The Legend of Naruto
Wave arc
Kurama no Kyubi: Sorry it's taken so long people, but I'm back to this story at last. Also, I'm no longer limiting myself to concentrate on one story each week, instead it's more like one story each month. However I recently decided on rather having it that I'll concentrate on one story until I'm done with the current arc no matter how long it takes. Of course, this arc only has like one or two chapters left and I'm not gonna be a douchebag and just write two chapters before going over to the next story, so I'll give you the entirety of the Chunin exam arc as well. Oh, and by the way, for those who haven't checked the previous chapter recently, I've changed the name for this chapter.
Wolfpackersson09: This is definitely a good start for the fic. The only problem is who gets the Triforce of Wisdom? I would recommend Sakura or Ino for this and pair one of the two with Naruto. Hinata does have insight, but insight is different from Wisdom as it represents knowledge and good judgement. Wisdom always comes with age and sometimes to become wise we must make mistakes.
Kurama no Kyubi: Well, you should know the answer to your question by now.
cybresamurai: Amazing i Fucking love you (no homo) this story is amazing please update please
Kurama no Kyubi: Um… Thanks… next!
Stallion6 of Deviantart: Naruto and farore? That is an interesting pairing! I'll keep an eye on this!
Kurama no Kyubi: Yeah, I know. Actually, I think I might be the first one to come up with this pairing.
Out of Pseudonyms: What happened to terra, and who is flare supposed to be?
Kurama no Kyubi: Um… This isn't Kingdom Hearts. The Ventus and Aqua in this story are entirely different characters than the Ventus and Aqua from those games. And Terra's on another team.
ChronoMitsurugi: The summary says "three unlikely people".
How is the triforce of power in an Uchiha, especially Sas-Uke the emo-king, an unlikely person?
Kurama no Kyubi: Think of it logically. The Triforce of Power was stolen by Madara so that it would come into the possession of the Uchiha clan. And from Madara, it should go to his direct descendants, and his descendant is Obito, so how in the world could it possibly end up in the hands of Sasuke?
Guest: Update? Please? pleeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassseeee?
Kurama no Kyubi: Alright, alright. Geez…
"Triforce." Normal speech
'Triforce.' Normal thought
"Triforce." Biju and God speech
'Triforce.' Biju and God thought
Naruto: Kurama no Kyubi doesn't own anything but his OCs.
Chapter 3: Training
After the encounter with the demon known as Zabuza, everyone had gotten to Tazuna's house unscathed. Right now, the four ninja and Tazuna were sitting around a table in the dining room as Tazuna's daughter – Tsunami – was making something to eat.
"This time, you took down your strongest foe yet, so we can probably relax for a while…" Tazuna said.
"I can't get my mind off that masked kid…" Sakura said in thought.
"That mask is worn by the most elite and secret ninja from Kirigakure. The shinobi hunters all wear them. Their unit is code-named the "Undertaker Squad", because they dispose of corpses so thoroughly, it's as though they never existed. Even after death, a shinobi's corpse may yield up its secrets of the skills it had mastered, as well as the aura of the chakra it was steeped in in the ninja's native lands… even the ingredients of any drugs or potions that body consumed become an open book. In the same way – when I die – if an enemy were to take possession of my remains, the corpse would reveal all of the anatomical idiosyncracies unique to possessors of the Sharingan. In the worst case, the enemy might gain enough information to be able to duplicate and master that power. Ninja corpses tell to many tales. Basically, shinobi hunters specialize in tracking down and eliminating missing-nin and obliterating their remains… in order to protect the secrets of their home from the rest of the world. Silently and without a trace. That's how ninja leave the world…" Kakashi explained.
"So, Zabuza's body will be dismembered and destroyed? That's so creepy…!" Sakura said as she imagined a chopped-up Zabuza.
Forest road
The boy was kneeling over Zabuza's body as he took what looked like a scissor and brought it closer and closer to the swordsman.
"First, I'll remove the wrappings around the mouth so the blood can drain out, and then…" He was interrupted however when Zabuza suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed the boy's wrist while pulling down the bandages over his mouth.
"Enough! I can do it myself…" He said.
"Well now… awake already?" The boy said as the demon sat up.
"You have all the finesse… of a butcher…" Zabuza said as he grabbed one of the senbon and pulled it out.
"Gently, please, Zabuza-sama. If you pull those out any which way, you really will kill yourself." The boy said.
"How long are you going to keep that ghoulish mask on? Take it off." Zabuza said.
"Old habits die hard… and it was also useful for my monkey-pantomime routine…" The boy said as he removed the mask to reveal that he had a very feminine face "They'd have killed you if I hadn't intervened."
"You needn't have targeted the vulnerable areas in the neck just to put me in a death-like trance… Any number of other points on my body would have done." Zabuza said.
"And you really think that any other places would have fooled Sharingan no Kakashi so easily?" A voice said and the two instantly got on their feet and looked up towards a tree to see Vaati standing on a branch "Only in the neck – where the vital spots are so close to one-another – would fool someone as skilled as him."
"That Hitai-ate… You're a Tani-nin, aren't you? What are you doing here?" Zabuza asked.
"Why I'm here is not important. However, if you think you can beat Kakashi and his brats, you are mistaken." Vaati said.
"Last time, those brats only got lucky, that's all. Next time, I'll crush them like the brats they are." Zabuza said.
"Overconfidence will get you nowhere. I can give you the power you need to beat them. What do you say?" Vaati asked.
"No thanks. I always fight using my own strength, I don't need any help." Zabuza said.
"Very well. if that's what you want. But then you'll never win the next battle with the Konoha-nins." Vaati said as he vanished into thin air.
Tazuna's house
'Something just doesn't feel right… Could it be…? Is it possible I've overlooked something?' Kakashi thought and Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura all noticed that he seemed to be thinking hard on something.
"What's wrong, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"Hmm… Of course…" Kakashi said before turning to his Genin "The shinobi hunters who manage corpse disposals are supposed to destroy the bodies of those they kill at once, right on the spot."
"So what?" Sakura asked.
"Don't you get it? How did the kid in the mask dispose of Zabuza's corpse?" Kakashi asked.
"Huh? How should I know? He took the body with him." Sakura said.
"Yes, he did… even though all he needed to take home as proof he'd made the kill was the head. And… there is a mystery surrounding the weapons that the hunter used to dispatch his prey…" Kakashi said.
'Senbon…' Sasuke thought before his eyes widened as he realized what Kakashi was getting at "No way…"
"Yes… way." Kakashi said.
"What the hell nonsense are you mumbling on about…?" Tazuna asked.
"That it's likely… Zabuza is still alive." Kakashi said, and Naruto's, Sakura's and Tazuna's eyes widened.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Naruto yelled.
"But Kakashi-sensei… you checked to be sure Zabuza was dead, didn't you?" Sakura yelled.
"I made sure of it… but… a death-like trance could have created a very convincing illusion of the real thing. Those senbon that shinobi hunter used can be very deadly… if they hit a vital spot. If not, the mortality rate is surprisingly low… and remember, they were originally designed as medical treatment tools. Shinobi hunters and all members of any village's corpse disposal squad must possess an intimate and thorough knowledge of human physiology. It would be simple for one of them to place a person into a near-death state. First of all, the masked boy went to the trouble of lugging off Zabuza's heavy carcass… secondly, the senbon he used as weapons – while potentially deadly – can also be used to inflict non-mortal injury… these two points suggest that the kid's objective was to give the illusion of killing Zabuza… while he rescued him. Things may be just the way they seemed… but we have to consider the other possibility." Kakashi said.
"Aren't you just complicating things by over-thinking them? Shinobi hunters are supposed to hunt outlaw shinobi, right?" Tazuna said.
"Usually… but ignoring something that smells this fishy is a great first step to being caught completely unprepared. And preparation is a shinobi's most important skill. Oh well. Whether Zabuza is dead or alive, there may still be more and even deadlier ninja in the service of our enemy, Gato." Kakashi said before he noticed that Naruto was shivering with excitement 'Interesting… Naruto seems excited at the possibility that Zabuza survived.'
"Sensei. How should we prepare? Zabuza almost managed to beat you last time, didn't he?" Sakura asked.
"I'm going to increase your training schedule." Kakashi said.
"What? Training…? But Kakashi-sensei, what will a little extra training now matter with what we're up against? Our opponent is a ninja so powerful that even with your Sharingan, he almost defeated you!" Sakura yelled as her inner self yelled "Are you trying to get us all killed?"
"And when I was beleaguered, Sakura… think about who it was that rescued me… You three all are maturing, progressing rapidly, your powers growing exponentially…" Kakashi said before giving an eye-smile as he continued "Especially yours, Naruto. You've grown the most."
'… Naruto…? Well, he seems a lot more grown-up than he used to, but…' Sakura thought as she looked at her blond teammate before looking at Kakashi "But, sensei. Even if Zabuza is alive, how can we just train without knowing when he may return and strike again?"
"An excellent question… but once a person has been placed into a near-death trance, it is quite some time before their body returns to its previous state of health and readiness. So we'll train while we're waiting." Kakashi said.
"Could be fun." Naruto exclaimed.
"It won't be fun for you." A young boy said as he entered.
"Who the heck are you?" Naruto yelled.
"Inari! Where have you been?" Tazuna asked.
"Welcome home… ojii-san…" The boy, now identified as Inari said.
"Inari, greet our guests properly. They're the esteemed ninja who brought our ojii-san safely home." Tsunami said.
"But kaa-san, they're all gonna die." Inari said as he pointed at the three Genin.
"Listen you little twerp!" Naruto yelled.
"No one can beat Gato and his men." Inari said.
"You brat!" Naruto yelled as he was about to punch the kid, but Sakura held him back.
"Pull yourself together, Naruto! He's just a little boy." She yelled.
"Right. Hey, pay attention, little guy!" Naruto said, catching the boy's attention "I'm a super-hero who'll someday become the most extreme ninja. My name will be Hokage! Gato? "Gateau"? This guy's named "cake"! You can't seriously expect me to be afraid of that!"
"Hmph. "Hero"? You're dumb. There's no such thing." Inari said.
"Wh-what?" Naruto yelled.
"I said, quit it!" Sakura yelled.
"If you don't wanna die, go home now…" Inari said as he walked towards a door.
"Where are you off to, Inari?" Tazuna asked.
"I'm going to watch the ocean from my room…" Inari said as he opened the door before slamming it shut behind him.
"Please forgive him…" Tazuna said.
Soon after Naruto had followed the boy, wanting to give him a piece of his mind.
"Where'd that little brat go? I'm gonna give him such a hit." He said as he walked up a staircase before walking through a hallway until he reached a door which he assumed to be the door to Inari's room. However, when he was about to open it, he could hear sobbing coming from the other side '… He's crying.'
Inside his room, Inari was sitting his desk as he looked on a picture of one that was probably his father as he was crying.
"Tou-san…" He said in-between his sobbing.
Naruto then decided to return down to where the others were.
Forest, the next day
"So, it's decided. The new training regimen begins today." Kakashi said as he was standing before his Genin.
"YEAH!" Naruto yelled.
"But first… let's discuss the basis of your ninja powers… the internal energies known as chakra." Kakashi said.
"What? We've already learned everything about chakra at the academy." Naruto said.
"Naruto's right… We all already employ the ninja arts and techniques." Sasuke said.
"Wrong. None of you yet has full mastery of your chakra." Kakashi said.
"NANI?" Naruto exclaimed.
"Now, listen… Manipulation of the chakra… refers to summoning physical and mental energies and combining them within your own body. Right now, none of you are using your chakra effectively. No matter how great the amount of chakra you summon and manipulate… if you can't maintain your balance – whatever the technique – not only will the effectiveness of your maneuver be cut in half, but you could blunder so badly that the Jutsu may not be released at all. And because you end up squandering your chakra, you not only lack the stamina for a protracted fight, but you also develop significant vulnerabilities." Kakashi explained.
"So… uh… what do we do? Heh heh." Naruto said as he scratched the back of his head.
"You learn to control your body through the harshest training… go out on a limb, and learn from the experience." Kakashi said.
"How do we do that?" Sakura asked.
"How? We climb trees." Kakashi said as he made a one-handed hand sign.
Forest road (where the battle against Zabuza took place)
A tree had started growing from the spot where Vaati had planted the seed the previous day, and surprisingly, it was already as tall as a human. The three Tani-nins were also there with Ventus standing on a branch, keeping watch, Flare sitting restlessly against a tree as he was obviously bored out of his mind, and Aqua was lying in the water of the lake, seemingly asleep until her eyes suddenly burst open.
"Vaati-sensei's back." She said as she rose up on her feet and walked over the water until she got on land.
"FINALLY!" Flare exclaimed as he got up on his feet while Ventus jumped down from the trees.
"So, how'd it go?" Ventus asked when Vaati came out of the tree-line.
"Zabuza was stubborn and refused my offer." Vaati said.
"What do we do then? After all, we can't just come out and attack them ourselves." Ventus said.
"That's why I planted that." Vaati said as he pointed to the tree "In a week, that tree will have grown completely, then in another month, the tree's roots will have expanded to the rest of the island."
"Do you really think they'll be here that long?" Flare asked.
"I got a good look at that bridge earlier, it's still at least a month from being completed. Besides, the Deku Babas will grow as the roots expand." Vaati said.
"So how long is it gonna be till the first Deku Baba has grown?" Ventus asked.
"That should be about around the time when the tree's grown completely, but we'll have to wait till it's grown into a Diababa." Vaati said.
"Diababa?" Flare asked.
"Basically, it's like the "queen" of the Deku Babas. It is "born" from the same seed as the tree and – as Vaati-sensei said earlier – starts growing when the tree's about full-grown, and from there all the other Deku Baba plants are "born". Seriously, how can you be a ninja of Tani and not know this?" Aqua said.
"Well, I'm not that interested in plants." Flare stated and Aqua face-palmed.
"Figures." She muttered under her breath.
Forest, team 7
"Climb trees?" Naruto and Sakura yelled.
"That's right…" Kakashi said.
'What a waste of time…' Naruto thought.
"How could that qualify as training?" Sakura asked.
"Listen up, you three. This won't be any ordinary tree climbing. You're not allowed to use your hands." Kakashi said.
'That sounds like fun!' Naruto thought.
"How…?" Sakura asked.
"Watch and learn." Kakashi said as he weaved a hand sign before walking over to a tree and actually walking up the side of it until he reached a branch and walked out on the under-side of it before stopping and turning towards his students.
"He's climbing…" Naruto said.
"… With his legs… and feet… parallel to the ground." Sakura said.
"That's it, in a nutshell. Focus all of the energy of your chakra toward the soles of your feet and use that power to cling to the trunk. When you have full mastery over your own chakra, this is the kind of thing you can accomplish." Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
"But… Kakashi-sensei… how will learning to climb trees this way make us any stronger?" Sakura asked.
"I'm just getting to that. Listen and learn. The point of it all, the goal… is greater mastery over the chakra. To use no more than is necessary… but to maximize its effectiveness in where and how it is applied. That subtle control is the most critical aspect of every Jutsu and technique you'll ever apply. It's also the most difficult skill for even a master ninja to command. The type of tree-climbing we are doing here requires the most fine and delicate application of chakra imaginable. Especially because the bottom of the foot is an area where it is most difficult to manipulate one's energies. In other words… if you can master the control needed for this skill, no Jutsu should ever be beyond you. In theory, anyway." Kakashi said the last part under his breath before continuing with the explanation "The secondary objective is to build up enough stamina necessary to complete your task once the chakra has been focused. If you think this looks hard, it's even more difficult to maintain your chakra when using Ninjutsu. In battle, circumstances are constantly changing, and a true shinobi has to be able to manipulate and maintain his chakra on the fly, if he ever hopes to prevail. The time you need to just stand around trying to summon and control your own powers is a luxury you won't have. So while you're climbing those trees… you'll also be mastering skills that will probably save your lives. … Now, no more talk. It's time for action. The only way to learn is by doing." He then threw three kunai down to the three Genin and each of the knives landed in front of their feet "Use the kunai to score the bark at the highest point you can climb to. It will serve as a reminder for later. Your goal is to make a mark on a higher spot each time you climb. I don't expect any of you to reach the tree-top on your first try. A running start will probably give enough momentum for a good first effort. All right?"
"No sweat! I could do this before breakfast!" Naruto said as he picked up the knife before yelling "I'm the fastest-developing ninja on this team!"
"Less talk and more action. Choose your trees and up you go." Kakashi said.
'Right… Focus my chakra in my feet…' Naruto thought as he and his teammates channeled their chakra into their feet.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Naruto yelled as the three of them ran towards three different trees. As soon as Naruto stepped on the tree, however, he fell back down on his back as Sasuke was pushed of the tree as he made a foot-shaped hole in it before landing on the ground.
'Maintaining focus is a lot harder than I expected… Too much force and the surface's own energy repels you. Too little and you'll never adhere in the first place… so you end up like Naruto.' He thought.
'Huh… There is the difference between Naruto and Sasuke in a nutshell.' Kakashi thought.
"This is easier than I thought." Everyone then looked towards Sakura who had gotten up to a branch which was at least ten meters above the ground.
"Sakura-chan…?" Naruto said.
"Well, now we know which of you three has the best control over her chakra. our young lady." Kakashi said.
"Incredible! You go, Sakura-chan! That's my girl!" Naruto exclaimed.
'I wanted to impress Sasuke-kun… but the only one who cared was Naruto… just like always.' Sakura thought.
"Well… Understanding the use of one's chakra and manipulating them, successfully… is quite an achievement. So far… Sakura is probably the one closest to over-taking our leader, Hokage-sama, despite all of Naruto's boasts and aspirations… and the finest hope of clan Uchiha doesn't seem too impressive, either." Kakashi said.
"Kakashi-sensei, how could you?" Sakura yelled before thinking 'Sasuke-kun's going to hate me!'
'On the other hand… within them, all three harbor such massive, untapped reserves of chakra that most people's is nothing by comparison. If this lesson goes as planned, by the end, we should be able to tap those vast resources.' Kakashi thought.
'All right! For starters, at least I can catch up to Sasuke! And I will!' Naruto thought as unknown to them, Inari had watched them the whole time.
'Hah! They're wasting their time…' He thought as he walked away.
Zabuza's fortress
Inside of Zabuza's base was the man in question lying on a bed as the boy, Haku watched over him. Haku then looked towards the door as Gato entered with two of his thugs.
"I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face around here after taking a beating like that. And from a kid no-less. Ninja from Kirigakure would appear to be vastly overrated. You can't even clean up for your miserable subordinates. "Demon", my ass. Don't make me laugh." Gato said as his two thugs reached for their swords.
'Are they going to attack…?' Haku thought.
"Wait a minute, you two…" Gato said before walking towards Zabuza "So… nothing to say for yourself? No last words?" As he reached for Zabuza however, Haku grabbed his wrist.
"Don't defile Zabuza-sama with your touch." Haku said.
"How dare you?" Gato yelled and the two thugs moved in to attack, but before they knew it, Haku was already standing in-between them, holding their own swords to their throats.
'N-no…' One of them thought.
'He didn't seem to move…!' The other one thought.
"You don't want to do that… when I'm angry." Haku said.
'He's some kind of monster.' One of the thugs thought.
"Th-there better not be any more mistakes. I-if you fail again, don't think you can come back here!" Gato said he and the thugs left.
"Haku… there was no need for you to…" Zabuza said as he was holding a kunai in his left hand.
"I know… But it's too soon to finish Gato off. If we cause a commotion where we are, we might find ourselves on the run from them again. For now, let's be patient." Haku said as he walked back over to Zabuza.
"… Yes." Zabuza said as he looked at the ceiling.
"Zabuza-sama, I've noticed that you seem to have been thinking hard on something. May I ask what it is?" Haku asked and Zabuza sighed.
"You know me pretty well, don't you? Did you see the mark that appeared on the blond brat's hand?" Zabuza asked.
"Yes. What about it?" Haku asked.
"It's just something that Yagura told me a long time ago… before he became Mizukage… before he changed." Zabuza said.
Flashback
Zabuza and Yagura were walking down the streets of Kirigakure no sato. Yagura looked like a young kid, but in fact he was older than Zabuza and was also the only survivor of the graduations class that Zabuza had massacred. Not only did he survive, but he was even able to hold his own against Zabuza, and afterwards the two of them became friends.
"You've been thinking hard about something all day, what is it?" Zabuza asked as he looked down on the future Mizukage.
"It's something Kujira-sensei told me." Yagura said.
"Something Sandaime-sama said?" Zabuza asked and Yagura nodded.
"He told me about an old legend." Yagura said.
"An old legend?" Zabuza asked.
"A long time ago, the three great Goddesses, Din, Nayru and Farore created an object of great power called the "Triforce"." Yagura said before he proceeded to tell Zabuza the rest of the legend.
Flashback end
"And you think that the mark which appeared on the boy's hand was the mark of the Triforce of Courage?" Haku asked.
"It fits the description." Zabuza said.
team 7
As the days passed on, the three Genin of team 7 continued their rigorous training, though Sakura – seeing as though she had already mastered control of her chakra – was sent to watch over Tazuna as he worked on the bridge.
Naruto and Sasuke on the other hand were still trying to reach the top of the trees, neither liking the other's progress. And soon their rivalry had gone so far that they even made eating, a competition.
One day, after dinner, Sakura walked over to a small picture, hanging on the wall. She recognized Tazuna, Tsunami and Inari on it, but there was one more who's upper body had been torn off.
"Um… Why is this picture torn?" She then looked over her shoulder as she continued "Little Inari was looking at it this the whole time we were having dinner. Someone's face is completely gone. Is that deliberate?"
"… It was a picture of Inari's otou-san." Tsunami said.
"… Once upon a time – if you will – our entire city called him a hero." Tazuna said and Inari got up before walking towards the door.
"Inari. Where are you going?" Tsunami asked before Inari walked through the door and shut it behind him "Inari!" Tsunami then looked over her shoulder towards Tazuna "Tou-san! I've told you time and again not to mention that in front of my son!"
"So… you're talking about what it is that makes Inari act so strangely…?" Sakura asked.
"It sounds like there's a story there…" Kakashi said.
"… The man in the picture was not Inari's birth-father… but they were as loving and close as any biological father and son could have been. Inari was such a happy, laughing child back then…" Tazuna said before sobbing a little as he continued "… But Inari changed… after what happened to his otou-san."
Tazuna then told them of how Inari first met Kaiza and that he became the boy's father, and even how he even risked his own life to save the village from flooding once. However, when Gato came, Kaiza had attempted to stop him, but failed and was executed in front of everyone.
"Ever since then, Inari has changed… and Tsunami… and everyone in the city's changed too." Tazuna said as Naruto thought back to what Inari had said at their first meeting.
""Hero"? You're dumb. There's no such thing."
The blond then stood up from his chair and walked towards the door.
"What are you doing, Naruto…?" Sakura asked.
"… Don't even think about training any more today. If you try to work your chakra anymore without getting some rest first, it would probably kill you." Kakashi said.
"I'm going to prove to him that he's wrong." Naruto said.
"Prove what? To whom?" Sakura asked.
"I'm going to show Inari… that there are still heroes in the world." Naruto said before walking out the door.
Forest, a few days later
Haku was in the forest, picking herbs for Zabuza. He had his hair down, making him look even more like a girl, and he also wore a kimono. As he picked herbs however, he spotted a sleeping Naruto some meters away from him, and he then walked towards the blond.
Tazuna's house
Sakura yawned as she entered the dining room to find that everyone but Naruto was present.
"Naughty Naruto stayed out all night again, didn't he?" Tazuna asked.
"Ever since you told us that story, he's been in the trees, training all alone, night after night… An idiot with an obsession." Sakura said as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes before sitting down "If he exhausts his chakra, he could kill himself… and be lying dead somewhere right now."
"… I hope he's all right. It's not good for a boy to spend night after night alone outside." Tsunami said.
"There's nothing to worry about. Naruto's a goofy kid… but he's also a full-fledged ninja." Kakashi said with an eye-smile.
"Is it possible… could he have killed himself? That bone-head…" Sasuke said.
Forest
Haku reached for Naruto's neck seemingly planning to kill him, but then he just shook the blond awake instead.
"You'll catch your death of cold, sleeping on the ground." He said.
"… Hunh? Hun…? Who… are you…?" Naruto asked as he sat up.
Shortly afterwards, Naruto was helping Haku with collecting herbs, not knowing who they were for.
"Hey. Hey. Have I picked enough of those herbs you wanted? Are these grasses and weeds really medicinal?" The blond asked.
"I'm sorry to have imposed on you." Haku apologized.
"That's some job you took on, girl… harvesting all that this early in the morning." Naruto said.
"Look at who's talking. What were you doing in the middle of nowhere at the crack of dawn?" Haku asked.
"Training." Naruto said.
"Really? That Hitai-ate you're wearing… Are you some kind of ninja?" Haku asked.
"Why? Do you think I look like one? Do I? Really? Because I am." Naruto exclaimed.
"Wow… That's incredible." Haku said before asking "What were you training for?"
"To build up my strength." Naruto said.
"But… but you look so strong and manly already." Haku said.
"Nope. Wrong. I need to be a lot stronger than this." Naruto said.
"But… why…" Haku asked.
"To become top dog in my home town. All the people who used to treat me like dirt will have to say "He's the number one ninja". And right at the moment, I kind of have to prove a point… to a certain person I know." Naruto said.
"… Are you doing this for the sake of that person… or for your own satisfaction?" Haku asked.
"… Whut?" Naruto asked, making Haku giggle "What's so funny?"
"… Do you have… anyone special in your life?" Haku asked.
'What's this girl driving at?' Naruto thought.
"When people… are protecting something truly precious to them, they truly can become strong… as strong as they must be." Haku said and Naruto thought back to what Kakashi had said when they ran into Zabuza.
"I will never let my comrades die."
He then thought back to what he himself had said to Mizuki the day he graduated from the academy.
"Keep away from Iruka-sensei… or I'll kill you!"
"Yup. I know all about it." He said before Haku got up and turned around before walking away.
"You will get stronger… I know we'll meet again…" Haku said.
"Right." Naruto said.
"… So… you should know… I'm a boy." Haku said.
'No way! He's… he's even prettier than Sakura-chan!' Naruto thought before Sasuke showed up.
The next day
"Where did Naruto go this time…? Pushing himself beyond his limit, going out by himself again last night…" Kakashi said as he and Sakura were both standing at their usual training spot.
"And at breakfast time… Sasuke-kun says he's going for a walk… and he disappears too." Sakura said as she looked around before a kunai suddenly came down and imbedded itself in the ground in front of them, and they looked up to see Naruto resting on a branch.
"Naruto can climb all the way up there?" Sakura asked before thinking 'Amazing…'
"Well? Well? Did you see? Lookit how high I can go." Naruto said before getting up on his feet and jumping down to the ground.
"Hey, Naruto, where's Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked and Naruto pointed into the trees just before Sasuke came down.
Tazuna's house
Inari was sitting on his desk in his room, looking at the picture of his father as he thought '… Uzumaki Naruto, huh…'
Zabuza's fortress
Zabuza was holding an apple in his hand before crushing it.
"Most of your strength has returned." Haku said.
"Excellent. Let's get going, Haku." Zabuza said.
"Of course." Haku said.
Forest
Naruto and Sasuke had both finally made it to the top of the two tallest trees in the forest.
"Want to head back?" Sasuke asked.
"Sure." Naruto said.
Tazuna's house
"So, you're finally back. Looking like something the cat dragged in." Tazuna said as Sasuke and Naruto entered into the house with the former supporting the latter.
"Heh… Both of us…" Naruto started.
'I told you if you didn't take a break you'd wear yourself out, you dobe.' Sasuke thought.
"We made it to the top of the tree." Naruto finished.
"Good. Naruto, Sasuke, starting tomorrow… you two can help Sakura protect Tazuna-san." Kakashi said.
"Yes, sir!" Both boys said in unison.
"Whew. Well, I'm dirty, sweaty, and real worn out from all of the work on the bridge today, but construction is almost complete." Tazuna said.
"Tou-san, you and Naruto are two of a kind. Please don't work yourself to death." Tsunami said as Naruto and Sasuke sat down by the table.
"Yep." Tazuna said.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked as he noticed that Inari was looking at him.
"Why do you wear yourself out trying? No matter how hard you train, you'll never be a match for Gato's thugs! You act all cool, and you talk all tough… But big, strong guys like that are always too much for people weaker than they are. They'll destroy you!" Inari yelled.
"Shut up. I'm not you, and I'm not gonna lose." Naruto said.
"Just watching you ticks me off! You go running your mouth when you don't know a thing! This isn't your town! And you don't know a thing about me. You're always clowning around and having fun. You don't know a thing about suffering or loneliness or what my life is like!" Inari yelled.
"So… you figure it's noble to star in a melodrama and treat everyone around you like guests at your pity party? It takes a really big man to sit around and cry… you brat! You big baby!" Naruto said before getting to his feet and walking away.
"Naruto! You went too far!" Sakura yelled.
Later, Inari was sitting outside as he looked at the water before Kakashi came up behind him.
"May I join you…?" He asked before sitting down and saying "You know, Naruto's kind of a brat, but he wasn't trying to be mean or hateful, he just… lacks finesse… Tazuna-san told us about what happened to your father. Naruto grew up without a father, same as you. Actually, without any parents. He doesn't remember either one of them. Or have a single friend. His whole life is one big, painful memory."
"R-really?" Inari asked.
"And in all the time I've known him, I've never seen him cry. Or use his troubles as an excuse to sulk or be a coward. Not once. He always… tries his hardest, hoping someone will notice and give him a kind word or a pat on the back. That's his dream, and he's risked his life for it. I think one day he must have just gotten fed up with crying. He understands what it means to be strong. He knows what it costs and what it's worth… just as your father did. Naruto probably understands you and knows how you feel better than any of the rest of us." Kakashi said.
"Nani?" Inari said.
"He can't leave you alone… because you've gotten under his skin." Kakashi said.
Land of Waterfalls, Takigakure
Takigakure no sato was like any other ninja village with the people going about their daily business and the shinobi were doing their usual missions just like always. Though everything wasn't normal in the village, just a few weeks ago, temperatures dropped and it got extremely cold. It was almost as though the land itself had caught cold.
In one of the many streets in the village was a beautiful woman that looked to be in her mid-twenties with long blue hair, a blue dress and with blue eyes walking. Though despite her appearance and the fact that she apparently wasn't too bothered by the cold, no one seemed to pay any attention to her.
'Strange, it's summer, so how come it's so cold?' She thought before – out of the corner of her eye – she spotted a girl that was thrown out of what appeared to be a ramen stand.
The girl had tan skin, green hair and she wore fairly revealing clothes. What caught the woman's attention the most however were the girl's unusual orange eyes.
"I've told you a thousand times before. Get lost! You're scaring away my customers." The ramen stand's owner said and the girl got to her feet a walked away as she tried to hide her sadness with a mask of happiness, but failed.
"Excuse me. But who was that girl?" The woman asked the ramen shop owner as she walked over to him.
"Huh? You don't know?" He said as he looked at her before realizing that the woman isn't from around here "You're not from around here, I take it. Well, fare piece of advice; stay away from that girl, she's a demon who wouldn't think twice about killing you if she could."
"Really? She didn't seem that bad to me." The woman asked as she frowned.
"Trust me. Nothing good can ever come from hanging around her." The ramen shop owner said.
"… I'll stay away from her then. Could I have a bowl of ramen please?" The woman asked.
"Sure. What kind?" The ramen shop owner asked.
"Surprise me." The woman said and shortly after was the man done with her ramen.
"Here you go, now eat up." He said.
"Actually, I think I'll take it with me." The woman said as she paid the man and took the bowl and was about to turn around when she thought about something "You wouldn't happen to have a warm coat lying around, would you? It's a little cold." As she said this, she winked at him, causing him to blush.
"S-sure." He said as he went to get a coat and gave it to the woman "Here you go, miss."
"Well, aren't you sweet?" She said before leaving.
At a cliff which was overlooking a waterfall was a tree standing alone as the girl from before was sitting at the base of said tree, crying. The place was located outside of the actual village, and no one really knew what was behind the waterfall seeing as though it was believed to be sacred ground.
The girl was surprised however when she felt something warm come over her and she looked up to see that someone had put a warm coat over her. She then looked towards the one who had done it to see a beautiful woman that she had never seen before.
"It must be cold, sitting out here all by yourself." The woman said.
"Who are you?" The girl asked.
"You can call me Nayru. What about you?" The woman asked.
"Fu." The girl said as she looked to the ground before her stomach suddenly growled.
"Here you go." Nayru said as she held out the bowl of ramen for Fu.
"Uh… Arigato…" Fu said as she took the bowl.
Land of Waves, Tazuna's house
Tazuna, Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura were outside the house as they were about to go to the construction site.
"Wait, Ojii-san!" Inari said as he came out followed by Tsunami.
"Hmm? What is it Inari?" Tazuna asked.
"Could I come and watch you work today?" Inari asked.
"Huh? What's this about all of a sudden?" Tazuna asked.
"I thought that I could probably help you out… to get the bridge done faster." Inari said as he looked away.
"Sure. No problem." Tazuna said before Kakashi looked over at Tsunami.
"Well. Please take care of Naruto. He's worn himself out. I doubt he'll be able to move for the rest of the day." He said.
"We're off, Tsunami." Tazuna said as they started walking.
"Bye. And please be careful Inari." Tsunami said.
"Will do." Inari said.
Later, Naruto woke up to find that everyone had already left without him, So he decided to get to the bridge as fast as he could, however as he was tree-jumping, he noticed something.
'What's that?' He thought.
Bridge
"What happened?" Tazuna asked as they had gotten to the bridge to find that all of the workers had been knocked down. He walked over to one of them and asked "What happened? What… could have…?"
"M-monsters…" The worker said.
'It can't be…' Kakashi thought.
Tazuna's house
The two thugs that were with Gato earlier stood outside of Tazuna's house as they smirked before cutting down the door.
"Huh? Who's there?" Tsunami asked as she turned around and her eyes widened at who she saw.
Forest
"Whoa, what is this thing?" Naruto asked as a large plant attacked him. It was obviously a carnivorous plant, but it was much larger than any normal carnivorous plant.
The plant's head came at him, but he dodged it before grabbing a kunai and throwing it at the plant, but as the kunai came into its mouth, it closed its mouth and swallowed the knife.
'The hell?' Naruto thought before the plant's head came at him again, but he dodged it before grabbing the Hakko Chakura To and sliced the plant's head in two, effectively killing it "Phew… Got it." He then looked around to see that there were many others "You've got to be kidding me."
Naruto then started running, trying to avoid all of the plant's attempting to eat him, before eventually reaching the place where they met Zabuza, but he noticed that there was something different this time around. There was a large tree that was much taller and wider than all the other trees.
"Whoa, that's one huge tree!" He exclaimed before noticing that the tree was surrounded by the weird plants and some were even coming out of its bark "What the…? What's the deal with all these weird plants?" He then noticed a walkway that went up to a round door "I wonder if these plants are coming from there? Well, might as well find the source of them."
He then walked up the walkway and towards the door, what he didn't notice however was the four Tani-nins standing on the tree-tops, spying on him.
"Let's see if our brave little hero can handle this one." Vaati said as Naruto entered the door.
Bridge
"They're coming!" Kakashi said as he, Sasuke and Sakura got ready to fight as Tazuna and Inari prepared for whatever was coming.
'I was right. He survived… and he's come back to finish things.' Kakashi thought before a fog came in.
"Kakashi-sensei, is this…? That man we met… his "Kirigakure no Jutsu"… isn't it?" Sakura asked before Sasuke started trembling.
"Been a while, Kakashi… and I see you've got those brats tagging along, just like last time. And the little boy is trembling again, poor thing…" Zabuza said before several Mizu Bunshins appeared around them with one even appearing in the middle of their formation.
"I'm shaking with eagerness for a rematch." Sasuke said.
"Go ahead… Sasuke." Kakashi said with an eye-smile before all of the Zabuza's swung their swords, but Sasuke quickly took out all of them with the help of two kunai, one in each hand.
"Well. My Mizu Bunshins were obviously no match for you. It seems the brats have matured quite a bit… into worthy rivals… eh, Haku?" Zabuza said as he and Haku appeared in front of the five.
"Indeed." Haku – who had his mask on – said.
"Looks like I was right. Our mysterious masked friend… is playing on Zabuza's team." Kakashi said.
Land of Waterfalls, Taki, Fu's spot
'Who is this woman anyway, and why is she so nice to me? She probably wouldn't be if she knew about my burden…' Fu thought as she ate the ramen.
"It must've been hard on you… with the way the villagers are treating you. I can't even begin to imagine how it's like to be a Jinchuriki." Nayru said and Fu's eyes widened before she looked up at the woman.
"Y-you knew…? Then… why… why are you so nice to me…?" Fu asked.
"I don't see why not. You seem like a pretty all right girl to me. Besides, I've always hated the way people look at Jinchuriki." Nayru said before noticing something on the back of the girl's right hand "May I have a look at your hand?"
"Um… Sure…" Fu said as she held out her hand, and Nayru took it.
She noticed that there was a mark on the hand, six blue marks which were in a circular formation that made it almost look like an over-head view of a flower. It looked a little like the Triforce marks that would appear on the three Chosen, but unlike those, this one was more like a tattoo that was etched into Fu's skin.
'After 2.000 years, the cycle seems to be finally repeating itself, first the reappearance of the Chosen, and now…' Nayru thought before looking at Fu's face '… that of the Sages.'
Chapter preview
Zabuza "That boy haven't yet developed the psychological strength to turn his heart to ice and take a human life. Haku on the other hand has lived the kind of emotional anguish that prepares him to be a true shinobi. No true shinobi could ever be born of a place like your village, a place of weakness… of peace. You don't live with death, or grow up needing to kill to ensure your own survival. In you those skills – and the mindset they require – die stillborn."
Haku 'His eyes are… it can't be…! They're… Sharingan…?'
Naruto "All these weird plants are really starting to get on my nerves!"
Nayru "Fu, follow me, and I will show you were you're most needed."
Vaati "Next time on The Legend of Naruto: Battle on the bridge."
Naruto "Whoa! That thing's huge!"
Character status
Naruto: Level: 7
Techniques: Henge, Kawarimi, Oiroke, Harem, Kage Bunshin.
Weapons: Hakko Chakura To, kunai, shuriken.
Triforce: Courage.
Sasuke: Level: 7
Techniques: Bunshin, Henge, Kawarimi, Katon: Goukakyo.
Weapons: kunai, shuriken.
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan. (Not unlocked yet)
Triforce: Power.
Sakura: Level: 3
Techniques: Bunshin, Henge, Kawarimi.
Weapons: kunai, shuriken.
Triforce: Wisdom
Kakashi: Level: 45
Techniques: Raikiri, Magen: Narakumi, Doton: Shinju zanshu, Doton: Doryuheki, Doton: Moguragakure, Fuja hoin, Katon: Goukakyo, Genjutsu: Sharingan, Raiton: Kage Bunshin, Taju Kage Bunshin, Sennen Goroshi, Kage Bunshin, Kuchiyose, Kuchiyose: Doton: Tsuiga, Kirigakure, Mizu Bunshin.
Weapons: kunai, shuriken.
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan.
Kurama no Kyubi: And that's the end of that chapter. By the way, before I forget; after writing the previous chapter, I realized that there actually was a village called Tanigakure in the Land of Rivers, but in this story, Tani isn't located there, but rather located in-between the lands of Wind, Earth and Stone.