Chapter 01: To Know the Truth
Naruto doesn't quite know why he shoves Sasuke, his rival, out of the path of the enemy's senbon. His fear for his ally's life comes to him, stronger than he has ever felt it before. He watches Sasuke rush over to him, trying vainly to keep him awake and aware. Naruto isn't even capable of hearing his words at this point, his consciousness is waning too fast for him to do anything.
Naruto, to his surprise, blinks his eyes open in a sewer of some sort. Standing on top of the water the boy warily observes his surroundings, expecting an attack. No matter how rude the Konoha Villagers have always been, they have never dared to send him into such a dark, dank place.
Naruto breathes slowly, trying to feel the sensation of a path before his eyes snap open. Naruto silently, quickly, and calmly makes his way further into the tunnels, following the tug he feels on his belly. Naruto doesn't even stare when he sees the Kyuubi waiting inside a large cage, with a small figure resting on his paws, sleeping gently.
"Did you finally decide to visit us, brat?" The calm voice isn't expected, though when the figure roughly his own size moves toward him he startles.
"So, this is not the sewers of Wave…" He says slowly, knowing that he needs to figure this out. "Kyuubi-san, you are supposed to be inside me, but I don't think anyone else is supposed to be there in addition to you. So can one of you explain?" Naruto, despite his hyperactive mask, is a rather intelligent young man. Despite only being twelve years old the boy has a tendency to realize things others usually miss.
"Oh? Rather intelligent, just like you, Killua." Naruto tenses briefly, realizing that the name sounds dangerous even to his ears.
"Well, I am a nen prodigy." The youth wanders toward him, slipping past the bars with an ease that makes Naruto wary.
"Nen? What is that?" The teenager pauss, scrutinizing him briefly before he sighs a little bit.
"If you want to save your friends you don't have time for the entire lecture, just the basics." Kyuubi informs him sullenly. Naruto raises an eyebrow, more than kind of confused at the sulking that the giant fox is now doing.
"Naruto, I am Zoldyck Killua. My parents were assassins, who trained me to be the best before I took that training further as a Hunter to escape from their callous disregard for life." Naruto winces, realizing he has been forced to kill people from a very young age.
"Sorry, I would be pained if I hurt anyone like that…" Killua raises an eyebrow at him.
"It did cause you pain, since you are both the same soul." Naruto turns to glance toward the fox, disbelief on his face.
His attention is returned to Killua as he speaks. "Yeah, about that… The seal keeping Kyuubi here somehow messed with the reincarnation cycle. I can still merge with you, but you will have all my abilities and skills in your arsenal. But you have to give permission first." The snowy haired boy tells him in a simple tone.
"Will it help me wake up?" Naruto asks, knowing this means a lot to him.
Instead of Killua answering him, Kyuubi does. "It should push out the senbon enough for you to wake up on your own. Though it might cause your body to have some kind of growth spurt." Naruto nods to the Kyuubi as calmly as he can.
"Kyuubi, is there a way to return here? I've got some questions I'd like to ask if you are willing." Kyuubi gives him an unimpressed stare. Killua snickers before approaching closer.
"Well, I know some of these things. If we merge, my knowledge will become yours as well." Killua informs him solemnly, well aware of what this means.
Naruto hesitates, "Are you sure you want to do that? I'd hate to force you." Naruto notices the mild amusement in Killua's eyes, a little deadlier than he expects, but still amused.
"Cut out the sappy shit and get your soul in one piece if you don't want the damned Uchiha to die." Kyuubi snarls, obviously not interested in hearing any kind of friendly chatter.
"I'm ready whenever you are, Naruto." Naruto reaches out, offering his hand to the snowy haired youth in a silent question. Killua gently takes his hand, causing his own manifestation to slowly dissolve and sink into the blond genin. "Use my powers wisely, Naruto."
Naruto, contrary to belief, doesn't feel much different when he comes back to awareness. He quietly stands up, looking toward the fake hunter nin with a sense of familiarity. "I know you from somewhere." Naruto says, startling the figure into stiffening. He starts remembering the people he has met outside of Konoha before he gives him an understanding look. "Haku, right?"
"I'm sorry Naruto." Naruto sees the hurt in his stance, he probably knows that Naruto realizes he has hurt some of his comrades. Naruto knows he expects to attack, most probably would, instead Naruto turns toward the unfinished end of the bridge.
"Haku, did Zabuza call for reinforcements to help after getting off a boat? Kakashi would have told us if he hired mercenaries." Haku stiffens, sharpening his own hearing before Naruto appears between the two jounin and raises his index finger in a 'one moment' gesture. Then he uses it to point at the unfinished end of the bridge.
"Zabuza-sama, did you call for reinforcements?" Haku asks as he arrives a brief moment later. The four shinobi pause, gauging each jounin's reaction to the news.
"Well, if it isn't the Baby of the Bloody Mist and his apprentice…" A firm clapping comes from beyond the mist as it starts clearing up.
"You had no intention of paying them, did you?" he asks blandly. Naruto's fury knows no bounds, but he refuses to show his hand too early.
"Che, like I would pay such an expensive price." Naruto senses Haku manipulating the fog, clearing the sight between their group of four and the unfinished end of the bridge. There the midget stands, his beady little eyes focusing on Naruto for a moment. "Though, despite being wimpy, he has managed to weaken your lot for us. This is like expecting a pittance and finding a wad of cash."
"You are really stupid then, heh…" Naruto chuckles, already hearing the footsteps of angry villagers. The quizzical looks from Kakashi and the two missing nin has him giving the midget a feral grin. "You had one miscalculation… The fact that shinobi even came would likely give hope to the armed villagers at the shore, marching onto the bridge." Gato pauses for a moment, allowing them all to barely hear the crowd.
"They're just peasants, there is little they can do to me with my armada." Naruto snickers at him.
"That may be so, but there are currently two very angry and determined jounin staring you down, ready for the kill. Haku may not be a killer, but his senbon can easily paralyze long enough to kill the thugs since he is mid-to-high chunin. And, despite hiding my skills for years, you should never underestimate a jinchuriki." Naruto releases his bloodlust, flooding only the area in front of him, startling the two water users beside them. The majority of the thugs are wary, frightened of him as they should be. A few almost collapse as their whimpers are heard by the shinobi.
"Hot Damn! You've been holding out on us!" Zabuza sounds mostly amused, but slightly annoyed for some reason.
"I didn't know until about three months ago, I've got no formal training." Naruto whispers only loud enough for the shinobi to hear.
"Nice bluff, Brat." Zabuza whispers back, annoyance quickly fading.
"So, do we still attack Zabuza?" A voice is heard from nowhere. Haku stiffens as his senses scans the bridge.
"No, go for the thugs." Kakashi answers with a steady grip on his Kunai.
"Zabuza, I don't want Haku to die. I'd like it if he comes to Konoha with us, I don't command either one of you, and I don't want to. He'd have a nice home and won't have to run away anymore. He won't have to constantly watch his back in fear of being struck down and he can make friends of his own like I have." Zabuza sighs, and Naruto hears the regret and understanding underneath it. He turns toward Haku, who is stiff as a board as he realizes what is about to happen.
"Haku, you have two orders from me. These are to be followed out at all costs. One, find someone to love and settle down with, two follow the brat to Konoha and try to settle there." Haku tears up, nodding despite his sorrow at the final order.
"Though there is one thing." Naruto murmurs to Zabuza, regaining his attention.
"Go on." Zabuza orders softly. The two Jounin notice that he is holding the pressure on his bloodlust if he is right.
"If you have any sort of funds on you then you will need to let Haku take them once the battle is clear. He needs to be able to support himself and for that he needs money. And maybe giving him your sword as a reminder of your bond. He can mount it on a wall above your shrine." Haku sobs briefly once, almost looking relieved at having something to remember him by. Despite this Haku looks really frail right now.
"Do it." Zabuza says before Naruto focuses his nen. A rather strange looking weapon appears with a mouth grip similar to what a doctor uses is in the middle of it all. It has a face guard similar to Kakashi's mask in shape, on the outside, though several blades are on the outside, pointing away from his face. Two longer blades extend past either side. Naruto lets him bite down on it, with a grateful nod before the two jounin blur as the ninken finally strike their targets howling in fury.
Naruto, despite usually avoiding killing people, throws kunai harder than he ever has, going through six thugs at once due to the strength alone. He winces as he realizes the Kunai also goes through the ship into the distance, but Haku readily follows his actions. He strikes down anyone nearing Zabuza's back, with such awful killing intent.
"If he lives, I'll ask the Hokage for his refuge." Naruto sees his body relax a little bit, only in hope, as he starts acting quicker. Naruto, to his shock, senses someone sneaking up on Haku, and turns, grabbing the pitchfork. The villager is startled as Naruto only holds the pitchfork.
"Gato betrayed them." He says in a rather blunt tone. The villagers behind him relax all at once before Inari puffs up like an angry chicken.
"I told you Naruto wouldn't betray us!" comes the shriek from the child. Naruto winces, realizing that Inari isn't used to killing. It could ruin his soul more than it already had.
"Do whatever you have to Inari, but don't get killed." Naruto tells him firmly. The villagers with crossbows take aim.
"Back up is here!" Naruto hollers as a warning to the jounin as a volley is shot at several of the remaining thugs. Thankfully nothing hits the two jounin and they are able to quickly take down the last of the fighters. Gato, to Naruto's amusement, is pointing a spear straight at Zabuza.
"Stay back!" He whimpers. Zabuza continues walking forward with his arms limp at his side, allowing the spear to pierce his heart as he lunges, face weapon ripping into Gato's small body. Haku cries out, blurring forward to flip over Zabuza. Naruto understands that they need to talk. The weapon Naruto designed vanishes as he stops supporting its existence.
"Why!?" Haku whimpers, the villagers stare, openly shocked at the thought of Zabuza sacrificing himself to put an end to the midget.
"So you'd live for you." Zabuza rasps before he groans. Haku sobs, "Listen, not much time, you are the last known Yuki Clan member. This means you have a duty to your ancestors to continue their legacy. And sure, you'll be my legacy, but you are so much more than that, Son." Haku freezes at the word that has been spoken to describe his status in Zabuza's eyes. Naruto knows what he would give to be called son is nearly the same that Haku would give.
Naruto senses Zabuza's heart stop beating as the man goes limp. Haku, understanding loss, sits there, knowing that his former master truly loved him. "Haku, family isn't always blood. Sometimes you recognize when you have a makeshift relative, sometimes you don't. Regardless of your blood status with someone, you may not truly be family. Family is made when people share unbreakable bonds with each other. Your blood parents may be gone, one of them might have been the cause, but Zabuza is truly your father in every way that matters. Don't insult his memory by crying about him all the time, pray for his soul to have mercy bestowed upon it, always remember who he is and was to you, but never forget him."
Naruto moves over toward him before gently rubbing Haku's back, Naruto doesn't startle when Haku latches onto him, whimpering in his arms with such sorrow. "We'll honor his sacrifice." Tazuna says from nearby. Naruto feels Haku stiffen in his arms.
"First, Haku has to gather his supplies," Naruto informs them. "Zabuza willingly agreed to let Haku take mementos from him after the battle." Turning toward Haku he hugs him for a moment. "He would likely be offended if you refused to take what he willed you." Haku sniffles, taking off his mask and starting to pilfer through pockets, gathering almost everything. When he is done, Haku places his stolen mask on his chest. "Zabuza-sama, I won't give up."