naruto ch 04

 

                                                                                                Chapter 04

 

 

Tazuna spent a restless night going over the things he had seen and heard the previous day, that blond boy was…well if he was honest with himself he scared him silly. Getting up slowly he quickly rolled up his bedroll and secured it to his pack as he glanced around the camp, not seeing the blond he was caught between curiosity and dread. Curiosity won out and he went searching out the boy, finding him on his knees near the stream not far off in the woods.

Sensing the bridge builder leave camp Kakashi opened his eyes and quickly followed.

Wiping the tears from his eyes Naruto glanced back over his shoulder towards their client, he had felt him moving towards him so took the time to build the mask back up. Washing his face again to get rid of the tear tracks he placed his Shinobi mask firmly in place, “You are up early Tazuna, is there something you need?”

Startled at seeing the tears coming from the emotionless killer from yesterday Tazuna made several connections others would not, “You wear your mask well young one. Do you ever let it down?”

Sitting back on his hunches Naruto considered several things before sighing, “Until my plans were demolished un-expectantly I had my family’s compound to let my mask fall. Plus I do have one true friend I can be myself around, that’s why I want to leave the village and go back to my mother’s home. I am so tired of wearing masks all the time,” looking up at the morning sun as he felt Kakashi close in on them, “I think if I had to keep up the masks much longer I would go insane, I would lose that precious part of myself…my humanity.”

“Then why did you become a Shinobi to begin with?” Tazuna was confused as he studied the young man in front of him.

“I joined the ninja academy before I found out about my heritage, my family. After that it was too late.” Seeing the confusion on his face he smiled sadly, “you see I was considered a clan less orphan, which meant once I started down the path of a Shinobi there was no leaving it unless I flunked out three times. I almost had my freedom when a mindless drone of the village council threatened me with conscription to a secret training center if I failed again.” Snorting in derision he glanced up at the tree Kakashi was hiding himself in and shrugged, it’s not that he minded the Jonin hearing the information, “It’s not like the first two times I had to try to fail. The villagers made sure I could not even let near the academy to take the test until it was too late. They left me enough time to get there to have failed two of the four sections of the test before letting me through.”

“This time though I was escorted in earlier than normal and told I had no choice in passing.” Naruto sat down and looked at the old man who was trying to make sense of his choices, “After I became a Genin I had two chances to leave without being hunted down as a missing-nin which could have hurt my chances of staying friends with the only person who gave a damn about me. I could fail the secret test they give to all new Genin or I could resign after successfully completing my first C-Class mission.”

Chuckling sadly he glanced back up at the tree again, “How was I supposed to know that by sabotaging my chances in the test I was actually doing what the test was designed to prove, loyalty to ones teammates to the point of giving up oneself so they and the mission could continue.” Naruto looked into the water lost in thought, “I wrote immediately to my friend Shoji as soon as I was forced to pass the test so he knew what was going on. And the stubborn fool I am I refused to consider his plea to take the easy way out and escape while I could.” Looking up at Tazuna with determination, “how could I give up my first and only best friend without at least trying the other two chances first? As cold and harsh this mask I wear while on duty is I didn’t want it to become part of my true life if I ended up losing my friend,” mumbling under his breath he felt like crying again, “how could I take the chance of war breaking out when I took up leadership of my clan when I got to my mother’s home and have to learn to hate my friend.”

Kakashi was stunned, no he was past stunned. He knew Naruto knew he was here, and yet he still allowed him to hear what was said. That alone set him on edge, he wondered if after the mission was over if he would find himself having a fatal accident on the way home. After all Naruto showed that he could be truly ruthless to his enemies or those that attacked him. Slipping quietly from the trees he made his way back to the camp to make sure the other two did not wake up and confront the blond.

 

Naruto smiled as he looked across the large body of water as a small boat made its way towards them; it was a silent ride across the mist filled ocean before the large span of the stone bride appeared before them. Staring up at the huge bridge Naruto sadly came to the conclusion he would need to take Gato out if Wave country was to be truly free, so one of the things he was going to do was make sure he left the man a pauper before he died, the legitimate businesses he would sign over to Wave, those that were illegal he would see to their destruction and seize the money from them to help fill the vaults of his mother’s country and village, it would be needed sooner or later as people learned they were back.

Opening his senses Naruto frowned as he felt several people watching from the woods, they were very good at hiding and more than likely were Shinobi. Taking the lead after Tazuna thanked the owner of the boat he walked along with his body on automatic as he kept track of the two who were following him.

When they stopped for a break, with Tazuna telling them they were about half an hour from his home Naruto felt more than saw movement behind a bush at threw one of his Kunai towards the person. Only to let a send one flying almost as quick when he sensed the man use the replacement technique to get out of the way. Smirking as Sakura yelled and screamed when she saw a rabbit hop out of the bushes, he had nicked the man in the arm. “BE QUIET,” Naruto raised his voice without yelling at the same time Kakashi yelled out to duck.

“Momochi Zabuza, Demon of the mist,” Kakashi motioned for his team to stay back out of the way, “listed in the bingo books as an A-Class missing-nin. So what do you want?”

Glaring at the blond who was smirking Zabuza wrapped the blooding cut on his arm, “Who the hell are you Blondie and what’s up with cutting me?”

Chuckling Naruto moved off to one side so the client was not in the line of fire, “It’s my clan’s way of warning trespassers to back off. It’s the one and only warning clan Uzumaki gives before battle.”

Spiking his killing intent towards the blond Zabuza stepped back eyes widening when it was returned, then increased fourfold, “Who the hell are you?” shaking his head as he noticed the killing intent had put a strain of the black haired brat along with the shaking of the pink haired girl, “Give me the bridge builder and no one needs to get hurt.”

Ignoring the bantering going on between Kakashi and the mist ninja Naruto felt the presence of the other Chakra signature closing in. slipping one of his clone seal Kunai and throwing it near where the person was he smirked as he fed some chakra into the seal and felt the shadow clone take form.

 

Poofing into existence the clone of Naruto moved swiftly through the trees so he was behind the ninja dressed like a hunter nin from the village hidden in the mist, “Very strange of you to stand here watching instead of joining in.”

Haku froze, he never felt the person who sneaked up on him approach which meant he was levels higher than he was, “I was separated from my team, I will watch and act if an opening arises, if not I shall follow until me team meets up with me.” Safe answer he thought, I just hope he buys it.

“Hnn,” Naruto’s clone smirked as he stepped out so he could be seen and enjoyed the look of shock that showed in the body posture of the masked Nin, “A believable answer…” he grinned wider at the sudden relaxation in eth others body, “If I believed it that is.”

Haku stiffened with those words as she watched the copy of the blond examine the water prison that Zabuza captured the Jonin with. He once again froze when the blond spoke.

“As long as you are content to stay right here you are not an enemy combatant, if you move I will be forced to remove you as a threat,” clone Naruto smirked before shaking his head at something the bandaged ninja said to his original, “He should not have said that. Nope he went way too far by threatening to wipe out Tazuna’s family, if anything would set me off into a murderous rage that would be it.”

Haku watched in shock as the blond attacked Zabuza, in fact he was the first person he had ever seen to take him out of a fight with one hit. Zabuza stood panting on the surface of the lake with one arm hanging limply to the side, the arm looked like it had been almost ripped off the way it was hanging.

“You know,” clone Naruto turned his head as he read the masked ninja’s body language, they were preparing to move to help out…or would it be to take that opening. “We read the bingo book and several reports about your friend down there,” yep he thought, they definitely are partners not hunter, prey. “On the one hand I can agree with his goal of overthrowing the Mizukage, the bloodline extermination is getting out of hand. In fact I find that whole extermination thing annoying; to kill off people that have gifts because of fear and prejudice will come around and bite them in the ass in time. The very people that would make their village and country strong are the very people that they are searching out to kill.”

‘I have to help Zabuza-sama’, Haku thought frantically as he glanced at the blond next to him he tried to frantically think about a way to get away, even if it meant his life. But HOW, nothing he could think of would leave him alive and rescue his precious person.

“Interesting,” Naruto’s clone moved away, “It seems I am leaving the fight, so I guess if you wish to help your comrade you may.” With a pop the clone dispelled itself leaving Haku stunned for half a heartbeat.

Moving quickly he threw the Senbon needles in his hand towards Zabuza and nodded as they flew true, knocking him down and into a near death state. Jumping to the ground he bowed her head, “I thank you. Since my team has yet to arrive I would not have been able to take Momochi Zabuza down by myself. On behalf of the Village hidden in the Mist you have my gratitude.” Bowing his head slightly he disappeared with the body of his comrade in a twirl of leaves.

Kakashi’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the spot a moment before the body of his opponent laid, studying the image in his mind he came to the only conclusion he could, Zabuza was still alive. Glancing towards the blond enigma he wondered why Naruto let him off easy, why he had not killed him like he expected. Motioning for his team to move out he stepped over near Naruto and kept this voice low so the others could not hear him, “Why did you let him go? I know you could have easily killed him.”

A few steps later, without looking at the man Naruto let his face take on a tired expression for a moment, “He was not alone, and my clone had an interesting conversation with his companion. I agree with his original goal of freeing his country and village of the bloodline purges. He is only doing this job for the money to gain allies to overthrow the Mizukage, plus I sent a message with his comrade, I wonder if he will understand it.”

Kakashi fell behind slightly as Naruto continued in the even pace thinking about what Naruto said, “I wonder what you told him and learned by that conversation Naruto,” he mumbled as he looked back at the lake.

 

 

Several days later, Naruto stared up at the rising morning sun and smiled truly, he had evaded Sasuke and Sakura with the excuse he needed to train on some of his family Jutsu’s, in reality he needed to get away from everyone and let his mask down before he blew up and hurt them. Laying back on the crushed wildflowers he giggled as the morning breeze blew through the area causing the tall flowers to weave in the wind tickling his noise. Sensing someone approaching he turned his head as a very pretty looking person walked into the clearing with a basket of herbs.

“You’ll get sick lying there all day you know,” Haku approached the blond with a smile on his face, trying to be open and hiding behind his civilian persona.

Chuckling Naruto turned his head sideways, “But it’s not often I can truly be me and let my mask down. Sighing Naruto looked up at the clouds as he placed the person’s chakra, this was the false hunter-nin from several days ago. “What are you doing up and about so early?”

Setting his basket down Haku set down slightly, “I’ve been collecting herbs so I can make medicine.”

I wonder how far along Zabuza is with his recovery Naruto mused, “An admirable skill,” smiling at the beauty near him he had to know, “if you were given a chance to be different, to be true to yourself. Not what someone else wants you to be or needs you to be would you take it?”

Shocked Haku leaned back, “What…What do you mean? Why are you asking me this?”

Closing his eyes Naruto sighed, “Simple really, I have started to shed the masks I have worn most of my life. The brash loud and boisterous prankster the village knew; the person who no matter how many times they tried to crush me jumped back up and smiled as if nothing could bother him.” Turning his head to the side and letting a tear trail down his face, then there is the emotionless cold killing machine of my Shinobi persona. That is the one that hurts the most, the one that I am forced to wear so I can complete my mission and go home safely, and the one that allows me to take lives easily without hesitation. Then there is the true me, the one who longs for friends and family. The one who only has one true friend that I might have to give up if my mission does not succeed.” Staring into the confused expression Naruto’s heart reached out, “If I go home with this mission a failure I will not be able to resign as a Shinobi of the Leaf, which means I will have to leave anyway and be listed as a missing-nin.”

Sitting up he pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them as he looked up at the sky, “I am the last of the Uzumaki clan. When this mission is over with for good or bad I will make my way to my mother’s country to take up the leadership of my clan. A leadership which will put me in the place of the lord of the country, and if I am listed as a missing-nin from Konoha it will mean that war will be declared between our two countries, and my best friend will be my enemy, I will have to kill him as I crush the land of Fire if they attack.” Tears streaming down his face Naruto stared at Haku, “if that day comes I fear my Shinobi mask will no longer be a mask and the true me will die, I’ll never see laughter or sunshine in the same way.”

Chuckling sadly Naruto wiped his face with his sleeve, “You know I don’t know why I’m sharing this with you. This is my burden to bare, but I’ve gone too far so I have to ask. If you were given the choice to be true to yourself no matter the cost would you take it?”

Haku sat down not minding his kimono was getting wet in the morning dew, the emotion behind that simple question; the pain he was feeling was so similar. Opening his mouth several times before really thinking about it, “I…I think if I was given the opportunity I would take it. To do otherwise would be to dishonor your mother.”

 

Herbs forgotten for now Haku sat back as the hours flew by as they got to know one another, looking up at the sun high overhead he was startled.

“It’s time for you to go then,” Naruto smiled sadly, he enjoyed himself immensely. It was almost like being around Shoji and letting his masks crumble away. If the mission failed he would offer his friend a chance to come with him and maybe just maybe Konoha would leave him alone. Standing up as the other stood and brushed off their Kimono he smiled, “You truly are beautiful you know.”

Blushing Haku looked over his shoulder as he started to walk away, “I’m a boy, not a girl, thank you though.”

“I knew that Haku, and it is still true,” Naruto chuckled as he stretched and looked at the sky. Walking towards the house Kakashi and his students were based out of he pulled his cold Shinobi persona back out and put it on.

Walking into the kitchen Naruto felt a headache coming on.

Seeing Naruto walk into the house Sasuke glared at him as he moved away from the table and blocked the way, “I want my family’s scrolls back. They don’t belong to you; you have no right to have them or to have even read them.”

Kakashi’s chin hit his chest, if this kept up, even with all the attempts to keep them apart he might end up another team member short.

“NO…” Naruto crossed his arms as the Uchiha glared at him. “I no longer have them, and you have to realize something. Those scrolls were never part of your family to begin with. The keeper collected all those scrolls in the hopes of the village having a defense against hostile Shinobi attacking the village. All those scrolls were written by people that were never in your clan to start with.”

“Then they can’t be worth anything,” Sasuke smirked.

“Really?” Naruto glared before sighing at the idiot, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, “clan Uchiha,” Naruto started to recite from memory, “Bloodline limit is the Sharingan, an ability centered in the eyes.  It allows the person the ability to see and copy Chakra flows and hand signs, placing them in permanent memory. Thus how the nickname copy cat eyes was coined. It also has the ability to slow down what they see so it is like time has slowed down giving them an edge in hand to hand combat.” Scowling at the stunned dark haired teen, “The Sharingan has three levels, level one, once awakened and matured is recognized by the eyes turning from black to red with three black Tomeo around the pupil.”

Enjoying Sasuke’s shock Naruto drove the point home, “The second level is the Mangekyou Sharingan, and this level is achieved when the person kills their best friend. By spilling the blood of their best friend and watching their life fade away the second level is unlocked. This level allows the person to have access to Ameterasu, the black flames. It also allows the user to what amount to mind fucking an opponent.” Glaring harshly at the young Uchiha, “It has one very serious drawback, if used too much it will lead to permanent blindness and the loss of their bloodline abilities.”

Moving forward Naruto caused Sasuke to back up and stumble over the edge of the table, looking down at his sprawled form he shook his head, “The only chance of overcoming the disadvantages of the second level is to achieve the third level, the Eternal Mangekyou. To achieve this level which will allow the person to have the full power of the clan bloodline the person has to kill his sibling and remove his eyes so he can replace his own eyes with his siblings as the sibling dies.”

Kakashi was shocked; even he did not know this. Looking at the survival of Sasuke during the Uchiha massacre it made sense now.

“NO,” Sasuke whispered as he crawled back in horror.

“Yes,” Naruto stared intently at the crawling teen. “The problem is when your brother does go after you, for him to achieve eternal Mangekyou, you have to have achieved at least the second level of Mangekyou yourself or you worthless to him.”

“So this is why Itachi has driven Sasuke down the path of the avenger,” Kakashi scowled in thought.

“Yes,” Naruto sighed as he sat down and looked at Sasuke staring at him in horror, “So you can see why over the years I have held you in contempt. He is driving you on the path he needs you to follow, so he can follow in his mentor’s footstep.”

“Madera,” Kakashi whispered, “his body was never found…but that would mean he is…”

“One of the side effects of reaching level three of the Sharingan is almost stopping the aging process,” Naruto put his head and the table and closed his eyes, “Do you need me to now list all the ways to fight a Sharingan user, the ways to overcome the advantage the Sharingan gives someone?”

“N…N…No,” Sasuke stopped moving backwards when his head touched the wall; there was no where left to go.

Looking up over the top of the table Naruto was tired, “You told us back when we first met and were supposed to learn to be a team that your dream was to restore your clan and kill a man. But if you keep on the path you are on, you will be the end of your clan.” Standing up Naruto started for the steps to the bedrooms he wanted a hot bath, “If that would happen, Sasuke…If that happens he wins.”

Kakashi wanted to applaud the blond as he left Sasuke truly stunned and truly thinking things over in his mind for once. On the other hand the knowledge Naruto held about the clans and bloodlines was frightening.

 

Haku stared out the window of the hidden hideout, he had spent the past hour relaying the conversation he had that morning with the young Uzumaki lord.

“Leaf Shinobi are more than stupid, they are truly fools” Zabuza stared at Haku as if he could read the answer to his unspoken question in the boy’s body language alone. “Haku look at me.”

Once the teen turned around and lifted his chin to show his shameful thoughts he was stunned beyond belief when his mentor told him, “If I was given the offer you were I would not have hesitated. I would have embraced it.” Seeing the shock he smiled, “Haku you might not have realized what he was offering you, but I do. If he ever offers again do not hesitate. Promise me if this is offered again do not hesitate to accept, it would be the answer to both our dreams.”

“Hai…” Haku smiled softly as he tried to figure out why Zabuza would think this was the answer to both their dreams. Opening his mouth to ask he was interrupted as Zabuza moved to the window to look out over the swamp.

“To think, the fools of Leaf have no idea they have the Daimyo of whirlpool country under their very noses and they don’t even know it.” Chuckling Zabuza left the room.