Chapter 8: The Land of Waves - Part III: Seals


March 30th, 64 AFL

As Naruto made his way to the bridge Kakashi was getting ready for his rematch with the rogue nin Zabuza Momochi while Sasuke stared down his apprentice, the false tracker nin Haku.

"It's amazing Zabuza-sama, to have improved so much in such a short time," Haku stated remarking on Sasuke's improved skills thanks to his training.

"Yes Haku," Zabuza began, "Now… Go!" Haku suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke and tried stabbing him with his senbon needles but Sasuke deflected every blow easily with a kunai.

They finally stopped when both their weapons intercepted perfectly parrying the others attacks, 'He can keep up with Haku's speed, not bad,' Zabuza thought.

"I honestly don't want to kill you but your not going to give me a choice are you?" Haku questioned Sasuke sounding sad but Sasuke saw it as pity, he smirked,
"Of course not, don't be a dobe," the Uchiha said with cockiness evident in his voice.

Haku started to reply, "Very well but you must realize you can't keep up this new speed of yours for long and even if that weren't the case I have at least two more advantages over you," Haku said calmly. "Two!" Sasuke replied while scowling.
"Yes," Haku started,

"First when Zabuza killed those workers he scattered water all over the bridge, look around we're surrounded by it," Sasuke gazed around and noticed he was right but said nothing as he continued to scowl at his opponent, "And second one of your hands is useless while parrying this attack," Sasuke looked down and indeed if he moved his arm an inch Haku's senbon would pierce him. Sasuke looked at Haku again as he continued to speak, "Leaving you only one hand to defend yourself!" Haku finished calmly.

Haku quickly began running through several hand signs using only his left hand, Sasuke looked at Haku startled, 'He's trying to execute a jutsu with just one hand?
Is that possible?' Sasuke thought. His question was answered once he heard Haku shout,

"Sacred Art of Water - Thousand Flying Needle Jutsu!"

Suddenly the water that was gathered around the two young shinobi slowly began to form into several sharp senbon and in the blink of an eye they all shot at Sasuke with such a speed that it caused an impact similar to small tidal wave. Just before this happened though Sasuke remembered his training and focused all of his chakra to the bottom of his feet and released it all at once causing the young Uchiha to fly high into the air dodging Haku's attack with mere seconds to spare.

Haku looked around frantically trying to locate his opponent, "Where the hell did he…" Haku started but suddenly he saw several kunai and shuriken flying towards him, 'Shit,' Haku thought as he was forced to retreat to the edge of the unfinished bridge. Haku blinked and Sasuke was behind him his sharingan active,
"It's actually almost pathetic, your really slow," Sasuke said with a rare grin,

"Now get ready for my attack!" Sasuke tried slicing Haku's neck with a kunai but he dodged and tried a kick to Sasuke's torso but he was able to dodge as well.
'He's very fast and very dangerous, I have to be careful,' Haku thought.
Sasuke suddenly landed a kick to Haku's face and missing mist nin landed several feet back. Sasuke got into his signature Uchiha stance and smirked,

"Sorry I'm obviously faster than you dobe," Zabuza growled out in anger,
"Haku how can you be losing to that brat!"

Kakashi began chuckling, "That's what you get for underestimating us, he may not look it but Sasuke was rookie of his year, Sakura is our extremely smart and gifted kunoichi," the Leaf jonin started, while Sakura started to grin from her sensei's praise,

'Damn right, believe it, cha!' she said more to herself than anyone else.
"And Naruto is the number one most unpredictable knucklehead ninja in the Leaf!" Kakashi finally finished with pride.

Zabuza looked at Kakashi before turning to Haku, "Haku… will you please stop holding back otherwise you may actually be killed by that brat," the demon said calmly. Sasuke suddenly felt a chill go down his spine, 'Why is it so damn cold all of a sudden?' the last Uchiha wondered. Haku turned his gaze from Sasuke to Zabuza for a moment before looking back and putting his hands together,

"Sacred Art of Water - Ice Crystal Magic Mirror Jutsu!" Haku shouted. As soon as he did the water that had been surrounding the two boys formed into dozens of mirrors in the form of ice, all floating above the ground trapping Sasuke on all sides.

"I've never seen this jutsu," Kakashi commented while Sakura screeched, "Sasuke please be careful!" the pinket said worry evident on her face.

Suddenly Haku's body merged with the one of the mirrors of ice he had created and in the blink of an eye Haku's image resonated out of them all. Team 7 was astonished by Haku's impressive jutsu and it gave Zabuza an opening. He gripped his sword and tried taking Tazuna and Kakashi's heads off in one strike but Kakashi intercepted Zabuza's attack with his kunai. Both jonin stared at each other there chakra flaring and their killer intent rising,

"Have you forgotten Kakashi I'm your opponent," Zabuza said with ice in his voice. Sakura and Tazuna moved back a few feet before Zabuza started again, "We can have some fun while my apprentice slaughters yours," Zabuza chuckled. Kakashi flared his chakra to new heights as he replied with nothing but disdain in his voice, "First I'll deal with you, then if Sasuke is unable to finish him, I'll kill Haku myself," Kakashi finished with a dark look in his eye. Zabuza just continued to chuckle, "That's a bold claim Kakashi but I wonder if your student will even live long enough, just look,"

Kakashi turned his gaze to battle once again and what he saw shook him. Sasuke was looking around frantically trying to use his sharingan to locate the real Haku but he had never used his eyes in a real life or death battle before and never against someone this strong with such an odd jutsu. 'Damn him! What's his plan? What's with the mirrors?' Sasuke wondered but his thought process was suddenly interrupted by Haku,

"Now you'll see some real speed," Haku said calmly as he began throwing several senbon towards the last Uchiha. Thanks to Sasuke's sharingan he was able to dodge Haku's small barrage but Sasuke began to wonder, 'Why is he still holding back was he serious about not wanting to kill me?' Sasuke thought.

"Not bad but try this!" Haku nearly screamed interrupting Sasuke's thought process as at least a hundred senbon came his way. He was able to avoid the majority of them but he was still impaled multiple times in the arms and legs and even had one stuck in his right cheek but he had escaped serious harm. "Sasuke!" both Sakura and Kakashi screamed in worry, Kakashi went to help his student but was intercepted by Zabuza,

"Go ahead and kill Haku but just know by the time you do I'll have killed the old man and that useless pink haired whore standing next to him," Zabuza said, his voice filled with nothing but malice.

Sakura looked at Zabuza with venom in her eyes and then focused her gaze on Sasuke who by now had been forced to the ground and had over two dozen senbon impaled in his body,

"Tazuna-san I'm sorry but I have to help my comrades!" Sakura said with a newfound sense of confidence. She drew a kunai but as she went to throw it she suddenly saw dozens of kunai and shuriken rain down from the sky actually catching Haku in the shoulder before he could retreat into his mirrors. Sakura blinked and there he was standing right in front of her with that foxy grin on, "Naruto-kun!" Sakura cried out in relief and happiness at the sight of her baka,

"Naruto Uzumaki is here to kick your ass, believe it!"


'Well that was kind of a sneak attack' Kakashi thought, 'but what about Sasuke?' Kakashi's gaze returned to Haku's ice mirrors and he saw a Naruto clone trying to help Sasuke escape the perimeter of the ice mirrors. Unfortunately Haku quickly recovered from Naruto's previous attack,

"Damn you!" the rogue mist nin shouted as he chucked several senbon directly towards the two boys. Naruto's clone saw the attack and intercepted it with his body causing it to poof away. Sasuke composed himself before staring down the mirror the senbon originated from,

"Fire Style - Fireball Jutsu!" the young Uchiha shouted trying desperately to destroy the mirrors. His jutsu forced Haku to move from one mirror to another as the raging blast of fire shattered the mirror. Sasuke thought angrily, 'My fireball jutsu is powerful enough to shatter one mirror maybe two if I angle it right but not all of them' Haku suddenly launched another wave of senbon in Sasuke's direction.

"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted and as he did fifty other Naruto's poofed into existence. The clones along with himself charged into the perimeter of the mirrors full force in an effort to shield Sasuke from Haku's next deadly attack. Just as the round of senbon where about to reach Sasuke's body Naruto's clones jumped in the way intercepting every one and the real Naruto was standing in front of him,

"Need some help Sasuke?" Naruto asked with a grin. Sasuke put on a small grin of his own, "Sure dobe if you can keep up your clone jutsu I might be able to finally find the bastard," he replied. "Ok, Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Another fifty Naruto's appeared as Haku resumed his attacks,

"Look as hard as you want, you'll never figure out my secrets," Haku replied to the boy's strategy. Kakashi suddenly realized, "He has a kekkei genkai, a bloodline trait!" Kakashi started with a new sense of panic. Zabuza only chuckled, "That's right," the demon replied calmly.

Haku's attacks kept coming and coming but Naruto's clones did their job well and gave Sasuke the time to analyze the rogue nin's attacks and that's when both boys heard Haku start again. "Like I told you before, I don't want to kill any of you but If I have to sacrifice my heart for Zabuza-sama I will without hesitation," Haku stopped a moment before looking at his two opponents again,

"This place has become the crossroads of our destinies either my dreams or your dreams will die here," Haku continued with an uneasy sense of calm. "Regardless of what happens here today do not hate me or hate yourselves, we both should be willing to put our lives on the line for the people we treasure. Even if I have to protect, fight, kill, or die I will fulfill that person's dreams because his dreams became my dreams. As such I will act as a true shinobi and kill you both!" Haku shouted, raising his voice for the first time.

Naruto and Sasuke shared a smirk, "I don't think so," Sasuke replied, "That's right, you're the one who's going to be dead meat, believe it!" Naruto said with confidence.

"Naruto, Sasuke don't even think about giving up, your going to win, cha!" Sakura shouted but this caused Kakashi to glare at her,

"Enough Sakura, stop distracting them they need to concentrate if they have any hope of defeating Haku," Kakashi said. "No, they can't be that outmatched can they?" Sakura questioned and looked at the two boys with concern as Zabuza began chuckling again, "It's not that brat, those two are just virgins when it comes to actual killing aren't they Kakashi?" the demon chuckling evolved into a vile laughter,

"Like I said before just little brats who don't have the heart to take life, pathetic!" Zabuza howled, "Haku on the other hand has seen life and death countless times molding him into my precious tool, a true killing machine!" Kakashi had heard enough he slowly began lifting his headband from his left eye,

"You'll forgive me if I kill you quickly," Kakashi said calmly. Zabuza scowled at Kakashi, "Your going to use that cheap trick again Kakashi, I admit I admired the sharingan before but now that I've seen it's secrets I can say without a doubt that it's just a garbage kekkei genkai lacking any real imagination!" the demon of the mist declared in anger.

Before Kakashi could finish uncovering his left eye Zabuza charged him with a kunai but Kakashi was able to intercept it just in time, "Make fun of my sharingan all you want, it doesn't hide the fact that you're terrified of it, coward!," Kakashi started,

"You should feel honored no one has ever fought me and lived to see this eye again and I promise there won't be another!" Zabuza chuckled again, "Defeat me if you can Kakashi but the fact is you'll be so weak by the time you do killing Haku will be impossible. That boy is my weapon and his skills far surpass the trash you keep company," the demon replied. Zabuza drew a kunai as he spoke again,

"You know there's been something I've been dying to say to you since our last fight, something to the effect of the same trick won't work twice,

"Water Style - Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Suddenly a mist that was as dense as water covered the battlefield clouding everyone's sense of sight and Zabuza was gone. Kakashi turned to Sakura who he could barely see, "Sakura, protect Tazuna, I'll handle Zabuza," the jonin stated with conviction.

'Sensei's right I just have to have faith in all of them, believe it!' the pinkette thought. The mist grew even thicker and Tazuna began to slightly panic but Sakura reassured him, "Don't worry Tazuna-san I'll protect you, Cha!" she said with confidence.

"Ok Sakura," Tazuna replied a little taken aback by the girls determination. 'The mist is so thick, damn it where will he strike? Of course!' Kakashi rushed to Sakura and Tazuna's side as Zabuza suddenly appeared behind the aged bridge builder.

The demon swung his sword down on Tazuna with great force, his intention to slice the old man in half but Kakashi appeared and took the blow, "Sensei!" Sakura screamed and a few feet away Sasuke's second tomoe finally awakened in his right eye.


"Was that Sakura, shit! What's going on out there?" Sasuke wondered aloud concern evident in his voice. "Sakura-chan's in trouble, what are we going to do Sasuke?" Naruto asked his teammate in desperation, "Can you make another wave of clones, I'm finally able to track his movements," Sasuke replied.

"Ok Sasuke, Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted and as soon as his clones appeared they charged Haku's mirrors full force but Hauk's attacks took them all down with ease. It gave Sasuke the opening he needed though, "Fire Style - Fireball Jutsu!" the last Uchiha screamed. A ball of intense fire erupted from Sasuke's mouth and managed to char Haku's leg before he could escape into his mirror.

'Shit, I didn't notice before but that boy has sharingan too, I have to take one of them out now!' Haku thought in desperation. He immediately launched himself at Naruto rearing another deadly wave of senbon at the chakra exhausted ninja. "Shit, Naurto!" was all Naruto heard Sasuke say.

Eventually Naruto looked up and saw Haku on the ground and Sasuke standing, "Sasuke you did it, believe it!" the blonde cheered but when he finally saw the vast amounts of senbon stuck in Sasuke's body and blood pouring from his wounds his happiness turned to pure horror.

"Sheesh your always in the way, aren't you Naruto?" Sasuke asked while chuckling, "You know I really never cared for you until a little while ago," Sasuke continued but Naruto had to know, "Then why Sasuke? Why go so far for me?" Naruto questioned through tears, "Dobe it's because my body just moved ok… and the truth is Naruto you were my first real friend, funny I promised myself I wouldn't die until I killed that bastard," "What Sasuke?" Naruto asked. Sasuke just gazed at his friend before starting again, "It doesn't concern you just... just watch over Ino for me and don't die until you fulfill your dream, Ok Naru..." Sasuke suddenly stopped and fell backwards but was caught by his teammate.

Naruto tried to check for a pulse but there was none, Sasuke Uchiha was dead. Naruto started crying at the loss of his comrade but his sadness quickly shifted to rage as the missing mist nin got to his feet, "He sacrificed himself for you without any sign of hesitation, he lived and died as a true shinobi," Haku said sounding sympathetic,
"Is this the first time you've lost a friend in battle? This is the way of shinobi, the life we both chose!" Haku finished.

Naruto looked at Haku with malice as his canines and fingernails extended almost mirroring claws and his whisker marks became far more prevalent as a red tail made of chakra grew out of his spine. His eyes slitted and turned a deep red, the same red enveloped his body and formed what could be seen as a cloak completely made of chakra so dense it was easily visible.

"I will never forgive you for this, for what you did to Sasuke, I'm going to kill you!" Naruto screamed in a demonic voice. A few minutes before Kakashi had managed to escape Zabuza's attack with a mere slash to the chest. "Distracted Kakashi, worried about your boys?" Zabuza mocked,

"I figured out your eye, as long as I keep your vision blurred and my own eyes shut you can't read my moves or put me under genjutsu. As for your brats you'll see them again in the next life," Zabuza finished causing Sakura to bark out,

"Screw you asshole! Naruto and Sasuke are not going to lose, believe it, Cha!" she nearly screamed. "That's right Sakura it's your boy who's dead Zabuza, they may not look like much but Sasuke is the heir to the most powerful clan in the Leaf Village and Naruto is the son of our greatest hero!" Kakashi stated with pride.

"What bullshit are you spouting Kakashi?" Zabuza asked angrily, "The raven haired boy's full name is Sasuke Uchiha and the blonde's is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, only son of the Fourth Hokage!" Kakashi replied.

Zabuza looked almost shocked for a moment before composing himself, "They may indeed match Haku then but he has never let me down, we'll just have to wait and see, whether my weapon kill yours or the other way around," Zabuza said and as soon as he did he once again vanished in the mist.

Kakashi readied himself for Zabuza's next attack, "You realize why I let you in on those little secrets right, it's because you won't live to tell a soul, Sakura stick close to Tazuna, I'm ending this now!" Kakashi nearly roared.

"Good luck sensei!" Sakura replied with full confidence. "You should know Zabuza I was trained in assassination as well, let me show you a jutsu of my own creation!" Kakashi said but as he did, he felt a chakra source more powerful than his own, incredibly manvelovent and full of killer intent,

'No! This chakra, it's the nine-tails, did Haku manage to kill Naruto? Has sensei's seal failed? No, I refuse to believe either of those scenarios but this chakra it feels so dangerous and full of hatred and also… a lust for revenge and blood. I have to finish Zabuza now!' the Leaf jonin finalized as he took a scroll from his chest.

"Sorry Zabuza but my students need me and you've lived long enough," Kakashi said as he opened the scroll and in the blink of an eye moved his hands together,
"Let's end this Zabuza!" he said calmly. "Fine Kakashi lets bring this to an end!" Zabuza replied.


As the two jonin prepared their final attacks the jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed fox was being completely consumed by its power. Naruto had lost Sasuke his friend, when they became that Naruto did not know but it was Sasuke who had admitted it.

They had bonded together through training and mission while the recent tree climbing exercises only caused them to grow closer. They were teammates, comrades and even though they mocked and scowled at each other constantly they were still irreplaceable in each others eyes. It was Sasuke who had asked for their weekly spars and they both had benefited because of it. It was Sasuke who reminded Naruto of Sakura's birthday when he had forgotten. Naruto would never admit it but it was Sasuke's skills he admired and it had become his goal to surpass the Uchiha one day. It was Sasuke who Naruto always pictured as his best man, during his and Sakura's wedding at least and it was Sasuke who Naruto thought he would be battling for the title of Hokage someday. Now none of it would happen,
Sasuke was dead,

Naruto layed Sasuke's body on the ground as he got to his feet. "You Die!" was all he said in a voice not his own and as he did his chakra flared to a level so high and so dense the pressure actually shattered all of Haku's mirrors. Haku landed on his feet,
"What is he?" Haku questioned, Naruto just repeated himself, "Die!" and that's when the boy heard a deep chuckle,

"So you finally broke brat and hard too considering how much of my chakra I was able to feed you. You should realize by now that even if you have these vile bonds covering up your rage and malice will only cause it to all burst out at once!" the voice said. Naruto's angered softened a bit as he realized he was now inside a dark sewer. He turned around towards the direction he heard the deep voice emanate from and he finally saw him, locked away behind thick golden bars an Orange fox with black circles around his eyes and nine tails protruding from his body.

"Yeah thanks for the chakra you damn fox but I want my body back, believe it!" Naruto growled his anger returning but once he saw the orange chakra start to leak towards him he realized, 'Right the nine-tails chakra is drawn from hate and rage, if I can calm down a little maybe I can retake control,' he thought in his mind out loud.

The nine-tails actually began laughing, "That might of worked normally brat but I'm not actually in control it's pissing me off quite a bit actually, normally I would slowly feed you chakra and I would take over your body until I forced myself free or I could just let you die but being reincarnated hurts like hell!" the nine-tails growled out half angrily, half almost sounding curious.

Naruto felt his anger return but did his best to soften it as he asked, "What are talking about nine-tails?" Naruto questioned, the demon fox looked at him angrily before replying, "Like I said I don't know as soon as you broke you showed up here and only my chakra went to your body, not my consciousness. I have no idea what or who's in control of our body but I'll tell you this brat," the nine-tails grunted out.

"What?" Naruto replied in an annoyed tone, the nine-tails began walking to the deepest darkest corner of his cell but before he disappeared from view he answered the young shinobi, "Considering how much chakra your body currently has and the killer intent radiating from you everyone on that bridge including your best friend and future mate will be dead by your own hands, I actually feel sorry for you a little.

I would have killed them myself but at least you had an advantage against me with this damn cage and could actually maybe put up a decent fight in time," were the fox's last words before he vanished into the darkness.

Naruto suddenly realized, "Sasuke's alive?" he turned around and saw that he could see what was happening on the battlefield. He saw his possessed body's gaze slowly make its way to Haku, "Die!" was all the soulless body said again as it leaped at Haku with near Kage level speed and his claw like fingers buried themselves deep into Haku's chest.

"Stop!" Naruto screamed, "That's enough we've won Sasuke's alive, believe it!" he tried calling out to his body in vain. Naruto's body had a calm almost indifferent look as he removed his claw like fingers and began repeatedly stabbing and scratching Haku's body with little sign of stopping. Eventually the attacks made their way to Haku's mask ripping it off revealing to Naruto the true identity of the rouge tracker nin, the person he had met just two days before, the one who had helped him make Sakura so happy on her birthday,

"Why you? Why did it have to be you of all people?" Naruto cried out in pain and confusion but it was all in vain. Haku spoke his last words, "Zabuza-sama I'm sorr…" Haku drew his last breath and died his soul leaving this mortal world. Naruto almost shattered, he had killed, he was no longer innocent and what was so much worse Naruto realized is that he could have easily been Haku's friend.

"No! Not like this it wasn't supposed to be like this!" the blonde wailed in pain and suffering. Suddenly Naruto saw his body drop Haku unceremoniously to the ground, it looked oddly at Sasuke for a moment before stating calmly, "You die," his body slowly made its way towards the incapacitated Sasuke.

Naruto began drowning in an even deeper wave of despair the nine-tails was right his possessed body would murder everyone on the bridge and there was nothing he could do. This pain was unbearable within the last five minutes he had lost friend got him back and now was going to have to watch while his body murdered him with his own hands.

"Nooooo!" the blonde screamed in the most agonizing misery he had ever experienced. "Naruto-kun!" Sakura suddenly shouted, Zabuza's mist was still blinding everyone on the battlefield but Sakura could sense the nine-tails chakra and could feel Naruto's pain and suffering. She felt the fox's chakra flare again and suddenly began sobbing and frantically began screaming,

"Naruto-kun, Sasuke!" she cycled through their names like a tape on repeat as her heart poured out to the two most important boys in her life. Suddenly the seal on Saukra's hand began to glow and flash different colors, first a reddish orange, then cyan, quickly flashing white before finally resting on ocean blue. Sakura was too blinded by her tears and the thick mist to notice the colors or the glow of her seal as she cried her heart out for the two boys she cared so much for, Sasuke her first crush which had evolved into a genuine friendship and Naruto who was slowly capturing her heart. As soon as the glow from her seals appeared, it vanished without Sakura noticing a thing.

Naruto's body reached Sasuke and held him by his collar with his left hand as his clawed right slowly reared itself in preparation to attack the unconscious Uchiha. Inside the Fourth's seal Naruto continued to scream, "Sasuke! Sasuke!" the blonde repeated in agony. He saw his right hand finally going for the kill but just before his hand met Sasuke's throat he finally noticed Sakura's screams and somehow regained control of his left hand noticing that seal was glowing.

He immediately moved the injured Sasuke to safety as his right hand came within inches of the raven haired boys face. Naruto noticed the seal on his left hand flash several different colors, first orange, followed by emerald green, cyan, quickly flashing white before finally resting on ocean blue. Naruto looked at the seal but the glow had faded and the seals were as they usually were, somehow he was back in control. The blonde immediately returned his attention to Sasuke as he rushed to his friend's side, "Sasuke!" he repeated again.


At the same time Kakashi was readying himself for his final attack, he held the scroll he had revealed earlier as he waved the signs for tiger, snake, dragon, and dog. He suddenly slammed his hands to the ground as he shouted,

"Earth Style - Fanged Pursuit Summoning Jutsu!" "Shouting nonsense won't save you Kakashi, I'm completely enveloped in the mist!" Zabuza replied. Kakashi smirked, "It's over," the ground beneath Zabuza's feet suddenly gave way and several ninja dogs impaled the demon with their large canines locking him securely in place,

"I warned you my sharingan wasn't my only trick and even though you clouded my vision and can even mask your sound, your scent is easy prey to my hounds and your mist provided the perfect cover for their attack," Kakashi explained calmly, "But how?" Zabuza questioned,

"Heh, my brats as you called them recovered my tools from our last battle, luckily for me they neglected to clean them for me and once I knew you were still alive I preserved a kunai coated in your foul blood." Kakashi waved around a kunai coated with Zabuza's dried blood, "Once my dogs have your scent they can track you from miles away finding you in this mist was child's play for them. Now this is your end Zabuza Momochi!" Kakashi finished,

"Damn it, No!" The demon struggled to break free but the nin dogs only tightened their grip. "Like I said before this is your last battle," Kakashi said calmly, "Fuck You Kakashi! I can't die here not yet," Zabuza continued to struggle but it was in vain,

"You should have seen this coming when you betrayed your village and attempted to murder your own Kage you scum!" Kakashi quickly weaved the signs for ox, rabbit, and monkey, he extended his right hand out ward with his palm facing up and his elbow bent. His left hand was resting on his right bicep and suddenly lightning began sparking from Kaskashi hand. The jonin continued to focus his chakra into his right palm causing waves of electricity to spark dangerously around him until his jutsu finally stabilized. Kakashi looked at Zabuza his sharingan staring him down, the sounds of birds chirping emanating from his hand and the jutsu of his own creation at the ready.

'No' Zabuza thought 'his attack is so powerful' Zabuza thought process was interrupted by Kakashi's next words, "Then you tried to kill a man whose only desire is to save and protect his people. I won't allow your madness to continue for another second you have disgraced the name shinobi!" Kakashi yelled,

"Now, Lightning Blade!" Kakashi finally announced his attack and before Zabuza could blink he was dead. Kakashi's lightning blade had pierced Zabuza's heart finally killing the demon for good. "It's finally over," the jonin said with a sigh, 'Now for Naruto and Sasuke but that's strange I don't sense the nine-tails anymore, did Naruto suppress it by himself?' the jonin wondered as Zabuza's soul departed from this world and the mist he brought with him finally vanished as well.

As the mist slowly dissipated Sakura saw her sensei come in to view and at his feet she saw his opponent dead, "I knew sensei was amazing, Cha! But where are my boys damn it!" Sakura looked around the bridge frantically and spotted Naruto kneeling over Sasuke,

"Naruto-kun, Sasuke!" Sakura cried in concern as she rushed over to the two boys her hand immediately going to her medical pouch. Naruto looked at Sakura as he heard her voice and for the first time since waking up that day Naruto smiled in happiness. He slowly redirected his attention back to Sasuke,

"Don't worry he's alive Sakura-chan but treat his wounds I'm already healed," the knucklehead said in a sad tone. Sakura began removing the senbon from Sasuke but she noticed Naruto's tone and followed his gaze to the missing tracker nin's corpse. She looked at him firmly but full of compassion as she asked,

"What happened Naruto-kun, I… I could sense that chakra was it… was it the nine-tails? Be honest, it's ok no matter what happens that thing will never influence my feelings for you," Sakura stated to him sternly. She finally managed to remove the last of the senbon and was now beginning to bandage up the last Uchiha.

Unbeknownst to them the Sasuke had regained consciousness but was choosing not to speak. Naruto looked at Sakura with a grim expression, "I… I…" he started but nothing would come. Finishing her bandaging of the raven haired teen she quickly flung her arms around the blonde ninja forcing him to look directly into her emerald eyes, "Naruto its ok," she said while petting his cheek.

He looked at her again and nestled his head into her chest as he began to sob, "I… I thought Haku killed Sasuke…" Naruto started, "And I got lost in so much hate and rage that I was pulled into dad's seal and then I met the nine-tails," Naruto suddenly stopped and Sakura had to reaffirm,

"It's ok Naruto I will always be right here," Sakura said affectionately. "Did the fox take over?" the pinkette questioned, "No, or I don't really know he said he tried but something was repelling both our minds…" Naruto said Sakura looked at him with concern while Kakashi finally reached his three students,

"You can't trust that monster Naruto," Kakashi replied with his own worry evident on his face. "I know that sensei it was just weird instead of acting like the monster I expected he almost seemed sympathetic. He was the one who told me Sasuke was still alive, if he hadn't I never would of been able to suppress my rage," Naruto tried to explain.

"So you were able to suppress the fox with your own will impressive Naruto," Kakashi said with pride. "No sensei!" Naruto barked,

"Like I said I don't know if it was the nine-tails or not but when I… when I…" After a few moments Naruto composed himself and continued, "When I realized that I had lost all control over my body I tried shifting my mind back but nothing I tried worked. I watched against my will as I mutilated Haku with my bare hands and then after I was done with him I even tried to kill… kill Sasuke!" the young man finally admitted through tears,

"No," Sakura replied as she held him tighter a few tears of her own beginning to form. Naruto's sobs slowed as he looked into Sakura's eyes with affection, "But before I could do anything the seal on my left hand started glowing and I heard your beautiful voice Sakura-chan and before I knew it I was me again," He looked at her with a small smile and she gazed at him giving a look she had never expressed before at least in this lifetime,

"You saved us Sakura-chan, your love I could feel it, believe it!" He smiled at her before finishing, "I love you Sakura-hime, I truly do, you know," The last of Naruto's tears vanished as Sakura smiled at him a blush creeping onto her face,

"And I love you Naruto-kun," she replied confessing the feelings that had been nurturing since the day there bond began. She knew she loved him and hopefully in time as much as he always loved her. That's when the pair heard a familiar groan,

"Kami your making me sick get a room you dobes," Sasuke said faining disgust at the couples antics. Naruto and Sakura looked at Sasuke with concern but the three eventually shared a small grin and all Naruto could say was,

"Thank you my friend," he said with his true smile his tears long forgotten. Sasuke put on a smirk as he got back to his feet,

"No problem Naruto," he replied. "If you guys are done it would appear we have some more company," Kakashi said coolly as he pointed to the end of the unfinished bridge.


"So Gato finally crawled out of your rat infested hole!" Tazuna barked angrily to the short ugly businessman. Gato scowled at him before looking around the battlefield seeing his hired ninja dead, "So Zabuza failed me after all, that's ok, he did his job of weakening your ninja and now my mercenaries can finish you all off!"

Behind Gato there were at least fifty mercenaries all strapped from head to toe with different deadly weapons. Gato began chuckling coldly, "And as a bonus now I don't have to pay those two a single ryo," Gato began howling with laughter, "Or pay someone to take revenge for me I can do that myself!" he screamed as he began stomping Haku's bruised and bloody face, "This is for my hand you scum!" he shouted in sadistic glea.

Naruto's anger rose but as he got back to his feet he felt Sakura's hand in his and he suppressed his rage, "Get the fuck off of him you bastard!" Naruto growled, "What brat, why do you care he was your enemy and besides, aren't you the one that killed him. Tell you what, finish off your friends for me and I'll pay you what I was going to give Zabuza," Gato said with an evil smirk.

Naruto only huffed and directed his gaze solely on Gato, Sakura looked at her baka with concern when she heard Sasuke's voice,

"He has a point Naruto he did almost kill me," Sasuke pointed out. Naruto looked at Sasuke as he replied calmly. "I don't think he did Sasuke remember what Kakashi sensei told us when this thing started about senbon,"

"Senbon can be used to put a person into a state that makes them appear to be dead," Sasuke said. "Right Sasuke, I bet his plan was to place the three of us in a state of near death, ambush sensei, kill Tazuna, then escape with Zabuza before he even knew we were alive," Naruto explained.

"But why would he Naruto, we didn't know him, he had no reason to show us mercy?" Sakura asked. Naruto chuckled, "But we did Sakura-chan, Haku's the one who planned your birthday," Naruto said calmly. "What?" the kunochi asked in disbelief, Naruto sighed before replying,

"The truth is Sakura-chan I forgot your birthday at first it was Sasuke who reminded me the night before," Naruto looked at his friend fondly who showed a small grin. Sakura lipped a small, "Thank you," to the last Uchiha and he just smirked. Naruto chuckled again,

"I got so stressed I passed out from chakra exhaustion and slept in the woods all night," the blonde explained while Sakura looked at him fondly simply replying, "Baka," he looked at her with a smile before finishing, "He found me, he could of killed me so easily but he woke me and even asked me what I was doing. I told him a little bit about me and asked what I should do for you.

The flowers, the meal, even the stargazing were all of Haku's ideas. He truly knew what it meant to care for someone," Naruto began to shed tears once again, "Even if Zabuza only saw him as a thing, a weapon Haku's last words were his apologies to the evil bastard for failing him," Naruto's weeping suddenly stopped.

"And I won't let this bastard desecrate my friend or his memory, Zabuza was scum but Haku lived and died as a true shinobi and his loyalty to his loved one was an inspiration to me!" Naruto growled out.

Gato just looked at the young ninja angrily, "Alright boys kill these ninja trash!" As soon as he finished barking his order an arrow whizzed by his foot, "Who wants to die next?" the short man yelled as he looked towards the source of the projectile for his gaze to meet the boy's who he only knew as the son of Kaiza.

The boy wasn't alone though behind him stood at least a hundred villagers all armed with pitchforks and other farm and fishing tools,

"I did it Naruto look," Inari cried out. Naruto walked up the young boy and ruffled his hair before bending over to meet his gaze,

"You know what that means right Inari, your officially a hero, believe it!" Naruto turned around as Inari started to shed tears of joy, the son of the Fourth staring directly at the corrupt tyrant who called himself a businessman,
"It's over Fatto, Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

"That looks like fun Naruto think I'll join, Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Kakashi shouted and suddenly another fifty Naruto's appeared and around twenty Kakashi's were ready for battle. Sasuke went to help his comrades but Sakura stopped him, "Nope you overused your eyes and have little to no chakra left on top of being injured let us handle this," Sakura explained. Sasuke huffed but complied as she went to go stand next to the original Naruto and Kakashi she turned around and added,

"Besides you hate using this jutsu," while winking and taking her place on the other side of her sensei. Sasuke actually started chuckling to himself, he knew what was coming as he sat on the edge of the bridge trying to get comfortable for the upcoming show.

"Alright, my turn Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Sakura yelled and as she did two solid clones of her appeared next to her. "Sakura when did you learn that?" Kakashi asked in curiosity, Sakura smirked, "Naruto taught me the signs I just had to build up enough chakra so I practiced the tree climbing technique you taught us on the side of the bridge everyday.

A week ago I was able to produce my first clone and on my birthday I was finally able to make a second that's my limit for now though," Sakura replied proudly. Naruto grinned, "Alright everyone charge!" the blonde shouted.

The clones and the villagers followed the baka's orders like he was a general and charged full force defeating Gato's mercenaries with ease and no casualties on their side. Sakura was the one who got the real prize though as Gato stared at her his anger and contempt apparent.

The real Sakura was standing in front of the man with her two clone behind him preventing his escape, "Funny big bad Gato defeated by an adorable pink haired little girl," Sakura teased the short man. Gato gathered his courage which would prove to be his undoing,

"And you'll make me a lot of money when I sell your ass or better yet just keep you for myself," the man who had signed his death certificate barked angrily. Naruto could only sigh remembering ramen note #62,

Sakura exploded, "I am not a whore you fuck, my name is Sakura Haruno Uzumaki, Cha!" Sakura and her clones immediately threw a hard right while shouting,

"Cherry Blossom Crush!"

All three of her fist came from different directions making contact with Gato's ugly face making it even uglier than before. The tyrant wasn't dead but he was beaten and surrounded, Sakura grinned as she took in her handiwork and as her three teammates came up to her, Team 7 shared a smile the battle was over but there was still a mission to finish.


Alot of AN:

Like I stated in chapter 4 this entire story is already planned and every major decision has already been made the ships the plot everything. This arc was used to build Naruto and Sakura's relationship and too get them as close as possible as quickly as possible which is why I had to redirect her affection for Sasuke immediately to a platonic level and start hitting the things that make her tic with Naruto like his enormous chakra capacity, his parentage, and the tragic life he led. She is definitely the character that has changed the most.

The next (1) chapter will cover team 7 departure from the land of waves and a short arc of my own creation to start bringing Hinata and Naruto closer and the chunin exams especially after the fights will focus on them but Sakura will still obviously be there and the two will still share moments from time to time.

Naruto and Sakura are not in love in love yet but from this start it will definitely evolve into something great. Sasuke and Ino will also have a place in the next chapter and to be honest it's much more important to focus on them considering what's gonna go down in the forest of death. Naruto like Sakura has acquired a few of her characteristics but most noticeably a slightly bigger brain and from Hinata he got her calmness and patience molding him into an odd mix of his part 1 and part 2 selves.

Sakura has inherited really only the habits that she actually hated before which was done to torture her a little and make me laugh sorry Sakura. I love Sakura's character deeply and even respect and admire her love for Sasuke and her affection and care for Naruto in the original and I am forever grateful to Kishimoto for the wonderful world and incredible characters he created.

Hinata has also inherited Naruto's confidence she doesn't stutter or faint in front of Naruto at this point obviously but her character and her changes will be explored later. Sasuke is a really hard character for anyone to sympathize with and to be honest I hated the teme and the fact that he got Sakura but after rereading and reanalyzing, I saw why things went the way they did.

Both Sakura and Naruto had hurt and lied to each other so much, even if it was to protect or save them that they both felt guilt that they weren't good enough for the other. They cared about the other so much that they wanted them to have the happiest lives they could possibly have and in doing so pushed the other away. There really is no reason for anyone to hate any of the characters for the way the ships turned out like Sarada was an expression of love between Sasuke and Sakura all of the care and moments that were shown between Naruto and Sakura and the enormous amounts of beautiful filler and movies which are outside of the canon timeline including road to ninja (Thank You Kishi) all can be interpreted as alternative timelines where NaruSaku did or might've happened. Really all we need is a scene between Naruto and Sakura in Boruto with the two joking in Naruto's office and Naruto saying ,

"You know it could have gone that way" Naruto said jokingly as he prepared for a bonk he knew was coming.

When it didn't he looked back to Sakura who was standing by the door as she opened it she looked back at him and smiled

"And it would of been a wonderful
life" was all the pinkete said before leaving the blonde Hokage with a look of shock which eventually turned into a grin

Sasuke did care for Sakura you have to look hard but he definitely had a soft spot for her like he did with Karin. In this scenario without his teammates being up his ass all of the time he has opened up to them more and Ino's outgoing personality helped out with that.

Kakashi has gotten his dream mold for Team 7 with how well they work together and are all obviously friends inadvertently making him like and care for them more much sooner. I want to make the bond and friendship between Team 7 even stronger than in canon so when shit hits the fan it's gonna feel a lot worse also if Sasuke's friendlier it gives Naruto more shit to spit back to him later.

As for jutsu names got really stuck went with what sounded good and made sense to me based on the english translations in both the manga and anime and yes I am rereading and watching Naruto to get everything right and make sure I don't miss something important and forget to develop something

Thank you all and have a happy holiday