(And here's my next chapter. The guys must face Karok and end Gato's tyranny over the Wave country. Hope you enjoy it.)
The night after Naruto and Inari's heart to heart talk over by Gato's hideout, the little man was in his office, until Karok entered the room.
"You called, Gato?"
"Yeah. I've decided tomorrow we're gonna show this poverty stricken country that I make the rules here. And anyone who tries to go against my law will be made to suffer."
"You did that before didn't you?" Karok inquired.
"Yes, but this time we're going to have that bridge destroyed. I hope you should have no problem with it?"
Karok snickered, "No problem at all."
"Then go and inform my boys. We move out at dawn." Gato ordered.
"As you wish," Karok answered, as he took his leave. When Karok was outside the hideout, he chuckled to himself, "A chance to not only destroy this country's last remaining hope but the opportunity to fight Zabuza and the Avatar again. This will be a day to remember."
As he left the hideout, he was unaware of a spirit that was watching him from the trees. The spirit looked like it was the size of a small lizard and looked like a dragon fly. Literally it looked like a little dragon with the wings of a fly, and glowed with a blue spiritual aura. The spirit looked worried before flying off through the forest.
Meanwhile back in the forest close to Tazuna's place, Naruto and Sasuke had finally reached the top of the trees they were practicing the chakra exercise with.
"We did it, Sasuke!" Naruto called.
Sasuke smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Let's head back."
Naruto nodded in agreement, and Sasuke jumped down from branch to branch, while Naruto used his Airbending to descend to the ground safely.
"I can't wait to see what Tsunami's got cooking up tonight." Naruto said, with the thought of food on his mind, until the two heard a growling sound, which put them on defense.
"What was that?" Sasuke asked.
"I don't know," Naruto answered, until they saw the dragon/fly spirit flying in their direction.
"What's that thing?" Sasuke asked in confusion.
"A spirit," Naruto gasped. The spirit looked worn out from so much flying and started losing altitude. Naruto acting quickly used Airbending to propel himself up and caught it, "Gotcha, little guy." Naruto landed on the ground as Sasuke came over.
"Is it all right?" he asked.
"We'll see," Naruto answered, as the spirit came too, "Hey, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," the spirit answered with a male voice, before seeing Naruto, "Oh, dear. Avatar Naruto."
"It knows you?" Sasuke asked Naruto curiously.
"Yeah. Being the Avatar I'm kind of a celebrity in the Spirit World."
"Oh, Avatar, there's trouble afoot." the spirit began.
"What kind of trouble?"
"I had just come from the hideout of the one called Gato, and he has plans for tomorrow."
Naruto and Sasuke were shocked, as the Uchiha asked, "What plans?"
"Him and his thugs are going to the sight of the bridge tomorrow and destroy it."
The boys were shocked upon hearing this, as Naruto spoke, "I'll bet Karok is going to be there too."
"Yes, he is." the spirit confirmed.
"What now?" Sasuke asked.
"We need to inform sensei and Tazuna about this," Naruto began, before looking at the spirit, "Thank you for giving me this information. You've been a great help."
"My pleasure, Avatar. Good luck." the spirit said before vanishing.
"Sasuke, come on!" The two hurried back to Tazuna's.
At the bridge builder's home, the group was sitting down at the table as Tsunami, Sakura, and Haku brought out the food. Sakura looked at the time.
"Naruto and Sasuke should be back by now."
"They'll be fine, Sakura," Kakashi calmed her, "Why by now they're probably on there way here."
Suddenly the door burst open, as Naruto and Sasuke entered looking tired from running, "Boys, is something wrong?" Tsunami asked.
"You're both out of breath. What happened?" Haku inquired.
"Guys, we got a problem." Naruto began.
"Problem, what is it?" Tazuna asked.
"Gato and his men are going to the bridge tomorrow and destroy it." Sasuke answered.
"What?" Zabuza gasped, as Tazuna looked worried.
"That's not good." Tazuna answered.
"Oh, no." Inari trembled.
"How did you come across this information?" Kakashi asked.
Naruto and Sasuke eyed each other wondering how to tell him, but the Avatar chanced it, "A little spirit told me."
"Spirit?" Tazuna asked with a raised brow.
"Never mind, point is Gato's gonna attack the bridge and Karok will be there." Naruto explained.
"Gato and his thugs are hardly the worry, but if Karok's there then there will be trouble." Zabuza answered.
"Not so long as we all stand together." Naruto spoke up, "If we all stand together against Gato, Karok, and the rest of them, then they won't stand a chance."
Inari smiled and stood up, "You're right. I've been letting fear hold me down for too long. Now I wana take a stand. Come on, mom. Don't you want too?" he smiled.
Tsunami gasped at her sons bravery, "Inari," she suddenly saw a bit of her husband in him and smiled, "Yes. We'll protect our home for the memory of your father and everyone here."
"And Zabuza and I will be there as well." Haku promised, as Zabuza nodded.
Tazuna smiled seeing everyone willing to pitch in, "Thanks again, all of you."
"Well, we won't be able to save a country on an empty stomach. So let's eat." Naruto said, as they went back to the table to enjoy dinner.
The very next day, at the bridge, Tazuna and his workers were busy in completing the bridge almost as if nothing was going to go wrong, until they looked on the other side of the bridge and saw approaching was Gato, Karok, and a whole mob of thugs.
"Tazuna!" Gato called.
Tazuna frowned, as he and his workers stood their ground, "Gato. What are you doing here?" he demanded.
"I've come to put an end to your little fantasy experiment," Gato answered with a smirk, "This bridge of yours is nothing but an illusion to freedom."
Tazuna shouted, "This bridge is a symbol of hope to the people you've played on with your rules and cheating methods!"
"Have you forgotten what happened last time to the one who defied my order?" Gato challenged him.
Tazuna frowned, "I have not, but things are different now."
"Really?" he asked amusingly.
"Yes, because this time not only one is standing up to you."
"We all are." one of the workers added.
"You think a few people makes any difference?" Gato called him out.
"A few people can always make a difference." Came Naruto's voice, as Squad Seven approached and stood at Tazuna's side.
"Well, Konoha shinobi, good to see you again." Karok smirked.
Squad Seven's eyes fell on Karok, as Kakashi spoke, "You won't be getting away this time, Karok."
"We'll make sure of it." came Zabuza's voice, as he and Haku appeared with everyone in Wave standing behind them holding blunt instruments and other stuff to use as weapons.
"Zabuza, you dare betray me?" Gato growled.
"I didn't betray you, Gato. It was Karok."
"What?"
"He followed me and tried to take me out so he would take all the credit, sadly he underestimated the strengths of all of us." Zabuza explained.
"Karok a traitor?" Gato turned to him looking angry, "Is this true?"
Karok looked at Gato with no hint of remorse, "Yes it is."
Gato growled, "You double crosser. I'll have your head for..." Gato was cut off, and coughed up blood. Everyone was shocked to see Karok hand Waterbended an ice spear into Gato's chest.
"Sorry, Gato. I don't take being threatened well." Karok said, before his ice spear broke into water, and the corpse fell on the bridge.
The thugs looked outraged, as one spoke, "Hey, he just killed our meal ticket!"
"You bastard!" another called Karok out.
They were about to attack, until Karok Waterbended ice spikes from the water to intimidate them, "I'm taking over this operation now. So either you all serve me, or I gut you like I did him." he motioned to Gato's lifeless corpse.
The thugs intimidated enough automatically pledged their loyalty to Karok. Zabuza frowned, "You nauseate me, Karok."
"I try." the Waterbending crook snarked.
Naruto spoke, as he stepped forward, "You took care of Gato for us, Karok. Now we'll deal with you."
"We shall see," Karok pointed forward, "Attack!"
The thugs took charge and ran for the others. Kakahsi, Zabuza, Haku, Naruto, and Sasuke got ready.
"Let's go!" Kakashi ordered, as they charged.
When the two sides clashed, Zabuza and Haku were cutting thugs sown right from left, while Kakashi was disarming them and knocking them out, while Sasuke himself used his own taijutsu.
Naruto had used Firebending on some thugs before he and Zabuza saw Karok, "You're all ours." Zabuza said.
"On the contrary, you're mine." Karok said, as he went at it with the two.
Karok's arms turned into ice spears and started striking at Zabuza, who used his sword to block and strike back. Zabuza managed to push him back, as Naruto came at Karok from behind launching a shot of fire. Karok made a hole appear in his torso allowing the shot to go through him. Zabuza quickly jumped back to avoid the shot.
"You can't fight one capable of reforming himself." Karok mocked.
"Then I'll keep you from reforming." he Waterbended the water from below into a wave that washed onto Karok. Naruto quickly turned the water to ice freezing Karok.
Over by the defeated thugs, the others saw the block of ice, "Did they get him?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Haku answered.
Suddenly the ice block started cracking much to their surprise, and Karok shattered out of it, "You can't beat me with my own element, boy." he attacked Naruto who defended himself.
"Naruto!" Kakashi called, as he and Zabuza went to help, only for Karok to Waterbend a wall of ice to block them.
"No!" Zabuza called.
On the other side Karok and Naruto were going at it in a bending duel, while Naruto summoned five shadow clones to aid him. Karok bended the water blow and turned it into ice that struck Naruto's clones dispelling them.
"You're running out of options, Avatar. What will you do?"
Naruto frowned, "I won't let you destroy this bridge and harm anyone in the process!" he roared, as his body started started glowing with red chakra.
Karok saw this and started looking worried, "What the hell is this chakra?!"
Deep in Naruto's subconscious, Kurama and Raava watched through Naruto's eyes while feeling the chakra increase.
Kurama laughed, "Take that, Raava. Naruto awakened my chakra before tapping into the Avatar state. I win this bet."
"Don't get all full of yourself, Kurama. Naruto will tap into the Avatar State when the time is right."
"For your sake it better be soon." Kurama chuckled.
Naruto frowned at Karok as red chakra surrounded him. The Waterbender was taken by surprise as Naruto zipped at him full force and they crashed through the wall of ice shattering it. Everyone was startled by the shatter and saw Naruto was throwing punches and kicks continuously at Karok without even stopping.
"What's going on with Naruto?" Tazuna gasped.
"Kakashi?" Zabuza asked, hoping he'd have the answer.
"Naruto's unlocked one of his most powerful forces." the cyclops answered.
Karok was unable to keep up with the attacks or break down his body into water fast enough. Naruto utilizing Airbending into his fist delivered a powerful uppercut to Karok that was able to launch him upward into the air. The Avatar used Airbending again to propel himself up as well reaching Karok. He grabbed the Waterbending thug and threw him down into the water resulting in a geyser splash.
Everyone gasped at the finishing move. Naruto touched back down as his chakra died down. He looked back down into the water, seeing Karok surface with his back facing up.
"You got him." Haku gasped.
"Don't worry, he's knocked out. And this time," Naruto bended the water surrounding Karok once again encasing him in ice, "He won't break out."
"How do you know?" Sakura asked.
"With him unconscious, he won't be able to break himself out of the ice." Naruto explained.
"Did we win?" Inari asked Naruto.
Naruto smiled and ruffled his head, "Yes, Inari. We won."
"We won!" a villager called, as everyone started cheering in victory.
"So what do we do about Karok?" Sasuke asked Naruto.
"I'll meditate into the Spirit world, and hopefully Master Jinora's there. I'll tell her to send word to Republic city and have someone pick this crook up. I think they'll be excited to have finally have him in prison." Naruto smiled.
And for the rest of the day, all the dead thugs bodies were removed from the bridge, while those who were still alive were taken to jail. And just as Naruto said, he meditated into the spirit world to pass a message off to Jinora to inform the police force in Republic city. Later that day, one of the police force's airships arrived, as some of the cops bended the frozen Karok into the ship before heading back to Republic city.
That night, Squad Seven, Zabuza, and Haku were back at Tazuna's getting a good nights sleep. As Naruto slept, he found himself in his subconscious where he was meeting with Kurama and Raava.
"Kurama, Raava, did you two catch what I did today on the bridge?"
"Of course we did. We're in you, remember?" Kurama reminded him.
"Right. But I wonder, how is it I tapped into Kurama's chakra and not the Avatar State?"
"Were you hoping to tap into the Avatar State instead of using Kurama's chakra?" Raava inquired, as Kurama waited to hear his answer.
"Well, no, but how is it I ended up using Kurama's chakra instead of the Avatar State?"
Kurama answered, "You activated my chakra because you were angry at Karok for what he intended to do to Wave. For a Jinchuriki to use the chakra of a tailed beast requires intense emotions like anger, but that is mostly for a Jinchuriki who has yet to truly master a tailed beasts chakra."
"So with proper training and all, I will be able to call upon your chakra at will without needing to get pissed off?"
"Correct."
Naruto smiled, and turned to Raava, "And what about the Avatar State?"
"That will be for another time, Naruto. For now enjoy your victory for you've earned it." she answered. Naruto nodded, and decided to sleep it off for the rest of the night.
The very next morning, Squad Seven, Zabuza, and Haku stood on one side of the completed bridge, while Tazuna, his family and everyone in the village was seeing them off
"Do you really have to go?" Inari asked feeling sad.
"Afraid so. But don't worry, we'll come back and visit one day." Naruto promised.
"Thank you all for what you've done." Tazuna thanked them.
"It was our pleasure." Kakashi answered.
Haku nudged Zabuza who spoke, "I would like to apologize for trying to take your life before, Tazuna."
"Ah, forget about it." Tazuna brushed it off.
"Well, we better go." Kakashi said, as the group took their leave, as everyone waved goodbye.
Tazuna looked at his bridge and smiled, "Beautiful bridge isn't it, Inari?"
"I think it's wonderful." Inari admitted.
"All that's left is a name. And I got just the one. We'll call it The Great Naruto Bridge."
Inari smiled, "It's perfect."
As Squad Seven, Zabuza, and Haku came to a fork in the road, Zabuza spoke, "Haku and I will be going left."
"So what will you two do now?" Sakura asked.
"Zabuza and I are going to find a better life for us without taking shady jobs form people like Gato." Haku answered.
"Well, wherever you guys go, I hope one day we'll meet up again." Naruto hoped.
Zabuza chuckled, "You know, I hope so too... Avatar."
Squad Seven smiled, as Zabuza and Haku went down the other path hoping towards a bright and better future, while Squad Seven headed down the path for Konoha.
(And there's the chapter. I hope you enjoyed it guys. Naruto may not have tapped into the Avatar State yet, but in time he will. See you next time.)