AN welcome to another chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. have a great week!

Naruto let out ragged breaths. He took his time, letting his body recover his lost chakra. Naruto scanned the battlefield, if anyone needed help, he would jump in immediately, whether his body was in fighting condition or not.

Naruto felt his hair stand on end as the electricity in the air rose, Naruto could see flashes of Sasuke with his chidori destroying ice mirrors, chasing the masked shinobi who darted from mirror to mirror in hopes of avoiding a lethal end. Naruto narrowed his eyes as he realized something, Sasuke chidori was black in color.

I thought his chakra was blue?

Naruto turned his attention to Aoba-sensei, Aoba was bobbing and weaving through Kushimaru's threads, using genjutsu to close the gap to deliver punishing taijutsu combos. Naruto spotted Sakura and Shin at the far side of the bridge with Tazuna fighting two shinobi with metal claws wearing a breathing apparatus on their faces. Shin was doing fine, matching his opponent blow for blow using his katana, Sakura was struggling a bit, her opponent was faster than her, forcing her to constantly backpedal with Tazuna while throwing ninja tools to keep space.

I know where I'm needed.

Naruto let the natural energy encompass his body naturally. Stone slowly seeped along his arms, legs and shoulders, the influx of natural energy was overpowering his chakra. Naruto grit his teeth, he could feel his body become stiff but his strength was gradually coming back.

Brat, Why did you not use my chakra?

It's your chakra, I think I've abused your power enough.

In Kyuubi's cell, the fox's eyes narrowed in surprise. Since the first Hokage gave the Bijuu away like toys to the other nations, its siblings' power was abused to fight the wars of the shinobi. The Kyuubi was no different, being used by Madara, then later subdued and sealed by Hashirama and that damn Uzumaki woman. For 100 years, it could feel the pain, the death of some of its siblings. The humans of this world, either wanted to take away their freedom, or abuse their power. Yet this kid chose to inflict pain and possible petrification instead of stealing his power. Kyuubi grinned, showing its massive teeth,

Interesting.

Naruto's elbows were stoned to petrification. With his reservers at an decent level, Naruto started using the techniques the Sarcos taught him to cycle the natural energy with his chakra into the cells of his body, Using his chakra like a red blood cells to remove an infection and the natural energy as the infection and power boost, Naruto could direct this energy to all the cells in his body strengthening them, Naruto breathed in and out, slowly moving the energy to his cells, the petrification started to gradually lesson. Naruto stopped the technique to stretch his arms. They were still stiff but he didn't have time to use the technique.

Sakura's attacker closed the distance, slashing at Tazuna with a large metal claw. Sakura screamed, "Watch out!" She tackled Tazuna out of the way. Sakura quickly flipped up pulling Tazuna off the ground surprising him with her strength, Sakura quickly went through hand seals ending with ram. Gozu the demon brother grinned he closed the distance between them rapidly, stabbing 'Sakura' in the gut who let out a cry, she tried to peel it off only to slump.

Gozu raised his metal claw cackling in victory until two kunai hit him in the chest, he stumbled, the genjutsu dissipating to show his metal claw devoid of blood or body.

Gozu coughed some blood out, he glared at Sakura who had departed the bridge with Tazuna in tow.

"That damn bitch." Gozu roared! Fueled by his impending death, his body went beyond its limits. He quickly caught up to a fleeing Sakura and Tazuna, he threw some shuriken in a spread, Sakura made a few hand seals then slapped her hands on the ground creat a mud wall that the shuriken sunk into. She let the mud wall down and collapsed to her legs out of chakra.

Gozu grinned at his defenseless prey, he was almost to her.

Sakura stood up on shaky legs. "Get behind me Tazuna-san!" She threw some shuriken that Gozu deflected with his metal claws. Gozu heard a snapping sound to his right, he turned to see a large tree barrel into his path. Gozu's eyes widened, he can't avoid it! "Fuck!"

The tree barreled towards Gozu, he quickly threw his cable at a tree, he tried to pull himself away to the right but the tree clipped his left shoulder shattering every bone. Gozu spun landing harshly on his stomach.

"Blehh," Gozu cough out some blood. His rage reached a fever pitch. He was going to torture that bitch!

Gozu's blood shot eyes fell on a out of chakra Sakura who shivered in fear. Gozu rushed her and she pulled out a kunai in response. She had no more chakra to use, no more strength in her body. She could have killed him when she used the genjutsu but she was afraid of taking a life and this is what she deserves for hesitating. Sakura's only regret is that Tazuna would have to pay for her mistakes too.

Sakura held her kunai directly at the approaching enemy, she threw some shuriken that he deflected. She steeled herself, Gozu appeared in striking range, "Die!" "Rasengan!"

Naruto appeared right above Gozu, Naruto thrust his glowing orb down cratering Gozu's head and into body into a blood stain.

Sakura's green eyes sparkled as he landed, she smiled, "Naruto!" her eyes roamed his body to see stone encasing parts of it, "Naruto, your body…"

Naruto turned to her with a frown on his whiskered face with chips of stone falling from his chin. "Sakura, your genjutsu was perfect," Sakura blushed, "but, because you hesitated to kill him, he almost killed you and the client."

Sakura's head dropped knowing he was right. Tazuna took of his hat to fluff on his pants. "Young man, please don't be too harsh on her. It's my fault for lying about the mission."

Naruto let out a sigh, "I'm not being harsh, I'm stating facts. I care about Sakura. She's talented, she'll go far as long as she remembers to always give it her all."

Sakura looked up at Naruto with teary eyes filled with hope. Naruto let out another sigh. Sakura wasn't bad, she had no clan backing her yet she truly showed her talent taking on a chunin level shinobi.

"Let's head back to our team."

Sakura clenched her first, "Let's go."

Haku jumped avoiding the lightning attack that shattered the mirror behind him, he tossed a handful of ice senbon at Sasuke's back, Sasuke landed on one foot, disappeared, dodging the senbon.

Sasuke's Sharingan scanned the ice mirrors with unrestrained intensity.

Haku tensed his body to flee to another mirror when he noticed something odd.

What are those black markings on his face?

Sasuke grinned, his sharingan spun looking at each and every Ice mirror.

I can see the masked shinobi, the chakra they're utilizing to maintain this Jutsu, my Sharingan can even see the chakra trails from their chakra enhanced movement.

Sasuke sped forward toward Haku, the lightning from the chidori enhanced his speed such that Haku was unable to fully escape and counter. Every mirror Haku entered was immediately destroyed by a pursuing Sasuke. Haku let out some ragged breaths as he reformed the ice mirrors.

He's too fast, I'll have to change strategies.

The ice mirrors rotated until they were flat. Sasuke stopped his assault, letting the chidori fizzle out. His eyes scanned his opponents ice jutsu, he knew exactly what his opponents next strategy was.

The ice mirrors spun until they were moving like giant shurikens, Haku launched all of them at Sasuke, Sasuke jumped on to the side railing, using it to propel himself over the mirrors, at the apex of his vault, Haku appeared out of one of the mirrors, throwing kunai right at Sasuke airborne form.

Sparks appeared in Sasuke's hand. Haku narrowed his eyes.

He's too far and in the air, there's no possible way he could- Haku's eyes widened, he tried to launch himself out but a spear of lightning launched from Sasuke piercing through Haku's right shoulder.

Sasuke landed, "Tch, I missed."

Haku's ice jutsu fell apart. He was low on chakra and bleeding profusely. Sasuke slowly walked toward the immobile Haku.

"My chidori spear has fried your nerves. You won't be moving anymore."

Sasuke drew a kunai to finish Haku, when Haku sensed Zabuza was in danger. With sheer will, Haku dodged Sasuke kunai, kicking him in the gut, throwing him backwards. Haku sprinted toward Zabuza's battle with Kakashi.

Sasuke cursed, taking off after the masked shinobi.

Kakashi ran at Zabuza with a blade of lightning in his hand, Zabuza was slightly slumped over glaring at the approaching Kakashi. Large dogs held him down at the legs, arms, and shoulders.

Zabuza lifted his head.

"I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL KAKASHI!"

Kakashi thrusted his lightning blade at Zabuza, Haku appeared with a kunai in hand aiming to impale Kakashi's arm, Sasuke appeared lightning sparking off his form, a chidori formed in his left hand, spearing through Haku, pulling him away from Kakashi who finished Zabuza.

Sasuke pulled his arm from Haku's body. Haku smiled at him, confusing Sasuke.

Haku's lips moved, his voice was faint, Sasuke could barely hear him.

"You… protected your… precious person…. You will become truly…strong…"

Kakashi walked over, he placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. He covered his sharingan, he was exhausted. "You did well, Sasuke."

Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna regrouped with them on the center of the bridge.

Naruto eyed Sasuke's form, barely any damage, his chakra was still as strong as before. Naruto smiled.

You've become strong Sasuke.

Sakura's head swiveled around trying to find the last member of their group.

"Does Aoba-sensei need help?" she asked.

Naruto shook his head, "His opponent retreated, his battle took him to the trees, he's heading to us now." Sasuke turned his head sharply to Naruto, that was new information to him. Shin walked over to them with an arrogant grin on his face.

"My opponent was weak." Sasuke ignored him and Sakura smiled in his direction, glad that he was OK.

Kakashi hmmed, before replying, "You've grown, well done Shin."

Kakashi looked at his squad of kids. They had grown immensely, Sasuke's ability to his lightning chakra in a bastardized form of the Raikage's lightning armor was a sure sign of his potential. Sakura protecting the client taking on a chunin level shinobi, he was proud. Shin's willingness to be something besides a pawn of Danzo made him happy he decided to become a Jounin-sensei.

Then he peeked at a recovering Naruto. To defeat a member of the swordsmen of the mist was no easy feat, they were all A-rank shinobi. This kid's tactics and ability continued to grow.

Minato-sensei, Kushina-sama, you would be proud of your son.

Aoba landed next to the group with cuts littered all over his body.

"Seven Swordsmen are pretty tough."

Sakura hurried over to him pulling out a med-kit. "Stand still Aoba-sensei, I have go clean all your cuts so they don't get infected."

"Allright, thanks Sakura."

Tap* *Tap*

The leaf shinobi turned their heads to the noise, Gatou stood grinning with 100s of bandits behind him. Gatou walked over to the dead bodies of Zabuza and Haku.

"Hmph, all that talk and yet you're nothing more than a corpse now, baby demon!" Gatou said stomping on their bodies until he was out of breath.

Naruto glared at the assortment of bandits, the other shinobi stared evenly at the bandits brandishing their weapons, trying to instill fear.

Tazuna tossed his hat onto the bridge.

"I am not afraid of you Gato! Leave this place!"

Gatou ignored him, turning to the leaf shinobi, "I will only say this once, get out of my men's way and we won't have to kill you."

Naruto spat on the ground glaring. Kakashi sighed, while Aoba started checking his tool pouch to count how many weapons he had left. Shin drew his katana, "Fuck you old man." Sasuke sharingan blazing, counted how many bandits were gearing up.

300, we'll have to be careful.

Sakura gripped a kunai with her shaking hand, she was scared but she was not going to run away.

The bandits were playing with their weapons, eyed wide in anticipation, the bandits eyed the village on the other side of the bridge with lust. So many pleasures waiting for them.

"Geh out of our way!"

"Boss, are we acquiring more girls for the parlor?"

"Forget about the parlor, I want a few just for me!" Another random bandit exclaimed.

"These guys look weak."

The leaf shinobi leaned forward, they tensed their muscles to leap into the fray when an arrow landed right in front of the bandits.

Naruto turned around to see Inari with the entire village behind him grinning.

Inari stepped forward boldly. "I'll kill anyone to protect my village." The villagers behind Inari yelled, mirroring his sentiment.

Naruto smiled, "Shadow clone jutsu." thirty Naruto replicas appeared. Kakashi also made the cross hand seal creating 20 replicas.

The bandits took one look and ran back, diving into the water onto a boat that they arrived from.

Gatou fumed as his men fled. "Hey! Get back here! I'm paying you degenerates!"

"No way!"

"I want to live!"

Gatou stomped his foot on the ground, cursing the cowards. He looked up to see himself all alone, leaf shinobi and villagers in front of him.

"Shit." Gatou let out quietly, he slowly retreated backwards hoping no one would pursue him.

A kunai sliced through the air, a trail of lightning followed it.

"Ahhhhh!" Gatou stumbled and fell on his face. His body jerked in place for a few moments before he went still. Gatou began to bleed profusely from the kunai in his thigh.

Sasuke looked at Naruto's outstretched hand, that was lightning style, very controlled. Sasuke smirked. He wasn't the only one growing.

The villagers collected Gatou's paralyzed body. Aoba walked up to Naruto, "That was pretty lethal. Lightning style huh?"

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah. It was my worst element, I've been practicing."

Aoba nodded, "The lightning wasn't completely refined but the velocity the lightning propelled it at would be hard even for me to dodge, good job kid." Naruto bowed his head with a smile in response.

Kakashi and Tazuna talked to the villagers to decide what to do with Gatou. Naruto, Aoba, Shin, Sasuke, and Sakura headed back to Tazuna's house.

"Now this is how stressful missions should end." Shin said plopping down on the floor in the family room with pillows under his body, his hands behind his head and eyes closed.

Naruto took a seat against a wall, closing his eyes to relax.

Sasuke was messing with his sharingan, turning it off and on. Sakura probably thought it looked mysterious, Naruto thought it just looks weird.

Sakura was actually too quiet, she had found a corner to sit, she had not said a word to anyone since they got back. Normally Naruto would say something but he felt that she was working through something and needed time alone to figure it out.

Aoba-sensei slid onto the wall next to Naruto. "Hey Naruto, what did you do with the blast sword?"

Naruto was quiet for a moment, he was utilizing the Sarcos technique to remove the stone from his body.

"I have a clone looking for it, it fell into the ocean after my fight."

"Hmm, do you plan on using it?"

"It's a sword that can mass produce and activate seals, a legendary blade that may have been created by the Uzumaki. I think I could discover its secrets given time to study it."

Aoba looked surprised at that knowledge."Uzumaki origins?"

"Yeah, Jinnpachi talked about how he killed a few Uzumaki to acquire the blade. I'll check it once my clone retrieves it."

Aoba took a few moments to formulate a response."The origin of the seven swords is shrouded in mystery. Most of the swords origin can be tracked to the hidden mist village, yet it always baffled me how they would have a blacksmith capable of creating such monstrous weapons and for him to have only crafted seven."

Naruto frowned as he finished using the Sarco synchronization technique to rid himself of the stone hampering his body. "Maybe the swords are all from the land of Eddies. With their ability in fuuinjutsu, crafting those blades would be well within their skillset."

Aoba eyes quickly flickered in Naruto's direction. "Sounds like you're planning a trip there."

Naruto chuckled, "Not yet, I'm not strong enough."

Aoba was concerned, "You're only a chunin and 14 years old. You beat an experienced A-rank shinobi, that's unheard of. Why do you need more strength?"

Naruto looked at Aoba who flinched from the murderous intent he leaked, "Guren, Kabuto, Orochimaru, Akatsuki. They are my future opponents."

Sasuke looked up, he unconsciously rubbed the mark Orochimaru placed on him. Naruto was his rival, was the power to kill Itachi worth it?

Aoba frowned deeply, "I heard about Hana, about what happened to you. I'm sorry Naruto."

"Don't be Aoba-sensei, it's in the past. How did your battle go?"

Aoba took off his sunglasses to clean wipe them, "He was a slippery bastard, fast and tactical with his strings. He had a weakness to genjutsu, allowing me to close the distance."

Naruto's mind ramped up as a thought occurred to him. "Hey sensei, could you teach me genjutsu?"

"Sure I can, you might have some trouble because of your reserves."

Naruto grinned, "I have a way around that."

Aoba smirked, "Ok, genjutsu theory starts with the environment and how you choose to set it-Snore, they looked over to see Shin snoring. They laughed, even Sasuke cracked a small smile. It was a rough mission.

"How about when we get home?"

"Haha, yeah. Good idea."

Jutsu used:

Chidor spear

Shitty lightning armor

Lightning blade