Chapter 24 – New Changes

The Konoha team, plus one, were waving good-bye to the villagers of the Wave Country. They were very thankful for all their help and gave them a hero's farewell. They began their trek home. During the trip, Naruto kept watch over Haku. The teenager was not speaking to anyone but he was cooperative with the young blond. He ate and drank when he was given. He did not try to escape at all. Naruto didn't know what to say to Haku but he was coming up with something. When the team stopped for the night, Naruto decided to do something.

Sitting near the water, Naruto approached Haku. He gave him some food and sat down in front of him. As the two ate, Naruto began to speak.

"Listen Haku, I know that you might be mad at us about killing Zabuza and that you don't want to talk…" Naruto began but Haku cut him off.

"I am not angry at you or your team Naruto. We were enemies at the time. It is the way of the shinobi world that we live in. I know that you understand this." Haku said.

"Yeah, it was… eye-opening. So, what are you mad about?" Naruto asked.

"I am mad at myself. I was Zabuza's tool and I failed him. I lost to someone who was a better shinobi than me. I could not kill my kindness and finish off your team to help him. It is because of this that he died. I am ashamed of myself because he saved me from death and gave me reason." Haku explained.

"Are you talking about the bloodline killings? We read about it in the academy." Naruto said. Haku was surprised but smiled at him.

"Yes. My father found out that I had the Ice Style bloodline. He and a mob killed my mother and would have killed me if my abilities did not save me. I lived on the streets for a while before I was found by Zabuza. He used my abilities for himself but I did not mind. He found a place for me at his side. I was happy to be his tool." Naruto looked at him with sympathy. While he didn't like the way Haku called himself a tool, he could understand wanting to belong. He wanted that feeling for so long and was very happy to retrieve it. Haku saw the look and smiled.

"You have experience something similar. You have also found people that has given you a purpose. I am happy for you. That is why I am sorry about what will happen when we arrive to your village." Haku said.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"When we arrive, I am going to ask your Hokage to kill me." Haku answered. Naruto looked at him with shock. "I attacked Konoha shinobi and I attempted to kill the last Uchiha. They will want my head and I will give it to them."

"No, no, no, you can't do that. You can't just ask for death!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Naruto," Haku called out, gaining his attention. He smiled at the blond. "I wish that we could have met under a different situation. We could have been great friends. However, I failed my master. I deserve nothing but death for my failure." Naruto could not accept that. He couldn't just let him kill himself. He was running through his head to find something to keep him from going through with his idea. That's when something came to his head.

"Tell me something. Zabuza was loyal to the Mizukage right? What would make him just forget that loyalty? I know that things were bad in Kirigakure but he is the reason that the Mizukage had to stop that academy graduation right? Zabuza must have told you right?" Naruto asked. Haku looked at Naruto with confusion before speaking.

"Zabuza was not really loyal. The only reason he was even on Yagura's side was because he gave him the Executioner's Blade. However, Yagura changed after an attack years ago. A lot of people came to the conclusion that he was being controlled by someone but that was never confirmed. I would like to think that Zabuza attempted the coup because of that. I really have no idea." Haku explained.

"Well then, as Zabuza's friend, don't you think that it is your duty to complete his objective?" Naruto asked seriously. Haku was taken back by that. "You said it yourself. Your purpose was Zabuza's purpose. It is up to you to complete that purpose as his friend. Are you really going to fail him twice?" It was now Haku's turn to think. He never really thought about that. He did feel that Naruto had a point and was seriously thinking about it. Naruto saw this and smiled. Raido and Genma also watched and were impressed with Naruto.

XXX

For the rest of the trip, Haku was much more talkative. It was mostly with Naruto due to the fact that the other two wanted nothing to do with him. Haku and Naruto were talking about their lives and were becoming really good friends. They arrived in the village and made their way to the Hokage tower. Once inside, they were met with the Hokage and his elders. Kakashi could see that they were not happy but kept a straight face.

All three jonin gave their reports to the Hokage and the elders. Kakashi watched as the Hokage's face as it got sterner with every report. When it was over, Hiruzen looked at everyone in the room.

"Thank you for your reports. Team Kakashi, you are dismissed with the exception of your sensei. Haku, we will talk more but I must ask you to wait outside. Two of my ANBU will be with you." He said. Haku bowed and was escorted outside with the genin team and the other two jonin. Once alone, all three turned their eyes on him. Kakashi felt really nervous. "I am not pleased Kakashi."

"I understand sir. I know that I have failed." Kakashi said with authority.

"Spectacularly. You did not answer our call. You continued the mission knowing that the difficulty had increased. You refused to call for backup and the worst thing is that you got an important piece of equipment destroyed due to your incompetence. Have I left anything out?" Koharu asked with a stern tone.

"No but in my defense, everything worked out okay." Kakashi said.

"Do not be so laid back Kakashi! You needlessly put your team in danger! What is the most embarrassing thing is that a genin was making better decisions than a war veteran." Homura said with distaste. Kakashi did not say anything and stood at attention.

"What really happened to the scroll Kakashi?" Hiruzen asked. Kakashi looked at his leader with confusion but it only made the old man glare at him.

"Sasuke made a foolish decision. It was a moment of stupidity." He said.

"Are you really defending his actions? I made the same mistake with my team and look what happened." Hiruzen stated. "I can understand why you favor the Uchiha but it seems that you have done so and lost the respect of your other. I was lucky that Jiraiya doesn't hold a grudge. Naruto might be different. It would also be in your best interest to deal with Sasuke's attitude about Naruto or I will be forced to."

"I will deal with it sir." Kakashi said.

"See that you do." Hiruzen said. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "I am very disappointed in you Kakashi. When you passed this team, I thought that you would do your best in training them. I see now that you have favored one over the others. Your team is not a team and the future that I see is not a good one. You either get them in shape or I will find someone who can." Kakashi straighten up after that ultimatum. "You are dismissed jonin." With that said, Kakashi used the Teleportation Jutsu to leave. After he was gone, the two ANBU entered the room with Haku.

"So, you're Haku. You were Zabuza's accomplice? Naruto said friend, refusing to call you a 'tool'." Hiruzen said with amusement.

"Naruto is a good friend. In the short time, I have come to respect him." Haku said.

"Good. While you are not a register shinobi, you did help Zabuza. We are very aware of his reputation and actions. It was reported that you tend to immobilize rather than kill. However, that does not excuse your part. Why should I not put you in prison for the rest of your life?" Hiruzen asked.

"I do not have any reason Hokage. I did help my master in everything that he did. If it is your decision, I will not fight it. However, Naruto has given me… a purpose. I must complete this purpose not just for me but for Zabuza as well. I was his 'friend' and I have to see it through. I will take any punishment but I must return to the Hidden Mist Village." Haku said. Hiruzen looked at the teenager with a critical eye. After an intense stare down, Hiruzen smiled.

"I see that you are determined. I will consult with my council and we will have a decision. In the meantime, you will be shadowed by my ANBU and we will put you up somewhere comfortable." He said.

"Thank you sir." With that, Haku was led out by the ANBU. Hiruzen just sighed and hoped that Kakashi got things together, for him and his team.

XXX

Naruto was on his way to see Iruka. He knew that he was probably still at the academy as he liked to work from there. He would go to him because he was pretty honest with him when it came to his ideas. He made a lot of notes in the Wave Country and there were a look of theories he had. Iruka could help him sort it out and tell him what worked and what wouldn't.

As he closed in to the academy, he was suddenly cut off by Sasuke. Naruto was surprised but it quickly changed when he saw him. He wasn't exactly happy to see him. He figured out that Sakura was the one who tried to take his scroll. It wasn't hard when he saw the bandages on her arm. He thought that it was Sasuke who might have put her up to it but he quickly squashed that. Sakura probably did it herself. Either way, he wondered why he was standing in front of him now.

"Can I help you with something?" Naruto asked with a tone. Sasuke ignored it and spoke.

"I need you to create a jutsu for me." Sasuke said.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You like to create jutsu, so make one for me." Naruto looked at him with stunned eyes. Naruto suddenly began to laugh. That action made Sasuke look at him with surprise. When Naruto was still laughing, Sasuke got very angry. "What is so funny?!" Naruto stopped laughing and looked at him.

"Oh man, that was funny." Naruto said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Well, let me say this as clearly as possible. Hell no, I won't make you a jutsu."

"Why not?" Sasuke snarled demandingly.

"First of all, you didn't ask for my help, you demanded my help. I don't know who you think you are but you don't demand anything from me. I'm not Kakashi or anybody else who kissing your ass. Number two, why should do anything for you. You have tried to steal from me and you've been spying on my training sessions with Ibiki AND Iruka." Naruto said, surprising Sasuke. "Oh yeah, they let me know about that. I don't know why you so concerned with one of 'the losers' and his jutsu but that's your issue. However, I'm not going to help you or do anything for you. You want a jutsu, go to Kakashi."

Sasuke was steaming at the words that were said to him. While he would never admit it, he did enjoy the fact that he was favored by the village. It did help his ego a bit. To have someone just dismiss him, he did not enjoy it. Sasuke then calmed himself down before scoffing at Naruto. He walked pass Naruto, bumping his shoulder as he did. Sasuke then looked at Naruto.

"Fine, you can keep your stupid jutsu. Not like it's going to matter when I unlock my bloodline." Sasuke said with a smirk. Naruto narrowed his eyes at what Sasuke said. The Uchiha walked away and Naruto gave his back a dirty look. It seem like he would speak to Iruka later. If Sasuke thought he was going to steal his jutsu, that guy had another thing coming. He turned and made his way to see aunty Tsume.

XXX

Kakashi looked at the memorial stone with a frustrated glance. He was not happy with the Hokage's decision. Yes, he messed up. The mission was not what it was supposed to be. His team was supposed to come together and be a team. However, it turned into a disaster. They did not come together as a team like he wanted. He also got in trouble for not replying to the Hokage. That was something that he blamed Sasuke for. It also did not help when his fellow jonin berated him in front of his team.

Kakashi needed to turn this around and fast. He was not going to be the first jonin to ever lose his command. He was going to shape up his team or die trying. It was time to stop being nice to his team. It was time for some tough love.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

Sorry for the late updates. Life just happened to me and I had to deal with it. Anyway, I redid this chapter because after re-reading it, I could not write out the next chapter. I made Hiruzen sterner with Kakashi and I made Sasuke threaten Naruto about his jutsu. These changes helped me to write out the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the changes to the chapter.