In The Arms of Angels

By: Kyubi X

Chapter Six: Awakened

"Your mission will be a simple escort mission to the country hidden in the wave. This mission should endure for about a month's time. You will be protecting a bridge builder from most likely bandits while he completes a bridge that will link the wave to the rest of the villages." The Third Hokage stated calmly looking at the four ninja's in front of him. He was glad to see the eagerness in the children's eyes but wasn't surprised to see the bored look on Kakashi's eyes. The third cleared his throat and a tall and half drunken man stepped into the room.

"Oi! You're sending these brats to protect me?" The drunken man slurred out which made Kiba, Hinata, and Naruto all scowl at the foolish man. "Well, they may just be children, but they have a lot of potential and I'm going to be there so nothing will go wrong." Kakashi said scratching the back of his head deciding that he didn't like the man that much.

"We may be kids, but we have more skill in our right thumbs then you have in your entire body you stupid drunk!" Kiba growled out and Akamaru barked in agreement. The man turned on Kiba and called him a shorty and told him to be respect for to his elders. Kiba was ready to fly off the handle but Naruto and Hinata held him back. Kakashi decided that he needed to defuse the situation so he told the kids that they would meet at the northern gate at 7 in the morning and that they shouldn't be late. After Kiba clamed down, they all left and the drunken man followed suit.

"Kakashi, there is something else I wish to ask of you." The third stated calmly and it caught Kakashi's attention. "You of course know of the Ichiraku Ramen stand?" Kakashi simply nodded not sure where this was going. "The owner of the restaurant requires supplies that he wants picked up from the wave because one of his family members lives there and will give him the supplies for cheaper, he has asked that his daughter be accompanied by a ninja team for protection and I was wondering if you think your team is ready to handle a double "C" ranked mission." The third finished and watched Kakashi with careful eyes.

Kakashi thought for a moment before declaring, "I am confident that my team can handle protecting the bridge builder and Ayame-chan at the same time." Kakashi said smiling with his eye. The third nodded and gave his thanks to Kakashi, he then dismissed him and Kakashi disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The third smiled very happily, primarily because he was glad that Naruto could now live a normal life. He pulled his file on Naruto and then his smile disappeared, he still had yet to discover anything about Naruto's bloodline, and the third decided that he would have to have a chat with Naruto to see how much he knew.

Back at Anko's House

Naruto stepped into the house and saw Anko sitting at the kitchen table holding Naruto's pet snake letting it wrap around her arm. Anko looked up at Naruto as he entered the kitchen and smiled at him and he gave a genuine smile back. Naruto sat down and his smile quickly faded away and Anko eyed him curiously. "I…I'm going to be going on a month long "C" ranked mission to the village hidden in the wave sis…" Naruto said with his head bowed slightly. Anko's eyes softened and she got up and walked behind her brother wrapping her arms, snake and all around him pulling him into a hug.

"You're going to do just fine, and you'll be back here safe and sound before you know it." Anko whispered into his ear gently and Naruto found great comfort in it. He closed his eyes and whispered out a "yeah…" but Anko knew exactly what Naruto was thinking about.

"Naruto…you have to have your mind clear when you leave, thinking of home and the people here will cloud your mind and not only jeopardize you, but it will also jeopardize your team who is relying on you for support. Do you understand me?" Naruto opened his eyes and nodded slowly which appeased Anko. "But for now, let's get some dinner in you and then I want you to go straight to bed, you have an early day tomorrow." Anko said with a smile on her face. Naruto nodded in agreement and so they went out preparing dinner and eating. After they were done, Naruto went straight to bed, but he just couldn't shake the thoughts of Ayame out of his head.

The Next Day…

When Naruto arrived at the gates, he found to his surprise that everyone else was already there. "I'm sorry if I'm late, but my house is on the other side of town." Kakashi waved him off and told him that he was right on time but they had to wait for one more person. As they waited Kakashi looked at Naruto who wasn't carrying a travel pack but rather a large scroll on his back. "Aren't you missing some vital equipment Naruto?" Kakashi asked eyeing the boy with an annoyed look.

Naruto patted the scroll and told Kakashi that Anko showed him a jutsu where he could store things inside of a scroll. Kakashi smiled once again with his eye and said, "Our final person has arrived." Everyone looked up to see Ayame running up the hill with a pack on her back.

Even though Ayame was out of breath, she managed to get out in between pants, "I'm…sorry…I'm…late…" Kakashi just simply patted the girl on the back and said, "Its ok Ayame-chan, everyone listen up, Ayame is coming with us to pick up supplies from a family member in the wave village, our mission has been bumped to a double "C" rank mission otherwise known as a "B" ranked mission because now it our job to protect two people instead of just one. However, I have faith in you three and I know you can do it." Kakashi then turned and the gate opened, Kakashi began to walk and everyone followed suit, little did any of them know what was in store for them.

Kiba and Hinata took the front of the group, Kiba to use his good tracking scenes, and Hinata to use her byakugan. Kakashi and Tazuna took the center and Naruto and Ayame took the back. They walked in peaceful silence until they made their way to the boats. Kakashi paid for their tickets and they were all put on a small boat. They floated threw the mist for a few hours and remained quiet under the orders of Kakashi because they were currently in mist controlled territory. Eventually, they reached the foundation of the bridge and were amazed at its size. They all stepped off of the boat and made their way to the top of the bridge where Tazuna said his people would be working on the bridge at this very moment.

Suddenly, Akamaru began to whine and Kiba began to shake slightly. "I smell blood Kakashi sensei…" Kiba stuttered out, and judging from Kiba's reaction, he smelled a lot. They quickly and quietly reached the top and the sight they saw required Naruto to put his hand of Ayame's mouth to keep from screaming. The worker's bodies were lying everywhere, all of them had been cut in half. Kakashi let his visible eye roam over the entire bridge before sensing danger. "EVERYONE ON THE GROUND!" Kakashi screamed out and everyone went flat on their bellies with just enough time to watch a massive sword fly right past them and get stuck in a stabilizing beam of the bridge.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the mist by the sword and pulled it out. "Kakashi of the sharingan eye I presume?" The rough looking figure asked pulling the sword out of the beam. "Zabuza…demon of the mist, and an "S" ranked missing nin in the bingo book if memory serves me right. Hinata, Kiba, Naruto, you three protect Tazuna and Ayame, this man is in a league that you aren't ready to face." Kakashi said calmly as he pulled up his headband and revealed the sharingan eye.

"Easy…Easy Kakashi, let's make this game a little bit more exciting eh? Haku, come out of hiding, change of plans, I want you to kill the brats and take out the target, the other girl I leave to your digression, but if she's a threat, kill her." When Zabuza finished speaking, a boy stepped out of the mist that looked more like a girl. "Yes Zabuza-sama, as you wish." With those few words, the boy known as Haku calmly stepped towards the Kiba, Hinata, Naruto, Tazuna, and Ayame.

Naruto stepped forward and said, "Kiba, Hinata, I'm depending on you to protect Tazuna and Ayame…please take care of her, and I'll deal with this punk." Before Naruto had even finished speaking, he had placed the large scroll on his back upon the ground and had removed the weight system from his kimono. Naruto's eyes wandered down to Haku's hands, and saw to his horror that the boy was performing one handed seals. Before Naruto could act, Haku screamed out, "DEMONIC ICE MIRRORS NO JUTSU!" and both boys were surrounded in a dome of ice mirrors.

Naruto watched cautiously as Haku entered into the mirrors and saw that his image appeared on every mirror. Naruto went to reach for his sword, but was reduced to letting out a pained scream as thick needles penetrated his skin all over his body. Naruto then began to try and pull the needles out, but it only resulted in more needles entering into his body. Naruto let out a horrible scream as he fell to his knees. Naruto could see Haku rushing for him and whispered, "Too fast…" before Haku's fist hit Naruto square in the face sending him crashing threw the mirror and tumbling across the ground a few times before coming to a stop on his belly.

Naruto groaned as he began to force his body to rise on his feet, but Haku came out of the mirrors and stood before Naruto pulling out some needles. Ayame screamed out to Naruto and ran forward with Hinata screaming out her name not being able to reach out and stop her. Everything went dead quiet as the sickening sound of metal piercing skin ringed out threw the air.

Meanwhile with Kakashi and Zabuza

Zabuza was in deep trouble, it seemed like every move he tried to perform, Kakashi was one step ahead of him. Zabuza then decided that it was time to use his sword instead of jutsu's. Zabuza pulled off his sword and began to swing it at Kakashi. Kakashi began to dodge, but was too late to act when Zabuza kicked him in the chest, the force sent him flying into the water below. As Kakashi rose to the top, his eyes widened in shock when Zabuza appeared behind him doing hand seals before saying, "Water prison no jutsu!" With that, Kakashi was stuck inside of a ball of water and Zabuza said with a sneer on his face, "Now you can listen as my student rips your students into pieces." No sooner had Zabuza finished speaking, did screams fill the air followed by the sound of metal piercing skin and a deathly silence.

Back with everyone else

Naruto got to his knees and looked up to see Ayame standing in front of him with her arms stretched out as far as they could. Naruto's eyes went wide with fear and shock as he saw needles sticking threw random parts of her body, including her neck. Naruto could only gasp and Ayame turned her head slightly and said, "Naruto…I…Love you…Please…Don't…Die…" and with those words, Ayame fell into Naruto's arms and went limp.

"Oh…oh God! Oh God please no! NO! AYAME! AYAME STAY WITH ME! PLEASE! AYAME! WAKE UP! OH GOD, PLEASE AYAME WAKE UP! PLEASE OH GOD DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND! AYAME!" Naruto wailed out in pure agony as his body hunched over the body of the girl in his arms.

That wouldn't have killed a ninja; however, it was more that enough to kill a civilian like her. But she was courageous and she died a brave death. Truly she would have made a fine ninja…" Haku began, but was stopped by fear when he felt killer intent flowing off of the boy in front of him like nothing he had ever felt before.

"Kid…I will take the life of the boy who took her life away, just give me your body and I will destroy him…" the great Kyubi said from the deep confines of his prison. Naruto only thought for a moment before saying, "Take his life…do whatever you have to do you stupid fox…" With those words, Naruto began to change, his claws and teeth sharpened and enlarged and his eyes became yellow slits. The Kyubi was free, and he only had one thought in his mind, to destroy the boy in front of him who was shaking in fear.

Back with Kakashi and Zabuza

Kakashi closed his eyes tightly and balled his hands into tight fists and shook with sorrow at the sound of his students wails of sorrow. Zabuza simply chuckled and said, your pain has only just begun Kakashi…" but then, Zabuza and Kakashi both felt shock hit their systems at full force when they felt demonic power rising off of the bridge. "Naruto…no…" Kakashi whispered in fear thinking that he may have lost one of his students in darkness forever.

With everyone else

"You…you took her away…my happiness, my reason for living…you snatched her life away…now…now you will suffer for what you've done…" Naruto/Kyubi said with hate dripping off of every word. With that being said, Naruto/Kyubi rushed forward at amazing speed and grasped the boy by his face and slammed his body down into the ground.

Kiba grabbed Hinata and pressed her against his chest so she wouldn't have to watch as Naruto lifted up Haku and slammed him back down into the ground over and over again. Kiba didn't understand, what could have caused this sudden change in Naruto's power. Kiba began to think that it was his bloodline limit but he knew that whatever it was, Naruto was going to take that boy's life if his onslaught continued.

Soon, Naruto/Kyubi finished slamming the boy into the ground and dragged him by his face to the edge of the bridge and lifted his body over the edge. Zabuza and Kakashi watched in horror as it seemed that Haku was about to meet a terrible end.

In the Heavens

A struggle had been going on between a frantic Tobias and a calm Gabriel who was holding had been holding him back. "Tobias! I couldn't let you go before because we had to wait until the most dire need arose, you know that, but now, I am going to release you, now go Tobias, go now and save Naruto before the Kyubi and the darkness consume him whole!" With that, Gabriel let go of Tobias and Tobias flew down towards earth as fast as he possibly could.

Just as Naruto/Kyubi was about to drop Haku off of the bridge towards his death, Tobias entered into Naruto through his clan's seal and pushed the Kyubi back into his cage. The killer intent faded away and was replaced by a feeling of calm power. Hinata tried to use her byakugan but she immediately cut it off and clutched at her eyes screaming in pain. "Hinata! What's wrong?" Kiba cried out in surprise as he knelt by Hinata's side pulling her into a protective embrace.

"His charka, it's changed! It's so bright! It's as if the sun itself was his chakra!" Hinata whispered out as she slowly regained her sight. They watched in awe as Naruto set down Haku and said, "You took Ayame's life…but shedding your blood coldly would be below me, however, you can watch, as I take down your master in front of your helpless eyes, in that way…you will feel my pain."

With that, Naruto jumped off of the bridge and landed on the water with a strange calm power pulsing over him. Zabuza smiled with evil glee as he formed a water clone and sent it at Naruto. Naruto/Tobias took out his sword and activated it. The clone pulled out the giant sword and swung down to cut the boy in half. Naruto/Kyubi grasped the sword with both hands and stopped the blade in a parry movie. The clone continued its onslaught of attacks and Naruto was forced to remain in a defensive position, he decided that he really needed to learn how to handle the sword correctly.

The clone suddenly disappeared which caused Naruto to look at the real Zabuza with careful eyes. "Your sword skills…suck. You disappoint me boy, as does Haku, to think that he would lose to someone as pitiful as you. It's a good thing he killed that little girl, otherwise I might have had some fun with her before ending her pitiful existence. Naruto lowered his head and put away the sword. Zabuza laughed figuring the boy had admitted defeat but was quickly shut up when Naruto lifted his head and said, "You…are going to die…"

Naruto then rushed at Zabuza at a speed only obtainable threw his bloodline, to put it in perspective, his new power made Kakashi look like he was as slow as a turtle. Naruto performed an uppercut that caught Zabuza square in the chin. Zabuza flew straight up in the air which released Kakashi from the prison. Naruto was amazed, he could feel his power growing with each passing second and he intended to use its power to his full extent.

"Naruto-sama let me enter your mind and I will show you how to perform new jutsu's with your angelic charka." Tobias managed to get the message threw his mind and Naruto complied giving Tobias full access with his mind. Naruto closed his eyes and began to perform one handed seals with each hand, it was amazing, and it was as if his body knew how to do this all along. When Naruto finished his seals, he said, "Forbidden Angelic arts: kagayaki taiyou (Shining Sun) blast no jutsu!" With that, Naruto shot a beam of light from his hand and it pierced Zabuza clean threw before he could hit the water.

When it was all said and done, Zabuza hit the water and began to sink but was his body was grabbed by Kakashi. With Zabuza over his shoulders, Kakashi followed Naruto back up to the bridge. Kakashi set Zabuza down and walked over to Haku while Naruto ran up to Ayame's body and fell on his knees shedding tears. He fell onto her body and cried miserably as he put his head on her chest. Suddenly, Naruto gasped and placed his ear completely against Ayame's chest. It was small, but she still had a heartbeat, Ayame was still alive!

Naruto spun and screamed out, "Hinata! I need your help! Hurry! We can still save Ayame!" Hinata gently untangled herself from Kiba and ran up to Naruto by Ayame's side. She knelt down and asked, "What do I need to do Naruto?"

Naruto thought for a moment before asking her to open up the byakugan and she complied making a point to only look at Ayame. She followed Ayame's charka system and saw the points where the needles put her in a death like trance. Hinata gently got to work and pulled out the needles one by one. When she was done, Ayame arched her back and let out a gasp of air. Naruto immediately pulled Ayame into in embrace and held her tightly whispering out how he thought he had lost her and he let tears fall down his face as he said over and over again, "I'm so sorry for not protecting you Ayame-chan."

Ayame sat her self up and hugged Naruto into her whispering into his ear, "Its ok…you have nothing to be sorry for… I love you so much Naruto-kun…" Naruto grasped onto her tighter and whispered back, "I love you to…Ayame-chan…and I promise from this day forward to protect you always, that is my way of the ninja." And so, Naruto and Ayame continued to hold each other in a loving embrace, but it wasn't meant to last, as Zabuza groaned and got to his feet, a hole gaping in his right shoulder. Kakashi got in front of his students and prepared for another battle but allowed himself to relax a little bit when Zabuza held up his left hand asking him to stop.

"Your boy's aim may suck if he was trying to deal a death blow, but he managed to get the job done, my right arm is useless in this state." With that, Zabuza walked over to Haku and knelt by his side. "I…I was a fool Haku…are you gone? Don't worry about me Haku…You've gone to a better place…but as for me...well, a demon has no place in heaven." Zabuza said shock overtook his system as the boy beside him let out a gasp and came back to the world of the living. Haku immediately attached himself to Haku's body and hugged the man who meant everything to him.

Zabuza hugged the boy back simply amazed that he was alive. "How cute Zabuza! But it seems that you and your useless brat just weren't enough to get the job done and it looks like once again I'm going to have to settle this problem myself." A voice spoke from the distance which made Zabuza's eyes widen in shock. "Gato…I never thought that you would show your pudgy arrogant self around here." Zabuza said calmly as he got to his feet and turned to face Gato who was with an army of warriors.

"Demon of the mist? Not in your condition, prepare to die." Gato chuckled as the men stepped began to march forward. "Haku…live on, and please forgive me for having to what I must to set things right, maybe one day I will see you in heaven…until then, farewell Haku." With that, Zabuza put his sword in his left hand and leapt next to Gato, the soldiers stabbed their weapons all over Zabuza's body, but it mattered not, for Zabuza completed his mission by claming the head of Gato before he fell and died from his wounds.

Haku screamed out to Zabuza and tried to move his body in vain. And so Haku wept for his teacher, the one who saved him, his everything. Naruto went to Haku's side and said, "I am sorry for all that is happened, but I promise with the power given to me by my bloodline limit that I will avenge your master's death." With that Naruto walked towards the army and pulled out a scroll. Naruto bit into his thumb and slid his blood across the scroll, he then performed the necessary hand seals and screamed out, "SUMMON!"

The army shrunk back in fear as a white phoenix with blue tipped feathers appeared and landed on the bridge staring the army down. The phoenix was quite large, Naruto knew that it had to be three times the size of his first summon and then it hit him that he had summoned the king of all phoenixes!

The phoenix looked down upon the terrified army before saying, "I am Fukkatsu, King of all the phoenixes, and I have come to a decision, you have all been judged evil in my eyes, prepare to die!" With that, the gigantic phoenix began to flap its huge wings which caused the feathers to fall off and fly down on the people below like a rain of needles. By the time the needles stopped falling, the entire army had already been decimated and not one was left alive.

Fukkatsu simply watched as Haku finally managed to get onto his feet and stumbled over to Zabuza's corpse. Haku fell to his knees and cried over his falling master. The giant phoenix stared at the fallen man for a moment before saying, "This man did much evil in his lifetime, however, when his life was at in end, he was willing to give it all just to set things right and protect this boy, I have come to a decision, this man has been judged good and as such he will be given new life!" With that, the great phoenix shed a few tears which landed upon Zabuza's corpse.

Fukkatsu then simply spread out his wings and flew back up to the heavens. When Fukkatsu was out of sight, Zabuza arched his back and gasped in air, his eyes wide as they could possibly be. After huffing and puffing a few times, Zabuza stared with confused eyes at Haku who simply threw himself against Zabuza and hugged him tightly crying his eyes out. "You've been given new life Zabuza, how would you like to use this life in service of the leaf and become one of our own?" Kakashi asked looking at the man with his regular eye once again putting his forehead protector back into its original place.

Zabuza looked at Haku before looking back up and Kakashi and saying, "For your help and compassion, not only will Haku and I help you complete this mission, we will return with you and ask to become official ninja's of Kohona!" Zabuza said giving his best effort at a smile which turned out to be a smirk. Kakashi smiled with his eye before turning curiously to look at Naruto.

"Naruto, this is the first time your bloodline limit has activated, and now I will explain to you exactly what it does, first of all your charka has been supercharged, this makes it much more powerful, but now you are going to have to learn how to control it all over again. Second, every jutsu that you use while an angel is inside of you, will be archived into your sub-conscious and you will be able to use them at will, however be warned, your power with these techniques will not be nearly as powerful as they were when I was inside of you. But you are still strong Naruto-sama, train with your sensei and learn how to master your charka and at your level you could become a mid-level chunnin rank. But don't get ahead of yourself that is going to take you quite some time. But sadly for now Naruto-sama, our time is up, and now it is time for you to rest." With that rather basic explanation of Naruto's bloodline limit, Tobias left Naruto's body and Naruto felt instant battle fatigue.

Naruto began to fall but found himself caught in the arms of a panicked Ayame as she lowered herself to the ground with him using her body as support for his. The last thing Naruto heard was Kakashi telling Ayame that he was just battle fatigued at that he would be fine with rest before sleep overtook him.

A/N: Ok look, I know that everyone is probably going to ask about the demon brothers, but have faith in me, next chapter is also going to have some good action in it and I promise to get some Naruto/Ayame and Kiba/Hinata fluff in there as well. Until next time I hope you enjoyed this rather dramatic chapter, if you did drop off a review and as always, comments on how to make this story better are readily accepted! See ya!