A/N: Why hello my many adoring fans and as for the mix up with the first A/N of last chapter and many things being switched I will change the A/N to coincide with the events. Also starting in June I will take the first few chapters of this fic and Flaming Leaves and re-write them to be better.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or Avatar. I do own my OC's though!
On to the story! (Short A/N I know.)
Naruto slowly opened his eyes. When he looked around the room first thing he noticed was, he was residing inside a building.
'Huh, where, where am I? The last thing I remember was Kakashi-Sensei's face than blackout.' Naruto sat up but grabbed his arm as it was sore. He smiled when he saw Sakura and Hinata, and frowned when he saw Sasuke.
"Hey Sakura, hey Hinata-cha" Sasuke interrupted Naruto with a hand.
"Where did you get your power from Naruto?" Naruto grimaced. He knew he couldn't tell Sasuke the truth because he was completely mental.
"I can't tell you Sasuke. It is an S-Class secret."
"What about the third source I feel from you?"
"That is a double S-Class secret." Sasuke slammed his hand into the ground scraping his knuckles.
"Damn you." Sasuke runs out of the room with Sakura glaring at Naruto. Naruto sighed and collapsed into his pillow. Kakashi smiled and walked into the room bringing a plate full of hot rice bean soup and a side of pokey with a glass of water.
"Ohayo Naruto. How are you feeling?" Naruto smiled and grabbed the plates and the cup putting them on his bed side table.
"Im feeling much better now Kakashi-sensei, using His chakra leave's me sore but it will be better in a little while." Naruto looked intensely at Kakashi.
"Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata, go ask Kurenai to start your training." The three Genin replied with a harmonic "Hai sensei!"
"Sasuke is asking question's about the origins of my power." Kakashi hung his head low and looked to Naruto. Kakashi turned and opened the door to find Sasuke tumbling into the room.
"How much did you hear?" Sasuke scoffed and gave Naruto a glare.
"I heard everything, who is He?" Naruto scoffed at his carelessness and looked to Sasuke.
"When we make it back and we get into the Hokage's office I will tell you and Sakura." Kakashi's eye widened.
"Naruto do you think they can handle it?" Naruto smiled softly and closed his eyes.
"I think my 'brother' can handle it," Naruto looks to Sasuke who was giving Naruto a questioning look. "Isn't that right 'brother'." Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Naruto and turned to Kakashi and nodded his head.
"Good, you see Kakashi-sensei he can handle it, but the one im worried on handling it is Sakura." Kakashi nodded and left leaving the two boy's together. Sasuke turned to leave.
"Just remember Dobe, I will become stronger than you." Sasuke closed the door leaving the two comrades' alone.
"Naruto, will you really tell them about Him?" Naruto smiled and I struck a cord in Kakashi's heart. His teacher and friend Minato had that same confident smile.
"Kakashi-sensei, if they can handle Kurama, then I think they can handle everything and I will tell them about 'That One'." Kakashi looked stormy. Kakashi opened his eye and gave an eye-smile.
"Alright Naruto, I trust you." Kakashi stood up and went to the door opening it.
"Oh and Naruto," Naruto turned from his soup and looked at Kakashi.
"Yes Sensei?"
"Tomorrow you start your real training. None of his power." Naruto got a look of determination and dedication to his teacher.
"I won't stop till I can fight the Hokage on even terms, and don't worry Kakashi-sensei. I know that His power is only a tool to be used, just like any Kunai or even sword out there." Kakashi nodded and left for downstairs leaving Naruto to his thoughts.
Kakashi made it down and stood next to Kurenai.
"So how are my precious students doing?" Kurenai smiled.
"Just fine Kakashi, just fine." At that moment there was three simultaneous shrieks in the area towards the lake. Kurenai took off, while Kakashi already presumed that one of the boy's were foolish enough to peep. Next Kakashi heard a yell of terror and pain and Kurenai returned holding a mangled Kiba, the two Genin, and Tsunami.
"This brat need's a good straightening out Kakashi; can you take care of it? If I do I might kill him." Kakashi smiled and nodded his head. Kakashi grabbed Kiba and drug him to the training area.
Kurenai looked to the girl's and smiled to them.
"So Hinata, you know Naruto is all alone in his room, no Sakura, or Kakashi, or even one of the boy's! It's a wonder your even here." Kurenai winked to her making her blush deep red. Sakura looked puzzled at Kurenai's insinuation.
"Umm Sensei, Naruto is engaged to a Kurotsuchi of Iwa." Kurenai only looked sad.
"Oh, umm, im sorry Hinata, I didn't know." Hinata only looked sadden.
"It's o-o-ok Sensei; I've come to accept it as a fact of life now that I will never be able to have him." Kurenai only looked sad to her student. Kurenai got an idea, and smiled to the girl.
"Don't worry Hinata everything's going to be ok." Kurenai hears a howl of pain coming from Kakashi's general direction. Sakura smiled and skipped off in that direction to find Sasuke and Hinata followed. Kurenai looked towards them sighed and followed.
Everyone came inside and looked tired except Sasuke, Shino, Hinata, and the two Jonin. Naruto smiled to them as he was in the kitchen.
"Hey guy's, how are you?" Kiba gave him the finger, Sasuke glared, Kakashi chuckled, and Kurenai giggled. Naruto had on a pink apron with frills and tassels on it with a small pocket on the chest. Kiba laughed howling in laughter, Sasuke just sat down, and the girl's were laughing somewhat at Naruto's garb. Naruto placed bowls in front of them and filled their bowls full of curry. He gave Hinata and Sasuke extra; because he knew they liked curry.
"Well guy's me and Tsunami has worked hard making this, enjoy!" Naruto sat down with his own bowl and the three residents came down and joined in. Tsunami and Naruto gave each other high-fives, leaving Kakashi to wonder, and smiled as they ate. Hinata ate and smiled because it was very good, Sasuke just scoffed and ate, Kiba was choking from the spice, Kakashi and Shino already done and Kurenai taking her time in finishing. The peppers used and the black pepper added was too much for poor Kiba. After the group finished and Tsunami took the dishes, they all sat in the living room talking. When they were finished Kurenai pulled Naruto off to the side.
"Naruto I need you to do something for me." Naruto gave a quizzical look.
"What is it Sensei?"
"I need you to go to Hinata and tell her that you aren't getting married because you don't like her, and I will even owe you a favor if you give her a solution, a real solution." Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Sensei what do you mean?" Kurenai sighed and looked at him.
"I care for Hinata as if she was my own, and I need you to help her calm the storm in her heart. If you can tell her that your marriage isn't because of her, than that will bring her some ease, and if you just give her a sense of absolution as a favor, I will owe you one, ok?" Naruto nodded and took up the stairs and went to Hinata's room. Naruto opened the door and was hit with the scent of lavender and wild flowers.
"Hey Hinata, you awake?" Hinata sat up in bed and blushed when Naruto sat on the side of her bed. Naruto pushed the cover back and grabbed her hand's taking one of hers in each of his. Naruto looked at her softly.
"Hinata, I'm not going to lie, if I weren't engaged and in love with Kuro-hime, then I would be with you, I'm also not going to lie to you and tell you that you are the best friend a guy like me can have. Hinata, you've been my friend since we were what, eight?" Hinata smiled and closed her eye's hair hanging over her eyes.
"Six, Naruto, six." Naruto smiled and hugged her, not even caring the lack of a bra.
"Hinata you are my best friend, I would do anything for you, you know that." Naruto placed his chin on top of her head and she started to sob into his shoulder.
"It, it's just not fair Naruto," Hinata pulled back and had tear's covering her face, "Why does she get you all of the sudden when I've been struggling to prove myself in your eyes all my life. Naruto I love you, I'm not going to lie to you, and I love you. But if best friends are all we can be, I will continue as your friend. Just know if she slips up, I will be there." Naruto smiled to her and gave her a gentle squeeze across the shoulders.
"Thank you for understanding Hinata-chan." Naruto tucked her in and left the room, closing the door quietly.
Kakashi had Team Seven not twenty meters from the house, Sakura smiled at Sasuke and just stared at Sasuke. Naruto raised his hands behind his head and went towards the tree line.
"Where are you going Naruto?" Naruto smiled at Sasuke's question.
"Taking a piss, make sure not to follow me Sas-u-gay." Naruto turned and left with a huge grin on his face, Sasuke was left fuming about what Naruto just insinuated. Naruto went into the bushes and finished up, but smelled something, something that for some reason made his blood boil. Naruto zipped and drew his sword, his eyes changing to red and slitted, not going unnoticed by Kakashi. Naruto took off holding his sword in his right hand in a reverse grip. Naruto came upon a camp and saw some men piling children's bodies into a pile and setting them aflame. Naruto unconsciously drew on Kyuubi's blood lust and a deep killing intent swept across the camp making the men literally piss themselves. Naruto walked out into their line of sight and the men looked to him only seeing his outline with his deep red slitted eye's starring into their souls and the red aura radiating off of him. He slung his sword into its sheath and drew his Tanto off his back.
"Time to die scum." Naruto ran forward and slit every one of their throats, leaving a large pool of blood till every single one of their heads fell off blood shooting into the air covering his hair, soaking it to a deep red. Kurenai watching the scene then made the connection between her mentor Kushina, and Naruto.
'Naruto is Kushina's son!' Kakashi put a hand in front of her mouth and looked her in the eye and whispered.
"He can't know, not now at least, when the day comes that favor you asked of, ill coax him into using it to ask about his mother. Ok?" Kurenai nodded and looked to the scene to see Naruto wipe his blood on one of their bodies and wipe free of blood. Naruto ran a hand through his hair and felt the blood. Naruto surged Kurama's chakra and the blood dried and flaked off of his hair, leaving it tinted orange, but none the less, still blonde. Naruto sheathed his Tanto and turned to the tree line and took off. Kakashi looked to Kurenai and the two left to make it back to their student's before Naruto.
Naruto went into the house and went to the bathroom and took his clothes off and filled the tub full of water. He grabbed his clothes and dunked them into the water rubbing the blood feeling the stickiness of the red liquid even under the water. Naruto went to the toilet and threw up in it, he started to weep the realization of what he just did still fresh in his mind, all of those dead children. Naruto finally stood up shakily and continued to try to rub the clothes free of the blood, and in return trying to get rid of the blood on his hands, which didn't seem to wipe off.
Naruto rejoined them and Kiba's nose picked up the smell of diluted blood, and vomit coming from Naruto's body. Kiba eyed him warily and went over to him.
"Hey, Naruto, man, you alright?" Naruto nodded and smiled to him
"I'm fine dog breath." Akamaru yipped at Naruto.
"Yeah your right Akamaru im sorry for insulting your breath Kiba smells so much worse." Kiba slung at Naruto who slung back at him and slugged his jaw hard. Naruto grabbed his rib where Kiba hit and winced. Kakashi stepped in.
"Do you two have to fight, anyway it's time to start your training." Kakashi threw three Kunai in front of his three Genin's feet and Kurenai just led hers off.
"Kakashi-Sensei, where is Kurenai-Sensei taking her students?" Kakashi smiled.
"Well, Sakura, they've already completed this training." Kakashi said as if nothing was wrong.
"Oh, ok Sensei." Kakashi explained to them the basis of the tree climbing, and sakura completed it in her second try, as for Naruto he made it to the top on the first try.
"Naruto, how do you know this exercise?"
"Well I have had someone who helped me sometime's in training and he taught me this, water walking, and the sword techniques." Kakashi looked puzzled.
"Who taught you these Naruto?" Naruto looked like he was thinking of something.
"A man named, Kuro. He died a few years ago though." Kakashi looked at Naruto analyzing him and knew he was lying but let it pass.
"Alright, I guess you and Sakura can go guard Tazuna while I get Sasuke up to par." Naruto and Sakura took off in the direction of the bridge and smiled back at Kakashi.
'I'll let him tell me on his own time.' Kakashi pulled out his book opening to page 70. What no one knew was that Kakashi wasn't a pervert. What everyone thought was a perverted book was actually a covering for a pressed scrapbook he had. When he would giggle and blush it was because of something embarrassing that happened to his team. But page 70 held a great amount of value on its page, it was the picture that Rin took on the mission to the bridge, the mission Obito died. Kakashi looked solemnly to the picture and unconsciously rubbed his thumb across Rin's cheek.
'Rin would you have been proud of how I am taking care of this new team, what about you sensei, Obito?' Kakashi put his book up and walked over to Sasuke seeing him breathing heavily.
"Yo." Kakashi held his two fingers up in a v towards Sasuke.
"Sensei, how can I do this I just can't get my chakra to stick!" Sasuke punched the tree and winced as the rough bark tore the skin on his knuckles.
"Well first of all, all trees are like fingerprints. No single trees bark is the same as anothers. To do this exercise not only do you have to stick to the tree with the right amount of chakra but make sure when your foot hits to extend it along the crevices in the bark to hold you right. Everyone thinks it is just in attaching your chakra to the trees to make it think you are an extra limb to grab onto you. But that is false. The true key to the skill is to match the crevices." Sasuke looked to Kakashi and nodded, Sasuke might not like listening to anyone but when it came to it, he would. Sasuke looked to the tree with determination and took the blood on his knuckle and using his thumb took some and little by little put the mark of Konoha on his forehead.
"Sasuke why did you put that on your forehead?" Sasuke looked to Kakashi and lowered his head and smiled. Not a fake smile but one of happiness from a memory.
"My brother in our practices would put this mark on our foreheads. Whenever he did that we would be able to learn faster. He said it was because it showed our dedication to Konoha, not as a clan, but as individuals." Kakashi smiled.
"Well I guess he was in his own way teaching me to not rely on stolen power but my own through training, blood, and determination." Kakashi smiled wider.
"Well why don't you practice now." Sasuke nodded and continued his path up the tree passing his 10 foot mark and surpassing that to 27 feet. Sasuke smiled.
'I will have you someday brother.' Sasuke passed to 50.
Naruto inhaled the sweet autumn breeze and smiled. He looked to Sakura, then to Tazuna.
'I wonder if Kakashi was wrong, maybe I was wrong. Could Zabuza actually be dead?' Naruto smiled at the thought and feeling of momentary peace. Naruto suddenly sat up and fell to his knees. Sakura and the workmen even Tazuna fell down unconscious from the pure fear making their minds shutdown for the immanent death the mind thought was coming. Naruto's eyes widened, he looked to the point of origin and saw a tall man, easily six foot eleven inches tall maybe even seven and a half! The preassure let up and Naruto stood and drew his Katana and wasted no time drawing his Wakizashi with the other hand. Naruto was sweating profusely from fright and even he thought that he was surely going to die. The man walked over to Naruto and as Naruto brought his Katana down upon the man he caught it with a single finger! Naruto was stunned as the man grabbed the Katana and snapped it and crushed his Wakizashi as if it was a tooth pick in his fingers. Naruto fell to his knees accepting his immanent death when the man kneeled and Naruto saw his face. The noticeable features like the facial structure was shrouded by a cloth, the only visible part of the mans face were his eyes, the horrible deep red nearly matching Kyuubi's own tint. Naruto only closed his eyes as he saw the man leaning forward but opened them widely as the man grasped Naruto's shoulder, not in a malicious vice but as a man calming a child.
"Now, now Naruto, how is that any way to greet a friend." Naruto's eyes went wide as he realized the voice. It sounded like a mix of a raspy dry throat but the deep boom even matching the Kyuubi's.
"It is time to calm down child, I come on behalf of me and my group, the Misute. As the leader and commander of its forces I have come to you seeking a proposal." The man moved the sheet in front of his face and Naruto's eyes widened even larger seeing the very same marks Naruto had on his face on this strangers.
"You see we are not that different. I ask of you just one thing, if you tell me the name of your sensei and teammates, when you come to seek me I will take you in with open arms. I will give you till the Chunin exams finale to decide. By the way my name is Taichou, see you later, Naruto." Naruto's eyes widened further almost bulging out of his skull. The man patted Naruto's shoulder as if he was the man's child and the man ruffled his hair and turned to leave. Only then did Naruto realize that the man only showed Naruto a single arm, his left. Naruto grabbed his shoulder and shuddered as he still felt the firm grip upon his shoulder. Naruto fell down further onto his rear and fell into sweet unconsciousness.
Kakashi was worried about his Genin not returning by five o' clock, so he set off for the bridge and came upon the sight of the whole bridge being littered with unconscious bodies. Kakashi ran over to his two students and breathed a sigh of relief as they were alive but just unconscious. Kakashi woke Sakura and many of the people up but for some unknown reason Naruto did not awaken from his bliss. Kakashi worried picked him up and ran back to the house not caring of the wild leaves whipping his face or the subtle whisperings of the wind blowing into his face. Kakashi went into the house his two Genin over his shoulders. Hinata and Sasuke reacted almost immediately to seeing the two unconscious teen's. Hinata checking Naruto over and Sasuke checking Sakura it was a troublesome sight. Kakashi told them what he saw when he arrived at the bridge. No sign's of an attack means either this person either attacked with, gas, poison, killer intent alone, or speed knocking them out.
"Sensei, Sakura is awake!" Sasuke announced as the pink haired girl sat up some and rested her head on the pillow brought to her.
"Sakura I need to know what did this to you and the workers." Sakura's eyebrows scrunched and she looked confused.
"I don't remember much, just the feeling of pure dread wash over me and seeing the outline of a man, then nothing." Kakashi nodded and sat down. Kakashi looked to Naruto who seemed to be still unconscious. Naruto sat up with a stir and yelled out and grabbed his head as he looked down, his blonde locks covering his face.
"Naruto, Naruto what happened on the bridge?" Naruto shook his head and looked to Kakashi, the look of pure fear riddled on his face. It killed Kakashi to see that look but put his hands on Naruto's shoulders and looked him sternly in the eyes.
"Naruto what in the name of God happened out there."
"There was only one, he, he, he was so strong! I, I couldn't do anything to stop him, I drew on him but no he destroyed my weapons with his finger, A FINGER! We don't stand a chance, even when I witnessed the old man throwing his around; I didn't feel any intent that strong. He was a demon A DEMON YOU HEAR ME!" A slap was heard throughout the room as Kurenai pulled her hand back down.
"Naruto you need to stop, breath, and think straight." Naruto did so and he calmed down.
"I don't know, he took mine and Sakura's defenses down completely, he destroyed my solid steel Katana SOLID STEEL with a single finger. His intent nearly put me down with the initial wave of it. Im sorry Kakashi-Sensei I was completely useless." Kakashi just looked to him.
"Can you tell us anything about him?" Naruto nodded solemnly.
"He was at least six foot eleven, maybe seven foot, he was ridiculously strong, at least the old mans level. I've never felt fear like I did in those few moments, not even when I was injured by the demon brothers and nearly died. This man, whoever he is, is completely insane with strength. He said his name was Taichou if that means anything to you?" Kakashi's eyes widened as he looked to Kurenai fear both showing in their eyes.
"Naruto, that man, did he have red eyes and an emblem of a lion strapped to a cross on his shoulder?" Naruto nodded.
"Kakashi."
"I know Kurenai, Kid's im sorry but we have to pull out of this mission, it just went to a passable A-rank to a SS-rank mission with the presence of that man here. He is Taichou of Darkness, the only living man with a SS-rank, labeled flee on sight. Too put it into perspective, us fighting him would be as if a three year old child fighting the Fourth Hokage. He is that strong." Everyone started to sweat. Kakashi looked to Tazuna.
"Tazuna, you will have to come with us to Konoha. That is the only way you will be safe if even for a second if that man is after you." Naruto would have said something, but it wouldn't of mattered if he did or not. With Taichou around the only thing that mattered was fleeing to the safest region possible. As Kurenai and the Genin packed the bags Kakashi sent Kage Bunshin to scout the forest and constantly had his hands in the Tora symbol only needing to grab his wrist to start his Lightning Reaver at a moments notice, not that'd help at any rate. As soon as everyone was packed and Kakashi took a head count Kurenai picked Tsunami up, and Kakashi picked Tazuna up. Naruto was responsible for Inari. The group headed off at top speed, easily reaching sixty-five miles per hour.
The group were about to reach the border when Kakashi looked back and saw a bright flash of light followed by a dome of black encasing the whole country, they were nearly encompassed themselves. Kakashi watched in fear as the orb just shrunk and disappeared in a pop and the country of wave was no more. Tazuna's eyes widened to see his home, the place his family had protected so fiercely disappear in an instant, it truly hit him in the heart. Kakashi turned to everyone helping them up from the initial explosion.
"Everyone we have to hurry, get up, with the dangers present, no more holding back with speed, pour all your chakra into your legs and trust your instincts and you will make it." They all poured massive amounts of chakra into their legs as they took through the trees almost double their speed. Kakashi was determined to only have one or two breaks if needed. Kakashi watched his every motion and even had Tazuna pull his headband up so he could see better. They all lowered their torso's down making their bodies even cut the air in front of them making them travel faster. Kurenai constantly looked back to check on the kid's and saw the beads of sweat traveling down their heads from the constant drain, and cuts from branches being passed at such speeds.
"Kakashi we need to rest."
"No Kurenai we can't, you know the risk, not even sensei could truly beat that man, he only crippled his left arm, and no doubt from the rumors heard, it's healed." Kurenai bit her lip and looked to him.
"At least let them have some soldier pills and let us fall back so we can cover them incase of his arrival." Kakashi smiled, and nodded. Kakashi signed to them to decrease speed and stop. As everyone came into the clearing they were handed a soldier pill and took them, feeling the energy the group almost took off when clapping was heard throughout the clearing.
"So Minato's brat, Kakashi of the Sharingan is here, huh. I have to hand it to you, you made excellent timing in getting out of that country, another hour or so and you would have been in Konoha. I'm glad I caught you." Kakashi's eyes widened as he popped a pill too.
"Kid's RUN, GO NOW!" All of the Genin took off towards the north but were stopped by a huge black wall. The Genin had to stop quickly but Kiba's jacket brushed the wall and it was ripped from him and burned to ash. Kiba looked to Akamaru who was whimpering and picked him up and held him close.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, now, now Kakashi, let us not get hasty. I just want to give you a message to deliver to your Hokage." Taichou tossed the message to Kakashi who caught it and was about to open it but was stopped by a threatening look from Taichou.
"Now, now Kakashi, that is for the Hokage's eyes only." Kakashi nodded and put it in his scroll pouch. Kakashi turned to see Taichou and the black wall gone. Kakashi covered his eye and sent the signal for them to travel again. Kakashi's eyes never left the scroll bag.
Well, I don't know what to say, but I have the results of the poll. I might just sporadically update but don't worry, I'm going to continue.