CHAPTER 18
Poll up on my profile important for continuation of story, Reviews welcomed.
About a day had passed since the battle on the bridge and Naruto was tending to Zabuza and Haku's wounds. Mei, Aoi, and Chojuro had been brought back with team 8 to Tazuna's house.
Haku had woken up a few hours after the battle, but Zabuza had still been unconscious due to chakra depletion. Naruto had treated and healed everyone's wounds after the battle and was now just waiting for Zabuza to wake up.
It was about midday of the second day when Zabuza finally woke up. 'Where am I.' Zabuza thought. "So you're finally awake that's god." Naruto said opening the door.
Zabuza looked up to see the blonde that had defeated him. "What do you want Blondie, you already beat me." Zabuza said.
"I have a proposal for you Zabuza, my nee-chan believes that Yagura-niisan is being controlled by someone, so I am requesting your help to fight or stop Yagura-niisan to see what's wrong with him." Naruto said.
"You said it was a proposal that means I can negotiate so what are you offering in return?" Zabuza asked. "You're correct, Yagura-niisan, or Yondaime Mizukage as you know him, if he is indeed being controlled we will have your missing-nin status removed." Naruto said.
Zabuza had closed his eyes and was in deep thought. "I have a few terms before I agree to this deal." Zabuza said. "Name them and I will see if they are doable." Naruto said.
Zabuza huffed. "I want to make sure Haku is safe no matter what and above all else I want to see that bastard Yagura go down." Zabuza said with a snarl.
"I can agree to your first term but the second one is difficult, I know you hold hatred towards Yagura-niisan, but if we can stop him it will be alive." Naruto said.
Zabuza snarled. "Fine I will help you but you had better honor your deal." Zabuza said. "If nothing else and Niisan can't be stopped I will give you some money and we will erase your missing-nin status, that is all I can offer." Naruto said.
It only took about another day before everyone was ready to head out again, and the group of nine was getting ready to leave across the now finished bridge.
All the citizens of wave country we shouting their gratitude to the ninjas as they crossed the bridge. "Hey jiji we still need a name for the bridge." Inari said.
"How about the Super Awesome Tazuna Bridge." Tazuna said jokingly. "What about the Great Bridge of Hope." Inari said. "After the ninja that brought hope." Tsunami said. All the towns people agreed.
The journey to Kiri was one of mostly silence until Kurenai spoke. "So how do you know Naruto, Mei-san?" Kurenai asked with envy?
"Naruto-kun came to Kiri a couple of years ago with Jiraiya and Tsunade on a journey to meet all the jinchuriki, which is also why Naruto is the only one who can fix what's wrong with Yagura-kun.
"Yagura is the three tails jinchuriki, so even if Naruto can't stop him with words he is probably the only one who could stop him if he went full bijuu." Mei said.
"Have Niisan's skills changed much since I last saw him Neechan?" Naruto asked. "I taught him a few of my water jutsu that he didn't know but other than that no, not at all." Mei said.
The journey took them about two days at ninja speed and they had arrived at a rebel base that was a small distance away from Kiri and where Yagura was staying.
"How many rebels do you have Neechan?" Naruto asked as people started to come see the newcomers. Many greeted Naruto and Sasuke friendly as they had known them from when they were in Kiri.
Many were slightly put off by the infamous Zabuza Momochi, but were none the less glad he was on their side. "When do you plan to attack Yagura?" Naruto asked.
"What are you crazy?" someone shouted out to be met with no reply. "Now that you are here and we have two more strong Jounin, we will attack tomorrow morning, we will distract Yagura's men giving you and Sasuke the chance to reach Yagura." Mei said.
Naruto nodded his head in understanding. "I will first try to see if I can stop him or if something is wrong with him if not, I will restrain him Neechan." Naruto said.
Mei nodded with a sad look in her eyes. "Just try not to hurt him to much Naruto-kun." Mei practically begged almost shedding a tear.
"Mei Sensei Hinata please follow me." Naruto said. The three that were asked followed as Naruto brought them somewhere quiet.
"All of you, no matter what you hear tomorrow do not under any circumstance come to mine and Sasukes position." Naruto said in a no arguments voice.
Naruto then asked just Kurenai to follow him elsewhere.
"What is wrong Naruto-san?" Kurenai asked. "Kurenai-sensei I myself don't even know what I'm saying, but I like you, not as a sensei or friend but as a person I "like" you and I just wanted to tell you that if I life tomorrow, I also like someone else but because of my bloodline I'm under the CRA.
"No matter what your choice or opinion I will understand and I just wanted to let you know." Naruto said. Kurenai was awe struck, sure she had an unknown feeling towards Naruto, but did she dare risk her heart and call it love or anything of the sort.
Kurenai also had many other thoughts like having to share and about the age difference, so caught up in her thoughts she didn't see Naruto leave after he told her what he wanted to with a downcast look.
In Naruto's opinion morning had come far too fast for his likings. As Naruto walked out of the tent they had given him geared up he saw Mei yelling at her troops their orders as the assault was readied.
Naruto then went to look for Sasuke and found him by himself writing a letter. "For her?" Naruto asked simply. "Ya I figured that this could go anyway I mean Niisan is a kage this will be no easy battle." Sasuke said.
"After you're done come find me I have a plan we can use to at least surprise Niisan." Naruto said. Sasuke just nodded his head as he got back to his letter.
Only one hour remained before the battle would start. Naruto had also written a short letter to Yugito like Sasuke had for Samui and he was nervous as he hadn't seen Kurenai or Hinata at all.
Naruto pushed the thought to the back of his head and took on the look Sasuke had dubbed his "hokage face" as it showed no surprise or shock and was the face of someone ready to kill or be killed.
Naruto then walked over to where he saw Sasuke and gave Sasuke a rundown of the plans he had for their encounter with Yagura.
The hour passed fast and all the troops had gathered in one spot, but Naruto still couldn't see Kurenai. Naruto huffed and steeled himself for the last time.
"Alright everyone you all know the plan hold Yagura's troops long enough for Naruto and Sasuke to fight Yagura." Mei said.
The troops all nodded as Mei went over the battle strategy again showing maps and locations. Narutos battle would take place as far away from any water as they could get to try to stop as many of Yagura's abilities as possible.
The battle had started Naruto could hear it, he and Sasuke had split from the main part ten or so minutes ago and were headed to where the resistance had pushed him.
As they arrived at the location Naruto looked in on Yagura's chakra. "Something is definitely wrong Sasuke Niisan's chakra is different and hard to find." Naruto said.
Sasuke just nodded looking around with his sharingan already activated. Naruto then placed his hand to the ground for increased sensing and looked up rapidly.
"I found him; he is just a little distance off." Naruto said heading in that direction with Sasuke following shortly behind him. Naruto had left his sword back at the camp and had released all the resistance seals he had on to help in his battle.
As they entered the clearing Naruto got his first look at this new Yagura, he seemed very straight and to the point from his demeanor.
Yagura then turned his head in Sasuke and Naruto's direction. "So more fools have come to challenge me." Yagura said smugly.
'So he doesn't even recognize me that's good' Naruto thought. "Your reign of terror is over." Naruto said. "You will fall like all the others." Yagura said spinning his staff.
The battle had started. Water had come from Yagura spinning his staff and he called his first jutsu. Suiton: water dragon Yagura said making a large dragon charge at Naruto and Sasuke.
Katon: fireball justu Futon: air bullet, the two said together canceling Yagura's water with their larger fire. Naruto then made more hand signs, Raiton: lightning dragon Naruto called.
Yagura made a mirror out of water which reflected Naruto's attack back at itself before he entered straight into his second tail.
"Sasuke I couldn't tell for sure before but know I see it appears someone has him in a powerful genjutsu, almost like yours." Naruto said.
"What does that mean how could he be trapped in a genjutsu he is a jinchuriki?" Sasuke asked as he dodged a punch from Yagura but instead got a fist to the gut where coral started to sprout.
"I think someone captured Isobu in the genjutsu the Niisan." Naruto said. "I will distract him and make him go full bijuu, you then try and break the genjutsu around Isobu and that should free Niisan." Naruto said.
Sasuke nodded in understanding as he broke the coral around his stomach. Naruto then jumped to the side into the two tailed Yagura's vision and clasped his hands together.
Mokuton: wood prison Naruto said erecting a giant cage around Yagura that was draining his chakra. Yagura reverted into a one tailed state before he got angry and flared his chakra breaking the cage and going into full bijuu.
At the other battle zone everyone stopped as the felt the overwhelming large amount of chakra Yagura was releasing. 'Yagura-kun.' Mei thought in worry, just then the giant figure of the three tailed turtle came into view.
'No anything but that.' Mei thought with great worry. Her fears only grew as the turtle lifted its head, opened its mouth and raised its tails above its head. 'No Yagura-kun stop please.' Mei thought in desperation.
Just then an equally large chakra burst forward denser than the one before. All watched with baited breath as the Bijuudama got larger and larger around Yagura. The turtle then leaned down and released the Bijuudama.
In a flash it was over, the light dimmed down and revealed a scorched earth and no giant three tailed turtle. "Naruto-kun!" Kurenai uncharacteristically shouted in shock of what had happened.
Naruto slowly sat up from where he was on the ground. It had all happened so fast, Naruto didn't expect Yagura to just go full bijuu so he told Sasuke to get behind him and break the genjutsu right when Isobu fired the Bijuudama.
Naruto had quickly gone four tails and started his own Bijuudama and pushed Yagura's back. Sasuke had done as Naruto asked and broke the genjutsu right when Isobu leaned down. Even though Naruto had pushed the Bijuudama back didn't mean he had escaped damage.
Naruto saw Sasuke panting in exhaustion behind him and Yagura in a crater in front of him. "Sasuke no matter what happens don't let them get to Yagura." Naruto said slowly walking over to Yagura.
Once Naruto was right next to Yagura he placed his hand on Yagura's head then passed out right next to Yagura's unmoving body.
Kurenai and everyone quickly knocked Yagura's men unconscious and quickly rushed to where Yagura Naruto and Sasuke where. When they arrived the sight was slightly grim.
A battered Sasuke was standing near an unconscious Naruto and Yagura who were both bloody and missing pieces of their outfit. Kurenai and Mei quickly rushed to Yagura and Naruto.
Mei gently placed Yagura's head in her lap and pushed his hair to the side and traced his scar like she loved to do.
Kurenai had gotten near Naruto and then fell to her knees, she was stuck, she had talked most of last night and all of the morning to Hinata trying to understand what Naruto meant and her feelings.
Now though here was this person who claimed to like her lying on the ground bleeding. "Medic!" was the only thing Kurenai could think to yell in her current state.
Kurenai still stood motionless as the medics came and lifted both Yagura and naruto away on stretchers.
Almost a week had passed since the battle and neither Naruto nor Yagura had woken up. Kurenai had visited where Naruto was everyday still trying to figure out her emotions.
She had sent a message a few days back to the Hokage explaining what had happened and Naruto's condition.
In the recovery tent Yagura slowly came to his senses. The guards outside called Mei when they saw him move. Mei hadn't run faster before as she charged into the tent. "Yagura-kun." She said breathless.
"Mei-chan where's Naruto?" Yagura asked. "He's in the next room he went down with you." Mei said. Yagura slowly stood. "He went into my mindscape and explained what happened I need to address everyone." He said.
"For now just get rest." Mei said in a soft tone glad Yagura was himself again.
Another week had passed and Naruto was healed but he still hadn't woken up. Yagura had resigned his position to Mei and explained to his best abilities what had happened to him.
Now team 8 was getting ready to take Naruto back to Konoha to see if Tsunade could tell them what was wrong with Naruto.