Nothing to say but I hope you like it.

Chapter Six - Zabuza Momochi

Naruto sighed inside the head, happy that the battle ended without any casualties. He looked at Kyuubi, who was stroking his blonde hair, and asked, "What was Menma going to say earlier when we left the village?"

Kyuubi paused in thought, but kept running her hand through his hair. "Well, he found something that is about thirteen years old. It has much importance to the Hokage and it intrigued Menma, I guess."

"But what was it?" Naruto persisted, looking up at the fox woman. She was staring down at him, preoccupied with roaming her fingers through his hair.

"That's for him to tell." Kyuubi said before planting a kiss on his forehead. "Now take control. Your sensei will have questions on what has happened."

"Surely." Naruto nodded with a sigh as his world faded.

XXX Real World XXX

Naruto fell to his knees and gasped at the sudden strain on his body. Sweat slowly trickled down his face as he stared at the dirt below him and focus on something other than the pain. His breathing slowed as the strain dulled to a tolerable level and he no longer felt the pain.

Kakashi and Asuma jumped from the trees and ignored the two Kiri-nin and immediately made their way to Naruto, Asuma to Sasuke by a tree. The masked man bent down near Naruto and slowly rose the boy to his feet. He eyed the wound of Naruto's as it let out a purple-grey liquid.

'The poison. It's being rejected from his body.' He looked at the blonde. 'He sure is surprising. But what happened to him?'

"Are you okay, sensei?" Naruto asked in his most innocent voice he could get. With how Kakashi just smiled and nodded, he guessed it worked. "Where's everyone else?"

Kakashi stood up and allowed the boy to get up and go to the rest of the group. Asuma and Kakashi shared a look as they observed Naruto being oblivious to what actually happened. He so far showed no idea of what he became or any acknowledgement of his teammates' condition. Currently, Sasuke hated him more than ever and Sakura just because her crush did. Ino was scared of him, and only Shikamaru and Choji treated him the same. Shikamaru because he had a better idea of what happened.

"He has no idea what he did." Asuma whispered, standing close to Kakashi. "I guess he has no control of himself - mind and body - when the Kyuubi takes over."

"Or he just doesn't want to tell." Kakashi spoke, hiding his face behind his orange book. "Either way, when he sleeps I will search his pack and if I find the mask."

"He will be treated a criminal." Asuma spoke, not an ounce of emotion as he said it. "No matter what, we have to try to take him alive. But if he resists…"

"I know." Kakashi bit out, a little louder than he wanted. "Don't tell me how to handle my student. I don't do it to yours."

"Mine haven't turned into criminals."

"I'm sure Shikamaru and Choji would - for their friend." Kakashi glanced hatefully before walking over to Tazuna. He leaned down so he was close to the man's ear before speaking. "Now, you will tell me what is really going on or we will abandon you without a second glance. No lying this time."

Tazuna swallowed the lump that gathered in his throat and sighed before telling the long tail of life when Gato took over. The man, as Tazuna portrayed, was a power-hungry tyrant who took over by gaining control of the fishing companies, their main source of income. He used unconventional means; poison, murder, explosions, and his army of ex-samurai. By the time the town got wind of what he was doing it was too late. As of late, he must have been paying ninja to kill those that opposed him.

Naruto sympathised for the man while Kakashi and Asuma started thinking about their team's safety. Sure, they felt bad for the town but they were responsible for whatever happened to their team.

"First, you lied about the rank of this mission. This could probably be a C-rank for an experienced team, but even an average Chunin or two would struggle."

"Why do you say that, sensei?" Naruto asked. If Chunin would struggle then how were they able to hold their own?

"Well, those two were called the 'Demon Brothers'. They are Chunin-level ninja from Kiri. But what makes them so dangerous is that they travel with Zabuza Momochi, ex Seven Swordsmen." Sakura gasped at what Kakashi said, as she was the only one that got frightened by the name. "They are wanted for the attempted coup against their Kage. Zabuza is equal to my level, but he would use anything to win - even killing you."

Naruto shrugged. "So, we are just going to leave him to die? Is that what ninja do when it gets hard? Give up?"

"No, what Kakashi is saying is that we have to think about your guys' safety." Asuma said, taking the lead of the conversation. "It's not that we don't want to help - we want to - but you guys aren't experienced enough to handle yourselves."

"So, is it decided?"

Tazuna looked down as he realized the Jonins' decision. He then felt a hand be placed on his shoulder and pushing him in the direction of his home. He looked down to see Naruto pushing him in the direction of Wave.

"Where are you going, Naruto?" Asuma asked as his eyes followed the blonde's back.

"I became a shinobi to help people, not about problems with the level system." Naruto said, giving a look behind him into the eyes of the Jonin. "It's sad, that you don't care for these people in need."

"You know it's not like that." Kakashi said softly. "We just aren't-"

"You are cowards." Naruto bit out, with the growl of a demon rumbling in his throat. "One problem and you're running for the hills. I guess I shouldn't be shocked of Jonin who have gotten soft."

Asuma growled and spit out his cigarette. "That's it, Naruto. You are disobeying an order. Now get back here now or you will be charged with insubordination, a serious crime for shinobi."

Naruto halted with slight fear, but Menma whispered, 'Just go. They can't do anything to you. You're completing your mission. Some things can be overlooked in laws. We just have to make sure that we succeed.'

Naruto turned away and continued on with Tazuna. "Let's go, old man."

Tazuna nodded and glanced at the two Jonin before watching where he was walking. Even though he got the young blonde, he was glad that he watched the mess he caused just before. Now he was certain he would be fine with just the blonde.

"How far are we from your house?" Naruto asked, taking the man from his thoughts.

"Uh...two hours, give or take how long to cross the water." Tazuna guess, scratching his cheek lightly. "Thanks. For staying with me. It means a lot, kid."

"Don't mention it. I meant what I said and I'll stand by it till my last breath, Tazuna-san." Naruto smiled at the man.

Tazuna smiled back. He was beginning to really like this kid.

(O.O)

Naruto sighed as he and Tazuna walked in a light mist. "Great God, so this is what it must feel like to be in Kiri."

Tazuna chuckled lightly. "You should be lucky considering it's Spring. In the Fall and Winter this mist is almost untravelable unless you know the land and travel the path. Kiri is usually that way because of their jutsu. But they never really started it until the climax of the Second Shinobi War when they sacked Uzushiogakure."

Naruto huffed. "I guess it's a good defense, letting the attackers run around like headless chickens." But then he paused, stopping in his tracks. "Wait, what did you just say?"

Tazuna turned to the boy and raised an eyebrow. "They didn't start until the climax of the Second Shinobi War?"

"No, about that village. Ushu or something like that." Naruto said, shaking his head while saying the first sentence.

Tazuna thought for a second before taking a look of understanding. "You mean Uzushiogakure! They were a village that lived near here, a little north-east. Why?"

"Who lived there?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"The Uzumaki clan. They were great Fuinjutsu artists, ones that would even put Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya of the Sannin to shame. They were feared for their power and their connection to Konoha. so Kiri and Kumo sent their troops to attack the village while Iwa distracted Konoha. It was genocide."

Tazuna took a solemn tone at the end and frowned sadly. "It was a sad time."

Naruto just stared at the ground in shock. "I...I had a clan? And they were powerful?"

Tazuna perked up at that. "Wait, you're an Uzumaki?" At Naruto's nod, the man immediately brightened and grinned. He took Naruto into a bear hug. "An Uzumaki! Alive! I can't believe it!" When he let Naruto down, he stared into those ocean blue eyes with happiness. "We thought all of you died at the invasion! But here you are!"

Tazuna then critically looked at the blonde. "You don't look Uzumaki. They were spirited warriors, like you, yes, but they always had red hair and green or purple eyes. You have neither."

"Maybe my father?" Naruto asked, shrugging.

"Possibly, if your mother wasn't in the village's walls at the time of the invasion." Tazuna nodded before looking around and leaned down to Naruto's level. "There was this building. It was built by the Uzumaki as a trading post and troop garrison, as they used to protect us in return for silk - our major export at the time. It's been locked ever since the Uzumaki left to fight against the invasion force. I guess they knew they weren't coming back but there is this seal on it that might need an Uzumaki to open it."

"And you want me to open it to see what's left in there?" Naruto asked, staring at the man.

"You can have everything, but leave some weapons for us to fight back with." Tazuna nodded, wishing that this will work when they get back to the village. "It's pretty much unscathed as Gato couldn't get it open with even jutsu."

Naruto sighed, and nodded at the man. "I'll do it. I just want to learn about my family."

Tazuna grinned and stood up straight. "Great! Now let's continue going."

Naruto turned when he heard a faint rustle in the woods. He narrowed his eyes as his hand inched towards the kunai in his pouch. Then he saw it. A shadow moved in a bush. He threw the kunai at the direction and was rewarded with the sound of impact.

'Thank you for the training.' Naruto spoke in his head as he walked over to the bush, receiving a 'no problem' from Menma and Kyuubi.

"What's wrong?" Tazuna asked, on edge from Naruto's sudden action.

"I saw something move through the bush." Naruto said with another kunai in hand. He looked around having noticed that he killed a rabbit instead of his real target. "Be careful, Tazuna. We're being watched."

Tazuna nodded and looked around for anything suspicious activity. The two didn't need to wait long when the sound of air being cut reached their ears. Naruto reacted purely on instinct and tackled Tazuna to the ground earning a cut along his back. Naruto screamed as he writhed from the pain of the cut.

Tazuna looked at the kid with worry but heard movement from where the object flew to. He turned and saw a man standing on a large sword.

"All you could get was a single kid, Tazuna? That's low to send him to an early death." The man spoke with disappointment and mock sadness. "You upset me and lose all last respect I held for you."

R&R!