Chapter 10 – The Great Naruto Bridge
The next morning Naruto woke up and was greeted by bright sunlight. He rubbed his eyes and slowly got up. He then realized what day it was and ran to the kitchen. As he slid in he saw Tsunami washing the dishes. She turned around and said, "Hello Naruto-kun. I didn't expect you to be up so soon. Sasuke suggested that we let you sleep after your training yesterday."
Naruto growled. "Why would he do that? I need to get better and protect Tazuna." Naruto ran into his room and quickly pulled on his usual blue shirt and black pants. He then pulled on his new orange weighted vest and ran out the door. "Bye Tsunami." He ran towards the bridge before he remembered what was going to happen at the house. 'Damn it. I need to be in two places at once.' Naruto smirked, "Stupid me. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Three of the six clones created sped off towards the house while three went with Naruto. 'Time to kick some ass.'
The group at the bridge had their hands full. As soon as Kakashi had seen the carnage of the murdered people on the bridge he had alerted the other three that Zabuza was there. A mist flooded the area as they took their formation around Tazuna. A voice called out from somewhere in the mist. "Hello Kakashi. I see you still have these two runts with you. Where is the other more obnoxious runt? He would be a good match for Haku." A group of Zabuza clones surrounded the group. "These kids are pathetic. One is even shaking from fear."
Sasuke smirked and said, "I am not shaking from fear. I am shaking from excitement." Sasuke looked to Kakashi for approval and received a nod. He smirked and sliced all the clones with his kunai. They immediately turned to water before Zabuza spoke again. "I see they have improved a bit." The mist parted and the group could see Zabuza and Haku standing side by side. "Haku, it seems you have come across another worthy adversary."
"Yes it seems so." Haku replied without any emotion in his voice.
"It is just as I predicted." Kakashi stated. "You did rescue Zabuza. I hate lying kids."
"Let me fight him." Sasuke stated. "I hate people who lie to me."
"You are so cool, Sasuke." Ino exclaimed. 'I wish I was stronger and more like him.'
Kakashi sweat dropped. 'You never would say anything bad about Sasuke.'
"He is good." Haku stated. "Even though water clones are only one tenth as strong as the original he defeated them very easily."
"We must get him and Kakashi first." Zabuza replied. With that Haku spun around creating a whirlwind as he neared Sasuke.
Tsunami was washing the dishes as two men broke into the house. "Are you the daughter of Tazuna? If so you will come with us." The other man pushed her down and made her drop the dish and scream.
Inari ran into the room. "Mom."
The two men turned to Inari and the taller one asked, "Should we take him too?"
"We only need one hostage." The other replied. That was all the other man needed as he started to pull out his sword.
He was stopped by Tsunami who cried, "Wait. If you hurt my son I will commit suicide. If you need a hostage then you'd better no touch my son."
The man frowned but sheathed his sword. The shorter man looked at Inari and said, "You should thank your mom kid. She just saved your life." The men grabbed Tsunami and they walked out the door.
Inari was scared. He hated that his mom had just been taken but what he hated more was that he was too scared to try and stop them. Images ran through his mind about Naruto, the other ninjas, his grandfather, his mother, and his father. With new determination he ran out to get his mother back. He ran and found them on the docks. "Give back my mother." He yelled.
The taller one smirked and said, "Stupid kid. I will kill you."
Tsunami watched as he unsheathed his sword. "Don't do it remember if you hurt Inari I will…"
The shorter one cut her off as he knocked her out. "We can't have you do that. Take a rest." Inari charged at them and both men took out their swords and slashed Inari. They were taken aback when the boy turned into a log. "What is this?"
"Hey idiots." The two men looked behind them. "A boy with blond hair and an orange vest was placing Tsunami on the ground. "I'm sorry I'm late but the hero always shows up late."
Inari looked up and cried, "Naruto…how did you know to come back?"
"I saw a bunch of sword marks on trees and dead animals leading this way so I came back." Naruto explained.
"So Tazuna hired a ninja. Kill him." The smaller man said. The two men raced for Naruto who threw two shuriken at them. The men deflected them and scoffed. "Those can't hurt us."
Naruto put his hands behind his hands and said, "Baka" as two Narutos came behind the men and kicked them in the back of the head. The two men fell forward and the Narutos that kicked them disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Wow you were awesome." Inari yelled. "You were almost like a ninja."
"Baka I am a ninja." Naruto scoffed. "Now Inari tie these two up and get some villagers to help you. I am a clone as well. The real Naruto knew these were just a side note compared to the real fight going on at the bridge and sent us. You were awesome though. You have a lot of courage. Inari remember one thing, it is okay to cry when you are happy." With that Naruto patted him on the head and disappeared.
Naruto watched the battle from his hiding spot. He would go in when it was necessary. Sasuke and Haku traded blows from one another. 'I think I can keep up with that pace now. I can even exceed it with my weights off. I also think I can break the mirrors with the water cyclone. I do need to defend the old man though. "Kage Bunshin not Jutsu, now when I appear surround the old man and use the chakra shield." The three clones nodded and went to a better hiding spot.
Sasuke and Haku used their amazing speed and blocked every of each others blows. They lashed together and Haku's needle met against Sasuke's kunai. "I am surprised that you can keep up with me." Haku stated. "I know you won't last long though. Especially with my two advantages."
"Advantages." Sasuke repeated.
"Yes first is the water around you and second is that you have one hand occupied." Haku replied. Haku raised his free hand into a seal, eliciting a gasp from Kakashi and Sasuke. He then made a fury of one handed seals before he finished and said, "Thousand water needles." The water around him floated in the air and formed water needles.
As the needles came at him Sasuke focused his chakra to his feet and leapt away at the last moment. While in the air he threw shuriken at the puzzle Haku. Haku moved out of the way to find Sasuke behind him. "You move slowly." Sasuke stated as he tried to hit Haku with his kunai. Haku countered with the needle but Sasuke flung another kunai at his face making Haku move. Sasuke took this chance and kicked Haku, making him skid and land at Zabuza's feet.
Zabuza found it too hard to believe. 'Haku lost a battle of speed. Impossible…'
Kakashi smiled and said, "Don't estimate my team. Sasuke is Konoha's number one rookie, Ino is good at genjutsu and mental jutsus, and our other member is a strong and surprising ninja. His name is Uzumaki Naruto."
Zabuza laughed. "Haku, why don't you take this seriously? Use it now."
Haku got up and said, "Yes Zabuza-san." Haku made a seal and said. "Bloodlimit, Ice Mirrors." The air around Sasuke got cold and mirrors of ice appeared in the air surrounding Sasuke. "There is no escape." Haku said as he entered the mirror. "I will kill you now." Needles started to rain down on Sasuke and cut his skin.
Outside the mirrors all that could be heard was a scream. Kakashi ran towards the battle but Zabuza appeared in front of him. "If you go there, I will kill the two behind you. Let's let the kids fight it out."
Kakashi was stuck. He had no way out. 'Damn it. I can't go help Sasuke because then Zabuza will attack Tazuna but if I don't help Sasuke then he could die.'
The screaming from inside the mirrors stopped. Haku was about to launch another attack when a voice called over the bridge. "Everyone assume positions." All heads turned as three Narutos ran to Tazuna and surrounded him. In unison the Narutos all said, "Chakra Shield: Triple Naruto".
'Shit.' That was all Zabuza could think. 'He made that damn shield again and used the clones.'
'Yes Naruto is here and he protected Ino and Tazuna.' Kakashi thought.
The rest of the group listened and soon another Naruto appeared in the battlefield. "So a bloodline skill…he must have gone through hell." Naruto stated. He started making seals and yelled, "Suiton: Mizu Teikiatsu no Jutsu." The group stared as a giant cyclone formed in front of him. He smirked and released the cyclone. The cyclone destroyed the mirrors that Haku had formed and sent Haku flying. "Sasuke, why haven't you activated the sharingan yet? You pompous ass."
Everyone stared at Naruto and turned their gazes to Sasuke. He had also been hit by the attack but it had not been too bad. "I guess I'll do it now." He gathered chakra in his eyes and said, "Sharingan".
Sasuke's pupils turned red and two dots appeared in each eye. "So he has the sharingan as well. He must be an Uchiha then." Zabuza said to nobody in particular.
Kakashi smiled. 'Good job Naruto. You destroyed the mirrors. But why couldn't I steal that jutsu. Do you have your eye jutsu activated as well?'
He was further puzzled as Naruto formed the demon seal and whispered, "Demon Eyes no Jutsu". His eyes turned red. Then he formed another seal and said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu". Three clones appeared around him.
"I'm impressed." Haku stated. He formed his seal again and said, "Ice Mirrors".
Naruto just managed to push Sasuke out of the way as the mirror surrounded him. Naruto smirked and asked, "Why use this technique when I can destroy the mirrors?"
Haku entered the mirror and answered, "I won't allow you the time to use that technique."
Naruto laughed. "You will have too." The three clones surrounded Naruto immediately and formed the shield. "While the clones hold up the shield I can use the jutsu."
Haku smirked. "Good strategy but one big problem. You can't hit me from inside the shield. It traps you in as well."
"Not if I do this." Naruto replied. He formed the seals and the cyclone formed in front of him. He smirked and used his chakra to spin the water around his body, completely engulfing him.
'He's inside the cyclone. How is that possible?' Haku thought.
The Naruto's holding the shield released it and disappeared. "Now to finish you. Naruto released the cyclone. It spread in every direction and destroyed every mirror.
Haku went flying and struggled to get up. 'He surrounded himself with the cyclone and used chakra to keep himself from getting hurt. He turned to Naruto. "You can't use that technique again. You are almost out of chakra."
"The same goes for you. You can't form the mirrors anymore." Naruto replied. 'He's right. My chakra was all used off when I formed the cyclone around my body.
Haku smiled. "I guess this comes to an old fashioned speed taijutsu battle."
"I guess so." Naruto answered. After he said that he took off his vest to the surprise of the rest of the group. "One hundred pounds." He stated. He then took off the weights on his arms. "Another one hundred pounds." Everyone was gaping by now. Finally he took off the weights on his legs. "Another one hundred pounds for a total of three hundred pounds."
"I will not be beaten just because you took off a little weight." Haku yelled. He sent needles at Naruto to find he wasn't there anymore.
"Behind you." Naruto yelled as he charged. Naruto charged in at Haku and delivered a spinning kick saying, "Konoha Senpuu".
Kakashi smiled. 'So he is learning from Gai. He is more than I expected.
'I can't defeat him.' Haku thought. 'He is too fast and too strong. But…' Haku took out a bunch of needles and hurled them at Sasuke who was off guard.
'Damn it.' Naruto thought. He ran towards Sasuke. I can't let him hit Sasuke. Naruto ran in front of the attack and dodged the needles heading for his vital areas. "Your attack was a failure." He replied. Then he charged at Haku and delivered a Konoha Senpuu to his head, effectively knocking him out. He picked up Haku and made his way back to Ino and Sasuke and sat down, utterly exhausted. He looked up. Sasuke looked like someone who had just been told he would be executed and Ino looked disgusted.
Sasuke spoke up and asked, "Why did you save me?"
Naruto grinned and said, "I needed to protect those people important to me."
In the other battle Zabuza was astounded. 'Haku lost. Impossible…well if I defeat Kakashi then I can kill the brats.' Zabuza listened for a sound.
Kakashi spoke up and said, "My team has won and now I will as well." He took out a scroll and made his seals. He pushed the scroll to the ground and said, "Doton: Tsuiga no Jutsu".
"You can't get me with an attack because you don't know where I am, Kakashi." Zabuza laughed. He stopped laughing as dogs burst from the ground. The dogs latched onto him and made him unable to move.
Kakashi walked forward and said, "I couldn't see or hear you so the dogs used their noses and found you by your scent. Now I will kill you." Kakashi lowered his hand and made Zabuza gasp as chakra generated in his hand. "This attack is called the Chidori." He thrust his hand forward and charged at Zabuza. His hand went through Zabuza's heart. Kakashi took his hand out and Zabuza's corpse fell to the ground.
Kakashi started to walk back to the group when he heard a noise behind him. He looked to see a small well dressed man with a small army of fighters behind him. The man sneered and said, "So Zabuza failed. I didn't plan on paying him anyway. I was going to kill him when I was done with him but it looks like you did that for me."
Kakashi felt the blood rush to his head. 'So Gato caused all of this and made me kill a man for no reason.' He was about to charge when Haku appeared in front of him.
"He is mine." Haku said, not even turning to look at Kakashi. Haku immediately charged at Gato and flung a needle into his heart. He continued to throw needles until every one of Gato's vital organs were punctured.
The fighters behind Gato were furious. "You just killed our employer. Let's kill him." One yelled. The other fighters all agreed and one said, "We can rob this village as compensation." They started to charge but an arrow landed in front of them. They stopped and looked to see the entire village had gathered to fight them with Inari leading it.
"Inari, you came." Naruto yelled.
"The hero always arrives last." Inari replied earning a smile from Naruto and Tazuna.
Naruto walked to the front and said, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" as he created one hundred clones.
Kakashi got the idea as Naruto winked at him and he said, "Kage Bunshin not Jutsu" creating twice as many clones as Naruto.
The bandits were frightened now. They faced an entire army of ninjas and an entire village. They all turned and ran for the boats. All the Naruto and Kakashi clones disappeared and the people of the villagers cheered.
Haku walked up to Zabuza's corpse and said, "Zabuza-san you were my precious person and without you I don't want to live." He took out a needle and said, "I will join you now."
Naruto grabbed the needle before Haku could kill himself. Haku looked up at him. Naruto took the needle and said, "Your life does not have to end because his does. You can find new people to protect and new reasons to live. I know what it is like to be alone. I grew up with nobody who cared for me but I kept going. Now I have a few precious people. I would feel horrible if I lost them but I would know that they would not want me to give up my life. They would want me to be the best that I could in their memory."
Haku stared up at the boy above her. "But I don't have a reason to live and almost everyone hates me for my bloodline. I have no family and no friends"
"I will be your friend." Naruto said getting a surprised reaction from Haku.
"But I just tried to kill you and your friend." Haku pleaded. "Doesn't that make you hate me?"
"No." Naruto replied. "I can understand that because Zabuza liked you despite your bloodline, you would do almost anything for him. I also don't think you wanted to kill anyone. Just come with us to Konoha. The Hokage will allow it and I think you would be a great addition to our village."
"I will come but I will not fight anymore." Haku agreed.
"I know you like making medicines from our earlier meeting. How about being a medic-nin?" Naruto asked. "You could save people from death rather than cause it."
The group looked over Zabuza's grave as they were about to head out. Naruto, Ino, Sasuke, and Kakashi backed off to give Haku some space. Haku knelt down and said, "Zabuza-san you were my precious person. Now I have new precious people though and I will live a good life in your memory." Haku got up and bowed once more saying, "Goodbye" and went to join the others.
Naruto watched as Haku prayed for Zabuza and asked, "Kakashi-sensei is it true that ninjas are only tools? Is that our only meaning of existence?"
"Yes it is true. Ninjas are tools. They can't seek the meaning of their existence because of that." Kakashi replied.
Naruto's face changed from sad to determined and he said, "I will change that. I will always be straightforward and never regret my choices. That is my ninja way."
Kakashi smiled. Haku joined the group and they left the grave.
Naruto, Ino, Sasuke, Haku, and Kakashi all gathered on the bridge. The whole town had come to see them off with Inari, Tsunami, and Tazuna at the front. Tazuna spoke up and said, "Thanks to you the bridge has been finished and this nation may prosper once again. I feel bad about you going. You seem like family to me now."
"Don't worry old man." Naruto stated. "I will come back someday."
Inari looked like he was about to cry, "Naruto-kun…"
"Don't worry Inari it is okay for you to cry." Naruto said as tears started to form in his eyes as well.
Inari held back his tears and said, "It is okay for you to cry but I won't cry."
Naruto couldn't hold back his tears any longer and turned around quickly saying, "Goodbye". Once his face was out of sight he started crying.
"Baka." Ino muttered as she saw Naruto cry out of sight.
Then the group said the last of their goodbyes and walked across the bridge.
Tazuna watched them go and thought, 'That boy managed to change Inari, who in turn changed this entire village.' Then he turned to the group and said, "That boy built a bridge of courage and hope for this town. Speaking of bridges we haven't named this bridge yet. How about the Great Naruto Bridge?"
The rest of the people laughed but agreed with the name and Tsunami said, "I think it is a fitting name."
"Let's hurry and get home." Naruto yelled. "I want to have Iruka-sensei buy me some ramen and talk to Hinata-chan about our adventures."
Ino thought about what she would do when she got back and said, "Sasuke would you go on a date with me when we get back?"
"No." Sasuke answered simply.
Ino's face fell and Naruto said, "Its okay Ino. Let's hurry though."
Back at the front of the bridge a man asked, "Tazuna can we really name it that."
"Yes." Tazuna replied. "The name fits because a bridge named that will never crumble and it will be world famous someday when he becomes the Hokage…"
AN - Hi I am going on a week long vacation and so I decided to post this before I left. I'm not very good with fight scenes but I am pretty proud of this one. I liked Haku and wanted him to live so I had Naruto knock him out and save him. I also believed Haku would think it was the end of his life too when Zabuza died so that's why he was going to kill himself. Please review kindly
Shi Rurouni of the Aphrodesiac - Well sorry but he was taken from his Zabuza. Well one alive is better than none alive, right?
Search and Seek and Destroy - Yes, they are starting to get suspicious and yes it's kind of hard to write some of the explanations but if it works it works.
hopefullight - The pace will pick up a bit but I don't want to rush things.
Fic Slayr - Wood probably isn't an element but it is for this story. Does forest sound any better?
Dragon Man 180 - I knew I had forgotten something. Thanks for the reminder on translations. As you see it did work and Haku will be a valuable asset.
Dairokkan - I also hate when people make new techniques and don't eplain them. All my techniques will be explained to Naruto and I promise none will be instant death beams.
Everyone Else - Thanks for the kind reviews. I hope this update was soon enough and that everyone is pleased with the way the story is going.
-Translations-
Suiton: Mizu Teikiatsu no Jutsu (Water Cyclone) Suiton: Mizu Jitsugen no Jutsu (Water Materialization)