I do not own 'Naruto'
Wave
"Foxy-kun" greeted Anko "how are you doing?"
"Better now that you're here Hebi-hime" he answered "Not to sound rude but why did the old man send you?"
"I saved him from some paper work" she eyed him "You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you now Naru-Chan?"
Naruto wouldn't meet her gaze. When he continued to avoid eye contact she laughed.
She walked in the room. Looking around she saw the family she would help in guarding.
"Naruto-san?" asked Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter "Who is this?"
"This is Anko-Chan" he introduced "Anko this is Tsunami, Tazuna the bridge builder's daughter."
"Nice to meet you Tsunami" Anko greeted "Where is the Cyclops, the emo and the pink howler monkey."
"Up stairs" she answered giggling
When she entered the room she saw Kakashi was sleep. The Uchiha was in a corner brooding and Haruno was pestering him for a date.
"Hey Cyclops" Anko shouted waking Kakashi "who whooped your butt?"
"What are you doing here Anko?" asked Kakashi "I haven't sent for any back-up."
"I did" stated Naruto "right after we were attacked by the demon brothers."
"We don't need help dobe" stated Sasuke "I could have handled this mission with it."
"We ran into a rogue ninja called Zabuza" Sakura answered "Sensei got caught and Sasuke-kun was going to save me but the baka got in the way and tried to show Sasuke-kun up and" she turned a glare to Naruto "Then did something to him and Kakashi-sensei and me."
"So basically he saved you and now you're whining because it wasn't the Uchiha." Anko stated, she turned to Naruto "Tell me what really happened."
Naruto lowered the blindfold to reveal one of his eyes. On contact he activated a jutsu meant for briefing.
Flash Back Jutsu(That's right, I went there)
As the scenes replayed inside Anko's mind she felt pride. Naruto had used the very skills that she and her friends taught him with great skill. He then admitted that he needed help and freed Kakashi.
"Nothing is wrong with your sensei" stated Anko "he just has chakra exhaustion from over using that eye of his."
"What did you do to me dobe?" the Sasuke asked
"I put you under a simple Genjutsu to knock you out" the blond answered "It was actually pretty easy."
The answer enraged the Uchiha. How could the dobe put me in a Genjutsu? I'm an Uchiha, the Elite! It must be that sword, it has to be. No way that the dobe is that strong on his own.
"Naruto you have been acting brash this whole mission" stated Kakashi "Learn to respect your team or I'll have you punished."
"Yeah baka" shouted Sakura "You won't be as good as Sasuke-kun is."
I don't know why I'm surprised, it's not like I just saved their lives. Naruto turned to the door to leave.
"Where are you going dobe?" Naruto continued "I asked you a question dobe, don't ignore your betters."
"Kakashi!" shouted Anko "what do you think you're doing?" she gave a glare that froze them "How can you have such a dysfunctional team?"
"I tried to get them to work together but some people" he glared at Naruto "don't understand the value of team work."
"That is a lie and a half, I've seen your form of team work." She stated "I've known about your negligence for awhile now." She wasn't finished "Because of that you have a group of unprepared genin on a dangerous mission."
"Anko I believe I can effectively train my genin." Stated Kakashi into his book "They've done well so far."
"Only thanks to Naruto, the one you neglected." she retorted "If it weren't for him you'd all be dead."
"Why do you care so much about the baka?" Sakura asked "It's like you're his girlfriend or something."
"I am" stated Anko
"WHAT?" shouted everyone in shock "You're dating Naruto?"
Naruto has a girlfriend
"Come on Naru-chan" called Anko "You can give me a full body massage"
"Wait dobe" Sasuke called "I demand you give me that sword and the claws from the 'demon brothers'." He held his hand out "someone like me could use them much better than you."
"Hell no" stated Naruto, rage building "This sword is mine and the claws are for my other girlfriend."
"Other girlfriend?" they asked
"You're nothing but a pervert!" screeched Sakura
"That's probably my fault" admitted Anko "but it wasn't me alone."
"Women I demand you take his weapons and give them to me" ordered Sasuke "I deserve them more than an abandoned nobody."
Naruto has had enough. He was used to insults, but doing so to his family was his breaking point.
He began reaching for his blind fold.
"Sasuke Uchiha" he growled "What you're afraid of-"
"Naruto!" shouted Anko "I think you should go for a walk."
The blond took a few deep breaths before calming. This is going to be a long mission
"Okay team time for some training" called Kakashi "you will be learning something special today."
-WOODS-
"Sensei you can't teach us in that condition" called Sakura "and why do we need to train, Zabuza is dead, right?"
"Actually I can and no he's not." he replied "Hunter nin are supposed to destroy the bodies on the spot. That can only mean he's a ally to Zabuza."
"I did say he was a fake." Stated Naruto
"What will we be learning it?" asked Sasuke hoping for a powerful jutsu
"You will be learning to climb a tree without hands."
"How is that possible?" asked Sakura in amazement, Anko had a different feeling, annoyance at her comrade.
"Your just now teaching you're the team tree climbing?" she asked "on an A rank mission." She sighed "Let's go Naru-chan" called Anko "I was given some stuff from the others for you on this mission" she gained her usual grin. "We don't want you going soft in training without us."
"Anko I'm afraid that Naruto must train like everyone else" stated Kakashi "He needs the chakra control the most."
"I already know it." Naruto stated "I've mastered up to jounin level chakra control."
"There is no way you know that much" stated Sakura until she saw he wasn't listening "hey don't ignore me."
"Why are you wasting your time on a dobe like him?" asked Sasuke "you should be training me, not that -." He was cut off by a kunai to the neck
"I will choose who is worthy of my training." Stated Anko as her killer intent flowed out "Let's go Naru-chan."
Anko is still a slave driver he thought.
-OTHER PARTS OF WOODS-
She had increased his weights and then gave him orders to start training immediately. He was happy to be learning new techniques but he had limits. Running and dodging kunai while trying to learn new sword katas on top of water brings you to them fast. Why is the world spinning?
"Did I say you could take a break Naru-chan?" she said in a false sweet voice
"…Yes?" he tried
"Fine let's break something" she grinned "I'm going for your legs." He was back to training.
Anko looked at the exhausted Naruto and she was nothing but proud. He may not have mastered everything but he was doing well. He's not even using his clones. He didn't want to be dependent on them.
"That is enough for now Naruto" she called, No sooner had she said that he collapsed. "Dinner should be ready."
He seemed to find a bit of energy in her statement. When they arrived they were greeted by the family. It seemed dinner was ready. Naruto hastily dug into his food. His peace didn't last
"Dobe" called the Uchiha "what did she teach you?"
"None of your business teme" Naruto stated
"Naruto baka you answer Sasuke-kun" shouted Sakura
"Naruto did" stated Anko "you just don't like the answer."
"Naruto it would be helpful to know what learned" stated Kakashi looking from his book "we could use it to our advantage."
"You mean give it to Sasuke to copy" stated Naruto "I won't give him my hard earned skills."
"Why do you all train so hard?" asked a new person, it was Inari, Tsunami's son "you're all just going to die. No one can beat Gato; you should all just go back to your comfy homes."
"Kid you shouldn't speak on things you know nothing about" Stated Anko as Naruto tensed "some people don't have the luxuries you think they do."
"You all think you can just come here and be heroes? Heroes don't exist!" Inari shouted "None of you know suffering so go back to your peaceful homes."
"Suffering?" asked Naruto in an icy tone "You don't know suffering. You live here with a family that loves you." He raised his head glared at Inari "You have a food in your stomach and a warm place to sleep."
"Naruto may-" Anko couldn't finish, the killer intent coming off of him is maddening.
"Are you hated for something you couldn't control? Have you beaten so badly and so often that you don't notice most pain? Do you go home everyday to absolutely nothing?" he stood "Maybe I should show you some of my pain."
He began to raise his blind fold but a hand stopped him. Anko then hugged him from behind and whispered something in his ear. As she continued he began to calm himself. He turned to everyone present and stated.
"I'm going to go blow off some steam" He then Shunshined away.
Anko turned to look at the crying Inari. The massive killer intent had been too much for him to handle.
"Stop whining, you deserved it" she said "just because you have it bad doesn't mean you have it the worst."
"That baka probably made that all up right Sasuke-kun?" spoke Sakura
"Hn" was his response
"You have no idea what Naruto has been through" hissed Anko "The trial he's endured just for living." she whispered "All for something he had no control over."
"Was it really that bad?" Tsunami asked
"No" Anko answered "What he said was the sugar coated version
-WOODS-
The next morning Naruto was lying in a field. He had done a lot of damage to the area. No tree was spared in his rage. Now he was enjoying some well deserved rest.
He then felt a chakra signature enter the field. It wasn't a member of team 7, his hime, Tazuna or even one of his family members. It was however, very familiar.
The signature grew closer.
"Excuse me" the voice called "You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here."
"Don't worry" Naruto reassured "I have 'inside' work on my immune system." He let out a quiet chuckle at his own joke "so what is a pretty lady like you doing out here all alone?"
"You have a blind fold on how do you know I'm alone?" A thought then occurred "what makes you think I'm pretty?"
"I 'know' when someone's around the same way I know your pretty" Naruto answered vaguely, he then lowered his blindfold and looked Haku in the eye "I was right, pretty."
Their eyes met. As they looked deeper they saw each others pain. Those eyes are just like mine. They thought as one.
"I'm Naruto by the way, you are?"
"Haku, I'm picking herbs for my sick friend" Haku answered "should I be worried that I'm alone?"
"No!" he hastily answered "My Sensei's would kill me if they thought I thought something perverted." He saw her work "D-do you want any help?"
"Sure" Haku answered
Naruto sat down beside Haku and began picking herbs. Haku wondered how Naruto saw which to pick but didn't ask.
"Naruto-san, are you a ninja right?" asked Haku gaining a nod "are you strong?"
"Yes" Naruto responded with pride "but I need to get stronger."
"Do you have anyone precious to you?"
"Yes" Naruto answered with no hesitation "they are very few" he thought of each one "but I'd happily lay down my life for them."
"Then you will be truly strong" Haku stated "I think I have enough herbs, thank you for your help."
They stood and turned to leave.
"Hunter-san" Naruto called stopping Haku "when I said I'd lay down my life for them I meant it" he continued "but I'd make sure who ever hurt them suffered as well."
Neither turned face the other
They began walking in their separate directions
Although neither knew of the smile on the others face
"Naruto-san, where have you been?" asked Tsunami "the others have been worried."
"All of them or just Anko" She didn't answer so he did "I had a strange day."
"I was told to give you something when you returned." spoke Tsunami "It's a gift from Anko-san." He noticed she had a frying pan in her hand.
"No no" he begged "please don't"
"I'm sorry but" she took aim "DODGE."
For a civilian she had good aim.
-BRIDGE-
Naruto had guard duty. He didn't mind, it was part of the mission after all. He was even able to collect a little fear from the nervous workers.
He just wished they would stop quitting.
"Tazuna" called a random worker "I-I just can't keep working on the bridge." He said "I'm sorry."
"Hey!" Naruto called to the man "what do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going home." He stated
"So you're going to give up too." It wasn't a question. He turned to the remaining workers "Are you all just going to give up?"
A worker who was about to quit stepped forward.
"What choice do we have?" he asked "Some of us have a family to provide for. We can't do that if we're dead."
Naruto unfolded his blind fold. Kyuubi is going to hate me for this. He needed to help them. This bridge needed them.
He looked into their minds for the cause of the fear.
"Builders of the bridge I know what you all are afraid" he stated as he faded away.
Gato appeared out from nowhere and stood with all of his arrogance.
The builders were all afraid. If Gato was here then that meant that he was going to stop them. They were going to die.
What happened next shocked them all.
Naruto reappeared behind Gato and sliced away at him. In one swing he removed the tyrants head. As the body fell to the ground it faded away.
"And I can help you rid yourselves of it" he stated "If you are still willing to work for the future of Wave."
Naruto stood in silence. He waited for them to make their decision. Finally one of the bridge builders stepped forward.
"We are"
"Done" he stated as they looked on in confusion "You are all willing to defy Gato" he elaborated "You are willing to continue for Wave." He shouted "You all have already casted out your fears."
The builders looked toward one another. They were willing to defy Gato. For their family and for their future they were willing.
They cheered as they returned to their jobs. There was a new vigor in each of their movements.
"That was a great motivator kid" spoke Tazuna "I just hope it was enough."
"I try-Wait what do you mean?"
"Even with this new energy we already lost a lot of workers."
"I have that covered" Naruto stated forming a cross with his hands.
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Tazuna was speechless from what he saw. For every one worker he lost there were three Naruto's. Maybe more!
"Just tell us what we need to do."
REVIEW
ANKO IS THE ONE WHO HAD THE MOST VOTES, SO DON'T COMPLAIN TO ME. I WANTED TEAM 8, SOME HINATA AND KURENAI HATE.
NEXT CHAPTER 'THE BRIDGE'
SHOULD ZABUZA LIVE OR DIE