Okay, I got too many reviews and that other stuff to mention everyone's names in thanks without taking up a mile of space. So I'll just say thanks to everyone and I really do value your opinions, because of some of your reviews, I adjusted the chapter just slightly and started giving myself a headache with the time-space theory and whatnot. Also, sorry it took so long to update, I was on vacation in Hawaii for new years. So, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4:Water Country

Naruto was in a hurry to get there on time, since Kakashi coming into Tokigakure was unexpected, he had lost the time he had planned to spend traveling to Water Country. Now he was a little pissed, having to rush. He had gotten into a habit of being calm and never in a hurry, he always left spare time for everything which was the only reason he thought he might be able to make it there on time. Though the main reason Naruto was pissed was that he was going to have to take a shortcut through the Rice Country to make it there and he didn't want to alert Orochimaru to his village's existence since it would ruin so many carefully made plans. Running through a village, making some of the people gasp, he thought carefully to himself on if he should take the risk. He finally decided that as long as he was careful, he could travel at his top speeds through the country and when he arrived at towns, use his usual disguise of a traveling monk. It worked and he had crossed the Rice Country in a couple of days, least until the end. Just when Naruto had thought he was in the safe zone, and out of the Rice country, a sound nin appeared in front of him. Quickly slowing down, Naruto stopped in front of the ninja.

"What is your purpose for leaving the Rice Country?"

"I am a traveling monk and as such I seek to see all the wonders of the world"

"You were running like a ninja, what village are you from?"

"I was born in Sunagakure but ran away when I was young because I did not want to be a ninja. I hate killing and couldn't stand living there." Naruto had to think fast, usually people weren't this inquisitive into his past and he wasn't the greatest at making up lies on the spot.

The sound nin observed him for a moment before nodding at the trees. A barrage of kunai came out.

"What the hell?!" Naruto jumped up, dodging the kunai before landing swiftly on a branch.

"Anyone can enter Rice country, but it is forbidden for anyone to leave without express permission from Orochimaru-sama. Since you obviously do not have permission, it is my duty to capture you unless you so chose to come quietly." I'm sorry, did I say Naruto was angry before? Well, I guess I was wrong. Now, Naruto was pissed. He should be able to go wherever he damn well pleased! Using his enormous speed, Naruto ran behind the sound nin and karate chopped his neck. He quickly fainted. Naruto then focused his anger into his feet and took off. When he reached the shore, he didn't even bother getting a boat and just ran all the way there. He had officially taken 5 days to get there, and the sun was setting, so Naruto left to find a hotel to stay in.

When Naruto got up and left, he realized that he was going to have to be careful not to get caught by the mist ninjas because 1) they were ruthless and kind of scared him 2) it really wouldn't be very helpful to the mission if he was taken to Kirigakure and 3) Mist ninjas were very suspicious people by nature and took no side in a war unless it involved them directly. That kind of attitude just made Naruto angry. He remembered Haku saying he had been born in a small fishing village to the east. Of course, luck was against him. Naruto had arrived on the west coast, it took him another day to run around the entire island without going to fast to alert the locals. When he got there, he figured he was right on time. He stayed the night at another hotel before leaving early in the morning, Now a fishing village meant on the coast, Naruto knew that Haku had moved towards a bigger city when he killed his family, so Naruto was near the coast but on the lookout for large cities. Coming to a river, Naruto followed it, figuring that if there was a city, it was going to be near water. He followed the river through a large city and saw a bridge up ahead, with a small child sitting on it. He walked across the bridge and looked at the young boy, his rags which might have passed for clothes were dirty and covered with who knew what. His dark hair was messy and looked like a rat's nest.

'Is this really Haku?' Was the only thought that ran through his mind. He could see Haku in that child's face, but the rest of him was different from that kind hearted person he had met so long ago.

"Um, mister, why are you staring at me?"

Caught by surprise again, he looked straight at the boy's eyes and knew that this was definitely him.

"I'm wondering if you might want to hear a story"

"A story?"

"Yes, I love telling stories and was wondering if you wanted to hear it?"

"Hai!" (I only translate my Japanese words once, and will only use the words that the majority of the population know or at least recognize, this one means yes)

"Well, there is this place called Tokigakure where everyone is given a second chance no matter who they are. In Tokigakure, they don't care how weird you might be, or different, just as long as you prove your loyalty and love your village. I live there, with one of the most beautiful women on earth and my two sons. Do you want to come with me and meet them?"

Haku was staring at the man, not once did he look at him cruelly or mean, he looked at him kindly, like how his father used to look at him.

"Hai, I would like to live in such a place"

"Were you telling the truth?"

Naruto spun around and saw a man standing there with bandages covering the bottom of his face. You probably guessed, Zabuza.

"Yes, there is"

"That's foolish. There isn't such a place that would give anyone a second chance."

"That's where you're wrong. Almost the entire village is made of missing ninjas who were tired of being chased or followed. They worked together to build the city and their children train to become ninjas as well."

Zabuza seemed hesitant for a moment before asking, "would I be accepted?"

This shocked Naruto for a moment, Zabuza was looking Naruto straight in the eye as if daring him to say no. "Hai, you would be accepted. Do you wish to live there?"

"If I can bring a few of my subordinates with me. We are tired of running and just want to rest"

"Hai, they may all come with you as well"

"What is the name of this safe haven?"

"Tokigakure, the place of second chances"

With that, Naruto and Haku followed Zabuza when he took them to his current hideout. He informed his subordinates that this was a test of their tracking skills. They had 1 hour to get ready and follow behind before they left. Zabuza, Haku, and Naruto left immediately so his subordinates would follow behind, but not before cleaning Haku up a little. On the road out of the village, a little boy ran up towards Naruto before stopping. He had white hair and small red dots between his eyes. Naruto noticed he held a bone knife in his hands, and thought back to the only time he had ever seen someone use bones in a fight.

'Kimimaro!'

"Umm, are you from the mist village?"

"No" Zabuza's harsh voice replied.

"Oh, I see. Gomen" (sorry) just as Kimimaro started running off, he was stopped by Naruto.

"Wait, why are you attacking the mist village?"

"Uh, this man told me too. He's my uncle"

"If you go, you might die though"

"I don't want to die. But my uncle says that we will beat the mist"

"What's your name?"

"It's Kaguya Kimimaro sir"

"Was your uncle very nice to you?"

"Umm... I don't know sir. I was trapped in a giant cage by them and they only let me out just recently to help them."

"If you help them, they might lock you up again afterwards"

"I don't want to be locked up"

"I can help you, ya know"

Kimimaro's eyes widened, as if he never even thought of that. "R-really? You can help me?"

"Hai, come with us"

Kimimaro just smiled as his hand reabsorbed his bone knife, making Haku's eyes go wide.

"How'd you do that?"

"Do what?"

"The trick with the bone!"

"I can do it with any of my bones"

"Whoa! Can you do anything else?"

"Not really, how about you?"

"I can control water really well, but that's all"

"Really! Can I see!"

"Yeah, sure!" Haku concentrated on pulling water out of the air and making it into a little ball floating above his hand.

"Whoa! That's awesome!"

Naruto was laughing under his breathe and Zabuza remained as cold as before throughout the whole interaction. When they settled down to make camp for the night, Naruto asked Zabuza to take care of Haku when they reached town and act as his father since he was probably the best one to help Haku reach his full potential. Though when they arrived, Kimimaro and Haku raised quite the fuss about having to be separated, so Naruto ended up asking Zabuza to take care of them both, which he accepted. Naruto then went to his own house to deal with the last problem, Kakashi.

(Bet you didn't expect that! Hahahahaha! I'm so evil)