5 months later.
Interior: Konoha, Hokage's office, morning.

Having successfully completed a great many D-rank assignments together with flying colours, Team 7 and Kakashi were listening to Hiruzen's options for missions.

Unsatisfied, Naruto asked, "Is there anything a little more challenging you'd be willing to give us?"
Sasuke added, "Naruto's been getting more crap than usual from the civilians, regardless of all the good he's done for them.
I feel we need some space from the village and its people before things get violent again,"
"I suppose a field trip wouldn't hurt," began the Hokage, "but I want you to be on your best behaviour, and not to take any unnecessary risks.
Outside the village, you'll be representing us, and your behaviour may reflect on the village."
"Yes, Grandpa," acknowledged Naruto.

Hiruzen informed, "You'll be escorting a client to the land of waves, and tasked with protecting him to the best of your abilities from anyone who would do him harm.
This is a C-rank mission, though the rank of a mission could change along the way, so please be careful."
"Who is the client?" asked Hinata.
"A bridge architect and builder named Tazuna." answered Iruka as he read some notes.

An older man carrying a bottle of booze entered, "These are the ninjas who'll be protecting me?"
"Yes, we are." confirmed Kakashi.
"Are you kidding me? I asked for ninja.
What am I even looking at?
A scarecrow, a crimson-clad swordsman.
Some whiskered blonde, an emo, and a pampered little bi-" began Tazuna before a kunai smashed his bottle, and a fist hit his face, knocking him to the floor.

As Naruto used transformation jutsu to change into something more intimidating, he and Kurama threatened, "If you speak one ill word of Hinata, we will eat both of your arms, and then both of your legs.
Then we will eat your face right off your head!" terrifying the client whilst everyone else sweat dropped.
"What the hell are you?" stammered Tazuna, trembling.
"We are Venom." hissed Naruto and Kurama who burst into laughter, along with their squad, as they cancelled the jutsu and switched back.

Galen stepped towards the idiot client, "This squad is more formidable than some drunken fool like you could ever imagine,"
"So the blonde's not just some prankster with whiskers?"
"Nobody has more heart, determination, boldness, and perseverance than the Orange Flash of the Leaf.
Also, Naruto fought Orochimaru of the Sannin, and he won,"
"Alright, let's go, we're wasting time."

Later.
Exterior: Konoha outskirts, road, day.

Upon emerging, two masked ninja moved to attack the group before there was a vibrant hum as twin white katana shoto blades made of pure energy sprang to life, and cut them down.

Extinguishing his blades, Galen looked at his companions, "What?"
"Are those chakrasabers?" asked Kakashi.
"Lightsaber is a more accurate term, since they're not just swords imbued with chakra, but yes."
"Where did you get such beautiful weapons?" asked Hinata, fascinated.
"The twin set belonged to my mother, while the one over my shoulder was my father's."

"Let's keep going." grumbled Tazuna.
"Hold on, you never mentioned anything about assassins," said Kakashi, "encountering enemy ninja isn't exactly within the description of a C-rank mission,"
"Alright, I admit I may have neglected to mention just how dangerous it would be.
I didn't have enough money to pay for this to be considered a higher rank," confessed Tazuna.
"Grandpa Hiruzen would've made an exception to the cost if you explained the whole situation and your circumstances to him," said Naruto.
"Tazuna, we understand you were low on funds," assured Hinata who sternly said, "but you will explain the situation in full."

"Another team of Genin could've either died just then, or turned around and taken you back to explain yourself to the Hokage," stated Sasuke, "but we did say we wanted a challenge, so you're stuck with us until the mission's over or we're dead."

"I sense we'll encounter more dangerous assassins soon enough.
The demon brothers are closely associated with several rogue shinobi turned mercenaries.
It's likely others will come for Tazuna, once the demon brothers fail to check in." mentioned Galen, "So, who's footing their bill?
These clowns aren't cheap,"
"It's Gato," admitted Tazuna.
"He's nothing more than pretentious criminal scum flaunting mountains of blood money." summed up Marek.

"This bridge you're planning to build must be really amazing and important if this guy wants you dead over it," shrugged Naruto as they kept walking, "good thing you've got the Yellow Flash's legacy in your corner."
"You mean you?" asked Tazuna.
"Yep." replied Namikaze, fired up.
"Hmph, you certainly have spirit, I'll give you that."

Several days later.
Exterior: Land of Waves, forest, road, afternoon.

Feeling something wrong, Naruto suddenly pushed Tazuna out of the way, and intercepted a kunai before the group evaded a massive sword flying towards them.
Then the blade stopped upon cutting partway into the side of a large tree, several metres above them with the blade flat, as a masked figure stood upon the improvised platform.

Looming over the group, Zabuza Momochi observed the shinobi and the old man, "Well, well, what do we have here?
So, the old man asked the Leaf village for aid."
Naruto met Zabuza's gaze, "Wow, that's a huge sword.
Are you compensating for something?" making Hinata stifle a giggle.

"Ah, the prodigal knight returns," exhaled Zabuza as he met Galen's stare, "interesting,"
"Do you know each other?" asked Sasuke, raising an eyebrow.
"Zabuza Momochi: The Demon of the Mist," answered Marek, "we have a history," earning shocked looks from his peers.
"Care to specify?"
"No."

"Are we going to stand around talking, or shall we get down to business?" taunted Zabuza before the five Leaf shinobi, in sync, threw a barrage of kunai and shuriken which he quickly evaded.
With a kunai held in a reverse-grip, Kakashi assumed a battle stance with his Sharingan activated, and engaged Zabuza in close-quarters, "Protect Tazuna, and get him out of here.
I'll be right behind you,"
"We are not leaving you alone with him!" snapped Naruto.
"That's an order, now get going." replied Kakashi, exchanging several combos with the rogue ninja.

Catching the focused Zabuza off-guard, Naruto performed a move based off of Gai's Dynamic Entry combined with wind chakra, launching him against a tree.

"Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum." said Naruto, taking a stance all too familiar to an exhausted Kakashi.
Having a split-second flashback as Naruto was replaced by a dark haired boy in a blue and orange outfit and goggles, Kakashi softly exhaled, "Obito?" before passing out.
"Sensei!" gasped Hinata.

Getting to his feet with a growl, Zabuza viciously engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Naruto, "I'm actually impressed.
What's your name, brat?"
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze,"
"Namikaze, huh?" asked Zabuza, unrelenting in his attacks as Naruto became even faster, "You're the Yellow Flash's son, aren't you?"
"Here's a hint." answered Naruto who leapt back, evading a series of strikes from Zabuza's sword with immense speed, then a familiar blue orb hit the rogue ninja in the chest, "Rasengan!" sending him crashing into the trunk of a large tree.

When Zabuza tried to move, he was struck by a senbon which made his form go limp.
Standing on a nearby tree branch, a figure in a snow white and red mask, a hunter-nin, loomed over the Leaf shinobi and Tazuna, "I thank you for your assistance, but he is no longer your concern."

As the hunter's gaze lingered on Marek, they leapt down to him.
Galen felt a gentle hand tracing down and caressing his abdomen before he was brought into an intimately close embrace which he returned.
"A crimson winter's come for you." whispered the hunter-nin, in a sweet sing-song tone, as the same hand slid under Galen's shirt, then a half-sized senbon pierced his lower abdomen, between his ribs, and another, from the hunter's other hand, pierced the back of his neck.
"Haku?" thought Galen as his body shut down and he collapsed to the ground.

Watching in shock as his teammate dropped, Sasuke demanded, "What is this?
Why did you kill him too?"
In a distorted voice, the hunter-nin answered, "He's a missing-nin, former Sith, member of the Akatsuki, and formerly one of the Seven Swordsmen of The Mist,"
"What?" asked Hinata, startled as the hunter-nin vanished into the snow with the two corpses.

Confused as hell, Naruto asked, "What just happened?"
Sasuke clenched a fist, "He knows my brother, and he didn't tell me,"
"There are many things he hasn't spoken of." pointed out Hinata as the three Genin and Tazuna picked up Kakashi.

Later.
Interior: Land of waves, Zabuza's lair, Haku's quarters, afternoon.

Lying upon the bed, Galen gazed into the hazel eyes of a very beautiful, slender young woman with modest sized, round, firm, perky breasts, a well toned, taut tummy, pale skin, and long dark hair.
She wore exotic ocean blue and white lingerie with a purple crystal necklace identical to Galen's.

"Haku? Is that really you?" he asked, then noticed most of his gear in a neat pile against the furthest wall, while he wore only his necklace and black boxers.
"Hello, my love," she greeted as she lay beside, embraced, and kissed him.
"You look amazing as always,"
"So do you," mused Haku between kisses as their hands roamed each other's bodies, "so, I have a top tier mission for you."

"Is that so?" he asked whilst tickling her midriff, making her burst into sweet giggles and squirm helplessly in his arms.
"It's been so long since we've made love, been intimately close, satisfied each other's needs, and slept together, my Husband.
Lord Starkiller, your new S-rank mission is to solve that problem right now,"
"Mission accepted, my Snow Angel." obliged Marek as the lethal love birds tenderly, intimately, and passionately made untamed love to each other to their heart's content.

Interior: Land of Waves, Zabuza's lair, bedroom, afternoon.

Slowly recovering from his fight, Zabuza chuckled, "So Starkiller's back, and he's made new friends.
Maybe I'll let him kill Gato, so the hunters stay off my trail.
I have to do what's best for and right by Haku."

A few days later.
Interior: Land of Waves, Tazuna's house, guest room, evening.

As they closed the door, Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata sat by Kakashi's bedside as the masked ninja awoke.

"Kakashi Sensei, what's a Sith?" asked Sasuke, with a serious expression.
"Where did you hear about them?" asked Kakashi as he blinked in surprise, "and where's Galen?"
"Gone, a hunter-nin killed him and Zabuza,"
"What? And why did you ask about a Sith?"
"The hunter-nin called Galen a former Sith." informed Naruto.

Kakashi explained, "The great Daimyos once had close relations with an Order of monk-like Shinobi-Samurai known as the Jedi who acted as guardians, peacekeepers, advisors, and protectors.
During the third Shinobi War, the Jedi were split in half.
You see, the Jedi were not warriors despite their legendary skills in battle."

"What happened?" asked Sasuke.
"While they had never joined so directly in the past, a number of Jedi led by Prince Ulic of the Qel-Droma dynasty joined the war effort when his long-time rival, Lord Exar Uchiha, grew disillusioned, obsessed with power and forbidden jutsu, and went rogue."
"Can you please define rogue?" asked Hinata.
"Exar believed the Daimyos were weak, and desired to conquer the shinobi world for himself with a ferocity rivalling Madara's." continued Hatake, "Declaring himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith, Exar led his own faction of Sith, the ancient enemy of the Jedi."

"Not another evil Uchiha," groaned Naruto, "what happened to the two factions?"
"Very few survived, but some Sith have tried exacting revenge by taking the children of their Jedi enemies, and forcing them to be raised as Sith."
"Sensei, what does this have to do with Galen?" asked Hinata.
"His parents, Kento Uzumaki-Marek and Mallie Uchiha, were two such Jedi targeted.
Kento was a High General during the war.
And Mallie was a Jedi Kage whose role is similar to that of a hunter-nin."
"So not only was he keeping his being mine and Naruto's distant kin from us," began Sasuke, "but he was also one of these Sith?"
"He's clearly cut ties with them, but I have no details on what he's been up to since then.
That's his business, not ours."

Hinata mentioned, "If Galen's really dead, we should recover his body for burial when we have the chance.
Our only lead is the hunter-nin who took it,"
Kakashi asked, "The hunter-nin took the bodies, instead of disposing of them then and there?"
"Yes,"
"They're supposed to eliminate the target, and leave no trace of them."

Naruto observed, "They didn't kill Galen right away, they looked like they were either feeling for identifying scars, massaging his abdomen, touching him intimately like a lover.
Looking for the weak points in his gear, or targeting unhealed injuries to take advantage of."
"Really?" asked Kakashi before giving a cheeky grin behind his mask, "it must've been his girlfriend." earning some laughter.

As he opened a small book, Naruto took notes, "When we get back to the village, Pervy Sage will love to hear that idea for one of his romance novels.
He'll probably call them something like the Rogue Shadow and the Seductress in the Snow,"
Amused, Hinata kissed her boyfriend's cheek, "Has he started working on one loosely about us too?"
"Our characters are the Gentle Demon and the Moon Princess."

Kakashi mused, "I wonder what he'd call a character based off of me,"
"The mourning lightning, for your lightning blade technique, and you're always visiting the memorial shrine,"
"That makes sense,"
"Maybe we should make that the squad's usual meeting place, so you can pay your respects and not be late." suggested Naruto.
"Maybe."

Later.
Exterior: Land of Waves, Gato's base, courtyard, late evening.

Standing over thousands of corpses alongside Haku, Zabuza and the Akatsuki, Starkiller, wearing a dark grey helmet with a black T-bar visor, and a hooded Akatsuki cloak, wielding crimson lightsabers, stared down Gato and the last of his enforcers.

A man with fair skin, orange hair, and multiple facial piercings, loomed over Gato, "For too long, you have preyed upon the innocent and the helpless.
You inflict pain and suffering upon them with your avarice, corruption, and hatred."
"Wait, please, just let me go!" begged Gato.
"There is only one place for you to go," said Haku, "and its name is hell."
With a nod from Itachi, Starkiller incinerated Gato with Force lightning.

Looking around him, Tobi asked, "Am I the only one who can hear that chorus?"
"Not this again, my man," chuckled Deidara.
"But we totally have our own theme music following us around.
There's this chorus, and an organ, maybe a piano, and who knows what else."

Interior: Land of Waves, Zabuza's lair, Haku's quarters, morning.

Snuggled up to each other as their clothes lay scattered on the floor, Galen and Haku peacefully gazed into each other's eyes.

"I've missed this, and working together," she mused.
"That gives me an idea that might just work for us given the mission I told you and your father about,"
"He's going to think you're crazy for suggesting a team up,"
"I'm married to the daughter of the Demon of the Mist."
"Good point, Star."

A week later.
Interior: Land of waves, Tazuna's house, living room, mid-day.

As he appeared out of thin air, in the middle of the room, in a pose mimicking Kakashi's with his own little book, Galen casually greeted, "Sorry I'm late, I got lost on the path of life," causing Naruto and Hinata, who were cuddling on the sofa, to burst into laughter.
"Where were you? And what have you been doing?" demanded Sasuke as he stood up and Kakashi entered, "the last time we saw you, you were killed by that hunter-nin,"
"I'll tell you some other time." said Galen who slowly approached Sasuke, and poked his forehead.

(Begin flashback)

"Starkiller, there's something I need you to do for me." stated Itachi, "There are two people in Konoha whom I ask that you watch over and keep an eye on for me.
The first is my little brother, Sasuke.
The second is a boy named Naruto Uzumaki.
Ensure they're on the same Genin squad if you can.
I also have some information for you to deliver, and a certain someone to kill."
"You helped me to awaken it, so I will do this for you to make us even."

As the two gripped each other by the forearm, a cloaked figure in an orange mask appeared with an absurd dance, and pulled them into a group hug, "Yay for friendship!" then clapped, "Ooh, are we conspiring?
Can I be in on it? Tobi loves secrets and conspiracies."

Starkiller raised an eyebrow at Itachi who gave a shrug before the pair stared into the vexing one's eye.
"Yay! Tobi loves staring contests!" gleefully exclaimed the annoyance.

(End flashback)

"Why are you really with us?" asked Naruto, "you seem to be pretty close with certain enemies of ours,"
"To protect you and Sasuke, and help you get stronger, per the request of Itachi."
"Sasuke's brother, an S-rank rogue ninja, sent you?" questioned Kakashi, "When we get back to the village, you will have some explaining to do, young man."
"Okay, Dad." quipped Marek, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Why don't you explain your ties to the Sith while you're at it?"

(Begin flashback.)
Exterior: small village, hut, early evening.

A fair skinned man with piercing blue eyes, in light brown robes and a hood the colour of tree bark, called, "Whatever you want, you won't find it here, Dark Lord."
An elderly man, with mangekyo Sharingan eyes and long spiky black hair, in dark red armour, dismissed, "You cannot disguise yourself from me, Jedi."

After a short duel which he won, the Dark Lord loomed over his defeated foe, "I sense someone far more powerful nearby.
Where is your Sensei?"
"The dark side has clouded your mind.
You killed my Sensei years ago,"
"Then now you will share his fate," snarled the Sith who swung his crimson blade, only for it to be ripped from his grip by the Force, then turned to see a small boy holding his weapon, "A son…"
"Galen, run!" shouted Kento who was struck down.
"Nooooo!" screamed Galen whose Sharingan awakened.

(End flashback.)

Tears in their eyes, Hinata and Naruto tightly hugged Galen.
"Do you know the identity of your father's killer?" asked Kakashi.
"Madara Uchiha." uttered Galen, causing his peers to tense.
"Are you sure?"

"Look what the cat dragged in," scoffed Tazuna as he entered, "and where the hell have you been?"
"Oh, you know, the usual," replied Marek, "Dispensing justice, reuniting with the love of my life, dining with Angels and Demons, etc." making his companions sweat drop.
"What about Zabuza and the hunter-nin?" asked Hinata, "where are they?"
With frightening nonchalance and calmness as he gave a small smile, Galen answered, "They'll be joining us for dinner tonight." startling the present company.

"What!?" demanded Tazuna, "you invited them to dine with us?
Are you out of your mind?"
"Zabuza won't hurt you now he has no reason to.
In fact, he's going to help us protect you,"
"Who's paying him?"
"That's classified information, civilian."
"You invited him to my home after he tried to kill me!
Tell me how he's being paid to protect me right now!"
"We killed Gato, took all of his money and treasure, then I offered Zabuza a deal." bluntly informed Galen.

"Let me see if I have this right: you fake your death, go undercover, aid a rogue ninja in robbing and assassinating one of the richest men in the world.
Invite a rogue ninja to dinner, then show up alive and well after several days of being MIA and presumed KIA?" asked Kakashi as he sat down, "you'd fit right in with the ANBU,"
"Anko would agree while tasting my blood as if it were a sample of fine wine."
Naruto nodded, "That's Aunt Anko alright."

Later.
Interior: Tazuna's house, dining room, evening.

As he sealed away his sword in a scroll, Zabuza, who'd unwrapped his bandage mask, nonchalantly sat down, "I thank you for your hospitality.
Had I known you had a family, I never would've taken the previous job."
"I guess it can't be helped." shrugged Tazuna.

Haku, who wore a deep blue kimono dress, black shorts, her necklace, a gold ring on her left hand, and sandals, sat next to Galen as she held his hand, then kissed him.

"So, how do you two know each other?" asked Sasuke, observing the affection.
"We're married." answered Galen and Haku, in unison, surprising the present company.
"Congrats." replied Naruto.