Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

Kakashi rushed ahead of Asuma in his single-minded charge toward the bridge. Little thought had been put into the attack plan that he made. He would get there and kill everyone who dared challenge him. Yuri was his best friend and the first real connection he had made since the loss of his team and he would be damned if he allowed the man to die.

Kurnai took the route that Ino and Tazuna took and he prayed that she made it in time to save Naruto. The boy was reportedly fighting against the white-haired swordsman and that was a battle that the boy wasn't ready for. However, that outcome wasn't in his hands and he turned his mind to the coming battle.

An explosion sounded close by and ahead of Kakashi. He felt slightly relieved as it meant that Yuri was still fighting, he was still alive. He jumped out of the trees and entered a cloud of smoke and dirt that was thrown up from one of the many explosions. He sent a strong kick toward an armored shinobi but the man must have noticed his entrance into the battle as he jump clear of the attack and retreated a ways back toward the bridge or what was left of it anyway.

Kakashi took a battle ready position in front and to the right of Yuri and glanced the man's way. His right arm dangled near his side and flinched occasionally. Bits of white bone poked out of Yuri's flesh and Kakashi hoped that the injury didn't cause permanent damage. The black-haired Jonin stood with most of his weight on his left foot in an effort to relieve pressure from his side and Kakashi saw that the area looked deformed and sunken. Blood seeped from Yuri's mouth and internal bleeding was most likely the cause considering the damage the man had taken. To make matters worse, the Jonin's left arm was charred black with splits in the darkened flesh showing that he had been moving the arm. All things considered, Yuri was lucky to be alive and would be of no help for the fight.

Yuri gave a quick nod to Kakashi and Asuma, who had taken a position to the left. "You're late," he said simply and, oddly, his voice didn't sound forced nor did it show that he was in pain.

Kakashi might have said a witty comeback if the situation wasn't so dire and Yuri's life so close to the edge. Instead, he looked forward to focus on his enemy. Three of them, Zabuza, the masked one, and a new armored shinobi that Kakashi didn't see in the first fight, stood near the bridge. Each of them looked like they had been in a furious battle and Kakashi marvelled at the strength Yuri had to posses to have not only survived the battle but also inflict damage on all of the enemy shinobi.

"Two are dead," Yuri said. "You two take Zabuza and the armored shinobi. I'll hold the masked one off until Kurenai gets here."

Asuma shot the man a look. "You're in no condition to be fighting, Yuri."

The black-haired man entered a taijutsu position that Kakashi recognized from watching Naruto fight. It was from the Tetsu Sheru which meant that Yuri was planning on just holding on until the other Jonin arrived. Kakashi was amazed when he saw all signs of pain and exhaustion leave the man's body and his face never changed from its blank look. For all intents and purposes, if Yuri wasn't covered in wounds and his right arm didn't hang uselessly he would have looked like he had just entered the battle The monstrous amount of will that the man possessed shocked and awed Kakashi.

"Asuma," the silver-haired Jonin said. "We'll finish our opponents as fast as we can and then move to aid Yuri. If Kurenai gets here before then, we will focus on our opponents and allow Kurenai to took up where Yuri left off. Yuri, the second Kurenai takes over you fight, you will start treating your wounds to the best of your ability. No Konoha shinobi is going home in a body bag."

Yuri didn't argue with him and his eyes flashed a hint of relief that his battle was almost over. Kakashi faced his enemies and waited for the attack.

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

Naruto hissed as pain shot through him. He leaned against a tree and held a hand firmly on his right side. It bled more than his left side as Katsutoshi's katana had ripped through his right kidney and blood practically flowed out of the wound when he removed the gauze pad he had pulled out from his kunai pouch.

Blood covered him and his healing ability was stretched thin in an attempt to keep him alive. He took a shaky step and about collapsed from the pain. He breathed through his blood stained teeth in sharp quick bursts and clenched his eyes shut. He had once prided himself in his ability to tolerate pain but the suffering he was in now pushed his tolerance to the limit. He bent and vomited blood and bile over the forest floor.

"Naruto!"

He looked up to see Kurenai jump down from a tree. She rushed to him and took in his state. She glanced quickly into the clearing behind Naruto. He had left Katsutoshi's body where it lay. He would have prefered to have done something with it but he was in no shape to bury or carry the dead weight back to Tazuna's home.

"He's dead," he growled out.

Kurenai knelt next to him and whispered, "Kami, Naruto. I've got to get you back to-"

"No," he snapped. "Yuri-sensei needs more help than me. He's fighting five of them."

She hesitated but grabbed him firmly. He shook her off with what little strength he had. "Go, Kurenai-san. Tazuna's is close. I can make it by myself and you know that my healing ability will keep me alive. My prisoner wouldn't allow his captor to die if it means his death as well."

Kurenai studied him for a long moment before she nodded. She pointed into the forest and said, "Tazuna's home is that way. Naruto," he looked at the female Jonin, "make it. Promise me you'll make it."

He grinned.

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

Shikamaru jumped when a scream echoed in the air. Tazuna had been brought back by Ino and some Naruto clones which dispelled soon after they got to the home. The Jonin had literally vanished before Ino could finish her warning and the Genin were left in charge of the civilians. Shikamaru had Kiba and Shino take up watch positions and the others were on edge in the house. He didn't want anyone running around outside since the only known enemies were far out of their league and the best chance they had if they were attack was to be on the defensive. However, it would seem that someone hadn't not paid heed to his command.

He rushed to the door and when he got outside he saw a few dozen man standing near the wooden dock. Tsunami was in one of their clutches and the blade of a katana was held to her neck. He could see a trail of blood starting to drip down her neck, slowly flowing down her white skin. Her breath came fast and her eyes flicked around wide with fear. A basket lay on the grass near her feet, its contents, some herbs that Shikamaru recognized as being used in healing salves that Hinata made were scattered around. Tsunami must have been gathering the herbs for the Jonin after the battle. A kind action but ultimately foolish.

The Genin took up attack positions, Sasuke, Kiba, and Shino were on the roof, Ino, Choji and him were on the dock, and Sakura and Hinata ran out into the water a short ways.

A tense silence fell over the area until a pompous man with ragged hair and a patchy beard stepped forward. "Bridge Builder," the man called. "We have your daughter. Come out or we'll kill her." He waited a second, his eyes staring at the front door. "Now!" he roared.

A soft step announced the old man as he came from the door. He had a grim look on his face but determination burned in his eyes. Shikamaru understood, he couldn't let his daughter die. Not for him.

The old man look at Shikamaru and said, "You all have been super, but," he looked to the bandits, "it looks like this is how it ends."

Shikamaru analysed the situation and found that it could only end in one way that Tsunami wouldn't die. He couldn't ask Tazuna to not give himself to the bandits, a father would never allow his child to die in his place. Something would have to happen to change the situation but Shikamaru couldn't think of anything. For all of his intelligence, for all of his tactical ability, it meant nothing if he wasn't strong or fast enough to do something. He had never been in a situation that his intelligence wasn't enough and he found himself frustrated and scared.

He nodded slowly. The old man bowed his head and started toward the group of men who would claim his life. There was no falter or hesitation, only pure determination. The man all but radiated fatherly love, confidence, and acceptance of his decision. Shikamaru watched the man walk and he promised himself that he wouldn't look away. He wouldn't look away from his failure.

The front door creaked and Shikamaru knew that the only person it could be was the little boy, Inari. He was proven right when the boy entered his peripheral vision. Inari had his hands clenched into fists and rage was clear on his face. The young Nara had no idea if the emotion was more towards the bandits or the boy himself and his inability to do anything. It appeared that he and the boy had something in common, they couldn't do anything to help the situation.

Shikamaru focused back on the situation. He was too far to use his clan's jutsu but if he could somehow get closer than he could catch the man who held Tsunami. The issue was that, after he caught the man, what would he do? The rest of the bandits would see that he had used his jutsu and one of them would just kill Tsunami, they would charge, and Tazuna was close enough that he would more than likely die too. He needed a distraction, but with all of the Jonin gone and the Genin on the defensive he was at a loss.

A branch to the left and a short ways off from the group of bandits moved and Shikamaru took a quick look. He regretted it. Being part of a clan, Shikamaru had seen battlefield injuries before. He had even helped change some of his father's bandages when he didn't want Shikamaru's mother to worry. He had also help butcher some of the deer that his clan looked after. However, all of those experiences didn't prepare him for the amount of blood and broken flesh that he saw which was made all the worse when he realized that the person was Naruto.

All the Genin looked, gaining gasps from several of them, and the bandits turned to look as well. Blood flowed from many wounds and half of the blond's face was covered in the red liquid. The strangest thing about Naruto, though, was his stern blue-eyes. The blond was focused on one person, Inari.

"Inari," Naruto said in a voice that sounded stronger than should have been possible for one so injured, "show me what it means to be a hero."

Shikamaru glanced at Inari, who locked eyes with the blonde Genin. The boy's face flashed with fear but settled into a strange courage. Inari looked to the bandits, clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles went white, and a roar emerged from his small mouth. It was loud and echoed in the air. To Shikamaru's complete shock, the boy took a step toward the bandits and then another and before the Nara could truly comprehend what was going on, Inari was charging the bandits with his eyes clenched and his voice leading his way.

Everyone was immediately on edge and the man who held Tsunami hesitated and Shikamaru took complete advantage of it. He unleashed his clan's jutsu, bouncing it from Inari's shadow, to Tazuna's, and finally hit the bandit who held Inari's mother.

Everything started at once after that. The Genin jumped into battle, the bandits hesitated in confusion, and death soon painted the green grass. The bandits didn't last long but how could they when faced with shinobi, even if they were only Genin. It ended quickly.

Tsunami held Inari and Shikamaru found a respect for the boy that he didn't have before. It had taken true courage to do what he had done.

"Naruto!" Sakura's voice rang.

The Nara rushed to where the pinkette was and found the blonde Genin collapsed on the ground with a puddle of blood slowly forming near a wound on his side. He picked Naruto up, ignoring the warm blood that stained his clothes, and hurried to the house. The battle at the bridge builder's house may have been won but a new one had started. The battle to save Naruto's life.

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

A giant blade came at Kakashi but he blocked it with a kunai in his right hand. He maneuvered the force of the attack to his right and struck out with a kunai in his left hand. Zabuza danced around the attack, never losing grasp of his blade, and managed to swing the blade again in a larger arc. The silver-haired Jonin bent at the knees and dodged the attack by a fraction of an inch. Continuing the backwards fall, he shoot one of his feet up towards Zabuza's head and twisted with his other leg.

The attack missed but it did allow him to spin in the air and land on his feet. To moment he landed his hands flashed through seals and he slammed them on the ground and called out, " Raiton: Tachiagari Jimen o Kowasu!"

The earth around Zabuza broke apart and sparks of blue electricity arced up from the ruptures in the ground. The swordsman jumped away from the dangerous ground and when he landed Kakashi was ready for him. He came from the ground and was impressed that Zabuza managed to swing his large sword around to block the Jonin's attack with the flat of his blade. However, Kakashi was counting on the man blocking the attack. When his kunai came into contact with the metal of the sword, the silver-haired Jonin unleashed a jolt of electricity. The element arched across the blade but Zabuza released the sword before the jutsu could come into contact with him.

The blade spun slightly, placing Kakashi off balance, and Zabuza returned the Jonin's attack with a strong kick. Kakashi managed to catch the kick with his hand but the force sent him a short ways off. He sent several kunai flying to distract the swordsman and when he landed he clenched his wrist. Electricity erupted from his hand and the sound of chirping birds filled the air. The jutsu that Kakashi was preparing was risky, considering it was an assassination technique meant to be done when the enemy was unaware of his presence, but he was betting that Zabuza would be try to stop this obviously powerful jutsu.

He was proven right when the man rushed him. Kakashi smirked behind his mask. Releasing his control of the electricity in his hand he allowed it to lash out at anything near by, including him. He sucked up the paralyzing pain and watch as Zabuza jumped back from his attack. The man landed close to the broken ground and an explosion erupted from the ground as the explosive tags that Kakashi had placed there released their fury. The force pushed Zabuza away and toward the Konoha Jonin.

Kakashi forced his body to move and pulled a kunai out of his pouch. He retook control of his technique and used the metal of the kunai to help him channel the electricity more quickly. It would be severely weakened but it would be enough. It would have to be.

Zabuza rolled on the ground and just as he started to gain control of his flight Kakashi charged. Everything went slow at that point in Kakashi's Sharingan aided vision. His steps thumped on the ground, electricity chirped angrily, and Zabuza stumbled, his black slightly burned. The swordsman turned toward Kakashi and his eyes widened. Kakashi saw several things in that moment. Anger, hate, sorrow, but the most powerful was regret.

The kunai tore into the man's chest and emerged from the man's back. Electricity wreaked havoc on his internal organs and he twitched violently until the blue electricity finally died down. The Demon of the Hidden Mist fell back off of Kakashi's arm and collapsed onto the ground. His body thumped lifelessly. Zabuza Momochi was dead and when Kakashi turned to aid his fellow Jonin he found that the remaining two battles had stopped. The masked shinobi broke from where Kurenai had taken their battle and rushed toward Kakashi.

Kakashi prepared himself but it was unnecessary as the masked shinobi was caught by the armored on. The man placed an iron grip on the shinobi and the masked one only resisted slightly before falling into the man. Sobs could be heard.

The man looked to Kakashi and said, "This battle is over." His eyes showed remorse but also a steely conviction.

Kakashi didn't lower his guard but said, "You will not retaliate?"

"I have lost too many friends today and don't wish to lose this one as well," he said and indicated the shinobi he held.

The man took a tentative step away from the battle but before he could leave a voice echoed across the area. "So, Zabuza couldn't finish the job."

All the shinobi in the area looked to the road the came from the north and saw a short fat man leading a large group of rough looking people. Kakashi studied the man with a bored eye and concluded that the man must have been Gato, the leader of Gato Corporation. If he was at the bridge with roughly fifty people ready for a fight then he must have been hoping for the shinobi to exhaust each other to the point that these bandits could finish them off. It might have worked if not for Yuri taking the brunt of the fight at the beginning and allowing the rest of the Jonin to still be relatively fresh despite having been at battle with these shinobi for the past seven minutes.

The fat man laughed and said, "The person who brings me that bastards head gets double and you can do as you please with the masked one."

The bandits started to move but before they could get any momentum into their steps an arrow landed in front of them. Kakashi looked to the south road and saw another group of people coming. In the front of the group walked Tazuna and Inari. Clenched in Inari's hands was a crossbow and a determined look was shared by everyone in the crowd. It looked like the people of Wave were taking things into their own hands.

Gato's face flashed with fear and he bellowed, "Kill them all!"

The battle was laughable. The Konoha Jonin with the last of Zabuza's group started the initial attack and a rain of kunai from the trees announced the addition of the Genin. In the end the people of Wave did little fighting and Gato was taken away by the armored shinobi but with the way the fat man screamed Kakashi didn't think that it was to protect the man. A fat body with a head crushed like a watermelon was found later and it confirmed Kakashi's suspicions.

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

Haku stood before the grave of her friends and fell to her knees. It had been three days since the battle on the bridge but Tsuyo and her hadn't left yet. Tsuyo wanted to but she would have none of it. She may not have been able to save Zabuza from his death but she would be damned if she left his body to be claimed by the Konoha shinobi or hunter-nin that would come running when they hear of the swordsman's demise.

She had been surprised, however, when she found a large grey stone with two names carved into it. She knew the names by heart: Zabuza Momochi and Katsutoshi Nagashi. She glanced around the small clearing that wasn't far off from the bridge in search of a clue as to who had built the grave.

Tsuyo interrupted her search when he stepped up to the grave. He placed a hand against the stone and bowed his head slightly. He lacked his normal armor, having stashed it somewhere safe since it was too noticeable to be wore with the Konoha shinobi nearby. He whispered something and then took a step back. He had on a thread bare tan shirt and brown rough-spun pants. For all intents and purposes, he was a normal civilian and she his daughter.

"I don't know who made this grave," he said, his voice partially choked from emotion, "but it was good of them to have done that. Can't saw I would have done the same. The body of a Jonin would fetch a high price on any black market and Zabuza's would go for even higher considering his bounty and all."

Haku nodded. "Should we check to see if the bodies are actually here, just in case?"

"That won't be necessary," an even voice said from behind them.

The two rogue shinobi spun around and found a man they knew very well. He was covered in bandages but his calculating blue eyes and the Konoha hitai-ate that he had around one of his biceps spoke of who he was. Yuri Karasu, the shinobi who had killed two of their friends and had held them on the bridge until his allies could help him.

"You," Haku all but snarled.

"Me," the man returned slowly.

He started walking toward the two shinobi and when he was within range Haku jumped at him. He didn't move to defend himself and she pulled out one of her hidden senbon but before she could take her revenge she was grabbed by a large hand and strong arms wrapped around her.

"Stop it, Haku," Tsuyo barked in her ear. "The battle is over."

"He's the one who killed our friends," she roared. "If it wasn't for him then Nise and Akako wouldn't be dead. If it wasn't for him then Zabuza would still be alive!"

The black-haired man walked up to the grave and placed a well bandaged hand onto the stone. However, this action seemed to only enrage Haku even more.

"Don't you dare touch that! You bastard! You killed them! You killed them! You," tears started to fall from her eyes and a sob escaped her throat, "...killed...th...th...them." She collapsed into Tsuyo and cried.

Neither Tsuyo or Yuri spoke for some time as the girl's loud sobs slowly quieted. She clung to the only family she had left like a drowning person to a floating log. Slowly, very slowly, her cries died down and eventually only small hiccups left her mouth.

"What would you have had me do?" the Konoha shinobi asked.

Haku looked to him and saw that two new names had been added to the grave: Nise and Akako. The writing was elegant and seemed to be polished into the stone. Each of the names had been place on the stone in such a way that they looked like they belonged there and Haku couldn't deny that it was a beautiful grave marker.

She turned her mind to the question the man asked and replied, her voice hoarse from her cries, "What?"

Yuri didn't turn from the stone as he spoke and every so often he would slide a hand over one of the names that were on it. "What would you have had me do? You blame me for the death of your friends and I do not deny that I killed Nise and Akako and that my holding your group at the bridge resulted in Zabuza's death, however, what would have happened if I had not stood in your way?"

Haku's emotionally exhausted mind couldn't follow were the man was heading with his questions and decided to stay silent. She took a glance to Tsuyo and saw that his face was filled with remorse and understanding.

The Konoha shinobi turned to Haku and said, "If I had not stood in your group's way then Tazuna would be dead, Wave would be under the rule of a tyrant, and several of my own friends would be dead. You blame me for the death of your friends, your family, but all I was doing was defending my own friends, my own family. I don't expect you to take that as an answer and I certainly don't expect you to forgive me for it would take a rather incredible person to forgive their family's killer."

"You're the one who made this grave?" Tsuyo asked in an attempt to change the subject.

Yuri nodded.

"Why?"

The man smiled softly and said, "A long time ago, I met a man that Zabuza reminded me of. He came off as grim and evil but under it all he was full of passion and love for his country and his friends that humbled me and taught me what it meant to be a shinobi. I burned Zabuza's body and the others so that none can taint them. A good burial for good shinobi."

"Honestly," Tsuyo said, "something like that it far more than I expected from anyone. Thank you."

Again, the man nodded. He turned to the grave and asked, "Would you mind telling me about them?"

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

Yuri sighed happily with the gates of Konoha came into view. It had been two weeks since the battle and he had been working with the Genin as much as he could. He had been out of commission for the first day but after that he went against the orders of the other Jonin when he created the grave for Zabuza and the other shinobi. He had spent much of his time for the remainder of the two weeks training the Genin in a much more toned down manor. With the worry of attack gone, the Genin were given more free time but Yuri was open to help any of the Genin that wanted his specific attention.

He had watched a nervous Hinata perform the Yugana Suteppu and praised her when she went through it flawlessly. He then spent time with her in incorporating it into the Juken but the young girl seemed to have a nak for it and he only had to help her correct a movement from time to time as she fought against wave and wave of both imaginary and real opponents. The combined taijutsu's were amazingly effective together and Yuri suspected that Hiashi would be rather impressed with the results.

Yuri helped Naruto become more comfortable with the new style of taijutsu he had discovered in his fight against Katsutoshi and told the blond that the style was called, Zenchi no Kobushi, or the Omniscient Fist. He didn't go hard on the boy as, even with his healing ability, it had taken him five days to even rise out of bed and four more to participate in a light spar. Yuri was proud of the boy for discovering the style as Yuri had been about eighteen when he himself had developed it.

The black-haired Jonin also helped Choji with his long rang technique, Sasuke with water walking, and got to evaluate two new Genin. The first had surprisingly been Shikamaru when the young Nara had asked him for his critical opinion. He had sparred with the boy and then told him what he had found. While Shikamaru had, by far, the strongest mental tenacity Yuri had seen in a long time, he had allowed his intelligence to go to his head and his physical abilities suffered from it. He instructed him to train his body heavily and also instructed him in seeking aid from his father in his family's jutsu, specifically in the areas of speed and range. The Nara had been silent for a few moments after the critic before he nodded his head and muttered, "Troublesome."

The second Genin that Yuri had judged was Ino. He told her to work on her physical abilities, like all the Genin he had looked at, and also told her that she desperately needed to expand her attack capabilities. He explained that even if she got her physical abilities up to snuff she would still be stuck with the options of taijutsu or using her clan's jutsu. Shikamaru had the luxury of having a massive intelligence for him to fall back on but Ino had no such luck so she would need something else for her to fall back on to diversify her abilities. Her chakra capacity was too small for her to go the Ninjutsu route so he instructed her to go to Kurenai Yuhi and ask her if she would teach her a few genjutsu. Being interested in plants and with the Genjutsu Mistress's like of using trees and plants in her illusions, the two hit it off and Ino found that she was actually pretty good with the delicate jutsus.

During the time of the mission, each of the Genin had grown vastly in their abilities, some more than others, but Yuri was proud of each of them and how they had handled themselves. He was especially proud of Naruto and was very happy to have been proven wrong in his estimation of the boy's strength. To have beaten a mid-Chunin level opponent was no small feat for a Genin and if it was Yuri's decision Naruto would have earned a battlefield promotion because of it. However, since a war wasn't going on he couldn't do that so he could only praise the boy for his victory.

Tazuna had been rather angry with Yuri for the complete destruction of the bridge that he had been working on but the Jonin managed to gain some thanks when he unraveled the bridge and placed the dragon head down on one of the support beams that had been placed into the water. The Bridge Builder liked the look of the dragon and incorporated it into the design of the bridge making the last stretch look like a long tongue that led to the gaping jaws of the dragon. After repairing and finishing the bridge he named it the, Doragon no Hoko Bridge. It was a good name, much better than the Great Naruto Bridge of Yuri's timeline that had been destroyed during the war.

Inari had grown much during the last two weeks of the shinobi's stay as the boy finally came to accept the death of his hero and also became a hero himself. He was constantly helping out around the town and the people had taken to calling him the Hero of Wave. The boy deserved it and Yuri, after hearing what the boy had done, told him that he was a true hero on the same level as Kaiza or, perhaps, even greater.

Tsuyo and Haku had left Wave soon after talking to Yuri at the grave. He had decided to keep that meeting a secret from the other Jonin and hoped that, one day, he would be able to meet the two in a different way.

He came out of memory lane when the doors to the Hokage office opened and he and the other Jonin entered. The Genin had been sent home at the entrance of Konoha as only the Jonin were needed for the mission report.

Hurizen had a stern look on his face but his eyes twinkle with relief at the sight of his son. He cleared his throat and said, "Begin."

Each of the Jonin gave a report, starting with Asume, then Kakashi, and so on. The old man never interrupted and with his eyes being closed the only indication that he was listening was the occasional nod of his head. When the report was done he said, "Very good, you are all dismissed. I will compile a list of questions that I have and ask each of you them later. For now, you all have earned a rest. A week leave for you and your teams, use the time as you will but no missions, not even D-rank ones." As the Jonin shuffled out the old man said, "I would like to speak with you, Yuri."

The black-haired Jonin stayed behind, shared a nod with Kakashi, and stepped up to the Hokage's desk. A blank look had come over the old man's face and he took a puff of smoke from his pipe. Yuri had seen Hiruzen like this only a few times in his life and never once had it been him at the center of it. "You're angry," he said.

The old Sarutobi's eyes drilled into Yuri and the faint beating of killing intent built in the room. "Infuriated," he corrected. "I noticed you tense when I first called you into my office for the mission and mentioned Tazuna Ito's name those few weeks ago so I have a rather simple question." He paused. "Why didn't you tell me about this mission and the enemies that would be faced when I told you that Asuma had taken it?"

The rage in the old man's voice was well hidden but Yuri knew it was there like a deer knew that a wolf was stalking it, waiting for it to make a mistake. "I didn't tell you because I couldn't be sure that the mission would go the same. In my timeline, it was my squad who took the mission but it was only Zabuza and Haku that we had to face. I couldn't have known that it would go the way it did as I'm still unsure how my presence has affected this timeline."

"You were worried that if you said anything that, somehow, something would change and your ability to predict coming events would die," Hiruzen said. "I take it, then, that something is coming that is far more important than this mission, correct?"

Yuri nodded.

"Let me tell you something, Yuri Karasu," the old man said and his voice became far more stern than Yuri was comfortable with. "Every single person in Konoha is important. There are none who are more or less important so if you have any information that will help prevent any of them from dying I want you to tell me before it happens because what is point of knowing things to come if you do nothing to stop the events from happening. I sent a Genin team on a mission that a squad of ANBU should have taken and you knew or at least suspected what enemies they would face. If anyone had died on this mission we both would have been responsible. Me for giving them the mission and you for staying silent."

Yuri allowed a silence to take over the room. He hadn't said anything about the mission because he knew that there were things to come in the future that were more important and he also couldn't know how his presence would change things but what Hiruzen said was right. If anyone had died on this mission, it would have been his fault. He could have hinted to the old man that the mission wasn't what it appeared but he had decided to stay silent and allow things to happen so that he could have a one up on the situation. He was so used to doing things himself that he had forgotten what it was like to have another around that he could talk too, plan with.

"I have blundered," the black-haired Jonin said. "I thought I was doing the right thing in keeping my silence because I had planned on doing everything myself."

"That was your first mistake," Hiruzen said. "You are not alone in this battle. You are a Konoha shinobi and you have the whole of the nation behind you."

Yuri bowed his head. "I apologize. I should have said something."

"The past is done," the man said and refilled his pipe, "it is the present that I am worried about. Is there anything that I should know about that I can prepare for? If you're worried about giving specific details and having those be wrong then just give me general ones and we will prepare accordingly."

"The coming Chunin Exam," Yuri said.

The old man leaned back in his chair and said, "What about it? What happened in your timeline?"

"The village was attacked," the Jonin said.

The Hokage's eyes flashed with rapid thought and he asked, "How should I prepare for it? Ever since the Kyuubi attacked, Konoha has been in a precarious position. We lost many good shinobi and our position as the strongest Hidden Village is up for debate."

"I have been thinking about our options for some time now," Yuri commented, "and I think I know a way to lessen the damage of the attack and strengthen Konoha at the same time."

"I'm listening," Hiruzen said

-A Testament of Things that Never Will-

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-Unbiased Abyss.