Last time, Naruto and his team made it to Nami no Kuni and met up with Tazuna, the bridge builder, who was targeted by Gatou. Along with meeting him, they met with Kakashi and his team, team 7. After discussing the reason and possibilities, they are now working together in a joint operation against Gatou.

Morning

It was mid-morning, as around this time many animals and any other creatures in Nami no Kuni were moving around now. It was also at this time, that Kakashi took his team to the forest to do some training. Kakashi took them to a nice spot, where they were surrounded by tall trees. He then got his team attention by telling them that they are going to be climbing trees.

"Climb a tree!" Sasuke and Sakura plainly said, while Ko remained emotionless about it.

"That's right!" answered Kakashi

"What sort of training is that?" asked Sakura

"Let me finished 1st Sakura. This is a little different than normal tree climbing. You see, you're going to climb without using your hands." Stated Kakashi

Sakura and Sasuke looked unconvinced about it, but Kakashi gave them a demonstration. He channels his charka to his feet and started to walk up a tree like he does walking on the ground. Sasuke and Sakura were impressed about it, which Kakashi started to explain on the purpose of this exercise.

Once he finished his explaining the purpose, he told his students to start the exercise as well as use their kunai to mark how far they climb and to surpass that limit. After explaining, team 7 went to work, where Sasuke and Ko only made about ¼ of the way up. Sakura, on the other hand, was able to make to the top of the tree and sitting on a branch.

Just before Sasuke and Ko were about to begin again, they heard Kakashi, "I hope your only watching them since you're just curious, not to just get info from us."

They all looked at Kakashi's direction, which was above Sakura. It was then they heard someone plainly walking down from on top of Sakura. They all saw that it was N (Naruto's codename), coming down the tree very calmly.

N looked back at Kakashi, "Sort of… to tell you the truth, I only came this way to see if there was any tracks leading away from Tazuna's house and found you guys instead. I then saw your genin were trying to do the tree climbing exercise, which I got the 1st look on what the great Uchiha clan can do. I think the girl is much more of a prodigy then the so called "Rookie of the Year" can do." N stated

Sakura looked angry at N, while Sasuke only glared at him, while Kakashi and Ko just observed him. Before Sakura can yell at him, N said, "Well, I let you and your team continue with your training since I got work to do. I'll probably see you at dinner later on." Said N before leaping away with great speed.

As Naruto was leaving, Sasuke only glared at him since he just practically ridicule his family name, while also looking at him since he saw that Naruto was able to do the tree climbing with ease, which only made him more frustrated since Naruto was also Kumo's "Rookie of the Year" like him.

After Naruto encounter, Sasuke looked at the tree and went to work on getting stronger, while Kakashi looked at N and wondered on who he was.

Zabuza's hideout

Zabuza was lying in bed, resting from the death-like state he was put on. Next to him was his subordinate. As she stayed by her master's side, they had an unwelcome guest coming in. It was Gatou with 2 of his own henchmen.

"So you have come back in defeat. It looks like Kiri has some pretty pathetic ninjas." Gatou evilly grinned at Zabuza, who lied still on his bed.

Gatou continued to goad Zabuza, who remained silent until he went up to get him to speak. He was stopped by Zabuza's young subordinate who said, "Don't touch Zabuza-sama with your dirty hands." With a death glare

It was then that Gatou's 2 samurai henchmen went to protect their boss, but was stopped when Haku used their own swords to subdue him. The young shinobi gave them all a warning, which they took and left them alone. Before they left, Gatou said, "One more time! If you fail again, you won't be welcome back here anymore… Remember that!"

Once they left, the young shinobi went back to Zabuza's side, where he said, "Haku, you didn't have to that…" where underneath the blanket, Zabuza held a kunai, ready to kill.

"I know, but it's too early to kill Gatou. If we cause a commotion here, they will be after us again. We have to remain patient." Said Haku, which Zabuza nodded in agreement with Haku's reasoning

Evening

It was sunset as everyone was returning to Tazuna's house. Kakashi saw Yugito and her team coming back from another day of searching but found nothing yet. Kakashi was continuing to observe Sasuke and Ko with their tree climbing exercise, while he sent Sakura to keep an eye on Tazuna for the rest of the day. It wasn't until the dinner time that they returned.

Now, everyone was eating dinner where Tsunami prepared with some help from Samui. Once it was done, everyone began to enjoy the meal. As everyone ate peacefully, Sakura asked about a certain picture that had a rip on it. It was then that the family went gloomy, where Tsunami's son, Inari left. The group was introduced to Inari yesterday after they had their little meeting. Inari brag on how they were all going to die from Gatou. They didn't care since Inari was still just a child, but Naruto was the one who cared the most on what Inari said since he said that there wasn't any type of heroes in the world.

After Inari left, Tazuna began to explain about what has happened to the country's hero, who was also his son-in-law, as well as Inari's stepfather. Once they heard on what Gatou did to Inari's father and to the rest of the village with all his men and such, it was understandable on how the people lost their hope.

Next day

It was middle of the day as Naruto was at a training spot that was on the opposite side of where Kakashi's team was training in their tree climbing. Naruto was currently practicing his wind manipulation training by cutting a leaf in half, which he was almost successfully completed with only a centimeter or 2 to go.

Naruto continued this training until he felt a presence coming near him. He looked to see that there was a girl wearing a traveling kimono, holding a woven basket with plants in it. He decided to see who she was and to know why she was here.

The girl in presents sensed someone coming towards her, whom she turned to see that it's a boy. But the thing that caught her attention was he was wearing a kumo head band on his forehead. She kept her cool and decided to play by ear, which she heard Naruto say, "Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking, but… what are you doing around here since this place is a solitary place away from anyone?"

The girl smiled, "Oh I was just picking some herbs to help a friend of mine."

Naruto didn't sense anything wrong with her since she gave off a calm, gentle feeling. He then asked her if she wanted some help with it, which she agreed. They both went to pick some flowers, where Naruto had asked the girl for some help since he wasn't use to picking herbs. It was during this time that he learned that the girls name is Haku.

Once the herbs were picked, both of them started to have a conversation.

The girl asked, "Um, before we bumped into each other, I saw that you were training. Are you a ninja?"

"Yeah, I was just training on learning on how to use my wind manipulation before I decided to help you out." Smiled Naruto

It was then Haku asked, "Why are you training?"

"It because I want to become stronger!" replied Naruto

"Why are you trying to become stronger… you look already strong enough." Said Haku

"I know that I already look strong, but I want to get stronger." Naruto said

"Why do you wish to keep on getting stronger?" asked Haku

Naruto replied, "It because I want to become the strongest person in my village and earn the respect of the villagers as well, but more importantly… I want to be strong enough to protect the people that not only became my friends, but also saving my life by those who thought of me as nothing more than a worthless being of existence when I was young." Explained Naruto

"Is that so… then you must have a lot of precious people in your life to make you want to get stronger, which is where your true strength would come out since I believe that only a person that has someone precise to protect is when you truly be strong." Replied Haku

Naruto thought about what Haku said, which he imagined Killer Bee, A, Darui, Cee, Yugito, Omoi, Karui, his senseis and teachers as he grew up, and finally Samui. For Haku, all the times as young child were nothing but pain and loneliness until meeting Zabuza.

"Yes, I understand that very well." Naruto smiled, which Haku also smiled.

They both exchange a farewell to each other. But before Naruto can continue to train, Haku stopped and without turning her back, she said, "Oh… N… just in case you don't know, I'm a boy."

Naruto looked dumbfounded as he thought, "I can't believe I was attracted to a boy, even though he looked and sounded like a girl. He's one of those pretty boys that I heard the girls talk about when I used to be in the academy."

Just as Naruto was about continue his training, he sense someone else was coming near him. He looked to see that it was Omoi.

"Na-" Omoi started to say, but was stopped by Naruto.

"Omoi, remember not to call me by my real name for now." Stated Naruto

"Oh right, sorry… anyways N, you're up for guard duty." Omoi said

Since yesterday, Yugito suggested a new approach. Since they have searched the whole island, they figured that Zabuza or any of Gatou's hideouts might be on one of the surrounding islands, which was further away. So Yugito planned to split the team up into 2 pairs. The 1st pair would be Yugito and Samui, who was now currently searching one of the islands away from the main one they were in, while Naruto and Omoi were split into another pair, where they would keep an eye on Tazuna's family, which they would take turns of keeping watch and the other train. The next day, they would switch so the same thing can be done, except it would be Yugito and Samui to do guard duty while Naruto and Omoi would search the next island on the list.

A couple of days later

It was evening as everyone returned back to Tazuna's house. During the past couple of days, everyone was busy with their own thing. Yugito and Samui had returned from scouting another island to see nothing. The kumo team has eliminated all but 1 island left, which they guess was the one where Zabuza or Gatou's hideout was hidden. They planned on going at him tomorrow morning, which Naruto volunteer to stay with the family just in case, which they nodded.

At the same time, Kakashi has been supervising his genin team training, which he got Sasuke, Sakura and Ko to practice until they were perfect, while during the time, he would keep an eye on Tazuna as they trained. It wasn't until today that Sasuke and Ko had completed the tree climbing exercise.

Naruto at that time has completed his leaf cutting exercise which he was ready to master the next level in order to start using his wind manipulation ninjutsu.

Everyone sat around the table, waiting to have some dinner. As they waited, Inari looked at Naruto and everyone else. As Inari continue to look at them, he started to get angry because they act like they can win against Gatou, which it made him remember of his father, who died at Gatou's hands as he tried to defeat him.

Naruto notice Inari starting to break out tears, which he asked, "What?"

"Why do you guys bother on trying so hard? No matter how hard you train, your still no match for Gatou's men! No matter what claims you make or how hard you work, when facing the strong, the weak will only end up getting killed!" Inari yelled

Everyone was quiet after what Inari said, but Naruto broke the silence, "Whatever kid, I'm not like you."

"I'd hate to be like you! You don't know anything about this country, yet you're being so noisy!" said Inari, which he continued to explain the things on how hard his life was, while comparing himself to Naruto as he acted strong and smiles with his friends. It was then that Naruto had snapped.

"I'm sorry but I didn't understand anything that you just said…" Which Naruto looked at Inari, who looked like he was about to yell at him again, but stopped when Naruto said, "… because I don't understand little sissies like you, who only know how to run and hide, and who disgraces his father's legacy." Naruto narrowed his eyes as he said it to Inari's face, who was shocked to hear someone say he failed his father.

It was then at this moment Naruto decided to leave since he wasn't hungry anymore. Inari only cried as Naruto left, since Naruto's words really hit him hard.

Till Next time

My Poll has been put up with the possible summoning creatures. Also, since there's been alot of fox summoning contracts, i will not put that up since I want Kyuubi be the only fox in this story.