I do not own Naruto.

Next Day…Morning

Birds were singing a happy tune, breakfast was being cooked downstairs, and team 8 was enjoying a little R and R. The key word being "was." Shikamaru jumped out of bed as cold water was poured all over him. Shino's face met cold wood as Asuma flipped the bed over and Naruto…let's just say that Naruto wasn't a happy camper this morning either.

That's how we found Team 8 that morning. Cold, tired, and definitely full of life. Okay, so maybe not that last one, but hey. Asuma did warn them. The sun was out this morning, and Tazuna again went to meet with the workers about working on the bridge.

In the past few days, many of the workers had refused and outright quit when they had heard Zabuza was in the area. Tazuna had told them it was all right, but on the inside, he was regretting that decision. He only had less than thirty people, out of the thousand or so who started with him.

"Tazuna? How about the boys help speed up the process on the bridge as a warm-up?" Despite their small statue, Tazuna now knew better than to underestimate the boy's potential. Nodding, Naruto began to help some of the men lift the weights, while Shikamaru and Shino helped the others lift and set the weights in place.

Two hours later-Morning…

The weather was still nice out as brunch rolled around. The boys had sped up construction by a day and a half, and Tazuna was more than grateful. However, that still didn't mean that he was going to let them drink let alone touch his beer.

Just like yesterday, Asuma had led the boys into the surrounding forest. Most of the trees were old, but still sturdy, and that's what Asuma exactly had in mind. He gave the boys three minutes in order for them to come up with a strategy, before he began to lay out the rules.

"Rule one: no fatal strikes. Rule two: no one touches my cigarette unless they want to be sleep out in the forest tonight. Finally, rule three: do your best. Everyone ready? Set. Go!"

Unlike the bell challenge, Team 8 didn't immediately spilt up. Shino and Naruto ran on the opposite sides of Asuma as Shikamaru threw kunai. Asuma kept a blank face as he easily blocked Shino's punch, and he flipped over, sending him into Naruto. Both boys fell to the floor, popping when a hand gripped Asuma's shoulder.

Shino's equally blank stare met Asuma's as he tried locking his feet around Asuma's neck. Key word: tried. This time, Asuma flipped the real Shino on his stomach as Naruto popped out of nowhere and tried punching Asuma as his back was turned.

Asuma kept one hand on Shino holding him down, and used the other to grab Naruto, stopping him cold. Shikamaru kicked Asuma in the gut, knocking him back, while getting him off his teammates. Helping Shino up, the team stared down Asuma who had regained his bearings.

Shikamaru and Shino threw Naruto in the air as Asuma charged at them. Shino and Shikamaru moved to the side, grabbing one of Asuma's legs. They quickly tied a rope to his legs, nailing it to the ground, moving again as Naruto called out his jutsu.

"Crystal Release: Dragon claws jutsu!"

Twin blue crystal like claws appeared on Naruto's arms as he came crashing down in a dive. Since Asuma still had control of his hands, he blocked the first claw with his kunai, but stopped when his vision was covered with insects. Shikamaru stood off into the shadows using his shadow's possession jutsu. Gripping Naruto's other arm; Asuma threw the boy into Shikamaru, who wasn't able to dodge in time as Shino attacked him with another punch as his bugs continued attacking Asuma.

Free of Shikamaru's possession jutsu, Asuma broke his legs out of the restraints as jumped onto another tree, doing hand signs.

"Wind Release: Blow back jutsu!" Shino felt his back hitting a tree as he groaned on the floor seconds later.

Asuma surveyed the area as he called the match over. Both Naruto and Shikamaru were on the floor panting while Shino was still down for the count. He clapped a few times, as they all tried to get their bearings and catch their breath.

Twenty Minutes Later- Afternoon…

"Alright team. What went wrong?' Everyone sat in silence for a few moments.

"You went too hard on us for one thing." Naruto laughed as Shikamaru leaned against a tree with his eyes closed.

"What do you mean I "went to hard"? I used the same strength I always use against you guys. You're improving though and your teamwork is getting better as well. That's another good thing. When we get back to Konoha, remind me to get you guys a special package." Shino raised an eyebrow.

"What is the special package? Do you want us to say "Asuma-sensei, don't forget that special package, you made us promise about back in Wave? Why you ask? It seems kind of weird." Shikamaru and Naruto nodded.

Asuma signed. "Just remind me, okay?" Everyone laughed.

For the rest of the afternoon, Asuma spend the time training the team individuality before switching to someone else, as the current person grew tired. Turns out everyone had something to work on. Shino with his speed, Shikamaru with his strength and stamina, and Naruto with his new ability and charka control.

Asuma gave them another thirty-minute break, before making them have another team exercise. This fight was shorter since they were more tired, but they managed to amuse Asuma nonetheless.

"Alright everyone, let's head inside."

Two days later…

The week had progressed fast and swiftly as Naruto and the others looked out the windows. It had finally been a week, and everyone was tense. The bridge was nearly complete and now the only thing that had to worry about was catching a cold, and Zabuza.

The team had decided that Team 8 would take care of any Zabuza's little friends, while Asuma settled the score with the former Kiri nin. Tomorrow, Team 8 would protect Tazuna while the final changes would be put on the bridge.

Cureently, the team was resting their muscles for the morning fight. Everyone was eating dinner, when the youngest member of Tazuna's family slammed his hands on the kitchen table. Naruto momentarily stopped slurping his ramen, as everyone turned towards him.

"You're all going to die."

The boy had spiky ebony hair and dark eyes. He wore a green jumpsuit with a yellow shirt underneath with a simple pair of sandals. Tsunami had made him take off his blue and white stripped hat at the dinner table. He had a frown marring his face as Naruto gently set his bowl down.

"Well that's positive."

"Gato's men are going to kill you. Then he's going to kill my grandfather. Just like he killed my dad." Naruto clicked his tongue.

"That's the most I've ever heard you say, Inari."

"It's true. You all know it's true! Why fight if you know you're going to die? That's the path for you! Death!" The now identified Inari cocked his head to the right. "How do you know my name?" Naruto stopped slurping his ramen again.

"While your mom and I were baking cookies, she told me." Silence. "The only path isn't just death Inari."

"How do you know that? Gato's men are bigger, and stronger than you!" Inari's face was redder than a cherry as he and Naruto got into each other's faces.

"He'll kill you!"

"You don't know that!"

"You're going to die!"

"Your argument is getting weaker. I think I'm winning." Naruto said in a singing voice.

Both faces were close; they could feel each other breaths. After staring into each other's eyes for a few moments, they began to crack smiles at each other. Inari had tears coming out of his eyes, and as Inari wiped them away, Naruto rubbed his head like he was a little child.

Everyone smiled affectionately at the two, and then continued dinner. The rest of dinner was relatively calm as Naruto and Inari chatted to each other like old friends. Tsunami had to excuse herself a few times, but Naruto had reassured Inari it wasn't because of him.

As everyone headed to bed, Naruto and Inari stayed downstairs planning card games. Naruto sent Inari off to bed as he put his coat back on. Tying his sandals, Naruto had a clone personally escort Inari to bed, as the boy had fallen alsleep on the coach. Naruto left a note, saying he wanted some last-minute training before tomorrow, and wrote, he would be back in time to leave with the others in the morning.

Next Day…Morning

Turns out that Naruto lost track of time, as he stayed out longer than he had intended. He was trying his current crystal release techniques, trying to find ways to use them without tiring himself out. The obvious answer would be to practice, until he got them down just about perfect, but…who had time like that? He surely didn't.

He found himself waking up with birds chirping above him as the harsh sun pierced his eyes. His body felt like someone had run him over with a truck, then backed up twice. He realized that he had crashed a field in the forest. He groaned as he tried to regain consciousness.

A person in a pink sleeveless kimono with pale red edges stood over him looking concerned. Naruto took another minute to address the new stranger. The person was wearing her hair loosely and had her kimono wrapped with a simple obi tied in a bow. Naruto stared into the strangers large dark-brown eyes as she helped him off the ground.

"Are you all right?" Naruto nodded. His back was stiff but with a little stretching, he would be fine.

"Who are you?" Naruto's voice cracked a little, as he cursed himself in his head. The female only smiled, before telling him, her name was Haku.

As the two talked, Naruto had completely forgotten about the others, until Haku had asked him an interesting question.

"Who are your precious people?"

"Precious people?"

"Yes, the people that you would protect with your life. You wouldn't need to even think about it. You would give your life for theirs in a heartbeat." Naruto paused.

The third Hokage and Asuma-sensei flashed into his mind. His comrades were also important to him. Shino, Shikamaru, Choji, and sometimes Kiba. He thought of the females he knew, and his favorite ramen chef and his daughter Ayame. He nodded as thought over Haku's words.

"I guess I see what you mean." Haku smiled as she stood up.

"When you have special people in your life, then you become stronger. In both combat and in life. Please remember that." Naruto nodded.

Haku turned to Naruto one last time. "By the way, I'm a boy."

"…"

Same Day…-Afternoon

Naruto was rubbing his neck as he walked toward the house. He really had taken a long time to chat with Haku. Just when he thinks he's found a sane women, it turns that it was a cross dressing man. Well, Haku claimed he wasn't cross-dressing, but Naruto wasn't sure.

He found the house quiet, as he walked inside, and assumed that the others had already left without him. Naruto didn't blame them. If he was four hours late, he would've late a long time ago too. Still, something still didn't feel right.

"NO!"

That was Tsunami's voice. Naruto carefully approached the kitchen. The room was practically empty except there were two big thugs, with a frightened Tsunami and a brave little boy. It then dawned on Naruto, that the little boy was Inari! Naruto felt pride swell in his chest as he watched Inari fight against the thugs. Naruto managed to catch Inari's eye. Catching on, Inari began speaking about he wasn't going to be a crybaby anymore, and was going to defend himself, and all that good stuff.

Naruto hit both the pressure points on their necks as Inari drew back his arrow. Naruto helped Tsunami off the floor as he rubbed Inari's hair.

"Nicely done kid. You stay here and protect your mom while I go help the others." Inari nodded.

Back at the bridge…

The battle had already begun. Shino faced off against Zabuza's special helper, while Asuma battled Zabuza himself. Both men were fully healed, and were ready to finish the fight for good.

Since Naruto hadn't shown up, they were forced to work with what they had. Shikamaru had stayed behind to protect Tazuna as Shino had engaged in a fight with Zabuza's fake hunter nin. The fake hunter nin was faster, but Shino was stronger. Asuma was impressed with the boy's skill, but tried to stay focus on his own fight, lest he wanted to end up dead.

Shikamaru gritted his teeth. Where was Naruto?

"Sorry I'm late. I had to save Inari and his mom. Then I had to take a shower, and like wash my face, cause, who wants to help his team while being filthy?" Shikamaru smacked the back of Naruto's head as he appeared moments later. Tazuna signed in relief as Naruto smiled at them. Spotting Shino and the hunter nin, Naruto cracked his knuckles.

"Let's get started shall we?"

End Chapter. Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and alerts. Review if you have the time! Ja ne!