As Naruto ran to catch up with the rest of his squad, he sensed hostile chakra, weak, but definitely hostile and they were heading towards the old man's place. So he doubled back, trying to intercept them, but only came upon their tracks. The tracks and slashes proved his senses right and he continued towards Tazuna's place.
When he finally arrived he saw two men drawing their swords on Inari as Inari charged them. Tsunami's chakra was suppressed indicating that she had been knocked out. Naruto channeled chakra to his feet and leapt to save Inari. The swords narrowly missed them.
Naruto set Inari down by his unconscious mom, as he said, "You know hero's usually arrive at the last minute before they save everyone".
Inari said, "Naruto?
Naruto replied, "Who else? You did great, because you distracted them I was able to save your mom".
Naruto heard the hard steps of them coming at them, followed by Inari yelling, "They're coming'!
Reaching into his pouch Naruto grabbed a scroll and flung it open, summoning a katana. He grabbed the sword and quickly entered a stance.
Naruto suddenly recalled the training that Hayate and the elders drilled him mercilessly in day after day. Having to run up and down a mountain avoiding countless traps and dangers in order for Naruto to develop the proper muscle memory and breath control. While he had understood the physical aspect, it wasn't until the tree climbing training with Kakashi sensei that he finally understood what he was doing wrong and what had been holding him back in his sword and breathing style training.
Taking a deep breath Naruto said as he channeled chakra and air throughout his body, "Total Concentration. Wind Style:Wind Breathing; First Form: Whirlwind Blade Dash".
He leapt towards the charging attackers, twisting his body in a rapid spin that increased the speed and strength of his sword. The attackers tried to defend themselves but couldn't match his speed and atypical attack angles. Each of the attackers had a deep slash that spouted blood like a fountain. Naruto felt their chakra signatures go out like a candle being snuffed out. He sheathed and resealed the sword back into the scroll. Then he went back to inspect his handiwork and saw that despite this being his first time using the technique in live combat, the slashes had struck their necks, killing them almost instantly and almost painlessly.
The fact that he killed anyone should have made him sick, but he didn't feel sick. He figured it must be because of how malicious and disgusting their chakra felt and the fact they were going to kill Inari and likely Tsunami as well if he hadn't arrived. The fact that they were targeting them meant that they were Gato's men.
Inari said, "Wow Naruto, you did it! You were like a real ninja"!
Naruto said, "That's because I am, that is what I have been trying to tell you, you know".
Naruto and Innari smiled and laughed.
Naruto said, "Alright let's get your mom inside then I got to join my team".
Some Time later at the Bridge:
He had to admit that this wasn't his best plan. Making a big showy arrival and then sneaking into the dome where Sasuke was pretty dumb. Especially since he wasn't able to really help Sasuke. His paper bombs didn't work against the Ice mirrors and he hadn't mastered any ranged Wind Style techniques. He had barely gotten the hang of the First and Third forms of Wind Breathing. Old Man Kautso probably wouldn't even call his First Form fully mastered as he and Hayate had been able to make multiple cuts to a target before passing the target, while Naruto had only been fast enough to strike an opponent once. Though he had gotten the accuracy down.
Naruto said, "Hey Sasuke, I am going to try something, but it will take total concentration so I can't predict his attacks by sensing how his chakra changes. Are you going to be okay without my prediction"?
Sasuke said, "Who do you think you're talking to deadlast. You're not the only one trying to track him and find an attack pattern".
Naruto drew his summoning scroll and summoned a katana from it. He smoothly moved into the First Form's narrowed the focus of his mind's eye to target the masked bastard's real body at its most vulnerable. Taking a deep breath he said, Total Concentration. Wind Style: Wind Breathing; First form: Whirlwind Blade Dash"!
He leapt at the masked enemy, trying to slash them but the masked nin created an ice shield that protected him from the slash but the movement slowed him down as it changed his trajectory.
Naruto heard a whoosh of flame nearby. As Naruto landed, he saw that Sasuke had performed another fire style technique.
Sasuke said, "Damn, almost got him. Naruto, can you keep up the attacks, I just need him to slow down a little more".
Naruto said, "Of course I can! I'm an Uzumaki"!
He took the First Form's stance again and launched the attack again. Though this time it was less effective. So he tried again, channeling even more chakra.
Yet all it resulted in was Naruto landing on his back.
Sasuke said, "Don't you have any other techniques"?!
Naruto replied, "Of course, but Whirlwind Blade Dash is the only attack that can match this guy's body flicker. The Third Form is for close combat and I haven't mastered the Second form yet. If quality isn't working, let's try quantity", he performed the sign for the shadow clone jutsu, "Shadow Clone Jutsu"!
Naruto and the clones leapt towards the mirrors and they managed to actually burn some of his clothes.
Naruto yelled, "Nice Sasuke! Let's try it again"!
But before they could, the enemy launched another attack which managed to get through his defenses and peppered him with senbon, though none were lethal. Sasuke had managed to evade without a single scratch that time. Naruto's senses came back to the wider ranged threat detection, rather than targeting. Sasuke's chakra was different, and there was a powerful concentration of chakra in his eyes. Then he saw it. Sasuke had Sharingan. They were different from Kakashi sensei's Sharingan, but they worked.
The enemy attacked again, with greater speed and power. Naruto hadn't been able to get the Third form ready and took the brunt of the attack. The senbon had struck a few pressure points which made it hard to move.
Another attack came and he took more hits and knocked him away from, while Sasuke managed to block all of his incoming senbon.
Naruto thought to himself, "DAMMIT! Why do I still need to be the one rescued? I gotta get up".
Naruto sensed another attack was coming but he couldn't get the words out in time. Next thing he knew he saw Sasuke standing above him with his back to him and the masked ninja laying on the ground.
Naruto said, "Nice Sasuke! You got him"!
Sasuke soon collapsed and Naruto forced himself up to catch him. It was then Naruto realized that Sasuke had thrown himself in front of the attack to save him.
Naruto asked, "Why did you save me Sasuke"?
Sasuke replied, "I don't know why, I just did. I hated you. You were so annoying and I hated how despite…".
Sasuke didn't finish speaking before he closed his eyes. Naruto could sense his chakra shrinking and going cold.
The masked ninja said as he reentered the ice mirror, "This is what it means to be a ninja, to kill or be killed".
Naruto said, "Shut up. You will pay for this".
As Naruto laid Sasuke on the ground, he felt a sudden rush of chakra and energy flow throughout his body. The senbon that had impaled him shot out like a cork and his wounds healed instantly. He felt something change in almost every part of his body. Chakra poured out of him and heavily saturated the area around Sasuke and him. Spiraling upwards, the red orange flowed like a raging river and high pitched noise seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. Sadness and regret soon vanished, replaced by a red hot rage and hate.
Naruto said, "I'm going to kill you"!
He let out a feral growl, which the enemy responded with an attack from almost every angle which hit him, but the senbon were shot out even faster and Naruto let out a mighty force that was accompanied by the massive wave of red chakra. He charged one of the ice mirrors and easily shattered it. The enemy tried to counter, by attacking from one of the shards. Naruto easily evaded it. He then caught the enemy by the arm as the masked nin tried to flee to another mirror. He launched an unrelenting fury of blows on the masked nin. Breaking his arm, he then punched his gut, before punching him in that stupid mask and sending him flying while shattering the remaining ice mirrors.
Naruto let out another powerful roar before leaping into the air to give chase. But before he could deliver the finishing blow he stopped. The mask had shattered and fallen off the face of the formerly masked shinobi. It was Haku, the guy in the forest who had helped Naruto.
Haku asked Naruto, "Why do you hesitate? Did you not vow to avenge your friend? Or did he not mean as much to you as you said"?
Naruto growled in anger before punching Haku in the face. Haku stumbled before falling onto the ground and coughed up blood.
Haku said, "You are still holding back. This is not a ninja's way. To show mercy to an enemy, one who slew one of your comrade, is a betrayal of your comrade and even yourself as a shinobi. To live without protecting those you care about is meaningless. For what reason do you exist then? You are of use to no one. Day after day of suffering and hardship, all amounting to nothing".
Naruto replied, "Yeah, well speak for yourself"!
Haku replied, "Are you so blind little one? I am talking about myself. This day has shown that I am no longer of any use to Zabuza".
Naruto said, "Zabuza. Why that guy anyway? A rotten skunk who doesn't know the meaning of honor. How could you devote your life to that scum"!
Haku replied, "I had others who I cared about, once. Long ago. My father and mother".
Haku then told him about his life and childhood. The bloodshed of the Kekkei Genkai civil wars. The pain and betrayal. The hatred that others carried just for the way he was born. The years spent wandering the Land of Water desperate to find any scrap of food.
Naruto felt his heart resonate with Haku's story. Even if in comparison Naruto had a privileged life, he understood the feeling of loneliness and the hatred that others aimed at him for something that he had no control over.
Haku finished by saying, "I have failed you Zabuza, I am like a weapon which has been broken".
Hakue then walked closer to him and said, "Naruto, please kill me".
Naruto gasped before saying, "NO! I can't. That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Being beaten doesn't mean you are worthless and broken! What matters is that you get back up. Even a broken weapon is not worthless, as it can be reforged into something even stronger. Zabuza doesn't see you as a person, he treats you like a slave! How can you care about someone like that"?!
Haku replied, "Because of that very reason. Does that surprise you little one"?
Naruto said, "Yeah".
Haku said, "When Zabuza found me I was without purpose and close to death. He saved me and gave me purpose. Now that I have been beaten, I have loss the only value that I had and thus, worthless".
Haku said, "Kill me. Why do you hesitate? You are strong and skilled enough to do it. I have seen your swordsmanship and strength. You could kill me easily and painlessly. I see it in your eyes, you have already been killed before. To protect another, I would wager. Your words are sincere, meaning you took a life to protect something precious to you. A friend or perhaps just an innocent who you were trying to save".
Naruto said, tightening his fist in self reproach, "Both. It was the only way to ensure that Innari and his mom were safe".
Haku said, "I had a feeling since the moment we first met in the woods that we are a lot alike. We both fight to protect something precious to us. That is why I want you to kill me".
Naruto gasped.
Haku continued, "I am sorry that my unworthy blood is the one that will stain your hands".
Naruto said with great sadness, "You know, I feel like if we had met in a different time and place, we could have been friends".
Haku said, "I think so too, Naruto".
Naruto reached into his pouch and grabbed a scroll to summon another sword. He took his stance. Focusing.
Naruto said, "Total Concentration. Wind style: Wind Breathing; First Form: Whirlwind Blade Dash"!
He leapt at Haku, his slashes forming a powerful spiral. Yet Haku stopped it. Grabbing his wrist and halting the technique.
Haku said, "I'm sorry Naruto, there has been a change of plans. I am not ready to die just yet".
Quickly performing a series of one handed signs and was gone in an instant.
As the mist cleared he saw what happened. Haku had jumped in front of Kakashi sensei's jutsu and Zabuza.
Naruto couldn't hear what they were saying but he sensed the changes in their chakra. Even their movements changed. Where once Zabuza was lethally efficient in his movement, now he was sloppy and lacked the cold lethality of his previous attacks. Kakashi sensei evaded easily and laid Haku's body down, before returning to the fight. Though it wasn't too much of a fight now. Kakashi sensei managed to immobilize his arms with kunai.
Suddenly a voice broke through, its origin was a short fat man in a black suit with 50 thugs armed to the teeth behind him. Honestly him, missing them just salt on his wounds. Just further proof of his lack of skill.
The man's words were just as disgusting as how his chakra felt. Though when he started kicking Haku's body, Naruto felt his rage instantly boil up from inside him and reenergize him.
Naruto yelled, "GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU BASTARD"!
But Kakashi sensei grabbed him and said, Naruto! Think, we're outnumbered and just fought a battle".
But Naruto just ignore him and yelled at Zabuza, "What about you Zabuza?! You're just going to let him do that"!
Zabuza said, "Be quiet you fool. Haku is dead, what does it matter"?
Naruto said, "You and Haku were together for years, doesn't that mean something to you"?
Zabuza replied, "You don't understand the way of the shinobi. His strength and skill are lost to me, but the boy meant nothing".
Naruto said, "If you truly meant that, then you're an even bigger rat than I thought you were".
Kakashi sensei said, "Calm down, Naruto. He isn't our enemy. At least right now".
Naruto shook off Kakashi sensei and said, "Shut up! As far as I am concerned he is enemy number one"!
Naruto focused back on Zabuza and yelled, "Why you?! You ungrateful bastard! Haku lived for you! You were everything to him! And he meant nothing to you?! Nothing at all?! When he was sacrificing everything for you, it meant nothing to you?! If I become stronger, does that mean I will become as cold hearted as you are?!", tears fell down Naruto's face but he pressed on, "He threw his life away. For what?! You and your dream?! You never let him have a dream of his own, but he didn't care! That is just so wrong"!
Zabuza said with sadness in his voice, clearly breaking, "You talk too much…", Zabuza continued, "Your words cut deep. Deeper than any blade. While he fought you, his heart was breaking in two. He was always too soft and too kind. Damnit, now he has me like that now".
Naruto heard the sound of cloth ripping before Zabuza's voice cut through, "Cat got your tongue? Are you surprised that I am human? Even we shinobi are human, despite how much we try to pretend we aren't. Now boy, give me your sword".
Naruto tossed the sword and said, "Here".
Zabuza caught the blade in his mouth and charged straight for Gato and his thugs.
What followed next was nothing short of pure carnage as Naruto saw many get cut down and felt their chakra go out like candles in a storm. Not all of them were dead, but Naruto would guess almost half of them were dead including Gato.
Zabuza walked back to Haku and said, "Haku.. So this is goodbye at last. Not once did I ever thank you. Forgive me for that".
With those final words Zabuza collapsed in front of Haku's body yet still so far away, his chakra was almost gone.
Naruto tried to turn away to not let his tears be shown, but Kakashi sensei said, " Don't turn away, this is how a warrior dies".
Naruto sensed Sasuke's chakra flair back up from the tiny ember that had been there previously. So he turned around before Sakura even called out that Sasuke was okay.
Kakashi sensei said, "Will wonders never cease"?
A thug started demanding money, and then after a chorus of agreement from the remaining thugs, they charged yet were stopped by a bolt falling in front of them.
Naruto knew exactly had shot that crossbow bolt.
Naruto turned around and shouted a greeting to Innari who replied with Naruto's own words.
Naruto turned back to the thugs, now ready to throw down again.
Forming the hand seal for shadow clones, Naruto yelled, "Shadow clone jutsu"!
Summoning a dozen clones.
This was followed by Kakashi using a clone jutsu though he pretended that it was the shadow clone jutsu. Which made sense given how low Naruto sensed Kakashi sensei's chakra was.
Zabuza asked Kakashi sensei, "Can you do me a favor, Kakashi? Can you bring me over to him. I need to see him one last time".
Kakashi sensei did as asked and Zabuza said his final words to Haku, "You were always at my side, the least I can do is to be by your side at the end. I know it cannot be, but I wish I could go to where you have gone. I wish I could join you there. Oh, Haku".
With the last of his strength, Zabuza placed his hand on Haku's face. At last, Zabuza's chakra went out.
Naruto told Kakashi sensei about what Haku said to him.
Kakashi sensei replied, "His soul was as pure as the snow".
A few days later, as they buried Zabuza and Haku overlooking the village, Sakura asked, "Is that truly the ninja way? To be use or be used as tools"?
Kakashi sensei replied, "We are all tools in the hands of fate. It isn't right or wrong, it is just it. It is the same in the Leaf".
Naruto replied, "Well if you ask me if that is what it means to be a ninja something is out of whack? Why do we go through all that training just to end up like them"?
Sasuke asked, "What is the reason for that".
Kakashi sensei replied, "Well, it is a question without an answer. It is something we ninja have to deal with on our own. Like Zabuza and the kid".
Naruto said, loud and proud, "Okay, I have come to a decision. I am going to find my own ninja way, I am going to follow the way of Naruto"!