Chapter 19
"So... You survived Lee's renge..." Naruto mussed as he and Haku walked the town. Children playing happily on the street paths as horse and carts were moving around. Haku nods.
"Yes... I was left for days to recover... But I've trained myself over the years to recover myself rapidly with my chakra. Its how I've improved to the feats I can do in both tai and ninjutsu... I just want to be rid of this life now."
"Because Zabuza's gone...?" Naruto muttered out the question. Haku nods,
"When I was told of how Zabuza-sama died... I knew that's how he would go... He would show no fear to how he died... Or give his foe the pleasure of the pain he would receive. Like a demon of the mist should." Naruto nods in agreement... Then, a thought hit him.
"You don't want to be a shinobi do you?" Haku nods to his question. "Then I know somewhere you may find peace with no worry of the world." Haku blinked. Naruto smirked. "Setsu no Mizu."
"What?"
"Setsu no mizu is one of the gosetsu no kouyou. This place is the one place you can live in peace and with your element."
"Mizu... But they killed people with bloodlines... How can I return there and know I'm safe?"
"The temples are hard to find. And the water temple isn't like the land. They see you no different. Plus, Nami-san there can do hyoton as well. You guys would get along I think."
"Th-there's another one...?" Haku glanced away for a second. "Ok, I'll go. This place may not sound so bad then."
"The only problem is you must leave at the age of 50."
"That I don't mind. As long as I can live in peace from more bloodshed." Naruto nods.
"Then I best talk to my team." Naruto then jumped up the sides of the building and ran off. Haku smiled at the thought of meeting another ice user and walked on round the village.
XXXXXXX
"So that's it guys. I'm taking Haku to the land of water to the water temple..." Naruto stated at the end of his plan.
Gai was in thought after his student's explination. "Naruto-kun... How long would this trip take? We only have days before the bridge is complete." Naruto pondered a second.
"If I leave now. It will take me and Haku 3-4 days. Give or take some time to get the guy in. It will then take me a few hours at full running speed to meet you back. I should know. I had to release my full weight on my body to chase that spear. And even with kaio-ken and then ni bai kaioken. I still had trouble to catch up to that insane speed. I will meet at the end of the bridge I hope. If not, I shall meet you on route back to konoha."
Gai pondered a moment. He nods. "Ok Naruto-kun. But if you can't meet your team at konoha in time. Then you shall have to extra training alongside me and Lee." Naruto nods.
"You got it!" With that Naruto raced up stairs. He grabbed his backpack and was out the window with full speed to Haku.
With the boy eagerness to leave the pair were out from the first island and off the bridge away into the forest at full speed, so quick were to two they didn't even pay attention to Tazuna. Or the man in a white robe and hood talking to each other.
The day and nights passed and the two teens raced across the land. Neither stopping in towns or in one place to long as they ran. Naruto had removed his headband to keep a lower cover. They have slowed as they reached the mist by the third morning. Haku was both tired and happy be almost at the temple.
The pair tracked into the mist with no sound from the pair. They reached a lake and Naruto said one sentence to the boy.
"Hold your breath..." With that, Naruto took a breath and walked forward. Haku did as well.
That didn't do him any good as the second he was pulled under he let go of the air he had. But thanks to trained ninja skills he was able not to fully let all that air go and just gasped like a fish out of water when he surfaced.
Haku hacked and coughed behind the blond as Haku had just reached the bank side. Naruto smiled as he saw the monks blinking at the pair.
"G-gohan? Your back?" One monk stammered out. Naruto grinned to them.
"I came to pop by... And bring a friend who wishes to join the temple..." Naruto said as Haku stood behind him. "Naruto looked about him. So where's..."
"Well well... The blond gaki is back." Naruto blinked and then smirked.
"Good to see you two Nami-san..." The older teen walked up. But Naruto could defiantly see a difference in her since he last met. Naruto smiled as he shook hands with Nami. "Good to see your well."
"Same here... And who is the young man behind you? Taking on a student at your age?" Naruto shook his head.
"No, this is Haku. He wants to join the temple. Right Haku?"
As the pair had been talking, Haku could only stare at Nami. His eyes wouldn't leave her. It was like something he couldn't describe...
"Haku... Earth to Haku." Haku blinked then realised he'd been staring. He stumbled back.
"Whoa, my apologies... I was distracted." Haku said with a smile and waved his hands. Naruto and Nami just looked at him funny then turned back to each other.
"He's a bit of a strange guy? You sure he's safe?" Nami muttered to the blond. Naruto nods.
"He's fine. Plus Haku here can use hyoton like you. He worked with Zabuza momochi."
"Demon of the mist? Wonder why he's here now?" One of the monks muttered to each other.
"Well... I guess we'll see what the elder has to say."
"That's cool. I'm sure obaa-san will agree with Haku joining the temple." Naruto blinked as Nami frowned. Naruto raised an eyebrow. But he wasn't about to expect this.
"Koori-sama's dead."
"...D-dead... B-but how?"
"Carelessness from people. See... Normally, after rain falls we have to clean the temple grounds of loose water puddles. Normally it's tallied out who goes when... Someone, forgot to clean a spot and Koori-sama slipped and hit her head on the floor." Nami sighed as she remembered the day.
"She seemed fine. Got up and laughed it off with us... But, as the day slowly went by. She felt a headache and went to bed early. Next morning she wasn't up and someone went to check her... The alert was called out and we tried our best... But she had been dead to long... Her brain had swelled and it killed her in her sleep... Hopefully." Naruto was quiet.
"So... Who's in charge?"
"Rein, is the new elder. He was Koori's friend and make sure to keep everything in flow... Haku-san. If you will follow me, Rein will see if you can join. Naruto-kun, please wait here and I will let you know if he's staying or going." Naruto nods. Haku followed behind Nami and Naruto walked to the edge of the lake and was left in thought.
'Simple things... Can take such strong people away...' Naruto closed his eyes let his mind wonder over the time he spent with the monk elder.
XXXXXX
Water spiralled round Naruto as he sat cross legged and eyes closed and on top of the water. As it swirled round him and Koori stood some distance her eyes closed and arms cross.
The water broke and Naruto and Koori sighed. Naruto for the fact he failed to hold his balance. Koori sighed for the fact he just didn't grip it well.
"I'm..."
"It's more focus in the liquid mass. Solid mass is easy to connect with. Liquid requires more chakra to hold its mass and flex it."
"I know... But it's so soft to hold it..." Naruto sighed and Koori thought of something.
'He's not very well adept to chakra control. Water is a fine art... Hm?' Koori got an idea.
Naruto sighed as he looked at the water. Only to blink as water hit him. "Wh-what the...?" Naruto looked up as Koori crouched and grasped a bubble of water in her palm.
"Let's try this... You have to form bubbles of water and throw them at me... The more you fail. The more you get wet and more I stay dry. So..." She hit Naruto with another. "Begin!"
Naruto put his hand to the water and formed a bubble and it fell apart. He was then soaked again. Koori chuckled. Naruto scowled.
"I'll get you obaa-san! I will get you!" He jumped away. "Ha you..." He was hit full on.
"I have two hands you know... Now dodge! Or fight..." She said with a grinned and attacked.
XXXXXX
'If it wasn't for her... I wouldn't have got control of water so well... Or, lost to Nami with the lack of practice...' Naruto mused with a smile. He felt a familiar presence and he turned to see Nami with a smile.
"Haku seems to meet Rein's standards. He also said to say high to Goku from him... So you're going right?" Naruto nods.
"Yeah, I've got to get back to my village. So take care of yourself." With that Naruto turned to the water and jumped in and vanished. Nami smiled.
"Till we meet again..."
Minutes later, people could only blink as a white blur shot by. They could only turn in the direction of the white fire ball. Naruto of course being said white fire ball smiled at the speed he could travel long the ground. Running seems so much faster than flying. Because he can push off the ground for a boost.
He skidded to a stop at the bridge and rushed down the steel bridge and reached the town then Tazuna's.
His team were 5 hours ahead. And in a white light he was off back across the bridge and blazing down the path to the village. Least he knew he wasn't going to be doing insane Gai Lee training.
Naruto met his team halfway and they walked on in high spirits.
The team knew more about their strangely strong blond. And Naruto had formed stronger bonds with his friends and companions.
They arrived in konoha late at night and they went to the hokages office to see the hokage. Gai handed over his report excluding anything that only the team should keep to themselves. He basically left it as Gato had escaped and is unknown of if he's alive or dead.
Haku and Zabuza's death were at the hands of both them and Gato's men. And placed graves in the west of the first town. Zabuza's blade dug above his grave. Haku's beside him.
Naruto's powers had been put in the dark. Naruto had said he didn't want anyone to see or hear it if he can help it.
So when the team had finished with the report of a complete c rank mission. The events of the rank put in the dark by the hokage, believing it would be safe that a team of one jonin and genin. Not only took out a wealthy man named Gato. And then the fact they killed an s-rank shinobi, and a swordsman of the hidden mist by the name of Zabuza momochi.
Anything that pointed their way would be denied unless proven. The team nods and promise not to mention it.
So as the team stood in the light of the hokages building entrence. Gai turned to his team.
"We've all faced and seen allot this mission. We will take a 3 day break to get back to village life... But I will be at our training ground should you wish to come. I will see you in the morning." With that Gai vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Well... I'm off to bed... I need to be ready to train with sensei tomorrow. Night Naruto-kun. Hinata-san..." Lee said walking off.
"Later Lee... I best be going too Hinata." Naruto yawned out. "I'll see you tomorrow if you come to training. Later..." Naruto said waving as he walked off.
"N-Naruto-kun..." Naruto glanced to Hinata with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah?" Hinata was looking to the floor. She shook her head and smiled to the blond.
"Thank you for saving me..." Naruto smiled.
"You need to know something Hinata..." Naruto said walking off. Hinata blinked. He glanced to Hinata with a smile.
"Like you, Lee and Gai. Old man hokage and Iruka sensei. Plus the ramen shop owners..." Naruto said walking off. "I will protect all those precious to me..." With that Naruto faded into the night.
Hinata quickly turned and walked off. 'I'm of those precious to Naruto-kun...' A light blush formed as she walked off home.
The next day, all three were there training with Gai.
The days passed since then. And the weeks passed on till about halfway through a day when Gai called an end to training.
"Sorry my students... But I must call training to a close early... I shall see you tomorrow..." Gai then took off.
"Strange... Gai-sensei must be leaving for something important..." Lee muttered. Naruto smirked.
"I think it's that time Lee..." Lee glanced over to Naruto confused. Then his eyes widen.
"You mean?!" Naruto nods. Both high fived.
"Chunin exam!" Both cheered.
"We'll prove how our team has improved... I heard Neji hyuuga didn't passed last time. And I'll finally get to see where I rate up to the top year rookie. And of course.
"Sasuke Uchiha will be there for sure... I finally want to put that snob to ashes. I've been iching for a moment and the chunin exam is that moment... We will take that title of chunin!"
"Yosh!" Lee agrees as the pair grinned. Though Hinata was less excited. But it was the fact her cousin would be there and she knew of the grudge he held to the main branch.
'M-maybe I can change him if we should fight...?'
"Well... with nothing to do... I'll take an early finish... I'm heading for..." Naruto stopped a second. Lee blinked.
"Something wrong?"
"No... Just realised I had to do something now... I best be off..." With that Naruto took off.
'I wonder why...' Naruto mused as he jumped through the forest. 'This feeling... It's so familiar...' Naruto landed on top a roof of a building and looked over the village. 'Where is it...?'
"You little brat! I'll kill you for that!" Naruto blinked, then sighed as he knew that voice. And the one that followed.
"Help!!!"
"Konohamaru..." Naruto muttered. "What in kami's good name. Did you do to that girl...?" The blond took off to help the poor boy.
When he arrived he found Konohamaru held by the neck of his scarf by a boy in black. Next to him was an older blond girl with a large fan. Across from them were Sakura, and two smaller kids about Konohamaru's age.
"Relax Temari.. I'll just deal with this brat before the boss arrives..."
'Temari?' Instantly Goku's conversation with Unido came back to him.
"Say your prayers..." The boy black said with a smirk.
'Naruto help!' Was Konohamarus plea.
"Oi!" Naruto spoke up, stopping the older male. "Put him down..." The older male smirked.
"No thanks... Get lost..."
"I don't think so..." Naruto spoke with Konohamaru under his arm. He stood where he had made his request like nothing had happened.
"Wait... What?" The older male blinked and looked from the boy under Naruto's arm. To the item in his hand. Wait, was it hissing?
The resounding explosion on pink smoke was his answer. And what came from it was a pink pasted black clad male.
"Good isn't it? Sort of one of those moments that needs a laugh. You quite good in pink..." Naruto said with a grin as Temari snickered.
"He's right... Rather fetching Kankuro..." Kankuro growled and reached for his back.
"You!" He yelled putting the object down. He heard more snickering but was focused on the blond. "I'll hurt you for that?" Naruto smirked.
"Really? How you going to do that?" Kankuro blinked as he realised he wasn't holding his weapon. He glanced down and found a large stuffed monkey giving him the finger back to him. "Looking... For this?" Naruto asked as he pulled on some ninja wire and the large white bandaged object rested beside the blond.
'Man... He's good. And quite cute actually...' Temari mused as she watched the blond humiliate her brother.
"So come on then pinky... Got anything else you want to try? Or is this enough..." Kankuro held up his hand at the blond.
"You..." A stone hit his hand and the boy grunted from the hit.
"It's not nice to pick on konoha shinobi..." Naruto glanced up to Sasuke who sat in a branch looking down to the two ninja. "We don't take kindly to strangers..." He growled crushing a rock in his hand.
"So your here..." Naruto started... "What brings you here?"
"None of your business Uzumaki..." Sasuke replied.
"Really? Then the only reason you must be here is to hunt me down? Still annoyed I passed a year ahead?"
"Like I would care... I'm far stronger than you are..."
"Really? From somewhere I heard you were royally steaming... And I mean steaming your head was visible with smoke." Naruto said with a smirk as Sasuke scowled.
"You trying to start something...?" Sasuke growled.
"No... Just annoying you is more fun."
During this, the pink and black clad ninja was getting annoyed. How dare they ignore him!
"Right that's it!" Kankuro growled and both looked to him. "You both die!" He opened his hand but stopped at the next voice.
"Move them fingers... And I'll kill you." Kankuro slowly turned to the boy standing upside down from a branch.
'Oh crap...' Was Kankuro's thought.
'He's good... I didn't sense him.' Sasuke mused.
Naruto made eye contact and the memory from the wind temple came to him. He voiced his thoughts. "We meet each other again. Garra correct?"
"You seem to know me very well... Who may you be?" Garra growled out to Naruto.
"Naruto... And how I know of you... Let's say you weren't the only one to train under Unido..."
Temari was thrown for a loop. Now she remembered. Her brother had muttered about... 'Oh man...'
Both stared each other down. Then Garra started the conversation off.
"I'll kill you..." He growled with a light scowl. Naruto smirked.
A wire shot out and snapped tight against Garra. A young male landed on the fence holding the wire.
A male Naruto remembered from his class stood atop the fence. Dressed in a white shirt with black hakama. Naruto could still see the stitched in symbol of webmaster on his back. The guy was a wizard with wires. He wore black anbu shorts... Or the sort they normally wear. God they don't look anything different to what Sakura wears... But oh well. He finished up with black sandles.
The boy had the pouch full of his knickknack that no doubt have changed in the last year and a half. His holster on his left thigh. And an extra large it would seem, kunai pouch on his right thigh. The boy had gloves on as well.
He was typical height for most their age around the 5,4 mark more or less. With brown spiky hair to almost match his own. And the green eyes that were as bright as grass. His name.
"Kikan Kazehana... Seems you got stuck with these guys..." Naruto said looking to the teen.
"Good to see you too Uzumaki! You seem well. Done anything fun since you've been a ninja?"
"We'll talk later... But I would recommend releasing Garra-san here... He'll kill you if you don't." The wire fell and shot back up into Kikan's hand and he put the loop away.
"Where ever you say... So tell me, what are sand ninja doing here?"
Naruto smirked.
Kikan was someone in the lower area of grades. But it seems with the fine eye to see where his wires go. He's got the fine eye to read his opponents.
"Just what I want to know..." Garra vanished and appeared in front of Temari and Kankuro. He glanced to Naruto as Sasuke and Kikan hopped down in front of Sakura.
"I would like you to return Kankuro's object..."
"Not very polite are you..." Naruto said tossing the tool over Garras head and to Kankuro. Naruto then hopped down and put Konohamaru to the floor. He then dashed behind Sakura. Naruto and Garra remained eye contact before Garra turned to leave.
"I'll kill you when I get the chance..." Naruto didn't move as he merely watched him leave.
Sasuke merely grunted. "He's no threat..." Naruto merely turned and walked past the team.
"I'll see you round Kikan... I hope you continue to improve, you're doing well."
"Woah, woah, woah Uzumaki..." Kikan spoke up. "That's all you are going to say? He basically called you death sentence..."
"I've had it allot Kikan... I'll be going... Konohamaru, let's go. You tell me why your here as we go."
"R-right boss..." Konohamaru called as he and his two friends followed. "That was so cool! How did you replace me with that explosive of yours anyway? That was funny as hell when he was covered in pink paint." Naruto chuckled.
Kikan smirked. "I'm going to enjoy a chance at him one day..." He glanced to Sakua who was frowning. "What's wrong Sakura?"
"Nothing..." 'He didn't even glance to me, well... even Sasuke-kun also.'
"Tch." Sasuke grunted. "He doesn't look any better... I don't know why he was allowed to pass a year ago."
"Maybe because you're to blind to see or that thing you call an ego..." Kikan stretched and walked off. "I'm hungry... Later Sasuke, Sakura..."
'Like you've improved that much Uzumaki Naruto... I'll prove that one day soon.' Sasuke then turned to walk off.
Sakura merely turned to follow only for Sasuke to vanish.
The next day Naruto and Lee and Hinata were sparring in a three for all fight. Anything allowed. But Naruto had toned his skills down to not be too hard on the pair as they scrapped it out.
"I see you three are doing well?" Gai spoke, getting the genin's attention. Naruto grinned as the three stopped their fight.
"And I'm glad to hear well be fighting in the chunin exam." Naruto said with a grin. Gai blinked.
"Really? I didn't say you were... Hinata's still got a year."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "What!" Naruto yelled. Gai laughed as Naruto began to stammer out reasons left right a centre as to why they should fight.
"Relax Naruto-kun... I did request for you all to participate..." Gai then pulled out three sheets of paper. "Sign these and hand them in to the location mentioned on them. Be there then in one week from today. That is when the chunin exam will begin."
Naruto looked at the sheet. "You know if Sasuke's team will be there?" Gai nods.
"As far as I know that I'm sure you all want to know. Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma have all put their teams forward. And even Ryuunosukes team from last year will be joining. So I want you three to make your own choices for this. If you don't wish to come, then you don't have to. I look forward to greeting you when the time comes. Now with this there is nothing you need to do now but prepare for the week to come." Gai gave one final thumbs up before vanishing.
Naruto looked at the sheet. "We'll I'm in."
"Same." Lee said as he put his sheet away.
"I... I'll be there also. I won't let you guys down." Naruto and Lee nod to Hinata.
"So what now then?" Naruto asked.
"All we can do is ready our selves... Also. Let's not show our full strength. Keep our opponents in the dark of how strong we are." Naruto nods.
"Sounds like a plan... Well I'm going to practice my sword arts... I'll see you guys in a week!" With that Naruto walked off.
"I best get going too Hinata-san. Like Naruto-kun I shall continue to improve on my taijutsu with a run around the village. And if I can't do that I shall..." Lee's voice faded as he raced off. Hinata turned to the posts still stood in their training ground.
'I shall not let you down Lee-san. Naruto-kun...'
XXXXXXXXXX
And there we have chapter 19. I think it went well.
Team kakashi:
Kikan kazehana
Sakura haruno
Sasuke Uchiha
Team kurenai
Mina
Kiba
Shino
Team Asuma
Shikamaru
Ino
Choiji
Team Gai
Naruto
Hinata
Lee
And finally Team Ryuunosuke. Who will be making an appearance for the time being as he's had a too long a break.
Neji
Ten-ten.
Mystery fighter. (I'm not saying yet.)
Also I would like to thank diimortal. I hope he came out as well as you hoped. And also to him being the only one to post an oc. Thought if more had then I would have given the three winners.
I will be requesting to have that oc made into a drawn one by matt. I'm hoping he'll get it done swiftly. Thank you for sending the oc and I'll alert you as soon as possible.
And finally before I rush to work. The latest background info for you.
setsu no houka: temple of fire
setsu no mizu: temple of water
setsu no tsuchi: temple of earth
setsu no kaze: temple of wind
setsu no raikou: temple of lightning
gosetsu no kouyou: five temple of elements. (All five combine.)
If anyone if looking for pairings in this send me and them and I'll see if their good enough as long as you give a good enough reason.
Remember. Naruto is not being paired with anyone mentioned in this series.
Kikan can also have one diimortal if you want to.
And anyone is fair game. Send them and a how they get paired up. Thankyou for reading bye!