Chapter 103 - Hero of the Wave Country

"How long until you get back up, Kakashi-sensei?" the young girl inquired, slowly tipping a glass of water, letting the silver-haired quench his thirst.

"Thank you, Hinata-chan. No wonder Naruto likes you." Kakashi winked at the blushing girl, "Izumi put my body in stasis. I can't move for a day or two."

"Hmph, get your ȧss back in shape, Sensei." Sasuke grumbled, "We will need your help in training. I can't let Dobe leave us behind."

"Says who? I'm still fighting with those stupid leaves, Teme ~ttebayo!"

"That's so not fun..." a 7-year-old boy entered the room.

"Here you are, Inari." Tsunami called out to her child. The young boy wore a blue and white striped hat under the brim of which he looked at team six.

"Ohh! Inari, where were you?" Tazuna greeted his grandchild with his arms wide open. Inari quickly hid in the old man's arms.

"Inari! Say hello to our guests. They're the ninjas that protected your grandfather and are helping with building the bridge." Tsunami put her hands on her hɨps.

Inari nestled deeper into Tazuna's hug. "Mom. They're all going to die."

"What did you say, pipsqueak? I won't die before I become Hokage!"

"Gatō will kill you, he will kill everyone that will stand against him! You can't fight against someone like him!"

"Hmph, kid, do you understand that your grandfather and mother are at the forefront of this fight? Is that what you want for them? To let Gatō's thugs kill them?... Go cry yourself to sleep somewhere else, crybaby. We have work to do." Sasuke shot back.

"Uh... I..." Inari looked at the downcast face of his mother, "You don't understand!" the boy shouted back at the Uchiha.

"Sasuke-kun, he is just a child."

"Say that I'm wrong, Hinata-chan. Not even counting Dobe, I do not doubt this crybaby had a much less stressful life than you or me."

"Inari, where are you going?"

"To watch the ocean waves, grandpa. *sniff*" the boy ran away with gears freely flowing down his cheeks.

"You seem to be bored without your boyfriend, girl." Tazuna pointed out when Hinata yawned.

"Eh? Does it look like Naruto and I are a pair, Tazuna-san?" Hinata blushed.

"Where are the loudmouth and the other one at the moment? I didn't see them around today."

"Eto… Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun are training. Today it's my job to protect you, Tazuna-san."

"You don't have to train as well, girl?"

"P-please call me Hinata, Tazuna-san. Umm… my training can wait. Protecting you is our main goal."

"I see. Not that I doubt your capabilities Hinata-chan, but can't you ask for help from Kaname-san's team?" The old man asked, putting a wooden beam on his arm.

Hinata turned her head sideways, "The-They have another mission. But knowing Nee-sama, she is constantly watching over us... or sent someone capable enough to do it."

'Heh, smart girl…' Koji nodded, listening in to their conversation below the bridge.

"Someone is coming…" The Hyūga announced.

"Hey, Tazuna!" A man with a safety helmet held in his hand called out.

"Ugh," The bridge builder ġrȯȧnėd, standing back up from his knees. "Oh, what is it, Giichi?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking recently, Tazuna, and I want to stop working on the bridge." The man replied.

"Eh? Not you too, Giichi! This is so sudden, can you tell me at least why?!"

"Tazuna, we've been close for a long time now, you know me. I want to help you, but if we continue this, Gatō will notice us. I can't endanger my family. I'm truly sorry, my friend, but we should quit this. If you're gonna get killed, then what's the point?"

"I can't do that, Giichi."

"But..."

Tazuna interrupted his old-time friend, "We began building this bridge together many years ago to save our poor country. I believe that Gatō knows about it already. But with a sadistic ȧsshole after my head or not, I will finish it. It's afternoon already, we should finish the work for today. Go home, Giichi, you don't have to come back here tomorrow, protect your family."

"*Sigh* I'm so sorry, my friend." the second man dropped his head in apology and walked away.

"Hinata-chan, this is how our entire country is. People were never rich here, but now that Gatō has come, they lost all the will to fight." Tazuna continued, gasping tiredly.

"I-I didn't know it was that bad, Tazuna-san." she stuttered

"Yeah, it is much worse... Come, Tsunami most likely prepared a dinner for us already. I will have to think about how to finish this bridge understaffed."

-------

Once Team six ate dinner with Tazuna's family, Sasuke walked around the living room. "Tsunami-san, if I may ask. What's with this torn-apart family photo on the wall? I noticed you looking at in longingly. It looks like someone deliberately ripped off a piece of it."

"It's… my second husband." The woman murmured.

"And a hero of our little country." The old man added.

Hearing where the conversation is going, Inari rapidly stood up, knocking his chair off, and angrily walked out of the room, slamming the doors behind him.

"Inari!" Tsunami shouted after her son, "Father, you know you shouldn't talk like that about Kaiza near Inari."

"Can you tell us what happened, Tazuna-san? Why is your son reacting like that?" Kakashi questioned.

"*Sigh* Inari grew up without knowing his biological father. Three years ago, a man named Kaiza saved him from drowning. They were very close, like a real father and a son." Tsunami blushed, remembering the man, "Inari was a bright kid back then, he just had an endless supply of energy. But…" Tazuna's body trembled with anguish, tears of anger revealed themselves in the corner of his eyes. "It all changed once Gatō came to our country."

Taking a calming breath, the old man continued, "Kaiza saved this country from a flood, risking his life he jumped into a stormy sea and manually closed the flood gates. He was a hero for practically everyone, especially for his son, Inari - he couldn't be prouder of his father. Revered by most, he was a danger for someone that wanted to take control of our backwater country. Kaiza was apprehended in the middle of the night. Two days of torture later, Gatō brought his broken and cut-up body before all of us. Accusing Kaiza of being a terrorist to his Gatō Corporation, he was put to death…" Tazuna cleared his cheeks, "This event changed Inari, damn, it changed everyone! We lost all hope. The one Inari called a hero, someone that promised to protect him and the city, was beheaded in front of the boy. Inari does not believe in heroes or promises anymore…"

"Naruto-kun, please."

"Yes, I know, Hina-chan. Be right back." Naruto walked out of the room going after Inari.

"Heh, good thinking, Hinata-chan." Takashi nodded in approval.

"What? Where did the kid go?"

"Tazuna-san, if you need proof that heroes do exist, Naruto-kun is best to talk with," Kakashi explained.

------

"*Hick*..."*Hick*" Inari sobbed in solitude.

"Yo." Naruto squatted next to him.

"What do you want? Stupid." the boy rapidly dried his tears off.

"Okay, kiddo, what's your problem ~ttebayo?" Naruto sat next to Inari.

"Nothing. I'm just saying the truth. You will all die! Playing around with leaves won't help you."

"Hey! It's legit training for a shinobi! *Sigh* Do you understand that we're ninjas? Gatō is just a rich human - he doesn't stand a chance against our awesomeness ~ttebayo!"

"Baka! He has ninjas as well! You never lost anyone close to you! You will never understand me!"

"Umm. Yeah…" Naruto mumbled, "Ya'know, we ninjas did not have an easy life either. We started training when we were four. I had to take the first kill when I was your age ~dattebayo."

"So what? It does not change anything, you will all die! You can't fight against Gatō! Just give up." Inari snarled.

"It's something my Sis taught me. To be a ninja is to endure. Even if our life is hard, we have to grit our teeth and push through the obstacles ~ttebayo." Naruto stood back up, patting the top of Inari's hat, "I promise we will finish your grandpa's bridge and blow Gatō's ȧss sky high."

Inari looked wide-eyed at the back of the retreating blonde boy, "You are still a crybaby." A voice came from above him.

"Oh, it's you, with a haircut like a duck's ȧss." He noticed a dark-haired boy squatting on a tree branch.

"You expecting him to give up is truly amusing, Dobe never does give up, no matter how many times I knock him down, he always gets back up. It's easier to just accept that fact, crybaby."

"Why should I care about what do you think? Just leave me alone!"

"Hmph, sucks to be you, I'm tasked with your protection," Sasuke smirked.

-----

Haku was collecting an ȧssortment of healing herbs that could help her slow down the venom gradually spreading across her body. The pain coming from her spine, made the 14-year-old girl painfully wince every time she leaned to pick the herb up.

'This one may help recover Zabuza-sama faster.' She thought, pulling on a blue-flowered plant.

'Hmm?' From the corner of her eye, she noticed a blonde boy sleeping on a pile of leaves. A Konohagakure forehead protector on top of the boy's head easily identified him as the kid that caused so many problems to Zabuza. Walking towards the blonde, the sounds of a forest were quickly overshadowed by hundreds of skittering insects. Stopping in front of the boy, she cleared her ear and worriedly looked around, but the unsettling noises stopped. Extending her hand, she shook the boy's arm, "You'll catch a cold sleeping like that."

"Hnn… Huh?" When Naruto opened his eyes, he noticed a little older than him, a pretty girl smiling at him. She sported her long hair loosely, and wore a pink, sleeveless kimono, with pale red edges and decorated with small plum-colored swirls, that went to her ankles. Around her waist was a simple white obi tied in a bow, "Who are you?"

"Huhuhu, just someone looking for medicine."

"Nice to meet ya! I'm Naruto! Do you need some help with that, lady?"

'He didn't recognize me?' Haku hesitated, "... Sure, I need more flowers like this." She pulled a handful of plants from a basket.

"Osu~!" Naruto shouted out, bolting towards the closest bush.

Ten minutes later the two filled the basket to the brim with medicinal herbs, "Thank you for your help, Naruto-kun. What were you doing here this morning?"

"A super-duper ninja training ~ttebayo!"

"So you are a ninja! Wow, you're incredible, Naruto."

"Hehehe, thanks, lady."

"Why are you doing this? You look plenty strong already."

"So in the future, I can become the best Hokage of the village ever! And right now, I have to prove how cool I truly am to someone as well ~dattebayo."

Haku narrowed her eyes at the answer, "So you are doing it for yourself or someone else?"

"Ha? I don't know? Both, maybe ~ttebayo?"

The girl laughed, "I see, let me ask you the same question in a different way, Naruto-kun. Have you got someone important to you, you want to protect with your life?"

Naruto used his brightest smile, "Yeah, my big Sis and her yet unborn babies! Oh, wait, there is Hina-chan as well ~dattebayo!… Damn, Teme and Kakashi-sensei also show up in my mind, weird..."

"Huhuhu, we're not so different, Naruto-kun."

"... What?"

Haku smiled, thinking about her own savior, "When a person has something important to protect, that's when they can truly become strong, Naruto-kun. I'm very happy that you have someone you can trust."

"Hehehe, ya'know, pretty lady? I think I know what you're talking about!"

She tried to stand up, but when her kimono glanced around the tender skin on her back, a painful grimace showed itself on her face.

"Hey?! Are you okay? It looks like you're badly hurt ~ttebayo! My Sis is the best medic there is, she can help you!"

"Huhu, thank you, but no, I have to come back to my important person. I'm happy I have met you." Haku stood back up, "You will become strong, Naruto-kun. Let's meet again somewhere."

"Sure, pretty lady. See ya!" Naruto waved his hand.

"Oh, by the way. I'm a boy." Haku turned around, dropping the bomb.

"Eh? Liar, liar, pants on fire! You're too pretty to be a dude!" Haku smirked, walking behind the treeline and disappearing from Naruto's sight.

'It seems that the girl we attended in Water Country survived. Izumi will be glad for her.' Torune watched his young happy blonde student walking back towards Tazuna's home. 'Letting go of the likelihood of Sensei making sure Naruto is protected with seals, how was she able to send a buŧŧerfly messenger asking me to stand down? It's uncanny how she knows everything… Taking note of the distance between Sensei and this location, she must have anticipated the probability of Haku discovering him ten minutes ago at the least…'

-----

"Ugh, just kill me. I had enough of it already."

"Hey, Sis!" Naruto barged into the room with news, "Hmm, what's wrong with Sis this time, Utakata?"

"Depressed, angry, irritated, feeling hopeless, she did not sleep a bit tonight and has difficulty concentrating. Choose one yourself." Utakata was sit-hugging Kaname on the sofa.

"Oups, should I come back later?"

Kaname smiled at him, "No. You will have to outlast my mood swings for a couple more days at most. Utakata is screwed, he will have to deal with me a lot longer. What's up, Naru-chan?"

"Hehe," Naruto scratched his nostrils with his finger, lifting his second palm with two parted sides of a leaf.

"Wow, a week for basic wind manipulation?" her smile grew while looking at the blonde, "That would be a record. You're amazing."

"Hehehe, thanks, Sis! Shadow clones for the win! I sent ten of them to help old man Tazuna build the bridge. The rest were helping me with molding the wind chakra ~ttebayo. Even Teme grumbled something about upping his training."

"So? Utakata mentioned you have a second affinity, out with it. I want to know too."

Naruto's eyes turned to his fellow jinchūriki, "Traitor... It's light..." he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"It's lightning."

"Hah-Hahaha!"

"Eh? I thought you would be disappointed that I had different ones than you do, Sis."

Kaname called out Naruto closer with her hand. When he was in arms reach, she playfully messed with the blonde mop on top of his head, "You have the two affinities of the ninjas I respect the most, Naru-chan. I could never be mad about that."

"Eh? Who?"

"Isn't that obvious, Naru-chan? I'm talking about your parents."

"Hehehe. I love you, Sis."

"Love you too, Naru-chan. We will ask Doofus-kun to help you with your lightning nature training later."

"Say, Sis, why are you not bunking at the old man Tazuna's house instead of this run-down inn? There is a free room for both of you."

"Haha, did you not forget about someone, Naru-chan?"

"Ah! They are so hidden I completely forgot about Team 7 ~ttebayo!"

"Exactly, I don't want to impose on Tazuna-san with additional 5 people. For your information, this is the best lodge in this country." Kaname smirked, "And that's how proper protection should operate with us shinobis. Your client should feel safe once he hires you, but not see your work, Naru-chan. You are still genins, that's why Doofus-kun let you mingle with the old man and his family."

"So they're copying ANBU? Awesome! Will you show me how they're staying hidden so well, Sis? Hehe, it could be a useful weapon in pranking Hokage-Jiji ~dattebayo."

"Maybe once I return to Konoha, I will show you some new tricks." Kaname laughed, winking at her brother. "Are you ready for tomorrow, Naru-chan? The bridge is almost complete, I doubt that the shrimp of a man will allow Tazuna-san to finish it."

"... Scarecrow-sensei said it as well. Just to be sure, will you allow me to fight without your help? I love you, Sis, but please, I need to do this myself ~ttebayo."

"..." Kaname was torn in between her promise and rapidly developing maternal instincts.

"Kana-chan, you have to let go of a nestling to teach him to fly. Naruto is one of the best genins I saw, he will be alright." Utakata ȧssured.

"... You two will be the death of me. Okay, but the promise still holds, if you ask me for help, Naru-chan, I'm coming in heavy, no holds barred."

"Yatta! Thanks, Sis, you too, Utakata!" Naruto jumped towards Kaname hugging her neck. "At last! A chance for me to show how cool I am ~ttebayo!"

"Yeah-yeah, be careful, Naru-kun. It's always better to ask for help than losing your life or your friends'. Make me proud. We will watch you."

"Hehe. I know, Sis, I won't let anything bad happen to us."

"Good, Utakata, feeling like a spar with Naruto? He needs some practice with his new nature manipulation."

"What do you say, Naruto? Want to get your ȧss handed back to you again?" Utakata laughed.

"Hehe, challenge accepted!"

-----

"You okay, Dobe?" Sasuke sat ragged Naruto on a kitchen stool.

"He-hehehe, just a little tired, Teme."

"A stamina idiot like you? Tired? That's a first." Sasuke snorted.

"Welp, I'm not the only one with such affliction, Teme ~ttebayo."

"Huhuhu," Tsunami chuckled, setting dinner in front of Naruto, "You should eat some to get your strength back, Naruto-kun."

"Thanks, Tsunami-san!" Naruto smiled tiredly, sinking his teeth into the dish.

'Hmm,' Kakashi looked over his battered student, 'Naruto doesn't have Minato-sensei's talent, the man was unique, fortunately, Naruto received the training attitude from Kana-chan. With his stamina, he will easily reach unimaginable heights, his dream of becoming Hokage is not so unlikely.'

"..shi-sensei. Kakashi-sensei!"

"Ugh, I'm sorry, Hinata. I was contemplating something."

"It's ok-okay, Kakashi-sensei. Are you sure, we're ready for tomorrow?"

"Yep, just make sure you rest this night, I will take the helm this night."

"Heh, thanks, Scarecrow-sensei! I will take my leave." Naruto snorted, slamming his forehead on the kitchen table, making everyone laugh at him.

"You idiots will die either way." the boy with a hat on his head snarled, making team 6 flinch.

"Inari! This is wrong, apologize!" Tsunami shouted at her son.

"Whatever, I'm not going to give up just because you're asking me to ~tteabyo."

Inari's hands hit the table, "WHY?! Why do you bother so much? No matter how much you train! You will never be a match to Gatō's shinobis! No matter how many stupid claims you make or how hard you work, the weak will always get killed by the strong!"

"Whatever... Luckily, I'm not like you, kid."

Now the tears freely flow down Inari's cheek, "I'd hate to be like you! You don't know anything about this country, yet you're so noisy! What the hell do you know about me?! I'm different from you, you're always clowning around and acting so cheerful, you don't know how it is to lose someone close to you!"

"... So it's okay for you to pose as the star of a tragedy and cry yourself to sleep?" Naruto leaned over his arm.

"*Hick*..."

Naruto became serious, "My parents died the day I was born, I never met or talked with them. The first friend I made was when I was four. For my whole life, excluding a few, I was loathed by the entire population of Shinobi Village. You know what? I got bored of crying already. Hinata and Sasuke lost their fathers when they were even younger than you were. Tell me, do you truly believe you had a rougher life than us, kid?"

"Uhh... I." Inari looked at his mother, smiling sadly back at him, "*Hick*..." seeing that his grandfather also was upset with his words, Inari bolted out of the house.

"It's okay, thanks, Hina-chan." Naruto remarked a supporting hand on his shoulder, "I just got a little angry."

"Unn~" Hinata turned her head sideways, "It must have been said, it's good to make Inari-kun understand he isn't the only one suffering in this world."

Kakashi clapped his hands, "Okay, kids, enough emotions for one day. Go sleep, ȧssemble at six in the morning."

-----

"I see, so it's the Copycat Kakashi, no wonder you got your arse handed to you, dog." the shinobi from Kumogakure nodded his head.

"It's your second chance. Deal with Kakashi, while Gatō's thugs trash the town, we will kill the bridge builder. Do that, and I will tell you where is the serum for the venom." the older of the two ordered.

"... What about Kakashi's genin team?" Zabuza growled out.

"They're just kids... Your girl can take care of them. I don't care about a fight between some younglings."

"Hmph, and that will be your downfall, old prick." the swordsman shrugged, moving towards the bridge.