Naruto of the Sand

by CaptainFlye

Across the desert a woman flees her village. Just earlier that year she had been forced to birth a demon, but her next child will not share that fate. What happens when she meets Kakashi coming back from a mission and he takes her to Konoha? FemNaru

11. The Waves

Longest, chapter, EVER! Lol, my gosh. I've been working like crazy trying to get this done, but especially when i want to check stuff from the story online, someone else needs the internet and i have to wait!

Anyways, this is the end of the wave mission. Fights and everything get taken care off, and instead of just summing them up, i'm actually going into a little detail this time. However, i did still do some summing up, just because it was driving me nuts that it was taking this long. I hope the length of the chapter makes up for any lack of details.

Also, there was one thing i did in this chapter that i totally didn't plan on. It just kind of happened as i was writing, but i like it. Keep your eyes out for the change!

Well, enough of that, here' the chapter you've all been waiting for the last two weeks. Ladies and gentleman, Naruto of the Sand, chapter 11!

disclaimer- don't own Naruto, just having fun and practicing my writing for future personal endeavors.

RR&E! Read review and enjoy!

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"It was horrible," Sakura said as she brushed Naruto's long hair. The two girls were sitting on the futon they were sharing while they stayed at Tazuna's home. Naruto had her knees pulled up and was holding them to her while Sakura kneeled behind her, brush in hand. Naruto, left to her own devices, would rarely keep her hair in order, so Sakura made her sit and let her do it every night. Though she'd eat escargot before she'd admit it, she did like how much better it looked…especially when Sas, er, that is, when certain people looked at it. Of course, right now she was listening to Sakura's account of her and Tazuna's trip into town earlier, and it was sickening her.

"Everywhere I looked there were kids that looked like they were only skin and bones! I gave some of our food to this one kid, and I don't think they'd eaten in days, and they didn't even eat it all themselves. I think they shared it with some of the other kids." Naruto clenched her fists.

"If I ever meet this Gato, I'm gonna kill him!" Sakura looked at her teammate in shock.

"But Naruto-chan, he's surrounded by powerful people, like Zabuza; how would you get close enough?" Naruto looked over her shoulder, grin on her face.

"Hey, we're shinobi too! I'll find a way; whether it's today or ten days, or ten years from now, I'm gonna make sure he dies!" Sakura smiled, putting a hand on the blonds shoulder.

"Yeah, you will," she said. She had to admit, even if the girl was a spaz, she had a way of making you believe in her. Why did everyone hate her so much, if she was so good? Why had she hated her? That question bothered her a lot as she got closer to her teammate, and she had yet to find a satisfactory answer to that question. With that, they continued their nightly tradition.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was meditating in the room he shared with Kakashi, who was resting against the far wall, watching his pupil. I wonder what's going through his mind? Is it the training? He has been working hard at it… or could it be Itachi? He sighed when he thought about his onetime teammate from the anbu. He'd been very gentle, it had seemed. He still wasn't sure if it was an act, or if there was something bigger that what everyone else saw. Just then Sasuke opened his eyes and looked up.

"Sensei, what's so special about Naruto?" Kakashi gave him a surprised look. Well, guess I really should have seen that one coming…

"What do you mean?"

"I've been making it on my own, so I haven't had too many people tell me what other adults tell their kids about Naruto, but I…mom said…" he shook his head, banishing thoughts of grief. Such emotions could do him no good. No, if he wallowed in grief, he could not avenge them. "Why?" Kakashi remained quiet for a moment.

"Naruto's a scapegoat, you could say. People always feel a need to take out their anger on someone or something, and most everyone in the village picked her."

"For what?" Kakashi shook his head.

"I really shouldn't have told you that much. It's not my place." He winced as he moved over to where his pillow and blanket were, preparing to sleep for the next day. "Naruto knows why, so you'll have to wait until she feels like telling you to get an answer. Night!" Sasuke glared and rolled his eyes.

Hn, that's stupid… but I guess, if it's something like that…but what could have happened? He shook his head and stood, turning out the light, and going to bed himself. Cute girl, er, girl like that, doesn't deserve blind hate. I'll figure it out. He laid down, putting his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling for a little while before he, too, fell asleep.

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The next day continued to show a small bit of improvement for the two remaining members of team 7. They had yet to reach the lower branches of the tall trees that Kakashi had picked for them to climb, but they were getting closer. They could now climb quite a few meters up, but they had yet to reach the level Sakura had. Anko was resting from her own training to watch her sister when Iruka came up behind her, grabbing her in a hug.

"She's really something, isn't she?" Anko smiled, leaning back into her boyfriend.

"Yeah; I have to admit that I thought Kakashi was a bit crazy when he said he was going to start all this so early, but he has a good team, doesn't he?" Iruka smiled, nodding.

"Yes, he does. Those three may have the most potential of all their age group, but then again, I think all of this group is going to go on to do something great."

"Huh, you're just biased because you taught them." He laughed.

"Maybe, but so far these three are proving me right." Anko rolled her eyes, but turned her head to give him a small kiss on the cheek.

"Whatever; we need to get back to training soon, though."

"Yeah, we do…"

Naruto, for her part, was well aware that Anko and Iruka were here now, and she was doing her best to show them how much she was growing and improving from where she had been before. She was quite please with herself. After she had given Sasuke the advice that Sakura had given her, they'd both been increasing at the same pace, keeping relatively even with each other. It was hard to tell when one got ahead of the other. Of course, she still needed to improve more so she could show that little boy, Inari, that she could be a hero and fulfill her dreams. After last night, she was beginning to understand, maybe, why that seemed so hard for him to believe.

Sasuke, at that moment, was looking over at Naruto on the sly. More and more he was finding himself doing that. He remembered how much of a dobe she was in the academy, and even though he kept calling her that, he didn't really think it anymore. She…was impressive. Sensei wasn't kidding when he said that she'd improved the most since they became a team. She wasn't that same lame kid. She was growing, and he was, in spite of himself, starting to like her, and believe in her dreams.

He shook his head. No, he had to concentrate. Concentration was key to fulfilling his own dream. He couldn't start liking anyone…

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That night Naruto and Sasuke were both eating voraciously. Sakura was actually losing her appetite watching them.

"Naruto, how can you eat so much!" Naruto paused for a moment to grin.

"Hey, the more you eat, the more energy you get, and so the stronger you can get later, and I need to get as strong as I can!"

"Huh, I never thought of that…I just thought eating more would make you fat!" Kakashi and Tsunami laughed, which caught Kakashi off guard; it was the same way Rin would have laughed…this was becoming a rather hard mission for him, emotionally speaking. Because of his pause, however, Tsunami was the one who remarked first.

"Oh, I remember being like that when I was younger; father here had to make me eat or I would have been as thin as a twig!" She then gave Sakura a wink as she continued. "You wouldn't believe how many of the boys started flirting with me when I got a little more meat on my bones." Sakura asked for seconds and finished that off before taking a walk around the room looking at the various pictures on the wall. Most of them were pictures or paintings of bridges. She felt she had a pretty good idea as to who picked out most of the decoration in this room. Then she came to one that was a bit different; she remembered that Inari had glanced over at it a lot while she was still sitting at the table. Now that she was next to it, she saw that it looked to be a family portrait…and that the upper right corner of it had been torn out.

"hey, why do you have a torn picture on the wall," she asked. "Inari was staring at this during dinner, but it looks like someone purposely took out one of the people that was in the picture." All three members of the household froze in whatever they were doing and everything was completely quiet. Finally, Tsunami answered.

"It was my husband," she said, quietly, but Tazuna didn't let it rest there…

"And, the man they once called a 'hero' here…" At that Inari abruptly pushed himself away from the table and began to walk away.

"Inari where are you going," he mother called out, concern in her voice. "Inari!" She looked back and glared at her father, though pain and sorrow were also evident on her face. "Father, you know better than to talk about him when Inari is around! Inari!" She left, seeking to comfort her son, and attention was focused on the old man who was now only slowly stirring his soup as the group waited for him to explain. After a few minutes of silence Sakura spoke up.

"So, what's wrong with Inari?" The old man finally sighed and looked up to explain. He told them of how Inari used to smile and laugh all the time, especially after he found the man that he called father.

The man's name had been 'Kaiza', and he had been a fisherman. He and Inari had met when Inari had been bullied by some of the other kids. They'd stolen his dog and dropped it in the sea, followed by Inari who didn't know how to swim and was afraid to jump in and save his dog. He'd passed out and woken up under a blanket Kaiza had, drying out next to a fire with fish cooking in it.

"'Protect it with these two arms', he used to say," Tazuna said. "He was what he always said after that, whenever something would happen that scared Inari, or even others in the village…" He went on to explain that Inari had come to look up to the man and introduced Kaiza to Tsunami; the two had hit it off well from the start, and soon they were married, and the man had become Inari's father.

He had wanted to be exactly like him, even wearing a knotted rope around his forehead like the tough young fisherman. They did everything together, and Kaiza even taught him how to swim.

"Of course, it was the flood that really made him a hero to the village," he continued. One day, the old man said, there was a terrible storm, and it flooded the river, causing the dam to open. No one was willing to risk their lives to attempt the difficult swim across the river so that they could close the dam, even thought it would mean the loss of a good part of the village. Kaiza stepped forward, even though everyone tried to talk him out of it, and he made it! He saved the village, and he became their hero for his courage and strength of body and will. The old man shook his head, wiping tear drops from his eyes and taking a moment before continuing.

"Sadly, it wasn't long after that that Gato came to our land; he came with his thugs and cowed everyone into subservience…"

"And then the incident that made Inari like he is happened," Kakashi prompted. Tazuna nodded.

"Yes; for defying him, Gato cut off his arms and then publicly executed him." He took off his glasses for a moment and gripped between his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "It was especially hard on the boy, and became like you see him now. Everyone changed that day when they saw their hero die so…helplessly." Anko scoffed, causing everyone to look at her.

"Well, you said that he said you had to be willingly to give your life; apparently, no one in this village, except maybe you, understood what he meant. They all just gave in? What a bunch of wimps; none of them knows what courage is, or they'd have fought Gato then and there!" Tazuna smiled sadly.

"I'm glad you think I might have some courage, but remember, I didn't do anything either. I sat there and cried, then decided to make a bridge." He laughed in morbid amusement.

"I don't know," Iruka said. "Sometimes we just get shocked when we lose someone. However, I'd say that you're fighting just as much as Kaiza, but in a different way. Maybe one day, you'll be called a hero, for making this bridge even as everyone around you runs away."

"Hey Naruto, where are you going," Sakura asked, and everyone else realized that while Anko and Iruka had been talking, Naruto had gotten up and was walking towards the door. She turned around. Uh oh, Anko thought, she's got here 'crazy grin' on. She shook her head and grabbed Sasuke as he got up to follow her.

"Nah uh little boy; not even I can talk her out of things, no matter how crazy they are, when she get's that look on her face." Sasuke looked a mite perturbed by being grabbed and shook free of her.

"She'll probably train all night and fall asleep in the woods. It'll be better to try and convince her then."

"What? She'll really stay out there all night?" Anko nodded to the pinkette whose eyes were wide in surprise.

"When she puts her mind to something, like proving that hero's exist, in this case, she'll keep her word, doing whatever she feel's will be best to make those things come true. You just have to wait a day or two before you suggest alternative methods to achieve her goals." Sasuke sat back down, but he, and Sakura, were fidgety for the rest of the night.

Naruto, of course, worked out well into the night, only occasionally resting. Of course, eventually, even she succumbed to sleep as she rested, and she never noticed the two other genin walk up, placing a blanket over her and laying down, making their own beds nearby.

"Well, it looks like your test may have actually done something," Iruka said to Kakashi, shaking his head in disbelief. He'd thought he'd never heard of a more ridiculous test before, once he was given the details. Kakashi chuckled lightly.

"Oh no, 'my' test didn't do anything."

"Huh? Then why do they seem to be acting more like a team than anyone could have guessed back in the academy? My Naruto-chan was never a team player back then, and neither were these two from what Iruka-kun told me." Kakashi smiled.

"The test only reminded them about teamwork; their caring for each other came on their own. This test didn't have the same affect on my team."

"Wait…on your team? Your sensei did this test?" Kakashi nodded.

"Yes; it's been used on four generations of shinobi now. It started with Hokage-sama, who used it for the sannin. Lord Jiraiya used it, then, for Minato-sensei, who used it for me and my team." Iruka's jaw dropped, but Anko's hand twitched as she thought about grabbing her kunai. No one had ever told her (not that many people knew), but she had figured it out on her own years ago, after spending so much time with Naruto, who the girl's father was.

"So…don't you think you should have-" despite the venomous tone in her voice, Kakashi talked over her, sensing what she was about to reveal and deciding that, even though Iruka would not be one to talk, it was still better that as few people as possible knew.

"Of course, after the kyuubi attacked, I wasn't right in my head, after loosing my sensei…and some other people who were…very precious too me." He sighed. "I failed in many duties after that, and I shamed my sensei's name, but I intend to do better now, looking after his legacy as best as I can." Anko relaxed, putting a hand on the confused Iruka's shoulder, who had most certainly not missed the tension in the air.

"Don't worry about it; let's just all head to bed. The kids can take care of themselves." Iruka sighed.

"Fine, let's do that…" but one of these days you're going to tell me what just happened…

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The next morning a beautiful girl in a pink kimono was walking through the same woods as the sleeping genin. The kimono she was wearing had a black border and small black swirls here and there. It was tied closed with a cotton candy blue sash. Her hair, reaching down to just below her shoulder blades, was a very deep brown, like the bark of a tree. She had a slim neck, around which she was wearing a plain black chocker, and her eyes were filled with contentment as she walked. She stopped here and there to gather flowers and herbs, even putting one of the yellow flowers into her hair, humming softly. As she leaned over to pick other herb, a bird flew in front of her face, causing her to look over, noticing the sleeping genin.

"What are you…"

"Oh, I was training," a voice said from behind her, very tired like, as if she was yawning. Sure enough, as Haku spun around, she saw the blond girl, Naruto, stretching out and covering her mouth as she yawned. "I was kinda surprised, though, that Sasuke and Sakura came out here. I was going to wait until they woke up to ask them if they decided to train, too." Haku relaxed and smiled; she hadn't been discovered.

"Well, based on all that, on the headband you have, you must be a ninja." Naruto grinned.

"Ah, so you noticed! Yeah, I'm a ninja, and one day, I'm gonna be hokage! That's the strongest shinobi in the whole village! And also, I need to prove something to somebody!" Haku looked at her in surprise, remembering her apparent lack of skill, but then she remembered that it was this girls plan that freed their sensei. Maybe she could do it…if she had the right motivation. Did she?

"Are you doing these things for yourself, or for someone else?" Naruto looked at her in confusion.

"Huh?" What do you mean?" Haku smiled softly.

"Do you, have someone who is precious to you?" They both sat in silence for a moment as Naruto thought of those that were precious to her. She immediately thought of jii-san, Konohamaru, Iruka sensei and Anko-chan, then also of Sakura and Sasuke. She blushed slightly, Haku beginning to speak again just then.

"When a person has something that is precious to them that they protect, that is when they can truly become strong." Naruto smiled as she remembered the story of Kaiza. If something is precious to you, protect it with both arms! She nodded.

"Yeah, I understand that pretty good," she said. "Oh, hey! You're out really early, so it whatever you're doing must be important to you! Do you need help?" Haku looked at the other girl in surprise, then smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I'm gathering healing herbs, and I would love the company, if wouldn't mind helping me look." For the next half hour or so the two girls chatted as they looked for the rest of the herbs Haku needed, enjoying each other's company.

"Is this it," Naruto asked, holding up one last plant.

"Yes, that's all I need. Thank-you." She took the plant and stood up. "This is good-bye for now, then. It would be nice to meet again sometime."

"Yeah, definitely!" Naruto sat as she watched her new friend walk away. Just before she disappeared into the trees, she turned and said one last thing.

"You will become strong, I think. I believe in you." Then she turned, leaving Naruto to her thoughts.

A few moments later Naruto was back in the clearing that she had left Sasuke and Sakura in. Sasuke had already woken up and started a fire, and Sakura was just beginning to stir. Do you, have someone who is precious to you? The blond girl smiled. Yeah, she had precious people, and she would do all it took to keep them, and to protect them.

"Hey dobe, you gonna sleep outside every night? You'll get a cold if you keep doing that…."

"TEME!"

Needless to say, Sakura wasn't asleep for much longer.

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Training continued to go on. Sakura, of course, had already proven that she was quite adept at Chakra control, but Kakashi kept her at the exercise anyways, to build up her stamina. If Anko and Iruka weren't there, he would have had to keep her at the bridge on guard duty while he watched over Naruto and Sasuke since the most important thing was that everyone gain mastery over their control. But fate smiled on team 7, and they were each able to progress in their own ways as Iruka and Anko took turns guarding Tazuna. Of course, Anko missed it when Naruto played a prank on Kakashi and Sakura.

The two of them had come out to the training area, Sakura having left back to the house to get breakfast for her and her teammates. They got back and didn't see the other two until Naruto threw down a kunai. Looking up they saw her laying belly down on a rather high branch. She got up to greet the two, acting like she slipped and fell over…just to latch onto the bottom of the branch with her chakra. Kakashi sighed in exasperation. Maybe I'm getting too old for this…

"Naruto you baka! You scared me to death!" Of course, Naruto promptly unstuck, having lost concentration in her glee at tricking her teammate and sensei. The result was Sasuke quickly moving, bouncing from tree truck to tree trunk and catching Naruto in his arms before coming to rest on a slightly lower branch in the next tree.

"Dobe," he said, though there was no venom in his voice. Naruto blushed. She had instinctively put her arms around his neck, putting them into an intimate position. Kiss him, one part of her yelled. He's strong and cute, just do it! He's Sakura's! I promised her I wasn't going after him! That was then, this is now! No! Yes! No! Yes!

Hnnn…she actually is kinda cute…and her lips are pretty soft…

"Sasuke, you're so cool, saving Naruto-chan like that!" How dare you get into Sasuke-kun's arms like that! Naruto immediately jumped out of Sasuke's arms…almost falling over again, but Sasuke grabbed her arm, giving her a chance to catch her balance before she yelled at him, saying she didn't need any help, then jumping off to start training again.

Hmm…they're growing quite well, but I wonder if this is going to create some tension later?

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Later that day Kakashi ditched the crutch he'd been using and begun working out on his own to test his recovery. He was doing finger pushups in the den, close to two hundred, with Tazuna sitting on his back to help him train. After a while, Tazuna spoke up asking the shinobi a question.

"Why are you still here when I lied to you about this mission?"

"Hmm… Well, would you say that you consider yourself a friend to Naruto?" The old man looked at him in surprise.

"What? I, I supposed…even though I did lie to the girl…" Kakashi continued to work out for a moment before speaking again.

"To abandon one's friends makes one worse than trash, and trash are those who abandon a mission. So, regardless of my own feelings towards you, this was our mission, to protect you, but I would be doing a disservice to Naruto, too, because she considers you a friend, and I've done enough to her in her life already."

"What? But she doesn't ever act like you-"

"That's because she never knew me until I was made her sensei, but she should have…because I knew her parents very well, and I should have been there for her every year and every day of her life. However, the girl I loved died the same night as Naruto's parents, and I acted like scum, succumbing to the emotions of despair and loss for years when I should have let their examples of life drive me to live a life that would make them proud.

"I did her wrong in that respect. She's hated so much in the village that I should have been there to be a friend, one more of many that she deserves and needs so much…"

"You're right; you are scum," a female voice said. Tazuna looked up to see the scary woman seething in anger as she reclined in the doorway, arms crossed. Her deadly gaze was on Kakashi. "Maybe you have time to wallow in self pity, but I've spent the last twelve years trying to make things easier on my little sister, and all this time, you just…grah!" Kakashi didn't look up, continuing his push-ups. "What? You don't even have anything to say to that?"

"I already said it; you heard it all, right from start. Did you think I was trying to be secretive?" Anko gaped for a moment, clenching her fists.

"So, what do you expect me to do about this then, huh? You finally told someone that you knew Naruto's parents, and you expect them to clean up your mess, is that it?" Kakashi chuckled darkly.

"No, not really. I will tell Naruto one day, but I don't know when she'll be ready. I just thought you'd like to know that someone knows…even better than Hokage sama, really." She looked at him in confusion.

"Huh? Parents are parents; Hokage-sama knows, yeah, but how could you know even better than him?" Kakashi wanted to kill himself right then and there. That was stupid. Self pity really does make one stupid. Lie, lie, lie; what's a good lie?

"Well, I can't tell you who her parents are, but even though Hokage-sama knew them, I dare say I was even closer to them than he was." Anko eyed him, but accepted it. That was close, he thought.

"Alright, whatever; but remember this," she said as she stood and started walking out the door. "Naruto will always be more ready than you think." Hmmm, perhaps, but how many people are there that have three parents? Even I can't wrap my head around it sometimes, and I saw Karura-san use the jutsu that made it possible. Still, maybe I should tell her some of the truth soon…

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Later that night Naruto and Sasuke were sitting atop their respective trees, kunai plunged into the thickest available spot in the trunks. They had worked all day and had made it to the top. They were quite proud of themselves and smiling (Naruto a lot more broadly than Sasuke, of course).

"So, should we call it a night," Sasuke said, calling over to Naruto's tree.

"Heheheh; yeah, let's go home!"

A while later the two of them walked in along with Sakura, Naruto leaning into Sasuke who was supporting her, holding her arm that was wrapped around his shoulder while Sakura also supported Naruto some.

"Oh, you guys are finally back! Why are you both so dirty?" Naruto grinned at the old bridge builder.

"Heheh…both of us…"

"Made it to the top," Sasuke said, finishing the exhausted Naruto's sentence for her. She couldn't bring herself to glare at him, instead just grinning at him and Sakura.

"Yeah, she wore herself out doing it, though. After all, nobodies as great as Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, matter-of-factly. Again, all Naruto did was grin.

"Alright," Kakashi said, feeling pride that his three genin, less than a month into their shinobi carreers, had already mastered the tree climbing jutsu. "Alright, team 7, tomorrow, you all will participate in protecting Tazuna-san as he completes the bridge!" All three wore excited looks, though Sasuke's might have been closer to anticipation, and yelled out, "OK!" The old man laughed good naturedly.

"Hahahah, yeah, I'm also pretty worn out from my work today. On the bright side, the bridge is almost done."

"Father, Naruto-chan, don't overdo it," Tsunami said. Kakashi winced, thinking about the many times that Rin had said the same words to Obito and him, but he hid it as his students slumped down into their places to eat he dinner Tsunami had prepared, focusing instead on his pride in them. Conversation began to pick up, and Anko was teasing Naruto about over working, ruffling the hair on the top of her head some.

Of course, the happy atmosphere was not to hold for long. Inari had been looking across the table at the biggest spaz of a shinobi, the loud mouthed Naruto, and the words she kept saying. She would be strongest? She'd be a hero? She was going to save them? He was reminded of her father, tears starting to fall down his face, then he slammed down his hands on the table, yelling.

"Why do you guys try so hard? No matter how hard you train you'll still never be a match for Gato's men! It doesn't matter how great your claims are or how hard you work; when facing the stronger people, the weak will only end up getting killed!" Most everyone stared at the child in surprise, though Iruka looked at him in pity, and Anko in anger. If Naruto hadn't spoken first, she would have punched the kid in the head.

"Whatever brat; I'm not like you." Saying this, Naruto laid her head in arms on the table looking away from the little boy. This only caused the small boy to yell and cry in even greater earnest, venting his frustrations and disbelief, and his despair at the loss of Kaiza.

"Well, I'd hate to be you! You don't know a thing about us, yet you're always acting so bossy! What do you know about me anyways, huh! I'M different from you! You, you're always clowning around and acting so darn cheerful; you don't even know how hard life can be!" The tension in the room increased dramatically as everyone waited for Naruto's reaction. Oh boy, this kids gonna get it now, thought Anko, well aware of Naruto's sufferings as a child.

"So, it's okay for you to pose as the star of some old tragedy and cry all day, is it? Well, then just go ahead," she said, lifting up her face from where she had laid it in her arms. It was the scariest glare most of the people in that room had ever seen. "Go ahead and cry all day, for all I care…you little sissy!" Sakura yelled at Naruto as the blond stood up shakily and left the room.

"Naruto! You over did it! Apologize!" Naruto ignored her, continuing to walk out of the room, likely going to bed. However, the mood of the dinner had been spoiled an no one else said a word. Later Kakashi followed Inari outside on the peer porch to their home.

"May I join you," he asked. Inari shrugged so after a minute Kakashi sat down, dangling his legs over the edge above the water. They say in silence for several minutes before Kakashi spoke.

"You know, Naruto didn't mean any harm by what she said. She just doesn't always use her head." Inari just looked down, clutching his knees tighter as the only sign that he'd heard the man. Kakashi continued. "You know, your grandfather told us about your dad, Kaiza. Like you, Naruto also grew up without a father." Here, Inari noticeably stiffened in surprise.

"Actually, she'd never know either of her parents; all she's had is an adopted grandfather and Anko in there. She was adopted when she was young, hence the grandfather, but even they dies before she could remember them, and when her little brother asks about them, she goes into a depression for a few days. She's never actually even had a friend before because most of the people in our village back home shun her.

"The truth is, she'd had an even rougher past than you."

"Huh?" Now Inari looked up in wonder. Someone with an even hard life? Was that possible?

"Yeah, but I've never actually seen her cry about it. She may act like a goof ball, but she's really just trying to get people to acknowledge her, and for that dream, she'd risk her life any time. My guess is, she just got sick and tired of crying. She knows what it means to be strong, just like your dad did. Really, she may understand your feelings better than anyone else around here."

"What? Then why-"

"Actually, she doesn't seem to be able to not be concerned about you, you see. Most of what she'd doing right now, is for you…" Inari continued to look at the man inn surprise, trying to take everything in, but before he could say anything else, Kakashi got up.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that, but I'd better get off to bed and get some sleep. Good-night, Inari." It was much later when Tsunami found Inari still out on the peer, thinking on the things that Kakashi had said, before the young boy went to bed.

The next day Naruto didn't wake up with everyone else and, despite Anko's desire to wake the girl up on her own special fashion, Kakashi insisted that they let the worn out girl sleep.

"Tsunami, take care of my Naruto-chan, okay?"

"Of course, Anko, it will be my please."

"Alright! Of to the bridge," Tazuna said, pointing the way, big smile on his face. Any day now, he thought, any day now, the bridge will be complete, and we'll be rid of Gato!

Said man was, at that very moment, planning the ambush of the shinobi guarding the bridge builder that was causing him so much trouble. Zabuza had finished healing just yesterday, and they had planned to finish the job today. He growled in frustration as he failed to get a hold of the demon of the mist, however. The man had probably taken off his head set, he was so obtuse. He turned to his nearest aid.

"Well, we can probably be assured that that idiot is doing what I'm paying him for, so, how is our…backup looking?" The aide flipped through some papers on their clip board, reviewing the notes there before replying.

"Everything is in order. They should be here on time."

"Very good," Gato said, grinning evilly. "Very good…"

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"AAAAHHHH!" A scream rent the air, causing the two remaining member of the household to jump in shock as Naruto came running down the stairs in her pajamas. Her night cap was like a walrus, and was a birthday gift from Hinata some years back. Her top was a plain orange tee while she wore loose blue shorts on her lower half.

"Where is everyone? Did they leave without me because I overslept or something?"

"Oh, Naruto! Your sensei said that we should all let you sleep; given that Anko wanted to wake you up by-"

"ARG! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! THEY LEFT ME BEHIND!" She raced back upstairs, quickly throwing her clothes back on so that she could join her team. Dog gone short! If it weren't for the need of decency while being a shinobi, I'd just wear the skirt! It's less trouble! Where's my holster? Did Sakura take it? What about my special kunai? That Sasuke teme didn't take it, did he? Oh…there they are, she thought, lifting up her pillow to find her tools. Deciding to put it on as she went, she ran back downstairs and out the door.

"I'm off! Later Tsunami-san, Inari-san!"

"Hmmm…she's really fast, isn't she?"

"Hmmm…"

As the two family members stared off after the disappearing girl, Naruto made her way from tree to tree, using the tree climbing exercise to help boost her mobility. It was easier to travel this way when you could get a solid grip on the branch for pushing off. She'd only been going for a few moments, however, before she paused, seeing a dead boar with many slashes in it; she jumped down and looked around the small clearing.

Those strange slashes are everywhere, even on the trees? What happened? She turned to look over her shoulder, back the way she came…

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At the bridge, the rest of the shinobi, along with Tazuna, were on their guard the moment they arrived. The unconscious bodies of Tazuna's remaining workers were strewn across the bridge. One man, clinging to consciousness, whispered, "Monster…" Just then, a mist started to rise over the bridge.

"Here they come!" The five shinobi surrounded Tazuna, each looking for and trying to sense the enemy. Anko was licking her lips in anticipation while Iruka simply had a serious and concentrated look on his face. Sakura was looking around wild eyed as Sasuke seemed to shake.

"Sensei, this is Zabuza's hidden mist jutsu again, isn't it!" Just then, a low laugh echoed across the bridge.

"Hahahah; long time no see, eh Kakashi? I see you're still with those brats; you even managed to pick up a couple of new friends I see! Too bad that one kid is shaking again…" At this Sasuke grinned, even as a dozen water clones of Zabuza suddenly appeared, surrounding them.

"Heh; I'm shaking from excitement!" Kakashi smiled.

"Alright Sasuke, show him how you've grown." Sasuke nodded, and even as the clones moved in, Sasuke moved in a blur, striking each clone, collapsing it back into water. Well, maybe this guy can give Naruto-chan a run for her money after all! But I still think she can whoop his arse!

"Hmm, looks like the brat saw through the water clones with time; even beat them. He has grown, Kakashi. Looks like you may have a rival, eh Haku?"

"Yes it does, Zabuza sama." Looking across the bridge, the leaf shinobi finally saw the two missing nin. The short one, the 'hunter' nin, was wearing the same jacket, loose pants, and turtle neck as before, but Zabuza was sporting a sleeveless back shirt and matching pants, though he still had the bottoms of his pants tucked into the same leg warms a little below the knee.

"Well well, looks like I was right after all," Kakashi said. "The masked one is working for you."

"He should stop hiding behind that mask and face us in the open," Sakura declared.

"I'll fight him," Sasuke said, lowering his stance slightly, giving himself more power for defense in case of a surprise attack, or if he got the chance to attack first, more pushing power for his offense. "Tricking us with that little act? I hate morons like that the most."

"You're so cool Sasuke-kun!" She is way too hung up on him, both Anko and Kakashi thought.

"He is impressive," Haku said. "Even though the water clones only had one tenth of your own strength, he took them out easily. Very impressive."

"Yes, but we still have the first advantage. Go!"

"Yes…" With that command the young shinobi became a small whirlwind. Sasuke could barely keep up with Haku's speed for a moment, but then his training over the last week began to kick in, and following the other shinobi's movements began to flow to him like second nature. Learning to control the chakra while in battle was giving him the ability to read the movements of a fast opponents, just like bending chakra during combat. His attention was divided, but equal in all regardless, none lacking. Zabuza stared at him, analyzing his skill level against Haku's. Meanwhile, Kakashi was eyeing him.

"Sakura," he said, "take the frontal position of the formation and don't leave my side incase Zabuza has more shinobi to sneak up behind us!"

Meanwhile, the fight between Sasuke and Haku only sped up. Attack after attack was thrown…and blocked, on both side. The two of them traded words for a moment as they locked kunai again.

"I don't really want to kill you," Haku said, "but I live to serve my master, and it looks like you aren't going to back down and stop being in his way." Sasuke almost sneered.

"Hah, don't be silly. Of course I'm not going to back down."

"I thought so…but you won't be able to continue keeping up with me next time. Plus, I've already gained two advantages." Sasuke quirked an eyebrow as Haku explained.

"The first is the water all around us on the ground, and the second…the second is that I have occupied one of your arms; now, you will only be able to run from my attacks," Haku said, raising a hand and beginning to form hand signs with it. Every shinobi on the bridge stared in amazement at this feat. Not even Kakashi had seen anything like that before. As Haku used a jutsu that turned the water into a thousand needles, Sasuke once again used the training to focus chakra in his legs to increase his speed, and suddenly it was Haku who was having trouble keeping up, and Sasuke repeated the same words his opponent just said.

"You're slow," he said first. "Now, you will only be able to run from my attacks!" Sasuke rapidly threw several shuriken at his opponent, then up close, when Haku went to block a backwards taijutsu stab, he quickly reversed to throwing the kunai at Hauk's face, forcing them to jump back once again. However, this failed to stop Sasuke as he swiveled into a low kick, connecting with Haku's torso, sending them flying.

"Haku lost…in speed?" The surprise was evident in Zabuza's voice, who had been watching calmly, even now, as his 'partner' fought the leaf genin.

"I can't have you underestimating my team," Kakashi said, seeming almost as uninterested as Zabuza. "They aren't the brat's you imagine. As their academy teacher, Iruka here can vouch for what I'm about to say concerning them.

"Sasuke is the leaf's number one rookie, Sakura here is the brightest shinobi of their year, and Naruto?" He grinned underneath his mask. "Naruto is the number one most hyper-active ninja." The adults froze as Kakashi's words seemed to have no effect but to make the large missing nin, Zabuza, the demon of the mist, laugh.

"Heeheehee, Haku, do you realize that if this keeps up, we'll be beaten off?" The masked shinobi slowly stood. The air chilled quickly as they did so.

"Yes, but we can't have that…" Sasuke, feeling the temperature change, braced himself for another attack, ready to dodge another barrage of water missiles, but Haku used a different hand sign this time, and the water around him moved suddenly. He was ready to run, but instead of the senbon he was expecting, the water turned into ice, and then mirrors, arranging themselves in a dome all around him. What kind of jutsu is this? Are the mirrors supposed to confuse me?

"Special Jutsu: Demonic Ice Mirrors!" Demonic? Okay, this has to be a scare tactic was what Sasuke was thinking…until his opponent stepped into one of the mirrors, their image transferring to all of them. What? He's actually in the mirrors? But there can only be one of him still, right? That means I just have to flush him out…

On the outside, Kakashi was moving to help him, realizing that this strange jutsu might very well be above Sasuke's skill to handle. He had underestimated Zabuza's partner. It would be his fault if Sasuek died now. However, before he could reach them, Zabuza finally moved, placing himself between them.

"Your opponent, is me," he said. "You want to help your student, who will surely die in there, then you have to make it through me first.

"Grrr…" Inside the dome, Haku spoke.

"Shall we begin, then? Now I'll show you my real speed…" Sasuke thought he knew where the attack was coming from, having been careful to watch the movements of the images, remembering which one Haku started in. However, his first cut came from behind, and then needles flew all around him.

"AAAHHH!" They're, they're everywhere! How is he doing it?

"Sasuke!"

"Nu uh uh! If you get by me, I'll just take out those ones there, leaving you with even more dead comrades on you conscious." Kakashi looked back. He wasn't really sure how powerful Anko and Iruka could be, next to Zabuza. He'd been training them assuming that they'd fight Zabuza together, but how could they save Sasuke and a defeat Zabuza at the same time? He saw Sakura move, jumping and throwing a kunai in to help Sasuke, hoping to strike the mirrors and break them. However, Haku's image simply jumped out of a mirror and grabbed the kunai.

He blocked it? How did he do that? Then, quite suddenly, a shuriken appeared out of no where. This time Haku didn't have enough time to dodge or catch it once she realized that it was there, and it hit her full in the face, knocking her out of the mirror dome. Sasuke looked up, smiling slightly through his pain. What a show off…

What was…

"Well the hero usually appears at the last minute," a voice rang out, and Naruto appeared, standing near the edge of the bridge, arms folded across her chest and a triumphant look on her face. "Yeah, Naruto Uzumaki has arrived! It's time to kick some butt!"

"Naruto! You idiot! Where have you been anyways?" Naruto winced as her sister yelled at her, but even she knew that now wasn't the time too recount what she'd been up do. Sasuke was in trouble, and now, it was her turn to shine…

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"Inari come help me with the dishes," Tsunami yelled out from the kitchen.

"Okay, I'll be right there," the boy called out. He had been doing a lot of thinking on what Naruto and Kakashi had said, and he was still trying to make a decision. He was just putting down the picture of his father, thinking on his example, when he heard the door break and his mother scream.

Running down the stairs, the sight he came across was terrifying. Two men, one with what seemed like a million scars all over his body and an eye patch, were holding their swords out and threatening his mom. The scared one turned to look at him. Inari didn't need to know too much about crazy people to tell that this one was insane.

"Oh look! A little boy; heheh, maybe I can cut someone after all." The other man, wearing a heavy coat, rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on, you've already cut stuff today." The man licked his lips as he took a step towards Inari, who was frozen to the spot.

"Yeah, but nothing screams like a person!"

"Wait!" both men turned to look at Tsunami.

"You need a prisoner; if you leave my boy alone, I'll come with you willingly. If not, I'll kill myself!" The crazy man laughed.

"Wow, you'd better thank you mom, kid she just saved your life. And here I'd been so looking forward to cutting someone…" The both ignored the small boy as he slumped to the ground, clutched his knees and began to cry.

"I'm sorry, mother," he said, "I'm just so scared!" He kept crying as his mother was taken out, not even saying a word. She was going willingly, just like she said. But then, Inari froze as Naruto's word came to his mind. You little sissy!-I think she just got tired of crying… Inari stood up and ran to the door.

"Stop it," he yelled out. "Leave my mother alone!"

"No, Inari! Run away!"

"What a dumb kid; even after everything his mother did…and look, now he's charging!" The two men readied themselves, ready to slice the yelling young boy in boy. Of course, it was quite the shock when they did cut him, only to find a sliced log in his place.

"What the-"

"heh, idiots," a young girls voice said. They whirled around to see Naruto crouching there, laying down Tsunami's unconcous body, and holding Inari in her other arm. The boy cried.

"Naruto, I'm sorry, but I wasn't strong enough!"

"What are you talking about? You were really brave back there, and you distracted them long enough for me to grab your mom, so it's all alright!" Inari grabbed her in a hug.

"Thank-you Naruto!" She smiled.

"Hey, no problem, and I'm sorry for calling you a sissy!"

"Hey, don't just ignore us!"

"Yeah! After all, you're just a kid!" Naruto smiled like she was talking to a little kid, and almost lazily threw two shuriken at the men.

"That ain't gonna be near enough," the coat wearing man yelled out, moving to deflect the thrown weapon. However, it turned out to be quite sufficient as the two shuriken turned out to be clones, reverting to their usual appearance and grabbing the two men by their heads, knocking them together then kicking them as hard as they could. The self styled kidnappers were out cold, and the clones bound them up.

"Alright, time for me to get going."

"But Naruto, what do I do now? I mean, I wasn't strong enough to protect mom before, but-"

"AH, don't worry about it. You guys are safe now. After all, the hero usually shows up at the last second to save the day; the rest of the fight will be at the bridge. You just make sure that these guys stay tied up and listen to your heart. You'll know what to do!" Inari saluted.

"Yes mame! Go get em!"

"Yeah, I will, believe it!" As Naruto ran off and Inari helped his mom up, he thought the fight will be at the bridge huh? He looked across the town. If something precious to you, protect it with both arms! I will dad, I will!

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Just as Anko finished yelling, Zabuza took his opportunity and threw several shuriken, catching everyone off guard with his attack. It would have hit solidly, even with Naruto preparing to deflect them, but Haku moved, deflecting them all. One day, I'm gonna become hokage!

"Haku! What are you doing exactly?" Haku bowed in submission.

"Please, Zabuza sama, let me fight these ones my own way…"

"Heh; you're soft as always Haku, but fine, have it your way."

Soft? Hmm, maybe. After all, we've seen how skilled this guy is with Needles, Sasuke thought, pulling some of them out of his body right then, trying to clean his wounds and get used to the pain. He's not aiming to hit me in high damage areas, though. But I still need to figure out these mirrors. He's moving too fast, I can't see what his attacks are coming from. Are those images clones, simple reflections, or maybe solid, like kage bushin? Whatever it is, these mirrors have to be important. He looked around himself, continuing to analyze the mirrors. Naruto may be a dobe, but with her attacking form the outside, and me from the inside… He froze as Naruto's face appeared in from of him.

"Hey Sasuke, I came in here to save you," she said excitedly, thinking about how now he was going to have to thank her for her help, but instead he exploded.

"YOU IDIOT! Why don't you use your head, like a real shinobi! Why did you come inside here! I just-grah- ARRGH! You're such an idiot!"

"What? Hey, I come in here to save you and this is what I get?"

"Naruto! All those pranks and you still didn't realize that separation is key to something like this?" Naruto actually flinched.

"Yeah, well, in pranks no one's life is in danger!" That was when Sasuke grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Yeah, but instead of just me, now your life is in danger, too!" They both froze, their faces inches apart before Sasuke pushed her away. "Fine, whatever, see if I care!" Oh brother, Kakashi thought. She just made things worse in this case. Still, with this going on… he put his thoughts on hold however, as a blur rushed past him.

"On no, I don't think so!" Zabuza grabbed his blade by the handle swinging it around. However, he didn't try to cut, in this case; it would have taken too much time, and he realized that the woman was probably ready to block the blade. Instead, he calculated where her head would be, and rammed as hard as he could with the hilt of his blade. Sure enough, there was a solid 'crack' as metal connected with skull, and the kunoichi's body went flying for a few more feet before stopping.

"ANKO!"

"SIS!" Iruka and Naruto were both looking horror at the girl's body. Both knew why she'd done it. Naruto had messed up, and she'd been protecting her her whole life. When she realized how bad a shape Naruto would be in, she ran to help, but underestimated the swordsman, having been too focused, and now she was down for the count…though not dead, both thanked Kami for. Meanwhile, Kakashi turned towards Iruka.

"Iruka! From now on we have to act as a team, understand? No dashing off like Anko did! We'll get her taken care of later!" Iruka nodded, shaking as he tried to control himself, anger at the swordsman mounting inside, clouding his vision.

Back at the dome, Haku stepped in, just seconds before Naruto tried to escape it to reach her sister. A small barrage of senbon stopped her progress. Sasuke, of course, was focused on his opponent. There's the real one! He built up his chakra, flying through the hand signs, only to be surprised and turning around as fast as he could.

"Over here…" came Haku's voice.

"Fire style: Fire ball jutsu!" The flames erupted, the heat searing on his skin. If these mirrors are made of ice, then my fire should melt them… Both leaf genin looked on in dismay as the flames cleared, showing not so much as a sliver of melted ice. It had done nothing.

"You can't melt my ice," Haku said, and the beatings began again. Time after time, the needles were thrown, lacerating the two genin's skins. Naruto tried using shadow clones to escape several times, refusing to give in, no matter how quickly Haku dispatched them. Sasuke kept trying to follow their opponent's movements, taking in the relief from the needles that the massive number of Naruto's clones brought. Naruto tried to destroy the mirrors, but again every clone was destroyed before it could connect.

"So that's it," Kakashi whispered.

"What is it," Sakura asked, but it was Iruka that answered.

"What that Haku kid is using, it's a blood line trait, like Kakashi's sharingan is; a gene that allows someone to use jutsu or other abilities that no one else can." Kakashi nodded.

"Exactly. Even my sharingan cannot copy abilities like this one. It's impossible to defeat." Sakura looked over at the dome. Sasuke…Naruto… The two genin were breathing heavily, especially Naruto, but she stood up once again, tearing off her skirt so that it only went down to her knees all around now.

"I can't die here," she said, determination showing through the pain on her face. "I have a dream, and I have to live to achieve it!" Haku paused, remembering a time, long ago, when she first met Zabuza. A brat like you isn't wanted by anyone, he'd said, crouching down to star at her from where she was on the ground. You'll die without freedom or dreams. It was funny, but even then, she'd never been scared of him. She'd just looked right back at him, then smiled when she realized something.

"You have, the same eyes as me…"

"becoming a shinobi is difficult for me," she said. "I don't like having to kill people. I'd rather you all just back off and let Zabuza sama kill the bridge builder like he was hired to do, then we all just drift away…however, if you continue to fight, I will bury the kindness in my heard, and become the blade to accomplish Zabuza-sama's wishes. I will become a true shinobi, and at this place, on this very bridge, we will fight for our dreams, and see who stands at the end of the day, still alive to accomplish them.

"Don't hate me for this," Haku said, voice soft and genuine regret evident. "I fight to protect someone precious to me, to work and fight for that person, to make his dreams come true. That is my dream, and to fulfill my precious persons dreams, I can, and will become a shinobi, and kill you!" Even as Sakura screamed her support, the more experienced shinobi knew the truth. Fight as hard as they could, even beat that strange technique, they could not truly defeat that kid, because they did not yet have the power to bury their hearts, and kill! Iruka explained it to Sakura, who was adamant that they had to do something.

"Yes, we do. So, sorry, but I'm going to end this now Zabuza," he said, and he moved to lift his headband.

"Sharingan again, eh? Is that the only thing you can do? Hahah…" He moved quickly, lifting a kunai to stab the leaf Jounin's eye. Kakashi blocked it easily with his hand.

"You ask if all I can do is the sharingan, and yet you're afraid it Zabuza. Why is that," he said, speaking as if in a pleasant conversation.

"Heh, a shinobi's best technique shouldn't be something shown so easily over and over again to an opponent."

"Well then, you should feel honored. You'll be the only person to ever see it twice! However," he said, his voice becoming lower, his seriousness coming to bear, "there won't be a third time!"

"Ahaha; even if you do beat me, you'll never beat Haku," Zabuza said, confident in the child's abilities. I've been teaching him since he was very little. He's learned all sorts of fighting skills, and he's been every adversary I've ever pitted him again. He has no fear of death, and his jutsu is above even mine, with his bloodline. He is my tool and a fighting machine known as Shinobi! Not like that junk you follow you around!"

"There's nothing as boring as a man's bragging," Kakashi, finally lifting his headband. "Now, let's get started! Now Iruka!" The teacher jumped, throwing a barrage of kunai and shuriken at the missing nin, but Zabuza jumped back, making a hand sign.

"Hidden mist jutsu!" The mist rose quickly and, try as they might, the two men lost track of Zabuza almost immediately.

"I've been waiting to say this back, but as you said in our last fight, the same jutsu won't work on me twice…and that includes your sharingan!"

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Back with Naruto and Sasuke, the boy was trying to conserve energy, even as Naruto was wasting it.

"Stop it," he said. "He's got to have a limit; he's already slowing…there!" This time he was able to prepare, and even managed to block some of the needles that came raining down on them. They hadn't noticed the mist rising on the outside. They were all totally clueless until they heard Sakura's scream.

"What's going on out there? Why can't we see anything?"

"He must have used that hidden mist jutsu again," Sasuke said, "only this time the mist is thicker. Sakura's okay, though," he said. Naruto looked at him confused.

"What? But that was a horrible scream! How do you know she's not dead!" Sasuke smirked.

"You aren't used to Sakura's screams yet? That was a scared scream, like back during the test when sensei used a genjutsu on her. When she's in pain, it's totally different and doesn't last as long." Naruto thought back.

"Huh, I guess you're right. But that just means we need to get out of here even faster!"

"You move well, but this time I'll stop you, so you should quit worrying about your teammates." Focus, concentrate…yes! Haku descended again, but her attack completely missed. She was in complete confusion…until Sasuke looked up, gently placing Naruto's worn out body on the ground, having grabbed her as well.

"I see…you also possess a blood line. You must be…an Uchiha, the clan of the sharingan. Well, I can't keep this up for too much longer. As you have probably guessed, this jutsu uses up a lot of chakra, so there's a limit to how long I can keep up this speed. With those eyes on me know, I've got to finish this quickly, before you eye's catch up to me." She looked across the dome. Sasuke was standing on his own in the middle of it, waiting for her attack. How best to do this… Her eyes came across the exhausted kunoichi's body. I, I hate to do this, Naruto, but this must end! Her arm moved, and Sasuke realized who she was aiming at.

NO! Not at Naruto! He focused his chakra, pushing his body as hard as he could. Darn it! Please, please make it in time!

There was a cough, and the tired Naruto opened her eyes. She'd collapsed from using the kage bushin over and over, and she'd felt Sasuke carry her out of harm's way. Why was he coughing now? And what was with that blood?

"Dobe," Sasuke said quietly. Naruto stared up at her teammate, impaled by the senbon needles meant for her, though he had somehow managed to also hit Haku as she leapt from mirror to mirror. The enemy stood slowly watching them in their last moments together.

"S, Sasuke, why?" His face remained facing down, not meeting her inquiring and tear filled eyes. He chuckled.

"I could say I don't know, that my body moved on its own…but that would be a lie, and what is a lie worth, to a dead man?"

"No, no," Naruto whispered, not wanting to believe it. Sasuke fell to his knees, clutching his side, and his eye's finally rose to meet hers.

"You're so beautiful," he said. Naruto gasped, clutching her chest even as she moved with her other arm to support his body, and keep him from falling further. "Don't, don't give up on your dream," he whispered, his breath warm in her ear. "I can't fulfill mine now, but you can yours; don't let anyone stop you…"

"Sasuke…kun, please, no, please don't die." Naruto clutched him tightly to her. "Please I, I like you. There, I said it, so you can't die now, not when I finally told you…" Sasuke managed to push himself back from her a little, a sad smile on his face as he looked at Naruto's bright blue eyes that were filling with tears. He reached up and held her chin.

"Would that I could; I'm sorry, but I want…I want one, one kiss, a real one, please, before I go…" Naruto braced herself, nodding, and they both leaned forward. It was the saddest kiss either of them would ever have, full already of the sorrow for the chance they would never have, and a silent promise that Naruto would keep on living her life and fulfill her dream.

"Thank-you," Sasuke whispered, "and good-bye…Naruto-chan." He fell over and Naruto screamed out in agony. He was the first person in years to respect her outside those she considered family, and she'd liked him; she really liked him! Her first crush, and now he was gone. They'd never even had a chance. She screamed again, and felt the power welling within her, the anger. It was all consuming.

"He landed a blow on me easily, and died to protect you. He saw the trap, and jumped in anyways. He really must have seen you as precious. I give him the respect he deserves as a shinobi. Was he also your first friend that you witnessed die? Friends, lovers, it doesn't matter. Death is the way of a shinobi."

"Shut up…" Naruto cried, looking down at Sasuke's body, clenching her fists. I liked so…so much, but we were both too stubborn, and now we've missed our chance. "I won't forgive you," she whispered. "I'll won't forgive you," she said again, turning to yell at the ice user. "I'll kill you for this," she screamed, and a menacing, red chakra began to materialize around her. For the first time, looking into the once blue eyed girls now red slitted eyes, Haku though she might feel fear…

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Kakashi jerked around in shock. This charka…it was so evil and menacing that it even dwarfed Zabuza's. He recognized it…it was the nine tails. He gripped his heart, making himself calm down. Naruto was not the nine tailed fox; he had to focus. Why would he be feeling this chakra now? No…it only weakened. It wasn't the same as the whole kyuubi. They were fine for now. Kakashi looked over at Iruka. The man had taken cut to his chest early on, protecting Tazuna and Sakura when Zsabuza tried to ambush them in the mist. Kakashi and tried to take the blow for him, but the man had held his ground regardless, telling Kakashi that as the more powerful of the two, it was more important that he stay in top condition.

Zabuza had, of course, continued his banter. He was right to point out that Kakashi had forgotten that the missing nin was a master of the silent killing technique, but being a true master also meant you were careful and took your time. This allowed Kakashi to think, and what even gave him the chance now to recognize that they were not in any immediate danger from the kyuubi. Sakura and Tazuna were safe; Anko was knocked out and Iruka was injured, but he'd be fine. However, it was time to end this.

Kakashi loosened a scroll on his vest, smearing it with the blood from his hand that Zabuza had stabbed earlier, and began his technique.

"Zabuza, I know you can hear me, so since neither of us has time to waste anymore, while this might not suit your style, it's time to end the fun, and finish this now!"

"hah, sounds interesting, but what can you do in a situation like this, eh? Show me Kakashi!

"Indeed!"

.

.

.

She's totally different form before! This isn't the girl I met in the woods, thought Haku as she tried to attack and move as quickly as possible. She's deflecting my attacks with pure chakra! And she's actually managing to destroy my ice mirrors! She looked around. I have to keep moving to different mirrors, stay ahead of her- her thoughts were interrupted, much as her body was, as Naruto intercepted her between mirrors, smashing her fist into the girls mask, placing a large crack in it.

Haku flew through the air, despair filling her. Not fear of death, no. Death didn't matter, not to her. No, this despair was that she had ceased to be useful to her master. She was a broken tool. She stood slowly, waiting for the end to come as Naruto charged once more. She felt her mask breaking and falling, but it didn't matter anymore. Death would be almost sweet, a fitting end to her usefulness as a tool in the hands of her master.

Naruto stopped her fist a mere inch from Haku's face, recognizing the face of her forest friend, even in her anger. She was suddenly struggling within herself; here they were, an enemy, someone who deserved to die for killing Sasuke, and yet, a kindred spirit who understood the pain of loneliness and yet had found a purpose.

"You're from…we met in the forest," she said. Her words didn't seem to register to the other girl.

"Why did you stop," she asked softly, no fear or anger or hate in her voice. Naruto started.

"I killed your friend, the boy you liked. Can you really not kill me?" Naruto felt the anger well up in her again, and she put it into a single punch. However, she was no longer trying to kill this girl, this enemy shinobi, even as she sent her flying. She noticed vaugly that they were now standing near Anko, who had also been hurt in this fight, though she would live to see another day while Sasuke's eye's would never open again.

"What happened…to that power you had? That focus? You can't kill me this way."

"I'm not trying to kill you," Naruto mumbled. "I want to know why you did all this. This doesn't seem like the girl I met in the forest." Haku shrugged.

"It doesn't matter, but what you are doing right now is a mistake. Instead of killing someone , you take pity on them. You beat them but let them live." She shook her head. "They only keep their lives. No longer do they have a dream; no longer are they needed by someone. They only feel the pain of living…"

"What are you saying!" Haku smiled sadly.

"I'm a broken tool, a weak shinobi. By beating me, you have taken away my reason for living." When a person has something that is precious to them that they protect, that is when they can truly become strong. Naruto remembered those words very clearly, and now she made the connection between the words she said there, in the forest, and everything she'd said today during their battle.

"No no no!" Naruto screamed, grabbing Haku's arms. "That just isn't right! That man shouldn't be your only purpose! I, I've seen the, the good in you; why can't you live for that instead?" Haku gave the other girl a friendly smile.

"Without Zabuza, I had no way to direct any powers I may have had, whether those were for good, or evil. My purpose is done.

"I had others, long ago, that were dear to me… my parents." Naruto stared as she shared her story, speaking of the blood line massacres, how her mother had hidden her powers. She told of how her father and the villagers had tried to kill them when Haku unwittingly used her powers. She had survived, even though she hardly knew how to use the powers that she had.

"But I realized the most painful thing…is living in this world, as a person who is unwanted," she said, her face grim. Naruto looked down for a moment, remembering how often she had felt like that, but how everything Anko or jii-san would come and remind her that she was wanted. In Haku's case, she had had no one to tell her such things, to hold her and comfort her, to make her feel welcome and wanted…until Zabuza came. And so, to feel that need, to know that she was wanted, she'd devoted her life to him. That which everyone else hated about her, he wanted most. Only she could give it to him.

She cried, smiling at the joy that had come from feeling needed again. She remembered him telling her, oh so long ago, that he needed no one in this world. He didn't need a companion, a fan, or a family. All he needed, as a tool. She had gladly given herself to him, reassured him that that was all she wanted to be was his tool, his weapon, and extension of herself to bend to his will and accomplish his designs.

"Naruto-chan, please…kill me!"

Naruto tried to talk her out of it, grabbing her again, shaking her in frustration. The girl just stood there and took it. Finaly, Naruto sat down and cried.

"I'm sorry…that you'll have to be the one to do it, that your hands will be the ones to carry my blood and end my life."

"Is this…this can't be the only way!" Haku shook her head.

"No, it is the only way. Kill me, and go on, like you promised that boy, and fulfill your own dreams." Naruto bit back her tears, raising her kunai.

"I, I just wish…we could have been friends," Naruto said, and she charged.

"Thank-you," Haku said, smiling. You will become strong she thought. At the last second, she felt something through the mist and stopped naruto's kunai. Confusion filled the girls face, mixing with the myriad of emotions already there. Zabuza's in danger!

"Sorry, Naruto, but it seems my usefulness isn't oever just yet…" Her eyes narrowed, and she moved…

.

.

.

Anko raised herself from her position on the ground; she had taken a very hard hit to the head, but she'd managed to pull herself back to consciousness in the last few seconds. She remembered Naruto talking about talking with a strange girl the other morning; this was her, huh? Anko grimaced from the pain, but frowned inwardly at the girl's situation. Naruto was right; she had to have a reason besides Zabuza to live. There was always another purpose, another purpose to devote your life to; Anko's had been Orochimaru when she was a child. Then, when she had lost her purpose when he abandoned her, she'd found it again in Naruto. She had been though almost the same situation. Now, now she could save this girl. If this girl had not become a friend to Naruto, Anko wouldn't even bother, but Naruto was her sister, and so she'd try. She raised her arm…

.

.

.

The mist began to clear. Sakura, being the only one not busy, was able to perceive the others through the mist first. She saw her sensei jump to Zabuza, and heard his grunt of pain.

"Now, I'm giving you one last chance to surrender," he said calmly. He didn't know why, but instead of outright killing, he'd taken a moment of pity on the man. Zabuza was a well skilled shinobi, even if he'd become a simple hired hand. Of course, having attempted a coup de etat in the mist, he would still be familiar with the country and it capabilities, more than any spy they had. Perhaps that was part of why he felt this sudden urge to spar the man's life.

The large man laughed, even as the dogs that held him down bit deeply into his flesh, and his arms hung uselessly at his side.

"hah, as if I'd ever do such a thing! I will be no caged bird, sitting in a cell all day until you leaf shinobi tire of me and send me back to Kiri for their tortures!" Kakashi sighed.

"Fine; have it your way. Instead, your future shall be death!" He stepped back and charged his jutsu, the chidori to cut through the man's chest and end it all. However, once again, his hand felt pain as he was stabbed, canceling his jutsu.

"Heh, looks like the girl's still useful after all…My future is death," he said, quoting Kakashi. "Wrong again Kakashi." Kakashi looked over across the bridge, and he saw the masked shinobi struggling against her bounds as they slithered over her. Wait…slither? Looking closely he saw that Anko was slowly getting up, and that she had, indeed, summoned snakes to capture the enemy. Hmmm…that looks more like a girl than a boy now, he thought. He or she must have sensed that Zabuza's life was in danger and tried to help. Of course, since Anko's been out since early in the fight, it'd be east to forget to watch for her. She must have caught her as they tried to rush over, but that Haku is fast. Probably managed to throw that needle before being completely bound. He turned to look back at Zabuza.

"Well, useful or not," he said, pulling out the needle from his hand, "not even she can help you know, and your arms are useless. It's over, Zabuza. Unless you had chosen to surrender, your future had nothing left expect for death."

As the two of them talked, Sakura spied Naruto, cheering her for her victory.

"Alright! Girls do rule! Now where's Sasuke-kun?" Naruto closed her eyes, not wanted to look her teammate in the eyes. Not only had Sasuke died, but it was Naruto, not Sakura, that he had wanted to kiss. Naruto didn't think she could tell her that, expecially after all those assurances…she had fallen for him after all, just like Sakura.

Sakura and Tazuna ran passed Naruto, the old man giving her a look of pity as they passed, and Naruto saw Sakura collapse on Sasuke's body, crying her eyes out, just like Naruto felt like doing. She wrapped her arms around herself. Why…why did this have to happen…

Across the way, just then, a laugh rang out.

"Hahahah; looks like you're getting royally whooped Zabuza! How...disappointing!" All faces turned to see a small man with dark glasses standing at the head of a rag tag looking group of mercenaries. Zabuza spared a glare for the man as Tazuna gulped. This must be Gato, Kakashi realized.

"What are you doing here," Zabuza called out. "And what's up with all of these worms?"

"Heheh, the plan has changed," Gato said. "Though actually it only changed for you. I planned this from the beginning. You see," he said, pointing his cane at Zabuza, "I'm going to have you killed right here, right now. I was never going to pay you the money. It's an old busniness plan. You hire an missing nin, all of whom have high costs, then you hire a bunch of cheaper mercenaries to kill both the missing nin and the other people who've been getting in your way after they've…weakened each other a bit!

"the only problem with time," Gato said, smiling as he made fun of the man, "was you, Zabuza. The devil of the hidden mist? Hah, what a joke. You're just a baby demon in the end." Zabuza took it all in, barely reacting, though his mouth twitched beneath the bandages that covered his face.

"Well Kakashi," he said, "it looks like our fight is over. Seeing as how I'm not being paid to do anything anymore, I have no reason to fight you or even go after the old man."

"Ah, I guess you're right," Kakashi said. Of course, with that man, and Zabuza being injured like he is, we may actually have a little trouble taking all of these guys out.

"And you," Gato said, pointing at the trapped Haku, "I owe you for breaking my arm! And there you are, all trapped and helpless thanks to those ropes! (A/N, he wears glasses for a reason folks; his eyes must not be to good, so he thinks the snakes are ropes) Oh I will most enjoy taking you apart you whelp! And Zabuza right before your eyes since he seems to mean so much to you!

"So after we've finished him off, then it will be your turn!" His grin became most evil then. "Yes, as helpless as you are, we should be able to do many…fun things to you, right men," he said, calling out the last to the mercenaries that stood behind him. Haku's only change was to glare at the man. Naruto, however, had a different reaction. She had her head bowed and growling as the men continued their whoops and calls, some of them even going so far as to 'detail' what they planned to do to the young girl. And Zabuza just stood there, chuckling. Naruto couldn't take it anymore. She looked up, pointing at Gato with one hand while clenching the other into a fist.

"Hey don't you dare say that about her! She's a good person that doesn't deserve what you'd do to her! And you," she said, turning to point at Zabuza now, "is all you can do chuckle! Isn't Haku your friend?"

"Shut up kid," Zabuza said, not even turning to look at the girl. "She's useless now…"

"Don't you feel anything? You two have been together for years!"

"As I was used by Gato, I used Haku. I've already told you: in the world of Shinobi, there are only those who use, and those who are used. We shinobi was just tools, that's it. What I wanted was her abilities, not her. I have no regrets on anything we've done.

"Do you really mean that," she growled. Kakashi grabbed her as she moved towards the wounded man.

"Naruto, hold still. He's not your enemy right now…"

"Shut up," she said, pulling away from him. "He's still my enemy!" Gato laughed.

"Who is this dumb kid anyways, not realizing a truly dangerous man when she sees one? Haahaa!" The shinobi ignored him.

"She loves you," Naruto shouted, pointed back at the captured Haku. Said girl had now turned her face away, not wanting anyone to see the tears that were coming down her face. Yes, she did love her master, like she her mother and father before, when she had been young. Couldn't Naruto see she didn't care if she was a tool? Zabuza gave her her purpose, someone to care about. Wasn't that enough?

"She was about to kill herself to save you a moment ago, she loves you that much! Can you really not feel a thing? Nothing, nothing at all?" Tears began to fall down her face. "If I become as strong as you one day, will I really become like you?" She fought back the tears as she remembered Haku's words about dreams, precious people, and how hard it was to do what Zabuza asked of her…she wasn't herself when she served him, but giving herself to his hands was still her…

"She threw away her life for you, living every moment for you, without her own dream, and she's been happy to do it!" yes, I am, Naruto, I am! Please stop, let us live as we have; that's enough, don't keep talking to him like that…

"To go through life, just as a tool, that's, that's just too sad…not even the person you love caring a bit about you…"

"You talk too much," said Zabuza's gravelly voice, thick with smothered emotion. Looking up through her own tears, Naruto was surprised to see tears in the man's own eyes. "You know brat, it hurt her to have to fight you guys; you know, though, she fought for just for me, but you guys too…" Huh? What's he talking about, Naruto wondered. Kakashi raised an eyebrow in interest. Haku's eyes had returned to her master, widened in wonder at what he was beginning to say.

"She always was too kind…" Zabuza, looked at Haku for a moment, tears continuing to fall down his face, then he shook his face to get rid of most of the water and turned to look at Naruto. "I'm glad I got to face you in the end," he said. "Yeah kid, you might be right. Shinobi are still human. We may not be capable of becoming emotionless tools." He looked over at Gato once more. "I'm beat; I don't have much fight left in me anymore, but I've got enough to teach that midget teme one more lesson, that you don't mess with my Haku-chan! She's my girl, the daughter I never had. Kid, let me borrow a kunai…" Naruto looked at him surprised, but tossed him one of her kunai which he caught in his mouth. With the kunai in his mouth, muffling his voice, she almost missed his last words to her.

"Naruto, right? Take, take care of her; give her something else to live for, besides me…" Then he turned and charged, the look of a demon full on his face. The demon of the mist, in all his vengeance and all his horror had come to bare, and it was bare on Gato.

"Ahh! No, that's enough; kill them!" He ran, as well as he could, through the crowd, to the rear, as far away from Zabuza as possible. The mercenaries cheered at the idea of a fight, scoffing at the one man charge. They soon found that a demon is still a demon, even without the use of his arms. Man after man fell, and though a couple lucky son's a gun managed to stab him in the back with their swords and spears, he kept on till he broke through and had the kunai in his mouth pressed against the short crime lords throat. Of course, he was immediately stabbed again by those nearest him as he stopped, still not dying, despite all the wounds and the flowing of his blood. Gato cried out in fear and frustration.

"If, if you want to die, die and go to the same place your friend will!" Zabuza laughed.

"Unfortunately, I don't plan on going to the same place as Haku…"

"Wh, what? But, but you won't survive, so why don't you just die already?" The demon of the mist continued to laugh.

"You and I, we're going straight to hell! Even the 'unremarkable' demon of the hidden mist can die and become a real demon in hell…" He had a maniacal grin on his face. "This will be fun! We'll have plenty of time to see if I'm a baby demon there!" With that final pronouncement, he moved his face down, then up again, the two strokes cleanly cutting through the man's flesh and bone, sending his head flying off his body, and the demon of the mist finally dropped the kunai from his mouth, turned and smiled at Haku, and fell to the ground.

Haku's scream could even be heard through the muffle of snakes that covered her mouth, and Naruto's heart went out to her… but now the mercenaries were turning their attention to the still tired shinobi resting at the other end of the bridge; them.

"Hey, who's gonna pay us now!"

"Yeah, we should just kill you all and ransack this place!"

"Let's get them boys!"

"Well, this isn't good," Kakashi said. "They outnumber us pretty good." Naruto, however, was now focusing on the new danger, just grinned.

"Oh yeah? Then we'll just have to outnumber them! Shadow clone jutsu!" Of course, dozens of copies of the young blond began to appear all over the bridge, making their numbers equal to, if not greater, than that of the mercenaries. Kakashi sighed. Well, I guess we could intimidate them…

"Shadow clone jutsu," he called out.

"Summoning jutsu!" Kakashi looked over in surprise to see Anko had managed to summon up a pair of decent sized snake summons. Well, she had only been knocking in the head, after all; she should have plenty of chakra left; Iruka, of course, was in a bit too bad of a shape to handle much fighting at the moment, however. So, if the multiple clones, solid or not, hadn't been enough, the snakes had them right and ready to run. Kakashi chuckled as they began to back away, then full out run in earnest as the villagers appeared with Inari at their head holding a small crossbow.

"Don't even think about attacking our village," he cried out, and the men behind him, all holding their own handmade weapons and working tools, yelled in agreement.

"We won't be taken lightly anymore!"

"Yeah, just try and take us!"

"You'll rue the day you were born once we're done with you!" The bridge was clear of the bandits within moments, and all was well. The clones were dispelled, and the crowd cheered. Anko released her own summons as well, even the ones on Haku. The girl immediately jumped up and ran to Zabuza's body.

"Zabuza, no! No! Don't be dead!" She flung herself on his body, clutching him tightly, tears pouring down her face. "No, master Zabuza, you can't die! I need you! I don't want to live without a purpose again!" She flinched in surprise when a large hand cupped her cheek, and she looked down to see the once great man smiling at her softly, though the pain of movement was evident in his face.

"Haku, don't, don't cry; it's better this way. You, you were always meant for a better place than myself anyways…" he sighed. "If I must be your purpose, if my dream would be yours, then here is my dream: live, Haku, live and be happy. That girl, she'll be a true friend, the likes of which I never was. She'll make sure you're safe and cared for where ever you go. She has an even bigger heart than you, I think-" He coughed, a little blood coming out as he did so.

"Master, please, rest! We, we can take you somewhere, make you better!" He shook his head.

"No! This is better, for both of us; be yourself, Haku, and live for me…I love you…as my daughter…live, and be happy, knowing that that is what I want for you…"

"no, no Zabuza…" He put a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Haku! I'm a dead man. Please, let me die knowing you will live…and be happy…let me die…knowing my dream for you… will be… realized…" She saw the pleading in his eyes, the light slowly fading despite his best efforts to fight it off. He was putting off his death, if only by moments, to tell her these last words. She looked up, over at Naruto, whose head was down, a few tears being shared for Haku's loss. She saw the other women…Anko?...and the compassion in her eyes, and the pain. Not from where Zabuza had hit her, but from inside, as though she knew what Haku felt…was that even possible? She looked back down at her master and tightened her grip on him, bracing herself.

"Yes, yes, master Zabuza…father…I, I will see your dream fulfilled…" A peaceful smile spread on the man's face, and his grip on her relaxed.

"Good; good. Now take care…and when you do die…I, I wouldn't mind a visit, of Shinigami might, might let you visit me…" And finally, the demon of the mist closed his eyes, dying with a smile on his face.

Meanwhile, back where Sasuke had fallen, protecting Naruto, Sakura lay crying on his chest, shocked to hear a familiar voice.

"S, Sakura, I, I can't breathe with you laying on me like that…" She looked up in shock, then cried again in joy and hugged onto him tightly, then helping him to sit up.

"Sasuke-kun! You're alive! I'm, I'm so glad you're alright!" Naruto and Kakashi looked over at the girls outburst. Kakashi looked surprised…for him, that is. He never showed much in way of surprise. Naruto's jaw dropped however, and she looked back and forth between Haku and Sasuke, wondering what was going on.

"I never intended to kill him," she said, almost whispering, not sure she could control her voice is she spoke louder, eye's shut tight as she continued to kneel next to her dead master's body. "He would have only been unconscious until we fulfilled our, our mission…" Naruto paused, not sure what to do. She wanted to hug Haku in thanks and relief; she wanted to hug Sasuke like Sakura was doing; she wanted to yell at both of them for scaring her like that. She settled for smiling happily at Sasuke, who was looking over Sakura's shoulders at her, and he smiled back, then she walked over to Haku to give her the hug that she needed now, and the other girl latched onto her, crying into her arms. Well, Anko thought, that was probably the smartest thing Naruto's ever done. Sakura wouldn't be able to handle the idea of Naruto and Sasuke just now…let her have a her moment; besides, they need to figure out what they're going to do about their confessions at a more…appropriate time.

Kakashi, meanwhile, not knowing about the confession, merely thought Naruto really is growing and maturing; I'll have to keep an eye on Haku myself, though; she'll be in a pretty bad state for a few days, like I was when Rin and sensei and everyone died. Just then Iruka stirred, and of course, Anko, rushed to his side, having recovered pretty well.

"Iruka kun! Are you alright? Where does it hurt…OH MY GOSH! HOW DARE YOU SCAR YOUR CHEST BEFORE I EVER GOT A CHANCE TO SEE YOU WITH YOUR SHIRT OFF!" Kakashi laughed loudly till she sent him one of the most evil glares he'd ever seen and then got back to carefully ripping off her boyfriends shirt so that she could tend to his wound. At this point the villagers were starting to either walk off back to the village to celebrate or prepare tending the wounded shinobi, or they were spreading out to see what they could do right then to help. Tazuna remained wary of Haku for the time, but he insisted that she be brought to his home and cared for, since she was important to Nartuo.

The next day they buried Zabuza on a nearby hill, paying their last respects to the great shinobi. Haku stayed by the grave for a good while, leaning against the blade that was now buried deep in the ground. After everyone else left, Naruto stayed with her, and Kakashi, of course, though he remained hidden in the trees. It was, after all, a perfect situation for her to commit suicide if she let the grief overcome her. After a while, she spoke to Naruto.

"He loved it, you know, being at the top of a hill." The blond just gave her a questioning look, and then she continued. "He said it felt like he could see the world from places like this; you could reach out your hand and it would look like you where holding it all, right there. Miles and miles in just the few square inches of space that exist in your palm. He said that the world was made for that, holding life in your hands, and it's up to you to decide what to do with it once you have it in your grasp." She looked back over her shoulder at Naruto, and smiled. "I guess before, my hands just held his as he held the world, but now he's placed the world in my hands." She looked back at the grave. "I always liked flowers and making things pretty; I think I'd like to work in a flower shop to save some money, then someday move into designing things. Does that sound like a good idea to you?" Naruto smiled, putting her arm over the taller girls shoulder and turning them to walk back towards Tazuna's home.

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea, Haku chan. It's a great idea…"

Kakashi smiled as they walked away. She'll be just fine, he thought. He stood up, about to leave when he noticed that it was starting to snow. Hmmm…now this is odd… He looked over at the retreating forms of Naruto and Haku, then back at Zabuza's grave. Well, maybe one day, when she's lived her life to the fullest, Haku will be back with you again anyways. Perhaps you aren't cut out for hell after all. Smile on his face, he jumped to the ground and walked back towards the house. It had been a long mission for team 7 and company, but it had certainly been worthwhile.

---

So i'm curious, was it immediatly obvious that Haku was a girl in this one, or did it take a little bit to realized what i'd done this time around? This was the part i talked about in the intro that i didn't plan. I was gonna keep it cannon, make Haku a boy, and kill him off, but sometimes the story writes itself, and her surviving just that way. It was especially cool for me to write that part at the grave, where she talks about 'holding the world in your hand'. What did you think of that?

Oh, also, though i know the end pairings, keep in mind that Naruto is, as of yet, unaware of Kiba's attraction to her. More drama next chapter, and the loss of a friend. (on that note, kakashi is unaware of Hinata and Naruto's friendship, hence him saying that she never really had a friend).

Well, that's about all i have to say for now. I just want to get this posted!

As always, if you see any mistakes i missed, let me know and i'll fix them later. Thank-you, c u later!

also, for all of you that have alerted, faved, or reviewed that i haven't replied to yet, i'm so sorry! I try to make an effort to thank each of you individually, but as i said, i've been working like crazy and am a bit behind. As i relax during break i'm going to get caught up on that, but for now, know that i thank-you all for you following and comments!