Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Naruto" – Talking

'Naruto' – Thoughts

Naruto – Flashback

Naruto – Jutsu

Cracking Gaps: Sins of a Family

The Massacre Above Waves

Previously on Cracking Gaps: Sins of a Family,

A week had passed since Team Nine had arrived and they seemed to have forgotten that they needed to just pick up the Hokage's heirs and return them back to the village. Instead, Team Nine were caught up in what they could only moan and groan as, "This is torture!" Birds flew in flocks, fish evaded fisherman's hooks and small creatures suddenly decided to find a new home, one that is further away from that racket.

"I am telling you that this is nothing but child abuse! I can't even feel my legs!" Tenten, on the ground with bruises on her skin and dirt on her clothes, complained. But she wasn't alone. Not far away from her 'resting place' were the rest of Team Nine and the entire Team Seven. And they all were in no better form than Tenten herself.

"Please Tenten-san, don't say another word." Keiji said, straining to the pain throughout his body and the aching of every single muscle under his skin. Tenten, however, didn't get why he did ask of that.

"Oh you think I am just annoying and a whining brat like you were!?" Tenten yelled in Keiji's direction and only got the male heir to look the other way. That really hurt him like all the times he had to remember the hard way that his ways with woman weren't as close to romantic than he originally thought before he was assigned with his twin sister to Naruto's Team Seven.

"Tenten-san, what we mean is that if Naruto-sensei heard us complain then he will force every single one of us to go to bed at night with the weights increased and that is without any dinner. Sensei is that type of Jonin and instructor." Funny to hear Mito come to Keiji's aid since the two weren't at the best of ends even though they were both parts of the pair until they first became Genin. "It happened every time we did whine during the last three months Tenten-san."

That caused everyone in Team Nine to shudder, like a cold wind came out of nowhere and caused quite the breeze under the muddy clothes. Just how hard was it with Naruto's training that had caused two of the most spoiled kids imaginable to become the exact opposite? Now they are completely humble, to a fault, never even tried to make themselves look superior ever since Team Nine arrived where they were in the Country of Wave. It was scary to think about it all; just what horrors and harsh training Naruto forced his team to go through and do all this in just three months.

"I still think that it is un-youthful, the way you treat no only your Genin but my own." Mighty Guy, supposed to be the loudest Shinobi in the village that can still ambush his enemies, spoke to Naruto eating his ramen despite the tone and glare meaning disappointment.

"The village has been breathing down my neck to make sure that Team Seven is the strongest Genin team in the entire village and that even your own team will be no match for mine Guy." Naruto sad in a deadpan tone before taking a folder from who knows wear and sent in Guy's way. "It is all there, read it."

Guy did and then sighed after finishing. "There is even Hokage-sama's youthful signature so I can't deny it." Sending the folder back in the same way as Naruto did, the blonde took it back and no one saw that folder for the rest of the time they spent here in Wave.

"So what now Naruto-kun? What will happen if Team Seven does outmatch even Team Nine?" Hinata asked a good question. Once you are at the top, what other thing can you do other than try to stay at the top.

"It is almost that time of year again and I am aiming to not let my team get into danger for the sake of a last resort or anything." Naruto said in an encrypted tone that Shinobi Teachers use because they are trained to speak secrets in riddles and half answers, to keep the enemies guessing instead of asking. "And if I hear that you got drunk or got laid before that time, it is three times the weight and one third the number of meals for a week. Understand?" Naruto said while facing his infamous stern glare not only at Team Seven but Team Nine as well.

'Just what kind of man is this guy!?' Team Nine thought at unison even though they had no idea they did but Team Seven nodded furiously. Once again, the former sees just how Naruto means via the latter' reaction. It was all undeniable.

XXXXX

"You know that you will die of a cold if you keep sleeping like that out of here." Keiji was out during some late night training following an incident regarding the client's grandson, Inari. During a dinner after training, Inari came down with some kind of poor excuse for a tough attitude and only insulted the Konoha Shinobi; but when he had to accuse them all of not knowing what suffering was and they were just cold-hearted jerks all the way to even calling Mito a bitch and a whore. That caused Keiji to snap and strike at Inari but Naruto prevented that from happening, scolding Keiji for not controlling his own temper.

Keiji had no idea if Inari got off easy because he was the grandson of the client or got scolded too by Naruto since the male twin from Konoha had been outside since. But now, it was early in the morning and Keiji realized that he trained himself to the ground and started a nap without him knowing the entire time. As soon as he heard those words in a voice that was like from that of an angel, Keiji finally opened his eyes.

"Are you…an angel?" Keiji said in a tired tone. Sleeping against a tree's base and bark after exhaustion can do that to even the most harden of all Shinobi. Keiji still said that his new friend had a blush on her face.

"I am afraid not."

"Then how are you so beautiful if you are not an angel? Just who are you anyways." Keiji said before trying to move and get more comfortable. "I am Keiji Uzumaki Namikaze by the way." At least, Keiji remembered all the lessons in manners that Naruto had beaten into his head along with the rest of the tortuous training.

"Ah, son of Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō and his wife. I am honored and my name is Haku." Haku had long black hair, pale skin and large, dark-brown eyes, a slender frame. She wore a green haori with white trimmings, and around her waist a brown sash with a fringed trail wrapped around twice.

"So Haku, what are you doing out here?" Keiji said trying to be civil instead of flirtatious like he used to.

"I am a doctor and was running low on some herbs that I need to heal a sick friend. Luckily, I found some nearby so I took a morning walk to gather them until he found this place and you just sleeping there." Haku explained and pointed an open palm to some wild herbs that somehow survived the destruction of when Keiji laid waste to this clearing in order to release some pent-up feelings. "Of course, considering what is left…"

"My bad." Keiji nervous chuckled. "Here let me help." Haku giggled as Keiji was able to pick as many herbs as she could which made the job half as bad and move twice as fast.

"Thank you. I can definitely make plenty of medicine from all this." Haku said before taking the basket from the ground and started to head into the direction from which she came. "And in case you are wondering, I am a guy."

…What?

"But your hair, your perfume and even your voice is like a girl!" Keiji shouted in protest and Haku just shrugged and went on until 'he' heard the sound of clothing ripping and saw 'his' clothes fall to the ground, causing 'him' to fall to the ground in a scream with arms around the chest.

Then Haku was pushed to the ground with Keiji on top! "I wasn't done, it is rude to ignore someone trying to talk to you." Haku struggled but the positon made it very awkward and hard to call on any pint of strength to get up. "And now, why are you wearing clothes made for girls if you are a guy? Why did you model your hair in a way that is more suitable for Kunoichi since you are Shinobi yourself? Finally, why did you scream with your chest bare? I have plenty of proof that I am a guy myself." Keiji was glad that Naruto taught him how to use leverage and positons to hold an even a professional wrestler into the ground during the training sessions.

"Okay, okay I am a girl!" Haku gave up after going through the options present five times already, there was no way out but talking.

"Good, now that is settled then you can explain those herbs." Keiji continued and gave both his and Haku's attention the basket of herbs that fell from the latter when she lowered her guard. "Naruto-sensei taught us the basics of survival and showed us those type of herbs. They are used for medicine but only when the patient in question is suffering heavy wounds and exhaustion instead of simply being sick, like Zabuza." Keiji saw that Haku was twitching and smirked that he was getting to her.

"That's right. I am in cahoots with Zabuza so that makes us enemies so are you going to kill me?" Haku braced for a respond and any pain to come but she didn't expect this,

"Why kill you? That won't help anyone and you didn't do anything to me or my team. You are just a girl who follows the man who wants my client dead." Keiji stated, "I used to think that all enemies of mine deserve to die but that was another thing that Naruto-sensei had bashed me in that I am wrong. No one deserves to die and you don't either."

"B-but…" Haku tried to protest when she felt like Keiji leaving her back so she finally could get back up. But Haku nearly forgot that she had no shirt on and only panties when she used her arms to jump from the ground, flashing herself all for Keiji to witness. "Hey!" Haku noticed a few seconds too late and saw that Keiji had a slight nosebleed by the time she used her arms again but this time to cover her panties too. "What you staring at!?"

"A shameless girl who would care less about modesty if it meant to be spared. That is what I am staring at. Nice taste in panties though." Keiji smirked, something from his blind fascination with girls that has yet to leave. Naruto just simply said that boys are supposed to be interested in girls at any age and vice versa as the reason he didn't bother; after all, why would you try to fix something when it isn't broken?

"N-no…" Haku was surprised to be argued back and couldn't deny what this boy was calling her.

"Here, take this and go or I might have to capture you again and this time for Naruto-sensei? Unless you want to delay helping Zabuza?" Keiji said with a blanket that also came out of nowhere but Haku didn't care when she grabbed it and covered her near naked body.

"P-please don't tell anyone about this. Zabuza will kill you after killing me first." Haku said, suddenly like a shy girl compared to how confident she was ever since Keiji woke up to see her looking down on him.

"I can't keep that promise because Naruto-Sensei always seem to find it out anyways and who knows if he will take it the wrong way, what is worst tell my parents as soon as we get home?" Keiji said in an honest tone that didn't have a shred of lying or self-centered thinking.

But Haku wasn't able to answer and didn't say a word. And neither did Keiji until it got dark. What happened next was to be between only the two of them.

XXXXX

"Haku?" Keiji muttered from his sleeping bag, trying to grab at something out for his reach for some reason. "Haku? Where are you?" Keiji then realized that he was all alone in his sleeping bag that seemed to have obliviously be modified to fit two people of Keiji's age. Come to think of it, Keiji didn't see anyone in the room. "Where is everyone!?"

"Leave my mother alone!" Keiji then heard and recognized that voice as Inari, the same one that he struck because Inari insulted his twin sister. Hurrying to get his clothes back on and his equipment together, Keiji hoped that he could still try to handle the situation. But all that worrying was for naught when Keiji finally came down to see that a couple of bandit had been bound and Naruto had already saved the day.

Speaking of whom, Naruto turned from rubbing Inari's head to face Keiji. "Nice to see you are finally up. You did come back to the house late at night Keiji, I didn't teach you to that I hope?" Keiji knew that tone, Naruto was not pleased at all as of this very moment.

"W-well…no…but…" Keiji couldn't come up with a good story but Naruto just grabbed him by the hand, rather tightly.

"Inari, gather up the villagers the best you can because they need to be there when this tyranny is over." Naruto said and disappeared before seeing Inari nodding and hurrying towards the village despite his mother shouting out for him.

When Naruto and Keiji reappeared, it was at the bridge that Tazuna was going to build in order to free the village since they have to rely on Gato's company to meet their needs; that was how Gato had forced the people to bow to him and that was why he is treating them like dirt and getting with it scot free.

And as for the bridge now, it was a mess. Inside the mist, sounds of metal and screams were to be heard and voices too. Naruto knew one of them and she was in trouble. But unlike Keiji, he just won't barge in to help her; not after the hard work that Hinata had undergone for a few years to protect herself. So for now,

"Keiji, try to find your sister and Hinata along with Team Nine. I need to go and help Guy." Naruto ordered and he wisely used another one of his many and specific tones, one that meant no arguments. Keiji didn't even try and hurried into the mist in order to track down where the voices were coming from while Naruto did the same. And both of them had found what they were looking for but where they were found, exactly, was nothing pretty.

"Guys." Keiji could yell out if he didn't get a crash course in how a Shinobi never yells when an ambush chance is available, bandits yell. But the entire Team Nine were there and they were trying to break something like a dome made completely out of strange mirrors that looked like they were made out of ice but they weren't melting, even though it was summer time.

"Keiji, where were you?" Tenten demanded the best way she could under the circumstances herself. "We were ambush when Tazuna just had to say that he still need to work on his bridge even after all his bridge builders quit out of fear. And then we were ambushed by Zabuza along with the same Hunter-Nin that saved him a week ago. Hinata-chan told us and so did your sister."

Keiji flinched at the slight distaste of Tenten as soon as she spoke the word 'sister' when it came to him personally and it was all centering on Mito for sure. Some people sure know how to hold a grudge. But he forgot all about that he saw just who they were talking about, indeed the same figure a week ago and was controlling the mirrors! Then came something that set Keiji off, that same hunter had appeared out of a mirror that both Mito and Hinata were facing their backs; that sneak attack could kill any of them!

"Hinata-san!" Keiji let lose all those emotions and something else happened. When everyone was drawn to the yell, Hinata found herself outside the mirror ice dome and inside, Mito was surprised to see her brother by her and blocking an attempted sneak attack by matching kunai.

"I told you that the Kawarimi no Jutsu was the easiest for me. Now I can even do this with the help of Naruto-sensei." Keiji said surprisingly well while holding the Hunter-Nin at a stalemate with his kunai. Then Keiji broke the stalemate and started to fight the Hunter-Nin in close dueling given their chose of weapons being many times smaller than the average sword.

Mito was surprised herself that Keiji had an unusual talent for such a simple technique that saved both her life and Hinata's. She never even knew that her brother was actually quite good with a small bladed weapon since Mito never listened to a word of her twin brother as soon as they started their training with their parents; always ran it off as exaggerated boasting, over-imagination and empty words. Mito never even gave Keiji a minute of her time to see it for herself. What a mess and they are twin brother and sister.

But then, as soon as she broke her stupor, Mito heard these words. "Haku-chan? Why?" Everyone turned to see a familiar face at least to Keiji that is. "Why did you still want to do this? You will just get killed."

"I'm sorry but Zabuza-sama is still my master I told him plenty of times that I will die, for the man that I treasure more in the world." Haku responded and it was like she and Keiji were old lovers who found themselves on the other side of the law to each other.

"So I guess that I really made myself look like a fool to trust you. To try and make a new friend. Or even consider a girlfriend, ever in my life." Keiji suddenly started to talk like a downer and went on and on about how he was too 'a pathetic boy that is only good for dying' until he was slapped on the face.

"It doesn't mean any of that at all!" Haku shouted at Keiji and despite that, the mist still contained that outburst. "You are my friend! If not then why did you bring me back to the house of my enemies!? To make me feel warmer, safer, more secure and more welcomed! More than I ever felt in all my life!" Haku then started to tear up for everyone to witness. "I truly didn't want you to be involved, I just didn't want you to die but how can I even try to escape the path I gave my life to stay walking on!?"

Then Haku throw away her kunai and caused the ice around her, Keiji and Mito to melt but only the latter girl reacted to that. Keiji just ignored all that and hugged Haku. "If I am going to die, then I want to see all my friends and new ones making their own paths to walk on. No one should follow a man all their life unless they want to be nothing but a doll to control. Please promise me that before I get killed okay?"

In the moment Keiji was having, everyone never said a word and it was thanks to Hinata secretly blocking out any sound with her own Genjutsu talents. All they needed to do is see the male heir of the Konoha village finally become a real man. And that was clear when Haku hugged Keiji back, clean and without any backstabbing movement at all.

"Thanks Keiji. I guess that it was past time that I started to do what I wanted to do, I am a big girl after all." Haku started to giggle and strangely, everyone commented in their thoughts on how it made Haku look even cuter. Then came something that broke even Hinata's sound proof Genjutsu.

"GATO!"

XXXXX

"GATO!" Zabuza shouting as his mist had lifted up thanks to two arrows in his arms, obviously not from Guy or Naruto. They may had been fighting this rogue Shinobi but they both would never do such a dishonorable act given that Zabuza wanted a fair re-match.

"Hello Zabuza, the 'Baby Demon of the Mist'." Everyone then saw a repulsive midget in a business suit with a crane in one hand and the other in a cast. Behind him was nothing sort of an army armed to the teeth in armor and weapons. "I paid you even double to get the job done and you still failed me. I decided that money wasn't going to solve the problem that is you so I gave money to more competed mercenaries. Remember…" Gato then turned his head to his army, "The first one to kill Zabuza or even one of those Konoha Shinobi will get ten times their promised money. But you can do what you want with the girls. Got it?"

"Got it Boss!" Every single 'mercenary' in Gato's army proclaimed. And they started to move forward but they soon found themselves unable to compete that first step.

"What is wrong with you all!?" Gato started to yell, ignoring what is really going on. Something that his enemies have a front row seat to witness.

"What is wrong is that you have ordered the greatest sin known to us Shinobi, Tycoon Gato." That poor, poor man then felt like his body was slowly and painfully freezing away but Gato still wanted to see who was talking him down like the proud coward he is. There, in full view, was Naruto Uzumaki. "Now, for the sake of not only this village and its people you were sucking dry like a weed in a beautiful garden, but also for Haku and Zabuza that you have lied to, I will kill you Gato."

There was pure malice and the desire to kill in that voice, even a blind man will see it. And Gato sure did, "Protect me! Stop him!" Gato then hurried behind his army the fastest he could with the help of his cane. The mercenaries hurried to make sure they will still get paid and just in time when Naruto took out a Kunai with the intent to stab Gato in the ugly and rotten heart that business man had in his chest. Of course, there was this thing about Naruto that shown have been seen given his reputation.

Two of them had used their weapons to block the Kunai and hurried to seize Naruto but instead their hands had fazed right through the blond, like they were witnessing a mirage outside a desert. Then the sound of flesh being pierced and a man screaming in fear and pain. Everyone just had to see what was going on; and they got their wish.

On the other side of the army of mercenaries was Gato for sure, he somehow made it even with his cane and cast but that wasn't the surprising part. It was that he had a Kunai and someone's hand going right through the section of chest that contained his heart; just as 'Naruto' moved in to undergo.

"What the hell!?"

"How did the brat get behind us!?"

"HEY! NOW NONE OF US ARE GOING TO GET PAID! KILL HIM!" One of the mercenaries shouted and pretty soon they all turned towards Naruto who was killing his sleeve of Gato's blood with the dead man's clothes.

"Yeah, then we will keep all the girls for ourselves!" But Naruto's calm and devil-may-care attitude to this development had snapped once he heard that proclaim and after that, sick laughter from the army of mercenaries. Now Naruto was not going to be the same for the rest of the day.

"You are such horrible people." Naruto stared the charging army with a glare that seemed to make the blonde look like the devil. "Die." As soon as he said that single word, the first set of mercenaries to reach Naruto had died.

It was like they were crushed by some kind of unseen force and the remains were scatter all over the bridge, into the water and on the approaching mercenaries but something had prevented even a single blood splat on Naruto himself. This didn't stop the charging killers of course but this did; a set of over a hundred blades, floating around Naruto himself.

And with just a flick of a finger or two into their direction was all it took for the blonde to order the strange blades move in; to kill you all. And it all happened in an instant. Swords sliced and diced. Spears pierced and stabbed. And daggers shredded to the bone. And then there wasn't any mercenary left to be called human anymore; just a large pile of blood and gore on the bridge.

His audience were mostly in shock at the sight. Guy was both worried about Naruto exposing not only Team Seven but also Team Nine to such horrors of fellow humans being chopped up in such brutality and also getting a little sick from the stench and sight himself. Lee couldn't even peep. Neji tried to empty his mind of the blood that brought back his own bad memories. Tenten tried to contain something disgusting that is tempting her to let out and on the bridge. As for Team Seven, they seemed to be slightly doing better; Keiji was wondering if this was what his father had to see and what is worst, cause during the Third Shinobi War while Mito tried to hide her eyes with the help of her brother's shoulder and finally, Hinata had to see this kind of thing herself and being Naruto's girlfriend and student at the same time had gave her the right to know everything about being a Shinobi; Naruto doesn't leave anything out.

But Naruto was still feeling a little sadist and went to the railing of the bridge and whistled in an eerie tone. Then came the sound of a large group of things swimming through the water that surrounded the Wave Village. "Hello boys, hungry?" Naruto said in a casual tone, even though he is talking to a school of sharks!

And yet they all nodded like well-trained puppies and their loose tongues that are hanging from their mouths made them look kind of cute than fierce. "Then dig in!" Everyone soon saw that Naruto had indirectly cast off a pile of flesh into the waters where the school of sharks were just waiting in anticipation. Once the meat pile had finally got into the water the shark wasted no time in having their own fill. But then Guy saw something familiar about the meat and blood that stained the water; there was a human shaped arm with the clothing of the mercenaries that Naruto had slain off!

And when everyone saw it too, their disturbing and uncomfortable pain had returned when they thought they forgotten it, but this time the negative feelings were twice as strong. Just what had caused Naruto to be such a sadist homicidal manic and yet a much respected man to all men. But there was this little thing tugging at the minds of the twins, like they saw their father in Naruto and the army was no longer normal and greedy mercenaries but Shinobi, wearing brown uniforms and headbands with the symbol for a simple rock. They had no idea why they were seeing this but time will give them their answer, whatever they will accept it or not.

XXXXX

After the nightmare finally ended,

"You sure you want to come us Haku-chan?" Naruto asked the young lady, "This will be a big shock after those years on the run and it will be really difficult to erase nearly a life time of following a Rogue Shinobi…"

"Yes, I am sure." Haku stated while grasping Keiji's arm like a lifeline during a hurricane.

"And are you going to take responsibility Keiji. You have just caused a girl to fall for you and won't let you go." Naruto turned to one of his students.

"I-I will!" Keiji was still nervous about all this. After all, Naruto's harsh training had allowed him to see that women are far more complex and just one mistake can really ruin your chances of ever being around that same woman ever again.

"Then you better because your mother will demand to know everything about your relationship so she can embarrass you about it. Unless you want to do otherwise." Naruto said and Keiji nodded. Embarrassment is nothing compared to how Kushina punishes her children for leaving her out of any potential children in-law and also any possible grandchildren to spoil.

"Hey!" All three of them turned to see Mito along with the rest of the Konoha Shinobi on the bridge out of Wave. "We are about to leave and stop pressuring Keiji, he will be fine!" The said boy was glad to make things up with his twin sister and it felt rather good to have someone that close to count on. "Besides, I like Haku and I will like someone to call my sister!" Mito said not knowing of the secret that Naruto and Hinata are aware of but said nothing; they didn't even notice the sad and regretful expressions both of them had.

"We're coming Mito." Naruto said in a sour tone that somehow was missed by all but Hinata who grasped his hand to at least cheer him up; that he is not alone on lying to the twins about having no big brother or little sister. "We just need to do one last thing." Only Hinata heard that and nodded but no else because it was a surprise; a present if you call it and it was all for the twins.

End of Chapter 9.

*Thanks for reminding me to make an update, it is tough trying to keep more than forty stories in check but since I have so many ideas, it is my own fault. I will be hearing back though!

And about Naruto's abilities shown on the bridge. I had this idea of having Naruto gain a mastery over Wind and Energy Shape Manipulation in order to create objects out of pure wind that is harden by his chakra so he can use them in combat. And with him using weapons by the flick of a hand was inspired by the actions of Fairy King Harlequin from the Seven Deadly Sins Manga and Anime with his scared spear. You should check it out on Netflix Streaming once you sign up.

And for those who have read another one of my work, I know that I repeated the same interrogation of Haku that Naruto of my story made but I couldn't resist and I tried to think of something else. Really. Hopefully that will clear things up.

Another thing, I guess that I gave the show to Keiji for most of this chapter. And I even gave the boy a girlfriend! I must be more forgiving and soft hearted than I thought. And that is all I can explain here in the Author's note. Have a good day!*

Translations:

Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō – Konoha's Yellow Flash

Kawarimi no Jutsu – Body Replacement Technique/Substitution Technique.