Yeah, I understand the complaints about the short chapters, (my usual maximum is 1k) so I'll try to expand the chapter lengths.

The rest of the story will take place in 3rd person.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Dragon Ball Z.

Naruto was flying, (yes, flying) through the forest.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit! I can't believe this! Of all the days to leave me behind, they choose today? Sure, it was a good thing because I saved Tsunami and stuff, but still! That means Zabuza's back!"

'And how the hell am I even doing this!?'

- - - With the Others - - -

Sasuke was trying to hold his own against the Hunter-Nin's Ice Mirrors, but to no avail as Haku turned him into a human pincushion.

"I do not wish to hurt you! Give up!" Haku said, his voice echoing throughout the small dome.

"Ha! As if! Sasuke'd never surrender to a freak like you!" yelled out the ever-so-annoying Sakura.

"Hn. For once she's right," Sasuke muttered.

Haku's face darkened beneath his mask.

"Then please don't resent me."

"Wha?"

The masked Nin darted from mirror to mirror slashing and embedding the Uchiha with senbon.

"This is your fate, ninja."

- - - With Naruto - - -

"Shit! Someone's power level is dropping! But whose is it?"

A translucent image of the brooding Uchiha filled his mind.

"It's Sasuke's! I better hurry!"

The black-haired warrior's speed grew before stopping altogether.

"Wait, what?"

- - - With Kakashi - - -

Just barely blocking Zabuza's blade, with a kunai in each hand, Kakashi rammed the two knives into the pressure points in the man's arms.

"Damn you, Copy-Ninja!" Zabuza yelled, as he dropped the giant hunk of steel.

"I'm ending this now!" Kakashi yelled, letting a scroll drop out of his vest.

He grasped the ends of the scroll before making hand seals, and slamming both palms onto it and the ground.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

One poof of smoke later, Kakashi's nin-dog pack was ready to go, and immobilized Zabuza in one swift move.

Kakashi then flashed through handsigns.

"You call me a copy-cat? Then I'll show you my one original technique!" he said, his hand crackling with lightning.

'Just hang on guys, I won't be long.'

- - - With Sasuke - - -

The black-haired Uchiha was nearing unconsciousness, being barely able to stand, when the relatively one-sided fight was put to a stop by an orange flash of light.

There stood Naruto Uzumaki, wearing the now many-sizes-too-small orange and blue jumpsuit.

"Who-" asked Sasuke.

"Miss me teme?"

- - - With Sakura and Bridge Builder - - -

"What's happening ninja-san? I can barely see in this mist!" whispered Tazuna softly.

"I can't see anything either. Hopefully Kakashi-sensei has taken care of Zabuza by now."

Tazuna nodded.

- - - With Naruto - - -

'Hm, I don't recognize this one, but he looks strong. I'll have to be cautious.' thought the masked ninja.

'Wait, those clothes, he couldn't possibly be-'

"N-Naruto?" Sasuke murmured.

Of course, Naruto's now acute hearing caught it.

"Yeah Sasuke?" asked, without a glance in his direction.

Sasuke smirked before letting "death" take him.

"Take him down."

Naruto smiled, knowing that his teammate was not really dead.

"What a shame, death at such an early age," said the nin, obviously expecting some sort of reaction.

Of course Naruto, being Naruto, gave him none.

"….Really? Nothing?"

"Hmm, nope."

"…I just killed your teammate, and you don't even care?"

"I know who you are, Haku."

That one left Haku stunned. He hadn't talked with anyone since he arrived, except that one blonde kid…..

'No way!'

"And you don't have to do this. You can come back to Konoha with us! Live a new life; preferably one without you having to constantly look over your shoulder?" pleaded Naruto.

"As appealing as that sounds Naruto-san, I'm afraid I must decline."

"What? Why?"

"I'm simply Zabuza-sama's tool, nothing more. I don't make my own decisions, he makes them for me. And as his tool, I will help him accomplish his goals."

Naruto grit his teeth, before sinking into a fighting stance, the "brown belt" he had been wearing earlier, unfurling and waving itself around.

"In that case bring it on."

The multiple Hakus in the mirrors drew three senbon in each hand.

"If that is what you wish," he muttered before unleashing his attack again.

'Don't worry Haku, I'll show you that even shinobi, have emotions.' Naruto thought, as he was pelted by the hail of needles.

Their fight, however, was soon interrupted by the distinct sound of birds chirping.

- - - With Kakashi - - -

"Here goes!" yelled Kakashi.

"Raikiri!" he shouted, about to plunge the blade of lightning through Zabuza's heart.

- - - With Naruto - - -

Haku's eyes widened behind the mask, as the nin sensed the massive chakra spike.

"Crap!" the nin yelled, before disappearing in a plume of smoke.

Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what Haku was about to do.

"No!" he cried, before instinct took over.

The young man put his right middle and index fingers to his forehead and focused, before vanishing in an afterimage.

- - - With Kakashi - - -

Kakashi was just downright shocked.

He had just witnessed Zabuza's comrade jump in front of the attack, ready to sacrifice himself for his master, when he saw another unknown person take the full brunt of the blow to his arm.

Imagine his surprise when he saw the young teen holding the attack in his bare, left hand and clasping Kakashi's hand against his.

Unlatching his hand from the older man, the black haired man rubbed his hand in order to relieve the pain.

"Geez sensei, did you have to hit so hard?"

'Wait, sensei? The black hair, the black eyes . . .'

"Sasuke?"

"Nope. Guess again," responded the man, giving his signature grin.

"N-naruto!?"

"The one and only," he responded.

"But why?" questioned Haku behind him.

Naruto turned to him and said:

"I was just protecting those precious to me."

The two were interrupted by the tapping of wood against stone.

The four turned to see, through the clearing mist, Gato himself.

"Well, well Zabuza. Some demon you are! You didn't even manage to kill a group of snot-nosed brats!"

The small army of mercenaries behind him laughed at the prospect.

"Kakashi, my employer has betrayed me. We no longer have any reason to fight," Zabuza said, causing the jonin to nod in agreement.

"Now how shall I kill you? Shall I do it like I did the first? Kaiza was it?"

The K.I. emanating from Zabuza and Na was enough to tell that the two were pissed.

"Hey gaki, can you toss me a kunai?" he asked Naruto, without turning.

"Only if I can take down a few," said Naruto pulling out three, causing the gruffer man to nod in agreement.

He tossed one to him, the man catching it in his mouth.

"Ha! Take us down! In your dreams!" shouted out random voices from the crowd.

"How 'bout a little contest, Kakashi? Whoever chops down the most gets 500 ryo?" asked the still angry Zabuza.

Haku drew three senbon in each hand, and Kakashi pulled out a ninjato from his pack.

As one, the four charged, cutting down hundreds in a graceful, bloody dance.

- - - (5 minutes later . . .) - - -

Soon, the nearly 700 men had been cut down, leaving only the quivering Gato, on his knees.

"P-please! I'll give you anything! Money, women, resources, anything!"

The four stood in thought for a moment.

"Give us your bank account information," said Naruto, giving the man a piece of paper and a pen.

Gato hastily scribbled the information on the paper.

Naruto snatched the paper from the man before turning and walking away.

"He's all yours guys," he said.

Zabuza beheaded the man in one quick motion.

Naruto passed out shortly afterward.

- - - Departure - - -

After waking up the next day and saying their goodbyes, Team 7 along with Zabuza and Haku ventured out of the Land of the Waves, before the group arrived at a crossroads.

"So how many did you get Kakashi?" inquired Zabuza.

"I got 205, you?"

"I took down 153 bandits," stated Haku.

"I got 207. Pay up," Zabuza said, holding up his, now healed arm.

"Ah, but you see," started Naruto, "I killed 210 bandits. Pay up, Zabuza-san."

Zabuza grumbled before slamming 500 ryo notes into Naruto's open hand.

The group stood in silence a bit longer.

"You know, our offer still stands. You can join the Leaf if you wish," Kakashi said.

"I….think I'd like that. What about you Haku?" asked Zabuza.

Haku smiled and nodded.

"Then it's settled!" Naruto exclaimed happily, "You're coming with us!"

The group continued walking, eventually crossing the border to the Land of Fire.

Of course Sakura kept attempted to make small talk, which everybody promptly ignored.

"So dobe…."

"What?" asked Naruto.

"What the hell happened to you?"

Naruto didn't say anything for a while, before folding both hands behind his head, as they arrived at the gate of Konoha.

"I don't know Sasuke, but I know for sure that I'm gonna' need some new clothes."

- - - (Fin Chapter) - - -

Whew! 1,500 words! But anyway, explanations will occur next chapter, hopefully up by Saturday.

Review!