12: Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!

Suiren Uzumaki: The disclaimer: I do not own Naruto cause if I did then Sakura wouldn't be a useless fangirl in pre-shippuden, and Naruto would have his father's smarts while keeping his mother's personality and knows about seals and how to use to them. I do, however, own Ryurama Senju, Yuki Senju nee Miran, Raika Miran (Senju), & the White Tiger Summoning Contract (A/N: If there is already a White Tiger Summoning Contract…then please ignore the last part). Remember to Read and Review to let me know what you think. Also, if you don't like any twist that I might make then stop reading and find something else to read plus don't leave a review that's a flame or I will find a way to block you. Ja ne!

…My Line…

It was in the early morning and Haku was taking his hair out of the bun he had it in and allowed it to fall down to his mid-back.

...My Line...

It wasn't long before Haku was in the forest picking herbs in a pink kimono before he caught sight of Naruto, who was sleeping on the forest floor, the fake Hunter Ninja let out a gasp when he noticed the forehead protect on the blonde.

...My Line...

What is this?" Naruto shouted, "Who do you think you are?"

He pointed at the boy while panting.

...My Line...

Haku then walked over to the young boy and started to reach out to him making the birds all fly away.

...My Line...

Raika sat at the table with Sasuke, Inari, and Tazuna eating when Sakura came walking in yawning as she did so.

"Good morning, everyone," she greeted them before sitting down.

Tsunami walked up and sat a place down in front of her.

"Here."

"Oh, thank you."

The pinkette put her chop sticks down, got up, walked over to where Tsunami was, and placed the plate in the sink before sitting back down again.

"Naruto's not here?" Tazuna asked. "Looks like he was out all night again."

"He's gone completely crazy," Sakura told him. "He's out either water walking or climbing trees in the dark. He can be dead by now. You know, from using too much of his Chakra."

"You know nothing about Naruto, Haruno," the green hair Genin growled. "At least, Aniki is trying to improve his skills while you set on your ass all day and do nothing, but swoon over Sasuke. Why don't you make yourself useful and actually train? Or return to the civilian lifestyle if you don't care about making being a Kunoichi. It would save us from being killed because of you as well as a hell of a lot of time."

"Now, now Raika," Kakashi warned.

Sasuke was looking at the Miran with a raised eyebrow with surprise while Sakura looked like she was going to cry as Tazuna cackled, Tsunami looked a bit worried, and Inari just looked like he didn't care, but he thought it was amusing.

"Well, I currently hope he's ok," Tsunami said to break the silence. "A child spending the night in the woods alone."

"There's nothing to worry about," Kakashi reassured Tsunami. "Naruto's a goofy kid, but he's also a full-fledged Ninja. He can handle himself."

"Sakura is right," Sasuke spoke up. "Naruto's such a loser that he's properly lying out there dead somewhere."

"You're the loser, Cockatoo," Raika retorted back at him. "Just like Haruno, you know nothing about Naruto, who has had to not only fight for every ounce of strength, but also hide that strength to protect himself. So, shut-up if you know what's good for ya."

As Sasuke glared at her back as the greenette walked out of the house without another word leaving them to wonder what was going with her.

'This can't be good,' Kakashi thought.

"What does Raika mean, Sensei?" the pink hair Genin asked.

"I can't really say," the Hatake answered. "All I can state is that if the village knew of Naruto's intellect and strength than they would have tried harder to kill him."

Sakura gasped in shock while Tazuna and his family could only stare at the silver hair Jonin in horror as the Uchiha started to eat his food.

…My Line….

Soon after the Miran left, Sasuke stood up making the others look at him as he walked towards the door.

"Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"I'm going for a walk," he told them.

"But, we started eating," Sakura stated as she looked down at his already empty plate. "Huh? That was fast."

...My Line...

Raika sighed as she walked through the forest before coming to a stop in a field of medical herbs. Taking out a scroll, the redhead got to work picking herbs that the village didn't have and could use. Of course, a small smile came to her face as she felt a familiar Chakra signature watching her from the trees before she giggled.

"Come on out, Tobi!" she called. "I know your there!" The greenette turned to her head to look over her shoulder at the trees. "You really need to learn to hide your Chakra better from a sensor, you know!"

The masked Uchiha jumped down from the tree just to her right and walked over to her as she went back to picking herbs.

"Awe," Obito whined childishly as he knelt down next to her. "Tobi thought he hide his Chakra better."

"Maybe for normal sensors, but I'm just as sensitive to Chakra as Tobirama Senju once been," Rin told him with giggle.

"That makes Tobi feel so much better," the Uchiha sighed making the redhead to laugh. "So, what is Miran-chan doing?"

The Miran has to fight the urge to coo at him when he tilted his head looking like a confused puppy.

"Well, I'm picking and sealing medical herbs that don't grow in Konoha," she answered with a soft look.

"Ah. Can Tobi help?"

This got him a bright smile the greenette.

"Sure."

The two Shinobis where soon picking and sealing away herbs while also talking to get to know each other a bit better. Obito had the Miran laughing at something he said or did which also made him blush.

'Focus, Obito,' he growled in his head. 'You have a personal mission to complete.' The Uchiha just blushed harder as the green hair Genin smiled at him brightly. 'Get a grip or the Eye of the Moon will final.

"But…" a voice in his head that sounded like his old tone of voice spoked up. "SHE'S SO CUTE!"

The mask man let out a sigh before helping Raika with gathering the herbs.

...My Line...

Haku reached towards Naruto's throat before stopping and then starting to shake his shoulders.

"You'll catch cold if you sleep out here," he said. "Wake up."

The blonde blinked opened his eyes before he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked over at the long hair male.

"Who the heck are you?" he asked before blinking surprise. "Oh. Uh...I mean, where did you come from." He blushed. "You know what you are doing out here and all that."

"I'm gathering herbs," Haku answered.

"Herbs?" Naruto asked surprise that there was someone else besides Raika that did that.

"Yes, that's right," the older boy answered.

"They're for treating illness and healing wounds, right?" the blonde asked.

"Yes," Haku answered sounding surprise. "You know about herbs?"

"Well, when one has an honorary little sister, who is studying to be a medic, you tend to learn these things, too," the Uzumaki answered.

"I see," the brown hair male stated with a smile. "Your sister choice a tough profession." Naruto nodded his head in agreement. "Well, would you like to help?"

"Sure," he answered before the blonde Genin started to help Haku pick the herbs that he needed. "You start work early, huh, Rai-chan?" The 12-year-old also had a sweatdrop. 'Just like Raika.'

"I like it early," Haku answered. "It's calm, but I didn't think I'd find anyone sleeping out here in the woods."

"I'm training," the blonde informed him.

"Hmm?" Haku hummed. "So, are you a ninja? Because I noticed that headband you're wearing or are you just making a fashion statement."

"You noticed that?" Naruto asked. "Alright. Only super cool Ninja can wear these."

"Oh, really?" the older male asked. "I see. That's very impressive." This made the Uzumaki to laugh. "But, does that mean that you're training for something dangerous."

"I'm just developing my skills, so that I can get stronger," the Genin stated.

"You seem every strong now," Haku pointed out. "Isn't that enough?"

"No, no," the younger boy answered. "I need to stronger and stronger. I have to keep practicing."

"How so?" the fake Hunter Ninja asked. "Why is it so important?"

"So, that I can become the best Ninja in my village and then everyone will know, who I am, then they all will respect me!" Naruto answered. "There's also a certain kid that I have to prove something, too."

"So, are you doing it for this certain person?" Haku asked. "Or are you doing all of this training for yourself?"

"Huh?" Naruto asked making Haku to laugh. "What are you laughing about? What's so funny?"

"Is there someone precious to you?"

"Someone, who…" the blonde trailed off. "What are your saying, Nee-san? What do you mean precious?" Haku then thought back to when he first meets Zabuza when he was very young. 'Hmm...what's she thinking?'

"You see, when a person has something precious that they want to protect then they become generally strong," the older boy answered.

The Uzumaki stared wide eyed at the other boy at that before he took on a thoughtful look.

...My Line...

"This is our village, so we've got to do everything that we can to help."

...My Line...

"I'll protect you with my life...all of you."

...My Line...

Iruka covering the blonde with his body and the shuriken was sticking out of his back.

"If you ever lay a hand on my Sensei...I'll kill you."

...My Line...

"Yeah, I hear ya," Naruto said with a smile. "I know exactly what you saying."

"You will get strong," Haku told him as he stood up and picked up his basket. "Very strong." This made the blonde to cackle a bit. "Goodbye." He then started to walk away. "We'll meet again some time." However, he came to a stop. "Oh, by the way, I'm a boy."

'What?' the Uzumaki thought in shock. 'No way! He's prettier than Sakura!' It was at that moment that Sasuke was walking up, but come to a stop when Haku walked past him. "I've seen some pretty weird things in my life, but this one takes the cake." It was that Sasuke hit him on the head. "OW!" Naruto looked at Sasuke with glare. "What did you do that for?"

"Hey, twerp did you forget about breakfast?" Sasuke asked. "You're such a loser."

Naruto then gave Sasuke a huge ass grin making the Uchiha to scowl at it.

...My Line...

Raika let out a sigh as she stood with two scrolls in her hands before she looked at the masked Uchiha with a soft smile.

"Well, I have to go," she told him. "It's almost lunch time and I really don't want Hatake to come looking for me."

'Hatake?' Obito thought as he felt confused. 'Why doesn't she call Kakashi, sensei?' "Oh, Tobi understands." He nodded his head fast. "Tobi has to get going as well or his friends will come looking." He stood up then as well. "Tobi would whether that they didn't learn about Miran-chan." His eye narrowed behind his mask. 'Especially where the likes of Zetsu, Pein, Hidan, and Kakuzu are concern.' The Uchiha was change that thought. 'No, I would wither that Hidan and Kakuzu didn't learn of her as Zetsu and Pein would agree with my plan.' Obito looked around for the crow that belongs to the younger Uchiha. 'However, I don't need Itachi learning about the plan to use her.'

She giggled, which turned his attention back to her.

"Oh, so you want to keep me a secret, huh?" she asked with amusement.

"Yes," the Uchiha answered with a nod.

"Alright," the greenette agreed.

She then held a finger to her lips, tilted her head to the side, and gave him a wink which made his face feel hot.

"SO CUTE!" that annoying childish voice yelled in his head.

'Not cute!' he yelled back.

"Then we'll be each other's secret," the 12-year-old told him. "How that sound?"

"Tobi likes that idea," the Rogue Chunin answered. "Miran-chan and Tobi won't tell their friends about each other."

"Yup," the Miran chirped before she waved as she turned her back to him. "I'll see you again some time, Tobi."

"BYE-BYE!" the 29-year-old called out as she took off running.

...My Line...

Raika let out a sigh as she jumped from tree to tree towards where Kakashi's and Sakura's Chakra signatures were coming from.

"Naruto!" Sakura's voice was heard calling just as the silver hair male and pinkette came into view. "Knowing Naruto, he can be anywhere, and Sasuke hasn't come back either. I wonder where they are." The greenette jumped down to join them on the ground at the same time a kunai landed in front of them making all three to look at the tree where it came from to see Naruto fighting a clone with a big ass smile as his clones fought nearby on the water's surfaces. "Naruto can know stay focus while fighting either sideways on trees or on the water. Wow. That's great."

"What do you think?" Naruto called down to them. "Is this good enough for you, Kakashi-sensei? I mean, it is a long way down."

However, what happened next had Sakura freaking out and Kakashi staring wide eyed while the green hair Genin looked at the blonde with annoyances.

"Naruto!"

"Uh-oh."

Naruto used the Chakra in his feet to hang upside from the tree branch making the Miran to growl under her breath as Naruto laughed at Sakura and Kakashi.

"Just kidding," the male 12-year-old Genin called to them. "You guys really fall for it."

"We were really worried about you, Naruto," Sakura told him.

"I'M GOING TO STRANGLE YOU, CHA!" Inner Sakura yelled. "YA DORK!"

"Why do I think that this is going to end badly?" Kakashi asked.

"Maybe because it is," Raika answered just as Naruto lost control of his Chakra.

Both Kakashi and Sakura's eyes widen in fear, shock, and worry.

"You just had to push it, didn't you, you show off?" Sakura asked.

The greenette let out a sigh as she ran up the tree just as Sasuke got Naruto around his ankle, so the green hair pre-teen stood off to the side waiting for something to happen.

"You really are a total loser, Naruto," Sasuke told him.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

"Ah!" Sakura yelled. "Yeah, alright! Sasuke, you're the best!"

The female 12-year-old Genin was already on the move and just as Sasuke lost control of his Chakra because of Naruto which resulted in Sakura and Kakashi to freak again. Raika placed a good amount of Chakra in her feet, grabbed Sasuke by his ankle, and hanged upside down on the tree branch with an annoyed look on her face while Sakura and Kakashi let out a sigh of relief.

"Now who's the loser, Sasuke?" the greenette asked.

"If I'm still sane by the time I finish their training it'll be a miracle," Kakashi stated.

...My Line...

Inari was sitting on the desk in his room again looking out of the ocean before looking at the picture of Kaiza.

"Naruto," he mumbled. "Naruto Uzumaki, huh?"

...My Line...

Zabuza ended up crushing an apple.

"You're recovering quickly," Haku told him.

"Just a little longer, Haku," the Rogue Mist Shinobi stated as he dropped the former apple on the floor.

"Yes," the young boy agreed.

...My Line...

It was dark out and the moon was high in the sky and the Uchiha was high in the tree.

"Let's go back," Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Alright," Naruto agreed with a wide grin as he lay on the ground.

...My Line...

Raika sat the table in Tazuna's home next to Kakashi waiting for Sasuke and Naruto to come back from wherever they were as Tsunami laid the table with food.

"Now they're both late," Sakura pointed out. "I wouldn't have expected that from Sasuke..."

They looked towards the door when they heard it open to see Sasuke walking in supporting a tried looking Naruto, who was dripping wet.

"What have you been up to?" Tazuna asked. "You look like something the cat dragged in."

The greenette sweatdropped, but she knew that it was true.

"I did it," Naruto told Kakashi. "I can fight on the surface of the water and Sasuke can now climb all the way to the top."

"Good," Kakashi said with a nod of his head. "Now we move on. Starting to tomorrow your both bodyguards for Tazuna."

Naruto smiled hugely before he thrust his fist into the air while.

"Alright!"

This resulted in him knocked both him and Sasuke to the ground.

"Ah, you're such a loser," Sasuke told him as the others laughed.

The Miran looked at the scene before her with boredom.

...My Line...

"In a few more days the bridge will be finished, and I have you to thank for that," Tazuna was telling them.

Raika let out a sigh as she laid her head on her arms thinking about being home in her own bed way from the pain in the assess AKA Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. The only one, who she could stand was Naruto, mainly before he was her best friend.

"You all done great, but you really should be careful," Tsunami told them.

"I've been meaning to ask you this, but I didn't have a chance till now," Tazuna told them. "Why did you stay and protect me even though I lied to bring you here?"

"Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but only with a strong leader cowardice cannot survive," Kakashi answered.

"Huh?"

The greenette looked at Kakashi with a raised eyebrow.

"That was a quote from the Shodaime Hokage, right?" she asked.

"Yes," Kakashi answered her as he smiled his one closed eye smile.

The young hidden female Senju let out a sigh as she closed her eyes before opening them again.

"But, why?" a small voice asked.

Both Senju Heirs looked up at Inari to see tears in his eyes.

"What you say?" Naruto asked.

"All this stupid training is a waste of time!" Inari yelled at them. "Gato has got a whole army and they'll beat you down and destroy you! All these cool things you say...they don't mean anything! No matter what you do the strong always wins and the weak always lose!"

"Idiot," Raika snorted.

"Speak for yourself," Naruto told him. "It won't be like that for me. You got that?"

"Why don't you just be quiet?!" Inari shouted at him. "Just looking at you makes me sick! You don't anything about this country! You're just butting in! Always laughing and playing around! You don't know what it's like to suffer and be treated like dirt!"

This made the two siblings to stiffen before they both leveled a glare at the brat.

"Listen to yourself always whining and complaining like some sorry little victim!" Naruto shouted next. "You can whimper all day for all I care!" Naruto then lifted his head up that he had laid down. "Your nothing, but a coward!"

"You're the one, who doesn't know what it's like to suffer," the greenette added. "At least you have a mother and a grandfather to look after you that's more than a lot of other people have." The two pre-teens Genin got up out of their sit. "Next don't open you big fat mouth without knowing a person cause they may just kill you for the slight."

"Naruto, Raika, you two went too far," Sakura told him, but the twins just walked away from them. "Naruto, Raika?"

...My Line...

"Can I talk to you?" Kakashi asked as he walked up to Inari, who was sitting on the docks, looking at the ocean. "Naruto can be a little harsh sometimes, but he doesn't hate you and neither does Raika." He was sitting next to Inari. "Your grandfather told us what happened to your father. You probably don't know this, but Naruto and Raika also grew up without a father. In fact, they never knew either of their parents and Naruto didn't have a signal friend in our village that wasn't Raika." Inari looked up at him in shock. "Still, I never seen them cry, sulk, or give up. Naruto is always eager to jump in while Raika is always happy to help others even if they are strangers. Naruto wants to be respected while Raika wants to be a medic. That's their dreams. They'll put their lives on the line for those dreams in a heartbeat. My guess is that they got tired of crying and decided to do something about it." The young boy looked away from him. "Even though their young and still learning, they know what it means to be strong. Like your father. I think, they know better than any of us what you're going through. What Naruto and Raika told you earlier as cruel as it sounded, they probably told themselves that a thousand times."

Inari looked surprised at this.

...My Line...

Kakashi, Tazuna, and three of the four Genins stood outside of the house and in front of Tsunami with their gear.

"Alright I leave Naruto in your capable hands," Kakashi told her. "He pushed his body to the limit over doing as usually. So, he might not be able to move today at all."

"What about you?" Tsunami asked. "You're still recovering yourself."

"Why?" Kakashi asked, "do I look wobble. I'll be ok."

They all turned to walk off though Raika was already ahead of them just keeping her head down.

"Come on let's go," Tazuna told them.

Kakashi looked ahead of them at the greenette with a worried look on his face knowing that things just might get out of hand.

...My Line...

"Still wasting time licking your wounds?" Gato could be heard asking through a mike. "I hired you to a job, you know? Are you listening Zabuza? Hey!"

The Momochi slammed his foot down on the mike breaking it.

"Haku, you ready?" the Rogue Mist asked.

"Yes."

They looked up at the bridge that was almost to the mainland.

...My Line...

Naruto was shown waking up just then only to shoot up in bed.

"GAH!" he yelled. "Why didn't someone wake me up!?" The Uzumaki then ran over to the doorway and looked out of it at Tsunami. "Where is everybody? Where did they all go?"

"Oh, Naruto," the woman said as she smiled. "Your Sensei wanted to let you rest. You've got the day off."

With a growl, the blonde ran back and threw off his night clothes getting dressed.

"I knew it!" the Genin yelled. "They ditched me!" He zipped up his jacket before running out. "See ya!"

...My Line...

Naruto moved through the forest towards the bridge.

"Gah, they could have woken me up!" the blonde growled. "Especially Rai-chan."

He then noticed something was off making him to look over to see a wild boar.

...My Line...

Raika was the first to get to the bridge and noticed that workers where on the ground out cold and injured, so she slowly pulled out her sword just as the others arrived.

"Hold on!" Tazuna shouted. "What the hack is this?" The greenette rolled her eyes well keeping a close eye on her surroundings. "Someone was here. Someone got to them."

'Could it be?' Kakashi thought.

...My Line...

"Inari!" Tsunami called out. "Can you give me a hand here!? Inari!"

"I'll be right there!" the kid called back.

...My Line...

The two bodyguards of Gato stood outside of the house with a smirk as they started to unsheathe the blades at their sides.

...My Line...

"This mist…" the Hatake mumbled as mist started to roll in. "Sasuke, Sakura, Raika get ready." Sasuke and Sakura moved to protect Tazuna while the Miran stood in front of them in a defensive stance. "I knew he was alive. He just couldn't wait for round 2."

"Kakashi-Sensei, it's Zabuza isn't?" Sakura asked. "This is his Hidden Mist Jutsu."

"Sorry to keep you waiting Kakashi," Zabuza's voice sounded around them. "I see you still have those brats with you." The greenette could hear Sasuke trembling from behind her. "That one's still trembling. Pitiful."

At that moment they were all surrounded by Zabuza's Water Clones, but Sasuke smirked.

"I'm trembling with...excitement," Sasuke told him.

"Go on Sasuke," Kakashi approved.

Sasuke moved with quick reflexes and was able to destroy all of the clones before he landed back in place.

'I can see it,' he thought.

"Oh, so you could see they were Water Clones, uh?" Zabuza asked as he and his two goons came into view. "The brat's improving. Looks like you got a rival Haku."

"So, it seems," Haku agreed.

Raika and Sasuke glared at Zabuza's goon as they ready their weapons.