Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any related content. c:
Chapter 10: The Rising Fighting Spirit
Naruto: Original Soundtrack, Track No. 6
The Rising Fighting Spirit
A shrouded figure lurked in the trees, covertly shadowing the bridge builder as he and his protection detail traversed across the hazy landscape. The figure's eyes narrowed at the white-haired man, immediately recognizing his soon-to-be foe. So that's why the Demon Brothers failed. Not surprising at all, given their opponent's skill level. And those brats, if the rumors are true…
"So, what else can you tell us about Gato?" Kakashi asked the bridge builder.
"On the surface, he runs a legitimate shipping enterprise. However, far less people know that it's just a front for his smuggling and drug trading operations," Tazuna explained. "He has a command center somewhere in the forest surrounding our town, though I don't know much more than that."
"That's fine, we'll be able to find it wi–" Kakashi paused and turned towards a light rustling in a nearby bush, prompting the bridge builder to do the same. Moments later, a white rabbit hopped out of the shrub, immediately setting off alarm bells in Kakashi's head. That's not right… The Copy Ninja turned his head around and spotted a glint of metal out of the corner of his eye, immediately shouting, "Get down!"
All heads turned towards the large blade cutting violently through the air, eyes widening as they dropped to the ground to avoid the incoming projectile. The behemoth-sized blade lodged itself into a nearby tree just as its owner revealed himself, landing on top of it as he continued analyzing his foes. "So you're the Copy Ninja, Kakashi of the Sharingan."
Naruto deadpanned at his sensei as the group of five got back to their feet. "Everyone knows you, Sensei."
The white-haired man rubbed the back of his head while chuckling sheepishly. "Well, the Mist didn't like me very much back in the day."
"We can tell," Sasuke replied flatly.
The man on the sword snarled angrily. Do they not think of me as a threat? He pried his blade out of the tree and charged at the group, but Kakashi reacted swiftly, stopping the man's momentum with just his body and a kunai.
"Nice to meet you, Zabuza Momochi," the Copy Ninja greeted with an eye-smile. "I would appreciate it if you didn't try to kill me and my team."
Zabuza ground his teeth at Kakashi's nonchalant attitude, but he knew he couldn't give into his own anger, instead choosing to play along with the Copy Ninja's antics. "I would be glad to, as long as you hand me the bridge builder."
"You know we can't do that," Kakashi replied, his demeanor shifting away from his normal aloofness. He disengaged blades with his foe and leaped backwards, landing in front of his team and the client. "You three, protect Tazuna. I can handle Zabuza alone."
"Right!" The three genin surrounded the bridge builder in a defensive formation, ensuring the man was protected from all sides.
As he settled into the formation, Naruto noticed Zabuza's slashed Mist headband and asked, "Is he another one, Sensei?"
"Yeah," Kakashi answered. "Zabuza was a former captain of the Mist's Assassination Unit, as well as a former member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. He is the most recent wielder of the Executioner's Blade, a large sword that can repair itself with the iron taken from its victim's blood."
"Three for three," Sasuke muttered to himself. "What are the chances?"
"Zabuza is a master of Silent Killing, so be on guard," Kakashi added. "One wrong move, and it could be the end of you."
The three genin gulped as Zabuza grinned excitedly under his bandaged mask. "You want a taste of my silent killing, do you?" The rogue swordsman weaved three hand seals, finishing the sequence with a ram seal as he exclaimed, "Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
A persistent fog crept into the clearing, shrouding the combatants in an impenetrable mist. Kakashi stood protectively in front of the group, hoping to draw Zabuza's attention solely to him.
"Larynx, spine, lungs, liver, jugular, subclavian artery, kidneys, heart," the rogue Mist ninja listed, his voice echoing chillingly through the dense mist. "Which will it be?"
The three genin could feel an intense killing intent traveling through the moist air, but they were only minorly affected by it, having been subjected to the killing intent of both Raiga and Kisame in the past. The trio remained silent, listening carefully for any signs of movement.
Kakashi quietly made his way back to the group after failing to draw Zabuza out of hiding, addressing his team while keeping his eyes trained on the mist. "We've prepared for this. Use Formation Four!"
Hinata, Sasuke, and Kakashi himself moved towards the center of the group, surrounding Tazuna closely while Naruto created twenty clones, who formed a full circle around the group. Each clone quickly flipped through the same set of hand seals. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The clones each expelled a powerful blast of wind from their mouths, driving the surrounding mist away from the clearing. As the battlefield became visible once again, Kakashi instantly locked his eye on Zabuza, who had leaped into the trees to avoid the widespread wind attack. "That was a neat little trick, Kakashi. However, I am much more than just a silent killer!"
Another Zabuza appeared in between the group, intending to strike down the bridge builder before anyone noticed, but Sasuke spotted the clone and quickly unsealed the Kiba blades, slicing the clone into thirds. "Ah, so the rumors were true," Zabuza mused as he hopped off of the tree, witnessing the twin blades spark to life. "Taking down Raiga is no easy feat, but you'll find I'm nothing like him!"
"I swear we've heard that line before," Naruto muttered to his teammates, getting a nod from them both.
Though he also heard his student's remark, Kakashi remained focused on his opponent, lifting up his headband and finally revealing his coveted Sharingan. Kakashi knew he only had a limited amount of time to strike before the mist began to reform, as the technique was tied to Zabuza's chakra. He hopped onto the Executioner's Blade as Zabuza charged in, using it as a springboard to leap behind the rogue Mist ninja. He began preparing for his next attack while still in the air, already weaving the hand seals for his jutsu. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
"Water Style: Water Wall!" After negating the Copy Ninja's attack, Zabuza quickly repositioned himself away from Kakashi, hoping to regain the element of surprise, though his plan was foiled by one of the genin, who had kept her Byakugan active for the entirety of the fight.
"Sensei, directly to your left, in the bushes!" Hinata called.
Damn Hyuuga. I'll have to take her out first, or Haku's cover will be blown. Zabuza shot out of the bush and blitzed Kakashi, who began preparing his defense. Moments later, another Zabuza burst forth from the same bush, this time charging directly at Hinata. Despite seeing the attack coming, the Hyuuga girl wasn't fast enough to fully evade the strike. While trying to sidestep the attack, she was struck by the broad side of the six-foot blade, sending her crashing into a nearby tree.
"Hinata!" Naruto shouted in worry. He knew he couldn't abandon his post without leaving Tazuna open to attack, despite every fiber of his being urging him to go help his downed friend. He reluctantly remained in a defensive position, fully ready to repel the former Mist ninja's attacks.
Zabuza grinned under his bandaged mask, knowing that with the Hyuuga removed from the equation, gaps in the genin's defense would begin to form. He tried shooting the first gap he spotted, but he was swiftly intercepted by Sasuke, who caught the larger blade between both of his electrified ones.
Having finally dispatched the water clone sent his way, Kakashi rushed to his students and kicked Zabuza away from the group. He turned to his blond student and ordered, "Go take care of Hinata. With our Sharingan, Sasuke and I should be enough to defend Tazuna, but leave a clone with us, just in case."
Naruto nodded and quickly formed a cross with his fingers before taking off towards his friend. Kakashi took a deep breath as he set his attention back onto Zabuza. "Earlier, I was just gauging your strength, but after what you just did, I'm not pulling my punches anymore." Vibrant blue electricity sparked to life in his palm as he retracted his arm, preparing to charge towards his opponent. "Raikiri!"
Naruto dropped down to his knees next to Hinata, who had been knocked out by the impact with the tree. While checking her for injuries, he noticed a few broken bones, but he knew from personal experience that those would heal quickly with help from Nine-Tails' chakra. He was more concerned about any potential head trauma, but having no medical expertise, he knew his best option was to protect her until she returned to consciousness. He placed his best friend in a more comfortable resting position, making sure he didn't move her neck as he did so. C'mon Hinata, please wake up soon.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
The battle between the jonin transformed into a ninjutsu showdown, as neither party was able to make significant progress with their weapons and fists. As Kakashi had feared, the mist began saturating the battlefield once again, impairing his Sharingan's precognitive abilities. Though this time, it's not as thick, he noticed. It must be taking a toll on his reserves. The Copy Ninja stepped out onto the water, hoping to lure Zabuza out of the mist. However, he quickly realized his mistake. This water is dense, and heavy. That's not good…
Zabuza immediately appeared next to him, flipping through hand seals and calling out, "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
A bubble of chakra-infused water enveloped Kakashi, leaving him unable to move. The rogue Mist ninja looked the trapped Copy Ninja in the eyes as he created a water clone. "That mistake will cost you your life. Now, watch as my clone takes care of y– what?"
Another Kakashi exploded out from underneath the water, uppercutting Zabuza and sending him flying back onto land. After swiftly dispelling the adjacent water clone, Kakashi capitalized on his opponent's brief incapacitation. Both he and his shadow clone weaved through the same hand seals, calling out, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
Zabuza groaned in pain as he rose to his feet, watching his battlefield advantage disappear once again. "You… you purposely let a shadow clone get caught in my water prison while the real you hid underwater. I can see why you carry such a dangerous reputation."
"Like I said earlier, Zabuza," Kakashi began, "I'm not holding back anymore. It's over for you. Earth Style: Great Mud River!"
Kakashi transformed the already damp soil into a rapid stream of mud, sweeping Zabuza off his feet as the rogue Mist ninja was engulfed by it. He barely managed to regain his balance by stabbing the Executioner's Blade deep into the soil, preventing him from being tossed around by the mud current any further. However, the action left him completely defenseless, and Kakashi exploited that to the fullest. "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A dragon-shaped formation emerged from Kakashi's end of the mud river, pelting Zabuza with an endless barrage of mud balls. I'll have to thank Lord Third for teaching me this combination. Those extra training days are really paying off. Now, for the finishing touch. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Ju-" Kakashi quickly canceled his technique and dashed to the side as a pair of senbon flew past him, landing directly in the side of Zabuza's neck. The rogue Mist ninja dropped like a sack of potatoes as a teenage-looking figure landed in front of him, the newcomer's face shrouded by a Mist ANBU mask.
"Thank you for weakening him, Leaf ninja. You made my job in eliminating him much easier," the masked figure stated. Kakashi just nodded and let the figure take Zabuza away, despite recognizing the teen wasn't a hunter-nin.
Sasuke quickly approached him with Tazuna in tow and asked, "Why did you let them go? That person wasn't a Mist ANBU."
"I know," Kakashi replied. "But the parameters of our mission state to protect the client, not to eliminate the enemy, and we also have a downed team member. That masked guy is an unknown variable, and with Hinata out of commission, it would be a risk to take that fight without sufficient intel."
Sasuke nodded in understanding before quickly coming to another conclusion. "Zabuza targeted Hinata to make sure his accomplice could stay undetected."
"That's my theory too," Kakashi agreed. "However, we have no further information to prove it." The Copy Ninja looked around and asked, "Where is Naruto's clone?"
I told him to dispel to let Naruto know we're done," Sasuke informed.
Kakashi nodded in approval as he pulled his headband back over his Sharingan. "Good. For now, let's go see how Hinata's doing."
Naruto waited patiently for Kakashi and Sasuke to reach him. "How is she?" the Copy Ninja asked, concern evident in his only visible eye.
"She has some bruises and broken bones that should heal in a few hours, but I'm not sure if she has any head injuries," the blond answered worriedly. "I was too afraid to move her, so I just stayed here and protected her."
"Alright, we'll set up a temporary camp here until she wakes up," Kakashi announced. "Naruto, Sasuke, you two go collect the resources we need. I'll keep an eye on both Hinata and Tazuna."
The two genin nodded and swiftly took off in different directions. Tazuna looked skeptically at the Copy Ninja and asked, "What did Naruto mean by her broken bones healing in a few hours?"
"It's a ninja thing. Some of us are able to heal much quicker than an average human," Kakashi answered smoothly, breathing an internal sigh of relief as the bridge builder accepted his half-baked reply. Naruto, you have to be more careful. That explanation wouldn't work on a shinobi.
Night had already fallen upon the group of five when Hinata finally awoke from her forcefully-induced slumber. "W-what happened?" she asked as she slowly sat up, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. She was quickly approached by her teammates, who held looks of pure relief on their faces.
Naruto dropped down onto his knees and gently wrapped her up, in between his arms. "I was so worried, you know."
Though she was still disoriented, Hinata instinctually returned the embrace. "My head hurts," she whispered. "What happened to me?"
"You crashed into the tree pretty hard after Zabuza hit you with his sword. I didn't want to risk moving you, since I didn't know how badly you hurt your head," Naruto answered.
Hinata attempted to activate her Byakugan to check on her injuries, but she was quickly met with an intense wave of pain that originated from her eyes and migrated to her forehead. She immediately let go of the embrace, her hands covering her eyes in an attempt to stop the pain.
"Hinata, what happened?" Naruto asked worriedly, gathering the Hyuuga girl into his arms once again as she writhed in agony. The blond knew there wasn't much he could do, but he did what he could to try and ease her discomfort.
After the pain fully receded, Hinata shakily answered, "I-I tried activating my Byakugan to check my injuries. I didn't think something like that would happen."
"What the hell could have caused her Byakugan to do that?" Sasuke muttered to himself. He turned to Kakashi for directions, only to realize the Copy Ninja was deep in thought. "Sensei?"
Sasuke's call brought Kakashi back to reality. "What is it, Sasuke?"
"What do we do now?" the Uchiha asked.
Kakashi pondered for a moment, trying to come up with a reasonable plan. "Tazuna, do you know a place she can rest at?"
"My home is not far from here," the bridge builder replied. "We have plenty of room for guests."
"Finally, some good news," Kakashi sighed in relief. He turned to the group and announced, "We'll pack up and head there now, provided Hinata is able to walk. Naruto, before we go, I want you to have your clones scout out the path and make sure it's safe, since Hinata can't use her Byakugan at the moment."
"On it!" the blond acknowledged, forming a large batch of clones and sending them off to complete their task.
"Now that scouting is taken care of," Kakashi began, "We can begin packing. Hinata, this goes without saying, but don't activate your Byakugan again until we figure out what's going on."
The Hyuuga girl nodded dejectedly as Naruto knelt down next to her. "Can you stand?" he asked.
"I-I think so," Hinata replied as she attempted to get up on her own. She was only able to stay upright for a few seconds before a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to stumble backwards. She was quickly caught by Naruto, who repositioned himself to be her support.
"I gotcha," the blond assured with a grin.
"Thank you," Hinata replied warmly, offering Naruto a small yet sincere smile.
Kakashi beamed behind his mask, watching the two interact as he and Sasuke packed up the remainder of the camp. Every time I see them like this, I'm reminded of the two of you, Minato-sensei, Lady Kushina.
Hinata slowly opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings once again. She peered out of the closest window and noticed the sun positioned almost directly overhead. Did I fall asleep? she thought to herself as she scanned the room, spotting Naruto sitting at a desk in the corner. He seemed to be working on one of his seals, completely unaware of her conscious presence. "Naruto-kun," she called sleepily.
The blond immediately shifted his attention towards her, a bright smile on his face as he made his way to her. "Hinata, you're up!"
"What happened last night?" the Hyuuga girl asked as she tried recalling her most recent memories.
"You passed out on the way to Tazuna's house," Naruto answered. "It scared me for a bit, but Kakashi-sensei said you were fine, so I carried you the rest of the way."
Hinata nodded automatically before realizing, "You carried me the rest of the way?"
The blond grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "It was only for a bit, hehe." His expression grew serious as he asked with concern, "Does your head still hurt? What about everything else?"
"I think I'm okay," Hinata assured. "Sometimes I forget how quickly we heal."
Naruto grinned again. "Great! That means we can–"
"No training for her today, Naruto," Kakashi scolded as he and Sasuke walked through the doorway. "Give her another day to rest before you guys start training again. And remember, no Byakugan."
Naruto pouted, nodding reluctantly. Kakashi sighed as Tazuna and Tsunami, Tazuna's daughter, walked into the room.
"Last night was hectic, so I want to make sure everyone is on the same page," Kakashi stated. "To start, Zabuza is still alive."
Naruto and Hinata looked at their sensei with slightly widened eyes. Tazuna nodded in affirmation, having overheard the conversation between Kakashi and Sasuke from the day before. He notified Tsunami as well, wanting to make sure his daughter was up to date on all relevant information.
"He has an accomplice who wears a Mist ANBU mask," Kakashi described. "They seem to be a teenager with long, dark hair. Any other defining features are unclear to us." After receiving nods from Naruto and Hinata, Kakashi explained, "I would give Zabuza about a week before he recovers. We can use that time to prepare for the upcoming battle. Hinata, after today, I want you to shore up your techniques that aren't reliant on the Byakugan. I'm assigning Naruto to watch over you should anything go wrong. Sasuke and I will accompany Tazuna to the bridge so he can complete his work."
"You have one more chance, or I'll have you cut down!" Gato exclaimed angrily as he stormed out of the room with his bodyguards.
"That was unnecessary, Haku," Zabuza remarked, not needing the teenage boy to defend him against Gato.
"I know," Haku replied. "But if you killed him now, you would draw attention to us. The hunter-nin would find us rather quickly."
"Right…" Zabuza closed his eyes, thinking about his upcoming rematch with the Copy Ninja. "Haku, I don't think I can defeat him."
"Kakashi?" the teen asked.
"Yeah. I can tell he's on a different level, at least different from what the Bingo Books described. And his brats, you may have a tough time defeating them, especially the Uchiha. The Kiba blades would cut right through your mirrors."
"He can cut through them, but he won't be fast enough to catch me," Haku assured. "I'll just have to find a way to replenish the mirrors."
"If you say so. I'm not so convinced," Zabuza replied. "Those three were able to take down Raiga a while back, so be on guard."
"I understand," Haku acknowledged as he exited the room. "I'll be back shortly. I'm going to go collect some more herbs."
"Rotation!"
Hinata began spinning at an increasingly fast pace, but she was unable to maintain her speed, causing her jutsu to repel her out of the dome. She crashed into Naruto, who was ready to catch her the moment she was thrown out.
"Damn it," the Hyuuga cursed. "It just doesn't feel right. It feels as if my body is working against me."
"How so?" the blond questioned, trying to gain more insight into Hinata's roadblock.
"I can't maintain both the balance and speed needed to complete the Rotation," Hinata replied, frustrated by her inability to master the technique.
The pair decided to take a break, bringing out the food Tsunami made for them while discussing the problem further. Towards the end of their break, Naruto abruptly went silent, causing Hinata to worry slightly. "Naruto-kun?"
"I was just thinking," the blond replied. "Don't you need the Byakugan to use the Rotation?"
"Not really," Hinata answered. "The Rotation requires me to expel chakra from all of my chakra points at the same time while spinning, but it doesn't need the Byakugan to be performed. The Byakugan helps the user keep up with what's going on outside of the dome of chakra, though I haven't reached that stage yet."
"So technically, anyone can use the Rotation?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Only the Hyuuga have the ability to emit chakra from all of our chakra points, so you would have to be a Hyuuga descendent to perform it," Hinata explained.
"Aww, too bad. That's such a cool technique," Naruto pouted.
Hinata giggled at the blond's expression, causing his frown to transform into a grin. "So, you ready to continue training, Hinata?"
The Hyuuga girl nodded, and the two trained for hours, tirelessly working on Hinata's Rotation until they were called back for dinner.
Team 7, Tazuna, and a young boy were gathered around the dining table while Tsunami continued to prepare more food. "It's been a while since we've had so many guests at our table," Tazuna remarked.
Though they all heard the bridge builder's words, Naruto and Sasuke were focused on a much more interesting sight. Hinata was scarfing down her food, something neither of the boys had witnessed before. "Seconds, please!" she exclaimed with her arm extended and her bowl in hand, before realizing her teammates were staring at her with wide eyes. She flushed red, immediately retracting her arm and covering her face with her hands. "D-don't look!"
The boys continued looking, left completely speechless by the unusual display from their female teammate. After a few more moments of stunned silence, Naruto's shocked expression morphed into a grin. "That was awesome!"
"Huh?" Hinata lowered her hands from her face and looked at the blond with confused eyes.
"I didn't know you could eat so much! Maybe when we get back, we can have a ramen eating contest!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly.
"I–uh…" Hinata began internally panicking, realizing one of her deepest secrets may be exposed soon.
"The day the two of you have a ramen eating contest in front of me is the day I leave the village," Sasuke remarked sarcastically.
"You're just jealous you can't eat as much of the food of the gods as I can!" Naruto retorted defensively. "Wait, you're joking, right?"
Sasuke face-palmed. "Sometimes I wonder if all the ramen you ate went to that noodle-brain of yours," the Uchiha fired back, causing Naruto to growl.
Kakashi sighed in exasperation while Hinata giggled at the exchange between her teammates. Their bickering was interrupted by the young boy, who shouted, "All of you are going to die anyway, so who cares?"
"Die?" Naruto asked curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Gato's going to kill you all, so if you want to live, you should just leave!" the boy exclaimed before storming out of the room.
"Inari, that is no way to talk to the people who saved your grandfather's life!" Tsunami scolded, following her son out of the room.
An awkward silence filled the kitchen as Tazuna looked down. "What happened to get him like that?" Naruto asked.
The bridge builder pointed to a photo on the wall, the upper right corner having been torn off of it. "The man missing from that photo was Inari's step-father, a man by the name of Kaiza. Despite not being Inari's biological father, the two of them were very close. Kaiza was considered a hero in this land for his courageous actions."
Tazuna took a deep breath, a couple of tears leaking out of his eyes before continuing. "It wasn't long after when Gato showed up. Kaiza was the only one that stood up against him, and he was publicly executed for it. It broke the will of the people in this town. Inari has never been the same since that day, always acting pessimistically about the future."
"So that's why," Hinata replied quietly as she stood up and walked to the front door. "I'm going out to train more."
"Hinata, wait!" Naruto shouted, quickly getting up and chasing after her. "I still need to keep an eye on you, dattebayo!"
Kakashi failed to hold in a chuckle as he watched the blond scramble outside. "He always finds a way to brighten the mood. That's Naruto for you."
"You have a special group of kids, Kakashi," Tazuna complimented. "I could see it in the way they acted on our way here. I just wish Inari could see it too."
"I'm sure he'll come around," the Copy Ninja assured.
"I sure hope so," Tazuna replied wishfully. "I sure hope so."
Naruto slowly opened his eyes as he awoke from his slumber. He attempted to sit up, though a weight on top of him prevented him from doing so. After taking a moment to clear his mind, he focused on the mop of midnight blue hair resting against his chest. He looked around him, noting the morning dew clinging onto individual blades of grass next to him and the abundance of trees lining the area surrounding him. Did we fall asleep outside?
After reviewing his memories, he recalled that they overdid their training and were too exhausted to return to Tazuna's home. He noticed Hinata beginning to stir, the Hyuuga girl wrapping her arms tighter around him. "Mmm… warm."
After countless instances of similar experiences, Naruto thought he would be immune to the blushing by now, though his scarlet cheeks indicated otherwise. He gently shook Hinata's shoulder, attempting to fully wake her up. "Hinata, it's time to get up."
The Hyuuga girl finally opened her eyes, revealing her round, pearlescent irises to him. She looked up at the blond, who grinned widely at her, despite his blush. "Why are we outside?" Hinata asked in confusion.
"We went overboard with training again," Naruto answered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
Hinata was about to reply when the two detected a presence nearby, immediately letting go of each other and settling into defensive stances. They waited patiently, calmly surveying their surroundings until a figure finally approached the clearing. She seemed to be a few years older than the two preteens, dressed in a pink kimono with hazel-colored eyes and long, dark hair…
Naruto and Hinata tensed slightly, realizing this person matched Kakashi's description of Zabuza's accomplice. They didn't want to reach for any conclusions just yet, but they were now fully on guard.
"So, what are you doing all the way out here?" Naruto asked.
"I'm gathering herbs," the teen responded. "For treating illnesses and healing wounds."
After realizing she wasn't a threat, accomplice or not, Naruto and Hinata began to help her out. "You sure start early," the blond noted.
"I like it early," the long-haired teen replied. "It's calm, but I didn't think anyone would be out here in the woods this early."
After realizing they were still wearing their headbands, Naruto and Hinata knew there was no reason to lie. If she was Zabuza's accomplice, she would already know who they were. "We overdid our training last night and ended up passing out here," Hinata explained. "We actually woke up just before you got here."
"Then are you ninja?" the girl asked curiously.
"Yeah," Naruto replied simply.
The teen nodded, though her face still bore curiosity. "Are you not strong enough already?"
"Not even close," the blond answered. "We need to keep getting stronger, or we will never reach our goal."
"And what is this goal that is so important to you?" the girl questioned.
Naruto closed his eyes in thought as he began his story. "It was our first mission when we encountered a ninja by the name of Raiga Kurosuki, a man broken by our shinobi system. I did some reflection and realized that being a shinobi is not at all what I thought it would be. Ever since that day, I've wanted to change this broken system, but I know I'm nowhere near strong enough to do it."
"I see," the long-haired teen replied. "It is my personal belief that one is only genuinely strong when they have someone precious they want to protect. So, do you have anyone like that?"
After pondering her words for a moment, Naruto and Hinata turned to each other, but they both turned away just as quickly with red faces. The long-hair teen giggled at their display. "I see that you do. In my eyes, the two of you are already plenty strong, though I understand your need for more training."
Naruto wasn't really listening to the teen, instead remembering a memory from over a year ago, when Hinata jumped in front of him and Iruka-sensei to protect them from Mizuki. This girl's right. When one's precious person's life is on the line, they will do anything to keep that person alive. That's why, if that precious person dies, hatred begins to brew inside the failed protector. Damn it! I'm nowhere closer to solving this problem!
The blond felt Hinata's hand on his shoulder and instantly relaxed, causing him to remember his master's words.
"If all you do is obsess over a single goal, then what's the point in living life?"
That's right. I need to focus on the now. The blond gave Hinata a grateful nod and looked towards the teen, who had already picked up her basket of herbs and was walking away from the pair.
"I'll see the two of you again one day." The teen paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, by the way, I'm a boy. My name's Haku."
What the hell? Naruto thought to himself as he and Hinata stared at the teenage boy with wide eyes. He quickly snapped out of his trance when he noticed Sasuke approaching them, passing by the long-haired teen on his way to them. Once the older teen was gone, Sasuke questioned, "Were you not suspicious of that girl?"
"We were," Naruto replied. "But he wasn't a threat. If he was Zabuza's accomplice, he had no intentions of harming us. It's possible he was, but we don't know enough to confirm it."
"Wait a minute… he?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.
Naruto immediately doubled over, laughing at Sasuke's shocked expression and completely ignoring the fact that he carried the same look moments ago. "You should see your face right now, HAHAHA!"
"Why do I have an idiot for a teammate?" Sasuke complained once he snapped out of his stupor.
The group of seven had just finished their dinner when Tazuna announced, "In a few more days, the bridge will be finished. I have you to thank for that."
"You've all done great," Tsunami added, "But you've still got to be careful."
"I've been meaning to ask you this but I haven't had the chance until now," Tazuna sighed while looking at Kakashi. "Why did you stay and protect me, even after you found out I lied to bring you here?"
"Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive," Kakashi recited. "That was a quote from the First Hokage."
Inari pondered the meaning of the message, his mind flashing back to multiple instances of Kaiza's heroics, before finally, his tragic end. Tears began leaking out of the boy's eyes as he asked, "But why?"
Naruto, who was resting on the table, perked up. "Whatcha say?"
"All this stupid training is just a waste of time! Gato's got a full army! They'll beat you down and they'll destroy you! These cool things you all say, they don't mean anything, no matter what you do! The strong always win and the weak always lose!"
"Don't drag us into your pity party," Sasuke replied sharply.
Inari gripped his fists tightly as more tears streamed down his cheeks. "Just shut up! Looking at you makes me sick! You don't know anything about this country! You're just butting in, always laughing and playing around, you don't know what it's like to suffer!"
All three genin glared at the young boy. Hinata could feel her inner rage surging at the insinuations made by the child. She tapped Naruto on the shoulder and gave him a sharp look, telling him she needed to go outside to calm down.
Naruto knew that Hinata usually wasn't this easily angered, but with her recent failure to master the Rotation, he could easily discern her mounting frustration over the past few days. Understanding what she needed, the blond nodded as Hinata swiftly exited the home, barely able to keep a lid on her anger.
Naruto turned back to Inari and declared, "Just like we don't know anything about you, you don't know anything about us. Don't assume that we didn't suffer just because we can smile. All you do is whine and complain, playing victim. Well, if you don't like the way things are, then do something about it! We were all put into situations worse than yours, and we found our own way out of them."
The blond stood up from his chair and made his way to the exit, addressing Kakashi on the way out. "I'm going to check on Hinata. I'll make sure to bring her back this time."
Inari sat on the dock, staring intently at his grandfather's bridge while reflecting on Naruto's words. He heard a faint stepping sound and turned around, noticing the blond carrying a passed out Hinata back into the house. A couple minutes later, Naruto came back outside and sat on the dock beside him.
"You know," the blond began, "Every single member on my team has lost one parent, if not both. Hell, I lost both of mine the day I was born. I never got to know them, and all I have of them is their names and legacy. You're lucky to still have a loving mother and a caring grandfather living with you."
"But it hurts…" Inari mumbled. "It hurts so much..."
"I know," the blond replied empathetically. "I may have not lost anyone close to me that I can remember, but both of my friends did, and I saw how it changed them. Sasuke almost turned out like you, but Hinata managed to snap him out of it. It's hard to move on from those we have lost, but you still have a lot left to live for. Both of my friends went through so much when we were kids, yet they still pulled through."
"But how are four of you going to beat an army?" Inari asked dejectedly.
"We're shinobi," Naruto answered. "My master once said that a real ninja is one who endures, no matter what gets thrown at him. There is only one thing that matters for a shinobi, and it isn't flashy jutsu or raw strength. All you need… is the guts to never give up."
Inari's eyes widened slightly as Naruto continued, "Kaiza may have not been a shinobi, but he sure as hell had a shinobi's heart. He refused to bend to the will of injustice, choosing instead to fight against it. If I were in your shoes, I would be proud of the person he died as. A courageous man with a heart of gold. A hero."
"But heroes don't exist," Inari cried.
"Yes, they do," Naruto rebutted. "My father may have died on the day of my birth, but he died to protect my home from a threat much more destructive than Gato. He saved an entire village, at the cost of his life. Hinata and I, along with many others, would not be alive if it wasn't for him. Even if it may not look like it, your father also died a hero. Now his legacy resides in you, as my father's legacy resides in me. Yet you chose to turn a blind eye to it, throwing out everything he ever taught you."
Having said his piece, the blond stood up and walked back inside, stopping outside of the door for a moment to add, "Heroes do exist, you just have to be willing to believe in them."
Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke, fully clad in mission gear, gathered around Hinata's bed, deciding what to do with the sleeping Hyuuga. "Let her rest, she overdid her training again," the Copy Ninja ordered. "The three of us will go with Tazuna today."
When the three shinobi and Tazuna arrived at the bridge, they tensed as a thick mist settled over the length of it. "So he's here today," Kakashi muttered to himself. "Naruto, Sasuke, be on guard. You're down one today, so be extra careful."
A group of water clones appeared through the mist and surrounded the four as one of them lunged at Sasuke. The Uchiha quickly unsealed the Kiba blades and cut down the clone with his electrified blades. "Chidori Fang!"
Sasuke continued swiftly dispatching the rest of the clones as the real Zabuza and his accomplice watched from across the bridge. "I told you, Haku. He's good."
"I can see that. I'm going in," the masked teen replied.
"Damn it, I overslept again," Hinata complained as she quickly got ready for the day. She ran downstairs and asked Tsunami, "Where did the rest of my team go?"
"They went with my father to the bridge," Tsunami answered.
"Thank you!" Hinata replied as she dashed out of the kitchen. She was a few steps out of the house when she heard a commotion coming from behind her. She stealthily made her way back inside, spotting two bandits standing next to a hole in the wall.
"So you're Tazuna's daughter. Too bad, you'll have to come with us," the white-haired bandit announced.
After hearing the commotion, Inari ran into the kitchen, just to find her mother being tied up by the bandits. "Mom!"
"Inari, get out of here!" Tsunami pleaded, but the young boy was frozen in fear. His mind flashed back to Kaiza's words, then Naruto's.
"All you do is whine and complain, playing victim. Well, if you don't like the way things are, then do something about it!"
"If you care about something, keep trying! Protect it with both arms!"
"You're lucky to still have a loving mother and a caring grandfather living with you."
Naruto was right, Inari thought to himself. I was a coward. I can't beat these guys, but I can't let them take my mom away! I won't give up! The young boy ran in front of the two bandits, extending both arms to the side to prevent the thugs from leaving the house. "I-I won't let you take her!" he shouted shakily.
The duo just laughed, knowing that a puny kid like him couldn't stop them. Despite Tsunami's pleas to spare him, they were about to bring their swords down on him when Hinata burst out of her cover and slammed a chakra-infused palm into each of their backs. Both bandits crumpled to the floor, knocked out cold by the attack. The Hyuuga girl quickly got to work untying Tsunami. "I'm sorry for being late, but I wanted to strike when they were the most distracted, so I didn't cause any extra damage here."
Tsunami nodded gratefully while Inari stared at Hinata in wonder. Is this what Naruto meant? The power to believe… He took another look at his and his mother's savior, this time noticing a difference in her eyes. "Y-your eyes…"
"Huh?" Hinata replied confusedly.
"They're all veiny, and you actually have pupils!" Inari exclaimed excitedly.
Hinata gasped in surprise, not having realized she had activated her Byakugan instinctually. They're fully healed!
"They're called the Byakugan," Hinata informed. "A special eye that is only found in my clansmen. I injured them in our first encounter with Zabuza, but I think they're healed now." She focused her vision on the bridge and noticed that the masked figure Kakashi described was locked in combat with Naruto and Sasuke. "I need to go help my team," Hinata stated. "I don't think it's safe here, so I would suggest the two of you either come with me to the bridge, where I can keep an eye on you, or stay with the other villagers until the fight is over."
Tsunami knew the safer option was to reside with their neighbors, but there was no way she was convincing Inari to not go to the bridge after the boy witnessed Hinata's moves. Instead, she came up with a compromise. "Inari and I will go back into town and gather the villagers. Maybe we'll come to the bridge after if we can convince them to help us take back our town."
The young boy nodded determinedly, wanting to do whatever he could to help out the shinobi. Hinata nodded as well before flickering out of sight.
When the Hyuuga girl arrived at the bridge, she could see Kakashi and Zabuza clashing towards the far side, while Naruto and Sasuke were trapped within a dome of ice mirrors. The masked ninja was nowhere to be seen, though Hinata knew he was residing within his mirrors. She approached Tazuna, who currently had no one protecting him. "Sorry I'm late, I had to take care of a couple bandits on the way here."
"No harm done," the bridge builder replied assuringly. Hinata made sure to stay by Tazuna's side, though she couldn't help but worry for her friends.
Inside the dome
"Damn it!" Sasuke shouted, having cut through a mirror for the tenth time, only for it to immediately reform. Both he and Naruto were covered in senbon, but they persisted, continuing to fight against the ice user. "Naruto, we might have to combo to break out of this. We have no defensive jutsu to block all the senbon, and if I cut down a mirror, another one just takes its place."
"But if we combo, we'll roast ourselves along with the dome!" Naruto countered. "We need to find a different way."
The blond formed another set of clones as the next wave of senbon flew in. Most of the clones took the incoming projectiles for the two boys, but a few made it past them and struck the genin, causing them to wince in pain. "Damn it, what do we do?"
Hinata couldn't watch anymore. She created a clone and looked at Tazuna for permission. The bridge builder nodded, knowing what she intended to do. The Hyuuga girl smiled gratefully before turning away from Tazuna, her anger building as she saw the injured state of her friends. Her eyes flashed red for a moment as she gathered electricity in her hands and feet. She disappeared in a flash of lightning, reappearing outside of the dome and striking it at its weakest points.
The move attracted the attention of both Kakashi and Zabuza, who watched in awe at the speed Hinata was traveling at. It's just like that night, Kakashi thought. Did she finally figure out how to do it?
Hinata slid underneath the dome, making her way inside just as the masked shinobi let loose another salvo of senbon. She took a deep breath as everything around her slowed down. She could see the senbon growing closer to both her and her teammates. It's now or never. Hinata began spinning at a rapid speed as she expelled lightning from all of her chakra points. The tendrils of pure, raw energy forming around her feet allowed her to rotate at a significantly faster velocity as a dome of electrified chakra began to materialize around her and her teammates. Naruto and Sasuke watched in awe as the chakra dome pulsed outward from Hinata's body, shielding them from the endless rain of senbon. "Eight Trigrams: Voltaic Rotation!"
The dome of chakra continued to expand, pushing up against the ice mirrors as Hinata maintained her rotational velocity. Large tendrils of lightning wrapped around the mirrors, applying immense pressure to the chakra constructs. The masked shinobi tried keeping his already weakened mirrors together, but it was all for naught, as when Hinata upped her speed by another notch, every mirror shattered simultaneously, violently tossing the masked nin out of them.
Zabuza watched in disbelief at the events unfolding in front of him. I knew that the Kiba blades could break through his mirrors, but Haku had come up with a creative solution for that. I never expected the Hyuuga girl to be able to add elemental chakra to the Rotation. Incredible.
"Surprised?" Kakashi taunted. "My students are no pushovers. Admit it, you lost, Zabuza."
The rogue Mist nin growled, knowing his opponent was right. Despite the clear disadvantage, he continued fighting, not willing to admit defeat so easily.
Hinata stood confidently across from the masked shinobi, who slowly rose back up onto his feet. "You once told us that those who have someone precious to protect are truly strong. Isn't that right, Haku?"
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise as he and Sasuke carefully removed the senbon from their bodies. That's Haku?
"So, you've figured me out," Haku replied.
"You were right," Hinata admitted. "People do become stronger when the lives of their precious people are on the line… which is why your biggest mistake was threatening my friends."
"For what it's worth," Haku began as he removed his mask, "I am truly sorry for my actions, but it is my duty as a shinobi to do what I did. It is my reason for living, as I am just a tool, a living weapon for my master to use."
"A tool?" Hinata asked in surprise, completely dissolving her previous anger.
"That is why I am also sorry for what I am about to do," the teen continued as he put his mask back over his face. "My duty… as a tool."
The long-haired teen began weaving hand seals with only one hand, surprising Hinata with his level of control. "Secret Jutsu: A Thousand Needles of Death!" Using the surrounding water from the shattered ice mirrors, Haku formed an onslaught of senbon, all trained on Hinata.
As the needle-shaped projectiles closed in on her, the Hyuuga girl launched an air palm directly at Haku, knowing the one spot he wouldn't target was his current location. She swiftly moved to where he previously stood and settled into a Gentle Fist stance, her feet spread apart and her arms extended outward, palms at the ready. Concentric teal circles materialized below her feet in a formation reminiscent of the Eight Trigrams as Hinata took a deep breath, poising herself for her finishing blow. "You're within my range of divination… Lightning Style: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hinata swiftly closed the gap between her and Haku, her first two strikes making contact with the boy's torso.
"Two Palms!"
"Four Palms!"
"Eight Palms!"
"Sixteen Palms!"
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
"Sixty-Four Palms!"
The consecutive blows completely sealed off Haku's chakra pathways as he was launched backwards from the impact of the final round of strikes. Half of his body was paralyzed, as he could detect the foreign lightning chakra running through his muscles. "I've failed you, Zabuza. A broken tool is not one to be kept around."
Hinata slowly approached the incapacitated teen, wanting to make sure there was no chance for him to re-enter the battle. She pulled out a kunai, pointing it at the teen, though she had no intentions of ending his life.
"Kill me," Haku pleaded. "Zabuza has no use for a broken tool like me."
"What are you talking about?" Hinata asked as Naruto and Sasuke approached her. "Your existence is much more than just a tool! How can you even think that?"
"Zabuza was my purpose," the teen droned dejectedly. "I've failed him, so I should be punished for my failures."
"What kind of backwards thinking is that?" Naruto shouted, unaware that Kakashi and Zabuza were listening in on their conversation. "Nobody is just a tool! You may think you're just a tool, but even I can tell that Zabuza cares about you, much more than just a tool! This entire fight, he's been checking to make sure you're okay, just like Kakashi-sensei has been checking on us! You told us a very short version of your history, so I obviously don't know much, but I do know that you're underselling your value to him!"
The adults had mutually decided to cease fighting, wanting to hear where their students' conversation was heading. Haku looked Zabuza in the eye, desperately looking for an answer. The rogue Mist ninja closed his eyes, nodding in reluctant agreement with the blond. "It's true, as much as I hate to admit it. Haku, you've been more of a son to me than anything else, especially something as low as a tool." Zabuza shook his head at his own words. "Gah! I've gone soft because of you brats. I'm done here."
"No, you're not," a new voice called out from the unfinished end of the bridge. "It seems as if that boy was beaten down by a bunch of kids. So much for him." The short man moved towards the downed teenager, but Zabuza immediately appeared in front of him. "Take one more step towards Haku, and I'll separate your head from your body."
Gato scoffed as he stepped backwards, slowly backpedaling to his thugs. "This is why I don't hire shinobi. You're expensive and non-compliant. Kill them!"
The group of thugs all grinned in anticipation, ready to get in on the action. Gato stealthily made his way to the back of the group, intending to leave the thugs to fend for themselves. However, it didn't escape the notice of any of the shinobi, especially Zabuza, who was eager to end the man's existence. The rogue Mist ninja leaped over the entire group of thugs, landing in front of the short millionaire. "Any last words, coward?" Gato wasn't given an opportunity to speak, as Zabuza swiftly lopped his head off with the Executioner's Blade, causing a fountain of blood to gush out from the headless man's neck.
"Now, where to find his base…" he mused as he kicked Gato's corpse off of the bridge.
The thugs who witnessed the execution snarled angrily. "How am I going to get paid now?" one asked in rage.
"Let's raid that village to make up for it!" another one suggested.
"Not a chance!" Naruto declared firmly with Sasuke and Hinata at his sides. The blond bit down on his thumb, flipping through five seals and slamming his palm onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke bloomed from the spot of the summoning, slowly fading away to reveal a small, orange toad with purple markings. "Yo, Naruto!"
"Hey, 'Kichi!" Naruto greeted. "I need your help with our combo jutsu. You down to help!"
"Of course, if I get a snack after," the toad requested.
"Sure thing," Naruto responded with a grin. "Alright, hop on!"
The small toad leaped onto Naruto's head as the blond nodded to his teammates. "Alright, let's go! 'Kichi, oil!"
"Right!" the toad complied, spewing a large stream of oil out of his mouth. Naruto concentrated on adding his wind chakra to the stream as visible layer wind sheathed the large volume of oil.
"Now, guys!" Naruto commanded.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" Sasuke and Hinata called out in unison.
"Collaboration Jutsu! Wind Style: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!" the blond exclaimed. The oil and wind enhanced flames consumed the group of bandits whole, incinerating the entire group in a split second. The jutsu kept traveling forwards, eventually reaching Zabuza, who quickly flickered out of the way and back to the group.
"Are you brats trying to kill me?" the rogue Mist ninja complained. "That attack could knock out a damn Tailed Beast!"
"Hehe, my bad," Naruto replied sheepishly as he handed Gamakichi a snack. The toad croaked happily and dispelled himself, returning home to Mt. Myoboku.
"That was the definition of overkill," Kakashi scolded half-heartedly.
"Sorry, but those guys were pissing us off. We kinda overreacted," Naruto explained apologetically.
Zabuza waved it off, instead focusing on the creature he just saw. "Was that a Mt. Myoboku toad?"
"Yeah!" Naruto replied proudly. "My master let me sign the summoning contract a few months ago!"
"Your master…" Zabuza trailed off, turning to Kakashi instead. "This brat is being trained by Jiraiya of the Sannin?"
The Copy Ninja nodded absentmindedly, his attention instead focused on the large group of villagers arriving at the bridge. "I better go tell them you're no longer against us before they start something."
"Right…" Zabuza decided to make his way towards Haku, whose chakra points had been unblocked by Hinata, though he was still having trouble with moving his limbs. "She got you good, Haku."
"I'm sorry for failing you," the teenage boy replied dejectedly.
"No more of that nonsense," Zabuza asserted. "Those brats made me realize how much my own ambition was overshadowing your well-being. From now on, you're not obligated to follow me. I want you to find your own path, to do what makes you happy."
"What are you going to do?" Haku asked curiously.
"There have been rumors of a full-fledged Mist rebellion flying around. I think I'm going to pay them a visit. If I can find where Gato keeps his money, I might be able to bring them a present. Then, I'll help them take back our home," Zabuza explained.
"Then I'm coming with you!" Haku exclaimed.
"What?" Zabuza asked in shock. "I told you that you could-"
"You told me to do what makes me happy," Haku interrupted. "Following you around makes me happy." The teenage boy's words took a more somber tone as he continued, "The Land of Water was also my home. What the Fourth Mizukage is trying to do will continue to harm people like me. I have a reason to be involved in that conflict as well."
Zabuza nodded in agreement. "Alright, it's settled. We'll raid Gato's base first, and then we'll bring the funds to the rebellion."
"We'll help you find the money, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed, surprising the two with his statement. The blond rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but we've been dying to figure out what's going on in the Hidden Mist for a long time. We've had three missions outside of the village, and we've run into a member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist each time."
"I know you lot encountered Raiga, but who was the other one?" Zabuza asked curiously.
"We faced Kisame Hoshigaki," Sasuke answered.
"As strong as Kakashi is, I don't see how you came out of that fight alive," Zabuza remarked.
"Pervy-Sage showed up and scared him away!" Naruto exclaimed proudly.
"Pervy-Sage…?"
"Jiraiya," Hinata and Sasuke chorused with deadpan expressions, causing both Zabuza and Haku to chuckle.
"Well, that certainly explains his book series," Zabuza muttered under his breath. "Alright, if you brats are going to help us find the money, we better get going."
Once Haku fully regained his movement, the group began walking towards the town. Hinata activated her Byakugan and pointed in a direction opposite of the town. "If that building is Gato's base, he is keeping his money in a secure room in the basement. Sasuke should be able to cut through the walls though."
"Having x-ray eyes must be convenient," Zabuza grumbled to himself. The former Mist nin led the group of five past the villagers, where Kakashi and Tazuna were seen explaining the situation to them. "Kakashi, I'm taking your brats on a field trip to Gato's headquarters."
"Sure thing," the Copy Ninja replied absentmindedly before fully processed Zabuza's words. "Wait, what?" He looked around the bridge, but the group of five was nowhere to be seen. Oh well, he's not an enemy anymore, and they can take care of themselves. Well, at least Hinata and Sasuke can.
"So, why did you leave the village?" Naruto asked.
"Many reasons, but the main one is the current leadership of the village. I can't stand the Fourth Mizukage," Zabuza answered. "Our village is known as the Bloody Mist, mainly because of Yagura's bloodthirsty tendencies. In order to graduate from the academy in our village, you must kill one of your classmates, most of the time a friend you grew up alongside."
Naruto and Hinata looked at each other, knowing they couldn't bring themselves to kill the other, no matter the situation. Zabuza noticed and smirked slightly under his bandaged mask, continuing, "When it was my turn for graduation, I killed my entire class. They called me the Demon of the Mist for it. It was brutal, but it forced those scumbags to change the rules, where killing your classmate is no longer a practice."
The three genin's eyes widened, but they remained silent, allowing the man to continue. "In addition to the academy, Yagura also wants to purge all bloodlines in the Mist. If the Hyuuga and Uchiha existed in the Land of Water, they would be on the list to be exterminated, just like the Yuki, Haku's clan."
The teenage boy looked down, reminded of his parents before their demise. "As you know, I possess the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, as does the rest of the Yuki clan. Yagura wanted to exterminate us, as well as all other clans like us, to eliminate any potential threats to his power. He also killed off the clans as a show of strength, to instill fear into the rest of the citizens."
"That is just… so wrong! On so many different levels!" Naruto shouted in frustration. "How can someone even think about committing these kinds of acts?"
"This is the unfortunate reality of the shinobi world," Zabuza stated. "I, along with some others, attempted a coup, but we failed. Those of us who survived were forced to flee the village, only to be tracked down by hunter-nin until we were killed. We took Gato's job because he offered us some protection from the hunters, but aside from that, we've been on the run the whole time. Based on what I know, Kisame also left the village for similar reasons. He was the most loyal of us all, yet when the village betrayed him, he left, taking Samehada with him. And he wasn't the only one. Many shinobi grew tired of the way the Mist operates. There is a reason why the Hidden Mist is the only village out of the five to have an entire division dedicated to hunting down its missing-nin."
"It's so hard to believe," Sasuke muttered. "Yet it's true."
"I know," Naruto agreed. "I want to help you, Zabuza."
The missing-nin chuckled. "Don't make me laugh, kid. Why would a Leaf ninja want to help an enemy village?"
"After learning about Raiga's story, I decided that my goal would be to create peace in this world, to change the way the shinobi system works. Most adults laugh at me for it, thinking it's impossible or too difficult, but I won't stop trying, no matter what. What I saw on this mission just fuels my drive to do something about it." Naruto looked Zabuza dead in the eye, daring the older shinobi to prove him wrong.
"So, you're being serious. But even if you want to help us, you would need permission from your Hokage, and the Leaf involving itself in the Mist's internal affairs would cause international controversy. Do you really think he would let you help us?" Zabuza questioned.
"Of course!" Naruto replied with a grin. "I have ways of bribing the Old Man that I've been saving. Trust me, I can definitely get him to let us go."
"Old Man? Us?" Haku asked confusedly.
"Naruto's called the Hokage 'Old Man' since he's known him, and he said 'us' because we're going too," Sasuke elaborated as the group of five finally arrived at Gato's hideout.
"We promised Naruto-kun we would help him achieve his goal, no matter what stands in his way," Hinata added.
Zabuza shook his head in disbelief, though he couldn't fault the kids for their conviction. He decided to get down to business so they didn't waste any more time. "We can speculate all we want right now, but you brats can't do anything without Kakashi's permission, let alone the Hokage's. For now, let's get this money and get out of here."
"Right!"
"Another A-ranked level mission," Hiruzen sighed as he took another puff from his pipe. "At this point, I wonder if it's even a coincidence."
"Zabuza and Haku took most of the funds with them to the rebellion in the Mist," Kakashi added. "Whatever else remained was used to finish the bridge and compensate us."
"The civil war in the Mist is very concerning. So much so that I might be willing to send help to the rebellion if they request it, though that will have to come after the Chunin Exams," Hiruzen stated.
"You will?" Naruto asked in surprise. "But why? Won't it look bad to interfere with their conflict?"
"What the current institution stands for completely goes against all principles in the Leaf. We covet our bloodlines in this village, so it is also in our best interest to eliminate any party willing to exterminate them," the aged Hokage explained. "Every other major village also contains bloodline clans, so they will understand why we will side with the rebellion, provided they ask us for help."
"Awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. "So that means you'll send us, right?"
Hiruzen sighed. "Not necessarily, Naruto. I will consider those who want to help more heavily, but I will always choose those best suited to the task first."
The blond pouted for a moment before a grin slowly began surfacing on his face. "Then I'll just have to become the best, so you'll have to send me!"
"We can talk after the Chunin Exams," Hiruzen stated. "Kakashi has already told me he's signing you up, so you better start preparing."
A/N: I'm increasing the rating to M, since I don't remember the exact specifications and I want to play it safe with how I portrayed Gato's death.
To be honest, I didn't know what to name the bridge, so I skipped that scene, since there wasn't much plot relevance tied to it anyways. The canon name would feel disrespectful to the work Sasuke and Hinata put in on the mission, especially Hinata, but any Team 7-centric name would sound awkward.
I also felt like I was beginning to drag out the conclusion of the arc too much, so I kept it shorter, since the chapter already surpassed 10k words.
I'm revising Ch6-10 after Ch11 releases, and I'll be doing this every 5 chapters from now on. It helps me stay in touch with the direction my story is heading, while also making the reading experience better for newer readers. If I find any suggestions I like (Bridge names please c:) that don't force me to retcon anything, I'll be sure to add them to the revisions!
Chunin Exams next! I've got some heat planned for this arc, so stay tuned! c: