Naruto finally got back to the beach of the Wave and was winded. 'Oh. My. God. That was a long trip.' He thought to himself. He made four clones and gave them the books he found.

He went on his way back to Tazuna's house. He was dead tired but he felt something tug at his leg. He looked down to see a young boy not much older than 5 or 6. He was dressed in rags and had a look of sadness and despair in his eye.

'A-Almost like me.' As he gazed onto the boy's face as a younger Naruto's features started to ghost over the boy's face. 'Except..by the looks of it, this kid has much more reason to have that look.'

"Do you have any food, mister?" The child asked out. Naruto shook his head and the child looked crushed and started to walk away.

"B-But I have this." Naruto said as he brought out some of the money he got from the vault in the Uzukage building. "He pulled out about 4000 ryo. He handed it to the kid and smiled when he saw the boy's eyes widen and then start to tear up.

"Th-thank you, mister."

"No problem. No problem, now hold on to that and don't let go. Buy some food and water and stay safe, okay?"

The little boy nodded and scanpered off into an alley. Naruto smiled sadly at the scene, it was like him before he met The Third. He looked around to the rest of the poverty struck village and clenched his fist, 'That bastard, Gato! He did this to these people.' He thought angrily. He was going to pay.

He needed some time to blow off some steam and went to the woods and proceeded to just practice some tree walking and controlling his Gura Gura power.

He fell asleep after exhausting himself and the forest clearing he was at completely destroyed with the training he went through. He and the Kyuubi felt as if his control got better but it needed to get better.

He was woken up and was treated to the sight of a very beautiful girl. She had long black hair, pale skin, and large brown eyes. She wore a pink sleeveless kimono tied together with a white obi.

She was looking for herbs for her sick friend and Naruto decided to help her with his knowledge of herbs. They talked about his shinobi life style and what he fights for and it left him stumped.

She told him that she believes when someone fights for something truly precious to them, that is when they become truly strong.

After that she thanked him and went on her way but not before saying she was actually a boy. The now identified boy giggled as he walked off leaving a very stumped Naruto.

'Haha. Are you sure you swing for the right team?'

"Shut up, you bastard! I'm straight but you saw how he looked! Why would a guy dress so feminine?" Naruto screamed out.

'Hehe. Whatever you say, kit.' The fox said.

"Whatever." Naruto picked up his sword and tied it to his waist. He made a clone a dispelled it to tell the other clones to bring back those journals and then dispel. He waited about five minutes before the clones came and dispelled.

Naruto sealed the books away and looked to the sky and saw it was noon. 'Should probably get back to the house.'

He walked towards the house but noticed something a miss. He didn't here any sounds of training and looked around. He noticed a few cuts on a couple of trees and a dead pig that was hacked up.

"That can't be good." He said as he started to run. He stopped when he saw Tsunami being held hostage in the backyard with Inari standing a few feet in front of them.

"Let go of my mom!" He yelled out.

The one holding Tsunami's arm smirked cruelly, "Hey. That brat is a little noisy and might alert someone. Take care of him." He said to his partner who nodded and drew his sword and stalked toward the boy.

Inari slowly backed up, "What's he matter, kid? Weren't you going to make us give your mom back?" He said as he came closer and closer and raised his sword for a downward strike.

Inari raises his arms in reflex and closed his eyes and expected a lot of pain. He heard a clang and a 'thump'. He slowly opened his eyes to see Naruto standing in front of him with a kunai out in reverse grip and the thug on the ground groaning.

"That was a very brave thing you did, Inari." Naruto said as he glanced back to the boy who was looking at him with wide eyes.

"It was also very stupid, you should run when facing opponents stronger than yourself but I'll make an acception this time." Naruto said with a smile.

"Hey. Don't ignore me and don't come any closer or she gets it." The other thug said waving his sword around to make a point Naruto assumed.

"ROOM." Naruto stated as a circle expanded from his hand and surround them all.

"Wh-what is this?" The thug yelled out as his sword made its way towards Tsunami.

"Shambles." Naruto muttered out and everyone was shocked as Naruto fazed out of existence and Tsunami was in his place. She went to her son and hugged the life out of him.

Naruto appeared in front of the thug and blocked his sword strike with his kunai and kicked him in the chest. The sword flew from his hand and landed a few feet away from him. Naruto released his ROOM and created two clones who knocked out the thugs and tied them up.

He walked over to the mother and son duo and smiled. "I'm glad you're safe." And Tsunami thanked him profusely for saving what was left of her family.

"No problem," he said as he gave a good guy pose with the thumbs up then he got serious.

"Do you know where my team is?" He asked.

Tsunami nodded, "Yes, they went to the bridge with Father, why?"

"Because if those thugs came to get you, it must mean that Gato is making his move on the old man today." He said getting a gasp from Tsunami. He smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry. I promise to get thr old man back in one piece. I never go back on my word." Naruto said as she nodded and ran towards the bridge. Tsunami watched him go off and didn't see Inari sneak off.

-Bridge-

Kakashi was currently in a battle against Zabuza once again. The sword wielder had came back stronger and with backup in the form of the fake hunter nin, who was fighting Sasuke at the moment.

They had suspected Zabuza would be back today but they also planned for Naruto to be here as well. Even if he wasn't skilled like Sasuke, he was still a body to help protect Tazuna. Kakashi couldn't find the blonde when he went looking for him last night but suspected that he was alive somewhere doing whatever he does in his freetime.

'That is not really appropriate for a ninja, especially on a mission. He let his emotions control him.' Kakashi thought as he dodged another swing from Zabuza's massive broadsword.

"You better give up and escape with those brats while you can, Kakashi. Haku is at least high-chunin border like low jounin level and has his Ice Release. The boy doesn't stand a chance." Zabuza gloated.

Kakashi chuckled and he lashed out with a kunai held in reverse grip. "I wouldn't be too sure about that. Sasuke was his class Rookie of the Year and Haku isn't the only one with a bloodline. You're looking at the Last Uchiha."

Zabuza's eyes widened a bit as he dodged and jumped back, 'The sole survivor of Itachi Uchiha's massacre of his clan. It's that boy?' Zabuza thought as he charged at Kakashi again.

Naruto just arrived to the bridge and saw Kakashi fighting Zabuza again. Sasuke was fighting the fake hunter nin in a dome of ice plates.

He shook his head at the odd sight and looked over to see Sakura standing near Tazuna. They both looked shaken and like they would jump at the slightest sound. Sakura wasn't even in a defensive position, no kunai out to defend against a surprise attack or anything. She was looking worried over Sasuke rather than Tazuna.

He looked over to the ice dome and decided to make his presence known. He jumped down in between Sakura and the ice dome.

"Naruto-baka! Where have you been?!" Sakura screeched out making Tazuna wince.

"I've been out training." He stated coolly.

"Stupid. Trying to be as cool as Sasuke. You can help me guard Tazuna until Sasuke finishes that masked guy."

Naruto shook his head, "Help you? You aren't guarding Tazuna yourself. No weapon or any kind of defensive stance, what if Zabuza were to throw a barrage of shuriken or kunai? And Sasuke won't be able to beat that guy. I've seen enough to know that he is outclassed at the moment." He said as he started to walk towards the ice mirrors.

Sakura was fuming, "Hey! Get back here! I am your superior, I was Kunoichi of the Year and you were dead last. I outrank you!" She slammed her foot and point to the ground as if she was scolding a dog.

Naruto turned around so she could see only one of his icy blue eyes that sent shivers down her spine. "If you ever talk to me like that again..there will be consequences. Academy rank means nothing out here, you better learn before you get yourself killed." Naruto said as he vanished from his spot.

He reappeared next to Sasuke, who had scratches here and there, and watched as he dodged a volley of senbon. He looked over to Naruto and glared, "You idiot! You should've stayed outside the dome. We would have a better chance that way."

"Geez. I come in here to save your sorry ass and this is the thanks I get." Naruto responded with a smirk. Sasuke glared and then smirked himself. "Whatever just don't get in my way, dobe."

The masked nin soon began to attack them with his senbon again and they were getting hit every so often. 'This guy. He's not trying to kill us. I saw his accuracy last time and we aren't dodging all that fast. Why is he holding back?" Naruto thought.

He was too fast for Naruto to see but Sasuke seemed to be getting better at dodging the needles. He looked over and he was surprised when he saw Sasuke with red eyes like Kakashi's. He had two tomoe in the right eye and one in the left.

'He awakened his Sharingan?' Naruto thought.

"Sasuke. Your eyes have changed." He stated and Sasuke looked shocked but shook it off. 'Things did seem to change. I see every slight movement and the chakra of Naruto. Maybe I can find the real hunter nin now.' He mused as he looked at the mirrors.

He was disappointed as they all looked the same. 'Damn.'

"Hey, Sasuke. With those eyes can you see him?" Naruto asked.

"Yes. He was way faster before but now I can see him as if he was going normal speed. Why?"

"Because I have a plan. Just tell me which mirror he comes out of and then attack me."

"What?! That's the stupidest plan ever!" Sasuke yelled out.

"I would have to agree with him. That is not a very smart plan of action." The hunter nin said. "The times for games is over. I truly don't want to do this but for Zabuza-sama's ambitions I must." The nin finished as he raised up more senbon and through them with extreme accuracy and speed at Naruto. They seemed to be coming from everywhere and there was no escape.

"Ha, as if these needles will effect me now. Now, that I have activated these eyes, I'll be able to kill him." Sasuke said arrogantly as he dodged the needles effortlessly while Naruto was struggling. There were needles heading towards Sasuke from behind him and he was in midair with no room to dodge so he substituted with Naruto.

Naruto was riddled with needles and fell to the ground. The Kyuubi was outraged at what the despicable Uchiha had done. "Be grateful. You have just saved The Last Uchiha."

"You sacrificed your comrade? Why?" The nin asked.

"Because I needed to survive and besides I'm more important than him. I'm the Last Uchiha. He's some clanless dobe who barely passed the Academy by the skin of his teeth."

"You are truly foolish." The nin said as he launched more needles at Sasuke.

"You're the one who is foolish. You can't hurt me anymore and I bet this ice dome takes a lot of chakra. It's only a matter of time." Sasuke said with a smirk.

True to his word the dome did come down in about five minutes and Sasuke went on the offensive.

"Now take this! Fire Style: Great Fireball Justu!" He said as he spat out a giant frieball that zoomed towards the nin. The nin was out of chakra and was looking like it was over until they heard 'ROOM'.

Suddenly the nin and Sasuke were in different positions with Sasuke being in the receiving end of the jutsu. He yelled out as he tried to jump away but was hit and he was burned on his left arm and leg.

The nin looked around and blinked, 'What happened?'

"I saved you." They heard and turned towards Naruto, who grunted as he picked out the senbon in his back.

"Damn bastard. Unlocks his bloodline and thinks he's bigger than he already thought. He might be worse than the Hyugas" he said as picked out the last senbon and stood up as the Kyuubi had been healing the injuries.

"W-Why did you save me? Aren't I your enemy?"

Naruto looked over to the masked person, "Hmm. Yes I suppose your are but you are better than that guy." Naruto pointed over towards Sasuke who was craddling his arm burnt arm.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura ran over and checked on Sasuke and glared at the hunter nin. "How dare you hurt, Sasuke-kun?!"

Naruto looked towards the hunter nin and saw that they made no move to attack Tazuna. "Why aren't you attacking the old man? Now would be the time as there isn't anyone guarding him." He said but then heard something akin to chirping birds.

"Because there is something I must do." They said as an ice mirror appeared behind them.

"Goodbye, Haku." The nin stopped for a second and then went through the mirror.

-With Kakashi-

"Summoning: Earth Style: Fang Pursuit Jutsu!" Kakashi yelled out as he slammed his hand on the ground and a wave a dirt went towards Zabuza. The ground exploded and Zabuza grunted as he was struck with multiple teeth and claws from mutliple dogs. He was currently pinned to the ground and couldn't move.

"Hmm. So what's your plan now? Talk me to death?" Zabuza said.

"I coule do something like that if I gave the order. Those dogs could tear you limb from limb but let me show a move of my own creation." He said as he gripped his right forearm as lightning started to gather in the palm of his hand and a circle of lightning surrounded him. He rushed forward with a cry of Lightning Blade. He got close to Zabuza and thrusted his hand foward toward Zabuza's heart. He didn't expect an ice plate to appear and the hunter nin to come out.

Kakashi's hand pierced Haku's chest, just as Naruto got to their side of the bridge. Zabuza eyes widened a bit and he hesistated but he swung his sword through Haku to get to Kakashi. Kakashi grabbed Haku's body and jumped away.

Kakashi pulled his hand out and went to battle Zabuza. They exchanged blows for a few minutes before Kakashi rendered both of Zabuza's arms useless.

He was about to land the killing blow before he heard clapping. All occupants of the bridge looked towards the end of ir and saw a band of bandits and thugs with varying weapons and at the head of the mob was a man with puffy brown hair wearing a black suit and small black glasses.

"Gato," Zabuza growled out, "what are you doing here?"

The now named Gato laughed, "I figured why pay a shinobi so much money when I can hire all of these guys for the same prices?"

"Kakashi. Our battle is over." Zabuza said as he stalked towards the mob of men.

"You can't seriously think you can take them all? Both of your arms are broken." Naruto stated.

Zabuza seemed to mull it over, "You're right. Give me a kunai." He said as the bandages around his mouth unraveled.

Naruto shook his head, "This is not how Haku would want you to live your life. I believe he would want you to live. That is why he died to protect you and your ambitions as your weapon."

"He cared for me more than that, didn't he?" Zabuza asked as he thought back to the time he spent with the young child of the Yuki Clan.

"I wouldn't know but to throw his sacrifice away is very disrespectful, don't you think?"

"I-I want to be with Haku again. Even though we may not see each other in the afterlife." Zabuza said.

Naruto looked into the man's eyes and nodded. He pulled out a kunai and tossed it to Zabuza, who caught it with his mouth. Zabuza nodded in thanks and rushed off towards the mob of thugs after Gato.

Gato cowered and yelled for his small army to attack the charging nin. He clashed the thugs slashing and stabbing with his kunai. The thugs struck him with a their own various swords, spears, and kunais.

Zabuza made it to Gato, who was shaking in fear, before he collasped in front of the man. Gato smirked and slowly walked up to the nuke nin. "You're just a baby demon." He said arrogantly.

He took out a blade and went to end Zabuza's life but was stopped when the current Kubikiribōchō user disappeared and the blond brat took his place.

"I can't let someone like you kill that man. It would be a disgrace to his pride." Naruto said.

Gato snorted, "As if a brat like you could stop me." He said as he took a swing at Naruto, who just shook his head and knocked the knife out of his hand and pulled a kunai making Gato cower.

A blue circle expanded from Naruto's hand and surrounded him and Gato.

Kakashi's eyes narrowed, 'That is the same circle from the bell test. So it was him? But what is it?'

"I haven't tried this before but the worse outcome is you dying so it's a win-win." Naruto said.

He thrust his hand foward and struck Gato in the chest. There was a cube shaped hole in his chest as something came flying from his back. Kakashi's eyes widened, 'Did he just thrust his heart out if his chest?!'

Gato fell to the ground clutching the left side of his chest and breathing very hard. "W-What did you do to me?" He wheezed out.

Naruto held out his hand and a glass-like cube was in his hand with a heart on the inside. "I took your heart." Naruto said as if was simple.

Gato looked horrified, "H-How?!"

"That's neither here or there. You are going to sign everything you own over to the people of the Wave Country or else." Naruto squeezed the cube which caused Gato extreme pain as he started to yell.

"Okay, okay! I will do what you say, just please stop." Gato whimpered out.

Naruto nodded and knocked out Gato. He picked up the slime ball and walked over to his sensei, who was looking at him with a calculating look.

"K-Kakashi." A voice rasped out and they turned to see Zabuza with an assortment of weapons sticking out of his back and sides.

"C-Could you take me to Haku?" He asked. Kakashi nodded and picked up Zabuza and walked over to Haku's body.

Zabuza said his last goodbyes and his regrets to his late apprentice and passed away as it started to snow. Naruto walked over to the Kubikiribōchō and sealed it away in a scroll. He then noticed a mass of people gathered led by none other than Inari.

He was going to go greet them when he heard Sakura squeal as Sasuke woke up and Kakashi went over to see his 'star' student. Naruto shook his head and told the villagers of his deal with Gato.

Many wanted to kill him then and there but had to get there money back.

Over the next couple of days, Gato had signed over everything he had to the people of the Wave or risk his heart being crushed. Afterwards, Naruto gave him his heart back but it didn't stop the villagers from beating him to death.

Sakura doted over Sasuke's burns and he was now wearing bandages over his burns. Kakashi asked how he got them and he told him that after he sent his fire jutsu, Haku used a substitution on him.

Kakashi thought something was amiss but let it slide as he didn't a better explanation.

Naruto had dug a grave for Haku and Zabuza. He used the Executioner's Blade as grave marker for them.

They were currently tree hopping back to the village. Sasuke was brooding about being beaten by Haku but was happy about finally unlocking his Sharingan. Sakura was glancing at Sasuke and blushing while silently squealing.

Naruto was thinking over his training. Kakshi wasn't helping him further his skills. He trained himself more than Kakshi has.

He felt his basics were now up to par with the best of them. He needed to work on his stamina so he asked the Kyuubi to help him with a workout regimen. He needed to work on his newly found techniques for his Ope Ope and this 'Haki' thing his clone read about in Rayleigh's journal. He needed to learn this Black Blade Style as well.

He also needed to summon his familiar from the Bear Clan. He would like to get to know her.

He had a lot to do.

End.

Still looking for a pairing. I like NarutoxIno.

What DF should go to who? Suggestions? Maybe the Yami-Yami no mi to Shikamaru?

Tell me what you think in the reviews.