4. Getting Ready

The next morning, Kakashi joined everyone at the table for breakfast. As he sat down, he said "Guys, there's something important that we have to tell you."

The three Gennin looked at Kakashi and Sakura said "What is it Kakashi-sensei?"

"Zabuza's alive."

Everyone but Naruto gaped at him. Sakura was the first to recover and said "A-are you sure Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi nodded but it was Naruto who answered.

"The hunter nin used senbon needles. Their highly accurate and the hunter shot for the neck. There are certain pressure points on the body that will put someone in a death like state. And the neck has the least muscles that would interfere with hitting those points. Add to the fact that the hunter moved the body when he was supposed to destroy in right where it was, and you have a fake hunter nin working with Zabuza."

Sasuke scoffed and said "And you call yourself a Jounin. You couldn't even catch a fake in the act."

Naruto rose an eyebrow and said "Well I didn't see you doing anything Uchiha. And besides, even if I attacked that hunter, if it had been a real one, what do you think the repercussions would be for our village? Kakashi and I had to take that chance or risk a war between the Leaf and Mist. So why don't you keep your mouth shut since you obviously have no idea what you're supposed to do in that kind of situation."

Sasuke glared and was about to say something when Sakura shouted out "Don't talk to Sasuke-kun like that!" And tried to hit Naruto. As the fist came towards him, the two disappeared and then reappeared against a wall with Naruto's left wrist pressing her throat in and a kunai in his right hand holding her chin upwards.

Naruto glared at Sakura as the kunoichi stared in shock and horror. Naruto then growled out "Listen Haruno, and listen good. Your dear Sasuke isn't the top dog, and he never was. You all think he's someone special and call him a genius but guess what? He's not a genius he's just a regular Uchiha who hasn't even activated his Sharingan yet. The only Uchiha genius that the Leaf village produced was his brother Itachi and he never relied on his Sharingan to copy other people's jutsu like the rest of that band of thieves. And if you ever try to attack one of your superiors again, I will write you up so fast the Hokage will get paper cuts from it. Am I clear?"

Sakura nodded as much as she could with a kunai under her chin and Naruto released her. Turning around, he saw Sasuke glaring at him and he said "The same goes for you as well Sasuke. We aren't in the academy anymore. Get your act together or leave the program. We don't need upstarts like you trying to prove you're better than everyone else."

Turning to Tazuna he said "I'll be waiting outside to escort you to the bridge." The old man nodded and Naruto walked out. As he left, a small boy came downstairs rubbing one of his eyes from sleep before looking around at the expressions on everyone's faces and asked "What's going on?"

Kakashi shook his head and said "Oh nothing much. Just a little dispute." He then stood up and said "Sakura, Sasuke, Sai. Finish up your breakfast and then meet me outside. We have to get you guys as up to speed as possible for when Zabuza comes back in a week."

Sakura looked at him and said "But Kakashi-sensei, what could we possibly do in a week that will prepare us to fight Zabuza? We couldn't do anything last time."

Kakashi merely eye smiled and said "You'll see."

Fifteen minutes later, Tazuna and the rest of the people working on the bridge were staring as a shadow clone was reporting to Naruto with the rest of the clones spread out along the bridge keeping an eye out for anyone trying to harm the bridge.

"All quiet, nothing to report sir." The clone said as it gave a salute to its creator. Naruto nodded before turning back to Tazuna and said "Hey Tazuna? Need some extra hands?"

Meanwhile, Kakashi was leading his team into the forest. Once Kakashi thought they were at a good spot, he turned to his students and said while giving his eye smile "All right my lovable students, today we are going to learn how to climb trees."

Sakura and Sasuke looked at him like he was crazy before Sakura said "But Kakashi-sensei, we can already climb trees."

Kakashi smiled again and said "Ah, but can you do it without using your hands?"

Kakashi then turned and walked to a tree before waling UP it. Sasuke and Sakura's jaws dropped while Sai simply looked on. Kakashi reached the lowest branch of the tree about twenty feet up and hang down from the bottom of it.

Keeping his smile, Kakashi said "This is a chakra exercise that is essential to all ninja. Using your chakra, you can stick to the sides of any solid object. You must focus your chakra to your feet to stick to the surface. Too much and you will blast yourself off. Too little and you will slip off."

Kakashi reached into his kunai pouch and threw three kunai on the ground in front of his three students feet and said "You should use those to mark your progress. I'd suggest getting a running start."

Sakura and Sasuke got determined looks as they picked up the kunai while Sai simply bent down to pick his up. The three then focused on separate trees and took off at them at a run.

Sasuke made it up about ten steps before the bark suddenly splintered and Sasuke launched himself back as a small crater the size of his foot and half an inch deep appeared.

As Sasuke back flipped and landed in a crouch, he thought 'So it's an exercise of balance. Too much chakra and you push the object away from you. Too little and you don't stick."

"This is easy!"

Sasuke looked up his eyes widened when he saw that Sakura was on a branch at the same level as Kakashi.

"What are you doing on the ground dick less?"

Sasuke's head jerked to the side and his eyes virtually bugged out when he saw that Sai was on a branch of his own about ten feet above Sakura's position.

'Hm, Sakura's file said that she had perfect chakra control. And I imagine that Danzo had made sure Sai was as capable as possible."

Sakura meanwhile was shooting a glare and shouted out "Don't insult Sasuke-kun!"

"Hm, so much for the heir of the most powerful clan of the Hidden Leaf Village. It seems like Sakura and Sai are a bit better at this than you are." Kakashi said trying to motivate Sasuke. Sasuke growled before rushing the tree again.

Scene Change: Tazuna's Bridge Thirty Minutes Later

The bridge was buzzing with activity as the workers worked beside some of Naruto's clones. Each worker had a clone to help him who was being taught how to do what they were doing. The general plan was that since clones were only made out of chakra, they could continue working when their teachers were taking a lunch break while said teachers could watch and correct if they had to. That way they could get an extra hour in building the bridge but still leave at the usual time.

Naruto had briefly considered making more clones when the workers were done for the day with the sole purpose of carrying on for the night, but Tazuna shot the idea down stating that even if the clones learned how to do everything perfectly, he and the other workers would have to check each section they built and if any of them weren't up to spec they would just have to tear them down which would be a waste of materials.

Naruto conceded the point though he did say that he would keep those clones around at night again to guard the bridge since Gato might just decide to try and blow the bridge up and be done with it. Tazuna had paled at that and readily agreed that it would be a good idea.

That night at dinner, Naruto was sitting next to Tsunami's son Inari when Team 7 came in the house with the three Gennin in various states. Sakura came in looking absolutely exhausted but other than that fine. Sai looked like he had done nothing more than have a light jog for about an hour. But it was Sasuke's appearance that nearly made Naruto laugh. He was covered in scuff marks and looked about ready to collapse.

"You guys have fun?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow. Sai didn't say anything and instead just sat down and began eating while Sakura groaned in response before following suit. Sasuke glared at the blond before following suit causing Naruto to chuckle.

"What's so funny Dobe?" Sasuke growled out.

Naruto's face instantly turned serious and he said "Watch your attitude rookie. Like I said to Inuzuka I wasn't in the mood to deal with a rookie that couldn't handle the fact that I was undercover and I'm still not. You're not the greatest thing to grace the earth and you never will be. You aren't even the greatest Uchiha. You're just a second rate one who hasn't even activated his Sharingan yet."

Sasuke roared and launched himself at the blond only to be caught by Kakashi.

"Calm down Sasuke! Naruto, I would have expected better from you." Kakashi said glaring at Sasuke and then looking at Naruto in a disappointed manner.

Naruto shrugged and said "What do you want me to say Uncle Kakashi? The Uchiha needs to learn that he's not as great as he thinks he is. And since there is no real way to sugar coat it in a way that he would still understand, I simply told him in the most straight forward way possible."

Naruto's eyes then narrowed and he said "And as far as I'm concerned, the Uchiha were all overrated any way. They were nothing but thieves stealing the hard work of others. The only one who wasn't like that was Itachi. No wonder he went and killed the rest of his clan, he must have gotten sick of all their arrogance."

Sasuke roared and struggled to break free of Kakashi's grip and shouted out "You take that back!"

Naruto stood up and began walking out of the kitchen. As he passed through the door he called out "Why would I take back the truth?"

An hour later, Kakashi came out of the window to his room and found Naruto staring at the moon.

As he sat down beside him he said "I really wish you wouldn't antagonize my students Naruto."

Naruto simply sighed and said "I'm sorry Uncle Kakashi. Really, I am. But considering what I went through last year, especially at the hands of those two, I find it real hard not to. Haruno I may change my mind about if she gets her act together, but the Uchiha is a real piece of work that needs to be brought back down to earth. Asking me to be nice to him would be like asking me to move the Hokage Monument by myself. It just can't be done. Especially considering what that clan has done to me in the past."

Kakashi sighed and said "I know where you're coming from Naruto, you know I do. But their my responsibility. Just try not to start any more fights, all right?"

Naruto nodded and said "I'll try Uncle Kakashi. I promise."

Kakashi nodded as well before heading back to his window and said "Good night Naruto. Don't stay up too late."

"Yes mother." Naruto said with a smile earning a chuckle from his fellow Jounin.

Scene Change: Zabuza's Room In Gato's Base Of Operations

Zabuza hissed in pain and then sighed in relief as his tool placed some more cream on the burns on his back. Thanks to Gato, Haku had been able to procure fast acting medicine for the burns that the blond had given him. They would be gone by the end of the week.

As Zabuza thought about their next fight he said "Haku."

"Yes Zabuza-sama?"

"I want you to find out anything you can about that blond brat. And when the time comes, I want you to fight him. You're probably the only one who can keep up with his speed."

"As you wish Zabuza-sama."

The next morning when Naruto was exiting the house with Tazuna, Kakashi had Sai join Naruto in guarding the bridge since he had mastered the tree climbing exercise. When Naruto had asked him why he wasn't going to teach the boy water walking, Kakashi simply eye smiled and said "I'll leave that to you." Naruto had simply rolled his eyes and motioned Sai to follow them.

When the trio reached the bridge, Naruto dispelled the clones from the night before and replaced them with a fresh batch. No use giving himself a massive headache by absorbing more than a full day's memories from so many clones all at once. Naruto then created two more clones. One to stick with Tazuna and the other to show Sai how to walk on the water to the bridge. Once everything was taken care of at the bridge Naruto took off shocking all of the workers by seeming to disappear in thin air.

Naruto joined the slipstream and took off to explore the island a bit. While he could have sent clones to do this, it was much quicker for Naruto to do by himself since he could use his chakra sonar technique and not worry about being dispelled when he ran out of it. First though he wanted to see how his former 'classmates' were doing.

Scene Change: Team 7's Training Area

Kakashi suddenly sensed a ton of chakra coming from the direction of the unfinished bridge and thought 'Here he comes.'

Right after that thought he said "Hello Naruto."

Naruto smirked from his position next to his fellow Jounin and mentor and said "Hey Uncle Kakashi. Just wanted to see how they're doing and tell you that I'm going to look around a bit."

Kakashi nodded and said "I have no problems with that. But if you find Gato's base, don't do anything drastic without telling me first. No telling what would happen if we acted too hastily. And as you can see, they're doing fairly well."

It was true. Sasuke had made it about half way to the top while Sakura was resting in one of the highest branches. Naruto nodded before he gave Kakashi a salute and took off again.

True to Kakashi's prediction, Naruto had found Gato's base. As he studied the base from a high tree branch wondering if he should go ahead and scout it, he spotted a figure that looked like a boy his age exiting the ramp and entered the woods.

Deciding to follow the boy, he dropped down from the tree and began following him using his high Jounin stealth to follow him without chakra. He had a theory who the boy was and it would do him no good to tip off the kid by using chakra if he was right.

Following the boy to a field where he began picking herbs, Naruto considered his options. He could either confront the guy now and possibly safe himself the trouble of having to fight both him and Zabuza at once at a later date. He could just leave the boy alone and hope for the best, something that Naruto really did not want to do. Or he could try to learn as much as he could about the boy.

Naruto then remembered Kakashi's order. Even though the two were both Jounin, Kakashi had superiority out in the field due to him having been a former Anbu captain before he left and became a regular Jounin. Deciding that his third option was still within his order's parameters, Naruto moved around the clearing to make it seem like he came from the village.

Once he was in place, Naruto began walking into the clearing. The boy quickly caught sight of him and Naruto noticed the boy almost imperceptivity stiffening when he saw who it was confirming to Naruto that he was aware of who he was facing.

Naruto put on a warm smile and said "I must admit, I wasn't expecting to find someone way out here."

The boy smiled as well though Naruto noticed most of it didn't reach his eyes and said "Well this is the best place to find the herbs that I need."

Naruto nodded and said "True. Some of these herbs are pretty good for medicine. Take this one for example." He bent down to pick up a herb he recognized and said "This one is a good one for treating the pain that comes from first and second degree burns if mixed with a couple of others and turned into a paste."

The boy cocked his head and said "You seem very knowledgeable about them."

Naruto chuckled and said "I had to be. I can't tell you how many times I've burned myself."

The boy rose an eyebrow and said "Really? You don't look like you've been burned often."

Naruto smirked and said "And you don't look like you're actually a boy with that pink kimono, but we all like to hide certain things from others."

The boy stiffened just a little and said "Yes, that's true."

Naruto then shook his head and said "Where's my manners? I'm Naruto."

The boy gave another one of those smiles that didn't quite reach his eyes and said "Haku."

Naruto nodded and said "So, you collecting these for someone who needs them or are you like me who likes to have some handy in case of emergencies?"

Haku looked hesitant before he said "These are for someone that's a precious person of mine. Tell me Naruto, do you have anyone that is precious to you?"

Naruto cocked his head trying to figure out where the boy in front of him was coming from but said "Yeah, I've got a few."

Haku smiled again, and this time it did meet his eyes as he said "Then you must be truly strong, for I believe that it is only when you are protecting something that is precious to you do you become truly strong."

Naruto smiled and said "A good thing to believe." He then frowned and said "Unfortunately, I know one person who would not agree. His whole clan was killed and he's obsessed with revenge. All he cares about is getting stronger and he thinks that everyone else is just dragging him down."

Haku frowned at this but shook it off and said "Maybe he will come to his senses some day."

"Yeah, maybe." Naruto said softly before seeming to brighten up a bit. Smiling at Haku, he said "Well, I better get going, see ya Haku!" And with a two fingered, salute he turned around and disappeared making Haku go wide eyed.

As Haku recovered from his surprise, he thought 'I hope I can match his speed when the time comes.'

As Naruto ran, he thought 'Now that is one interesting kid.'

Author's notes: Due to the overwhelming faves for this story, I'm moving it into my line up and changing it to a different pattern. Instead of only doing one chapter and then doing the rest before coming back to it after I do one each for the others, I'll put in a new chapter after I do one for another story. I'll keep this up until I reach the VoTE scene.