Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, nor do I make any money of of it.

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Just wanted to ask, what the hell does supert history mean? I've gotten like two reviews that said that already. Also, I'm sorry if you guys didn't want me to write Wave Arc, but I'm trying to use this to build Sakura's character. I might write another story without Wave Arc though.

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Team 7, minus Naruto, sat on a couch in Tazuna's living room, discussing their next move. Naruto had collapsed from exhaustion right when they reached the house, forcing Sasuke to carry him into one of Tazuna's spare rooms.

"Right now, all I can do for you, is train you. After that last battle, Zabuza's going to be thirsting for our blood. The only way your going to survive if train get a lot stronger. I need you to be at the point where you can help in the battle, not just guard the bridge builder." Kakashi said.

"Okay, so what type of training are mew going to do?" Sakura asked curiously.

"Tree climbing of course!" Kakashi said, back in his normal lazy/cheerful mood.

Sasuke's eyelid twitched.

"Tree climbing!? What the hell are we supposed to do with that?" he said incredulously.

Without a word, Kakashi smiled knowingly and walked out the door, beckoning for them to follow.

Bewildered, the two Genin followed their sensei out the door, trying to make sense of how climbing trees was supposed to train them.

Naruto

The refreshed blonde woke up on a bed in a room he didn't recognize. He got up and walked out the open door, and to his surprise, a woman was standing right in front of him.

"What the-" He started, reaching into his weapons pouch.

"No! Don't attack me! I'm Tsunami! Tazuna's daughter! This is his house. Your team left to train in the woods." she explained as quickly as she could.

Relaxing, Naruto took his hand out of his pouch and said, "Thanks," before he ran through the hallway and out the door, running into the thick green forest.

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Sasuke and Sakura watched as Kakashi walked over to the tree. He planted a foot on the trunk. And another. And another. Until he was literally walking up the tree as if it was the ground.

The two genin's mouth hung open, eye's widening like disks.

"Y-your walking up a tree," Sakura whispered.

"Yes, Yes, whatever," Kakashi replied, trying to hide his pleasure at Sakura's compliment.

"Just focus your chakra at your feet and climb up. Chop, chop, we haven't got all day. My ninken will be here to motivate you!"

The to genin got a terrible feeling in their gut when they heard the word motivate.

Seeing the horror in their eyes, Kakashi tried to, well, reassure the genin.

"Don't worry! It's not like they'll be waiting at the bottom of the tree with open jaws! Well, okay, they will, but it won't be that bad!"

Let's just say that while he didn't fail to motivate them, but his reassurance needed some work.

Naruto

Naruto lay in his newly made smoking crater, panting in exhaustion. His location stood only about 150 yards away from Team Seven's training ground, far enough so he could have peace, but close enough so he could easily communicate with them if need be.

He started to think about the hunter-nin. Who would help a man like Zabuza? He was a kid, there was no reason for him to help the mist-nin. Even if Zabuza had forced him to travel with him, he could have escaped. Zabuza was tired. Naruto was exhausted, but Kakashi wasn't. There was no way that Zabuza could have escaped without the boy.

Without warning, a shadow loomed over him.

"You destroyed the herbs, now how will I collect them?"

A strange boy leaned over him, waiting for an answer.

"Sorry, I didn't know they were herbs," Naruto apologized.

"S'alright. There are still enough, just more widespread. My name's Haku."

The blonde eyed Haku suspiciously. A pink kimono? Seriously? And why is he gathering herbs in the middle of nowhere?

All of these thoughts fit together like puzzle pieces, solving the grand mystery. The hunter-nin. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, yet he couldn't, because they would lead to pointless bloodshed. Besides, he didn't even know how strong Haku was yet.

Naruto decided to say nothing, at least not yet.

"I'll help you," the blonde decided.

"Pick the green ones, the yellow ones are dead, they won't do anything but make Z-, people itchy." Haku said.

He isn't very good at keeping secrets. Naruto observed.

"Why do you train so hard?"

Naruto looked at the long-haired boy in surprise.

"Do you have anyone you want to protect? Precious people?" Haku continued.

Naruto regarded his fellow 12-year old boy.

"No."

Naruto said it bluntly, not softening anything whatsoever.

"People who do not have others who are precious people tend to live an unhappy life," Haku said truthfully.

"But then again, if you live your life doing the right thing and are lonely because of it, I guess it is okay. So even though you don't have precious people, you should do the right thing, and that should make you happy. That is what I believe," Haku finished, trying to read Naruto's expression.

"Why are you telling me this?" Naruto was genuinely confused, although he didn't show it.

"I don't have many kids my age to talk to. And I think that you should do what you think is right, or you'll end up becoming something that you know is wrong."

Naruto stayed silent, lost in thought.

So even though you don't have precious people, you should do the right thing, and that should make you happy.

Those words repeated themselves over and over in Naruto's mind.

What do I think is right?

The two boys continued gathering herbs in silence. When they finished, they stood up.

"By the way, I'm a boy," the kimono clad boy told Naruto.

Naruto raised a eyebrow.

"I know."

It was Haku's turn to be surprised.

"Really? I'm actually quite used to people thinking I'm a girl."

Haku shrugged, and bade Naruto farewell. The blonde also bade Haku farewell, but with troubling thoughts.

Did he do the right thing by letting the boy go? Haku didn't seem like a bad person, but judging by the way he threw those senbon, he was obviously a powerful ninja. Zabuza would probably bring him along, he wouldn't underestimate Team 7 again. Without Haku, it would take a lot longer for Zabuza to heal up. If he had surprised him and killed him, then maybe...

The right thing.

Naruto stood up and left the field. He had done the right thing by letting Haku leave in peace. But the next time they saw each other, they would be enemies. He would go for the kill with no qualms whatsoever.

Tazuna's House: 30 minutes later

Team 7, Tazuna, and Inari sat at the dinner table eating while Tsunami cooked.

"Grandpa, why are those ninja even here? Their just gonna die."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Gato's gonna slaughter them! Just like they did with Dad!"

Naruto was getting annoyed.

"Hey kid, do everyone a favor and shut-up, will you?"

Everyone gasped.

"Naruto! Don't say that to our client's grandson!" Sakura scolded.

"Not even Dad could kill Gato! No way losers like you will be able to kill him!" Inari screamed.

"Will you just quit whining and shut up? If your sad about something, do something about it. Stop being a self-pitying bastard, dammit."

Inari said nothing. He walked out the door and gently closed it. Running could be heard from inside the house.

"Well, that's it." Naruto said, as he stood up and walked into his room.

Kakashi was silent. All he knew, was that Naruto had hurt a boy, and that he would talk to Inari.

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Hahaha! Evil cliff hanger! Sorry this took so long to write, but I had a really bad case of Writer's block. hopefully next time will be a lot faster. I know, I know, this chapter sucked. I want to suggest a fanfic, it's called Unseen, by shadowmaster62. It's hella funny! A must read. I also have a poll on my profile. Do you think I should write a shaman king fanfiction? It will make my extremely slow updates even slower. Check it out! By the way, I really enjoy your feedback! hint! hint!