Five weeks have passed since the Battle of the Bridge, well that's what the villagers of the newly renamed village of Nami no Ryuu in the land of Waves called it. Between the work on the bridge, the assest taken from Gato's hideouts and the massive work done by team seven the Village was more than just that. It became the trade center it once was. The land of Wave brought people in to help with the project, the sea port was expanded and Tazuna, the newly appointed Daimyo of the country had made great leaps and bounds. Though it was still a far cry from it's former glory but it was on it's way up. As the villagers waved and smiled at the gennin as they made their way through town.
Ryuu and Haku had worked hard and turned the old inn into an actual Hospital for the Village, having several trained medics now, though none were Med-nins but it was the best they could do in a month. The Sasuke Wall, was finished and even improved upon from it's crude Jutsu based form with the help of several new contractors. Even Hinata's Refuge had grown since then being given a full time staff and became the new Half-way home and Orphanage under Tsunami's control. All in all the everyone was amazed by the progress a few teenagers could accomplish in the town,
Even Zabuza had found a calling for his time in the Village, he had started training the Daimyo's new body guards as well as a police force. To say they looked the part was far from it. Most of the time they could be seen going to or coming from the Hospital. Though they may not be able to take him down they had learned quite a bit from him, and even the retired Samurai that once fill Wave had started to come back and pick up the way of the sword once more.
But as all things they must come to an end, which is where Team 7 Zabuza and Haku could be found now, standing in Fire Country as they watched the last stone of the bridge settle into place. What no one saw however where the fifty Ryuu clones scampering under the bridge placing seals. Different ones for strengthening, and others for repair, and several others that would only trigger with key things happening on the bridge, He had alreay placed the same seals around the wall and through out the village. Needless to say Among all those that would be venturing to Konoha the Blond looked the most exhausted.
"Ryuu, you look tired?" Hinata asked as she looked at him worriedly. She had noticed how he had been wearing himself out since the bridge, either working or studying.
"I'll be fine Hinata-chan this is the good kind of tired. Besides we have the soon to be Demon Swordsman of Konoha to protect us." He chuckled as did everyone else.
With cheers and farewells they left the land, knowing that it was much better than they had left it. Also with the the documents to open up trading between Fire country and the Land of Waves plus the expected mission pay for the C turned A rank mission. Then of course The village had paid them all for their work with their individual operations. Ryuu for his founding and training of the Hospital, Sasuke for his work on the Village itself, Hinata for her work with the Hospital and the Shelter and Zabuza and Haku for their work with the Hospital and the training of the village police as well.
Four clones sat under the bridge waiting as the listened for the villagers to decide on the bridges name." So what should we name the bridge dad?"
The old man thought for a while, "Well I take it The Great Tazuna Bridge is a no?" Looking as everyone just laughed and shook there head at him. " Then I guess we should call it the Great Dragon Bridge." He smiled, and the two gates shall be the Ryuu and Sasuke gates. And the Four supports can be named after the others." The crews went to work building the placards but everyone stopped when they heard the echoes of a boy yelling out, and Four stone Dragons seemed to fly from the ends of the bridge and wrapped up and around the supports all four heads resting on the center Cross support of the bridge. Then the began to glow as the clones all placed similar seals on the dragons. Only time might tell what they were for.
/Konoha/
The two days it took for them to return had been uneventful minus Ryuu telling everyone what they had done with the bridge. But now we find the five Shinobi standing infront of the Hokage. "So, you are telling me that these reports are accurate?" The old man spoke, as he held not only Kurenai's written report but a report written and sealed by the Wave Daimyo himself about what occurred in that village.
"Yes Hogage-sama." They all chimed, it was a little much to take in but then he looked at whom he was speaking about. Ryuu had been trained by himself and many others in their respected fields and well Ryuu passed that training on to his team.
"Very well, I will see that your mission payment is placed into your accounts, as well as the 'additional' payments that were sent with you." He sighed but felt slightly younger knowing that maybe there was hope for the future and the Will of Fire. "We will also start sending Medic teams in two month intervals to contiune supporting and training in your Hospital Ryuu-kun." the old man laughed seeing the blond blush slightly.
Turning to look at the two they had brought with them, " As for you two I will extend probationary Shinobi licenses to you, and instate Zabuza as a Jounnin. Haku, from what I have been lead to believe we will place you as a Chunnin and instate you primarily at the Hospital as a Medic." Looking to them all he read Ryuu's fingers. [Stay at my place til enough to get own.]
He smiled, " As for living arrangements, one of our clans has offered you Sanctuary until you are able to afford your own places." He chuckled seeing the dumbfounded looks on the two nin's faces. "Ryuu and Sasuke can show you to where you will be staying. Zabuza I would like you to report here tomorrow for some missions and to get to know your fellow Jounnin. Haku just follow Ryuu tomorrow as he will be your Supervisor at the Hospital." He dismissed the team and the two newly appointed Konoha nins. Watching them leave he let out a sigh.
"The kids nothing like I thought he would be Sensei." A strange white haired man with red facial markings appeared in the window. Looking at the Hokage for an answer.
"Tell me Jaraiya have you found anything about the Namikaze clan that was destroyed a few years ago?" Sarutobi smiled to himself before turning to look at one of his students.
"No, it strange it's like the never even existed..." He paused looking to his once teacher. " You don't mean to tell me that kid is Minato's son..."
The hokage just laughed, "He's starting to look like him isn't he?" The man motioned for the Toad Sage to get out of the window and take a seat. "I would expect that you are planning on apprenticing him at some point?"
"Maybe, depends on how the Fox's chakra is acting up."
"Oh it never has, and I need you to continue his seal training. I was never as good as you or Minato-kun and he's already learned everything I can teach him in that aspect." The Hokage laughed heartedly at the gapping look his former student gave him.
"The boys only 13 how long have you been training him? And on top of that what else should I know? Since he looked awfully chummy with the Uchiha kid." Sadly it seemed for our illustrious Pervert and Spy extraordinare that he has been out of the loop for too many years when it comes to his home village.
"Well let me fill you in, and you might want to grab him before Tsunade finds out about him." the Hokage chuckled as he began the long tale of the transformation of Naruto to Ryuu Namikaze.
/Time is Fleeting? /
Many months had passed since their first mission outside the Village of Konoha, and life has moved on from that moment though in many ways had changed. Team 7 still remained close as Sasuke and Hinata seemed to grow closer, Kurenai had taken Zabuza up on the offer of a date and have been together ever since. Yet, that is not the matter at hand as we see our team of shinobi settled down in training area 44 each with scrolls and their Sensei and two unofficial ones, (Zabuza and Anko) sitting near by.
"Now, as you know it's time for the Chunnin Selection exams, and I have nominated you all for promotion." Kurenai spoke as she watched them look up from the scrolls they were studying. "Not that you need them to prove you are Chunnin but the pay raise and the fancy vests are a bonus ne?" She chuckled.
"Sensei, uhm Ryuu found out about your problem... and well," Hinata spoke up as Ryuu shot her a look before he chose to finish.
"What Hinata-chan is saying is that we all have come to consider you like our mother. And I have come up with a seal that will allow you to have kids." He offered her the scroll with all the information on it, though it had not been him alone and was mostly from the Uzamaki scrolls he had managed to summomn.
/Flashback/
"Well Sasuke, I finally figured out how to get all the scrolls from any clans I am related to." Ryuu spoke after finishing the Seal pattering in the library floor wiping the sweat from his brow.
"That's good right, I mean it's not like you would be stealing them so go ahead, after all it's OUR clans scrolls any how." Sasuke said looking up from one of the few scrolls that he hadn't had time to read on control exercises for elemental training. "Beside they wouldn't know where to find them if you did."
The both laughed for a while as Ryuu focused on activating the Summoning seal. The library filled with smoke as more than they though appeared there. Stacks of armor, weapons, and scrolls filled the area. Ryuu staggered as he felt the massive drain on his Chakra.
Sasuke leapt up to catch him, "Are you alright?"
"Yea I'm just guessing some of this stuff was sealed or behind barriers or it wouldn't have taken most of my chakra to do this." He took a seat and a deep breath. As he felt a shiver go down his spine, as if Several people through out the Nations cursed him at once. Two of which he would meet face to face one day soon.
"You rest I'll make the clones and have them sort through everything." Before he noticed one of the scrolls roll off the pile, the seal of the Six Path Sage resting on its cover." Ryuu...Naruto...I think you should see this..."
/End Flashback/
Kurenai had taken the scroll and looked it over. She had limited understanding in how to create seals but she could discern their purposes well enough. " If.. I am reading this right... I just won't be able to use any chakra while I am pregnant?"
Ryuu, nodded and looked between Zabuza and Kurenai, delivering a strong message to the Older man, 'hurt her and you will DIE.' "Yea, plus you should only need it the first time, as it should repair the damage to the organs. While it's being used." She dropped the scroll and grabbed all three of her team into a huge hug, even Anko shed a tear for her friend knowing that was the one thing that had always been denied her since she became a ninja.
"Now, you three take the day off and do what ever it is you want. Just meet at the Academy in room 301 by 10 am tomorrow." she spoke through tears, as she wouldn't be able to do anything for the rest of the day. But she would be taking the seal to the Hokage to have him look it over. But even the chance and along with the fact that they thought of her like a mother and they were trying to give her the chance to truly be one was a gift that no woman could withstand.
/Later that day/
Ryuu and Haku were walking back from the Hospital when they heard the sound of a kid crying out for help. Both of which rounded the corner to see Konohamaru bing held by his scarf in the air by what appeared to be a guy in a cat suit. " Hey, put him down."
"Make me, the little brat deserves it for running into me."
"Perhaps, you didn't hear me, put the Hokage's grandson down now... Or I will make sure you end up in wooden box to be sent home to your family." Ryuu spoke coolly as his eyes swirled into the active kagegan.
"Kankuro, you're a disgrace. Releaze him." A voice spoke from the shadows until a swirl of sand appeared leaving a Red-headed kid that look like he either wore too much eye-liner or hadn't slept in years.
The cat-suit dropped the kid, who ran behind Ryuu, "thanks boss."
"You're from Suna, I am assuming here for the exams." Ryuu spoke looking between the three from the Desert, as haku looked over and then left with the young Sarutobi.
"Yes, we are. Though I am curious about you. What is your name?"
"Namikaze Ryuu, and you would be?"
"Sabuka no Garra, Kankuro and Temari." The red he replied indicating each of them,"I look forward to seeing you in the exams Namikaze. So does Mother."
Ryuu twitched, as he felt he seal trying to pull something. It was then that he realized that the other boy was a jailer, and out of reflex his hands flashed seals, "Fūin sa reta shūjin no tensō" (Seal Prison Transfer) His fingers glowing blue as the slammed into Gaara's abdomen. Before pulling back and placing his hand onto his own seal causing it to spin rapidly, a vortex of solid blue chakra passed between them, a brown ball was sucked out of Gaara and into Ryuu's seal before it finished.
The two siblings stood by transfixed, almost as if some presence was keeping them from interfering. Maybe it was their own fear as seeing another person attack Gaara and that Gaara would kill them, but nothing seemed to happen, until the light stopped leaving both boys to stand there Ryuu with a smile on his face, as he leaned in a whipsered, "You are free." Though they didn't hear what was said, but saw the smile on Gaara's face before he closed his eyes and started snorring.
Temari began to freak out, " Shit, we can't let him sleep it will come out again."
Ryuu just laughed, " Let him rest... I have removed his Burden from him. You have your Brother back now. Remember this moment when the time comes." Then in a swirl of sand he left. Leaving two very stunned Ninja behind and one sleeping peacefully for the first time in his life.