Naruto opened his cerulean orbs , his ears picking up the sounds of growling. He cautiously got up noticing that the ground he as lying on was wet. He squinted his eyes trying to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. Again a large growling echoed thru the damped tunnel. 'Great I'm still unconscious' The blond Jounin thought as he started towards the source of the growls.
Still disoriented Naruto stumbled his way towards Kyuubi's chambers where the great fox waited his arrival. As he walked towards Kyuubi's chambers he passed by a ice covered door. He passed the door not even wondering why it was made out of ice in the first place. "Hurry Up NARUTO I haven't got all day!" Kyuubi roared his patience thinning as the boy known as 'Konoha's Shinigami' finally arrived in the Kyuubi's chambers.
"Finally...you arrive...Sure took your time you stupid brat!" Kyuubi growled as his tails cracked like whip against the bars of his prison. The sound echoed around the great chamber making Naruto winced in pain. "Nice job activating the blood's powers Naruto! You sure know how to fight!" Kyuubi continued while Naruto just tried to block Kyuubi's ranting.
"Oh Shut up Fox! It's not like I meant to forget deactivating the powers" Naruto replied while stretching his body. "The situation was getting for the worse...You think I planned on pouring my chakra into the ability?" Naruto continued while Kyuubi just grunted in annoyance. "This wouldn't have happend if you just gave me your chakra to keep me going!"
"Well next time you want to experiment in using unknown powers. Leave me out of it!" Kyuubi retorted. "Plus I'm still trying to take out the last of the poison in your body You Idiot...I won't always be here to heal you Naruto So next time stop holding back!. All that skill and strength you gained over the years training with those two white haired perverts!" Kyuubi continued his rant seeing as Naruto still hasn't yelled at him yet for being so loud.
"I agree with Kyuubi on this one...Naruto-sama" A new voice came from behind Naruto. Naruto turned to see a black clad figure standing at the entrance of Kyuubi's chambers. The black clad figure had wild spiked raven hair and piercing cold onyx eyes, the figure wore mostly black almost fitting clothes. "You used an untested power on a battle which would have been finished if you had stucked to using your own power"
"See Naruto...even the Shinigami's kitchen knife agrees with me" Kyuubi replied earning him an enraged Zanpaku. Naruto ignored the two for a few minutes as he tried to recollect what had happend earlier. In the background Kyuubi and the entity that the great fox called Shinigami's kitchen knife argued and bickered.
"You want a Fight you stupid fur ball?" The figure called out shaking his fist at the caged demon. Kyuubi in retaliation swung his tails at the bars causing small tremors to course thru the gigantic chamber. The figure strode closer to the Demon's cage making the demon retreat further back into the enclosed space. "I thought so...Your afraid...of me Kyuubi..."
"I'm more afraid of where you came from Knife!" Kyuubi roared red chakra leaking out of the bars which immediately went to Naruto mixing with him. "I'm more afraid...of the one that wielded you before Naruto" Kyuubi snarled thru clenched teeth.
"Zanpaku...Kyuubi...Enough..." Naruto hissed in anger as the chakra began to decapitate into his own chakra system. The boy turned to both entities before him , one cloaked in midnight black while the other sealed inside a cage with only a piece of paper that held it from escaping. Both entities with him inside his head immediately fell silent. "So how did you shut off the blood's powers?" Naruto asked as the boy sat down facing the two.
Zanpaku was the first to reply as he motioned for Naruto to follow him. Naruto raised an eyebrow at the caged demon before following the Dagger of the Death God known to him as Zanpaku. Both of them silently glided thru the many corridors within Naruto's mind until they reached the Ice covered chamber. "Eh? What's this Zanpaku?" Naruto inquired as his hand touched the ice noticing that it wasn't freezing cold.
"That Naruto-sama is where the blood's powers are kept...well switch off...it immediately switched off just as it took a huge chunk of your chakra for what purpose I do not know. The bloods powers seem to have a mind of it's own or a sentient being so to speak" Zanpaku explained when a hissing sound suddenly reached both their ears. Naruto raised an eyebrow as he set his gaze at Zanpaku's dark form. Zanpaku shrugged showing he was as puzzled as Naruto. "I don't have any idea what is happening Naruto-sama."
"Okay I'll just check it out then" Naruto said as he took a step forward half of his body disappearing into frozen chamber. Zanpaku followed Naruto closely but when he entered the room he got blasted backwards sending him crashing into a wall. "Eh? What the..." Naruto started but his words were muffled as the ice chamber's doors closed shut ,keeping him inside to face the entity inside.
Meanwhile in the real world...
Team 7 huddled around Naruto's unconscious form while Tazuna and Zabuza discussed in private about the situation. Inari , Tazuna's grandson, sat beside Naruto's bed looking at the young Jounin with worry. Tsunami and Tazuna sat at the dining table while Zabuza leaned against the wall, his eyes close making his facial features in a pensive manner. The Demon brothers were not present since the former Mist Nuke-nin had ordered the two to scavenge for weapons and materials from the buried Rain-nins.
Zabuza with his patience running thin , moved towards the next room for a little chat with Team 7. "Inari-san...Not to be rude or anything but I have something to discuss with Naruto's comrades" Zabuza explained as he entered the room. Team 7 gave Zabuza curious looks while Inari just nodded and left the room after waving a bye to Konohamaru.
"Your probably wondering what I want to talk about...well listen first before asking questions" Zabuza started as the door closed. All eyes were on him as he sat down , the metallic clang of his arm resting against the table surface echoed around the room. He flexed his right arm letting out a small bit of steam. "Special arm made from Snow Country...an Arm made out of a special alloy that uses chakra and blood. This arm is connected to me as if it were my real arm." Zabuza said seeing as the three genins were looking at the silver blue arm.
"My arm was torn off by Naruto-kun's blade in our last fight..." Zabuza explained further as he showed Team 7 an example of what the arm could do. Water particles in the air started to take form in Zabuza's hand. "And this is the power that was given to me by my late apprentice and adopted son...Haku...My boy died protecting both me and Naruto..." Zabuza continued as flashes of memories returned to him.
Flashback
A Trio of ANBU stood in a delta formation while being surrounded by dozens of mercenaries. In the center of the three ANBU were three other bodies , The Nukenin Momochi Zabuza his right arm almost completely torn off with only a few tendons attaching it to the body. Haku , Zabuza's apprentice who was now bloodied and had a hole on his right pectoral and finally Uzumaki Naruto who had numerous needles sticking out of him and a small shard of ice sticking thru his chest.
Not far from the hordes of mercenaries stood Gatou the tyrant businessman. He had a cruel grin on his face as he watched his lackeys close in on the tiring Shinobi. Kakashi meanwhile held onto his father's sword the white chakra blade glowing menacingly at any approaching mercenary. Behind him the team medic tried to heal the injured but Haku spoke thru heavy breathes.
Haku held onto Zabuza's hand tightly while he desperately tried to shift his broken body towards his precious person. Haku was finally able to turn his head facing the Medic ANBU. "Please...give some of my blood to Zabuza-san...and cough transplant cough my heart to the boy I fought..." Haku said as he clung to life desperately. Haku's wounds were already severe as Kakashi's Raikiri pierced thru his left pectoral narrowly missing his heart.
Before the Medic ANBU could start with the quick transplant and transfusion, Haku and Zabuza shared one last father to son conversation. "Zabuza-san...I'm sorry for being weak..." Haku spoke ,each time his breathing becoming more heavy. Zabuza just held onto Haku's hand tightly before replying that it didn't really matter is he was weak. "You're like a son to me..." Zabuza said as he tried to hug the boy one last time. The Medic immediately began working on the transfusion of Haku's blood to Zabuza.
The transfusion was quick as the ANBU immediately went to Naruto transplanting half of Haku's heart to the young boy. As this was occurring, Kyuubi worked on fixing and healing Naruto just as the transplant finished, Haku's heart quickly intertwined with Naruto's heart becoming part of him. The medic was quite surprise when Naruto's wound healed after she transplanted the heart. Tears rolled down Zabuza's eyes as Haku's last breathe escaped his lips. The Medic felt sorry for Zabuza's lost but a grunt from Kakashi broke her thoughts.
Kakashi and the other ANBU were feeling hard pressed as more mercenaries came to try and subdue them. Kakashi was already running low on chakra from using the chakra blade and jutsus to incapacity the mercenaries. Kakashi swung the chakra blade in an arc sending a large white fang shape to cut thru the advancing mercenaries.
"You stupid Shinobis are outnumbered! Even that so called Devil of the mist can't help you now!" Gatou sneered as he snapped his fingers signaling his mercenaries that consisted of samurais and thugs to charge forward.
Kakashi and his tiring partner popped two soldier pills into their mouths as the onslaught of mercenaries closed in on them. Just as the two ANBU sliced three samurais in half. A large pillar of red chakra rose from behind them, a eerie killer intent sweeping across the room. Some of the weaker thugs and samurais collapsed under the pressure of the killer intent , eye wide in surprise and fear. Gatou started sweating when the sudden red pillar shot out from behind the Shinobis.
"You..will pay...for this" a dark voice escaped from within the red pillar. A silhouette of a black clad figure hovered over the blond ANBU as the killer intent continued to radiate inside the room, more of the weakening mercenaries falling on their knees , trembling in fear at the pressure encircling around the large warehouse. Kakashi and his team moved back not even curious as to what Naruto meant. Having been a part of raising Yondaime's legacy Kakashi knew what Naruto was feeling.
The sole Uzumaki member was pissed off and combined with the Kyuubi's rage , Kakashi quickly ordered the rest of his team to get out of the warehouse as he carefully hoisted Zabuza's unconscious form. His team complied leaving behind Gatou at the mercy of a berzerked and pissed off Naruto. Kakashi and his team waited outside as screams of the mercenaries trapped inside rang out from the shattered windows.
Naruto in that enraged looked along with the manifestation of the entity that was Naruto's sword. Naruto seemed like the Death God himself wielding the strange artifact that had fallen after Yondaime sealed Kyuubi in his son. At first the large sword took the form of a small dagger but as Naruto gained his strength over the years. The sword took its large shape when Naruto joined ANBU surprising the Hokage and the ANBU commander Hatake Kakashi when the issue katana was replaced by the weapon.
Zabuza woke up from that fight outside of the warehouse just as Naruto exited the large building soaked in blood. Zabuza wept when the medic presented him with Haku's lifeless body. The ANBU team and along with Zabuza buried Haku's body under the unfinished bridge. Zabuza placing his sword the Kubikiri Houchou infront of Haku's grave hanging from the hilt was Haku's broken Hunter-nin mask.
End of Flashback
Zabuza wiped away a tear that was starting to fall from his face, Team 7 stayed silent after listening to what happend to Zabuza. "The Trade treaty will happen in one weeks time...This is also the start of the Wave Festival. The Water Country Daimyo is sending his daughter Sui Ling-hime for the beauty pageant scheduled on that day. " Zabuza explained while filling a glass of water from the pitcher on the table. Silence was what Zabuza got from Team 7, he drained the glass of water before continuing with his explanation.
"Sui Ling-hime will be arriving tomorrow with her escorts and her bodyguard...In preparation for the pageant...The Rain-nin you encountered on your way here is a Leaf-nin traitor Rokushou Aoi...I believe his target will be the Treaty and the Princess...during the pageant" Zabuza explained , earning him nodding heads from the three genins. "I would like to offer my help to you since Naruto-kun hasn't awakened yet...During the preparation week...I will train you unlike a leaf-nin way...but knowing that your Team leader is Naruto...I would expect that he has disciplined you"
"You trying to take away my comrades from me Zabuza?" A voice in between Team 7 spoke up as a mess of blonde hair slowly got his upper torso up. Zabuza and Team 7 turned to the source of the voice. Naruto struggled to stand up but due to his still healing state He couldn't get up yet. "Stay still Naruto you need to rest... Invoking the Blood's powers takes a toll on you..." Zabuza said , his voice filled with worry.
"I'll be fine Zabuza-san..." Naruto replied as he got up wobbly at first but after regaining his balance, the blonde jounin began collecting his weaponry and other things. After all his things were on his body he then turned his head to Team 7. "Oi you three what are you doing? Form outside In 5 Seconds...Move!" Naruto ordered which caused the surprise Team 7 to quickly comply else they felt the wrath of Naruto's punishments.
Naruto and Zabuza followed behind Team 7 out the door but not before Naruto stopped in the kitchen to greet the owner of the house. "Hi Old man! Tsunami-neechan...Inari!" Naruto greeted as he exited thru the kitchen door. Zabuza following closely behind. Team 7 stood at attention outside the house waiting for Naruto's orders.
"Alright Team...Since our good friend Zabuza-san has offered his help in training...I would accept his offer on one condition" Naruto started , turning to the masked sheriff of the Wave country. Zabuza had a invisible eyebrow raised trying to ask what the condition was. "Within the one week you're going to train my team...I want you to hold nothing back...By the end of the week I want Sakura to have her chakra reserves raised...and to be able to at least use the special jutsu we worked together thrice" Naruto said.
Zabuza nodded and listened closely to what Naruto had to say next. "I want Konohamaru to be at least sufficient in silent combat...and Sasuke to be able to use the Sharingan..." Naruto said while Zabuza had a shocked look on his face eyeing the silent Uchiha. Naruto nodded before speaking to confirm what Zabuza was thinking. "Yes Zabuza-san...Sasuke is part of the Uchiha clan well the last of the Uchiha's in Konoha."
"While you train them in your way...I'm going to train ..." Naruto spoke as he followed Zabuza who was leading Team 7 to a nearby lake. Naruto quickly separated from his team , finding a large clearing for him to train in for the next seven days. Naruto stood at the center of the clearing, his breathing calm and collective as a squad of shadow clones appeared surrounding the blonde Jounin.
Kage Bunshin... A technique that Naruto often used and practiced to a point that he didn't need to shout out the technique like any other Shinobis. Naruto often used Kage Bunshin since he learned from Jiraiya and Kakashi that this was once a favorite of the Yondaime's. Naruto although being trained under Jiraiya and Kakashi only knew two of Yondaime's techniques. The Rasengan and Shunpo or Warp Step as Jiraiya called it. When Naruto asked that he wanted to learn Shunshin and Hiraishin no Jutsu, Jiraiya just shook his head saying learn to walk before running. Instead Jiraiya gave him the scroll which contained Shunpo (Warp Step or Instant Step) before leaving for his mission . A starting technique for Hiraishin and Shunshin(God of Flash) since Shunpa only used short distances(80 meters Maximum distance for Shunpa) while Hiraishin no Jutsu and Shunshin were a time and space technique.
Hiraishin no Jutsu required for the user to cast a Jutsu-Shiki on a target for the jutsu to be successful while Shunshin did not require such things. Naruto opted to learn both techniques although Jiraiya had warned him that the techniques would often bring much stress to the body.
Naruto had a small smile on his face when he mastered Rasengan...and could perform Shunpo without passing out. After learning the two starting techniques from Jiraiya and Kakashi, Naruto practiced everyday to try and incorporate the two techniques into his fighting style. Kakashi once told him that Shunshin and Hiraishin no Jutsu made the Yondaime famous as Konoha's Yellow Flash. Inwardly Naruto grinned at the prospect of getting his own legendary name.
'Konoha's Shinigami...' Naruto thought as he let his instincts start to go wild and let his mind move to its battle trance. 'Konoha's Shunshin sounds kind of cool...Heh I'll have to use Shunpo often and get Ero-tousan to teach me Shunshin..' Naruto thought as he blocked an incoming fist from a clone as the clones all at once started attacking. Naruto had a small smile on his face as he increased his speed, quickly disappearing to any untrained eye. The clones roared out a battle cry as they too went into high speeds to catch up to the original Naruto.
Meanwhile Zabuza started his training on the three genins of Team 7. "Alright you three...Show me what you got" Zabuza said as he held out his metallic arm , water particles in the air gathering in his hand as he created a water replica of Kubikiri Houchou. 'Amazing' were the thoughts of the three genins as they themselves pulled out their own weapons. Sasuke ignited his sword's chakra blade, Konohamaru held onto his staff casually while Sakura crouched low on the ground hands held behind her back.
"Come..." Zabuza taunted as he held the water blade loosely in his hand. Without warning Team 7 rushed at him with their weapons. "Konoha Ryu: Mikatsuki no Mai!" Sasuke roared out as distorted illusions of himself separated from his body. Zabuza watched in amusement as the illusions and real Sasuke came at him. "With your level..You can't beat me with that technique yet" Zabuza said as he parried Sasuke's initial strike and followed thru by kicking Sasuke away from him.
Konohamaru appeared above Zabuza with his staff spinning wildly over his head. "Sarutobi Ryu:The Ape kings Temper!" Konohamaru roared as numerous wild and unpredictable strikes came Zabuza's way. Zabuza not to disappoint on the deal with Naruto, showed his own style. "Kiri Ryu:SuiRyuu Kiri Mist style: Water Dragon Cutter." Both attacks clashed into each other with Zabuza ,having the more experience, pushed Konohamaru back.
Out of nowhere Sakura and Sasuke swooped in to support their teammate's attack. "SHONNARO! SenbonSakura Renda! (Thousand Cherry Blossom Barrage)" Sakura called out letting loose the fury of her inner personality. With Sakura using her inner personality's wild and insane fury to attack. Zabuza tried to desperately block all the wild strikes Sakura sent his way. Two close strikes almost cost Zabuza his family jewels when Sakura's clawed swipe came too close for comfort.
Zabuza was now being hard-pressed with all three genins attacking , keeping him from even making a single hand seal. 'Well Naruto I got to hand to you...These genins got a rank A on Teamwork and individually they're good.' Zabuza thought as he called for a halt. Team 7 stopped at once , sweat dripping from their clothes. "You three...are quite good...Tomorrow after we meet the princess we will start on Water walking and individual growth"
Team 7 left with Zabuza following closely behind them towards where Naruto was training. When they arrived at the clearing ,the whole area was in total disarray. The squad of Kage Bunshin Naruto summoned were down to two , craters decorated the clearing with smoke rising from those craters. Zabuza blinked when they saw the damage that Naruto had cause. Just as they blinked a second time, the clones fell backwards disappearing upon touching the ground. Naruto now stood , where the clones were, at a defensive stance , Zanpaku raised slightly above chest level.
"Amazing...I didn't even see him move." were Team 7 and Zabuza's thoughts but it was broken off when Naruto turned to them with a smile. "Don't ask how I did it..and I'm not going to teach it to you..." Naruto said , his last statement directed to both Sasuke and Konohamaru.
"But why Sempai?" Sasuke inquired , he was interested in the technique that Naruto just performed. Naruto tapped his stomach then his head , making it his explanation. Team 7 sort of knew that Naruto was Yondaime's son but that was it. They still had no idea that Naruto was also Konoha's Demon Vessel. "Bloodline limit?" Sasuke asked again but Naruto just shook his head. "No its just something that my Father left me...My dream is to surpass him after all"
Sasuke left it at that, he had not forgotten about his ambition in resurrecting his clan but Naruto's words kept coming back to him whenever he thought about Itachi. "Forget about Itachi...Forget about surpassing Itachi..instead focus on surpassing yourself...and then surpass at least one sannin." Sasuke raised an eyebrow as to why would Naruto want him to surpass himself then the sannin. 'To beat Itachi you have to surpass your own limits...and surpass at least the weakest of the Legendary three"
'Tsunade-hime?" Sasuke inquired but Naruto shook his head and replied. "No not Tsunade-hime..surpass Orochimaru..." Sasuke was quite puzzled at this since Orochimaru was said to be the strongest of the three.
So now each of Team 7 had a goal to achieve , Konohamaru's was to be acknowledge same as Naruto. Sasuke's ambition was put aside in order for him to grow. Sasuke's rather cold exterior was broken when Team 7 started its missions. Naruto made sure of that. Sakura's goal was to at least be a good Kunoichi who serves her village with pride. Naruto shrugged at that goal seeing as it was ordinary but still a goal. Naruto respected Sakura for that.
For the next seven days Team 7 trained with Zabuza in the afternoons while they kept watched over the princess. Their first meeting with the princess was an ordinary one except for when they first saw her. They thought that being a princess she would be pampered and spoiled but obviously stories and rumors can be wrong. Suiling-hime and her escorts arrived as planned. Zabuza and his two deputies stood beside Tazuna and the rest of the town in welcoming her. Sui ling-hime rode on a horse, her garb in a light blue blouse and black tight pants.
Naruto meanwhile was having trouble trying not to stare and drool at the princess. Sui-ling was very beautiful, with long wavy dark brown hair, a well-toned body and fair complexion. Sui ling-hime also had an angelic voice that was music to Naruto's ears but sadly the princess was 7 years older than him. Naruto calmly got out of his dreamy state to focus on the person walking alongside Suiling-hime.
Juujin Jo-Em, Sui ling-hime's body guard, walked a few steps behind the princess. The man seemed abit young to be a body guard, and also Naruto could detect a high amount of chakra from the ebony haired man. Tazuna and Zabuza greeted the princess as she came nearer to them. "Welcome to Wave country Suiling-sama" both of them greeted which the princess returned with a smile.
Naruto stepped forward followed closely by Team 7. He bowed to the princess in greeting and then held out his hand to shake Jo-Em's hand. "Hi I'm Juujin Jo-Em , Nice to meet you." Suiling's bodyguard said after shaking Naruto's hand. "Likewise..name's Uzumaki Naruto and these are my teammates" The blonde jounin responded as he stepped aside giving JoEm a view of team 7. JoEm waved at Team 7 , giving them a smile.
As the week of training and preparing came to its end. Team 7 got to know their honored guest. Two of the genins found out that Suiling-hime and Jo-Em were close , affectionately close. Much to Konohamaru's disgust and Sakura's delight , they would often see JoEm watching the princess closely guarding her with his life. Both Naruto and Sasuke didn't react to this piece of information since they were more focused on finishing the training.
At last the day of the pageant came , everyone in wave country and a few dignitaries from Water country arrived. Team 7 were scattered all over the place , scanning the crowds for any suspicious activities. Naruto meanwhile was with Jo-Em guarding the contestants and the princess. Naruto meanwhile noticed one of the contestants, a well endowed woman with a pale blonde hair tied in two pony-tails. Naruto narrowed his eyes when he sensed a large amount of chakra being suppress by the woman.
Naruto didn't mind at first but a nagging sensation kept on coming back to him that something was amiss. He continued his patrol after casting one last glance at the big breasted female. Unknown to him the woman noticed his gaze but also paid no heed to it although inside she was alarmed that a Konoha-nin was present in the pageant. Naruto pressed a button hidden behind his ear as he spoke into the transmitter. "Team 7 be on your guard and be on the look out for hostiles...also Sakura...observe contestant number 3"
Naruto heard all of their acknowledgement to his orders as he continued to patrol the whole tent. Everyone in the team were feeling nervous since there seem to be a lot of dignitaries and people in the area.
Meanwhile the big-breasted contestant was sitting beside her assistant chatting with her in hush whispers. "Shizune...there's some Konoha Shinobi guarding this pageant but they seem to be just kids...Sarutobi-sensei must have gone senile already and sent kids to guard important dignitaries." Tsunade whispered as she adjusted her gown to not reveal much of her cleavage. The dress she was wearing was already tight , her breast almost ready to burst out from the rather constricting fabric.
"It's alright Tsunade-sama...After we win this pageant and take the prize money we will make a hasty get away. Although that blonde-haired Shinobi seem familiar. almost like we've met him before." Shizune replied as she adjusted Tsunade's clothes. Tsunade didn't say anything else , her mind was going back to a small baby being handed to her by Sandaime. 'Is it you Naruto-kun?' Tsunade thought just as the announcer started calling out their numbers.
Positioned at certain locations all over the tent, Team 7 and Suiling-hime's Bodyguard watched the pageant unfold while keeping alert for any suspicious. When all the contestants were on stage feather began to come down from above the tent, most of the crowd started to drop to the ground fast asleep. Instantly Team 7 raced towards the stage after dispelling the genjutsu, mentally thanking Naruto for teaching them this one release jutsu for situations like this.
Naruto meanwhile watched closely at his teams performance. Jo-Em was instantly by Suiling-hime's side , sword drawn ready to defend the princess with his life. "Protect the contestants with your lives..." Naruto ordered as he himself leaped down from the catwalk where he was watching the scene below unfold as the huge tent began to come down. The delegates were already being evacuated by the security and the Demon brothers along with Zabuza also started to evacuate the civilians.
In huge puffs of smoke a large group of Rain-nins appeared lead by Rokushou Aoi. Raijin Ken ignited in his hand as he strode into the room with a smirk on his face. "what's this? Kids and a Security Lap Dog try to stop me?" Aoi said noticing the lacking presence of Naruto. "I guess Konoha's Shinigami was just a hoax and another wanne-be ninja. It's a miracle he even got to jounin Rank"
"Doton: Shinjuu Zanshu no jutsu!" A familiar voice roared out beneath Aoi , but the former leaf jounin had already leaped out of the way. Naruto brushed off some of the debris that was caught on his shirt. "Rokushou Aoi...for your treachery against Konoha...I have come to execute you" Naruto said just as Aoi commanded the rain-nins to attack the 5 people standing in their way.
Naruto charged forward killing two rain-nins instantly with a slash from Zanpaku. A shadow clone appearing beside Naruto which quickly leaped off jumping into a group of rather alarmed Rain-nins. Aoi quickly drew Raijin upward blocking Naruto's sword from cutting into his shoulder. "Oh...so you still think you can beat me?" Aoi asked before he added more strength into his block pushing the blonde Jounin back. Naruto skidded a few meters away from Aoi using Zanpaku's blade to stabilize his footing.
Meanwhile Sasuke was in combat with Murasame, his training with Zabuza actually paying off. Sakura was matching wits with the genius former Rain-nin Hisame and Konohamaru was settling a score with Kirisame. Sasuke held onto two double edge kunais , one in each hand while observing the advancing water clones commanded by Murasame. In a burst of speed Sasuke was able to deal with the clones with ease rendering them mere puddles of water.
Sakura meanwhile tried not to be intimidated by the water whip wielding Kunoichi. Hisame flicked her wrist sending a wave of water towards the pink haired Kunoichi. Sakura quickly back flipped to avoid being hit by the rather dangerous liquid. 'The water she is using seems thick...possible chakra-induced' Sakura thought as she analyzed and formulated a plan. Hisame in her frustration that a girl half her age was dodging her attempts like it was nothing , drew more water from the surrounding air and created a second whip.
Sakura quickly performed a series of handseals after landing between three puddles of water. "Mizu Bunshin no jutsu!" Sakura said in a whisper as the puddle beside her rippled once before taking shape. Two exact replica's of the pink haired Kunoichi stood by her side , wielding various water based weapons. "Mizu Kugutsu no Jutsu(Water Puppet Technique). Sakura manage to say as she began using her perfect chakra control to send the clones towards Hisame.
'Can't use this jutsu for long...have to cancel it after 3 minutes to have the clones act independently' Sakura thought as she began driving her opponent into a corner. Feeling her control over the jutsu wavering , Sakura formed a half seal , canceling her control over the clones. She quickly reached into her pouch and popped a soldier pill into her mouth , feeling her chakra returning to her.
Konohamaru meanwhile was hidden within a veil of mist. He was using beacon tags that Naruto had lent him to track Kirisame within the thick fog. Attaching the tag itself was rather hard for him and he had the wound to prove it too. Kirisame had hit him by a kunai on the arm , nothing lethal just a small wound. Konohamaru held onto his staff's handle. He hadn't activated it often only using kunais and shurikens to try and make Kirisame jumpy.
Konohamaru suddenly felt Naruto's chakra signature rise which caused the young Sarutobi to smile. 'That's the signal to get serious and regroup...' Konohamaru thought as he began to channel chakra to his ears and nose hereby strengthening his sense of smell and hearing at least ten times. Konohamaru quickly found Kirisame and three Mizu bunshins standing alert. 'Time to see if my training with No-brows has paid off' Konohamaru thought as he extended the staff's length with his chakra , adding a little twist with a half horse seal.
Kirisame tried to find the brat that he should have killed within seconds but somehow the genin was more skilled than he thought. Kirisame quickly commanded his clones to form a delta formation around him while he collected water particles in the air. Kirisame started to form handseals nervously his mind making him perform them in the wrong sequence due to his paranoia. 'These brats aren't the same as before...' He thought when he suddenly heard Konohamaru's voice from the surrounding mist.
"Sarutobi Ryu: Seiyuuki Oushou Kigokoro (Sarutobi Style: The Ape King's Temper)" Konohamaru's voice rang out from the mist. Kirisame felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. The voice was coming from every direction. Kirisame quickly finished the last handseal but due to his earlier mistakes something went wrong. "Suiton: Daibakufu No Jutsu!" Kirisame sent himself crashing into an incoming Konohamaru clone with it's staff ignited by a Low level Raiton Jutsu.
The effects were instantaneous , Kirisame felt like ten electric eels were attached to his balls and paying their respects to him. Konohamaru meanwhile didn't know that Kirisame was drenched by a backfiring jutsu. Konohamaru worked with his clones , attacking the helpless Kirisame non-stop. Konohamaru an his clones struck while trying to maintain the perfect chakra control over the lengthening and electricity on his weapon.
Sasuke meanwhile was rather pleased with himself. He could see clearly now. He could see Murasame's movements clearly able to deflect and counter his attacks. 'So this is how it feels to fight with the Sharingan' Sasuke thought as he used his newly acquired Doujutsu to end his fight quicker. 'About time Sharingan manifested itself too' Sasuke added as an afterthought as he sidestepped and sent Murasame crashing into the ground with a spin kick.
Sasuke's hand immediately found it's way to Day Walker's handle as he locked eyes with Murasame , casting a Sharingan body binding jutsu. 'I may not be able to defeat Zabuza-san with this jutsu yet...but this will be enough to defeat you!' Sasuke dashed forward one hand one a half-ram seal while the other igniting Day walker's silver colored chakra blade. "Konoha Ryu: Mikatsuki no Mai!" Two Sasuke clones separated from Sasuke's body both wielding swords of their own.
Sasuke leaped high while his two clones converged on Murasame from both sides. Sasuke came down from the sky with a painful and hard slash that cut thru Murasame's right shoulder downwards. Sasuke was breathing hard , this was the first time that he had taken a life of another and it had sparked something in him. Sasuke had a smirk on his face as he deactivated Day Walker's blade. There was no blood on the clean cut only a deep gash. 'This must how it will feel like when I end Itachi's life'
Naruto pushed Aoi back with Zanpaku , the black blade almost cutting into Raijin's yellow blade. Naruto quickly leaped backwards evading Senbon needles coming from a rain-nin to his right. JoEm joined the fray , killing the rain-nin with his sword. Aoi started forming a sequence of handseals familiar to both JoEm and Naruto. Naruto not to be outdone performed his own series of hand seals. 'Hyouton: Kouseki Shuriken (Ice Element:Crystal Shuriken)' Naruto thought as the water puddle before him harden to ice and changed into a crystal clear ice shuriken. Naruto picked up the three shurikens and began pouring his chakra and using Haku's powers. 'Time to show off what Haku has shown me...'
Aoi finished his handseals , a smirk on his face as a huge amount of water rose from behind him. "Suiton:Suiryuudan no jutsu!" The water took shape and let out a gurgled roar as it shot towards Naruto. Naruto quickly threw the ice shurikens towards the water dragon. The dragon opened up its watery maw and ate the chakra filled shuriken causing Aoi to laugh at Naruto's attempt.
Naruto had a confident smile on his face as he quickly held out his hands in a cross position, fingers stretch out like a puppeteer. "Hijutsu: HyouRyuu Shou Kugutsu!( Advance Technique: Ice Dragon Mirror Puppet)" Aoi's dragon suddenly froze in mid-action as the crystal shuriken began its intended job. Naruto's fingers were now filled with chakra strings as he started directing the ice dragon towards the surprised Aoi.
Aoi quickly shook the surprise from his face and charged forward , using Raijin's blade to try and redirect the Ice Dragon's sharp teeth from him. Aoi used the Raijin's chakra blade to escape the dragon as he continued to charge forward. Naruto braced himself ready to block Aoi's strike but he miscalculated Aoi's intended target. Naruto quickly understood who Aoi was aiming for. The rogue jounin was aiming for Suiling-hime who was left unguarded due to JoEm and Naruto's battles. 'Shimatta!' Naruto thought as he watched in horror.
Aoi had a sinister smirk on his face as he pulled his hand back ready to stab Suiling-hime with Raijin's blade but suddenly JoEm appeared right in his path. Blood splattered on the floor as Aoi connected Raijin's blade to Jo-Em's mid section. "You bastard! Get out of my Way!" Aoi screamed as he tried to pry off Raijin's blade from the heavily injured bodyguard. Suiling-hime meanwhile was shocked and rooted to the spot at what just happend.
Naruto instantly warped beside Aoi and backhanded the rogue jounin into a post. Naruto slowly pried off Raijin's blade and began to administer first aid. In the sidelines , Tsunade ,shaking at the sight of blood ,was being comforted to by Shizune trying to calm her down. Suiling-hime still in shocked managed to crawl her way to Jo-Em's side crying and begging the raven haired bodyguard not to leave her.
Naruto still trying to stop the blood flowing from Jo-Em's fatal wound caught sight of the now recognizable Tsunade. "Tsunade-kaasan?" Naruto asked as he quickly tried to assess the situation. Thinking up of a way to save the brave bodyguard's life , Naruto ran to Tsunade and began begging her to help treat Jo-Em's wounds. "Tsunade-kaasan please I beg you to help treat this man" Naruto said pointing to JoEm.
Tsunade ,still shaking from her hematophobia ,couldn't speak due to her fear but she caught sight of the weeping Suiling and remembered her own lost love Dan. She then looked up and saw a similar resemblance to Nawaki in Naruto. 'My Dream is to be Hokage...'She remembered those words in three different voices , Dan's voice , Nawaki's voice and finally the four year old voice of Naruto. Tsunade ,although still shaking , got up from where she was trembling and quickly began to treat the injured man. Shizune began assisting her by reassuring Suiling-hime that everything would be alright now.
Naruto meanwhile stood up facing a enraged Aoi. Naruto cast an emotionless glance to the sides seeing his three man team standing ready. "You three...watch carefully because you will be learning this technique when we get back to Konoha..." Naruto said as he took a single step towards Aoi before disappearing in a burst of ebony flash. Aoi used his umbrella to send senbon needles at the black blur rocketing towards him. Aoi now frustrated redirected his senbon umbrella towards the contestants and operating Tsunade.
"Hold it!...You spineless coward attacking defenseless civilians and injured people..." Naruto said as he intercepted the senbon needles and began advancing towards Aoi again. Aoi jumped back his hands performing handseals ending in the tiger handseal. "Katon:Goukakyou no jutsu!" Aoi shot a huge fireball towards the black blur towards him. Naruto stared straight into the huge ball of flame roaring thru the air towards him. Naruto closed his eyes before letting out a growl induced by Kyuubi's chakra.
The flame now overpowered by Naruto's chakra roar extinguished itself on Aoi as Naruto appeared behind the rogue jounin , icy mist escaping from him. "Hijutsu: Makyou Hyoushou!" Naruto poured 30 of his remaining chakra into the blood's powers as the icy mist and moisture into the air formed a dome of ice mirrors surrounding Aoi. The on lookers watched as a dome of mirrors formed and a black blur from the mirrors attacked Aoi. The on lookers only saw Aoi flying into the air like a rag doll screaming in pain from the injuries being inflicted on him.
The blur shot passed Aoi , numerous slash marks appearing on his arms and upper torso. The blur stopped above the injured Aoi who was now trying to retaliate by performing another katon jutsu. "You think I'm a hoax?...I'll show you why this sword is called Zanpaku.." Naruto spoke as he bit into his thumb and ran the blood on Zanpaku's black blade. The blood on the blade began gathering to the tip as red kanji appeared on the Shinigami's sword.
"Zanpaku look forward...Kuchiyose: Taiso no Rosuto Konpaku! (Summoning : Requiem of the Lost Souls!)" Naruto raised Zanpaku high up into the air black flames erupting from the blade as he swung it downwards. A huge corona of black flames shot out from Zanpaku as it took the shape of a black falcon. The falcon dived downwards at a speed of 250 mph towards Aoi. The falcon struck Aoi at the chest , raking it's burning talons at the rogue Jounin.
Naruto landed on the ground , panting and the flames from Zanpaku's blade just ebbing. Tsunade and Shizune standing proud over a now stabilized JoEm. Suiling-hime sitting beside JoEm placing the raven haired bodyguard's head on her lap. Naruto shook his head at the affectionate display. Team 7 soon joined them in celebrating in their first successful C - B rank mission.
Time jump to three days later.
Naruto stood by the entrance of the tent as he watched the judges crown the winners of the Beauty Pageant. Behind him were Team 7 relaxed and enjoying the show. All three genins had huge grins on their faces when Suiling-hime's name was called. Suiling-hime won as first runner up and Tsunade surprisingly was crowned as Miss Wave Country. Tsunade had a huge grin on her face as she held onto the cheque prize money. 'Tsunade and her debts...' Naruto thought as he followed Konohamaru and Sakura to congratulate both Suiling-hime and Tsunade-hime.
JoEm with one arm in a sling and half of his upper torso wrapped in bandages, was instantly by Suiling-hime's side congratulating her. Tsunade meanwhile was trying to wrestle Shizune for the cheque since Tsunade wanted to go to the nearest casino.
After the celebration and some light gambling on Tsunade's part , Zabuza and the townsfolk took Naruto and team 7 to the completed bridge where Tazuna was waiting for them. Naruto and Tsunade were talking on their way to the bridge. "Kaasan..will you be coming with us back to Konoha?" Naruto inquired while trying not to let the Slug Sannin know his intentions. Tsunade was silent for a moment before replying.
"Do you still have the necklace I gave you?" Tsunade replied at which Naruto nodded and pulled out the emerald stone dangling from his neck. Tsunade gave him a smile before placing a hand on his chin and giving him a kiss on the forehead. Naruto had a shocked expression on his face while Tsunade just gave him a joyful grin. "I'll be coming back with you to Konoha Naruto-kun...I'd like to start that Medical Nin Academy Sarutobi-sensei promised me years ago."
The group reached the bridge where a huge sign was covered with a piece of cloth. Tazuna and Zabuza pulled the cloth covering the sign which revealed the name of the bridge. "Naruto-kun...Not long ago you helped bring courage back to our country and freed us from Gatou's tyranny...In gratitude we the people of Wave country...would like to name this super bridge The Great Naruto Bridge...in your honor" Tazuna announced.
Naruto was silent for a few minutes while the rest of the group cheered and congratulate the young Jounin. The blonde jounin bowed in respect to the people of Wave country. "Thank you for this honor...I was just doing my duty as a Shinobi..." Naruto replied as he took out Zanpaku and cut the ribbon opening the bridge to all travelers. The people of wave country bade goodbye to the departing Konoha Shinobi.
Naruto quickly signaled for his team to pick up the speed while Tsunade and Shizune just shrugged at Naruto's actions and followed the team back to Konoha. Unseen by the others Naruto had a smile behind his mask ever since they left. "Remember this always Team 7 ... A Shinobi is both a weapon and a human being. A weapon of a Shinobi village and a Country but He/She is also a human being who must use his mind and heart to make decisions of his own accord. Live a life of no regrets...and never go back on your word...This is my Shinobi code...It is up to you to make your own Nindo..."