A/N: I don't own Naruto. There, for the fourth time, I said it.

Naruto: The Greatest Hero

Chapter Four: Courage

They all stood quietly on the boat, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. Zabuza and Haku were among their ranks, not saying a word as well. The thick fog that served as natural camouflage for Kirigakure was all around them. Naruto was at the front, sitting with Haku as the raven-haired teenager was trying to avoid stares and the occasional drool from Sakura's mouth and eyes. Zabuza was sitting, cross-legged on the left side of the boat next to a rather nervous oarsman, who was clearly fearful of Zabuza's intensive and battle-hardened looks. Kakashi was sitting at the back of the boat with Sasuke and Ino, calculating their next move once they reached land. Kurenai was sitting to Naruto's right, next to Shikamaru and followed by Sakura. Kiba was sitting nervously next to the Demon of the Mist, not quite trusting him.

'Tazuna, could you please give us a heads up on the situation?' Kakashi inquired.

Tazuna nodded before taking out a blueprint from his rough and torn rucksack.

'What's that?' Kiba inquired, looking at the sketches and designs before him.

'It's a plannig sheet for a structure, I think.' Ino said, looking at the blueprint.

'That's right. I am building a bridge to connect the Wave Country and the Fire Country to restore prosperity.' Tazuna began to explain, slightly grinning at the hard work he put in for the design, 'But one evil man thinks I am in the way of his business dealings. He knows if this bridge is to be completed, his business would go down.'

'May I ask who is this man that wants you dead, Tazuna-san?' Kurenai asked.

'He's a wicked and cruel man that goes by the name of Gatou.' Tazuna said darkly.

'Gato; as in the Gatou of The Gatou Industrial Corporation.' Kakashi inquired.

'Yes.' Zabuza answered in Tazuna's place, his eyes closed in deep thought, 'He hired me to take out you guys and kill this man. But he has yet to give the payment.'

'And I doubt he will.' Haku added at the end of Zabuza's sentence, 'He smells like a rat and acts like a tricky weasel. But I think that now we're on your side, I doubt he would be much of a threat to your mission.'

Naruto turned to the long-haired brunette, taking out a kunai and fiddling with it.

'Haku, would you and Zabuza come back to Konohagakure with us?' Naruto asked.

The request shocked everyone except Kakashi and Kurenai, who both slightly smiled at Naruto's question. Haku looked from Zabuza to Naruto and then smiled.

'I don't know if I could. Me and Zabuza-niisan are wanderers, you see, we don't have a home or anything after we return.' Haku said, slightly grimacing at the fact.

'You can have the vacant room in my apartment. The landlady had an extra two-bedroom apartment on the floor above me, so you guys can move in.' Naruto said, smiling at Haku, who looked plain shocked, 'As for a job to pay off the rent for the apartment, I'm sure that the old man will be happy to accept two new ninjas.'

Zabuza snickered at Naruto's logic while Haku just looked shocked at the blonde genin with the facemask, who was apparently grinning. Kakashi sighed at Naruto's words. He really did not like his new friends getting of the hook that easily.

'Well, since I cannot argue with that logic, I guess I'll give Konoha a try.'

Haku 's shocked face turned to Zabuza, who was apparently grinning at Naruto.

'Naruto, would you care to show us around once we get to Konoha?'

Naruto nodded happily. Kurenai looked at the blonde with wistful eyes. He was always alone because of the burden he had to bear with since he was a baby.

'Well, we're here.' the oarsman said, stopping at the shore, slightly tired.

Steering a boat of twelve people, including himself, did seem rather tiring.

The group of people got off the boat as Tazuna was wished luck by the oarsman as he paddled away from the shore. Naruto saddled up his gear as he walked next to Zabuza, focused on the mission. Somehow, he knew the mission could only get harder after this. He did not know why, but he could feel it in his bones.

They continued to walk until they reached saw a village before them. It was quite a sight to them. Poor runned down old houses and buildings were in abundance. They were honestly shocked from what they were seeing. The group had obviously had never seen such a sight before. They scanned the streets as children were crying by the side, old people were were leaning against buildings and the rundown shacks.

So this is Wave Country, Naruto thought to himself, looking around.

These poor people, how can they live like this! Sakura thought.

'This way to my home, you guys!' Tazuna called out from way in front, waving a hand to them as a signal to follow him through these streets.

They followed him until they reached a slightly messy-looking building, but on the outside there were some flowers planted in an effort to make it look better.

'This is my humble home, come on in.' Tazuna beckoned them.

'Me and Haku have to take care of business first, Tazuna-san, please excuse us.'

Tazuna gave them a friendly nod as the others followed the old man inside. The house was not really messy or dirty. It had been kept clean and tidy on the inside.

'Tsunami, I'm home!' Tazuna called out, taking off his sandals.

A woman a few years older than Kurenai walked in and saw her father and the ninjas he had with him. She turned on the "Lecture Mode" from her female genes.

'Father! Why did you go off like that?' Tsunami fumed at the old man.

'Well, you see, I had to go and hire some ninjas as my bodyguards.' Tazuna explained, turning to the group of eight who just stood there.

Zabuza and Haku were sitting on a treebranch, watching the village from the outskirts. They did not know why they were there in the first place, but it was agood place to sit down and think, whether they wanted to be there or not. Some chimneys were lit in the village, emitting smoke into the dark sky. Naeither of the two had stated a word to the other. The silence was as tense as anything. Haku sighed.

'So after this we're going to be leaf nins.' Haku said, trying to set up a talk.

'Yes.' Zabuza said simply, his hands clasped together, thinking; Haku did not think that he would go on, but he proved it wrong, 'That boy Naruto… He is special…'

Haku looked to his teacher for the past nine years, who was still thinking.

'Yes, he is a special one, Zabuza-niisan.' Haku said after Zabuza, smiling at him.

'I would never have thought that anyone could look past my exterior.' Zabuza began, his voice one of a wise man giving advice, 'But he did. He looked into my eyes and told me what I was and what you were to me; a brother, Haku.'

Haku did not answer Zabuza for a while, keeping silent but genuinely happy that he was admitted by Zabuza as his brother. He could still fell that bone-crushing hug.

'Do you know why I took you in the first time, Haku?' Zabuza said, looking to the sky, reminiscing as Haku nodded, 'I thought I could use you as a tool; a weapon.' Zabuza forced himself to continue, 'But as I trained you, I watched you grow, Haku, I could not at all be a weapon to me. I took you to heart. You were like me when I was young; a child not wanted by anyone yet you were strong and did not have the heart to kill. I know that you were a boy so pure that I could not corrupt you to turn into what I am now, a killing machine. So I just trained you, for a new purpose; for you to live on as a proud ninja. Not take the path that I have trodden, because you were too good for that path. I think it was then, Haku, that I thought that you as my brother.'

Zabuza looked to Haku, who had tears in his eyes. The conversation had turned emotional for him and the films of salt were slowly leaking out of them, surprising the former Demon of the Mist. He looked puzzled at the young boy who was crying.

'Haku, are you crying?' Zabuza asked, the teasing tone in his voice.

'Eh?' Haku exclaimed, wiping the tears away with his long sleeve as Zabuza began to snicker at his brother, 'No I'm not! I j-just got something in my eye!'

'But both of your eyes are leaking tears, Haku. Come here.' Zabuza said, slinging one arm around the neck of the teenager, apparently smiling, and said with a slight snigger, 'Well, Haku, sometimes you are just too innocent, you know?'

Haku continued to sob but he constantly tried to stem the flow of tears as Zabuza had taught him, a good ninja never shows his tears. He had taken those words to heart, but the boy just could not take it; he was too happy that Zabuza had accepted him as a family, much like when Naruto was brought into Kakashi's family.

Meanwhile, Naruto was in the room that he was sharing with Kiba, Shikamaru and his elder brother, Kakashi. Kakashi was nowhere to be seen as he too, like Zabuza, had claimed to have some "business" to attend to. Kiba and his dog friend Akamaru were asleep, the former's right foot kicking Shikamaru in the face as he slept. Shikamaru seemed unaffected by the kicks that Kiba were dealing him, and Naruto could have sworn that Shikamaru talked in his sleep, when he heard the word "Troublesome" escape the ponytailed genin's lips an hour ago. The blonde looked out the window to the streets. They were extremely quiet. Not a sound could be heard.

'Yo,' Naruto turned around to find his brother leaning by the wall oon his right.

'Hey, Kakashi-niichan.' Naruto said to the white-haired man, slightly grinning.

'You couldn't sleep too, eh?' Kakashi asked Naruto, who just kept grinning.

'No. I have a feeling of what the mission would be like. And the feeling is that this is not going to be an easy mission at all.' Naruto said.

'Well, no B-ranked and above missions are easy, Naruto. You should know that.'

Naruto smiled under his facemask at Kakashi as the tall man did the same.

'Now go to sleep, me and Kurenai are going to train all of you tomorrow.'

Naruto nodded as he slipped into one futon and drifted off to the world of dreams.

Everyone woke up very early the following day and the girls of the group were helping Tsunami prepare breakfast for everyone. Naruto stood outside, leaning against the wall of the house watching people walk by, some eyeing him suspiciously as they passed Tazuna's house. Naruto ignored them. In the house, Kiba and Shikamaru were having a round of shougi and Sasuke was looking outside the window of the house for any activity going on. Needless to say, there were no suspicious activities going on. Kakashi, meanwhile, was reading his latest volume of "Make-Out Paradise".

Back outside, Naruto decided to take a walk out in the woods. He had had his breakfast early, whipping himself up some onigiri. He had told Kakashi that he would not be joining them for breakfast. The blonde youth walked through the nearby woods, looking to his left and right as he started to train. He smirked.

'Come on out, Haku, Zabuza-san.' Naruto called out and a kunai was thrown at him.

Naruto caught it by the handle and smirked at the thrower; Zabuza.

'You had your breakfast, Zabuza?' Naruto asked, now smiling; Zabuza nodded.

Haku jumped down from a branch of a large tree, his mouth stained with fruit remains. Naruto did not know what to make of the messy remnants.

'Haku, wipe your mouth clean.' Naruto said, though it was more of an order.

Haku frowned at him and then looked to Zabuza, who pointed the stains out to his own mouth. Haku frowned back towards Naruto before wiping them off.

'So what are you here for, Naruto?' Zabuza asked, arms crossed.

'To train of course,' Naruto said, as if it was obvious; he threw the kunai back.

Zabuza caught it by the handle as Naruto had done. He drew his sword out and supported it on his shoulders, smiling under his facemask to Haku then to Naruto.

'Well, since I'm here, I might as well give you a few tips on fighting.' Zabuza said, nodding to Haku, who ran to Naruto's side, 'Both of you come at me.'

Naruto nodded to Haku, who nodded back. They dashed Zabuza; Haku with needles between his fingers and Naruto with his Taijutsu skills. Zabuza blocked the blows with his sword, not flinching at all at the attempts made by Naruto and Haku.

Hm, Naruto hits like a river flowing down a mountain, Zabuza thought.

Haku came at Zabuza from behind and tried to kick him, but Zabuza turned into a log, which, because of the force Haku registered to his kick, flew at Naruto, but luckily, the blonde performed his own Kawarimi no Jutsu. Haku apologized.

Zabuza was now on a tree, smirking at them. Naruto was much better than he expected. His attacks with his fists were fast and fluid, as he had thought, like the flow of a river down a mountain. If Zabuza did not have the wide blade of his sword, he was sure that the punches and kicks would have hit him.

Taijutsu is quite balanced between attack and defence, Ninjutsu? Zabuza thought.

Zabuza decided to perform a few techniques to test how good this boy really was. He had only caught a glimpse of Naruto's technique usage at the battle yesterday.

'Naruto!' Zabuza called out, his eyes signalling to Haku what he was thinking.

Naruto looked upwards as the man jumped down, performing a few handseals and creating three Water Clones from the Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu. Creating Water Clones here would not be that hard, since there was a light mist surrounding them. Naruto preformed a few handseals himself and threw his head forward.

'Katon: Karyuu Endan!' Naruto breathed out a missile of fire into the tiger seal and Zabuza dodged it, although the flames singed the cloth of his forehead protector.

That was a high-level Fire Country technique; this boy…Zabuza got up.

'Zabuza-niisan, are you okay?' Haku asked him, slightly worried.

'Sorry, Zabuza-san, but the water density of your Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu was just too tough for normal hits by my own clones. I had to do that to destroy them.'

Zabuza began to laugh heartily before putting his hand on Naruto's head.

'You'll make a fine ninja, Uzumaki Naruto.' Zabuza said truthfully.

Zabuza grinned under his facemask and put his hands behind his head, content.

For another half an hour, Naruto sparred with Haku in Taijutsu which Haku was surprisingly good at. His speed was just below Naruto's, but the boy was making up for it with very tricky fake punches and moves. Naruto used his flowing Taijutsu style, weaving in and out of Haku's defence and offence. At the end of the half an hour in which they trained, Naruto was looking triumphant. The match had looked like it ended in a draw, but because of Naruto's stamina, he had edged out the win.

'Looks like I win, Haku.' Naruto said to Haku, who was panting.

Haku laughed at his defeat as Zabuza sat on the tree, watching the fight. He noticed that Haku's Taijutsu had increased in both skill and speed thanks to Naruto.

'Why I should have knocked that brat down!' Ino's voice was heard.

'Yeah, I agree with you! Who does he think he is?' Kiba's voice.

The rest of the band of ninjas were here, with a very lazy Shikamaru bringing up the rear and a smug Sasuke leading the group. Kakashi and Kurenai were behind him.

'Morning, Naruto, Zabuza, Haku.' Kurenai greeted as the three nodded in response.

Naruto then noticed that Sakura was not with them. Kakashi explained that she had gone to protect Tazuna as he was building the bridge.

'I'm going to join her in a moment, Naruto.' Kurenai said, 'I need you to teach your friends here proper chakra control by walking on trees.'

Naruto nodded as he turned to his friends, who were quite confused by the words that Kurenai had said. Kakashi however, had understood them perfectly; because Naruto was the most skilful one after Kakashi, he had been told to help train the team. Kakashi, of course, took this as a chance to escape the chore of teaching them.

'Naruto, I think that you should teach my team the basics of chakra control too. I think I'll go and take Sakura's place.' Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.

'Well, Naruto, good luck.' Kurenai said to him, smiling as she walked away.

Naruto turned to the genins that were before him. It would be an almost impossible chore to teach them! They were his age, for crying out loud! Naruto smiled nervously under his mask and scratched the back of his head.

'Well, I guess I'll be-' Naruto began, but there was a puff of smoke and Kakashi and a very confused Sakura was before them all.

'Well, Naruto, here's my last student, teach them well, okay?' Kakashi said.

Kakashi disappeared again, leaving a scowling Naruto. Then, the blonde remembered; Zabuza! He could help him! But when he turned around, he saw that Zabuza was gone and only Haku remained. He cursed under his breath.

Well, Haku's better than no one to help, Naruto thought.

Haku had thought that he would help Naruto. He looked so helpless.

'So Naruto, do you want me to split them in half?' Haku asked.

'Yeah. You take Ino and Sakura and I'll take Sasuke, Kiba and Shikamaru.'

Haku did so and walked the girls away from the group of boys.

'Alright, since Kurenai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei are doing the mission, I guess that I'll help train you guys.' Naruto began, 'Today we practice chakra control.'

Kiba watched intently as Naruto focused a certain amount of chakra to his feet and slowly walked up a tree bark. His friends looked on in awe as Naruto did this as if it was an everyday thing to him. It was, since he wanted to learn the Chidori.

Sasuke was the first to try without Naruto even telling him to. But after four steps up, he fell back down, earning a guffaw from Kiba. Sasuke glared at him and he glared back. Naruto proceeded to explain things before Sasuke did it again.

'I know that you want to get to the top fast, but try walking up first and then, once you reach the top, try running.' Naruto explained.

Amazingly, the boys had grasped the knowledge pretty quickly and almost instantly. After a period of three hours, the three boys had finally reached the top by walking. The first one to reach the top was Kiba, followed by Sasuke and finally Shikamaru.

It was already in the afternoon and Haku had finished the training for the girls. Amazingly, the girls had reached the top of their trees on their fourth try. But Haku had explained that because their chakra capacity was low, it was easier to control.

'Why don't we go surprise Kakashi and Kurenai with your new skills?' Naruto said.

The girls cheered, the boys grunted but Kiba said something about being hungry.

Haku heard Kiba's words and took out a bag that contained onigiri, which everyone happily ate on the spot accept for Naruto. He'd had too much onigiri for one day.

'Hey, Naruto-kun, how come you're so good?' Sakura asked him.

'Well, you see, I've been practicing since I was four thanks to Kakashi. You'd think that his training would be as easy as his laid-back attitude seemed, but boy is he tough. He threw me down a cliff once to practice my chakra control.'

Naruto's last words pretty much shocked his friends. Naruto grinned at them.

After a while, Naruto and the others finished eating their food and walked toward the bridge that was still in construction. They saw a mist was surrounding the area and the mist, to all of them, seemed abnormal. They cautiously walked into the mist.

Something was not right. Nothing was right in this setting.

The village had a lot of mist in its streets, but this looked more like a fog. Naruto could not see anything that was more than a meter away from him. Something was truly wrong. Suddenly, they heard the sound of metal clashing with metal.

Naruto could see the mist getting thinner as he heard the sounds of clashing metal getting louder. The group of genins and Haku suddenly saw a shark-like man that was fighting with Zabuza, hs sword, the Kubikiri Houcho drawn. Kurenai and Kakashi were at his flanks, each with a kunai in their hand. Kakashi showing his Sharingan.

'Who is this guy?' Sasuke questioned, a large chakra being emitted from him.

Zabuza was panting from fatigue, his sword pointed to the man.

'Hmph. It's that all you've got, Zabuza?' Kisame chuckled, dashing at him.

Zabuza's sword and Kisame's blade met again. Kurenai and Kakashi took this as an opportunity to strike. Kisame saw them move to his left and right flanks. The large man used his force and threw Zabuza back before kicking Kakashi in the ribs, sending him flying to the water below. Kurenai was given an elbow in her stomach, making her spit out blood. Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba jumped into action.

Focus the chakra into my eyes, NOW! Sasuke had done it.

He had activated the Sharingan. Kisame grew interested in the boy.

Sharingan, eh? But still too weak for my tastes, you're still an egg.

Sasuke went on to fight with Kisame one-on-one, but Kisme, although big, was as fast as a rabbit. None of the blows or slashes by Sasuke's kunai, in his left hand, connected with him. Kiba moved into the offensive position.

'Tsuuga!' Kiba spun like a tornado to Kisame, who delivered a punch to his head, instantly knocking him out.

Sasuke saw an opening in Kisame's defence and registered a kick to the man's shoulder, knocking him back. He grinned wider and thrusted Sasuke's stomach with his palm. Sasuke coughed out some blood, but with his lightning-quick reflexes did quick handseals.

'Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!' a giant fireball came at Kisame.

Kisame did some extremely quick handseals as well.

'Suiton: Suijin Heki!' a wall of water guarded the summoner of its aid.

Kisame did more handseals the malicious grin still on his face.

'Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!' a gigantic water-like serpent came out of the water.

'Raition: Raitoradan no Jutsu!' a familiar voice was heard as a figure of a tiger made of lightning dashed at the dragon, cancelling the attack.

'What!' Kisame exclaimed as he saw the caster of the Ninjutsu.

Naruto stood there, his left palm toward Kisame, frowning.

'You. You're different from these genin.' Kisame stated, picking up his sword.

'Kisame!' Zabuza was back, but Kisame landed a blow in his stomach.

'Sleep for a while won't you, Zabuza?' Kisame said softly to Zabuza.

The unconscious form of Zabuza dropped to the groud along with his sword.

'Zabuza-niisan!' Haku exclaimed, running to Zabuza's side but was stopped.

By Kiba and Sasuke. They were both exhausted, but knew of this person's strength.

'DON'T STOP ME!' Haku struggled to get free of their hold.

'This guy's too strong, Haku; you saw how he took them out.' Kiba said.

'We need a plan.' Sasuke whispered into Haku's ear, 'Or we'll die fighting.'

Suddenly, a figure dashed past them: Naruto! Their eyes widened.

'Oh, you.' Kisame blocked the lightning-fast kunai attacks with his sword.

Naruto jumped back and threw a shuriken at Kisame.

'Shuriken, Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!' the shuriken multiplied into six.

Two of the shurikens cut Kisame's shoulders, though the cuts were slight. The other shurikens were blocked by Kisame's sword. He smirked at Naruto, who smirked back at him.

Behind me! Kisame thought, feeling a presence and swinging around.

His elbow met with Kurenai's stomach; she spat out blood.

Before she flew back or dropped to the ground, Kisame held her by her head.

'Kurenai-sensei!' Kiba exclaimed along with Shikamaru; Naruto's eyes widened.

'So this woman is your teacher, eh?' Kisame asked maliciously punching her in the stomach as her students watched on in horror, 'What a pathetic group you all are.'

Naruto looked on as Kurenai was hit in the stomach again by Kisame's kneecap, sending her flying Naruto's way. Naruto caught her and checked on her status.

'Kurenai-sensei!' Kiba came running with Shikamaru to their teacher.

'Sorry, Naruto… I guess I wasn't… a good tea-teacher…' she closed her eyes.

Naruto slowly set Kurenai down on the ground as Kiba and Shikamaru went to their teacher, worried as ever. Naruto just stood there, his eyes covered by his locks. It began to rain; droplets of water were dropping from the sky.

Naru-kun… Kurenai once said to him as he blushed in the ramen stand.

'Are you angry at me, kid? Come on. Take your revenge.' Kisame said, his malicious smile in place, showing all his teeth.

Suddenly, Naruto did extremely fast handseals and grabbed his right wrist. His hand grew a light blue due to the chakra that was gathered there. Kisame's smile widened.

A chakra enchanced punch was all he had to offer? Kisame charged at Naruto.

'If you're not going to make your move, then allow me to kill you!'

Kurenai had been brought to the others and was being checked on by Haku.

Kiba looked on at the battle; whatever the outcome was.

As Kisame brought down his blade, Naruto disappeared. There was no sign of him.

'Where did he go?' Kisame said, looking around; nothing but rain.

'Here.' Naruto was suddenly standing on Kisame's sword; his eyes widened.

The right hand of Naruto's was getting bluer by the second.

'Let me tell you one thing;' Kisame's eyes were in fear from the piercing look in Naruto's eyes, 'If you ever hurt the ones I love, prepare for your sentence.'

The sound of a thousand birds was heard in the air. Naruto thrust his right hand into Kisame's chest. The others looked on in shock.

'CHIDORI!'