Anko was growling at Haku like a monster that's out of control as her curse mark was forcing her to give into her hatred and darkness.
Haku stood with his mask shattered and gave Anko a soft smile. "When a person has someone to protect, they've become significantly stronger. Please, end my life." Haku said.
Hearing this snapped Anko out her fit of rage and allowed her to regain control and force the curse mark to recede. As she looked down on the ground, Naruto was covered in needles and blood.
Anko kneeled down and and when she checked his pulse, her eyes went wide. "Hinata! Come over! He's still alive but is critical!" Anko shouted.
"Huh? What's going on?" Kiba asked and when Hinata looked in Anko's direction, she saw the critical condition of Naruto and without hesitation, she charged over.
"Hinata, can you heal him?" Anko asked.
"Yes, just give me some time. Make sure nobody comes over here." Hinata said as she began seriously focusing on healing the blond.
"Gato. What the hell are you doing here?" Zabuza asked as he was pushing through the pain.
"I've come to see what's taking you so long. It seems that you failed again to eliminate these children and women. I'm pretty disappointed. What good is a tool that doesn't work?" The short business man asked with a chuckle.
The crowd of men behind Gato consisted of over one hundred bandits and thugs. "Kiba, can you still fight?" Kurenai asked.
"Yeah, I can keep going, why?" Kiba asked.
"Hinata is healing Naruto. We can't afford to let them get through." Kurenai said.
"I've decided that your services are a bit too expensive for me. So, you're free to do whatever." Gato said, shocking Zabuza.
"You little snake!" Zabuza shouted as he leaked his killing intent.
"Haha, it's nothing personal, just business. Now, eliminate those bastards!" Gato shouted and his men started cheering.
"Get ready, Kiba." Kurenai said.
"Right." Kiba nodded.
"We'll help you. It seems that we're no longer enemies. I'd mind lending a hand." Zabuza said as he nodded to Haku.
"Yes, Zabuza. I will eliminate them." Haku said.
"Come on, you idiot, don't die on us." Anko said as she held Naruto's hand tightly while Hinata was using the little medical ninjutsu she knew.
Suddenly, Naruto's eyes shot open. "What's going on, what happened?" Naruto asked. Anko quickly wrapped him up in a tight hug.
"Naruto, thank god you're still alive. I swear to god if you ever pull something like that again, I'll kill you myself!" Anko shouted as she began crying. "I thought I lost you." The woman said.
Naruto gave a stunned expression and then looked at the frown with a frown as the memories returned. He soon noticed the group of bandits that were attacking.
"Damn, it just never stops." Naruto said as he stood up.
"Hey, wait! You aren't healed yet!" Hinata shouted.
"Sorry, but I've got to stop Gato and his men once and for all. Anko, I'll be right back." Naruto said as he put his shirt back on and grabbed his kunai.
Anko looked up at Naruto and for a moment, it was like seeing the fourth Hokage. By the color of Naruto's hair, his confidence, and his assuring smile.
"Alright, time for me to show them why I'm the second sage of six paths." Naruto said as he threw a kunai that landed in front of his team and the two most ninja. Naruto flashed and appeared in front of them.
"Don't worry, I'll handle things." Naruto said.
"Impossible, nobody survives that jutsu. I hit all your vital spots." Haku said in disbelief.
Naruto chuckled. "I'm pretty hard to kill. You know, I'm like a bad rash that won't ever go away." Naruto said.
"You brat, do you know who I am?" Gato asked.
"Oh yeah, I know who you are. But tell me, do you know who I am?" Naruto asked as he threw multiple kunai. "Shadow clone Shuriken jutsu." Naruto said as the kunai multiplied.
Suddenly, a flash of yellow was seen and the screams of the thugs and bandits could be heard. Before they could react, the victim of Naruto's attack already dropped dead. "What is he?" Gato asked as he slowly stepped away.
"That jutsu, to think I'd ever get to see it first hand." Zabuza said in shock.
"Zabuza, what is that jutsu?" Haku asked.
"The Hiraishin, created by Tobirama Senju, and modified by Minato Namikaze, and mastered by Naruto Uzumaki." Anko said as she walked up with Hinata.
"The Gaki, he's something else." Zabuza said.
Naruto was slashing across the bodies of the thugs and whenever someone tried to attack, he ended their lives in an instant. The thugs were all dead and Naruto stood with his arms crossed. "It's over, Gato." Naruto said.
"No, no, no! Please, please don't kill me! I beg you,'please!" Gato screamed as he was on all fours.
Naruto looked down with his Sharingan flared and had an expression of disgust. "Your Tyranny is over." Naruto said as he walked past the simpering businessman.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Gato cried out until he began clenching his neck. Naruto reappeared behind the man stabbed his kunai into the man, allowing him a slow and painful death.
"No problem." Naruto said as he flicked the blood off the kunai. Instantly changing his personality, Naruto greeted his team. "Alright, who wants some ramen? I'm pretty hungry." Naruto said, causing everyone to face fault.
As the group started walking towards Tazuna's house, they were met by Inari sand Tshnami, leading the people of Wave to go and fight Gato's men. "Inari? What's going on?" Tazuna asked.
"We're here to help, grandpa. Where is Gato? We'll kill him!" Inari shouted.
Naruto smiled as he walked up to the boy and ruffled his hair. However, the blond then proceeded to walk forward, the group of people's stepping aside to let the boy through.
"What happened, is everything alright?" Tsunami asked.
"Tsunami, Naruto killed Gato and all his men, single handedly. I've never seen anything like it." Tazuna said.
"That's weird, would he want to be praised for being a hero?" Kiba asked.
"No, Naruto isn't the kind of hero to fight in the open. He prefers to be the hero that fights in the shadows and keep the people safe without getting any credit. Tazuna, I'll escort Tsunami and Inari home." Anko said.
"Right, alright. Let's get this bridge finished!" Tazuna called out and the people of wave cheered. Even Kiba, Zabuza, and Haku started helping with the labor.
Back at the house, Naruto went to his and Kiba's room where he looked at himself in the mirror. As he stared into his Sharingan eyes, the blond failed to notice Anko entering the room. It wasn't until she called out to him that he noticed.
"Hello, Anko." Naruto said.
"How are you feeling? That was certainly quite the performance you displayed." Anko said in a calm tone.
Naruto sat on the bed and started rubbing his eyes. "You know, I really thought I was going to die." Naruto said.
"I thought so too. For the first time in a long time, I'v never been so afraid. In fact, it forced me to draw on the curse mark." Anko explained.
Naruto looked up at the woman with a frown. "You used the curse mark?" Naruto asked.
"Yes." Anko responded.
"But, I thought you hated that mark more than anything." Naruto said.
"That's true, very true. However, there isn't anything in this world that I hate more than the thought of losing you." Anko said as she walked over to the blond and sat on his lap.
Naruto's Sharingan deactivated and the two slowly began locking lips and sharing a deep and passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around Anko's middle back while wrapped her arms around his neck.
When the two broke the kiss apart, neither knew what to say to the other. "Um, Anko? Does this mean you're my girlfriend?" Naruto asked innocently, causing Anko to chuckle and roll her eyes.
"You'll take on two powerful shinobi without hesitation, eliminate an entire army of thugs, including an evil tyrant. But you're nervous about asking if I'm your girlfriend?
Haha, I guess that is kind of silly when you put it that way." Naruto said sheepishly.
"We'll talk when we get home. There is lots for us to discuss." Anko said as she got off of the blond.
A few days passed and with the added help of Anko and Naruto's shadow clones, the bridge was finally complete. Tazuna was crying tears of joy that he's finally able to do more for his home.
"Thank you guys, all of you. Now, our home will be restored." Tazuna said.
"Of course, I'm glad that we could help you." Kurenai said with a bright smile.
"Grandpa, we should name the bridge." Inari said.
"Huh? Well, I guess it's only right for the bridge to have a name. How does the Bridge of the Yellow Flash sound?" Tazuna asked and he received multiple nods and praises.
"Sorry, but no. That's my father's name." Naruto said, causing Kurenai, Hinata, Anko, Haku, Zabuza, and Kiba to turn around.
"Wait, you're the son of Minato Namikaze, Konoha's Yellow Flash, and the fourth Hokage?" Kiba asked.
"Yeah, just keep it on the low. God forbids that Iwagakure finds out." Naruto said sheepishly.
"Then how does the great Naruto bridge sound?" Tazuna asked the blond.
"While I don't believe we should name it after me, I guess we can change the country to the Land of Ramen, and the great Naruto bridge will give out an unlimited supply of Naruto, haha." Naruto said with a chuckle.
Everyone laughed at the blond's joke. "Then it's decided, this bridge will be called the Great Naruto Bridge." Tazuna said.
"So, are you two going out on your own adventure?" Naruto asked the swordsman.
"No, Haku and I are returning to Kiri. We're going to help out the rebellion and take Yagura out of office." Zabuza said.
"I see. Well, if you need any help, take this." Naruto said as he gave Zabuza one of his Hiraishin kunai. "Just throw it and I'll be there in a flash." Naruto said.
"Funny, Gaki. Alright, well, we'll see you guys around." Zabuza said as he and Haku proceeded towards the hidden mist village.
"I don't know about you guys, but so could certainly use some ramen." Naruto said.
"Ramen, you mean dango?" Anko asked.
"No, ramen." Naruto said.
"No. dango." Anko shot back.
"Are those two alright?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah, this is just how they express their feelings towards each other." Kurenai said as she chuckled.
The team arrived back in Konoha and they gave their report. "Excellent work, team eight. I want you guys to take off for a week, you too Anko. It sounded like a big mission." Hiruzen said.
"Yes, Lord Third." The three of them said as they decided to leave, leaving Anko and Kurenai.
"Anko, did you have something else to add on?" Hiruzen asked.
"Naruto sacrificed his life to save me." Anko said with a blank face.
This made Hiruzen's eyes widen. "He did?" Asked the Hokage.
"But in exchange, I ended up using the curse mark. Do you think is something we should contact Lord Jiraiya about?" Anko asked.
"No, however, Inthink it would be wise to relax yourself. As long as you don't use the seal, you should be fine." Hiruzen said.
Anko proceeded to the door and gave a smirk. "Thanks, gramps." Anko said before leaving.
"What are your thoughts?" Hiruzen asked.
"I think this mission greatly helped those two and I believe that things will start to get better for the two of them." Kurenai said.
"I hope so. Well, Kurenai, you're dismissed. Go relax." The Hokage told the Ruby eyed woman.
"Yes, Lord Third." Kurenai said as she left.
A/N - Now that wave is over, I'll be working on the chunin exams and things will be pretty fun. I hope you guys enjoyed the past two arcs and I hope I'm making it more enjoyable. I'll try to write better fight scenes and add more to Naruto and Anko's ship. I wanted Narutk and Anko to be similar to how Naruto and Sasuke's situation was and that's why I did what I did. These exams will certainly be fun ;)