Welcome, I hope you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I have once again gotten ahead of myself with my last preview, the NEXT chapter is going to be Departure. This chapter is post the battle with everything winding down, so please don't expect too much action for a few chapters, these next few are dedicated to character developement and interaction.

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-Chapter 20: Fragile-

Naruto looked at the entrance to the arena hallway that Zaiaku was taken down, 'We tried so hard,' he thought as tears stung his eyes. He gritted his teeth and stepped up to the arena wall, "GODDAMNIT!" he cried as he slammed punch after punch into it. The stone crumbled under the assault.

"N-Naruto-kun," whispered Hinata as she looked on in sympathy

Kakashi shook his head, "Naruto it was a battle you have to understand tha-"

"DON'T!" he said in a warning tone as he rounded on the jounin, "Don't you dare lecture me, we've seen hell and lived through it. Don't you DARE presume to know a goddamned thin-!"

"Get a grip!" yelled Gaara, cutting off his friend, "he is not dead." All eyes inside the makeshift medical area were on the two.

"THIS ISN'T RIGHT GAARA!" roared Naruto as his knuckles began to bleed, "WE WERE SUPPOSED TO COME HERE AND MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT!"

His redheaded companion nodded in solemn agreement, "I understand that Naruto, but things do not always work out the way we intend."

Naruto looked to the sky and glared through slitted pupils, "What else do you want?" he whispered. His rage caused his canine's to elongate and eyes to shift to crimson, "WHAT THE FUCK ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM US?" he roared at the heavens.

Everyone was in a stunned revere at the two teammates, "We have fought through so much more than this," growled the redhead, "and through it all the only person that is more resiliant than Zaiaku is you."

"Naruto," interjected Temari, "please calm down, Zaiaku has Tsunade-sama in there. If anyone can help him, it's her."

The blonde seemed to accept this and calm down, "Who the hell did that to him? I don't know anyone that's better with a sword than he is."

"I can answer that," replied Zabuza as he and the two Kage entered the arena, "I was afraid he would be Fantomu's target." Reaching out he displayed a shattered Kuroi Keiri, "This is Kuroi Keiri," he stated as threw the broken weapon into the dirt in disgust, "the weapon of the leader of the mist seven, The Phantom: Oujou Fantomu."

"He beat the leader of the mist seven?" questioned a stunned jounin.

"He is nearly dead," retorted Gaara in his stern Kazekage tone, "that is not a victory." He then watched Naruto stand up and start down the hallway to the medical room, "Where are you going Naruto?"

"Reality is that he's hurt badly," replid the Kyuubi vessel, "If he does die, I'll be damned if I won't be there." Gaara nodded and made to follow him

"If it's any consolation," said the third as the two boys made their way to the door, "all the women and children made it safely to the evacuation area."

The teens nodded and continued on their way. They entered the hallway not speaking until they reached the ANBU guards outside the door, "Let us in," stated Naruto flatly.

The raven ANBU shook his head, "We cann-"

He never got to finish his sentence as both were slammed into the walls by two hands of sand, "We do not have time for your orders." As they entered the room they saw Sakura and Tsunade in a state of near exhaustion, "Everyone, except Tsunade-sama and Sakura-san, out!" bellowed Gaara letting his chakra flair. "How is he?" questioned the redhead once the room was cleared.

"We've stopped the bleeding and closed the superficial wounds," replied Tsunade, "but my chakra is almost spent and Sakura isn't doing any better. His chakra circulatory system is blown apart in places, like he overloaded his system."

'That's because he did,' thought Naruto as he turned to face the sannin, "We'll help," he stated as he placed a hand on Tsunade's back.

Kyuubi growled, 'This a bit over the top even for you.'

"Naruto," reprimanded Gaara, "That is beyond dangerous, one slip up and we could kill them."

'Forget every psycho comment I ever made about you,' stated Shukaku, 'Naruto has gone bat-shit crazy.'

His teammate shook his head, "We just have to patch up his chakra circulatory system, Shiva can handle the rest."

"Shiva?" panted Sakura as she reached down and swallowed another soldier pill, "What the hell are you talking about Naruto?" The blonde in question blanched, forgetting that she didn't know, "Tell me!" she shouted as she continued to repair his damaged system.

Tsunade shook her head, "Ask him later," she replied, then she eyed Naruto "You're going to attempt to keep our reserves filled while we hold our jutsu, aren't you?" The blonde boy nodded, "That might work, but it's not safe," she replied.

"Do it," stated Sakura as she eyed Gaara, "I don't care, do it."

The redhead admired the determination in her eyes for a moment and nodded, placing a hand on her back, "This will be very harsh."

"Deep breath Ba-chan," said Naruto grinning

"I'm going to kill you once this is over," hissed the Sannin. "Alright," she stated after she calmed herself and focused, "do it." She felt the red chakra flood her system and drew in a sharp breath, "Back off a bit," she commanded. Looking up she saw Sakura shaking violently, "Sakura!" she said in a stern voice, "Calm down."

"It's too much," replied the pink haired girl shaking her head, "I-I can't handle this much longer."

"Naruto," said Gaara as he removed his hand from the kunoichi's back, "that is enough." The two medic nins ceased their jutsu and slumped, panting heavily

"Well?" questioned Naruto as he watched Tsunade perform a scanning jutsu

The sannin smiled slightly, "He's completely healed," she stated, "now the rest is up to him." Standing up she made for the door, "Sakura please watch over him and inform me immediately if his condition changes, I am going to deliver my injury report to the Hokage and make preperations to have him moved to the hospital."

Gaara nodded, "Naruto, we need to also deliver our reports to the Hokage." The blonde grinned like the cheshire cat and followed Tsunade and Gaara out.

Sakura watched as the three exited the room, "So it's just you and me," she stated as she flopped down into a chair. "You know you wouldn't even be here if you didn't try to play the hero," she said with a scowl, "You should've let me stay and help you." Then she frowned, "No, I suppose I would've gotten in your way, you guys don't seem like group friendly shinobi." Standing up and walking to the sink she glared as the blood covering her black gloves refused to wash off, "You were right," she hissed as she threw the offending garments in the trash, "blood doesn't wash out easily at all." Sitting back down in the chair she looked over at him, "You know," she said giggling, "I think Naruto was right, your hair IS kind of girlie. Almost as bad as Neji's, but it suits you." She hesitantly reached a hand up to caress his cheek, "I-," she gulped down a breath that had hitched in her throat, "thank you for protecting us, we would've died if you hadn't stopped the enemy." As her hand was almost on Zaiaku's cheek the door burst open, jerking back quickly Sakura glared at the new comer, "Yes?"

"We're ready to move him," replied a Medic Nin, "The sound and mist are routed and the village is secure. Also Tsunade-sama is requesting your assistance in treating the remaining injured."

Sakura huffed, "Hai," then she smiled at Zaiaku and leaned down to his ear, "we'll talk more later."

She couldn't know that inside Zaiaku's mind the ice queen was smiling, 'Arigato, Sakura-hime.'

Later that day in the Hokage's office the tension was so high you could cut it with a knife, "That is the end of my report," said Gaara as he glared at his father, "my apologies for not expiring on the battlefield."

"Gaara," said Zabuza in a warning tone

The Kazekage held up his hand, "It's fine," he said, "I was too much of a coward to stand up to the council and stand up for my son."

"What are you talking about?" questioned the redhead, "it was by YOUR orders that the assassins continued to come."

"I would never issue that sort of order!" replied the Kazekage

"You did not order my assassination?" questioned a stunned Gaara

The Kazekage shook his head, "I could never," he replied, "but without stopping the council I might as well have." The man's voice cracked as tears silently ran down his cheeks,"Can you forgive me?"

Naruto looked at his friend, "Can't get much more sincere than that."

"I will make an attempt," said Gaara with his eyes closed, "may I be allowed to visit Suna for a short time?"

The Kazekage smiled, "Of course, we will depart in a month. You are more than welcome to stay for a while."

Zabuza eyed both boys, the situation was getting a bit too emotional for his tastes, "Let's go see if the Ramen stand is open, I'm hungry."

Both teens smiled and made for the door, "A moment please," requested Jiriaya, "We know that Naruto is the vessel of Kyuubi no Kitsune and Gaara is the vessel for Sabaku no Shukaku." He frowned, "However, we are still wondering how Zaiaku came into his power. Can you elaborate?"

Naruto sighed and flopped unceremoniously into a chair, "Remember how Zaiaku said his father turned people into weapons?" Sarutobi nodded, "Well, he was the first one." Zabuza glared at the floor as the blonde pressed on, "That is why he calls himself 'Zaiaku' (sin) instead of Senmetsu," shaking his head he sighed, "when he was three years old he was taken from his mother's home and had something sealed inside him." Standing up he pulled on his sword, "He considers himself a sin against love for being conceived through rape, he thinks he's a sin against nature for being made into a weapon, and he thinks he's a sin against man for being born to kill."

"How horrible," sighed the third

"He is the vessel for the Ice Queen and Goddess of Destruction," replied Gaara as he followed Naruto to the door, "Shiva."

Zabuza sighed, "We're truely a tragic group," he said as he followed his students out. He turned a glare to the Hokage and Kazekage, "You make sure those people know who protected their nobles and saved their women and children. Without those three boys, Konoha would be burning right now."

"I apologize for questioning your loyalty," stated Sarutobi, "Zabuza-kun."

"My loyalty is with my students," replied the Demon of the mist, "and their loyalties are with Konoha." With that said he turned and exited the office.

"I question their motives," said an advisor

Sarutobi scowled at him, "You still question them after they've fought their hardest for the leaf!" he shouted, "How dare you! One of them is almost dead!"

Tsunade entered the office, "It's more than that," she said as she prepared to make her report, "those three boys love this village more than some of our more dedicated Shinobi."

Jiriaya grinned evily, "That and they could burn down Konoha if they got the urge," scratching his chin he closed his eyes, "I'd much rather have them with us than against us." He smiled inwardly as the advisors went pale.

The next day Sakura was making her rounds when she came upon Zaiaku's room, slowly turning the knob she sighed, "I don't suppose you're awake yet are you?" Looking around the room she saw the flowers from several of the families that he had protected, "Made yourself into the tragic hero," she chuckled, "nice going." Sitting down on the edge of the bed she ran her eyes over his face, she hadn't found the courage to attempt to touch him again, "Once you wake up you're going to be beating girls off with a stick." She huffed as she looked at her clipboard, "I don't think I like that at all."

As she was checking his medications another medic entered the room, "Ah! Gomen Sakura-san," she said, "I was coming to check Zaiaku-san's bandages."

"What is the wash basin for?" questioned the pink haired girl glaring, 'why of all the perverted!'

The girl blushed, "Zaiaku-san's hair still has blood in it," she replied, "Tsunade-sama requested that I wash it."

Before Sakura realized what was going on she spoke, "I'll do it." Once she registered what she had said she mentally slapped herself, 'Nice Sakura, very nice.' Sighing she looked at the disappointed face of the nurse, "Help me get him set up." After several moments they had his head supported and had laid several towels under the wash basin as to not soak his bed, "That's all," snapped Sakura. The girl exited the room in a huff, "Alright," she said as she pulled his hair into the water, "now let's wash this." As she dampened his snow white hair she noticed the water turning red quickly, "So much blood," she whispered, "you fought so hard." Changing the water in the restroom sink she resumed her duties, "You're hair's pretty soft," she observed, "sorry but all we have is the shampoo the hospital supplies, it's definately not the best."

"Yea he uses some fruity smelling stuff, if you do that tomorrow I'll bring it for you," came the voice of Naruto from the doorway, "I'm not interupting am I?"

Sakura blushed, "No I'm just cleaning Zaiaku-san's hair," then she noticed a sharpening stone and some other supplies, along with a small water bucket in Naruto's hands, "what's all that?"

Naruto reached down and lifted Shimotsuki from the corner, "I'm cleaning and sharpening Shimotsuki," Sakura threw him a questioning look as she continued washing the young man's hair. "Zabuza says that as swordsmen the only thing we can offer our enemies is a quick death," taking out a small brass hammer he removed the pins holding the blade in the handle, "a quick death can't come at the end of a dull blade." Picking up a peice of rice paper he gripped the blade and gently seperated from the handle, "Also," he said as he placed the tip of the sword into the bucket and ran water down it, "After a battle you have to clense your blade. Zabuza says that a blade can become tainted by death just like a person." Removing the blade from the water he placed it on the sharpening stone, "I never really thought about it and kind of shrugged it off," he stated as he began to run it along the stone. "Then I watched Zaiaku during his match with Sasuke," he continued as he flipped it and repeated the process, "at first I thought it was just his abilities that let him fight like he does, but then I realized something." Leaning over he placed the tip of the sword in the bucket again and ran water over it, "Shimotsuki is his determination, she fights right along side him," after replacing the blade in the hilt he resecured the pins in the handle. Taking out a small powder filled bag he began to dab it on the metal, bringing it to a brilliant shine. "He's a lot more fragile than you think," he stated as he took out a small vial of oil, "I bet you thought he was all cool and collected." Pouring the oil on a soft cloth he began to rub the blade, "His mother was killed by his father then his father took him and tried to make him a monster," he placed Shimotsuki back into her sheath and began to rub oil into the leather on the handle. "He was broken when Gaara and I met him," he said as he gingerly replaced the sword in the corner, "worse than we were." Lifting his supplies he watched Sakura for a moment, apparently she had long since finished washing and drying the young man's hair and was now absentmindedly running her fingers through it, "I think he likes that."

"Oh," said a startled and blushing Sakura, "I should go." Quickly she got up, collected her things, and exited the room.

Naruto shook his head at her antics, "You'd better wake up soon frosty," he said with a grin, "someone might think she's wierd spending so much time with an unconcious ninja."

That afternoon Hinata was wandering through the forest outside the village gates, 'I know I heard something,' she thought. Coming into a particularly large clearing she saw Gaara, "Gaara-san," she whispered. The redhead was lashing out with his sand, destroying trees and rocks, whatever came into his sight. Everytime he destroyed something he would cry out, cursing everything he could think of, life, death, and the fates.

Gaara narrowed his eyes, "Someone is watching," commanding his sand to the direction of the intruder he waited. After a moment he heard a very girlish squeak. "Hinata-san?" he questioned with a frown, "How long were you there?"

Shukaku laughed, ,'You can bet she saw your little tantrum.'

"L-long enough to know th-that you tell Naruto-kun to be c-calm," she replied, "b-but you're just as an-angry as he is." She watched as his body stiffened, "It's o-ok if you don't w-want to talk about it. I'm h-here if you do th-though."

The redhead nodded, "Arigato, Hinata-san." Then he looked around and sighed, "I've made quite the mess," this elicited a giggle from the Hyuuga heir, "allow me to walk you home, it is too soon after a great battle for someone as important as yourself to be wandering outside of the village." They both made the treck to the Hyuuga compound in a comfortable silence.

That night Konoha's former loudmouth was pearched on top of the head of the fourth Hokage, "So peaceful," he said into the night, "bet you never saw this one coming, ne?" He let out a hearty laugh and patted the monument, "Jumping worlds, befriending Zabuza, and how could I forget Ero-sennin and Baa-chan?"

'I still cringe at the implications, kit,' said Kyuubi shuddering

"Naruto-kun?' came a voice from behind him, turning his head he saw Temari gazing at him, "who are you talking to?"

The blonde scratched the back of his head, "Ah, gomen," he replied, "Just myself. Please sit, that way no one thinks I'm crazy." After a few moments of silence and star gazing Naruto turned to her, "Ne, Temari-chan? What did you want to talk to me about." He silently cheered that she hadn't whacked him for the added '-chan'

She drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin atop them, "You're like Gaara aren't you?" she questioned, "You, Gaara, and Zaiaku. You're all vessels."

"Figured it out then?" questioned Naruto, the sand kunoichi nodded, "Yea, Gaara, Zaiaku, and I each have an entity sealed within us."

"How can you be like you are?" she questioned, "Gaara was hated and shunned for as long as I can remember, then one day people stopped hating him and started fearing him." The wind caused her eyes to sting, "How can you act like none of that happened when I know it did. Gaara was a monster as a child, why did he change so much?"

Naruto sighed, "Loneliness is hell Temari-chan and only monsters can exist in hell," he replied, "He just needed someone to hold on to, someone to teach him that family can mean more than simply being related by blood." Then he turned a smile on her, "You know he would be extatic to forge a bond with you and Kankuro, like the one he has with Zaiaku and I." Then he frowned and tapped his chin, "Well as extatic as he can be."

Temari giggled, "He was never the most emotional child."

"Just learn to read his eyes," replied Naruto wistfully as he looked up to the stars, "when he speaks, watch his eyes, he'll show you more than you think." Naruto nearly fell over as Temari wrapped her arms around his waste, "T-Temari-chan?" he questioned blushing

"Arigato for saving my little brother," she sobbed into his shirt. After a moment she released him, stood up, dried her eyes, and started back up the cliff, "One thing I have seen in their eyes though, Naruto-kun," she said over her shoulder, "you're the one they look to, you're their support. Even your sensei looks at you like a lifeline to the world." As she came over the crest of the mountain she looked down on his form, 'You're so special Naruto-kun, you have the ability to save everyone around you.'

Naruto shook his head and chuckled as the form of Temari disappeared, "Hell of a night, ne Tousan?"

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End Chapter 20

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Preview Chapter 21: Departure