A/N: Next chapter! Also, check out my Runaways stories! They all have the same first chapter, but after that, the stories really start. Also, check out my poll to decide whether to include the Sound village. Also, remember to review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Hinata: I do.

Naruto: Hm? You say something Hinata?

Hinata: N-no! (Naruto just shrugs)

Chapter 9 Calm Before the Storm

Everyone was eating breakfast when Tsunami asked, "Hey, where are Naruto and Hinata?"

They stop eating and look around to see that the two genin were missing. "Hm, I thought it was unusually peaceful this morning," Tazuna joked.

"Now that I think about it, I never saw Hinata in the bedroom," Kurenai thought.

"Yeah, Naruto wasn't in his sleeping bag either," Kiba added.

"I'm sure they're fine. They probably were out training late," Kakashi assured.

"Me and Akamaru will go looking for them. After all, tracking is our specialty right next to kicking ass!" The duo finished their breakfast and went off to find them, following their scent.
-

A boy of the age of 15 walk through the forest. He had long black hair, dark-brown eyes, and pale skin. The boy wore a pink kimono that had red edges, no sleeves, and had plum-colored swirls on it, along with a white sash around his waist and brown sandals. As he walk through the forest, he spied a child asleep on the floor. The child was a boy with blond hair and an orange outfit. Still asleep, the blond turned his head, revealing his headband with the Leaf symbol.

The older boy's eyes widen as he remembered seeing the boy a few days ago. He slowly approached the blond and kneeled before him. His hand hovered above the sleeping boy's neck, positioned to choke the life out of him.

And then the boy grabbed the blond's shoulder and shook him awake. "Hey, you'll catch a cold sleeping here. Wake up."

The blond awoke and looked at the one responsible for disturbing his sleep. "Oh, um h-hello m-ma'am."

'Ma'am? Why does everyone think I'm a woman?' "Aren't you gonna tell me your name?"

"S-sorry. I'm Naruto. A-and this… W-wait, w-where's Hinata?" Naruto looks around, trying to locate his friend. He spots her curled up next to a tree to his right. "Oh, t-there she is."

"Well, Naruto, it's nice to meet you. My name's Haku. I'm gathering medicinal herbs for my father. He's currently injured at the moment, so I'm gonna use these herbs to heal him."

"D-do you need a-any help?" Naruto asked.

"Why, thank you. I'd like that," Haku answered.

So while Hinata continued to sleep, Haku and Naruto gathered herbs.

"So I noticed your headband. Are you a ninja or are you making a fashion statement."

"Y-yeah, I'm a n-ninja from t-the Leaf Village. I, I was o-out here t-training."

"Really, why?" Haku asked.

"I want t-to get s-stronger."

"But you look plenty strong. Isn't that enough?"

"I, I'm n-not really t-that strong." Naruto said quietly. "I-I need to g-get stronger, so I c-can earn the r-respect of others. T-there are people I n-need to prove myself to."

"So are you training for others, or yourself?" Haku asked.

"Huh?" Naruto didn't understand what Haku meant. Haku couldn't help but giggle at the boy's confusion. "Um, w-what's so funny?"

Instead of answering him, Haku decided to ask something. "So, do you have someone precious to you?"

"Percious?"

"Yes, someone close to you. Someone you want to protect with everything you've got. Someone who gives you purpose. So, do you?"

Naruto turned to look at the sleeping Hyūga. "Yeah, I do." He said softly. Haku barely heard the words, but could tell by the look on Naruto's face that she was his most precious person.

"Good, 'cause it's my belief that only when you have someone precious can you truly become strong," Haku said with a smile. And Naruto could help but smile a little too. "So, what makes her so precious to you?"

Naruto blushed for a sec, but then his face grew sad, which did not go unnoticed by Haku. "W-well, I've been an o-orphan since the d-day I was b-born. A-and for m-most of my life, I was alone." Haku look into his eyes and could see the loneliness in them, the same loneliness that can had been in his own eyes. But then the loneliness left Naruto's eyes as he looked once again at Hinata. "But then I met her. She saved me from my depression. She became my first friend. And soon enough, she help me make more friends, and now I'm no longer alone."

Haku smile. "I know how you feel. The man I'm gathering these herbs for is not my biological father, but after what he's done for me, well, I'm sure you can guess."

"W-what happened?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Well, my parent died when I was 5. I had no other family, so I ended up on the streets. I spent 3 years alone, with no purpose in my life. Then, he came. He found me and took me in. And now my purpose is to protect him, with my life if necessary."

'She's not that much different from me.' Naruto thought.

Meanwhile, as Hinata slept, Yuki, whose fur had been slowing turning brown due to exposure to the sun and the lack of snow, came up to her and nuzzled her cheek. "Hee hee. Naruto, that tickles!" she muttered quietly. Slowly, she stirred from slumber and opened her eyes. "Huh? Oh, morning Yuki," she says, sitting up and stretching. "Now where's…" She looks around until she spies the blond a bit across the forest, with someone she didn't know.

'Who's she?' Hinata thought as she got up and walked toward them, Yuki next to her.

Naruto heard them coming and turned to their direction. "G-good m-morning Hinata, Yuki."

"Hey," she said while looking at Haku. "Um, who's she?"

'She thinks I'm a woman too, huh?' "I'm a friend," Haku replied. "I was out gathering herbs for my father when saw Naruto here passed out. I woke him up, and soon after, he offered to help me and we started talking."

'That better be all that happened.' "So, miss, what's your name?"

Haku was about to answer when they heard someone approaching. They all turned toward the noise to see Akamaru appeared, followed closely by Kiba.

"There you guys are! Kurenai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei were a little worried something happened to you last ni…" Kiba stopped when he saw Haku. "Well, helloooo there. Name's Kiba, one of the Hidden Leaf's top genin! So, what do you say we get to know each other better over lunch later?"

Haku giggled at Kiba as he asked him on a date. "I'm afraid I have a busy day ahead of me. Which reminds me, I must be going. But perhaps one day we'll meet again," Haku said as he grabbed his basket. "Oh, but before I go, I have one thing to say."

Everyone gave Haku there attention.

"I'm a boy."

Naruto and Hinata look embarrassed as they had that he was a she, but Kiba looked mortified. "T-that chick w-was a DUDE?!"

Hinata sighed and said, "Let's get going. You said our senseis were worried so lets not keep them waiting."

The three genin along with their animal companions walk back to Tazuna's house, though Kiba was still in a state of shock. "But he looks like… Can't believe that… was so sure."

Akamaru looked back at where the older boy was, thinking his scent was familiar.
-

Haku walk through the forest until he arrived at a hideout in one of the larger trees. He entered the building and into the bedroom, where the Demon of the Mist laid. "I'm back, master Zabuza."

"What took you so long?" Zabuza demanded. Haku was suppose to be back half an hour ago, and he did not like to be kept waiting.

"Apologies, I ran into the genin you fought a few days ago."

"Oh, those brats." Zabuza examined the boy he had pick off the street years ago. "You don't look like you been in a fight, so what exactly happened?"

"They didn't recognize me. In fact they thought I was a woman," Haku answered, sounding a little annoyed at that last fact.

"Maybe if you didn't dress like that, got yourself a haircut, and laid off the make-up, you'd look more like a man!" Zabuza said, more annoyed at the fact that they've had this argument many times before.

"But I like this look!" Haku argued. Zabuza just shook his head and sighed.

"Just tell me you at least got some info off of them."

"Well, two of them were passed out from late night training. I think they're expecting us."

"No matter. I was gonna have you join me in the final battle else?"

"The young blond seems infatuated with Hyūga girl, and I'm guessing the feeling is mutual, from the way she was looking at me."

Zabuza nodded. With proper planning and luck, they might be able to use that against them. "Anything else?"

"Yes, the Inuzuka mentioned someone named Kakashi was waiting for them at the bridge builder's home along with Kurenai."

Zabuza's eyes widened upon hearing that name. "Did you say Kakashi?"

Haku looked confused. "Yes, do you know him?"

"Only by reputation. Kakashi Hatake of the Sharingan Eye, the man who's copied a thousand jutsu. A dangerous opponent. If he was alone, I might be able to take him, but with the the Genjutsu Mistress, and those three brats, we won't stand a chance if we fight all of them at once!"

"Then, perhaps we should leave," Haku suggested. It wasn't just that he didn't like these odds, or the fact that he despised Gato and what he was doing. No, the main reason was that Haku didn't want to have to fight them, especially Naruto. Under different circumstances, he believed the two of them would have been good friends.

"No! I won't ruin my reputation just because things got rough! We'll just have to keep one of the jonin away from the battle."

"As you wish, Lord Zabuza." Haku said dejectedly. "Well, judging from your current recovery rate, you should be ready to fight in about 2 days."

"Hm, plenty of time."
-

"What happened to you two last night?" Kurenai asked. The three genin, Akamaru, and Yuki returned to find both senseis waiting outside the house."I got worried when I woke up and saw you hadn't returned."

Hinata rubbed the back of her head and smiled sheepishly. "Er, sorry 'bout that sensei. Me and Naruto were doing some late night training. I guess we may have overdone it a bit and ended up sleeping outside."

"While I'm glad you're taking your training seriously, make sure to tell either me or Kakashi so one of us can supervise."

"Yes sensei," the two replied.

"Good, finish breakfast quickly, so we can begin," Kakashi said with a smile. Kiba and Naruto jumped back and covered their asses, remembering what Kakashi did yesterday during training.

"Kakashi, did you forget it's your turn to guard Tazuna at the bridge?" Kurenai asked.

"Of course not. I didn't say I was gonna do it." Kiba and Naruto let out the breathe they were holding in relief. "Well, see ya." And with that, Kakashi left with Tazuna in tow.

"So what's up with two? You got nervous at the idea of training with Kakashi." Kurenai asked the two boys, curious about their reaction.

"W-well, let's just say that with Kakashi-sensei, you learn to watch your back." 'And your ass.' Kiba mentally added while Naruto nodded in agreement. Kurenai just shrugged and lead the genin to where they would train.

"Come on Yuki," Naruto said to his little friend. He jumped into Naruto's arms as the young blond followed his team to their destination.

Hinata hung back to speak with Naruto. "By the way, I haven't forgotten the bet we made. If you need help, ask Kiba. He's tagged along on some of my pranks so he'll be able to help you."

Naruto sighed. Last night Hinata decided a bet would give them extra incentive. If within half an hour, Naruto could land 10 blows on her without being hit back, she treat him to as much ramen as he wanted. And hits by and on clones counted. If she won, however, Naruto would have to prank the Hokage when they got back.

Naruto did better than Hinata expected. His best was 7 blows, and once it was almost 8, but Hinata managed to successfully dodge and counter. After that, she upped the ante, as she had no intention of losing.

So in the end, Naruto ended losing the bet. After listen to Hinata's advice, Naruto decided he would talk to Kiba after training.
-

Sasuke was soaking his sore body in the tub. Earlier he was jogging and when he turned a corner he ran into a woman with violet hair holding some dango. The collision knocked her treats out of her hands and onto the ground, pissing the woman off. A part of Sasuke felt he just made a big mistake.

Sasuke got up and looked in the mirror, snake bites covering his shoulders and arms. A part of him thinks that if it weren't for that scared man his forehead protector in a bandana style stopping her and making her give him the antidotes for the poisons, he would have died.

'At least one good thing came out of that,' Sasuke thought as he closed his eyes. A second later, he opened them, but they were different. Instead of black eyes, they were red. His left eye had one tomoe and his right eye had two. 'My Sharingan is finally active! Just wait, brother! I become stronger and kill you!'

Sasuke got dress in his PJs, which consisted of a black t-shirt with the Uchiha crest on the front and a pair of black shorts. But before he could get to bed he heard someone knocking on his door. Grabbing a kunai just in case, he walked to his door and looked through the peephole to see who it was. There on the other side of the door was Ino.

"You got the info on Naruto?" Sasuke asked as he opened the door.

Ino nodded. Ever since finding out the truth, she debated on whether or not to follow her father's instructions or tell Sasuke what she learned. On one hand, this wasn't her secret and to reveal said secret is a crime. However, Ino still felt she could trust Sasuke, though she didn't know he would react or what he would do with it.

So Ino told him about Naruto having the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him. Sasuke's eyes widened upon hearing that. "So, uh, w-what are we gonna do?"

"Don't worry about it," was all he said before shutting the door and getting some sleep.

Ino sighed. She was hoping to get another kiss on the cheek from Sasuke, or maybe on the lips this time. Still, it was getting late, so she probably interrupted his sleep or something.
-

"Um, K-Kiba? A-are you s-sure this is a g-good idea?" Naruto asked.

"Trust me. He won't know what hit him!" Kiba assured.

"I-it's not t-that," Naruto argued. "This p-plan is just kinda, um, e-embarassing."

"Hey, you wanted my help."

"I guess."

"It's a good thing Tazuna has all the materials we need. Alright, show me what you've got so far."
-

Alpha: Well, I bet you can guess what this plan of Kiba's is.

Sakura: Seriously?

Ino: Your adding that?

Alpha: Not exactly a big fan of it myself, but I need it for later. (Sakura and Ino just roll their eyes and leave.)

Zabuza: Well, I better get ready the big fight next chapter.

Alpha: Yep. 'Now I just need to decide whether to kill him off or not.'

Haku: Least thanks to the poll I know what happens to me.

Alpha: Now to get the next chapter started.

Kurama: And reveal the true star of this story.

Alpha: Kurama? How did fit into my… You know what, nevermind, I don't wanna know.

Kurama: Good, cause I don't feel like explaining. Now hurry up, people wanna see the power of the greatest of the Tailed Beast!

Alpha: The 10-Tails?

Kurama: NO! ME!

Alpha: Oh, my bad. Sorry.

Kurama: Not as sorry as your gonna be. NARUTO HE'S OVER HERE!

Alpha: Oh crud.

Naruto: Found you! You escaped last time but now I'll get ya. A Thousand Years of Death! (Alpha runs away chased by Naruto)