Kei-Kei Yuki: Okay some of this chapter is a slightly out of order, from the way things happen in canon, which was somewhat by a mistake. Though I don't think some of you would care or take notice of it. Man, it's been a while since I last seen an episode of Naruto from the beginning. Also, Naruto is seventeen after the war, right?

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Wave Arc: Part 2

Naruko's plan was to appear like a cool badass, save Sasu-teme's behind, defeat the bad guys, and wow Sakura and Kakashi-sensei with her awesome kunoichi skills. Sasuke sacrificing himself in order to save her... was not part of the plan. Her large cerulean eyes took in the sight of Sasuke's body riddled with needles, blood seeping from the wounds, and the bastard had the nerve to smirk.

"Sasuke... W-Why? Why did you do that?!" screamed Naruko. She didn't want to believe what had just happened. Sasuke did not just sacrifice himself for her.

"What kind of expression is that, moron..." uttered Sasuke in a hoarse voice as he glanced back at those large cerulean eyes that were welling with tears. 'They're actually sorta beautiful...' Sasuke had a strange feeling that it was only due to him about to die that such words came to mind as he stared at Naruko's eyes.

Just before Sasuke's body could touch the ground, she caught him, holding her precious teammate in her lap. "Teme, why did you protect me!?" yelled Naruko as anguish began to fill her heart. Sasuke didn't know why, but the sight of tears in her eyes did not settle well with him.

"Like hell should I know... M-My b-body just moves on it's on..." Though somewhere deep down inside of him, he was well aware of his own actions. There was some part of him that couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He had already lost so much that he couldn't bear to lose yet one more person. Even though Naruko was dumb, annoying, and racked on his everlasting nerves, she was still his dobe.

'Damn it! I can't die like this... I must still get my revenge.' Flashes of his tragic past came to haunt him, just before his death. Remembering a face that was once dear to him, yet in the end, caused him nothing but pain and misery. "N-Nii-san..." These were the last words Naruko heard from Sasuke before he closed his eyes. Naruko felt a dull pain in her heart, like something inside of her snapped, the only emotion besides pain that began to fill her... was anger.

"You... You... YOU TOOK AWAY MY BASTARD!" cried Naruko; an ominous red chakra began to surround her as she crouched down on the ground like a fox, positioned protectively in front of Sasuke's body. The whisker marks on her cheeks deepened slightly, glaring her red fox-eyes at her enemy, and said, "I'll kill you!" She swore with vengeance, almost like a female kitsune who just lost its mate and was not out for revenge.

It was at that moment that Haku felt the emotion known as fear. In the middle of their own battle, Zabuza and Kakashi were caught off guard by a dreadful unknown chakra presence that was coming from the battle between Sasuke, Naruko, and Haku. Sensing such an evil and malicious chakra, Kakashi immediately knew something had happened and hoped it wasn't what he feared.

After the death of Haku and his final battle with Zabuza, Kakashi made his way over to Naruko, only to pause once he saw how she was holding Sasuke's body preciously to her chest. Even though the nine-tailed chakra seemed to have vanished, Naruko's blue eyes still had diamond shaped pupils in the middle, glaring at anyone who drew near.

Seeing such a sight, Kakashi remembered an old tale concerning a female kitsune, who were protective when it came to their mates and children. Also of how when a female kitsune lost its mate, it would lose its mind, killing all who drew near their dead mate's body, and shortly followed its mate in death. Kakashi knew it was nothing more than an old tale, but as he was being glared at by Naruko, he couldn't help but think maybe that old tale had some truth to it.

"Naruko! Where's Sasuke-kun?!" Kakashi heard Sakura's voice, who was running over to them.

"Sakura, stop!" Kakashi knew that Naruko wasn't in the right state of mind right now, and going by that old tale, it was better for him to keep Sakura a good distance away from the two. Heeding Kakashi's order, Sakura did as he said, and Tazuna stopped behind her, though both were confused at why he would give such an order until they took in the sight of Naruko holding Sasuke's body.

"N-No... Sa-Sasuke-kun..." Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes who was about to rush over to the two but was stopped by a glaring pair of blue eyes that looked as if she would've killed her if she dared to take another step closer. This course of action, instead of angering Sakura, stunned her.

It was almost animalistic the way Naruko reacted. Nevermind the fact that the blonde, who was always trying to impress or befriend the pinkette, had threatened her with her eyes and action alone. Sakura couldn't understand what was going on, taking in how Naruko eyes had a diamond pupil shape, which when added with her whisker birthmarks, made her look even more like a kitsune who was in deep mourning.

Though Naruko was not the only one who was mourning; Sakura had loved Sasuke for the majority of her life. So to see him lying so still and lifeless in Naruko's arms made it seem as if her entire world had shattered. Tazuna could do nothing more than to turn away at the sad sight of the two young girls mourning the loss of their teammate.

Kakashi was debating with himself on whether or not to take a step forward just so he could check on Sasuke's body when suddenly Naruko's eyes perked up. Placing her ear over his heart, she heard a heartbeat, followed by an annoying voice. "Crybaby." Hearing this, Naruko realized that there were tears running down her cheeks and that Sasuke was still alive.

"You... You stupid bastard! Do you not know how worried you made everyone!? Don't ever do that again! Look, you even made poor Sakura-chan cry! And who the hell are you calling a crybaby, you girly-ass-teme!?" During the middle of Naruko's rant, she was pushed to the side by Sakura, who began sobbing on Sasuke's chest. Tezuna could do nothing but sweatdrop at such a scene; this was followed by Zabuza, who still barely alive, mentally called the blonde a tsundere, while Kakashi's released a sigh of relief.

Too bad the happy scene was ruined by the appearance of Gato and his gang of thugs, who had never intended to pay him or Haku even if they did complete the job. When Naruko began going on a rant of how Zabuza never valued Haku enough, she became silent when he said, "Haku was a good kid with a good heart, even when he was fighting against and your friend over there his heart broke. But especially when he was fighting against you, seeing how the kid sorta bore a crush on you. Though in my honest opinion, he could've done so much better than a pipsqueak loud blonde."

"What was that, you zombie-bastard!?" angrily yelled Naruko who had to be restrained by Kakashi.

"Who has a temper of a vixen. Though, I guess you're not that bad. Now, girl, lend me one of your kunai." Reaching into her weapon pouch, Naruko threw over to him one of her kunais.

"I'm glad Haku met someone like you before he died," he said before dashing into the crowd of thugs and murdering them along with Gato, right before being unable to move due to his server battle wounds. Even though Gato was now gone and Zabuza took down some, there were still a lot of thugs left. Inari somehow united the rest of the people on the island, who suddenly appeared on the bridge, ready to defend their home.

"Naru-neechan! We're here to help!" yelled Inari.

"Inari!" Naruko was surprised to see the little boy with the rest of his village but nevertheless felt proud of him for finally getting over the grief of his father and standing up to defend his home.

"Like you said, the hero always arrive last." Inari sheepishly scratched his cheek, smiling.

"Alright, I can't have them doing all the work. Time to kick ass and take names!" Performing the seal, Naruko yelled out, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" The blonde created five clones of herself. Chuckling at Naruko's antics, Kakashi followed her lead; the army of clones he created had the thugs running scared and off the bridge. With their home safe, the villagers began to celebrate, and even though the mission was over, Team 7 buried the bodies of Zabuza and Haku right next to each other.

After a tearful goodbye to Inari, which consisted of both of them crying as she hugged the younger boy tightly to her chest, to the annoyance of Sasuke, unaware that after their departure, Tazuna had decided to name the bridge after Naruko. On their way back home, Naruko was bugging Sakura to go out and eat ramen with her. Sakura constantly refused the blonde's offer while asking Sasuke to go out on a date with her, which he refused.

Kakashi was reading his little orange book, barely paying any attention to his noisy students. On the way back, Sasuke's mind flashbacked to before he had completely blacked out, subconsciously remembering Naruko's voice saying, "YOU TOOK AWAY MY BASTARD!" Sasuke didn't know why hearing such a phrase brought such happiness to his heart, but he found it annoying. Though, he felt almost touched by the way Naruko valued him.

Taking a fleeting glance over at the blonde walking next to him, he remembered the tears she had shed and remembered the unsettled feeling in his gut that he felt. Never did Sasuke want to feel that way, vowing to never let Naruko cry like that ever again. Too bad the young Uchiha was unaware that he would break that vow sometime in the near future.

End of Wave Arc: Part 2