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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.

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Upload Schedule: Sundays and Thursdays

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Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Demonic or summons speech"

'Demonic or summons thoughts'

Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness

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"A young man is a theory, an old man is a fact." - E. W. Howe

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I am just going to address something quickly. I have received several PM's asking about the 'fluff' from last chapter. For people who have lived with a family member or friend with PTSD you know that they have an item or person that is their proverbial anchor. For Ty Lee who has been beaten, molested, and overall mentally abused as well, she found her anchor in one of the first people to step in for her. Naruto saved her life when he did not need too. Her attachment to him currently is a slight infatuation but mostly him being her anchor. Naruto has been trained since he was young to be a soldier. He has not had many chances to experience pubescent emotions, nor has he acted upon them. For him he believes it to be embarrassment not infatuation. Remember what I spoke of, everything has a purpose or reason. I only spoke of this in the chapter AN due to the frequency of the question. Naruto has a soldier's mind set in a young man's body, Ty Lee has trauma fueling her movements currently. Though a small form of the romance shall occur in this story, the sequel that takes place in Shippuden will be where the majority of the romance is. I apologize if this has brought any confusion or dislike for the story however, every story has its meaning, every sentence a story in and of itself. I hope this has cleared up any misunderstandings so far, I will see you in the Epilogue of this chapter. Till then.

~Ardent Chronicler

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Guilt, that was what he was feeling. He had never felt this way before, but then again, he has never been the source of a comrade's pain like this. He looked down to Sakura and his hands started to shake, if only he had been more careful, had been clearer in his mind. Naruto felt a tightness in his chest but he gritted his teeth and gripped his right hand in his left. The sound of the door opening, turning he saw Itachi closing the door behind him as he sat down next to Naruto in front of Sakura.

Naruto looked to Itachi and he felt Itachis hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault Naruto."

"Yes, it is, I fired that arrow, I wasn't in the right mindset to shoot that arrow without realizing the possibilities."

"So, you blame yourself for the enemy moving her body in the way of an arrow aimed for him?"

"It is not about that! I fired that arrow! Me, a Yu Yan archer! I'm not supposed to miss or hurt my allies with my arrows!"Naruto ground his teeth and he closed his eyes tight in frustration.

"No Naruto, it is not your fault. You were injured in battle, you were still injured whether your tenant helped you or not. You did your best, and even then, you were against not one but two benders. That is no easy task for a group of Genin, even if you are my students. You aren't your father, either of them, and you aren't either of your mothers. You are not on that level. Yes, mistakes were made and it cost, but that is not your fault. That man, Kai, he chose to do that to a defenseless young girl. You were fighting FOR her, not to hurt her. You have no reason to feel this way."

"I do, I feel this way due to the fact, it was my arrow, I fired the shot."

Itachi reached to Narutos side and withdrew one of his arrows. Itachi dug the tip into his hand against Narutos protests and he squeezed his hand. Itachi held it there in his hand the blood dripping down his forearm.

"So, if Sakura was injured by your doing does that mean I am?"

"What are you doing Master!"

"Answer my question, if I am now injured by your arrow, does that mean you hurt me?"

Naruto looked to his Masters bleeding hand and sighed, he took the arrow gently from the man hand and used his pants leg to wipe the blood off.

"No, you were not hurt by me."

"Neither was Sakura. You need to realize this Naruto, not everything is in your hands to control. Whether an arrow or a technique, you are not at fault for this injury." Itachi used his uninjured hand to toss Narutos red hair. Itachi looked down into Narutos eyes and he smiled for his Genin. The two were disturbed however by the sound of a groan. Itachi looked down and noticed Sakuras eyes opening slowly.

"Mmm, Master? Naruto? Where are we?"

Naruto looked down to Sakura and started to fill her in on everything, from her wound to their travels to Tazunas home, and Tsunami who had taken charge of her care.

"So, we made it eh? Knew we could, not gonna let a little thing like this stop me." Sakura smiled weakly to the two boys before she coughed. The pain in her chest searing she winced.

"Does it hurt much?" Naruto looked to her hand that was grasping at the futon she had been laid on.

"Just, just a little bit. I'm a little sleepy, I'm going to get some rest, ok?" Sakura closed her eyes as she started to drift off to sleep.

Itachi stood from his place and walked to the door opening it.

"Tsunami will be done with lunch in half an hour, you should come join us today. Sakura will be fine, so don't worry." Itachi walked out of the door and closed it behind him leaving the two Genin alone.

Naruto reached into his bag and pulled out a scroll that was all too familiar. Opening the scroll, he saw a face, name, and description of his target.

Name: Mya

Affiliation: Matriarch of the Southern Water Tribe

Spouse: Hakoda Chief of the Southern Water Tribe

Abilities known: Healer, no practical skill in water bending.

Eliminate with extreme prejudice. If dead and the knowledge is spread It is believed Hakoda will lose his sensibility and will begin to attack without a plan. This will lead to Hakoda and the Southern Tribes undoing.

Assassin Tasked: Naruto Yu

Importance: S-rank

Reward: Two hundred Gold pieces, and fifty Silver pieces.

Naruto rolled the scroll back up until he looked at the picture of the woman one last time. The picture was of Mya and her two children standing in front of a man he believed to be Hakoda. Naruto looked into the woman's eyes in the photo and at that moment he knew, this woman had to die whether he felt differently or not.

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Naruto descended the stairs quickly rounding the corner to the kitchen where he heard lots of conversation.

"Oh, Naruto! Come and eat, you must be really hungry." Tsunami smiled warmly to the young man.

"I am, I apologize for not joining you earlier, I was prisoner to my thoughts." NAruto pulled himself into a chair next to Tazuna. He looked at the bowl Tsunami laid down in front of him and he began to eat.

"So big brother, what is the plan till Lord Iroh arrives?

"I will be training you two. I will be teaching you both a few supplementary techniques and training Naruto in Taijutsu, and you in Genjutsu. I expect you both to practice your own techniques on your own time. We will be on a rotating shift schedule, my Shadow Clones will be teaching you while I guard Tazuna and his crew at the bridge. Every second day Naruto will join me, and every other day Sasuke will be joining me on the bridge. Those are the days I will be training you in Genjutsu or Taijutsu. When Lord Iroh arrives we will be continuing on the mission. There will be an increase in your individual training, I will be able to be more hands on as Lord Iroh will be here Zabuza and Kai may be more hesitant to attack. As of that point I will be more devoted to each of your individual trainings. Are there any questions?"

"What techniques will we be learning?" Naruto was interested, he had not yet mastered the techniques Elder Mitokado has given him.

"For you Naruto I will be teaching the Water Shuriken, Water Bullet, and Mouth shot techniques. These are to supplement your long range support style. Sasuke will be learning the Fire Dragon Bullet, Fox Fire technique, and Demon Lantern technique. These will be able to support his close range techniques by adding projectiles to his close range. I will be starting both of your trainings on your elemental manipulations as well. I know one of both of your elements, however, I suspect you both contain a secondary element. These will be addressed once we return to the village. I will be teaching you the Genjutsu: Sharingan technique to add to your Genjutsu repertoire Sasuke, and Naruto will begin to learn the basics of his mothers Taijutsu style named Tang Soo Do. I expect you both to be diligent in your training and to take this situation seriously, if you do not you will be placed on guard duty while I train the other." Itachi watched both boys as he saw them processing the information. Itachi was about to continue eating when there was a rapping noise on the window. Itachi looked over and it was his crow messenger. He stood and walked to the window and opened it, taking the note from the crows leg he allowed his summon to vanish in a puff of smoke. He opened the letter and his eyes widened considerably.

"What's wrong big brother?"

"Iroh is on his way now, and he is bringing two benders with him. They will take over guard duty for the bridge while Iroh wishes to help train you both. He wishes to train you both in conquering your mind and training you in your emotions. This is a great honor, and I expect you both to accept. It is not everyday when Lord Iroh decides to train two people."

Narutos eyes were widened as he looked to his Master. He knew what this meant as Zuko had been personally taught by his uncle. Zuko at one point had been the weakest fire bender in the capitol until he spent five years training under his uncle. He now stood nearly equal to any bender in the Nation save for his Uncle and Father.

Sasuke was conflicted about this whole ordeal, why would someone as famous as Iroh want to train him and Naruto? It made nearly no sense, until he took into consideration the man they had fought. Kai, he was a waterbender, and due to their location, was probably one of the Southern Water tribes benders not a Northern tribes man like he had figured. This meant that part of the conflict was in Lord Irohs hands due to his campaign against the southern tribe in these lands. It made more sense, by increasing the twos training they would be able to complete their mission quicker and would be able to assist in the capture or elimination of the water tribesman.

Itachi stood from the table as he looked to the clock on the wall.

"Excuse me, I will tend to Sakura now. Please continue to eat." Itachi stood from the table and began to walk up the stairs to Sakuras room. He walked down the narrow hallway that took an elbow shaped turn. He opened the door at the end of the hallway and closed it behind him.

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Itachi sat before Sakura as he lifted the covers off of her form. After many years of being betrothed he cared not for her nearly naked torso. Itachi gently unbound her wound which covered her torso before he began to check her wound. It was healing nicely though would leave a large scar. He felt the tissue beneath his fingertips and sighed. He never expected this to happen on his teams mission.

"Master?"

Itachi smiled down to the girl as he reached over to the small pack that laid beside her head. He pulled out a small bit of gauze and a bottle of antiseptic. He removed the cork from the Iodine and placed the gauze over the top tipping it gently to dampen the gauze.

"How are you feeling?"

"Cold, though that's to be expected."

Itachi gently dabbed at the wound as he heard her hiss under her breath. Itachi reached into the back bringing out a large bundle of bandages as he placed them beside her body. Using the dry side of the gauze he gently wiped the remaining antiseptic from her wound as he looked down to her eyes. He saw the conflict as he prepared himself for this conversation.

"What is wrong Sakura?"

"I was too weak. I couldn't do anything when he decided to stop playing with us. I felt like a kid again, ya know?" Sakura bit her lip as she wanted to cry from how she felt. The helplessness, the pain, the anger in her chest boiled.

"It is alright Sakura, there was nothing you could have done. Benders are beyond your league currently, and the only reason the woman died was due to Naruto catching her by surprise with an arrow. You aren't weak, you just faces an opponent that was stronger than you."

Sakura turned her head as she watched her sensei spoke honestly to her and she looked him in the eye.

"Will you train me? In Genjutsu, I never want to feel helpless ever again." Sakura watched Itachis face, she couldn't tell what he had been thinking. She had figured his silence was due to him not wishing to teach her but a hand on her chin when she tried to avert her eyes so he wouldn't see her disappointment made her look back to him. Itachi had a warm smile that he showed her.

"Of course I will. I am you teacher am I not? We can begin while you recover with some theory and basic about Genjutsu. When this mission is over and you have rested I will teach you a few techniques and the theory behind them. Is that a good deal?"

Sakura nodded as she smiled widely to him.

"Course it is Master, I'm ready to learn more about Genjutsu."

"Very good, I will make sure a clone stays with you each day and teaches you. It will be slow at first due to your condition and the rest you need, but I will be teaching you more as you can handle the workload."

"I can."

"No you can't, your body will take at least two months to heal the damaged bone, not to mention the bruising to your body. You will be out of commision till we can get you back to the village. For all intents and purposes, you are out of the mission. Don't take this personally, it is for your safety." Itachi watched her nod as he removed his hand from her chin and sat back on his heels. Itachi stood and began to leave as Tsunami opened the door and motioned for him to leave. Once she closed the door Tsunami placed down the small pot of water she had and sat next to Sakura. She removed the rest of the girls clothes leaving her bare as the day she was born. She wringed the rag sh had out as she began to wash Sakuras body from her feet upwards.

"Hello Sakura, I'm Tsunami, it's good to finally meet you."

Sakura nodded as she felt Tsunami moving up her legs with the rag removing sweat and filth from her body.

"It's nice, but awkward to meet you Tsunami." Sakura began to giggle like a child when Tsunami was washing her inner thigh, she was very ticklish in that area. She felt the awkwardness creep up as she washed her intimate parts, and Tsunami lifted her legs to wash her rear. Sakura began to feel less awkward when Tsunami bega to wash her torso.

"Would you like something to eat? I prepared a light soup for you."

"That would be very nice." Sakura once again began to blush as Tsunami began to wash the area around her breasts and around her scar. With silence once again dominating the room she began to hum a tune as Tsunami began to wash her throat and face. Once done she placed the rag back into the dirtied water and stood bringing the pot out of the room to the bathroom. Tsunami had only been gone for a minute before she returned with a small steamy bowl of soup and some clothes that clearly were not Sakuras. Placing the bowl of soup down beside the girl Tsunami lifted Sakuras torso softly and bound her bound her wound with the bandages Itachi left behind. Helping Sakura into some fresh underwear and Tsunamis old clothes she felt Sakura relax. Tsunami reached off to the side grabbing an extra pillow to help elevate Sakura as she began to help feed Sakura.

"Tsunami, can I ask you a question?"

"You already have dear, but go ahead." Tsunami giggled at the pout Sakura gave her before she began to speak.

"I feel so weak, but I only had damage to my breast bone right? Why are you all caring for me so much? Why am I out of the mission?"

Tsunami sighed as she placed the bowl down beside the girl.

"There was more than just the damage from the arrow. Your Master told me that you also had extensive bruising to your left lung, to the rest of your ribcage, two fractured ribs, a twisted ankle, and there is a contusion to your right hip. You won't be able to move around or work a lot, and for the next two weeks, you will need assistance with many of your daily faculties. That's why I'm here though. It would be awkward if there wasn't a girl to help eh?" She took in Sakuras look of depression before she smiled down to the girl.

"Do you like the clothes?"

"Oh, yeah, they're comfy. Whose are they?"

"They used to be mine, your clothes were ruined and until you woke up we couldn't exactly change you into your own, so Itachi had me bring out some of my old clothes to put you in. Though we won't be able to use any of your training clothes for a while, they're too tight on your body for the injuries you have." Tsunami watched the girl nod and she smiled down to her before rising to her feet.

"Tsunami, why are you helping us?"

"That's quite easy Sakura, you all saved my father." Tsunami walked from the room and left Sakura to her devices. Over the next few days the women began to really bond and had become quick friends.

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It had been nearly a month since his team had left the village, it had been three weeks since they arrived at Tazunas home, and two and half weeks since the boys started training. Though progress in Genjutsu for his little brother and Narutos Taijutsu had been going good, Sasuke had troubles with the jutsu he had been learning. Naruto had taken to his three techniques like a fish to water, no pun intended. However, Sasuke seemed to struggle, even though he showed aptness to Fire jutsu before. He had expected Sasuke to struggle on the Demon Lanter, and Naruto to struggle on the Mouth Shot technique. Sasuke at this point could make only a single Demon Lanter, and two balls of Fox Fire. Naruto could perform the Mouth Shot perfectly, and make stable enough Water Shuriken, but with the Water Bullet he tended to make it too large. That brought him to his current situation with the two in front of him.

"That's enough Sasuke, you do not want to tire yourself out needlessly. Just work on your meditation in preparation for our Genjutsu lessons." Itachi watched his brother leave the bank of the river they had been training at. Itachi looked over the water and he sighed. He finally figured out what had been Sasukes problem, it was his patience. He kept forcing his chakra into the technique like he did the fireball or Fire Dragon Bullet, these techniques needed a small amount of patience with the channeling of the chakra. You needed to let it flow into the techniques, not pour them in. Though since he told Sasuke this he had been able to make the techniques, his little brother still does not have the patience to correctly use them. Itachi looked to the water and began to head back to the house to meet his team.

Sasuke sat down on the chair beside the stairs frustration filing his being though he refused to show it. He had tried his hardest, but he just couldn't do it. At this point he was thinking of giving up, but today he had managed to make a single Demon Lantern and after seeing how strong it could be he realized that h needed to get this down. It also didn't help his frustration that Naruto had been able to complete all but one of his jutsu. Sasuke just couldn't understand what was going on, how did Naruto get something so easily and he did not? Sasuke grew frustrated and stood, walking up the stairs as his brother walked in the door. He went down the small hallways and entered into the room on the left that he shared with his brother. He sat down behind the window seel and closed his eyes to meditate on his thoughts and to calm his mind. His thoughts wandered to his training over the last week, to his teammates, to his family. He felt at peace with himself. However, his team mate was not having the same thoughts.

Naruto slid across the ground, Itachis foot still extended in the sidekick he had launched Naruto from.

"Again Naruto."

Naruto rose and ran at Itachi, watching as Itachi assumed a horse stance he saw Itachi's movement. Naruto slid his hands crossing over his body as he raised the lower one high above his head with Itachis leg. He watched the man flip backwards and smile to him.

"Good, you are getting the timing down. Now, again." Itachi had been drilling Naruto over forms, blocks, kicks, punches, all forms of strikes. He was impressed by how Naruto absorbed the information like it had been second nature to him. Itachi felt Narutos arm lift his leg from his foot as Itachi performed another backflip and nodded to Naruto.

"Good, you have the front block, high block, and cross block under your belt. Now, I am going to attack at your level, I want you to block my actions." Itachi ran at Naruto, throwing a sharp right punch, Naruto performed the high block moving Itachis fist out of Narutos range. Itachi spun into his right throwing his leg out for a spin back kick to which Naruto once again blocked with a high block. Itachi flipped backwards before he ran forward, he lashed out with a right kick to Narutos knee which he blocked with a low block. Itachi continued with his spun and torqued his torso to spin in the air bringing his heel down upon Naruto. Naruto raised his hands up crossed over each other like an X. He grabbed Itachis foot and stepping to the side and twisting his hips he tossed his master. Itachi brushed off his clothes and stood.

"Good very good. Now, The new move set I am going to teach you happens to be another block, and a new stance for you to practice. Now, the inside-outside block and the outside-inside block are very rudimentary and their names should give you all you need to know about them. The knife hand stance is more of a flowing stance to be used not as an attacking, but a stance to use during a fight to guard and also transfer into an attack." Itachi crossed his arms over his torso, his right hand going from his right shoulder to his crotch, and his left hand bent at the elbow facing up to his left shoulder. Itachi stepped forward in the basic frontstance and whipped his right arm upwards swinging it into the left hands spot as the left hand extended downwards to the right hands position.

"This block is used mainly to block torso attacks that are not straight forward, such as kicks, staff blows, or knife hands. Now the Outside-Inside block Is basic in the same way." Itachi took his front stand and placed his arms in front of him, and as his imaginary opponent threw his fist towards Itachis mid section Itachi stepped forward and brought his right arm bent at the elbow next to his head inward and used his forearm to push the attack out of the way of his solar plexus.

"This block is used for torso attacks, much more effective to thrusts, punches, and straight kicks. This technique is very useful as many opponents will try for your torso in some way or another and will try to get quick body shots to bring you down. Now the knife hand stance, as I said, is more of a transitory stance. I prefer to use it to transfer between the horse stance and the front stance. Though it can be used vice versa, and for the other few stances that will be introduced to you once you are deemed worthy to learn the advanced techniques." Itachi stood up straight, he pulled his left foot in bending it at the knee and pointing his toe to the ground, his right leg bearing his weight and bent at the knee. He brought his hands up cupping a knife hand to his torso right below his solar plexus and the other hand in a knife position with the palm facing the opponent and cocked a small bit to the outside. He watched Naruto assume the stance and nodded, he walked around Naruto correcting basic things such as posture, arm length and position, and the amount of weight distribution. Itachi was pleased as he waved for Naruto to leave the stance.

"Now, perform the Outside-Inside, and Inside-Outside block for the next hour, whenever I clap stop whatever you are doing and assume the knife hand stance. On my mark, begin." Itachi began to watch Naruto, he corrected a few things, but just as he suspected within a few minutes Naruto had a nearly perfect block. He had only clapped every ten minutes but it was effective, Naruto had been adapting to the situation and seemed to be a Kinesthetic learner after all. At the end of the hour he allowed Naruto a small breather before he motioned for him to join him.

"Now, I am going to attack at your level, I want you to use everything you have learned so far to block my attacks. For every block you miss you will be doing fifteen push-ups. Begin!" Itachi took a few steps back watching NAruto slip into his front stance. Itachi ran forward and threw a low left kick to which Naruto blocked with his front lock, then he blocked a drop kick by X blocking and tossing his Master. Itachi walked towards Naruto in a stance and threw punch after punch each blocked nearly perfectly by a Inside-Outside block or a high block. Itachi however, had been caught unprepared for his student to use the inside-outside block to push his Masters leg aay and spin his body before retaliating with a front kick sending his Master to the ground. Itachi stood and brushed off once again before he chuckled walking over to Naruto and tossed his hair.

"Very good, your mother would be proud. You are picking her style up extremely quickly. By this time next week I expect to start you on more offensive techniques and holds so that you can begin to fight back more effectively. As for today your lesson is over." Itachi lead Naruto back to the house they had been dwelling in with a sense of pride. Kushina had taught him this style, and now he was teaching her son, this felt right to him indeed.

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Sakura smiles as she manages to sit up without too much pain. She looks to the black haired woman next to her as she nods. With a shaky hand she takes the bowl of soup and begins to eat the soup by herself and she is filled with happiness.

"I can do it! I can hold the bowl without shaking too badly." Sakura smiles to the woman next to her as Tsunami nods. Once Sakura had finished her meal Tsunami helps her lay back down and begins to unbutton Sakuras top. She opens the top wide and unbinds Sakuras chest as she looks at the wound. You know this is going to scar nicely, it won't be too noticeable, it might even blend into your skin tone. Though there is only be certain people to see your scar."

"Oh?"

"Oh yeah, when your breasts come in fully they will be able to hide the scar between them nicely. Only those you let play with them or in between them will see it." Tsunami giggled when she saw Sakura light up like a christmas tree.

"Miss Tsunami!? Don't say things like that." Sakura covered herself with the edges of the shirt before Tsunami forced the shirt back open. She helps Sakura sit up and Tsunami nodded again looking at her breasts.

"Oh yeah, you are going to have a nice set to hide the scar away if you already have a B-cup." Tsunami giggled at Sakuras blush once again before she pulled the shirt all the way off. She began to use the bandages she removed to bind her waist and her chest once again. She helped Sakura put the shirt back on and looked to her.

"Do you want to go down stairs?" She saw Sakuras eyes light up and a nod from the girl got Tsunami to help her stand even though it made Sakura wince in pain. Slowly the two women walked out of the room and down the stairs. Though it was slow when they made it to the ground floor and rounded the corner everyone's eyes widened seeing Sakura move around.

"It is good to see you up and about Sakura, how are you feeling?" ITachi got up and helped Tsunami sit his student into the recliner in the living room. Sitting it back and raising the feet Sakura hissed at the pain in her hip before nodding.

"It hurts still, but I'm doing better. I can eat by myself and it is starting to get easier to breath. Im hoping that by the end of the month I'll be able to walk around without help." Sakura looked around and smiled before she saw a young boy hurry in and run up the stairs to his room.

"Was that Inari?" Sakura watched Tsunami nod before she heard Naruto scoff.

"He tends to stay away from all of us, something about us being killed by Gato and being weak enough not to do anything about it." Naruto couldn't stand the kid, he was a brat and did nothing but whine and moan about them being there. It was getting on his last nerve, and he prided himself on patience.

Sakura smiled sitting there as everyone began to converse about training, everything going on day to day and just over all enjoyed the happy atmosphere. She was about to ask how the mission was going when there was a short but loud knock on the door.

Itachi stood and made sure he had a kunai ready to summon from the seal on his wrist, he opened the door and was shocked. He stepped back giving a low bow as General Iroh and two large armored men walked in the door.

Naruto saw Iroh once before, he had been a very muscular man who was a force to be reckoned with. Though the man he saw now seemed to be that man's father, his older father. Iroh stood there in his pink tunic bound with a red sash and a gold trim. He had his torso armor and shoulder plates in place and his beard seemed longer. Though now overweight as his stomach stood out from his torso by a good margin he knew that this man was still the Dragon of the West.

"Ah, Itachi! How are you my friend. Are you keeping up with your tea ceremony training?" Iroh smiled to his young friend as he took in the others in the room. His hand rose to his chin as he rubbed it in the cusp of his palm looking at Naruto fiercely.

"I have continued as you taught me Master Iroh. Was your journey safe?"

"Hahahaha, yes, very safe Itachi. We encountered a nice bush of wild Jasmine on the way and I had to collect some samples for you. Can you brew them up for me? I wish to talk to young Naruto here." Iroh pulled a bound sack from his sleeve and handed the package to Itachi. Iroh walked into the living room and sat down next to Naruto. He looked to the young boy and nodded.

"You are Zarehyas boy alright, it is good to see you again Naruto." Iroh saw NAruto bow but he slapped him on the back.

"You're practically family Naruto. You do not need to bow to me. Your mother was like a daughter to me and I watched over her when her parents had died. So just call me Iroh and relax. After all, we are about to be served some very good tea." Iroh smiled as he saw everybody relax around him before they began to converse between one another.

Itachi walked into the room with a tray holding a teapot, several tea cups, and a small bowl with sugar. In his other hand he held a small pitcher that had milk in it, he sat the two items on the table in the middle of the room. Pouring cup after cup every person in the room had a cup of tea and began to drink. Iroh stood and looked over Sakura before he nodded.

"So you have begun teaching this one what I taught you." Iroh looked to Itachi who nodded to him.

"After my students reach the rank of Chunin I planned on teaching her everything, however, the meditation and calming of one's body is the one thing I have taught her." Itachi watched his old Master walk around the room inspecting everybody. He stopped in front of Sasuke and nodded as he poked him in the shoulder over and over seeing Sasukes anger boiling up. Iroh stopped before Sasuke lashed out and nodded.

"This one needs my training especially, he relies too much on his anger and his impatience. I will be taking him for the next week if that is alright with you my young friend." Iroh watched Sasuke nod as he looked to Naruto, he looked into his eyes and saw the same look he saw in his mother all those years ago. If things had been different Zarehya would have married his own son, but fate had a horrible sense of humor. He placed a comforting hand on Narutos shoulder and smiled to the young boy.

"You hold onto your pain and regret like your mother, you need to learn to accept what has happened and to realize not everything is your fault." Iroh sat back down next to Naruto and the evening continues with a more relaxed atmosphere. The night continued happily as everyone began to enjoy their time with the Lord realizing how much of a good soul he had.

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He was annoyed, very, very annoyed. He had hired these three as a means to ensure the end of his target. Then he would eliminate them as he pleased. Kai, a bastard of the Northern chieftain who lived with his family in the south. Kara was the bastards handler, and apparently lover. These two would have next to no repercussions on death, but the third. She was a prize he had to hide from Gatos view, otherwise the bastard would try to steal what was his once again. She was Mya, wife of the Chief to the Southern Water tribe, and a decent healer.

"I am sick, and tired of your whining! It has been close to a month since the fight and you still bitch and whine over your injuries. Either you nut up and be a man, or I'll end you right here and now." Just to add extra pressure Zabuza lifted his right arm lazily and held the edge of his Beheading Sword beneath Kais chin. Seeing the bender sweat made him particularly happy.

Mya had enough of the animosity and walked forward to Zabuza laying a tender hand on his arm.

"Please, don't do this. HE may be whiny, but he does have a purpose." Mya watched as Zabuza scoffed and pulled his blade back stabbing it into the ground beside him. She went back to healing Kai, she had no idea what was between the two men but it wasn't worth anyone's life. There was one person, and one person only that Zabuza would not kill, and that was his apprentice Haku. She had no doubt that if it weren't for her status she would have been dead long ago. She had a particular trouble with this one wound that Kai had received, it was as if his body was fighting her chi. The burns on his face, they had burned away a large portion of flesh and skin leaving his blackened cheek bone exposed to the elements. Though the pesky part had been the blackened bone itself. The bone had been causing a sickness with the damaged marrow. This sickness was slowly killing him and without a full healing ceremony with the sages in her home village there would be no chance for him to live. She was in the middle of her thoughts when a panicked Haku ran into the room with a slide as if he had tripped.

"Master! We have to leave! The job has become impossible!"

"Speak boy, what do you mean?"

"The Leaf ninja, they got back up. They got General Iroh of the fire nation!"

Mya stood and in backing away from the boy as if he brought a curse she knocked over a glass vial that held a poison. Her eyes wide and her pupils dilating her fight or flight instinct was starting to settle in.

"No, no no no, no, NO! We have to leave, Kai grab your things!" Mya was just about to scrambled for her back until a large blade at her throat had stopped her from moving any further.

"And where do you think you are going?"

Myas eyes widened as she began to sweat.

"We are leaving, this is Iroh, THE IROH. The Dragon of the West! Not even his brother has bested him in single combat! IF the Fire Lord, someone who even the God of Shinobi bows to, can not defeat this man, what hope have we!" Mya hoped he could see the madness but all she saw was his smirk.

"He too will die, my apprentice will assure that." Zabuza lifted his sword as it aimed to the ceiling. HE gazed up the Beheading Blades edge before meeting her eyes once again.

"If you attempt to leave, I will kill you, and kill your children. I will sell your husbands location to the enemy, and watch as your entire world burns around you. So sit down, and enjoy your tea." Zabuza let his blade fall to the ground, with a large thunk its bladed edge burrowed an inch into the wooden flooring.

Mya had no choice, she had to stay for her childrens sake. She reluctantly sat down across from Zabuza on the uncomfortable leather couch. She had to tell Hakoda, she had to alert him of this discovery! Without their General his men could push the front back and out of their territory for good! She excused herself to use the bathroom and as she stepped outside she whistled softly. A turtle had surfaced from the small pond and she handed the turtle a note she had hurriedly written.

"No time for slowness, make haste!" Mya watched as the turtle submerged and swam off to the river, she only hoped she gave her husband the lead needed to win this front of the war.

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I do hope you have enjoyed this chapter, the next chapter should strictly be fighting, farewells and journey back to Konoha. If you have any questions or suggestions remember to Review and to PM me directly. I do check my inbox daily so if you wish for a rapid response, send there!

~Ardent Chronicler