After the encounter of the Demon Brothers, team seven discovered a little more about their mission and resolved even harder to help the struggling nation and it's people. Hinata simply because she couldn't tolerate suffering of innocent people, and Ryuu and Sasuke because it was one step further into being able to prove themselves and to uphold their ideals. Kurenai was happy with her team and though she was wary about what may come on this mission she knew they could weather it together.
As they were walking towards the boat that would sneak them back into Wave, the Hyugga heiress finally spoke up on something that had been niggling away inside of her, "Ryuu-kun, Sasuke-kun... I.. want to thank you both for helping me. I understand that what my clan has said was wrong about me and about both of you." She blushed, "Ano I also want to tell you that I know who you are Ryuu, I am sorry that I haven't said anything but I have known since you first came back..."
Ryuu paused, mid-step at the last line. She knew? But then the Hyuuga if they watched him enough as a child could have noticed the chakra and the seal. " Hinita-chan you watched me when I was younger didn't you?" It all made sense how he was saved frequently at the last minute. She always had guards when she walked through the city, and it made sense that she in her gentle nature would try and help him.
She nodded, " Yes, when you came back with Neara-nii-chan I made her tell me, because I saw you." She blushed even more as she looked at Sasuke. " And I am glad that you both have family now. Ano, Sasuke, I don't know how you truly feel about Itachi-san... but I have overheard things from the Elders in my clan, and … I don't know which is worse.. but remember being a Shinobi means to look underneath the underneath." She softly hugged both stunned boys and kissed them both on the cheeks.
Sasuke was struck dumb as he listened to it all fearing for Ryuu being hurt because of his past, but when she brought up Itachi, he froze. She was saying there was something more to him killing the clan? What else could there be. He tried to remember, his father was always talking about how He should be hokage, and how Sarutobi had become weak and was betraying the village by not appointing some one stronger. Maybe that was it... but what else?
Ryuu, was looking between them both his mind flying at a thousand miles a minute. Until several things clicked into place. Most of his injuries as a child had been fire based, The times he spent in the Hokages office, maybe they found out about him being hidden away and tried to confront the Hokage about it.. No, they were going to kill him and take over. They used to be the police...maybe Itachi was saving the village, or working under orders of someone else to prevent it.
/Several days later/
After the revelation between the team they had once more grown closer, even Kurenai after over hearing the conversation between them had been closer to them all now that they all knew and accepted everything. 'This is what family is,' she sighed in another realization that she could never have children on her own. They had just recently arrived on the land of Wave after the boat had dropped them off, when all four of them tensed, before grabbing the old man and dropping to the ground as a large sword flung through where they once were.
"I see so it's the Mistress of Illusions leading a group of snot nosed brats," a mans voice spoke before he appeared on the flat of the swords blade, his bald head and blue tinged skin, giving away a little as two whom he was but it was the wrappings over his lower face, and the scar across his eye that revealed the most.
"Momochi Zabuza, Demon of the Mist." Kurenai spoke as she dropped into stance, Hinata activating her eyes, and shielding the Bridge builder as Sasuke and Ryuu both came up on either side of their Sensei Swords and staff in hand.
"Give up the old man, and I'll let you and the babies leave." He hopped from his sword and pulled it from the tree with one hand. Walking towards them he looked over the two boys on either side of the woman, seeing the strange pattern in their eyes. " Awe if it isn't the proud bloodlines of Konoha.. pampered and treated like royalty all because you were born with a trait... " He spit at them, " You know nothing of being a ninja and rely on your weak skills and tricks."
Ryuu and Sasuke lowered into their Stances both were their weapons version of the Dragon's Wing style. Before launching themselves at the Missing Nin, "Rising Dragon Wing," "Dragon Tail Slam" Both boys called out their individual Attacks as Sasuke brought his blades up in an X before dispersing The chakra from the weapons jutsu, creating an illusory image of Dragons wings from his blade as the struck the Large sword that blocked the attack as Ryuu launched himself over Sasuke's back his own staff giving the same visual of a Dragons tail as he let loose a blast of wind Chakra behind it. Both attacks slamming into the Zanbato at the same time, each leaving it's mark as Sasuke's was filled with lighting and Ryuu's gouged into the metal with his wind attack.
Zabuza was pushed back by the force of the attack from the two midgets, 'I've never fought this style. It's the same but with different weapons.' He thought, as he was suddenly wrapped up in vines, and the sky darkened. He cursed himself.
Kurenai took the distraction to cast her Genjutsu on him, right as Ryuu looked back at her, he caught the sequence, and began one of his own. "Moukuton:Piasu Tsuru kēji " Causing real vines to rise up from the ground and ensnare Zabuza. Just as he tried to dispel the genjutsu.
He tried to move finding himself still trapped in string vines."I dispelled it, how?" He looked at the Jounnin and then saw the blond boy holding a seal. Just as two chains shot past the boys head piercing his shoulders. " Argh" He looked down to see the sharp blades leading to the small girl that was with the team. 'If this is anything like the rest of their village I may just join them.. but it's a pity I still have to kill the old man."
"Zabuza Momochi you are captured, you will be handed over to Konoha and then returned to Kiri." Kurenai spoke just moments before two needles struck the man in the neck causing him to go limp as a younger Nin in a Hunters mask dropped from the trees.
"I would like to thank you for the assist in capturing this fugitive. Now I will remove the corpse and return to Kiri." The Hunter-nin spoke softly as they grabbed the body and vanished. Leaving Team 7 stunned but relieved. That was until Ryuu spoke up.
"Kurenai-sensei... Hunter-nin decapitate and destroy the body on site... also from what I noticed those needles were pressre point only... meaning a false death state." Ryuu looked towards her seeing the nod and dawn of comprehension.
"How long?" She asked, she didn't know herself her knowledge of medicine extended as far as how to put on a band-aide or wrap a wound.
"Given the injury from Hinata-chan and the danage to the nervous system from the False Death.. I would say a week to two weeks depending on how adept anyone around him is at medical treatments." He spoke up after thinking for a moment, a 'week at the earliest.'
/Arriving at Tazuna's/
The team arrived in the Village and entered Tazuna's home, to find his daughter and Grandson sitting in the living room. " I'm Home.. and I brought some Ninja to help." He smiled at his Daughter as she noticed that he was sober. Running to hug him she looked over the team and it's leader.
"Thank you for agreeing to help my father. It means so much to us."
Ryuu looked between them, "We are also going to be helping around town. People shouldn't have to suffer like this." He spoke with a vindication that the chorus us of "hai' from both Hinata and Sasuke only sealed the deal.
"You don't have too, but we will appreciate all the help." Tsunami finished, " Now there are two guest rooms upstairs, that you will be using and dinner will be ready shortly.
The team headed up to the rooms, to rest and freshen up for a moment, "Now, I'll guard Tazuna for the week while you three help out around town, Ryuu I know you will either start a clinic or help out, Hinata I would like you to collect herbs and help with making salves as well as perhaps start a Kitchen for those who can't afford to eat." Turning to Sasuke, " You, can spend the week working on your Doton Manipulation and help repair homes and maybe fix their wall." The three nodded before they split up to wash off the dirt and grime of traveling and fighting.
/Three days later/
Ryuu had taken over one of the small inns in the village and immediately spent hours between himself and his clones working on all the ill and injured. The smile never leaving his faces. Hinata and Tsunami would bring him meals and the clean bandages that they made along with the ointments and salves that they both worked on.
The sounds and vibrations of the earth shifting would echo through out the days as Sasuke helped either shape the stones for the bridge or repaired homes with himself and his clones, working each day into exhasution, but with a happy smile on his face.
Hinata between working on the salves, and helping prepare the supplies for medical needs, she and her few clones she could make, ran a soup kitchen after having the village bring all the food they had to her. She had began working in eveything so that they all could have something to eat.
The three young ninja brought the village hope, and a small amount of happiness in the week that they had spent there so far. Even Kurenai as she worked along side the workers on the bridge, handing planks, stone or nails when needed. But so far she found there was a life coming back to the small town in Wave, and perhaps it would spread to the country as well.
After the end of the day all four found themselves sitting around Tazuna's table relaxing with a bit of a snack and some tea. " I'm proud of you three, and I am sure the Hokage will be as well once this is over and has read the reports." Kurenai smiled at her tired team.
"Well, I have been training two of the villagers to run the clinic after we leave, and between Hinata-chan and I we are leaving scrolls on medicines that can be made here." Ryuu spoke up after a sip.
"Ano, I am also teaching several of the kids our age how to cook and run the soup kitchen." Hinata smiled. This is what she became a ninja for. Not for the fighting or the battles but for the chance to help and make a difference for people who need the help.
Sasuke yawned, " At the rate I am going we can make two bridges, and my reserves will be larger than Ryuu's." He laughed and so did the others. "But, honestly I should have the base wall finished in a few days since I seem to have mastered the Doton: Yaei-chi no kabe. The walls are six feet thick and about twelve feet high." That was about a fourth of the size of Konoha's walls but this wasn't a Ninja Village. " Two more days and I'll have the Village done, then another two patching and strengthening and it should be solid."
"Good," Kurenai smiled and so did Tazuna and his Daughter. They had been the most surprised at the kindness and generosity that the young ninja had shown. Then again the true surprise came at their level of skill and how they handled themselves. " Finish the wall, and then you can have a day off, Hinata I am sure between the village and those you have taught you can take some time off as well." Kurenai sighed as she looked to Ryuu, there wasn't really a way for him to rest completely." Ryuu, you will still have to send clones to the clinic every so often but I am sure you can use the time off as well."
The team nodded looking forward to a day off from all the work, even if it was for a good cause they were still young and were burning themselves out. Strangely they could almost hear the voice of a green glad ninja utter the 'flames of Youth' on the winds. All in the room seemed to shudder.
/ On the Seventh day/
They were resting, well resting as much as this team seemed to do anyways. They had all turned the day into a training day along the river outside the village. The boys had secretly worked their Doton skills around the outside of the village, by working the tunnels many feet below the ground from the river bed into the now walled Town so that the water would spring up in the small ponds that they had worked through out the town. For either fresh water, or for working gardens, Since at Night Ryuu had been sneaking out and using his Mouktuon training to bring life to the town in the ways of plants and trees. IT had been a great training for him to familiarize himself with all the plants and trees that seemed to grow here, as well as his many outings to collect the seeds and starters for all the plants.
Ryuu had realized that it was less straining if he had the plants or seeds to work with, though that was only for raw focus. Jutsu it was another thing entirely but the seeds did yield to the creation of one Jutsu that he would only use if death was the only way. But that's where we find Ryuu now, several yards away from a Napping Sasuke and a sunbathing Hyuuga.
The blonde walked through the forest with several pouches as he looked over the plants and coaxed out the seeds. A dark haired girl was seen picking at the herbs, and it was one he had yet to meet." Excuse me, perhaps I could help?" He asked, noticing that they were healing herbs.
The girl looked up from her work noticing it was one of the ninja that had fought Zabuza-sama." Perhaps if you want... Are you a Ninja?" The girl asked Ryuu, who only smiled.
"Yea, I'm here with my team to help Wave so they don't have to suffer anymore from Gato's trying to sell them as slaves and starving them to death." His blue eyes sparkled with his confidence.
"Do you have some one precious to you to protect?" The girl had asked after a time, of them both filling the basket with herbs.
"Yea. I have my brother and the Old man...even Hinata-chan and Kurenai-sensei. Those are the closet but I have others. Too." He spoke with a goofy smile.
"That's good because you can only truly be strong if you have some one to protect." The girl spoke again but this time as she walked away with a smile." My names Haku, and I'm a boy."
Ryuu's jaw dropped to the ground, figuratively as the girl.. no boy corrected his assumptions. He had never seen someone so graceful or even attractive yet it was a boy. He was dumbfounded. " Well tell Zabuza to get better." He shunshined out as a senbon stuck into the tree he was standing in front of.
"It's a shame we could not have met under other circumstances... I will try not to kill your precious people." With that the boy disappeared into the woods.
/ A few days later/
Sasuke had decided to make the Bridge into part of the town and had extened the walls from the gates all the way to the bridge. Leaving plenty of space on either side for homes, or even vendors and future businesses. He had thought if someone could cut the town from the bridge then it wouldn't be a good thing. The hardes part he realized was helping the villagers install the gates, since thy were the main city on this side of wave they had three roads leading out of the town and had to put four gates up one for the new bridge, and three for the other roads. Between him and the few spare carpenters in the city they also worked in Towers that were on the inner walls so that they could patrol the tops of the walls.
Which is why Sasuke was left to sleep in as the other headed to the bridge, since today was the day that Ryuu had figured Zabuza would be ready to show up, if his meeting with Haku was anything to go by. " Well It looks like another month and the bridge will be finished, " Tazuna said as they walked up to the bridge only to find it deserted. "where is everyone?"
Ryuu and Hinata both activated their respective Doujutsu, Hinata gasping as she could see the wokers were locked up on boats. Both could see the chakra in the mist that was starting to roll in. The small sound of metal hitting the stone work of the bridge, as Zabuza and Haku appeared from the mist.
"Looks like we meet again, Haku take care of the blond, The Mistress here has a little business with me." They looked at the team seeing that Hinata had already stepped back to protect Tazuna. Just as Ryuu Charged at the male apprentice of Zabuza forcing them off to one side of the bridge, as Kurenai launched herself at Zabuza. Knowing that the only way to survive was to keep him from using that sword.
Ryuu and Haku were trading hits, He had never found some one that could dodge most if not all of his strikes. This boy was a few years older than him and it amazed him at how agile and flexible he was. But on the other hand Ryuu was dodging most every strike as well. It was near standstill until Haku caught one of his punchs, "It saddens me to fight you, but I must to protect Zabuza-sama." the boy the flashed through one handed seals, which shocked Ryuu even as his mind started to process the potential and began creating a way to do it as well. " Hyuton: Demonic Ice Mirrors" As several mirrors formed and created a dome around them. Haku released The hand and jumped into the Mirror cast images of himself around to all of them. " I will make this swift."
Ryuu was shocked as he felt the senbon strike him from all angles, not even seeing Haku appear from the mirrors. He struggled and blocked as many as he could, seeing after images. The thought dawning on him as he realized that the jutsu allowed the boy to move to fast for even his Kagegan to predict to movements. fast enough to intercept them. Even if he could at least block them. "You don't have to fight me, Gato is an evil person.. we could stop this and save the village. Why?"
The boy in the mirrors spoke, "Because it is Zabuza-sama wish to retake Kiri and end the wars, to do so he needs the money that Gato is paying him." The boy leapt out of the mirror before Ryuu, both boys slicing into each other covering the other in blood their own or the others. Naruto Froze as his felt the chakra within his seal start to boil and lash out through his skin pulling the blood into his body. forcing the bloodline to fuse with him making it stronger, twisting his coils his chakra his mind to adapt to the the new power. He let out a Scream of pain as his body started to convulse.
/With Kurenai/
The two Jounnin were clashing Kunai to Sword as the both danced across the bridge, the clash of metal and the sparks were all they could see as the were forcing each other around. The smooth surface of the stone coated in the moisture from the mist making them slide with each thrust, every swing and parry of the others attacks. "You're strong for a woman, " Zabuza spoke as they clashed once more before both leaped back.
"It's not because I am a woman, I worked hard to get to this level and I am still working to get stronger." She spoke as she threw out a wave of shuriken with her free hand, was the missed or struck the sword he used. She started casting a genjutsu but instead of personally latching it into his system like so many, she latched it into the mist. Forcing him to power it as he kept up the mist. Once it settled she started dodging around him to get behind him. Right as she was about to strike him his sword came around to block.
"Your genjutsu won't work on me in the mist, I don't have to see you to hit you. I was trained in Kiri, we use out other senses to fight." He spoke as he pushed her off the blade sliding back into his stance before rushing at her again, the sparks of the sword striking the edge of her kunai. He wouldn't loose to her, even if she fought with a spirit much like his own. Fierce and determined. Zabuza was sure if he had met her outside of this he might have tried to court her but for now she was his enemy.
/With Sasuke/
he woke up feeling the sun hitting his face, "Shit I'm late!" He rushed to get dressed as he made his way down the stairs he heard a small crash from the kitchen he moved into the room to see Tsunami being held by one of Gato's men, and tried to figure out how hey got into the town. " Move and your mom Dies Brat!" That's when he saw Inari holding a butcher nice from the counter. Twitch and then rush at the man. Sasuke, quickly replaced himself with Inari and lunged his sword into the mans head, the body going limp as he pulled her from the now dead mans grasp.
She hugged him, then ran to her son. " Thank you." She wept out.
Sasuke turned to look at them, " Thanks Inari.. if you hadn't tried to save your mom and distract him.. I wouldn't have been able to help." He looked at the door as he realized that if they were here then the bridge was being attacked. " Stay safe and go find some of the other villagers and stay with them. I have to go help my brother and the others." Taking off out the door the wind whipping where he had once stood.
He ran to the bridge to find it covered in mist, and saw Tazuna and Hinata standing with their back to the wall. Looking further with his kagegan, he could see Kurenai and Zabuza fighting, turning he saw Haku and Ryuu clash, and then Ryuu start to scream as he fell to the ground. Sasuke rushed into the dome with out thought, seeing his brother on the ground not moving. He turned to look at the boy in the mirrors. " You will wish you had never killed my brother." The kagegan began to spin wildly, as he started flashing through hand signs, "Raiton: Rairyuu Endan" Both watched as a large Dragon of Lightning flew from Sasukes arm and started to crash into the mirrors bouncing from each one, until it cracked and destroyed a mirror causing the jutsu to break. Haku falling to the ground on top of Ryuu.
That's when he felt it, the small pulse in an other wise still body, "He's alive." The boy coughed, as the exhaustion from the charka wore on him, looking into the spinning blue and black eyes of Sasuke, as he noted the boy was holding a final seal in his hands.
As they looked upon each other, the mist faded dispelled by the lack of chakra to support it. Haku could see Zabuza on his knees looking at the woman that held a Kunai to his throat." No!" Haku screamed out as he pushed the last of his chakra into his body pushing Zabuza out of the way ending with the Kunai piercing him.
"Good, I can just have them kill you all off now." Those who were conscious looked to see a fat man surround by goons." And I don't have to pay you either." He chuckled as he motioned for the men to start the attack. The waves of men lept and climbed from the boats as he stood on the end of the unfinished bridge to enjoy the 'saving of money'.
Zabuza looke to the nearly dead Haku, then to Kurenai." If we live... I want to take you on a date." He forced himself up and charged at the mercs just as Sasuke started flinging Jutsu down upon them. Kurenai smiled for some reason as she too joined the fray. The blood and dead bodies covered the bridge as the last of the thugs were cut down, the three nin were bleeding and hurt as they looked at Gato.
Just as they were ready to strike an arrow passed between them sticking out of the mans throat as he gurgled and collapsed onto the ground, his life fleeing from the wound. Turning, they saw the village behind them and Inari standing with a boy in his hand. " This is our Village." Then the villages came and started collecting Ryuu and Haku taking them into the clinic as the rest began the arduous task of removing the bodies and collecting all the weapons and armor.
/Several Days later/
Ryuu had woken up to find himself inside his mindscape once more.
/Mindscape/
He looked around as his mother once more appeared, as she had done years ago and not since. " I'm affraid this is the last time I'll be showing up Naruto-kun." She held him, as they both hugged each other. "I just want you to be careful around bloodline users, it's the Kyuubi skill that you have picked up that knocked you out."
He looked at her curiously, " What do you mean skill I thought all I had was the chakra and the knowledge.."
"No, you have that but each demon or spirit has a unique ability, that becomes part of it's hosts." She explained as she craddled her son for maybe the last time until he passes on to join them in death. " The Kyuubi had the ability to absorb bloodlines and techniques, it's how you have so many affinities. Just like you absorbed Tenzo's Moukuton... though you were unconscious when that happened." SHe pointed to the Dragons that had come to represent his Elemental skill. " That Haku boy had an Ice Bloodline. Now you have it, but it's stronger... just like everything you have absorbed this way. It's how the Kyuubi had become the most feared of the Bijju."
Ryuu nodded, as he could feel the power of ice with in him, not only as a bloodline now but stronger because of his matching affinities. "Does this mean that anytime I get blood from someone with a blood line that I will take it?"
"No, only a bloodline that won't affect what you already have. Just like you can't have another Doujutsu, but elemental bloodlines yes, however there are other bloodlines that you should look out for because they are deadly unless you are suppose to have them but I think you will be fine. Just promise me to stay away from the Kaguya bloodline.. It might actually kill you if you take it in." She spoke with a tear in her eyes."You have made me proud, and I have put all the knowledge from Uzu that I possessed in your mental library. Trust Kurenai, and that seal for summoning that you are working on.. will work use it and become the best ninja you can.. I will always love you and be proud of you."
She leaned down to kiss her boy on the forehead, and just as her lips touched she faded, the power in her seal now gone. Just as the training seal on him flashed in a bright white before becoming nothing more than dust on his forehead to be blown away by the wind. He could feel the injuries to his body as he walked into the tower, to see a massive wall of Blue with the Uzamaki swirl over the 'books' before he went through them placing them on the shelves watching them fade from the powerful glowing blue into the traditional colors of his mind as he sorted them one by one as his bodily injuries healed.
/outside/
Team 7 plus Zabuza sat next to the beds of both Ryuu and Haku, watching as the few clones that remained worked on healing them as they dispearsed back to their master as they wore out theire supply of chakra. They watched as the seal in his forehead became visible and flashed leaving what appeared to be very dried blood in it's shape. " If that happened, then He has full control over his chakra." Sasuke stated, with a smile knowing that his brother was going to live, seeing that. Team seven looked to see Ryuu start to glow as his chakra started to pulse in warm waves from his body as they watched him heal before their eyes, even then the aura seemed to cover them and they too felt the relaxing touch of healing.
He opened his eyes, "I feel like I just got ran over by Lee and Gui-sensei." Ryuu chuckled but felt the pure freedom from the chakra seal, amazed out how light and free he actually felt from it, though he could see the slight glow of his chakra, which he reigned back in until he couldn't see it outside of his body anymore. "I'm going back to sleep wake me when it's over." Before his eyes closed and everyone seemed to laugh.