Chapter 8 – Negotiations…

Sasuke was panting while Azula of all people was watching his training. He was working on the tree climbing exercise. Azula was watching from a perch on a tree while offering him some advice on how to complete the exercise. Naruto was off on him own training and no one would tell Sasuke what Naruto was up too. Azula smirked at the thought of what might happen.

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Naruto was sitting on the shore of a river clad only in his boxers while braiding long black hair. Haku was smiling clad only in her panties and chest wraps, enjoying Naruto working with her hair. She glanced back and said, "I'm surprised you would do this for me. Zabuza wouldn't do this type of thing for me. He says it would take too much time and isn't conducive for training."

Naruto chuckled and continued to braid her hair. "Well he is older than you by about what ten years or more," Naruto explained.

"Don't tell me that you want me even with you having your teammate and your sensei?" Haku asked accusatorily.

Naruto finished and set the hair down. He then let his vision travel up and down the lithe form of the girl in front of him. He sighed and replied, "Is it wrong to desire a beautiful young woman and for the record I have not and will not date my sensei."

Haku giggled and said, "You have two girls at home, but would you allow another?"

He noticed her blush and her looking away. He replied, "I can only ask, but you would have to talk to Azula and Hinata about that. They determine who I will or will not have relations with."

Haku looked at him and asked, "So this isn't a date?"

Naruto shrugged and replied, "It is what it is. If you want it to be a date then it is. So far I like what I see and I don't just mean your body. I like who you are and how devoted you have been to Zabuza. He also told you to try to seduce me didn't he?"

Haku blushed and nodded. Naruto began to laugh and leans in and kisses a surprised Haku. He broke the kiss and whispered into her ear, "I was given the same order from my sensei."

Haku smiled and leaned back as Naruto kissed her again. Haku continued the kiss and even deepened it. Their hands ran up and down each other's bodies. Haku looked longingly into his eyes and said, "Please take me and make me yours."

Naruto looked down at her and replied, "Are you sure? You would have to forswear Zabuza and become my wife."

Her eyes began to tear and said, "He said I had to do whatever was needed to make sure that you would keep your word. He told me that if I had any feelings for you I should use them and either gain your trust or take you into my bed and make you mine."

Naruto sighed and asked, "So which is it? You have feelings or are you just trying to gain my trust?"

Haku looked deeply into his eyes and replied, "I see something that causes my heart to beat faster. I also feel a connection. I see hurt, and pain in your eyes, but also hope and happiness. I want to become one with that happiness."

Naruto smiled warmly and leaned down and kissed her passionately. Birds sprang from their perches as groans of passion scared them away.

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Azula smirked when she saw birds flying from the area she knew that Naruto was at. 'We now will have an ally in that girl,' she thought to herself. She then turned to a panting Sasuke and said, "You're pathetic. What has Hatake-sensei been teaching you? I said you need to focus the chakra in your feet and then regulate what you use. While it was entertaining the first twenty times seeing you landed on your head, it's now just pathetic. Lie down next to the tree and affix one foot and then another. You will then make your way up the tree. Go the first two meters then back down. You will do that ten times and then you will move to four meters and increment it by two meters when you have successfully accomplished that task."

Sasuke glared at Azula and said angrily, "Bitch, you don't order me!"

Azula rolled her eyes and replied, "Hey princess, I've been one longer than you and I learned early to listen to those who taught me things. That is how I can do this." She then moved her arms in wide arks and lightning formed around her arms. She then pointed her finger at a tree by Sasuke and lightning hit the tree leaving a cracked tree and a large scorch mark. She then glared at him and said, "I was told to teach you this, now you will learn it or I will implement another way for you to learn, even if I have to burn down the forest around you." She chuckled darkly at the Uchiha boy, who learned a new thing to fear, an angered firebender.

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Haku looked down at the mark above her left breast. It looked like the spiral that was on Naruto's jacket when they first met. She rubbed it lightly and asked, "Is this how you mark your women?"

Naruto smirked and pointed to his chest. She noticed three marks on his chest, two were of flame designs, but the third was a snowflake. "I am bound to you and the other girls as you are bound to me," he explained.

"How many can you have? And does it mean that I have to bow to them?" Haku asked.

Naruto chuckled and replied, "You are bound to me and through me them. As for how many I can have… I'm not sure, but I really only wanted to have the two, but Azula-chan said that you would be a good addition to the clan, so she wasn't opposed. I see the longing and hurt in your eyes. I know that you were hurt, but I will do what I can to relieve your pain, but I can say that there may be one other, but since the seals are based on me I really can't cheat on you girls without your permission. Hinata-chan approved last night when my clone talked to her. She wants to meet you though."

Haku smiled warmly and pulled Naruto on to her and kissed him passionately. She broke the kiss and said, "Show me the depths of how much you care for me."

Naruto spent the next few hours showing Haku just how much he would 'love' her.

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Azula felt a chill run across her left breast and pulled her shirt back to reveal a snowflake appearing on her chest next to the Uzumaki swirl and Hyuuga flame. She smirked and turned to Sasuke. She then said, "Keep up the work I have to report to Anko-sensei." She then leapt off her perch and back towards the house.

She smirked and jumped from her branch, but also left a shadow clone behind to keep tabs on the Uchiha boy. She quickly sped towards the Tazuna's house. She found her sensei talking quietly to Kakashi. Azula cleared her throat to get their attention. When Anko turned Azula said, "Naruto-kun has accomplished part one of plan per your request."

Anko smirked and said, "Damn, that gaki is really moving quickly, but I'm sure you don't have any real details."

Azula shook her head and replied, "No, all I know is that he has added another to the list."

Kakashi looked at the girl in confusion and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Azula looked at Anko for guidance, more because of protocol than wanting to explain. Anko sighed and replied, "We have a mission to recruit Zabuza or at least make him an ally to the leaf. We could use it when Kirigakure falls. Zabuza will either be Mizukage or be close to whoever becomes Mizukage. We just want to be in on the action. This will also help when Naruto wants to head to Whirlpool."

Kakashi nodded and said, "Going to Whirlpool would be a troubling proposition even with the permission of the Water village, even though it is owned by the Land of Fire right now." He then looked at Azula and asked, "How is Sasuke doing?"

Azula sighed and replied, "For someone who has been neglected, not bad. He could have been able to climb trees, but that is your decision not ours. He should be up to speed in a few days, but I will not guarantee that his sanity will hold." She finished with an evil grin.

Kakashi sighed and said, "So long as you don't hurt him beyond repair and he IS ready by the time I'm back up and working everything will be fine."

Azula smirk and said, "He will learn… I've given him some motivation after his groping me. I just hope he's a lightning type or it might be painful." She walked out of the room with a small chortle.

Kakashi sighed and then asked, "Is that you're doing or is she naturally that way?"

Anko laughed heartily and replied, "Princess Azula was an evil girl before Naruto got a hold of her, so you can't blame that on me. Some old habits are hard to break, but some work for what is needed."

Kakashi chuckled and said, "You might be right, but she seems to take after your personality a little too much."

Anko blushed and replied, "Kakashi-kun, you say the nicest things, but she has taught me a few things. I'm serious that she knows how to get to people. I've already talked to Ibiki about her and when she chuunin she is going into interrogation. Heck if Naruto doesn't go into the hunter program he is being sought for defense and interrogation too."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why the interest in Naruto?"

Anko laughed and replied, "You know the break-ins that have been happening around the village?"

Kakashi nodded and replied, "Yeah, what about them. They were passed off as simple break-ins nothing more."

Anko laughed heartily and explained, "My team, Naruto, Azula and I did those to test the clan's defenses. We've been both successful and failed, but we always made a point, since the Hokage wanted the clans to make better defensive plans for clan compounds and common areas. We're doing the village when we get back. Emo-butt can't join, since he doesn't seem to have the style needed to pull off the work. We act high profile until we actually go after the target and then hit them with abandon. We succeeded with both the Karuma and the Yamanaka clans, but failed with the Akimichi clan. They protected their stuff really good and had a good defense. We do have a way of getting past the hounds of the Inuzuka clan." She giggled at the idea that Naruto had for that job.

Kakashi smiled under his mask and said, "I'm glad he was able to get a sensei who cares and can work with his strengths. Let him know if he wants some training let me know, but Sasuke does take priority. From what Azula is saying, I'm going to have to put in some time with him. I've been focusing on Team building instead of jutsu work. He already knows several fire techniques, so he can either go to the library for more or work on the ones he has. I want him to understand that he will need to depend on others until he is strong enough to truly be on his own."

Anko chuckled and said, "I understand now. No worries and I've been working stealth and teamwork with the pair. They work like a well-oiled machine when we are on our special missions. Otherwise they are a couple of pranksters, one of the reasons I like them." The smile was evident on her face.

Kakashi lay back on his pillow and asked, "Any suggestions on how to help Sasuke?"

Anko shrugged and replied, "I think you have it well in hand, but if you want we can give him a visit after we return to the village."

Kakashi chuckled, but shook his head and said, "Nah, he will just end up hating them for doing that."

Anko shrugged and said, "You can't say I didn't offer." The pair began to chuckle lightly.

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Azula returned to find Sasuke on his back at the bottom of the tree, panting heavily. Azula looked at her clone who just disappeared in a puff of smoke and she knew what happed. She sighed and said, "I thought you hated fan girls. Are you going to tell me that the cheesy pick up line you gave my clone wasn't one that was used on you by your fan horde? Understand that you can't imitate my taijutsu style. You should have kept your mind on the task at hand and your hands to yourself. Naruto-kun will find out about this and I won't protect you from his wrath. Also the precious council will not protect you from his wrath, since it is an inter clan mater."

Sasuke chuckled and said, "You aren't a clan."

Azula smirked and replied, "I am married to Uzumaki Naruto and hitting on his wife is a breach of clan protocol. I know that the Hyuuga will support us on this matter. Also if you remember your history, the Uzumaki have the distinct honor of being part of the clan that rivals yours, the Senju, namely Uzumaki-Senju Mito and Senju Tsunade. We know that there are other Uzumaki spread across the continent, but we haven't had the time to search for them. Also the Uzumaki were known for their sealing and were part of a village that was a great ally to Konoha. It was destroyed during the war by a couple villages banding together to eliminate it. They gave their lives so that Konoha would survive. Now get back to work or I could give you a recharge…"

Sasuke paled at the threat, knowing that she would use lighting to motivate him, so he began to try to climb the tree with chakra again.

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Naruto stood before an amused Zabuza, while Haku attempted to hide behind the smaller boy. Zabuza smiled and showed his sharp teeth. "So you accept the proposition that you come with me and help me depose the Mizukage?" he asked in a light tone.

Naruto smiled just as wide and replied, "Better, I support you from Konoha. I have at my disposal resources that you can't even attain from a man like Gato. We both know that he is going to turn on you anyways, so why not allow me to help you join with the rebellion."

Zabuza's smile lessened and he pointed at Haku. "I practically give you my tool and you expect me to walk away empty handed?" he asked with slight anger in his voice.

"I gave her a choice and she took it. She cares very deeply for you and thought you wanted her to get me on your side. She did, so I'm offering you either a place as a Konoha shinobi or an independent shinobi, with the protection of Konoha. I've already gotten approval from the Hokage. Haku can either be our go between or stay with me. Either way, she is mine and I'm hers. I know that you're a powerful shinobi in your own right, but remember that hunter nin come in groups of four not two. You also lost to a genin with the help of a jounin. I offer protection for you and…" he smiled and rubbed his fingers together. He then continued, "money that you so crave. Also you wanting to be Mizukage… Do you want to be better than Yagura or an evil tyrant like him?" Naruto asked, not flinching as the killing intent went up in the room.

"You have a lot of nerve kid, but you have made several good points. Haku, you're free from you bond to me. I'm glad you found your own dream and someone who can give you the affection that you so deserve. Remember that you were never truly a tool, but also you were." He then turned to Naruto and said, "If I find out that you're using her… I'll make you think killing you would be the best thing that could happen to you."

Naruto chuckled and replied, "Zabuza, I take care of those I care about. Because Haku-chan cares about you I thus care about what happens to you. You are like a father-in-law of sorts. I promise to treat Haku-chan right. You have my word on that. Now about the deal with the Hokage… how do you want to proceed?"

Zabuza brought his hand to his chin and replied, "I will take the protected status, since I do not have a way to fight against them yet."

Naruto smiled and said, "We can negotiate with the rebels, and we will use Haku-chan as the go between. Afterwards we can coordinate something with the rebels to figure out how to overthrow the Mizukage and fix the blood wars."

Zabuza smiled and replied, "You have a deal."

A/N: Yeah, another chapter out to my adoring fans. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. More to come…

RaiderXV…