"CHIDORI!" Kakashi screamed as he charged at Zabuza. Blood splattered as the chidori hit. The light faded to reveal what Kakashi had hit. Zabuza's shoulder was bleeding heavily. "You missed your target. Guess that eye of yours isn't as great as it seemed," Zabuza said, although strained, moving a kunai closer to his neck.

The air around the two jonin was thick with tension, anger, and, well... all around frustration, when: "HEY KAKASHI SENSEI! WE TIED UP THE PERVERTED TRANSVESTITE; IS THAT ALRIGHT?" Well, at least it was...

"That brat always ruins the mood..." Zabuza said, looking in the direction where he heard the kid's voice.

Sasuke and Naruto came running out of the fog carrying a big bundle. Naruto had removed Haku's mask and loved the expression on Sasuke's face when he learned that Haku was in fact a guy. "How could they defeat Haku?" Zabuza said, quite startled.

"Oh, that's easy." Naruto started smiling like an idiot. "We made him laugh himself out of the ice mirror!" he said happily.

Everyone but Sasuke, Naruto and Haku face faulted, although Haku snickered a little. Naruto blinked. "Huh? You're still awake? I could have sworn you'd passed out from lack of air when you were having that fit back there," Naruto said, confused.

"No, I was quite awake..." Haku replied.

"And you still let us do all that to you?" Sasuke said, eyeing a bruise on Haku's cheek.

Sakura suddenly screeched "What the hell were you three doing over there!" The three blinked.

"What do you mean?" Haku asked.

Sakura's eye twitched. "N-never m-mind."

Sasuke and Naruto brought Haku over and put him down beside Sakura, who looked extremely relived. "You were just beating him up... that's good," she said, more to herself; the others heard her but decided against asking.

"I have my reasons for letting you do what you did," Haku said in a monotone.

Naruto looked at Haku sympathetically. 'I never did really learn why he ended up like that...' Naruto thought, thinking back to his first childhood. 'I should probably stop Kakashi from hurting Zabuza too badly too, so he might be able to hold up against Gatou's army.'

Then he sensed it. Off to the northern part of the bridge. Gatou was there watching from in the fog. "He was most likely there last time," the fox answered before Naruto could ask.

'Kakashi was so into his battle last time that he missed the aura and back then we couldn't sense it unless it was a really big chakra source!' Naruto thought excitedly. 'Perfect!' With that thought in mind Naruto ran off into the direction he felt the aura, leaving everyone very confused.

"If I can find some way to get him to spill his guts earlier then last time, Zabuza might have a chance!" Naruto said happily as he raced to the source. Sure enough, he soon saw the shapes in the distance get clearer. He was soon in earshot.

"When he gets killed by that Kakashi we swoop in and finish the injured guy off," someone said.

"That fool, did he really expect Gatou to pay him? This was his plan from the start and he fell right into his trap!"

"And soon he will be dead." Naruto recognized that particular voice as Gatou.

Naruto smiled. "That was easier then I thought it would be..." he said to himself, tapping a microphone that was hanging off his shirt collar. He had dropped the ear piece on Haku when he ran off.

"With any luck they heard it and Zabuza will..." Naruto smiled even broader, seeing the fog lift. Then he laughed, seeing how far he had actually run in the fog. His team was only about ten meters away from him.

Gatou looked smug and confident as he called out "Well, you're not dead yet? But you must be injured quite a bit because the fog lifted. No matter, you will die here!" Gatou held up a cane, causing his lackeys to charge. Zabuza turned back for a second and Sasuke threw him a few kunai. He put one in his mouth, and had one in each hand.

He charged, but unlike last time, he was only slightly injured. He hadn't yet lost the nerves in his arms but they were both still badly injured, giving him limited ability with them. His arms hung loosely as he spun, kicked, and head butted through all of the lackeys in his way to Gatou.

He eventually got to Gatou and once again hit him over the edge of the bridge. However this time, Zabuza did not fall over. This time he walked over to Haku, who was still tied up. Naruto went back to his team and was watching intently.

"Haku," Zabuza started.

Haku looked up attentively. "Yes?" he asked.

"I want you to live your life the way you want to."

Haku was taken aback at these words. "But my life is yours. My only purpose is to serve you!" Haku said, surprised.

"Then serve me by living the way that you want, follow your own dream, live your own life," Zabuza said, not looking at the boy the whole time.

"But…I..." Haku looked confused.

"Don't be a tool to anyone anymore... I shall do the same." Zabuza then looked the boy in the eye. "Goodbye! You shall be happier this way. I will visit, I promise," Zabuza said before disappearing in a swirl of mist. It seemed that only Naruto caught the last part and smiled softly.

"So what will you do now?" Naruto asked.

"Umm... Tell you that some of Gatou's men are still alive and coming this way?" Haku asked confused.

"Well, that's a start of thinking on your own." Naruto said before he realized what exactly Haku said.

"YOU KILLED OUR MEAL TICKET!" Someone yelled from behind. "Ahh shit," Naruto mumbled. Sasuke saw an arrow fly over to the lackeys and looked to where it had been shot from.

Inari was standing there with the whole village behind him. Kakashi had used a cloning jutsu and there were now 20 of him. Everyone watched as the lackeys seemed to get cold feet as they ran the other way, yelling "Ack! We're out numbered!"

Sakura cut Haku's ropes and he was now standing facing Naruto. "If you'd like you can come back to Konoha with us?" Kakashi said.

Haku nodded. "Yes, I would... like that."

Naruto smiled. "Sorry 'bout tying you up! But it's ok we can be friends now!"

"Idiot mode commence!" the fox said as if he were piloting a fighter ship.

"Friends? Yes... And I am also sorry for making you and your precious person..." he started.

But was cut off by two extremely loud shouts of "THAT NEVER LEAVES THE ICE DOME!" Haku blinked. "Umm, but yeah, apology accepted," Naruto said.

Inari by this time had led the villagers over to where they were standing. "You did it, Naruto!" Inari yelled happily.

"And you as well," Naruto smiled.

Team 7 plus Haku were escorted by the village back to the bridge to see them off. They all waved their good byes; Inari cried out his happy tears as he made Naruto promise he would come back to visit. Team 7 went happily home on the newly named Great Naruto Bridge.

(((Later that day))

Team 7 plus Haku were still traveling but they seemed to be taking less time to get back than they took to get there. It was also quiet... maybe too quiet... well unless you count the occasional giggle coming from Haku and Kakashi... and the occasional swearing coming from Naruto... and the occasional death threats coming from Sasuke... and the sounds of a daydreaming preteen girl... ok so maybe it wasn't all that quiet...

Soon they had gotten back to Konoha, snapping everyone out of the little worlds they were in and bringing them back to reality. Once back inside Kakashi spoke up. "Naruto, Haku, could you two come with me to the Hokage? And Sasuke, Sakura?" The two looked up. "You're dismissed," he said lazily before ushering Haku and Naruto off to the Hokage tower.

They had only been walking for a few minutes when Haku began noticing the glares of the villagers. He shuddered slightly as lost memories from the past came up. Naruto noticed this and said solemnly, "Don't worry; they're throwing the glares at me, not you..." Haku looked over at the blond boy.

"Why would they hate you like this?" Haku asked. 'Perhaps he is like me?' Haku thought to himself.

"Something from my past that I had no control over," Naruto replied. Haku nodded in understanding. Kakashi smiled knowingly. 'Those two will get along just fine.'

Soon they arrived at the Hokage tower, where Kakashi went in to talk to the Third first. Then Naruto went in to talk to the Hokage, repeating the same story he had told Kakashi earlier. He even managed to get his eyes to water just enough to the point where it looked realistic. The fox was giving him a fake Grammy award for his wonderful performance.

"So you fell asleep meditating, was brought to the Kyuubi's prison, and became friends with him..." the Hokage repeated for the fifth time. Naruto nodded and sniffed. "I was just really scared about telling anyone... I didn't want to drive anyone else away..." Naruto said. "And the winner of the Best Leading Actor award is... Uzumaki Naruto!" the fox said 'I couldn't have done it without years of practice! Thank you, thank you!' Naruto thought back to the Kyuubi.

"Ok, thank you Kakashi and Naruto... now, who is the person who would like to come into the village?"

Naruto was then ushered out of the Hokage's office and told to tell Haku to come in, and then he was to wait in the waiting room. After a few minutes Haku came out, but he had a leaf headband on instead of a mist one.

"Well," Kakashi started, "the Hokage has decided to make Haku a genin; you are going to be the one showing him around," Kakashi said happily.

Naruto nodded. "Where will he live?" Naruto said after a moment of thought.

Kakashi's smile seemed to widen under the mask. "Well, as luck would have it..."

'I really don't like his tone...' Naruto thought.

"There is an apartment room open, in the building where you currently reside..." His visible eye starting to take on that familiar 'u' shape.

Naruto blinked. 'Since when?'

"Right beside you!" He looked as if he would burst out with laughter at any moment from the expression on Naruto's face.

Naruto almost face faulted. 'That's it? I thought I was going to be tethered to him or something... I hate when he does that...' Outside he just nodded with a big smile, his eye twitching slightly.

Haku walked over to him and smiled as well. "I shall try to do my best as a Konoha shinobi... and as a friend."

Naruto was told by Kakashi to take Haku out to get some things he would need for his new apartment. The Hokage was nice enough to give Haku some money. The first thing Haku had bought was a bed. Which leads us to the lesson for the day... no matter how much of a powerful shinobi you are, it still takes more than two people to get a damn bed into a door.

Carrying it to the apartment was no problem; neither was getting the thing into the building through the double doors, and getting a 300 pound bed up the stairs? Oh no... But the door to Haku's apartment was smaller. Much smaller.

"GOD DAMN IT! GET IT IN THERE!" Naruto shouted, getting more frustrated by the minute.

"I CAN'T PUSH ANY HARDER WITHOUT BREAKING IT!" Haku yelled, also getting angry at the inanimate object.

"I THINK IT'S ALMOST THROUGH! TRY A DIFFERANT ANGLE!" Naruto yelled.

"NNNN!"

"NRG!"

"GRAA!"

"GAK!"

"Now what?" Naruto asked.

"Perhaps you could explain what you two were doing up here?!" Sakura said, twitching, as she walked up, Hinata beside her.

"Do you know how that sounded?" Hinata said, louder then usual... well at least for her. Sakura looked over at the girl who was red-faced. Noticing all eyes on her, she deepened in colour.

"S-sorry," she stuttered, softer. Everyone face faulted.

"Hey Hinata! Sakura! What are you doing here?" Naruto asked, peeking out of the doorway.

"Well, I asked Kakashi where Haku went so I could help him get better settled in. He told me that this is where he was going to live. Here!" Sakura said, handing Haku a plate of cookies.

"Thank you," he said, standing to take them.

"Heh heh, so, anyway Haku, where's the bed room?" Naruto asked, remembering the bed. "Three doors down the hall and to the left," Haku said miserably.

"We'll help you," Sakura said happily.

"I-I'll help too," Hinata stuttered, blushing.

"Ok, this is the last door..." Naruto said tiredly. "Hey, Hinata?" Naruto asked.

"Y-yes?" Hinata replied.

"After we're done here, how about I cook us dinner?" Naruto asked, making Hinata's face light up.

"Y-yes, I'd like that... I mean, if it's n-not too much t-trouble," she replied, pushing her fingers together.

'Aww, he's sweet when he's not being annoying and bothering me...' Sakura thought as she began to push. Naruto went on the other side and began to pull. There was a pop outside the apartment, though no one heard it. A certain silver haired jounin had poofed in for a visit.

"Hold it Sakura! Stop for a minute... ok move... no... You gotta push it in from there," Naruto said as Kakashi opened the door.

"Well, I could get it in if you would come over here and put some muscle into it!" Sakura replied.

"M-maybe we should all p-push it in together?" Hinata suggested.

Kakashi at this time was looking at them almost disappointedly. "You know..." Kakashi started, catching the four's attention. Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "Did you push that thing through all the other doors?" Everyone nodded. Kakashi smirked under the mask. "That thing can fold in half you know."

"WHAT?!" Sakura and Naruto yelled at the top of their lungs.

Kakashi walked over to the bed and moved what was thought to be a decoration on either side, then, pushing the middle, made the bed fold in half. "Want me to help get the rest of your things?" Kakashi asked, seeming to get happier at the fact that everyone was glaring at him. "Didn't I ever teach you to look underneath the underneath?" he asked, turning his eye into a 'U'.

After a bit more glaring Kakashi, Haku and Sakura went off to find other necessities for Haku. Naruto was left with Hinata... not that he minded of course. Naruto brought Hinata next door into his apartment; that fact made her spawn a new type of tomato on her face.

"How's seasoned chicken and rice sound?" Naruto asked after a moment of searching through his cupboards. She nodded and began playing with her fingers and pursing her lips. 'Maybe he likes me? Maybe he really likes me?' and more thoughts similar to that were going through her head.

When the meal was done they began to eat, Hinata all the while trying to refrain from doing what she had done last time he cooked for her, in the process making faces that Naruto couldn't help but smile at. "You know..." Naruto started, causing Hinata to jump in surprise. "You should really let loose once in a while! Dig in!" Naruto said as he began to shovel food in his mouth like he hadn't eaten in a week.

Hinata blinked. 'Ok…all or nothing,' she thought as she brought the plate up to her mouth and began eating as fast as Naruto. 'Wow! I've always wanted to do that!' Hinata thought as she brought the plate down. She looked over at Naruto, who was grinning; this as always caused Hinata to blush.

"Now that's the girl I love!" Naruto said happily. Hinata blinked.

"L-l-lo-love?!" she managed to stammer out. 'He loves me!' was her last thought before she passed out. Naruto looked dumbfounded.

"Well, that was unexpected," he said to himself. "Oh well, at least she ate first..."

Naruto then went on to clean the plates. When he was done he looked out the window and realized how late it was. He smiled softly as he picked up the unconscious Hinata and placed her gently on the couch. He went and got a blanket for her and covered her up. He then went and found a piece of paper and wrote her a note, telling her that if she woke up and went to leave she could wake him up if she wanted.

'Kyuubi if she wakes up can you...'

"Don't worry."

'Thanks.' Naruto yawned and went to get changed and then climbed into bed.