Chapter 4: The Wolf saves the Wave

Wave Country

Gato's mansion was a building signifying power. Surrounded by guards on all locations, it was his base of operations in Wave Country. It used to be the palace of the Wave Daimyo, but after the takeover of Wave, it became Gato's estate of drugs and prostitution. In a room, you could find the fake Hunter-nin, taking care of Zabuza, who kept cursing "Damn that Hatake. When I am up I will rip off his head. And that gaki, he will pay for that punch." he said bitterly and turned to the Hunter "And you just had to hit me in the neck of all places." "The neck is the best and swiftest place for the effect. It had to be done." the nin said, a hint of amusement in the voice. Then, Gato came in. followed by two Samurai- wannabes. He looked at Zabuza with a scowl. "Oh look at the Great Demon. A team of Genin took you down! Is this all I get for the money I paid you?!" he yelled. "I underestimated them. They had Kakashi the Copy Ninja with them. I will get them next time." he said with a huff. Gato approached his bed "You better or you will- ACK!" he yelled in pain when the Hunter-nin grabbed his arm and twisted it. He fell back as his two guards placed their hands on their blades, only for him to reveal three senbon ready for use. Gato shaked his head at them and they standed down. "You got 1 week. If you fail, I will hire someone more suitable." he growled and exited the room. "You didn't have to do that Haku." Zabuza said revealing a Kunai, only for her to shake her head "Don't overexert yourself. Just rest Zabuza-sama." she said It had been 4 days since Naruto became Team Leader and both Sakura and Sasuke finally agreed on one thing. He was a slave driver! Everyday he had them do physical exercises that made Sakura look like she was about to commit Seppuku and Sasuke look like… a tired, annoyed Sasuke. However, today seemed to be different. "Alright. Today we shall learn to climb trees!" Naruto said to them, getting weird looks "Ehm, Naruto we already know how." He merely walked forward to a tree "Do you know how to climb a tree-" then walked UP the tree "Without hands?" he said, his hands in his pocket, causing them to widen their eyes. "The principle is simple. You must apply a fixed amount of Chakra to the soles of your feet and use it to stick on the tree. Too much, you get thrown off. Too little, you fall. Use these-" he said as he fell from the tree with a backflip, while simultaneously throwing 2 kunai, one for each, at their feet "To record your progress." he said "I suggest you get a running head start.

Begin!" he said taking out a cigar.

Naruto watched them practicing. In a short time, Sakura reached the top "Good Sakura. Now keep doing the exercise until you run out of Chakra. This exercise doesn't only help your control, your reserves get a boost as well." he explained, causing her to nod and continue. He then turned to Sasuke, who wasn't doing so well "Remember Sasuke! Focus!" he advised, causing him to scowl but calm down. He runned up the tree and run a considerable longer distance before he fell off causing him to smirk, but throw a thankful nod towards Naruto. Naruto nodded in response and continue monitoring them. Unknown to them, Kakashi observed them with an eye-smile.

Soon the sun was about to set, when Sasuke mastered the exercise. "Congratulations."

he told them. "Now, time to get back." he said. As they entered the house, they saw Tsunami cooking. "Hello, Tsunami-san. The food smells delicious." she turned and smiled "Why thank you! Gather everyone, food is almost ready."

The Team and Tazuna's family ate, with most of them wondering how Naruto and Kakashi could eat with their masks on. However, Inari, finally had enough it seemed.

He slammed his hands on the table and glared at the Ninja. "Why are you still trying!

You will lose! Gato has hundreds of thugs." he scowled, only to get a snort from Naruto "They are just that. Thugs. They stand no chance against a trained team of Ninjas." he replied causing Inari to scowl further "You are naive! You stand no chance. You sit and train and eat, while you don't know what our country has been through. I bet you have a loving family and house back home and have never felt sadness. You know nothing of suffering!" he yelled.

The room's temperature dropped considerably. Naruto had his head down, his bangs obscuring his eyes "I know… nothing… of suffering? You dare say that to my face!" he said, an enormous pressure falling to the room, golden chakra surrounding Naruto like a fountain, his eyes turning to a sickly gold. The rest of the room were terrified.

Naruto pointed to Kakashi "His father suicided cause the village hated him for saving his teammates. His closest friends died in the Third Shinobi War, while he watched helplessly." he spoke, his voice getting slightly deeper. He then pointed to Sasuke "His older brother massacred his entire clan, for the sake of power, in one night. He then had him watch the entire massacre, all of it in under a second, for 72 hours!"

He then disappeared and appeared in front of Inari, grabbing him by the shirt and lifting him up, causing Kakashi to yell "Stop Naruto!" while the rest of the room stood helplessly and watched. He looked at the boy right in the eyes, his golden eyes having slits. "As for me? Tell me, boy, have you had thousands of beatings by your fellow villagers? Hundreds of assassinations attempts before the age of 6? Do- Did you have to grow up for 3 years in the streets, looking for scrap and rubbish so you can survive? Did you have to kill at 4 years old? All because you were hated for something you never asked for? No ? THEN DON'T TELL ME I DON'T KNOW

SUFFERING!" He growled the last part and dropped him to the floor. He turned to the door "I am going to blow some steam." he coldly said and left. The room was silent for a while, then Sakura painfully asked "I-Is what he said true Kakashi-sensei?" only for him to nod sadly "That… was the sugarcoated version." causing the room to widen their eyes to the size of dinner plates. "I watched Naruto when he grew up. I had seen what has happened to him. Worse things that you can imagine." he said lowly. Tsunami and Sakura were in tears, Inari stood still, too shocked to do anything, Tazuna was cursing, while looking sad and Sasuke was thinking 'He knows my pain, no he knows more pain than I ever could. Someone like me…' He then asked the question in everyone's minds "How? How is he still going? After all he has been through, how can he still smile, laugh, joke and live like that?" Sasuke yelled.

Kakashi answered again "Naruto has a strong will, the strongest I have ever seen. It isn't surprising that the Hokage says Naruto's will of fire is a luminous sun.

However, I fear the day all the pent up emotion surface. What he will do that day.

For the most dangerous sun, is the one who has died and becomes a solar explosion, which brings total devastation to anything in the vicinity." he cryptically spoke and went upstairs. The residents had a lot to think about.

Wave Forest

Naruto stood in the middle of a forest, hacking, slashing, punching, kicking, destroying anything he found. He growled "Damn brat!" he said, cutting a tree in half with his Nodachi. He kept going, golden aura surrounding his body. Suddenly, he put Wind Chakra to his blade and threw it to a dozen trees, cutting them all.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!" he yelled, spinning around, as razor sharp winds were released in all directions, cutting many trees in half. The moment he stopped he immediately did more hand seals "Water Release: Great Waterfall!". An enormous torrent of water spew out of his mouth and destroyed everything in its path for a large distance. He then encompassed his arm in electricity, the lightning turning golden slightly, due to the gold chakra. A screeching was heard, as he pointed to a tree."Chidori: Sharp Spear!" he growled and sent a beam of lightning to the other direction, making some trees catch fire. He did more hand seals "Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm." he punched the ground, rocks flying around, causing a fissure. He kept going all night.

A young girl, wearing a pink kimono walked with a basket, only to widen her eyes towards the forest 'Did a tornado pass through?". However, she shook her head as she sensed Chakra residue. Powerful chakra at that. She kept walking until she saw a boy, the boy who shot her those shuriken. She outstretched an arm, going to strangle him, but instead she woke him up. Naruto opened his eyes and looked at her "Are you a Ninja?" he simply nodded. "Yea. I was training and fell asleep." She looked around 'Some training..' and turned to him "What are you doing here?" "I came to pick herbs." "No doubt for Zabuza." he said, catching her punch, a smirk on his face "Relax. I won't attack you." he said, dropping her punch to the side "I WANT you to heal him. I have a proposal for you two." The now revealed Hunter-nin rose her eyebrow "What proposal?" He rose "I know your skills. I also know as well as you do that Gato will betray you. So, I ask that you may join me." She narrowed her eyes "I am sorry but if we wanted to join Konoha-" "I didn't say Konoha. I said me, more importantly, join me and be under my clan protection." he interrupted causing her to tilt her head to the side "You have a clan?" He nodded "I am the last of one.

However, I come from two powerful Konoha clans, so my name carries a lot of power. I will make sure you and Zabuza get to be happy. All I ask is your loyalty." he exclaimed, causing her to think about it. "Don't think now. Contact Zabuza. Then, once you meet me at the bridge, give me your answer…." he stopped, not knowing her name. She nodded and turned her back on him, however she stopped and said "I am Haku.

And I am a boy." He simply turned the other way "And I didn't destroy the forest." he said with a smirk and disappeared before she could say another word. 'Zabuza-sama…'

she thought.

Naruto came back at the house, but didn't spoke to anyone. He simply sat on top of a rock and was either smoking, sharpening his sword, or not being there. Two more days passed. Naruto had been off to a morning scouting, however, once he came back, he heard screaming. As he walked around the house, he noticed two of Gato's thugs.

Narrowing his eyes, he disappeared, only to appear behind them and slash both of their necks with his Chakra blades. He turned to see Tsunami, with Inari in front, both of them with fear in their eyes. Naruto made 5 Kage Bunshin "Watch them." he then turned to Inari "You were brave. Keep being so." he merely said and disappeared, with Inari having stars in his eyes.

Bridge

Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura were in a hard struggle. They went to the bridge to guard Tazuna only for Zabuza and his fake Hunter-nin to appear. Kakashi fought Zabuza inside the mist, Sasuke battled the Hunter-nin in a dome of ice mirrors and Sakura was guarding Tazuna. That was the situation until Naruto arrived. Knowing Kakashi could hold his own, Naruto decided to handle Haku first. He swiftly jumped over the dome, to see Sasuke impaled by many Senbon and about to take dozens more. He yelled "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" and spat out a gust of wind, knocking the Senbon away. A smirk formed on Sasuke's face as he was about to collapse, but Naruto caught him. Carefully, he placed him down "Good job Sasuke. Now rest." he said only to get a nod and silence. He turned to Haku "Well, now to deal with you." he said. His response was her entering the mirrors and throwing Senbon in different directions only for him to dodge them. 'He's fast.' she thought as she continued "Give up. You can't keep track of me and my mirrors are-" she was cut off as he appeared above her and send an axe kick at one of the mirrors, shattering it in half "Impossible." she yelled only to meet a fist. As she narrowly dodged, another mirror was destroyed. This kept on until Naruto had enough. He went through hand seals, while smirking "Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration !" and pressed his hand on a mirror. Powerful lightning coursed through it, shattering it, only for the electrical pieces to touch other mirrors, giving off the same effect.

This caused a chain reaction, breaking all the mirrors, with Haku narrowly dodging the shock. However, Naruto appeared above her, his fist curled back, lightning surrounding him. With a shout of "Lightning Release: Lightning Rod."

he punched her mask, cracking it, along with sending a bolt of electricity in her body. She fell to the ground, her mask now torn off by Naruto. "Be a good girl and stay here." he said then turned to the direction he felt powerful Chakra from. "Hm…"

he muttered as he rushed off. In a few seconds, he saw Zabuza kept in place by Kakashi's Tracker Dogs, as he made the famous Raikiri and sped off to finish him, with Haku teleporting to stop it. However, he came in front and caught his wrist, sending a pulse of Chakra, cancelling the Jutsu to Kakashi's shock. He pushed him away "What are you doing Naruto!" he yelled. Naruto snorted and turned to Zabuza "The hell you doing Zabuza?

Didn't you think the deal?" he said, causing Zabuza to snort, as the Tracker dogs dispelled and Zabuza fell, only for Haku to hold him "Zabuza- Sama!" she yelled. He painfully turned to her "I- I'm sorry Haku." he said for the first time, causing her to widen her eyes "Zabuza-sama." she said.

Then clapping was heard from the opposite end of the bridge. They turned only to see Gato, with an army of thugs and a Nuke-nin next to him. He had green hair and blue eyes, while wearing an Amegakure headband. His clothing consisted of a pink sleeveless shirt, with a black line running along the zipper, black armbands and black ANBU pants. He held an umbrella and had a smirk on his face. "This is all the famous Demon Of The Mist can do? I wanted you to weaken them enough so I can kill all of you, but it seems you're unable to do even that." he sneered. "Gato…" Zabuza growled, but closed his eyes in pain, blood flowing from his legs where the dogs bit him. "Aoi. Please be a good friend and finish them off." "With pleasure Aoi said and released his umbrella "Senbon Shower!" he yelled, as the umbrella released hundreds of Senbon to their vicinity. They would have been pincushions, if not for Naruto. He unsealed 3 Windmill Shuriken and threw them around them, locking them in a triangle and with a yell of "Lightning Release: Thunder Binding!" A triangle-shaped Lightning Barrier formed around them, blocking the Shuriken. "Rokusho Aoi… Konoha Nuke-Nin... " Kakashi said from inside the barrier. He then did hand seals, ignoring Kakashi's shout of wait. "Lightning Release: Lightning Jaguar!" the Lighting barrier transformed into a jaguar made of electricity. It roared as it sped to Ao. However, before it could reach him, Aoi took out a sword handle and with a tearing sound, a blade of lighting was formed, which cut down the jaguar with is. Naruto narrowed his eyes "The Sword of the Thunder God…" he muttered, though something else was on his mind 'How does he have the sealed form of a Holy Weapon….' questions raced in his mind, but he shrugged them off. He needed that blade! He took out his Nodachi, made of Chakra metal. He covered it in electricity and swiftly charge forward,with Aoi doing the same. They met in the center, their swords clashing as sparks flew. Naruto growled as his blade gained slight cracks, despite the lightning fortifying it. He pushed back Aoi and swinged at him "Lightning Wave!" he yelled, as a wave of lightning chakra went Aoi's way, only for him to swing his sword and destroy it. He then dashed at him and continued the sword clashing, his sword to the point of breaking after Aoi blocked one of Naruto's more powerful swings. Naruto, however, used the blocking to appear in front of Aoi,a Chidori in his hand.

He stabbed the Lightning blade at its base, cracking it slightly, to Aoi's unawareness, while jumping back, curling his hand into a fist. His hand was surrounded by blue Chakra, with him charging forward and punching the sword where the Chidori hit. The lightning blade disappeared for a second, to Aoi's horror, which was all Naruto needed. In that split second, he stabbed his chest,then raised with a swift motion the blade upwards, cracking the sword inside Aoi's dying body. He tossed the handle aside with a sad sigh, as he grabbed the Thunder God Blade from Aoi's hand. He placed it on his waist, as he turned to notice Gato's scowl. Gato turned to his thugs "Kill him! But keep the girls alive! They will prove fine entertainment along with the women we will take after we sack the village!" he yelled, the thugs roaring and charging. Zabuza took his blade, as him and Kakashi joined Naruto's side.

"Kid, if we survive this. I will join you." he muttered. Naruto simply smirked and threw Kakashi his Chakra blades. "Don't lose them." he said as he crouched low.

"Now!" he yelled, the three of them running to intercept the thugs.

All hell broke loose. Zabuza used his Executioner Blade to cut thugs left and right. Kakashi surrounded his Chakra Blades with lightning, as he moved from one opponent to the other. Naruto was a blur of death. He was breaking necks, hands and legs left and right and targeted weak points of the body. At one point, he had twisted a man's arm, took his sword, cut off his head, then threw it at another man.

Before the man could respond, a sword cut through the head, along with the man's chest. Gato was seen rushing to the back. Naruto show him, then with a cry of "Lightning Release:Electromagnetic Murder!" the last line of defense was broken. Naruto grabbed Gato from the throat and lifted him up. "P-Please. S-Spare me!" he begged. Naruto smirked "I won't kill you." he said causing Gato to sigh "They will." he added and showed him the band of villagers, lead by Inari. He threw Gato at their feet and the beating begun. He then turned to his team, to see Sakura crying over Sasuke's injured form. With a sigh, he sat down, having lost quite a bit of Chakra from the continuous Jutsu 'Damn. I should have taken off the Seals.' he thought.

Wave Village

Three days had passed since the Victory at the bridge. After the battle, Naruto had visited Gato's mansion and sacked it. He grabbed anything of value: Land papers, blackmail, business administration, title holdings and numerous money accounts. He also got access to his vault and took numerous artifacts along with 30 billion ryo.

He kept 10 for himself, 5 for Zabuza and gave the rest to the people of Wave, along with forming business alliances with them. Even of only three days had passed, the changes were clear to all. The people were filled with happiness and were optimistic for the days to come. Alas, it was time for the sad goodbye…

"Do you really have to go, Nii-chan?" Inari said with tears in his eyes. Naruto smiled at him "Now Inari. No tears. I want you to be a good boy and protect your family, alright?" he said ruffling his hair, causing him to nod happily "Yes! And I will practice to be as strong as you!" he said. Gone was the sad boy, now stood a happy one, ready to protect his family. "Good." he rose. He turned to Zabuza "So, you said you will come in a month?" he said, with Zabuza nodding "Yes. I want to help the Wave get back on it's feet for a bit, while recovering from my injuries." he said, causing him to nod and shake his hand "I will expect you in a month then. Don't be late or I will open the wounds again." he said with a grin, to get one from Zabuza "In your dreams Gaki." he said. Naruto simply laughed and joined his team. "Alright Team 7. Time to return!" Kakashi said with an eye smile. As they were leaving and waving goodbyes, Tazuna suddenly slapped his forehead "I forgot to name the bridge!"

he groaned, but then grinned "I say we name it the Great Tazuna bridge!" only to get laughs from everyone. "We should name it the Great Naruto Bridge!" Inari yelled, with the crowd roaring in agreement. Zabuza simply looked at the boy's back 'Great Naruto Bridge huh… you will go far kid…' he thought, a small smile rising behind the bandages.