Title: Habenaria Radiata

Rating: M

Pairing: Pre-Sasuke/Naruto, hinted Zabuza/Haku

Warnings: light shounen-ai, poorly written fight scenes.

Summary: AU. Since the day he was born, Naruto was cursed. Cursed to be the son of the Fourth Hokage, cursed to the title through blood. But he's out to prove himself, to better himself and prove he's more than just his blood, more than just his father's son.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.

Author's Note: Here is chapter 3! Whoa! I actually REALLY don't like this chapter, but here it is regardless only because it's needed to bridge the gap to the real angst ahead. Who knows, maybe I'll rewrite it at a later date, I don't know. As it is, this is it for now, I couldn't even bring myself to re-read it and doing basic clean-up. Either way, I hope anyone reading this enjoys it. That aside, the next update will probably be Thursday, as I have a long shift at work tomorrow and no time to write, but I may upload a one-shot, who knows, we'll see how it goes. I hope you all enjoy

Habenaria Radiata

Naruto stared at the old man in a cone hat who stared back at them, peering down at them. "This is what my money gets me? Three kids?""They're trainees, I'm Kakashi Hatake, a jounin and they're sensei. So be assured if anything is to overwhelming I will be here to insure your safety," he smiled, his eye closing as his mask stretched.

"And what about that guy, lurking in the shadows," the old man question, thrusting his thumb toward the ANBU. They all looked to the masked ninja who wore a brown traveling cloak, while they could faintly tell they were male, they couldn't tell much else. "What's he doing?"

"He's an ANBU guard."

"ANBU?! I can't afford-"

"He's not for you," Kakashi clarified. "He's for the blonde right here."

"For this shrimp? He important or something?"

"Hey! I'm the next Hokage, dattebayo! You got that, old man! And it's not shrimp! It's Uzumaki Naruto!" he declared, turning around thrusting a thumb to the spiral adorning the back of his jacket.

"And this is of importance?"

Kakashi chuckled, grabbing Naruto's collar as the boy waved his fists in the direction of their patron. "Naruto here is the closest thing to what Konoha would call royalty. And Naruto, you can't pummel the man we're meant to protect."

"Let's get going, I want to get home before I die.""Of course, Tazuna-san," Kakashi smiled, dropping Naruto on his bottom, said blonde jumping up, rubbing his bottom.

"Usuratonkachi."

"Shut up, teme!"

Tazuna looked over the mismatched group, shaking his head before setting off. "If we keep following this path and take the left at the impasse it'll follow straight down to my village. We should get there in the morning unheeded, no trouble.

"This is so cool," Naruto cheered, arms folding behind his head. "I've never got to go out on my own before. I mean, I've been to Suna before, but that was with a full caravan and I had to wear this really stuffy shirt and cloak that mom picked out for me and it was really boring."

"Only you would complain about world travel, dobe."

"I'm not complaining but attending dinners is so boring. No one smiles or talks or anything. All you do is sit there, eat your dinner while the Hokage and Kazekage talk about whatever is they talk about, I don't know, I never paid attention. Then after that's all over they don't even give us dessert, which makes it even LESS worth it."

They continued on, Naruto telling them all what countries had the best desserts, none of which compared to his mother's own. Kakashi hummed, reading his book as he passed a puddle of water. Just as Naruto delved into a spiel about ramen, the puddles shifted, two rogue nin jumping forward, shooting chains from steel gauntlets. The genin took their stances, kunai at the ready as the ninja smirked, wrapping their chains firmly around Konoha's infamous copy ninja. His book fell from his hand, his eye widening. "No, it was just getting good!"

The ninja looked at him for a moment before recovering, jumping up and pulling the chains hard enough, pulling them straight through the jounin's body, ending his life.

They gasped in shock as their sensei dissolved into a spray of blood, the chains the nin had used falling loose. Their ANBU guard became visible as the man made a move to interfere, most likely to stop further deaths but Sasuke wasn't going to allow this. "Sakura, guard the target! Dobe, use your clones, surround them." The two looked at him before nodding, Sakura jumping in front of the old man, her stance firm, kunai out as her eyes trained on the area around. Naruto raised his hands, moving them in a rapid succession of signs before crying out. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Four identical Naruto's appeared, circling around the rogue nin, moving constantly to confuse them as to who the real version was. Sasuke nodded, disappearing before reappearing over head, the rogue nin focusing his attention on the onyx whose hands rapidly formed the seals for his fireball jutsu.

The rogue smirked, scoffing at how predictable they were making themselves, only the fire never came, instead he was knocked from behind by a rogue clone. Sasuke smirked, turning his body, aiming a direct kick to the assailants head, only to find his heel connect with a log and both nin gone.

"Where'd they go?" Naruto questioned, his clones looking around before disappearing to conserve his chakra."I don't know," muttered Sasuke, his eyes staying trained on his surroundings.Above you, kit.

Naruto jumped at the voice before his reflexes kicked in, his eyes going upward in time to see a claw coming down. "Sasuke!" He pushed his friend aside, grabbing his kunai. Turning his body just enough to avoid being impaled, he shoved the kunai forward, smirking when it made contact.

"NARUTO!" He turned to Sakura, seeing the girl looking at him. Faintly, he realized something wet was pooling under his coat and when he looked back he realized it was the dead nin's claw, straight through his shoulder. The ANBU was at his side in a heartbeat, pulling the claw free, unzipping Naruto's jacket to access the damage.

"Alright, enough of that," Kakashi sighed, grabbing the second nin around the neck, pulling him from the trees.

"SENSEI?!"

"Simple substitution jutsu, I'm surprised you guys didn't catch on to that earlier. I'm disappointed." Walking over to Naruto and the ANBU, he looked over the blood stains. "What's the damage?"

The ANUB lifted Naruto's bloodstained t-shirt, eyes widening in shock. "Impossible."

"I'm fine, see?" he smiled, scratching his head. The ANBU's hand outstretched, running over pale smooth skin; unmarred skin. Sakura hurried over, gasping in shock.

"B-but we all saw…was it genjutsu?"

"Nope! I'm just a fast healer, that's all, -ttebayo. No need to worry!"

"Something you need to tell us, Tazuna-san," Kakashi questioned, grabbing the chain, wrapping it tightly around the rogue nin, dropping him on the ground."Just get me home, and I'll explain, that's all I ask."

Kakashi cast his eye to his ANBU brother, the man nodded his consent. "It is their duty to complete this mission, but after you are returned safely to the Land of Waves they no longer have an obligation, understood?"

Tazuna nodded. "I knew that from the beginning, so can we just get going, please?" The man gave no other word and began on his course again.

"Works for me!" Zipping his jacket back up Naruto took off, coming to stand next to Tazuna. "That was kind of fun, old man, maybe this won't be so boring after all."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Huh? Oh yeah! I'm totally fine, dattebayo. It completely missed me, just looked like it hit me, ehehe." Or rather, your chakra healed me, didn't it, Kyuubi? Why are you talking to me now of all times? The Kyuubi gave no answers, but Naruto could see yellow eyes peering at him from behind red bars, a low growl echoing through the halls of his mind.

"I saw the blade pierce him, Kakashi," remarked the ANBU, eyes trained on the genin ahead, chatting animatedly. "I've never seen a through wound like that heal that quickly."

"His chakra?"

"It's strong, it always has been. If it was his chakra that healed him there was no fluctuation in his current flows of chakra. It's an anomaly I can not explain, but there is an option that might be considered."

"Hm?"

"His mother is the Jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed fox, she was when she was pregnant with him and it's possible the fox's chakra effected Naruto, which could explain his chakra, the healing, and his whiskered features."

"That is a possibility," Kakashi mused, rubbing his chin. "If other Jinchuuriki has bore children it's not widely advertised so adverse effects from the bijuu's chakra can't be completely ruled out."

"Hey! It's getting foggy!" Naruto shouted, looking around. "That's so random!"

"Kakashi, get them out of here, now!"

"And you'll handle what's coming on your own?"

"Don't be a fool, it's my job to protect Naruto."

"Unfortunately," Kakashi smiled. "You're not the lead on this mission, I am."

"Hatake Kakashi, the son of Konoha's White Fang and a nameless ANBU, I'll take pleasure in killing you both, hopefully you'll catch me a handsome bounty," a low voice echoed through the air, giving no hint to it's location.

"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, guard Tazuna, do not break ranks, no matter what!" Kakashi ordered, lifting his headband, revealing his red eye, the tomoe spinning as they adjusted to the fog and light around it.

"Sensei! We want to help, -ttebayo!"

"Part of being a good ninja is following orders."

The trees to the right gave a creaking groan, it was then Kakashi noticed the ANBU guard had disappeared, undoubtedly engaging in battle with their assailant. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, expanding his senses just in time to jump aside as a large blade stuck into the earth, the black haired wielder's eyes smirking as he dislodged the blade, disappearing into the mist. Their ANBU friend landed next to him, his hood having fallen revealing a black ponytail. "Itachi, this is not your mission."

"If it involves Naruto's life being directly in danger, it is. I recognize this ninja, he's an S-class missing nin, Momochi Zabuza from the Hidden Mist. He's in quite a few bingo books, what he is doing here is the question."

"Something tells me there's quite a bit more that Tazuna-san wasn't telling us. Can you dispel the mist?"

Despite the mask, Kakashi knew that Itachi was looking at him in question before the mist floated off before dispelling completely, leaving an empty battlefield. "All yours, Copy ninja."Kakashi nodded, preparing himself for the ensuing battle. Itachi moved, coming to stand close to his brother, their target, and his mission. This battle would be quick if Kakashi knew best and Zabuza seemed to have a similar urge as he was pulling out all the stops to ensure Kakashi a quick , the hairs on his neck stood on end, his senses prickling. They were not alone, there was another nin close by, watching. Their chakra was masked, Itachi was sure, which meant they were careful. Was this an ambush? It was likely, but they would have already attacked if that was their intention. With Zabuza distracted Itachi summoned a crow, sending it into the trees. "A hunter nin..?"

"Uhn.."

"What just happened?" Tazuna questioned, looking at the collapsed Zabuza, an incomplete water prison falling away from Kakashi, it's intended target."I apologize for interrupting, but I'll be taking him back with me now."

The hunter nin his crow had caught sight of appeared on the branch, the symbol of the Hidden mist bore proudly on the boy's forehead. The boy dressed in a green haori jumped down from his perch upon the oak tree, picking Zabuza up, putting his arm around his shoulder. "Thank you for your cooperation." Both men disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving both Itachi and Kakashi questioning what just happened.

"Do you understand the gravity of the situation, Tazuna-san?" scolded Itachi, in a manner not meant to demean but meant to inform, very much like a parent telling a child they're disappointed. They had only just arrived in the village, briefly greeting Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, and grandson, Inari, before Itachi whisked them off to set into his 'tirade'.

The old man looked at his hands, Tsunami poking in to apprehensively offer tea to which they all declined. "I didn't intend you all any harm, it's the simple fact that my land is not very affluent, we couldn't page your wages and-"

"Your error put not only your life in danger but three young genin lives in danger as well. We're not dealing with simple bandits here, we're now dealing with an ANBU ranked missing-nin and that 'hunter nin' was rather suspicious as well."

"You sensed it to then," Kakashi sighed from his spot against the wall. "I don't think that's the last we'll see of that Zabuza. Something about the way the hunter dealt with him was rather suspicious coupled with the fact that there was only one? No. For a high class nin such as Zabuza they would have sent at least three or four to deal with him, not one."

"Kakashi-sensei, does this mean we have to go back?" Naruto groaned, rocking forward into a sitting position. "Because, I mean if we're already here-"

"At this point, going back would just be a danger to both this village and Konoha, we'll have to deal with this Gato character as he'll no doubt be sending more -san, is this bridge absolutely worth this?" questioned Kakashi, looking at the older man who seemed deep in contemplation.

"It's more than worth it," he answered. "If we complete this bridge we'll be connected to the mainland again. That'll open trade routes, bringing in food and profits we didn't have access to before. You see what this village is like, think of what it could be given the time and the means."

"Then we have no choice, we'll stay till the mission is completed. That means you three will be starting more intensive training tomorrow morning, so you better get some sleep because I plan to wake you early," Kakashi beamed, looking at his stood, motioning with a shoulder shrug for them to follow him. "I can show you to your rooms."

"We can we get a big room? With lots of leg room? I need lots of leg room, -ttebayo."

Lingering behind, Sasuke stood, staring at his brother who was unmoving in his position. "Nii-san, I've asked you before but I'm going to ask you again. How do I activate the Sharingan?""I'm sorry, Sasuke, I can not tell you."

"Why not?!"

"I can't exactly say it's always better for it to come on naturally but, many Uchihas have lost their ability to use it by trying to force it to activate. Simply because the Sharingan activates doesn't mean the Uchiha can't forget how to use it. I'd much it manifest naturally, Sasuke, if I can phrase it that way."

"Fine," he sighed, stomping off to find his room by simply following the sound of Naruto's voice.

"EH?! Why do you have to put the packs in the middle, Sakura-chan?!"

"I'm a girl, you idiot! You boys can sleep on THAT side of the room and I'll sleep on this side of the room. Sasuke-kun can have that futon and you can have the one by the wall."

"But what if I wanted that one, -ttebayo? Why do I have to take the one by the wall?"

"Because I said so!"

The door slid open, Sasuke entering the small room. He looked around to see it was more than small, it was to the point that it could be considered tiny. Everything was bare save for the three futons spread out on the floor that filled the space wall to wall with no space between each. Sakura had set their packs between her futon by the door and the futon in the middle of the room, the last futon by the opposite wall which housed a window. "How is this considered a room?"

"Sasuke-kun! I set up your futon right here!" she greeted, patting the spot next to her."Thanks." He plopped down on the spot, laying back to stare at the ceiling.

"What's wrong, Sasuke-teme?"

"Naruto! Don't be so rude!" Sakura admonished, reaching forward to stroke Sasuke's hair. "Is something bothering you, Sasuke-kun? You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." He turned away from her touch, eyes turning to Naruto.

"We weren't even close to that Zabuza's level. Sensei even had trouble keeping pace with him."

"Well, we're still getting better, -ttebayo. With some training we'll be able to kick that Zabuza's ass all the way back to the Land of Mist."

"Realistically you're not going to get that good over night, Naruto. All we can do is go through the training Kakashi-sensei gives us and work our hardest to protect Tazuna-san!"

"You're both morons, turn the light off and go to sleep," Sasuke scowled, crawling under the sheet, covering his head. Sakura frowned but reached over none the less and turned off the lantern before laying down. The room slide into darkness, the faint flickering of a flame coming through the window. In the faint light she saw Naruto lay down on his side, covering most of his body with his blanket. He shifted slightly, sliding his hand under Sasuke's blanket. Sakura shifted, ready to jump out and yell at him when she saw Naruto pull his hand back, Sasuke's following it, smacking it before taking it in his own. In that moment, with his hand in Naruto's, the tension from Sasuke eased and both boys fell still in sleep leaving Sakura alone to her thoughts.

Two days later found it to be mid-afternoon and Sakura was, yet again, left to guard Tazuna as her teammates continued to hone their chakra control. When Kakashi-sensei had originally set the task she had assumed she'd be the worst at it but to her immense surprise she was the best. It was so easy she couldn't understand how the boys couldn't do it. Maybe it was because of the usual saying of 'a woman's touch'? Either way, she executed tree climbing with ease, even earning a compliment from Itachi after she demonstrated further skills set by Kakashi-sensei.

Deeming further training in control unnecessary for the girl Kakashi-sensei had set her with the task. Her first day on this task Tsunami had ordered her father to rest, leaving Sakura to wander the village, getting to know it's layout. Today they had taken tea out in the garden, or what they called a garden, as soil still resided in the beds but most of the crops had withered.

"I'm sorry if this is out of line, Tazuna-san, but I noticed there's a memorial in the town center. I saw your grandson standing out there on my way back and I thought I might ask about it. Was it Inari's father?" Sakura questioned, trying to break the silence. They had just returned from a full morning of bridge building and were now sitting down to Tsunami's afternoon tea.

"Biologically speaking, no, Inari never knew his real father, but that man was more of a father to him then he's ever had, I suppose. Kaiza was a wanderer, naturally he wandered his way right into our village and right into the hearts of everyone here. He was a strong man with an rather unassuming demeanor, your Naruto kind of reminds me of him, maybe that's why Inari kind of looks at Naruto strangely, tries to avoid him. Either way, Kaiza did his best to help everyone in this village, from helping old man Tatsuto fish to helping the young lady, Mitsuko with her groceries and house work. He taught Inari what it meant to be a hero. It wasn't about violence or fighting or raising a fist, it was simply caring about the ones you love and standing up for what you believe in; that's a true hero."

Sakura smiled, sipping the tea Tsunami had brought her earlier. "What happened to him?"

"Gato came and he didn't take well to the idea of heroes or standing up for what one believed. He and his cronies took it upon themselves to show what happens to heroes.

They used Kaiza as an example, tying him to a post and killing him in front of the whole village, even Inari. You can imagine the damage it had on the village's morale. We had no choice but to roll over and obey."Sakura frowned, looking down at her tea. "I'm not sure what we can do, Tazuna-san, but we'll try our hardest to make your village yours again."

Tazuna looked down at the young girl, reaching over and knocking her chin. "Look up when you say things like that, young lady, have more confidence in yourself, like that loud friend of yours. Before when you protected me you were much more steady, carrying yourself with confidences like that all time. No man wants a woman who stares at her feet."

"AH! Tazuna-san!" Sakura blushed, covering her face, laughs bubbling in her throat. "Thank you!"

"Oi, old man!" Naruto yelled, arm thrown over Sasuke, both boys thoroughly dirtied and exhausted. "I'm hungry, get me some rice."

"Don't collapse, dobe!" Sasuke yelled, being pulled down to the ground as Naruto fell forward, finally giving into his exhaustion.

"You guys make it finally," questioned Kakashi, looking at his non-existent watch. "That took you 24 hours less than I thought, but it's still been two days, we'll have to work on that when we get back home."

"I'll have barbecue pork ramen, extra egg," yawned Naruto, raising his face slightly from the dirt. "Make it two..got to keep training."

"Oi! Dobe! Dobe! Wake up! Get off me!" Sasuke pushed on his teammate trying to roll the blonde of him, Tazuna and Sakura laughing light heartedly at their predicament.

The next morning Naruto was the first awake, prying himself out from under Sasuke who tended to sleep more spread out than himself. Sakura hadn't realized her mistake in putting them next to each other, even as kids they tended to sleep in each others space with one leg here and an arm there, a spread of limbs and bodies. How they kept from harming each other in sleep was a mystery.

Once freed, Naruto ran out of the room, grabbing his sandals and pulling them on before taking off to the forest.

Awake early, ne, kit?

Naruto stopped in his tracks, turning every which way hoping to find the source of the voice. With great dejection he found no source and had to face the truth.

I can feel your chakra, kit, amplify and swirling. It's rather delicious.

"Shut up, fox, I'm not talking to you."

Yet, by answering you have in turn spoke to me.

Naruto closed his eyes, tuning out his inner voice before pooling his chakra to his feet, making a run for the tree. He scaled the arbor easily, running back down it backward before repeating, testing the limits of his control.

Careful, kit, your hold will waver.

"Will not," spat Naruto, getting down in a crouch making his 50th run for the tree, making it half way up before his foot slipped and left his hanging from the side by his other.

I told you.

Naruto ignored the chortling, trying to force his chakra back to his dangling right foot. The shift in concentration, however, caused his remaining chakra in his left foot to waiver, sending the boy crashing to the ground with a groan of pain.

"Are you alright?" A soft voice questioned, practically startling Naruto out of his skin. He hadn't heard one footstep and suddenly a person was here, that was strange. His father always said never trust a person that arrives in silence. Then again, the girl in front of him didn't exactly look like a threat, to the contrary she looked like a simple flower girl. "You're bleeding," she commented, kneeling next to him, pulling a bandaid from inside her pink shirt. "Can you remove your headband, please?"

"Eh? Ah!" He pulled it off, the girl leaning forward, black hair pooling over her shoulder as she shifted, securing the bandaid in place.

"What were you doing out here to cause so much noise?"

"I was training!"

Brown eyes blinked and then blinked again. "Training?"

"Climbing trees. I kind of get it now that Kakashi-sensei explained it to me, but it's still kind of confusing , then again, I have to have things explained to me more than once. I'm kind of slow, -ttebayo."

"Some would find that endearing, being slow that is. More patience is needed and it makes the bond between teacher and student stronger."

"You got a point there, sis!""Sis?"

"Sorry, I'm really familiar too, -ttebayo! Call it another weakness!"

"That's fine, but, I'm a boy."

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?! BUT YOU'RE SO PRETTY! YOU'RE EVEN PRETTY THAN SAKURA-CHAN! Not as pretty as my mom, -ttebayo. BUT YOU'RE REALLY SUPER PRETTY!" he exclaimed, arm outstretched finger pointing accusingly at the boy.

The boy chuckled, covering his mouth to keep from laughing. "Thank you, I think."

"It's a compliment! I'm Naruto, by the way!"

"I'm Haku."

"WHOA! Even your name is pretty!"

"Thank you," Haku smiled, tilting his head in appreciation. "Ah! The shadows have changed, I better get back, everyone is going to wonder where I went!"

"Before you go, Naruto-kun, may I be permitted to ask you a question?"

"Eh? You don't have to ask to ask just go ahead and ask," he smiled, tying his hitai-ate back around his forward."You're a ninja, whose job it is to kill to protect your village, but is there one special person you've vowed to protect among all others?"

"That's an odd question, but hmm..I don't think I could really pick just one special person. There's my mom and my dad and Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke, and Itachi and Sakura-chan. I guess when it comes down to it, I want to protect everyone, dattebayo! Just wait till the bridge is finished, you'll visit Konoha one day and hear all about me as the Hokage!"

"That's a big dream."

"Do you have a big dream?"

"A big dream?" A smile graced Haku's lips, his eyes moving to the sky. "To be of use to my most precious person."

"Well, I bet you already accomplished that," Naruto beamed.

Standing, dusting off his kimono Haku graced him with a kind smile. "No, but sometime soon I hope to."

Jumping up, Naruto dusted off his pants. "I got to go, but I'm sure I'll see you around!" His goodbye behind him Naruto took off, waving as he went."I'm sure we'll meet again, Namikaze Naruto."

They had just arrived on a bridge, Tazuna ready for a hard day's work when a suited man caught their attention. He stood at the end of the bridge, arms crossed, sun gleaming off of tiny glasses covering beady eyes. To his left stood the green haori wearing hunter nin and to his left was none other than Zabuza, perfectly alive as they had all assumed. "Tazuna, glad you could join us," the man spoke, voice high and ratty. "I'm guessing you met my associates. They're here to finish the job they should have done in the first place, but from what I understand this little brat got in the way." The man Tazuna called Gato turned, gripping the hunter nin's wrapped bangs, the hunter nin lowering to his knees, staring up through his mask. Kakashi shifted forward, not liking the looks of this situation. It wasn't concern for what would happen to the young nin, it was what awaited Gato that was the current concern. Before any of them could make a motion to move or even think the hunter nin sprang back, leg kicking upward away from the man. The shipping magnate cursed and those were the last words to spring from his mouth as Zabuza's silver blade slide clean through his stomach. A look of shock remained on the dead's man's face, unchanging as Zabuza carelessly kicked the man over the edge of the bridge, his two halves separating before splashing into the water down below.

Zabuza moved to the nin, giving what seemed like a pat before turning to them. "Now that that fool is out of the way, we can finish what we started, Kakashi, and the Uchiha can join in this time. I'll take great pleasure in collecting both your heads." A low mist rolled over the bridge, acting as a barrier cutting off the groups. "Don't worry, the boy will take care of your students."

Sasuke and Sakura looked as they heard the clash of metal from the other side of the mist. "Your opponent is me," the hunter nin reminded, sending senbon to their feet to remind them of their current situation.

"Sakura, guard Tazuna-san, alright?"

She nodded, pulling him aside, placing her palms together, closing her eyes in concentration.

"Where are my men?" Tazuna questioned. "They should have been here."

"I don't know," she answered, her chakra radiating from her palms forming a green sphere like barrier, blocking out the mist and clearing the air. "But I'll protect you, Tazuna-san."

He nodded, thanking the young girl, his vision honing in on the other teammate as the boy went soaring with a straight kick from the hunter. Luckily, he skidded to a halt on his feet some feet away, his eyes narrowed in determination as he made a run at the other male again. Jumping in the air Sasuke opened his fuma shuriken, sending it soaring at the hunter, said boy jumping over it before hitting the ground, making a run for his target again.

Gaining his composure quickly, Sasuke dodged the senbon thrown at him, noting the mist shifted as the hunter moved. It was then he noticed the growing amount of water on the bridge, perhaps from some kind of water jutsu Zabuza had used, he wasn't sure as he was unable to see past his opponent. "Sasuke!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, ignoring his brother as the hunter sank into the water. He kept his stance, watching each puddle carefully, waiting for the teen's reemergence.

The world around him was oddly quiet, even on the other side of the mist where he knew Kakashi and Zabuza were most likely still battling fiercely. For a moment he allowed his mind to wonder his brother's part, but shook his head, working on deciphering where the nin would appear.

Only it wasn't the nin rising from the ground. Instead the ice began to rise from the water, sliding into sheet by sheet, enclosing him in what could only be a cage. "What is this?"

"One needs caged bait to attract it's prey."

"Bait?"

"I will not kill you, unless I have no option," the masked nin said. Sasuke gasped in pain as a hit seemed to come out of nowhere, and then another and another. He fell to his knees, blood seeping out of his wounds. The other was moving to fast to follow, moving from mirror to mirror, faster than his eyes or brain could process. Inside here he was trapped. He closed his eyes, trying to hold his form as more attacks came out of the mirrors, furthering cut his body.

Shakily, he stood to his feet, opening his eyes just as the boy came out the mirror at a much slower rate than before. Taking his chance he reacted, jumping into the air, rotating his body forward, sending his heel into the boy's stomach. The hunter groaned as he was slammed to the ground, gasping in surprise before recovering , tossing Sasuke's foot away before jumping back into his mirrors.

He turned, his eyes landing on his own reflection, red eyes staring back at him. "Finally."

"Oi, Sasuke-teme! How's it going?!"

Sasuke turned, surprised to see Naruto on his bottom, scratching his hand from having slipped on a puddle of water. "Naruto…"

"I came to help. What are with these mirror, -ttebayo."

"Where did you…?

"OH, there were these goons in the village that woke me up so I beat up good, -ttebayo, and then I ran here because I was really really late and I saw you and thought I would help and I think Kakashi-sensei was yelling something at me but I couldn't hear him, -ttebayo and-"

"You idiot," he sighed, shaking his head. "Now you're stuck as well."

"Eh? Stuck?"

Covering his face with his hand he pointed at the masked nin in the mirror who was standing still, watching them. "Well, why can't we just run out?" With such a simple minded thought in his head, Naruto ran the way he came, immediately pushed by his opponent.

"I can not allow you to leave, Namikaze Naruto."

His eyes widened. "EH?! You know me?!"

"The bait for prey..? You were using me to trap Naruto," Sasuke deduced.

"That is correct. I wish for Namikaze Naruto to be my opponent."

"But why me? Are you trying to start a war?"

The boy shook his head. "Nothing like that. Now, stand and fight."

"I'm really confused."

"Dobe, we don't have time to figure out motives right now, we need to try and break out of this ice."

"What kind of ice is it?"

"Does it matter?"

"YEAH! I actually remember my dad talking about this one about people with an ice kekkei genkai so that the ice can't melt or be broken by taijustu or ninjutsu, -ttebayo! I do pay attention sometime."Sasuke sighed, quickly forming the seals for Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu. A large fire mass soared to the mirror, bouncing off before dissipating. "It's a kekkei genkai," deadpanned Sasuke. "Will you please make you're mind up on whether you're intelligent or not, dobe?"

"Eh?"

Naruto shook his head. "We just have to knock that guy out of there." Hands rapidly moving he formed several familiar seals, his clones appearing all at once, charging at the mirrors. Sasuke felt his eye twitch in annoyance. Best friend or not, Naruto was going to end up getting them killed.

The hunter nin easily took the clones out, Naruto landing next to Sasuke, panting slightly. "That didn't work, dattebayo."

"What is with you?"

Tell him the truth, kit, tell him you're scared he'll find out about your little secret. About us. You've been worried for days, haven't you? You're acting recklessly, kit.

'It has nothing to do with you, so butt out!'

Oh? Or maybe you're trying to make that ninja go after Sasuke. How disappointing it much have been for him to find out that nin wasn't even interested in him, just wanted to use him to get to Namikaze Naruto, son of the fourth hokage.

Shaking his head, he looked at Sasuke. "What do you think we should do, teme?"

"Think you can make those clones again?" he questioned, watching as the hunter multiplied, an image of the boy appearing in each mirror as he planned his next attack. "Enough to cover every mirror?"

"That's a lot.."

"Can you do it? He'll have no where to run in that case. We attack all at once and he's trapped."

Naruto nodded, beginning to form the seals, focusing his chakra to split it enough to make the correct number of clones. The hunter readied senbon between his fingers, as the clones got in place, Naruto mixed in with them, a low clone staying next to Sasuke. "Move as one," Sasuke ordered. "Confuse him."

The Narutos nodded, jumping up as one, raising their fists their intent clear. Sasuke stayed to the middle, eyes moving frantically until he caught sight of the real nin's mirror. Gathering his chakra into his fuma shuriken he pulled the weapon out, jumping up and sending it flying straight through the clone. The ice gave a crack as the shuriken planted itself firmly into the block.

"Hm, you cracked my ice, impressive. Your friend was not so lucky."

Sasuke jerked at the taught, turning to see Naruto kneeling on the ground, senbon sticking from him in every way possible. The blonde was a panting mess but still he smiled. "Damn, found the real me."

He stared stunned as the form stood, his hands moving slowly to form the seals for another shadow clone jutsu. "This is goodbye, Namikaze Naruto, know I do this with deep regret."

Sasuke didn't even think, his body merely reacted, Naruto's eyes widening in shock as Sasuke jumped in front of him taking the senbon rain for him. "Ow!"

"Teme! What did you do that for, -ttebayo?!"

"Dobe, that attack would have killed you, nnh…damn, this hurts." He fell to his knees, blood dribbling from his mouth. His muscles were locking up from extreme precision seizing his already battered body, he looked at his friend wondering how the blonde could even still be standing. "Tch' m-maybe you are stronger than you look, dobe," he coughed, now feeling every bit of pain his body had. His eyes closed, his body falling forward, Naruto catching him.

"Teme! Oi! Teme! Wake up! Come on, it doesn't hurt that much, -ttebayo! Come on! Uchiha's don't get taking down by pointy sticks!" Naruto yelled, tears beginning to fall down his whiskered cheeks. His body was shaking, his hands trembling as he lowered Sasuke to the ground. The energy that had abated him previously was returning full force, his eyes narrowing in his anger.

A warm energy began to envelope him, as his teeth sharpened, pressing against his lip, drawing blood. His hands, now claw like, dug into the concrete, his body seemingly fueled on pure anguish.

His head turned to the sky, a growl ripping from his throat as he charged at the mirrors. The hunter moved, Naruto breaking through the ice before going back again, attacking over and over till the boy had no choice but to escape back to the bridge, the mist beginning to clear. The boy hesitated just long enough for Naruto to send him flying with a hard punch.

Down on all fours Naruto charged at the nin, the boy jumping back and back, trying to avoid the red fox ninja as he somehow appeared everywhere. It took one blink and Naruto was behind him, kicking him forward.

The fox stopped, panting as he stared, licking his lips. "Get up!"

The hunter stood, his mask clanging to the ground as he turned to face his opponent.

"You."

"Go ahead, finish me off, I have lost," Haku whispered, his head down. "I killed your friend."

Naruto growled, punching the boy in the face, sending him flying back. Haku regained his footing, standing there as he bled. Naruto raised his fist to attack again when a chirping made Haku grab his wrist. Cat eyes shifted to the right to see a battered Zabuza attempting to avoid a lightning on the end of Kakashi's hand. Haku twisted away, making a run for his partner, not expecting Naruto to be on his heels, pouncing on his back, slamming him into the ground.

"NO!" Haku screamed, struggling under the weight of the boy atop him, trying to get away. "NO! ZABUZA-SAN!"

Zabuza turned his face towards the sobbing boy, his mouth wrappings ripped open revealing pointed teeth. "Thank you, Haku."

"NO! NO! LET ME GO! GET OFF ME!"

Naruto tilted his head, looking down at the sobbing boy. His mind began to clear as he stared at the tears streaming down the young boy's features. His chakra withdrew, his hands, teeth, and features returning to normal as he moved aside. Haku jumped up, sprinting towards his partner, taking ahold of him as Kakashi withdrew.

"Zabuza-san! Zabuza-san, please!"

"Itachi, watch the boy," Kakashi whispered, walking towards where Sasuke lay. Naruto looked at him, frowning.

"I'm sorry, I tried to…he jumped in the way…"

Kakashi patted Naruto on the head, kneeling next to the still Uchiha. "You did well, Naruto."

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled, running over, kneeling next to them. "Is he….?"

Itachi looked over at them before turning his attention to the grieving boy. Haku shifted, laying Zabuza down before pulling out a senbon needle. "Don't," Itachi ordered, grabbing his hand.

"LEAVE ME!"

"I won't watch a child kill himself."

"Than you kill me! DO IT! I killed your brother! You must want revenge! KILL ME! KILL ME!"

Itachi took the boy's wrist, pinning it behind his back. "I do not believe you killed him and I do not believe you wish to die."

"Zabuza-san was my only reason for living without him I…" Haku cut off in a gasp, brown eyes boring into swirling red, his mind going blank. Slowly a smile spread across his face, his eyes closing.

"Nii-san…"

Itachi allowed himself a small smile. "Not bad, little brother."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Naruto asked quietly.

The boy, dressed in his pink kimono, looked up at him giving him a small smile. "Yes, thanks to Itachi-san. Are you and your friend going to be okay?"

"I'm completely fine," he chuckled, scratching his head. "But Sasuke is pretty beat up, he's trying to convince Itachi to give him a piggy back ride home."

"I'm sorry to cause you such pain, I didn't not aim to kill either of you."

"No. No. I'm sorry, I beat you up really bad and I'm really sorry, -ttebayo."

Haku shook his head. "It's fine, it was fun."

"So, um, when the bridge gets done feel free to come visit, okay?"

Haku looked at the sword sticking in the ground next to him, the small cross in front of it marking his new mission in life. "Maybe one day, for now I will stay here and protect Zabuza-san."

"Right, well, I got to go. Bye, Haku, it was nice meeting you, dattebayo." Waving he took off running, going to catch up with his friends, leaving the former mist nin sitting alone on the hill overlooking the village below. "So Itachi-san, what exactly did you do for him?" Naruto questioned, joining the group where Sasuke had officially conned his brother into a piggy back ride.

"Hm, on the bridge, you mean?" Naruto nodded. "I used my sharing an and showed him what he wanted, an eternity with his dearest person. While he was distracted I extracted Zabuza's chakra and placed it into a seal on the boy's, Haku, wrist."

"OH! That's what that wrap was! What does it do?"

"In essence, it will allow him to speak with a his most dearest whenever he wants, essentially keeping Zabuza alive inside him for as long as he lives."

"That's so nice of you, Itachi-san," cooed Sakura.

"I would want someone to do the same for me if I ever lost Sasuke, I'd suppose." He looked back at his brother who had fallen asleep against his shoulder.

"Mah, that's so corny," Naruto shouted, crossing his arms behind his head. "Ne, when we get back to Konoha can we go to Ichiraku?"

"Naruto! No one wants ramen!," Sakura complained.

"Lies! Everyone wants ramen, dattebayo! Everyone, Sakura-chan!"Haku chuckled as he listened to the faded shouts of 'ramen, ramen, ramen' in the distance. His eyes turned upward to the blue sky above. Bringing his wrist to his mouth he pressed his lips delicately to the wrap. "Zabuza-san…"

I love you.

-chapter 3 end-