Chapter Seven - Celebration Then Home

The proceeding festival after the village was able to get their revenge, a brutal public beating not unlike what was done against Inari's stepfather, was a massive and rowdy one if Naruto had to say for himself. Everyone had come to some agreement that he was their hero for the extra deeds he did while protecting Tazuna, even taking the responsibility to kill the man so that none of them could be targeted for it. There was a lot of booze, dancing, music, and plenty of food. The younger people were even going to secluded areas to have sex.

To shorten it, it was a madhouse. And Naruto enjoyed it as it brought smiles to the people's faces.

It was during the celebrations that he was approached by a familiar figure.

"Naruto."

Naruto turned and was greeted by the sight of a red-haired man with brown eyes, and three claw marks over his left eye that had not blinded him. He is tall, about six feet and six inches, and towered over many people as he made his way forward. He wears a black overcoat, a white shirt with half the buttons undone to expose a muscled chest, as well as pants that end at the knee. He carries a long katana with a blue scabbard on his right side, hanging in a red sash that is barely covered by the white shirt. This is his distant cousin, Shanks. A former pirate raiding other continents across the Kaizoku and Kanashii Seas but is now captain of one of two Uzumaki ships.

Not like a navy is needed for people capable of walking on water or with seals able to instantly transport individuals over long distances, but the valuable asset to devastate shore villages before approaching was quite an unignorable benefit.

"Shanks, what are you doing here," Naruto handed a bottle of alcohol to the man as he continued sipping his own cup.

"Not happy to see me," Shanks laughed as he accepted the bottle.

"You know it's not like that," Naruto chuckled with a shake of his head. "I just wasn't expecting to hear from anyone until I got back to Konoha, or somewhere more private to talk."

Shanks shrugged and leaned on the table as he drank from the bottle. "I decided to stop by since I heard about how a blonde had freed a nation from a greedy bastard."

Naruto laughed and shook his head, watching as Zabuza was slowly finding himself swarmed with drunk women who no longer feared him. He couldn't find Haku. "It's good to see you, how is home?"

"Prospering," Shanks answered. "With that Phantomhive boy setting up the factories for production, we've been easily making plenty of income to do what we need to do. A few people came looking to take advantage of us thinking we are just a small community, so we gave them a warm Uzushio welcome."

Naruto laughed at that. Up until now, Naruto had been having his home rebuilt quietly and slowly letting themselves be known because if any of their enemies got a sniff of what they were doing it could spell disaster and he wasn't going to risk that. But if production is already going well under the diligent eye of that feminine boy and his half-demon butler, they may end up revealing themself earlier than planned. Maybe in the next year, but if more people come to them, it is likely that it will be earlier than that.

"Good to know we are making a profit already," Naruto said with a sip of his drink, already thinking of his next move. "We may end up having some civilian and injured shinobi being brought to the island. Inform grandpa Ginrei about it and tell him that I will let him know any other information as soon as I myself figure it out."

"Alright," Shanks ruffled his cousin's head with a smile. "Hope to see you again, I'll tell Luffy you said hi."

Naruto thought about his cousin's adopted brother with a smile. That boy was always fun to be around, even if his crew took things a bit more seriously than him it was always refreshing to see them. "Okay, Shanks, see ya."

With that, he was alone again with his drink; although, he did give a smile whenever the kids saw him and came to say hi and thank him.

"Who was that?"

Naruto turned his head to see Haku in a beautiful pink kimono with white lily patterns, her hands grasped nervously behind her as she refused to catch his eye. She is beautiful, he had to admit, and it took a bit to not blush - and even more effort when Kyuubi began whistling in approval. He gave a smile and motion for the spot next to him before answering. "That was a relative of mine, he was passing by and came to say hi. I didn't see you for a while, I thought you weren't here."

Haku giggled softly before looking at Zabuza, who is still currently awkwardly navigating from one drunk woman to another in an effort to get away. "I couldn't leave my father alone to fend for himself, but even I was getting overwhelmed near all of them."

Naruto laughed and nodded his head as he looked back at the swordsman. "Yeah, I can see he isn't very adept in navigating social gatherings. That, or he is easily flustered around a woman."

"More of the first one with a bit of loving someone already," Haku hummed as she watched the blonde watch the festival.

He is at ease as he watches everyone enjoy the celebration, gently rubbing a finger around the glass cup that is only half filled now, and his eyes are soft as he watches even kids run around with laughter. She didn't realize how long she was staring until he turned to look at her and those soft eyes looked into hers and she felt her breath hitch, a shock running up and down her spine. She fumbled with her fingers, looking away, before chastising herself in her head.

I'm acting like a little girl with a crush. I'm eighteen and he's sixteen. We are adults in every way of our profession, but why do I feel so much freer when he looks at me?

Naruto placed his hand on hers, stopping her thoughts immediately and she looked up to see the smile he was giving her. "You're beautiful in that dress, by the way. Not just with your body, but the way it lights up your eyes and face, it's like looking at a goddess. But even then, it would be giving a goddess too much credit."

Ba-bump. She blushed as her heart beat faster and harder.

Naruto yawned as he stretched his aching muscles, sitting up to let the comfortable blanket fall down to his lap, and blinked away the sleep to take in the room. With the alcohol filtered out of his system, he is slowly remembering the previous night from where his most detailed memory left off. It was easy, with Kyuubi and Uzumaki genes blending to get rid of his intoxication with only a minor headache.

He spent last night talking and joking with Haku, watching after Zabuza as he tried to avoid the village women after him. His only solace came in the form of Tsunami, who took pity on the man and took him for a walk through the village. Haku had smiled softly, remarking that she trusted he was in safe hands, before their night continued on together.

Naruto shared a bit more than he intended about his home and of his family and the retainer clans. He shared how every clan loyal to him is, in some way or another, related to him through various marriages, as his ancestors wanted to show trust and devotion to those who pledged themselves to the clan and islands. The closest retainer clan he is close to is the Kuchiki clan, with grandpa Ginrei being a survivor of Uzushio as well as a childhood friend of Naruto's grandfather.

He shared his desire to bring his family back to prominence, but it was basically repeating what he had told her a few nights ago in the forest while she gathered herbs. Looking back, he is confused that she isn't disgusted or concerned that he is going to take multiple wives and that so far he already had two women that he cared for. It escalated dramatically from there, both of them going to his room in Tsunami's house where…they…

Naruto tensed when he felt something shift at his side and he slowly looked to take in the sleeping face of the girl he spent most of his night with. She had a small smile even in her sleep, and he was quiet as he got out of his bed and backed up to the wall.

Oh boy, Naruto thought while biting his finger anxiously. Should I be happy, or dread the outcome?

Ahahaha, Zabuza is going to kill you, Kyuubi guffawed deeply and loudly, irritating his blonde host.

Helpful comments only please, Naruto growled as he rubbed his temples.

Run, Kyuubi snickered.

Naruto slapped his head and wondered if he was going to have to deal with Kyuubi's teasing any longer.

The door opening to reveal his sensei and Zabuza was his answer, one looking amused while the other looked absolutely livid. You get one chance to guess who is which.

So as I was saying, Kyuubi spoke to Naruto loudly despite there being a reigning silence in the room. Run, bitch, run!

"Naruto," Kakashi said his name full of amusement as Zabuza shook in anger. "I'm guessing you had a good night?"

Naruto pointed to the missing-nin accusingly, "Zabuza fucked Tsunami, I will not be judged by him."

"You son of a-!"

"Finish that, I dare you!"

Naruto and Zabuza were now sharing a glaring match, but their yelling woke up Haku who is still tired from the previous night. And sore. Kami, was she sore.

"Ah, morning, Haku-san," Kakashi said cheerfully even if her awakening did not prevent the man and teen from glaring at each other. "You can take that blanket to my room to get changed, I don't think Naruto-kun or Zabuza-san will be moving from their task anytime soon."

Haku blush a deep red, even her freckled chest turning red from how embarrassed she is, before nodding and hastily grabbing her clothes before leaving. Kakashi sighed and looked at the two men. "Alright you two, that's enough. You're not a child, Zabuza, and Naruto you aren't one much either."

"I'm sixteen," Naruto argued with a frown, crossing his arms with a slight pout. "I'm not that bad that Haku being with me is the end of the world."

Zabuza pinched the bridge of his nose and fought the instinct to wring the blonde's neck purple. "Listen, kid, she's like a daughter to me. She showed no interest in boys, more in girls but that's beside the point. I care for her, and I like you much more than others that she could have fallen in love with, but it is something I was not prepared for waking up this morning."

"Ah," Naruto nodded his head with bright eyes. "I get it, if I want to have sex with Haku I just have to get you laid too, and then you won't care!"

Fuck holding himself back, he's gonna strangle this kid. "Come here," Zabuza shouted, lunging for the boy's neck.

"Naruto," Kakashi pinched his own nose before leaving the two men to sort themselves out. He tried his best so he can't be blamed for whatever shape they calmed down in. He will just make his student clean and fix any damages.

It had taken the two a while, with quite a few shouts and destroyed property, before either of them calmed down enough to actually sit down with the rest of the household. Kakashi had Haku come sit with his team and Tazuna's family until her father and lover finished their dispute, but he took his chance to do some harmless teasing without pushing it too far. By the time the two came down, breakfast was finished being made and everyone was sitting at the dining room table.

"Are you two done," Kakashi asked without looking up from his book.

"Yes," both men grumbled but they elbowed each other like kids until they sat down at the table.

Haku hid a laugh from the two but she was happy that Zabuza didn't kill the blonde; she likes him, so she would like to keep him breathing as long as possible.

Of course, over the course of the breakfast, the topic of their departure came up from Tazuna - who is surprisingly very sober. "Are you sure you have to leave tomorrow? You can't stay for a few more days?"

Kakashi shook his head with a small smile. "We have to get back to Konoha to debrief the mission. It is also getting close to the Exams."

While the other two seemed a bit confused, Naruto was not as he was hoping that they could participate in the Exams. They're fresh out of the academy for the most part, so it was unlikely they would be approved, but if he pushed Hiruzen enough he might cave and make an exception. He also heard that this will be one of the first exams in nearly a decade where all large shinobi villages will participate.

"That is sad but we understand," Tazuna sighed before reaching into a sack on the ground and handing it to Naruto. "You never brought it up so I assumed you had forgotten, but this is what my friend left. It's sealed from what I could tell, so I have not seen what's inside, but I believe it is a weapon."

Naruto took it with a nod and placed it in his pack as he was in no rush to look at what was inside. "Appreciate it, old man."

"So, while on the topic of leaving," Kakashi started before looking at Zabuza. "Where will you be going?"

"The kid offered us a place on his island," Zabuza answered before Naruto could stop him.

The blonde looked up at the swordsman with a look that basically just said fuck it all before he looked at his sensei's confused stare; Sakura looked confused but did not vocalize it while Sasuke rolled his eyes without believing anything.

Zabuza smirked and acted shocked. "Was that a secret?"

Naruto sighed and shook his head. "I would have liked to have more time to explain, but thanks for speeding up the process."

"No problem, kid," Zabuza chuckled.

"This is why you have no eyebrows."

The man twitched and looked ready to fight Naruto again but was held back by Haku.

Naruto smirked in triumph before turning to his sensei. "Yeah, I offered them a place on a large archipelago."

"Who would give you an island," Sasuke scoffed.

"It's called inheriting it from my dead clan," Naruto bit back, giving a glare to his moody teammate. "Go eat chocolate while on your period, bastard."

"Enough," Kakashi sighed before his students could go any further. "Naruto, that island is in ruins."

"No it's not," Naruto answered immediately. "I have been rebuilding it. Oji-sama knows that I have been funding something big, he just doesn't know everything going on. Although, now that you know, and I'm sure you will include it in your debriefing how our former enemy is now living on my island, I will have to share the rest of what I have been doing with him."

The man shook his head and decided to tackle that news when it came up next. Preferably, with the Hokage around. "Be careful."

"Protection is not a foreign concept to me, Kakashi-sensei, I just choose when to acknowledge it," Naruto gave a not-so-subtle wink to Haku before laughing at her blush and the swordsman's twitching.

"I'm gonna kill you," Zabuza roared, which only made Naruto laugh louder.

I've been writing a lot and have already finished chapter eleven, and this was a short one so I might release the ninth chapter soon after this. I don't know because I don't know if I will be writing anything tonight because I am getting a sleep study done since I've been having on-again-off-again sleep bursts that only last like three hours. Coupled with going to college and we are nearing the end of the fall semester I am tired and bored but my ADHD keeps me going. I'm rambling. Oh well. Hope you enjoyed it.

biginferno: I will look back into my books and see. I like the sound of Pakura, as with many confident and vicious ladies, so you got that going for ya :D

NinjaFang1331: Thank you :)

Netto Hikari1: Indeed, and the whole idea for "Ancient Beasts" came from the Elder Dragons class of monsters in the MH universe. Most of these summons will be from the Monster Hunter World game and the DLCs thereafter. I also meant to mention this last chapter, but when writing and reading the lines for Bazelguese, I thought of Keith David who voiced the Arbiter in the Halo series. I like that deep voice he got that I feel fit the nature that I was going for with the Bazel.