kakashi and he had to voice it at once, "Listen carefully you three!" The genin turned to face their sensei who had suddenly gotten very serious.
"I think Zabuza's alive," he finally stated calmly. "What but how?" Sakura asked in concern, "Sakura what do tracker nin usually do when they get their target?"
Kakashi questioned back and Sakura thought about it a bit before replying, "They're supposed to dispose of the body in the exact same place the assassination took place," she said aloud and then finished with, "but I thought he decided to move Zabuza's body because we were all standing right there."
"Not likely he would have waited for us to move on and then there's the weapons he used for the kill," Kakashi replied, "Senbon needles," Sasuke stated,
"Right Sasuke, those weapons are never used for killing an opponent but they do come quite in handy when you want to put someone in a state that makes them appear to be dead," Kakashi finished as Tazuna entered the room,"So that bastards still alive then is what your saying,"
"Yeah, that's right," Kakashi replied. The two boys smirked while Sakura looked at her sensei with concern, "But you checked his vitals right?" she questioned. "Yes I did, his heart had stopped but like I said before senbon can be used to put a person into a state of near death, easily stopping the heart and making a person seem like a corpse.
Naruto started chuckling "So the ugly bastard is alive, believe it!" the blonde stated. Kakashi actually smirked, "So he wants a rematch," the jonin thought. "Ok you three time for some training," he said. "Right sensei you rest up and we'll get strong enough to beat him, believe it!" As Team 7's conversation finished a young boy with black hair came into the room.
"Please what good are any of you, there's nothing you can do, you might as well just go home and quit wasting all of our time!" the young boy yelled at the team of ninja.
"There you are Inari I was wondering where you were," Tazuna said as the boy went to give his grandfather a hug. He looked at the team of ninja and then back to his grandfather,
"All of these people are going to be killed by Gato!" the young boy said with a bit of malice in his voice, "They look like a joke." Naruto looked at Inari with a determined expression,
"Kid you're looking at the hero and future Hokage of the Leaf, so Gato or anyone else for that matter who messes with us is gonna regret it, believe it!" the baka stated proudly causing Inari to burst out laughter,
"A hero like I said before your a joke," Inari stated coldly. "What the hell did you just say brat!" Naruto looked at the young boy with disdain but before he could do anything to him Sakura started petting his whiskered cheeks and he quickly calmed down,
'Man I've really got to thank Hinata that works so well, Cha!' Sakura thought to herself.
Inari huffed and left his grandfather and Team 7 alone to gather their thoughts.
Naruto made his way to the bathroom a few minutes later but stopped when he heard the sound of Inari crying in his bedroom. Naruto peeked in the door and saw the young boy crying over a photo of a large tan skinned man strapped from head to toe with fishing gear,
"Damn you dad why did you have to die?" Inari questioned through his sobs "So you too huh, I'm sorry Inari," Naruto whispered silently to himself as he shut the door and left the young boy alone to cry by himself.
March 17th, 64 AFL
The next day, Kakashi was on crutches as he took his students to a wooded area near Tazuna's house, "Alright you three start climbing," the jonin said. Naruto started his way up but Kakashi intervened, "No hands Naruto, Infuse your chakra to the bottom of your feet but be careful, too much and you'll be repelled from the tree, too little and you'll lose your grip, this is an exercise in chakra control known as tree climbing," the jonin smirked.
Naruto and Sasuke started trying, Sasuke was able to get around the lowest branches while Naruto barely got a few feet from the ground. Sakura on the other hand was already on top one of the highest branches,
"Look who's the winner boys," Sakura teased them as they both started to scowl a little but Naruto's vanished instantaneously, "I told you Sakura-chan I always knew you were amazing, believe it!" Sakura blushed,
"Thank you Naruto but I have so little chakra that's it's really easy to control it but you and Sasuke are like bottomless pits so it makes sense it would be hard for you two," Sasuke scowl vanished,
"Why don't you both give us some advice then Sakura?" Sakura walked down the tree and gave the boys the best advice she could manage and that's when Kakashi spoke up,
"Alright Sakura since you've apparently already mastered tree climbing you'll be watching Tazuna while the boys train, Oh and make sure to mark your progress using a kunai you two, Ok," the jonin said.
"Got it sensei," Sakura said with conviction. "Alright let's head back to Tazuna and let him know he can go to the bridge, train hard and be careful you two," Kakashi stated cooly as he and Sakura departed.
Meanwhile in a location just a few miles from Team 7, the demon Zabuza Momochi was being treated by the tracker nin who had apparently saved his life.
"Rest Zabuza it'll be at least a week before you can move and probably another before you get back to full strength, the tracker nin stated sympathetically.
"Shut it Haku I know," he replied flatly, "And the next time I see Kakashi he won't be tricking me with that damn sharingan again!" the demon stated angrily.
"Well, well, well the demon of the mist got chased home like some sort of frightened child," a short man with glass and an incredibly ugly face made his presence known.
"Fuck you Gato, you'll get your order fulfilled!" Zabuza barked. "Listen here you scum," Gato went up to Zabuza but Haku grabbed him and threw him back almost breaking the short ugly mans hand in the process,
"If you lay one hand on him, I'll kill you," Haku said with a sadistic expression on his face. Gato looked at Haku terrified for a moment but regained his composure, "Fine just don't fail me again otherwise I'll be sending assassins after you two instead," Gato said and left the two rogue shinobi alone. "Rest Zabuza we can't kill Gato yet but we will slaughter them all eventually," Haku stated with an oddly calm voice.
Meanwhile Tazuna and Sakura made their way through the small fishing village, Sakura couldn't help but notice how poor and sickly the villagers looked. Many where in nothing more than rags and everyone was begging for food, the homes and stores they passed were in shambles and the stores had ridiculously inflated prices. She looked at her feet to try to hide her tears of sadness and pity when she felt something touch her but,
"Pervert!" she screamed but when she turned around to see a little blonde haired boy she was immediately reminded of her baka.
"Can you... Can you please spare some ryo or some food please?" the young boy asked. Sakura smiled, "Of course," she gave the boy some ryo and he ran away happily.
"That was very kind of you pinky," Tazuna said honestly. Sakura looked at Tazuna with a vein on her forehead as she replied,
"Your country isn't the only one where people are treated harshly, you know.
Naruto-baka had a similar life growing up and I hate to see anyone else have to go through what he went through." "You seem to care a lot about that brat," Tazuna laughed.
"Are you two married or something?" the old man asked in curiosity. Sakura actually chuckled a little, "Yea you could say that," the kunochi replied as they finally made their way to the unfinished bridge. Tazuna looked at her oddly but didn't pursue it any farther, he had a bridge to build after all.
March 22nd, 64 AFL
A week after Kakashi's battle with Zabuza the man with over a thousand jutsu was finally able to walk without crutches although Sakura informed him that she didn't think he would be back to full strength for at least another week. Unbeknownst to them Haku was making the same diagnoses with Zabuza,
"Zabuza-sama we should be ready to massacre them all in just a few more days," the boy said with a smile on his face. "Yes Haku one more week and we'll have all the fun in the world!" Zabuza laughed menacingly.
Meanwhile the entirety of Team 7 was sitting down for dinner with Tazuna and his family, Kakashi and Sakura were eating like respected guest but Naruto had forgotten his manners in an attempt to out eat his rival.
However this resulted in the two boys losing their meal and Sakura going ballistic,
"Stop eating if all you're going to do is puke it back up, you know!" Sakura screamed.
Naruto looked at Sakura and whined, "But Sakura-chan…" he stopped himself seeing her death glare and Sasuke just huffed.
The last Uchiha was slowly learning not to talk back to the angry pinkett at this point. Sakura huffed herself and went to put her dishes in the wash but stopped when she saw a torn photograph, "Why is this picture torn?" she said more to herself than anyone else. Tazuna heard her though and answered,
"That was Inari's father, at one time he was considered the hero of this land," the old drunk finished and as soon as hid did Inari got out of his chair ran to his room and slammed the door.
"What happened Sakura questioned?" she knew the story between Naruto and his parents and couldn't help but wonder if the little boy was going through similar pains.
"Yeah it might help us understand him a little better, believe it! Naruto stated with an odd expression on his face. Tazuna looked at Team 7 solemnly before he started,
"That man was not Inari's father by birth but they were closer than any father and son could ever be and Inari was so happy back then," Tazuna sighed and looked to the ground but composed himself quickly and faced the shinobi once again,
"His name was Kaiza and he saved our land from one disaster after another but he was not a warrior his skills were of a different sort. He took it upon himself to protect the city and all of the people in it, One day there was a terrible storm and Kaiza risked his life to close the floodgates saving dozens of people as well as their homes and property. He was deemed a hero but when Gato came to town even he wasn't enough to stop the man."
Tazuna suddenly stopped and Kakashi was forced to ask, "What happened?" "Gato executed him in front of the entire town after cutting off his arms!" Tazuna cried out, "After that day Inari has never been the same, I fear I may have lost him forever," the old man finished.
Naruto got to his feet but Sakura stopped him, "I know what you're thinking that boy is just like you and your parents and you want to prove to him wrong but you can't do that if your dead, baka!" Sakura said to him.
Naruto looked at Sakura with a seriously determined expression which caused her to flush a little, "I will prove him wrong, there are real heroes and I'm going to prove it, believe it, Sakura-chan!"
Sakura looked at him sternly but let him pass through the door. She immediately ran to their shared room and ran back out carrying a pack full of medicines and foods,
"I'll make sure he's not dead by morning," she explained to Kakashi as she exited the small home to pursue the determined blonde baka.
March 28th, 64 AFL
It was a few days later when Sasuke and Naruto were finally within a few feet from the top of the trees. Sasuke had gone home early the night before but Naruto had passed out from a mix of chakra exhaustion and stress due to Sasuke reminding him of something very important. They had sat upon two high branches when Sasuke had asked him,
"So what did you get Sakura for her birthday Naruto?" the last Uchiha said while smirking. Naruto almost fell out of the tree in shock, "Crap! Crap! Crap! I completely forgot, what am I going to do Sasuke?" Naruto questioned his friend.
Unfortunately for Naruto Sasuke was little help other than laughing at him for his stupidity and promising not to tell Sakura. Naruto directed his anxiety for forgetting such an important day towards his training which was how Naruto awoke in the forest in the wee hours of the morning to what he assumed to be the face of a beautiful woman.
"You're going to freeze to death if you sleep on the ground," the person with long black hair and pale skin said to the young shinobi. Naruto sat up before replying,
"Wow your pretty but who are you?" The person smirked at him, "I'm just out picking some medicinal herbs for my friend see," the person waved the basket in front of Naruto's face showing off his collection of wild herbs.
"So if I may ask, what were you doing out here?" Naruto smiled, "I'm training, you know, I have to get a whole lot stronger so that I can protect the people I care about and to prove that real heroes to exist, believe it!" he stated proudly and continued, "And I need to become the strongest in my village so all of the people who treat me like trash have to look up to me and respect me!" the baka finished.
"Do you do this for yourself or are you doing this for someone else?" the person asked,
"Well if you had asked me a few months ago I probably would of said yup just me but after bonding with Iruka sensei and Kakashi sensei as well as having Hinata-chan and Sakura-chan in my life, I feel like I do it for them too because they believe in me, you know!" the blonde smiled and then remembered something,
"Hey do you know what a pretty girl like you would want on her birthday?" Naruto asked in a panic. The person laughed but replied, "There are plenty of wildflowers growing around here, I would pick a nice bouquet of those and make one of her favorite meals, then maybe use that training to set up a picnic above the trees and watch the stars tonight," the person smirked before walking away he looked back at the grinning boy, "By the way, I'm a boy," he stated before disappearing behind a few trees.
After recovering from the shock of the boys revelation Naruto returned to Tazuna's empty house and prepared a dish he knew Sakura would in enjoy and packed it deep behind the fridge not really thinking about the food shortages but he is a baka in a state of panic.
He then ran back to the woods and lucky for him somehow managed to find a wide variety of different wildflowers with a variety of different colors. He hid it away behind a tree where he would remember it later and returned to the training field meeting up with Sasuke. Sasuke smirked at him as Naruto walked up,
"Figure something out dobe, Sakura was angry you weren't back by breakfast, hope you have something good planned," Sasuke said. Naruto just smiled, "Don't worry, I got some good advice, believe it!" he said. Sasuke looked at him but just resumed his training, getting stronger was more important than the dobe's love life any day.
It was nearing dinner time when Sakura and Kakashi came to check on the two boys and were amazed by their progress, "Wow sensei look there almost to the top, believe it," Sakura said not even catching the use of the catchphrase at this point. Naruto and Sasuke suddenly dropped down in front of the two,
"Hey Sakura-chan happy birthday I hope you're ready for a fun night tonight!" the blonde said excitedly. Sakura blushed, she half expected him to forget, he was Naruto after all and it wasn't exactly a good time for a romantic date but she was flattered nonetheless,
"Thank you Naruto-kun I can't wait," she replied honestly while blushing a little.
"Alright then come on let's go!" He grabbed Sakura's hand and guided her not dragged her back to Tazuna's and Sakura couldn't help but approve of his small changes in behavior as the two returned to Tazuna's with their two teammates following closely behind.
Naruto and Sakura returned to the house and before Tazuna and Inari could say anything Naruto was digging through their fridge for his premade dinner. Once he found it he guided Sakura out the door but not before turning to Tazuna and saying,
"Sorry Tazuna-san had to borrow some food but here's some ryo it should be enough to cover it," Naruto whipped out his trusty toad wallet and threw some ryo down on the table and the two genin made their way back to the forest.
As they departed Kakashi and Sasuke walked back into the house and Kakashi pulled Sasuke aside, "It's time I tell you how I got this eye Sasuke," he stated as he guided the young Uchiha to their shared bedroom. Once they both sat comfortably on the floor Kakashi started,
"When I was placed on my genin team, I was also placed with a boy named
Obito Uchiha. Obito well… He was just like Naruto, same dream and everything. I was a little more like you cold, callose and not really willing to open up to anyone, and then there was Rin," Kakashi looked up fondly like he was trying to remember happier times before continuing, "She was just like Sakura, kind and loving to both of us," Kakashi said with affection. Sasuke looked at his sensei with a small amount of sympathy before he asked "What happened?"
Kakashi actually chuckled while shedding a single tear, "I killed them both."
Sasuke looked at his sensei and actually moved a few feet back from Kakashi but the jonin did nothing and simply started explaining,
"We had a mission and Rin was kidnapped by enemy nin, I wanted to pursue the mission but Obito wanted to save Rin. We argued and Obito went in alone, eventually I got my shit together and followed him, we defeated the enemy nin but I lost my left eye and… and..." Kakashi tried spitting it out but nothing came.
Sasuke eventually had to ask again this time firmly, "What happened Kakashi sensei?" Kakashi looked at his student before starting again, "We were underground and enemy reinforcements arrived they decided to cause a cave in and because of my eye I was almost crushed but Obito threw me out of the way and his entire right side was crushed instead, before he died he entrusted this eye to me," Kakashi said as he removed his headband and showed Sasuke Obito's sharingan.
"Before Obito died he gave me this eye so I could protect Rin and see the world through his eye as well as fulfill his dreams," Kakashi finished. "What about Rin?" Sasuke asked, Kakashi looked up with a new tear forming but quickly whipped it away, "That's a story for another day Sasuke, now rest hopefully you and Naruto will master tree climbing by tomorrow," Kakashi replied. Sasuke did as instructed and went to sleep with a much better understanding of his sensei than ever before.
Meanwhile Naruto and Sakura reached the place where Naruto had hidden his bouquet of flowers earlier, he quickly found them and presented them proudly to his Sakura-chan.
"Here Sakura-hime happy birthday, believe it!" Sakura was in shock there were some of the prettiest flowers in the five great nations assembled in Naruto's bouquet with camellia flowers, a mix of plum and peach blossoms, and assembled in the very middle were several beautiful cherry blossoms.
Sakura immediately squealed she didn't expect this so she kissed his cheek and thanked him but still poised the one question that was bothering her, "Um so where are we going to eat that meal Naruto-kun?"
He flashed her a foxy grin before pointing skyward and simply said,"Up."
"Up?" Sakura questioned, he gave her that look of utter love and devotion she had finally began letting effect her and he took her hand and without saying a word the two genin made their way to the top of the trees.
Once they found a good spot Naruto unpacked their meal and Sakura saw what Naruto had made, There was sushi, unagi, some onigiri but what really got her lips watering where the few dumplings packed inside. As Sakura looked at Naruto with a grin she saw a frown and wondered why,
"What's wrong Naruto-kun? Sakura asked. "It's just, I wish I could have gotten you more of your favorite things and I don't even have a present to give you," he replied sadly. Sakura smiled a bit, "He cares so much about me," the pinket thought. She quickly embraced him a hug and rubbed his cheek,
"It's ok Naruto-kun this has been one of the best nights of my life," she said honestly. He smiled back and they broke apart and finished here meal. They began gazing at the stars when Naruto asked her,
"Will you talk to Inari for me maybe tell him what you told me all those years ago?" Naruto questioned. Sakura sat up and looked at him in shock, "You remember that day, the day we met?" she asked. "Of course!" Naruto started,
"April 3rd seven years ago next week actually," Naruto smirked but when he saw Sakura face his look shifted to one of love and affection, "And that's the day
I fell in love with you Sakura-hime, believe it!" he stated proudly.
Sakura shock turned to affection and some embarrassment as she lay back down and finally answered his original question, "I will I promise, believe it!" she giggled a little and said,
"You know, you would of had it a lot easier if you had saved me from bullies once in a while instead of it always being Sasuke," she smiled and intertwined her fingers into his.
Naruto looked away in fear for a moment but Sakura luckily missed it. He finally looked back at her fondly before turning his gaze to the stars, the two genin laid there for hours until Naruto heard Sakura's light breathing and realized she was asleep. He pecked her forehead before picking her up bridal style and descended the large tree using his chakra, finally carrying her back to Tazuna's.
March 29th, 64 AFL
The next day Sakura did talk to Inari and was able to get through to the boy a little considering he spent most of the morning crying into Sakura's arms and finally putting up a small smile.
Naruto and Sasuke returned to their training and by the end of they day they had reached the top, "Ready to go back dobe," Sasuke said while grinning a little.
"Yea lets head bac…" Naruto started but as soon as he did, he fell from a top the large tree completely unconscious from the lack of chakra and the long night with Sakura before. "Naruto!" Sasuke screamed as he flung himself towards the ground as fast as his Uchiha speed could carry him,
Right before Naruto hit the ground Sasuke caught him bridal style. Sasuke grinned at his friend and his impressive feat before he realized the position they were in and immediately dropped his comrade with a look of disgust on his face,
"Wake up dobe!" he nearly yelled. "Ow thanks for saving me but did you have to drop me too?" Naruto asked while rubbing his head.
"Sasuke smirked and said, "Lets go dobe," Naruto grinned and the two boys made their way back to Tazuna's after finally mastering tree climbing. That night they all had a peaceful dinner while Naruto explained his and Sasuke's mastery of tree climbing causing Sakura and Kakashi to smile,
"Alright then, according to Sakura I'm back to full health and you guys are done training so tomorrow all of us will guard Tazuna together," the copy nin stated with a small amount of pride.
"Right" the genin replied as they looked at each other with grins on there faces, little did they know that a few miles away a certain demon and his apprentice where getting ready for their attack,
"Tomorrow is the day Zabuza-sama," Haku stated with an odd look on his face.
"Yes Haku, tomorrow we kill those Leaf scum and then the old man," Zabuza said coldly as he prepared himself for the upcoming battle.
March 30th, 64 AFL
"Just let him sleep he fell out of a tree yesterday," Sasuke said and was soon followed by Sakura, "He fell out of a tree and you didn't think to tell the team medic baka!" Sakura screeched. Sasuke huffed,
"I saved him I just meant he was exhausted and we might as well go on ahead," "Sasuke right we don't have time to waste," Kakashi said. Sakura huffed but had no choice but to comply as the tree shinobi and Tazuna made their way to the bridge.
What they saw when they got there made them sick, all of Tazuna's men had been murdered and from what Kakashi could tell he knew what made those wounds,
"Damn it he's back," Kakashi said. Within seconds Zabuza was swinging his sword directly at Tazuna's head but before the massive blade could make contact Sasuke plunged two kunai into Zabuza's sides.
Zabuza dissolved into a pool of water. "So Haku you finally have a rival if that brats improved enough to handle my water clones which contain about a tenth of my chakra," Zabuza laughed coldly. "Indeed Zabuza-sama he has improved,"
"So he was with Zabuza the whole time," Sakura pointed out the obvious.
"Sakura protect Tazuna! Sasuke handle Haku until Naruto arrives to help you, don't try anything crazy remember what I told you the other day about only caring about yourself and not caring about your comrades, don't make my mistakes," Kakashi finally finished. Sasuke said nothing but nodded and got ready to face Haku as Kakashi was set to take down Zabuza.
Meanwhile the self proclaimed future Hokage awoke from his slumber to the sound of Inari's crying. Naruto quickly got to his feet and ran towards the boys screams of fear and quickly found Inari in the hands of two of Gato's mercenaries.
"Let him go or you'll regret it," Naruto said in anger. "What are you gonna do brat," the mercenary said all while holding his blade to Inari's neck. "This," Naruto replied calmly as two of his clones came from behind the two men knocking them out instantly.
Naruto picked Inari up into his arms as he comforted the boy, "Inari can you somewhere safe I think those ninja might have come back and I need to help my team protect your
Oji-san," Naruto explained to the young boy.
Inari looked at Naruto and smiled, "Thank you Naruto, I'll go rally the villagers Gato's not going to get away with this anymore, believe it!" he said happily. Inari sprinted out the door to go gather the villagers and Naruto headed towards the direction of the bridge,
"Sakura-chan, Sasuke, Kakashi sensei, I'm coming to help, believe it! Naruto stated with conviction and determination.
