Alrighty! I do not own Naruto at all! All rights and regulations do go to Masashi Kishimoto! Azuna does belong to me however! Ok now to write this fan fiction I did use the episodes and I used all of the actual sentences said from the anime so all of those rights again go to the producers, Madman Entertainment and of course the beautiful voice actors and everyone on the crew. Thanks guys... hope you like it!
Chapter Twenty-One: Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns! Part Two:
Later on when the moon was high in the sky, Sasuke and Naruto stood at the very tops of the trees. Both boys were sweating badly and Naruto was breathing in raggedly.
Sasuke wore a small smirk on his face while Naruto was full on grinning. They had both made it to the very top. Finally they had completed their training.
"Let's go back." Sasuke smirked.
"Alright!" Naruto agreed, laughing loudly.
Meanwhile back at the house everyone sat around the table. Sakura and Azuna were sharing the head of the table again and Azuna was currently half leaning on Azuna half leaning on the table. Sakura was too worried to notice and spoke once Tsunami put the food down on the table.
"Now they're both late. I wouldn't have expected that from Sasuke." Sakura spoke softly.
Her eyes went wide as the door suddenly opened. She turned towards the door pushing Azuna off of her. Everyone followed her eyes and saw Naruto and Sasuke walk in. Sasuke was practically holding Naruto up but they both walked it, sweaty, dirty and exhausted.
"What have you been up to? You look like something the cat dragged in." Tazuna muttered.
"We both made it." Naruto laughed. "We climbed all the way to the top."
"Good." Kakashi nodded. "Now we move on. Starting tomorrow you're both body-guards for Tazuna."
"Alright!" Naruto laughed lifting arms and leg up in the air in glee causing to knock both him and Sasuke to the ground. The two boys groaned and Sasuke turned to Naruto in a glare.
"Gah! You are such a loser!" He ground out.
Everyone laughed and turned back to the table to begin eating dinner. Sasuke and Naruto were chomping down their food like no tomorrow, once more, while Azuna and Sakura and everyone else ate normally. After they had finished their meals Tsunami started to gather the dishes. Azuna got up to help but she pushed her back down again and smile at her.
"In a few more days the bridge will be finished. I have you to thank for that." Tazuna said.
"You've all done great but you've still got to be careful." Tsunami smiled stacking the dishes.
"I've been meaning to ask you this but I haven't had the chance until now. Why did you stay and protect me even after you found out I lied to bring you here?" Tazuna asked.
"Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage. But under the wing of a strong leader cowardice cannot survive." Kakashi said folding his hands in front of his chest.
"Huh?" Tsunami wondered as she started to walk towards the sink.
"That was a quote from the first Hokage." Kakashi confirmed looking up at Tsunami and Tazuna.
"Hm." Inari grunted thoughtfully. He looked over at Naruto who was resting his head on the table with Azuna – both looking like they had fallen asleep. As he looked at Naruto he remember how brave and strong his father was, and also how that had gotten him killed. Slowly his tears started to stream down his face and splatter on the table. "But why?"
"Hmm? What'd you say?" Naruto asked lifting his head briefly to look at Inari. Azuna did the same but she sat upright in her seat gazing considerately at Inari.
Inari suddenly slammed his hands down on the table and stood up – causing Azuna to jump in surprise. "All this stupid training is just a waste of time! Gato's got a whole army! They'll beat you down and they'll destroy you! These cool things you all say they don't mean anything! No matter what you do the strong always win and the weak always lose!" Inari shouted as his tears fell down his face.
It was safe to say that everyone was shocked by Inari's outburst. Even cool, collected Sasuke has his mouth partly open in surprise. Azuna stiffened beside Sakura. She could already tell that something bad was about to happen.
"Just speak for yourself." Naruto huffed laying his head in his arms again. "It won't be like that for me. You got that?"
"Why don't you be quiet? Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country you're just butting in! Always laughing and playing around! You don't know what it's like to suffer and be treated like dirt!" Inari yelled, his tears falling faster.
Naruto tensed beside Azuna. She looked down sadly at Naruto fully aware of what had happened to him in the past. She wanted to reach out and reassure him that she was there. But she wasn't sure how she could do that without him getting mad at her.
"Listen to yourself whining and complaining like some sorry little victim. You can whimper all day for all I care." Naruto shouted lifting his head and glaring at Inari. "You're nothing but a coward!"
Inari gulped and flinched back in fear of Naruto. His comeback got caught in his throat as he looked at Naruto. Azuna bit her lip and looked to Naruto in sadness. Sakura however, turned to Naruto glaring at him.
"Naruto!" She shouted. "You went too far!"
He groaned and grunted, standing up from his seat and shoving his hands in his pockets. He walked from the room angry and upset. They all stared after him as he rounded the corner and disappeared from their sight.
"Naruto." Sakura whispered sadly as he left. Azuna stood up and ran after Naruto. She didn't care if he hated her. She believed that he needed a friend and a friend she would me. Kakashi turned and looked sadly at Inari who was sobbing. He was staring down at the table like it was his life line. Somehow, Inari couldn't seem to stop crying.
A little later on Inari sat outside on the wooden flooring that surrounded the house. He was gazing out into the water, peering at the reflection of the moon. After Naruto's and Inari's fight everyone had scattered. Sasuke and Sakura went to their rooms. Azuna went somewhere off with Naruto and the rest of Inari's family were busy doing things around the house.
Kakashi walked out and stood behind Inari. Even though he had heard Kakashi coming he didn't care to respond. "Can I talk to you?" Kakashi asked him.
Without a word from Inari Kakashi sat down beside him and peered out into the ocean with Inari. He was dangling his feet across the edge, skimming the water with his toes. "Naruto can be a little – harsh – sometimes. But he doesn't hate you." Kakashi said.
"Your grandfather told us what happened, to your father. You probably don't know this but Naruto also grew up without a father. In fact, he never knew either of his parents. And he didn't have a single friend in our village."
"Huh?" Inari mumbled in surprise looking up at Kakashi with wide eyes.
"Still, I've never seen him cry, sulk or give up. He's always eager to jump in. He wants to be respected – that's his dream – and he'll put his life on the line for that, in a heartbeat. My guess is he just got tired of crying and decided to do something about it. Even though he's young and still learning he knows what it means to be strong – like your father did. I think he knows better than any of us what you're going through. What Naruto told you early, as cruel as it sounded; he's probably told himself that a thousand times." Kakashi explained giving Inari a closed eyed smile.
The next morning Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke and Azuna all stood outside of the house with Tazuna and Tsunami. Azuna was still bandaged up but somehow she had convinced Kakashi to let her tag along.
"Ok, I leave Naruto in your hands." Kakashi said. "He's pushed his body to the limit, overdoing it as usual so he may not be able to move today at all."
"What about you? You're still recovering yourself." Tsunami asked worried.
"Why? Do I look wobbly? I'll be ok." Kakashi laughed.
"And you Miss Momochi should be inside resting as well!" Tsunami shouted in a motherly fashion.
Azuna laughed and scratched the back of her head. "Nah please Tsunami Kakashi-Sensei is letting me go! Therefore I must be ok to leave."
Tsunami bent down so she was eye level with Azuna. She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head while Azuna grinned at her. Tsunami sighed in defeat and nodded her head. "Ok then."
"Alright Tsunami you're the best!" Azuna grinned giving her a quick hug.
"Come on let's go!" Tazuna shouted impatiently.
Sasuke grabbed Azuna arm and hauled her away from Tsunami. The five of them began walking down the path as Tsunami stared worried after them. "If you meet your father there Azuna I pray that you'll be ok." Tsunami whispered.
Somewhere, in an expensively decorated room sat Gato on a radio. He was talking to Zabuza through it and by the sound of his voice he wasn't very happy with him. "Still wasting time, licking your wounds, I hired you to do a job you know! Are you listening Zabuza? HEY!"
Zabuza and Haku didn't hear the end of Gato's ranting because Zabuza stepped and crushed the radio that Gato was talking to him through. "Haku, you ready?" Zabuza asked.
"Yes." Haku nodded wearing his mask again. The two Shinobi looked up at the bridge that was almost complete from a boat down below. And Zabuza had a sinister look in his eyes.
Naruto, back at the house, awoke tiredly and peered around the room. He suddenly sat up right in bed with a new found burst of energy. "WHY DIDN'T SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP?"
Naruto ran from his room into the kitchen where Tsunami was washing dishes. "Where is everybody? Where'd they all go?" Naruto shouted.
"Oh Naruto." Tsunami smiled. "Your Sensei wanted to let you rest. You got the day off."
"Uh! I knew it they ditched me!" Naruto yelled getting changed in record time before he ran out the front door. "See ya!"
Naruto sprinted into the forest where he began to jump through the tress towards the bridge. "Gah they could have woken me up!" He yelled angrily. He looked down at the ground suddenly and saw a boar that had been cut up pretty badly with blood pooling beneath it. "What the heck?"
Back at the bridge everyone's eyes widened as they took in the sight before them. "Hold on!" Tazuna shouted. "What the heck is this?"
The few men that had been working on the bridge that day were lying on the ground unconscious. Some were bleeding were others were just lying still, motionless.
"What happened?" Tazuna shouted. "Someone was here! Someone got to them!"
"Could it be?" Kakashi wondered aloud. Suddenly mist started to form around the ground and Kakashi looked up in alarm. "This mist…Sasuke! Sakura! Azuna! Get ready!"
Sasuke gritted his teeth and pulled out a kunai while standing in the small protective circle with Kakashi, Tazuna and Sakura. Sakura got her own Kunai ready and Azuna went and stood protectively in front of Tazuna drawing out her sword as she glared into the mist.
"I knew he was still alive. He just couldn't wait for round two." Kakashi voiced through gritted teeth.
"Kakashi-Sensei its Zabuza isn't it? This is his hidden mist Jutsu!" Sakura piped.
"Sorry I kept you waiting Kakashi. I see you've still got those brats and my daughter with you. That one's still trembling, pitiful." Zabuza said referring to Sasuke as seven water clones surrounded them.
"I'm trembling with excitement!" Sasuke smirked.
"Go on Sasuke." Kakashi grinned.
Just as a Zabuza clone swung at him, Sasuke leapt into the air and attacked all the clones with his Kunai. And just as quick as they appeared they were destroyed causing a ring of water to surround them on the floor. I can see it. Sasuke pondered in surprise.
"Ooh so you could see they were water clones huh? The brat's improving." Zabuza mocked stepping out of the mist with Haku – the masked boy – at his side. "Looks like you've got a rival Haku."
"So it seems." Haku replied simply as his eyes were only on Azuna.
Azuna pushed forward past Kakashi and Sasuke who were blocking her path. She stood about a metre away from her group and her sword fell from her hands and clattered on the ground beside her. Her eyes were locked on the masked boy and tears filled her eyes. Haku took a few steps forward as well and bowed his head as if he was sorry for something.
Azuna suddenly burst out crying and ran to Haku. Haku opened his arms and she ran into them gladly hugging him as tightly as she possibly could. "Azuna." Haku sighed happily.
"Azuna!" Sasuke shouted. "What the heck are you doing?"
"Haku please don't do this!" Azuna begged, ignoring Sasuke as she sobbed into Haku's chest. "Please! Just come with me! We do not need to be in this fight we can –"
"Azuna." Haku sighed cutting her off. "You know as well as I do that I have to be a part of this fight. To protect the one I serve -"
"Haku please no, please." Azuna cried.
Haku pulled back from Azuna and gave her a small smile under his mask. "Hush Azuna do not cry. I love you Ocean, don't forget that."
Azuna's eyes widened as Haku spoke her nickname. He named her that because she used to train in the sea. Nozomi and he would often tease and laugh at Azuna for doing so but she would always laugh with them – in secrete however, Haku thought it was cute.
He held Azuna's face with one hand and removed his mask when he was sure the others wouldn't be able to see him. He rested his forehead against hers and planted a kiss on the corner of her mouth – along with the sleeping draft he wiped on his lips that entered her mouth.
Azuna started to become dizzy as Haku's words rung throughout her mind. I love you Ocean, don't forget that. The world started to blur before her eyes and she gripped onto Haku's shirt while he wiped the sleeping draft from his own lips and put his mask back on. I love you Ocean, don't forget that.
Her fingers felt heavy and she could not remain her grip. Suddenly she was falling backwards and the last thing she saw was Haku's mask as he caught her. The world became black and Azuna sunk into blissful unconscious