Ghost Wolf: Due to the Load of work, I'm just going to throw in remarks occasionally.

Quote the Speechless: Many thanks to the peanut gallery.

Ghost Wolf: Well you need to apologize to your audience.

Quote the Speechless: Very True. I apologize to everyone for the wait. I am a college student and thus have been having a hard time with mid terms and now final projects.

Ghost Wolf: On with the story!

Quote the Speechless: "Wait, I'm not done apologizing." He dodges a textbook. "As I was saying… It has been hard for me to find time to write in such conditions. But I have found enough time and the chapter is ready."

Ghost Wolf: "Sorry that was my Girlfriend." He turns to her. "I told you not to do that. I'm going to stop interrupting here."

Quote the Speechless: "I'm done. On with the Story!"

Legal: Leave me alone, I don't own Naruto.
Chapter Seven

The group managed to get a boat across from the mainland to Wave Country. There was a dense fog around them. It was so dense that they almost didn't see the bridge before it loomed above them out of the fog. The bridge was huge, but only about three-quarters finished. The pilot dropped them off on a short pier close to Tazuna's house.

They were about half the way there when all of Naruto's senses went wild. DANGER, they screamed at him! He whirled around and grabbed Sakura and Tazuna, pulling them down with him.

"EVERYONE DOWN!" Kakashi yelled. He was just in time. A massive blade, more akin to a giant cleaver than a sword, spun through the air above them. It lodged in a tree the lake's shore. By the time they recovered, there was a man standing on the long handle of the blade.

"Watch, but do not interfere," the Kyuubi's voice deep inside Naruto spoke. "Look at his Aura. That man is both mad and very confident in his abilities. That means that unless the madness has changed into delusion, he is quite powerful if he thinks he can take on your Jounin instructor. So watch, and unless I tell you to, do not interfere." So Naruto watched. There was talk for a minute, and as Kakashi prepared for the fight he reached up to reveal his left eye, what Sasuke called the Sharingan (Copy Wheel Eye).

"I believe that now is a time to activate the second level of the Demon Eyes. Close your eyes. Focus more chakra through the basic chakra molding seal and then fold it back into your eyes. That should be enough to trigger the Second Level." Naruto brought his hands together in the seal and focused his chakra as Kyuubi directed. When he opened his eyes, Sakura was screaming as Kakashi was chopped in half by a their attacker, who was named Zabuza.

What Naruto saw shocked him a little. The Kakashi that was chopped in half had a small blue aura, as did the attacking Zabuza. "They aren't real, watch." The great demon didn't lie. The Kakashi dissolved into water that splashed against the ground. Another Kakashi appeared behind the Zabuza and put a Kunai to his neck. This Kakashi had a more substantial aura of many colors, glowing brightly under his skin. "He is real. The second Level of the Demon Eyes allows you to see a person's strength and the skills that they use. It will also let you see the movements of Chakra used outside the body. What you saw was a Mizu Bunshin. (Water Clone) That was why it had a blue Aura, it was a water Technique."

"IT'S A FAKE, KAKASHI!" Naruto shouted, but the real Zabuza was already behind him. Kakashi only had time to duck the swing of the sword, and even that wasn't enough. He was flying through the air from Zabuza's kick and landed in the water. Another instant later, Zabuza had Kakashi trapped in a Suirou no Jutsu (Water Prison Technique).

Kakashi yelled at them to get away. Their duty was to protect Tazuna, not fight Zabuza. Zabuza wasn't even waiting for their answers. Using a one handed seal, he channeled Chakra and a Mizu Bunshin formed on the edge of the water closest to the three genin. In an instant the clone was attacking.

Naruto only had an instant to release the seal and bring his arms up to block the kick before it connected. Even with all his weights and training, he was thrown backwards by the kick. In the process, his forehead protector flew off. Naruto landed on his back. His instant reaction was to scramble up.

'He's so strong.' Naruto couldn't think. He inadvertently dropped the chakra flow to his eyes and the red of the Demon Eyes faded to his natural blue.

"Kid."

'We don't stand a chance.' The clone was standing on his forehead guard, glaring at Naruto, and Naruto was afraid.

"Kid!"

"We've got to run!" Naruto stumbled back, tripped over a rock and fell down. He threw out his hand to break his fall and the bandana caught his eye. He looked away from the clone of the man, finally hearing the voice from inside his head.

"GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!" Kyuubi barked at him, finally getting his attention. "That is his Killing Intent. It's strong enough to impact your base instincts to run. But a human can overcome his instincts. Or are you an Animal?" Kyuubi spat the last word. "I don't train animals. Now stand up and face him." Naruto stood up, shaking off the Killing Intent.

"I don't run." Naruto stood up, feeling contempt for himself for falling for something so simple. "And I want that Back." He pointed at the forehead protector.

"Naruto, what are you doing?" Sakura asked. Her voice was full of fear of the man with the giant sword.

"Getting my forehead protector back." A quick series of seals and Naruto swiped a hand over his jacket and another over his pants. Another instant, and he was off. All Sakura could see was a blur of motion right at the clone and the forehead protector.

The clone reacted as Zabuza would, with a kick at his chest, but Naruto wasn't there. Naruto slid under the clone, one hand grabbing the forehead protector as the other sliced up the leg of the clone with a Kunai. The clone couldn't hold form with damage, so even though the cut wasn't fatal, it was enough to make the clone dissolve. Naruto stood up and tied the forehead protector behind his head.

"Here is a name for you to remember," Naruto said, straightening the forehead protector with one hand. "The person who will become the greatest ninja in the entire world." His hand slipped down and pulled off the sunglasses, revealing his piercing blue eyes. "Uzumaki Naruto. Now, let him go."

Sakura watched the blond haired boy. She was sure that he had snapped when he rushed at the clone. But he had won and the clone was nothing more than a puddle of water. There was more to it than just battle prowess, though. Naruto was standing there, putting on his forehead protector, and declaring to the man with the long sword that he was going to be the greatest ninja in the world. She had never seen him look this way. So composed and calm, so sure of himself, but greatest of all, how brave he was. A little blush crept into her cheeks as she looked at him.

Tazuna watched the boy. He had thought little of the boy when he first saw him. But when they had been first attacked he had been poisoned and unflinchingly cut his own hand to release the blood and poison. And here he was now, facing down a strong opponent and not even blinking. The boy made him smile, and feel slightly braver by association. Silently, he cheered for the boy.

Kakashi knew the boy was stubborn, but this was going a bit far. Obviously Naruto did not know who he was dealing with. He had to admit, though, the boy earned his respect when he didn't abandon him.

"Naruto, you don't understand. This man is too strong for you! He is called…" Kakashi spoke from inside the bubble of water, but was cut off by Zabuza.

"AH! So you know about my little nickname," said Zabuza, with what could only be called glee in his voice. He turned to the Genin. Sakura and Sasuke were still guarding Tazuna, while Naruto stood on the edge of the lake. All were watching Zabuza. "By the time I was your age, my hands had already been bathed in blood." Sakura started to tremble in fear, Sasuke's face hardened but he didn't move, and Naruto seemed unfazed by the revelation. "Fourteen years ago, I killed every member of that year's graduating class in Hidden Mist, and I've been unstoppable ever since. That is why I am called The Demon Zabuza!"

Sakura's trembling increased and even Sasuke seemed a bit shaken by the bloody revelation. Tazuna took a step back, disgusted and frightened by the murderer. Kakashi remained silent, not able to look at the man who had trapped him.

Naruto's reaction snapped the others out of their respective imaginations gone wild. He laughed. At first no one was quite sure where the incongruous sound was coming from, but slowly all eyes focused on Naruto.

"A demon?" Naruto laughed even harder. Then, as quickly as it had come, it stopped, and Naruto's voice became deadly serious. "You know NOTHING of demons."

"Show him, kid. Show him what a mistake he made. Show him a true demon," Kyuubi growled. He started to feed his chakra to the boy, red energy started to seep out from his body.

"I'll show you a demon." Naruto spoke softly, but they all heard him. The red demon chakra mingled with his own yellow chakra. The combination looked like an eerie fire burning within him. Everyone could feel the moments passing as his presence became stronger. Only Kakashi noticed, but Zabuza's hand started to shake a little as he watched the blue-eyed boy. Suddenly, Naruto disappeared in a blur of red and yellow. All that remained was a single Kunai that flew fast and hard, straight at Zabuza.

Zabuza managed to catch the Kunai and throw it back into the air just before the exploding note attached to it detonated. But it was too late for him anyway. Naruto appeared in front of him, supported by the force of his power on top of the water, two chakra wings formed in the air behind him, arching high and back.

"Katon: Ryuuza Hane Hitofuki no Jutsu (Fire Type: Dragon Wing Gust Technique)," Naruto spoke as the wings came down. Zabuza pulled his arm out of the watery Orb that held Kakashi prisoner and tried to escape the attack. He managed to dodge the direct attack, even though it had gone off right in front of him, but he didn't escape completely. His right arm was caught in the blast and burning gashes formed all along it. He cried out in pain. Kakashi had managed to dive under the water as soon as the Suirou no Jutsu (Water Prison Technique) was released, and was saved from the attack.

"You Brat," Zabuza snarled, forming a one-handed seal. Six Mizu Bunshin (Water Clones) formed around Naruto, drawing their swords. "DIE!" he yelled as the clones attacked, but Naruto was already forming seals.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)." A dozen Narutos formed into existence on either side of each of the Mizu Bunshin (Water Clones). Each one burned with the fire that Naruto had, their Kunai spinning. Zabuza's clones didn't stand a chance. In an instant they returned to water, but in that moment, Zazuba managed to escape.

Naruto looked around, but couldn't see the man who had dared to call himself a 'demon'. Naruto closed his eyes and let his natural senses go to their un-natural limits. Still, nothing could be found of Zabuza, though there were traces of another presence, someone had been watching the battle.

"Kid, you're at your limit. Power down right now," Kyuubi ordered from Naruto's mind. "You had better come to me. We have things to talk about."

"Yes Sensei," Naruto whispered. He felt the red chakra drain away, and the strain on his body started to show. His senses returned to normal and his eyes started to droop. The yellow chakra faded away and he could no longer support himself over the water. Naruto blacked out before he hit.

Kakashi swam up from the bottom of the lake and broke through the water's surface. He walked over to Naruto and, after making sure that Zabuza was gone, picked him up and pulled his forehead protector back down over his left eye. He carried Naruto back to land.

Sakura was still too shocked to say anything. What had happened? It was all so fast that she couldn't follow it all. What about all that energy, could that really have come from Naruto? So many questions bombarded her that she didn't know where to start asking them. But the first one that came to her lips when Kakashi stepped onto land was not about what had happened.

"Kakashi Sensei, will he be alright?" she asked, stepping forward to look at the boy in his arms. Kakashi looked at her for a long moment before answering.

"He'll be alright, he's just exhausted after putting out all that Chakra at once." He walked over to them, holding Naruto in his arms as though he were asleep.

Sasuke watched Naruto suspiciously. What had happened? Where did all that power come from? And those Techniques, Chakra wings, and then clones that could fight back? Naruto had never used those techniques before, never even hinted at them, not once. But why hide such strength and such powerful techniques? Now he wanted to know Naruto's Secrets as well, and gain the knowledge of power, so that he could kill his brother.

"Mr. Tazuna, if it would be alright, I would like for us all to find a place to rest. Is it very much further to your house?"

"What?" Tazuna tore his eyes away from Naruto in Kakashi's arms. "No, it's not far, right this way." He walked off flanked by Sakura on one side Sasuke on the other.

When they got to the house, Kakashi was directed to a room by Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter, where he could lay Naruto down to rest. When he returned, everyone was looking at him expectantly, except for Tsunami who was cooking dinner.

"Kakashi Sensei," Sakura started hesitantly. "What happened? Was that really Naruto? He seemed so… Different." She shivered a little at the memory of the power that Naruto had given off and how it has scared her.

"I want to know where he got all that power, and those techniques," Sasuke added before looking at Kakashi suspiciously. "Did you teach those to him?"

"I just want to know if he'll be alright," Tazuna said. All eyes turned on Kakashi, waiting for him to answer their questions.

"He'll be alright, it's just chakra exhaustion. It happens to the best of us, even me sometimes. He'll wake up when he's recovered, but I honestly don't know when that will be. As for the techniques, no, I didn't teach those to him and I don't know where he learned them. But yes, that was Naruto, through and through. Anything else and you'll have to ask him. Please be careful, he may not want to answer, and you are not to pressure him." It was at this point that Tsunami's wonderful timing came into action and she called them all to dinner.

Sakura and Sasuke tried to ask Kakashi more questions but he would not answer them. Instead, he told them to go rest because tomorrow they would be doing more training, with or without Naruto.

The next day, when Kakashi came to look in on Naruto at sunrise, all he found was a note saying that Naruto had gone out training on his own and would be back that night or the next day. It worried Kakashi that Naruto would be staying out at night on his own, but after the boy's display the previous day, it didn't worry him too much.

Kakashi woke the other two Genin and told them to eat and meet him out in the forest. Sakura tried to ask him about Naruto but Kakashi was already gone. They each ate a little and ran out into the forest where Kakashi was waiting for them.

"Alright, for training today you will be climbing trees." Sakura had been about to ask him about Naruto but the announcement about what their training would consist of immediately caught her attention.

"Kakashi sensei, how will climbing trees count as training?"

"I'm glad you asked, allow me to show you." He closed his eye and put his hand into the basic chakra molding seal. After a moment, he walked towards one of the trees and right up the side of the trunk as though it was level ground. He continued up the tree and along a branch until he was standing upside down above their heads.

"This training will help you master your chakra control, it will help you learn to gather chakra as you move, and it will increase your chakra reserves. All are important if you are to grow as a ninja," Kakashi unstuck himself from the branch. As he fell, he flipped over so he landed on his feet. "Use your Kunai to mark how high you get each time, and aim to get higher. I will he back tonight to get you for dinner," and with that he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Damn it," Sakura had been reaching for a kunai when she realized that she had forgotten to ask Kakashi about Naruto. Sasuke already had a kunai in hand when Sakura spoke, and gave her a quizzical look. She sighed and looked over at Sasuke, her crush, and saw him looking at her and blushed. "Do… do you think Naruto will be alright?"

"That idiot," Sasuke snorted. "He'll be up in a day or two and jumping around like usual." He didn't care at all about Naruto. His only interest was to ask him about the power, and see if he could learn how to get that strong himself. "For now we should train, let Kakashi worry about Naruto," and he started to gather chakra into his feet.

"I guess you're right," she sighed. And so they day went for them, training away, running up and down the trees until they could hardly move.

Naruto had left the house very early in the morning, about an hour before sunrise. Kyuubi had told him that they would be going to see an old friend of his. Naruto was a little hesitant about going to see an 'old friend' of a demon like Kyuubi, but he went along with it, listening to the directions that Kyuubi gave him on how to get there. It would require him to use his Demon Form, and Kyuubi told him it would be a good time to learn to control the other demon Senses.

Following Kyuubi's directions, Naruto headedEast until he got to the edge of the island. Luckily, there was a thick mangrove forest where he could hide the stuff that he would not be taking with him. He took off his jacket and shirt, leaving on his fox pendant. He removed his shoes and socks, then his pants, but left his boxers on. He wrapped his other clothing in his jacket and set the bundle in the roots of a tree where no one would find it, and set his shoes on top. All Naruto kept with him were his boxers, equipment pouch, fox pendant, and his forehead protector, which he tied around his left arm.

When he was all done, he moved to where the roots of the mangroves met the ocean and started the transformation. It itched at first, as fur started to prickle up through his skin. The itchiness gave way to pain when his ears started to change. It began was a dull ache but turned into a sharp pain as the ears moved upward to the top of his head. His face changed as well, making him clutch at it with hands that were turning into paws, but stopped halfway there. A tickle started at the back of his head and moved down his neck. It picked up speed and intensity as it moved down his back. When it reached the end of his spine there, was a sharp jab and a tail burst through. There was a moment of uncertainty between the form of a fox and that of a human before the two settled for half-and-half, and the aches and pains stopped.

"So..." Naruto spun around to face the source of the voice, to find Kakashi leaning against a tree some forty feet away. "Are you still Naruto, or are you Kyuubi?" There was no hostility evident in his voice, but from Naruto could see with the Demon Eyes, Kakashi was nervous and had a fair amount of Chakra built up if he needed to fight.

"I'm still Naruto, but Kyuubi has been teaching me. I don't want to fight you, Kakashi," Naruto held up his hands to show he wasn't armed and realized that he had grown sharp claws that could indeed be used as weapons. He quickly lowered his hands.

"Can I trust you? Kyuubi is, or was, a very dangerous demon. You of all people should know this." Kakashi remained next to the tree and watched Naruto with his normal eye, leaving the forehead protector down over his other eye.

Naruto tried to think, tried to find some way to reassure Kakashi that he could be trusted, that he would be back. He found himself looking down at his left arm, where the forehead protector was tied.

"Kakashi, I am a ninja of Leaf. I wear the symbol. I swear to you, so long as I wear the forehead protector of Leaf, I will never betray my fellow ninja." He looked directly at Kakashi as he spoke. Every word enunciated so it could not be mistaken. They locked eyes for a moment, before Kakashi pushed himself off the tree and turned around.

"Try to get back tonight, Tsunami's cooking her famous dumplings, and I'm sure you don't want to miss them," he called over his shoulder, smiling at the Kitsuni.

"Thank you, Kakashi," Naruto bowed before performing a back flip and dove into the water.

"Good Luck, Naruto."

Naruto swam out, headed due west, only his head and the tip of his tail visible above the surface. He swam for many hours, altering his course at times as Kyuubi directed him. After several hours, a heavy mist rose and surrounded him, but he didn't stop swimming. Even when his muscles ached and waves washed over his head, he didn't stop.

"Here we come, Sister," Kyuubi spoke from the depths of Naruto's mind.

Ghost Wolf is… indisposed at the moment with his Girlfriend. Closing Banter will be conducted by your idol Quote the Speechless.

Quote the Speechless: "MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Evil Laughter continues for a few minutes. "I have perfected the art of the Cliffhanger! Now you will all have to wait until I want to update the story." More Evil Laughter follows until silenced by flying Text Book. "Ow."