Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Kimimaro Kaguya was up on the rooftop of the home they where staying in. The stoic teenager seated down as it was late at night and he was by himself. The others where already asleep and he could hear the snoring of his cousin which sounded like a chainsaw going off. He looked over the decrepit village and the state of it and the mission the boy and his team where doing didn't concern him. All that mattered to him was training his cousin. Teaching him everything he knew about Shikotsumyaku.
He let out a cough and clutched at his chest, the pain growing. Every day it seemed like it was growing worse. Instead of getting better it was worsening. He thought for sure it could've gone away by now but it was still in his system, still affecting him and weakening him.
This shouldn't be happening. He had had a goal for how he wanted his life to end, to die a glorious death in battle or that which would benefit his Master. Not collapsing in the middle of the street or on a bed covered in his fluids and sweat. He was a warrior, and he sought a warrior's end to his life as a Kaguya believed that he could only find peace when he had died on the field in battle, not sick in bed and under constant pain.
"So this is my fate…to die a meaningless death, gone forever and forgotten." He said to himself bitterly and his eyes narrowed angrily.
"No…not me. This will not be the end of my life!" He said and stood up. "I will continue living! The world may believe that I will die but I am a survivor! I will continue on long past the time they believe I will end! I will not be claimed by a damn illness, The Kaguya line will not stop here!" He said and reaching and pulling a short knife out of his chest cut his hand and clutched the bloody hand into a fist.
"I swear it…"
The next morning…
"Alright then, Walking on trees requires good chakra control and a keen sense of mind." Kakashi said to his two students as he had setup two tree poles. Sasuke and Sakura where with him while Naruto was with his cousin. Naruto not there since he already knew how to walk on trees much to Sasuke's irritation. "It's not as easy as it looks." He said and demonstrated it walking up it with little difficulty and reading one of his books. "Not enough control and you'll fall right off, too much and you'll damage the tree with all the chakra you're sending into it. The right amount is required." He said to them and leapt down. "Channel your chakra into your legs and feet and you will be able to walk up these poles. Once you get the hang of it you'll be able to do this even in your sleep."
The two started practicing walking on trees and to their and their sensei's surprise, Sakura was able to get the hang of it and was able to go further than Sasuke was able to on their first try. The pink haired girl showing surprisingly good chakra control with the lack of training she had done.
As Kakashi looked on as they practiced it he noticed that Sasuke wasn't all that focused on the object at hand. The boy's mind seemed to be elsewhere as if there was something else he would rather be doing. Sasuke was able to go up by a fifth of the way by the end of their training but it seemed like he was more concerned with other things than what they was doing right now.
The Uchiha was going to be in for a rude awakening if he kept this up he knew, but rather than talk to him he decided to let him go his own course and find out for himself what was going to happen.
After all, the weed that's the most stubborn winds up being cut down by the sharpest blade.
Naruto was with his cousin practicing again with Kimimaro the two working in hand to hand combat. They where on top of a hill and that gave them a good view of the island and the beginning of the construction of the bridge could be seen as Tazuna was giving out orders to his workers and other volunteers who hastily begun building and following his instructions as the bridge would take a week to build.
Naruto ducked under a kick and threw a punch at him which Kimimaro caught and twisted his arm and made him hiss in pain. Naruto struggled to break free and was caught with a backhanded slap to his face. More of an insult than a blow by him. Naruto brought his free arm up and brought it down on Kimimaro's arm breaking his hold on him.
Naruto charged him and kicked at him in a diagonal angle which Kimimaro evaded. Naruto then followed it up with a spin kick which again he dodged. He went for a chop to his neck when Kimimaro ducked low under and before Naruto could register what he was doing delivered several fast punches to his stomach and abdomen and then uppercuted him in the jaw.
Naruto rolled along the ground and clutched his jaw when he stopped. Even though he had extra strong bones and skeletal system that served as armor, it didn't mean that he was invincible and immune to damage.
"Get up Trash." Kimimaro ordered him and Naruto glared at him and sprung up. Getting several shuriken out and throwing them which Kimimaro dodged he then charged him from behind using chakra to enhance his speed.
"Predictable…" Kimimaro said as if he was bored and went to deliver an elbow behind him to his face. Naruto was ready and doing several hand symbols disappeared in place of a log surprising Kimimaro.
He looked up and saw Naruto reappear and dive down at him. Kimimaro leapt out of the way just in time missing his attack. Naruto then revealed Kunai and threw them as well at him. Kimimaro defended himself and despite a few cuts on his outfit showed no damage.
"Enough." Kimimaro said to him and Naruto thought he was calling for an end. Instead Kimimaro appeared right in front of him with speed that shocked Naruto and dropping low delivered a hard powerful kick right into his jaw sending the Kyuubi child high up into the air by the force of it.
Kimimaro then followed it up by leaping up as well into the air and over Naruto. Grabbing his head with his hands he then used his head as a balance beam and performed a headstand on top of him.
Green met Blue as the two locked eyes with another.
"Dance of the Falling Star!" Kimimaro then shouted and bringing his body down delivered a hard blow with both his knees right into Naruto's skull bashing his head with them. The force of the blow knocked Naruto out of the air and down onto the ground with a fast crash as he hit hard causing a small crater to form and dust to fly up into the air.
"I take it that's another one of your moves you can use and didn't tell me." Naruto said five minutes later holding his head as the two seated at a bench. Not even Sakura's punches hurt that much.
"Hmph, you can use it as well once you've learned how to do it and there are two different variations of it Trash." Kimimaro said to him. "The first is what I did to you, The second is where I sprout bones out of my knees and skewer my enemy's head with them right into his brain."
Naruto learning that was glad he got the first one instead of the second one.
"You've never told me about you and The Kaguya clan. Except for they got wiped out years ago. What was your father like?" Naruto asked him as he never told him about his own family.
Kimimaro scowled as the boy brought back unwanted memories of his childhood.
"My father was a cruel insane man, he drove our clan into ruin with his bloodthirstiness, We would still be around if it weren't for him." He said bitterly.
"What'd he do?"
"He'd incite war for no reason, even when we were at a disadvantage and none of us where fully healed and ready for battle. He turned on our allies and made enemies out of everyone, even our long time companions. His lust for destruction lead to us being destroyed as the bastard took our clan with him." Kimimaro said and Naruto saw anger in his eyes, no not anger, rage that's what was in his cousins' eyes and voice right now.
"The worthless bastard had me locked up when I was still young, fearing that his own son would kill him in his sleep and take control like he had done to his own father, my grandfather. The Kaguya clan was once a proud disciplined clan destined for greatness, thanks to him we lost everything and became reviled as nothing more than barbarians. It was because of him that Mist eventually turned against us. We may have discovered it each sooner if he hadn't rejected an alliance with The Leaf."
Naruto looked at him never knowing anything about this. He had rarely heard anything to be honest about the outside Hidden Villages and how they acted. The fact that a father would do such a thing to his own child made him sick.
"As his heir he trained me in using Shikotsumyaku, his methods where brutal and remorseless as he insulted me and beat me whenever I failed his high expectations as he trained me to be the perfect soldier and encouraged the rest of the clan to do so, although cruel even they thought he was going too far but they feared his wrath. If not for the healing factor I have, odds are my entire body would be littered with Scars." He said and the tone in his voice told Naruto he didn't want to talk anymore about it.
Naruto looked at him seeing the anger in his eyes and the hatred he had for the man, who was Naruto's Uncle. "What about your Mother? My Aunt?" He asked and Kimimaro's features softened and faintly a smile showed for a second.
"My mother…she raised me and gave me life. Always tending to me and concerned how I was doing. She spared me from my Father when he was in one of his moods and was quite the fighter herself. Not even he dared to strike her. She taught me more than just being a mindless killing machine. Taught me to appreciate beauty in life. Such as flowers." He said and stroked a flower that was nearby. "When I was locked up she visited me daily always encouraging me and comforting me. If not for the War with Mist, I believe she would've killed my father and taken control of the Clan and brought it back to its greatness."
"Wow…sounds like you've lead a rough life. What happened after you fled the battle?" Naruto asked referring to the battle with Mist that wiped the Kaguya clan out.
"Afterwards, I wondered from place to place barely knowing or caring where I was going. Eating and Drinking just enough to live as I wondered the land. After a while I met a man who took an interest in me and after looking at me asked me to came with him." He said and remembered his words as the pale skinned black haired man with golden snake like eyes looked down at him.
"Maybe there is no point in life, maybe it's all just a illusion what we are doing pretending what we do is important when it's actually meaningless. But maybe there a point to life and we just have to find it, let's find it together."
"Huh, so you live with this guy or something?" Naruto asked no clue who the man really was.
"I'm indebted to him yes that is correct. Once I fulfill my duty and train you I shall head back to him." Kimimaro responded and stood up. Naruto stood up as well and started to follow him.
As they walked three armed men appeared and stood in front of them blocking the way.
"Wanna pass you have to pay up." The first one said and Naruto could tell that these where hired men that Tazuna had warned them about that Gato used. "As Wave's enforcers we're charged with making sure no one does anything suspicious towards Gato-sama.
"Ten Ryo each now hand it over." The second said as they all held a weapon of sorts.
"Hand over your money now and you'll live. Don't and we might have to rough you up a bit." The third said licking his torn lips.
Kimimaro stared at them with a bored expression and reached to his robe as if going to pay them. The thugs grinned thinking he would submit to them.
What they didn't expect was for him to pull a bone blade out and do a horizontal slash cutting through their weapons in less than a second. To them it seemed as if their weapons just fell apart.
"A-Ahh, what we meant was, if you need money, have ours!" The cowards shouted and throwing their money and weapons down ran away as fast as they could.
Kimimaro put his blade back into his chest and continued walking as Naruto quickly picked up the money, if they weren't going to use it, might as well use it himself.
They reached Tazuna's house shortly afterwards and saw the rest had gathered there as well.
"Ah, good to see you're back." Kakashi said reading his novel. "Your and Sakura's shift of guarding the workers begins soon." He said to Naruto.
Naruto was about to speak when a young boy bumped into and walked past them coldly and with an air of indifference.
"Inari!" His mother Tsunami snapped at him. "Don't be rude to our guests." She said to her son.
"What's the point?" The boy asked with little emotion and headed into another room.
Tsunami shook her head and the group gave her sympathetic looks as she had told them about him. The boy her son having lost his spirit and hope for life when his father in law was executed brutally by Gato and his men for opposing him in the center of the village in front of everyone. The man had been the only one to stand up to him and after his death none opposed the businessman. Inari had pretty much all but given up along with most of the residents of Wave.
"Please don't be offended, I've tried helping him it's just that-"
"It's alright ma'am, he'll get better. I'm sure of it." Kakashi said to her waving her apology away.
"I can only hope so." She responded sadly.
Sasuke then stood up and walked towards Kimimaro. "I've been meaning to ask you lately. I want you to train me." He said to him.
"Here we go…" Naruto said to himself rolling his eyes expecting that this would happen sooner or later.
"You are a skilled ninja I can see that and very powerful despite your age. A natural at what you do." Sasuke began. "I want you to train me and help me get more powerful and stronger." He said to him as he had been wanting this conversation ever since he had joined up with him. "You shouldn't bother yourself anymore with the Dobe, he's a dead last fool who won't ever improve. I, I am head of the graduating Genin class and a natural prodigy as well as the last of the Uchiha Clan, that which founded Konoha the Leaf village. An elite nin such as myself could learn much from you as I desire strength to get revenge on my elder brother. So train me and I shall be closer to achieving my goal." He said and although he was asking him Naruto detected by the tone that he was demanding him.
Kimimaro stared at him as The Uchiha and Kaguya stared at one another.
"So what do you say? Will you train me?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.
"No…" Kimimaro responded his voice lacking emotion.
"What?" Sasuke responded disbelief on his face.
"I told you before, I don't concern myself with weak garbage." Kimimaro said to him.
"What'd you call me?" Sasuke shouted at him furious at what he said.
"Training you, a weakling with an over inflated ego of himself would be nothing but a waste of my time." Kimimaro replied to him.
"Told ya he wouldn't." Naruto said to him not surprised at his cousin's response.
"You train the Dobe, does that mean you think I'm weaker than him?" Sasuke said to him losing his temper.
"Yes…" Kimimaro said to him and Naruto wasn't sure if he just complimented him or insulted Sasuke with that. "You are weaker than Trash."
The Uchiha glared at him. "How dare you believe I am weaker than Naruto! I am of the greatest clan in the world! Possessing the Sharingan bloodline which I will soon activate and master. How can a fool like yourself believe I am garbage! What makes him so special that you can train him and not me?"
"It matters not to me that you are an Uchiha, and if you continue this up and demand that I train you, I will end your life." Kimimaro said in a threatening tone and turned and exited the house.
"Not everyone will give in to your requests and demands because of your name Sasuke." Kakashi said to the angry Uchiha. "And there are some things you can't learn, no matter what you believe." He said as he sensed he knew what Kimimaro was capable of doing, no one could teach how to do it, that's for certain.
Sasuke glared at him upset and furious over what just happened.
"I can't believe that fool wouldn't train Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said a half hour later as she and Naruto where on guard duty at the construction site where Tazuna and the workers where doing their work. "How can he say no to someone as great as Sasuke-kun!" She said frowning.
"Sasuke can't get everything he wants all the time." Naruto said to her. "Kimimaro-san won't train him cause Sasuke won't accept his faults."
"Well what about you, why'd he come all the way here just to train you instead of waiting in Konoha?" She asked him her arms folded across her chest the twelve year old pouting.
"Because he was under orders by The Hokage himself, I didn't expect him to come out this far either." He said to her with a shrug.
"Well your training must be going pretty bad if he comes out here. Have you even learned anything at all?"
Naruto glared at her as she along with the other fan girls Sasuke had often called him names and insults back whenever he challenged their beloved Uchiha. She had no right to insult him since she did nothing but complain and fawn over him.
"Sakura, you got no right to complain all the time." He said dropping the chan he usually called her. "All you do is sit there and grip and fawn over your precious Sasuke. Grow up will you?" He said to her.
"You can't talk to me like-"
"Yes I can!" He snapped at her. "You want people to take you seriously? You want to become a true Kunoichi? Than grow the hell up and stop acting like a schoolgirl who's crying cause she broke a nail." He said to her surprising her. "I've tried being patient with you but all you've done is nothing. Your stamina and energy is pathetic, you barely have any control over your chakra. You do nothing at all to better yourself. This isn't a game for crying out loud, did you ever think you may possible die out here?" He said to her. "I'm tired of covering you as except for watering plants on one of our D missions you've done nothing except sit there and complain."
Sakura frowned at him. First Kakashi now him was getting onto her.
"You may think that just because you graduated the top female you don't have to do anything well you're wrong. I'm improving myself and you have yet to do anything. Keep this up and then we'll see who's actually the dead last loser really is." He told her and turned to help out the workers with his clones.
Sakura huffed angrily at what he said his words stinging her with what he just said. She'd show him, she'd show everybody!
The following three days passed for the group and they continued their training and working.
Kakashi was surprised when Sakura showed an aggressive side and took her challenge of tree walking head on and taking it more seriously and not spending as much time ogling over Sasuke. By the end of the day she had mastered tree walking standing on top of the pole pleased with herself and what she's done with her chakra control and stamina. The girl it seemed like had something to prove and Kakashi was pleased that she was starting to show a more serious side at last.
Team 7 meet with each other and resumed their training when Naruto wasn't with Kimimaro. The trio working as each went on. Sasuke also it seemed like had a renewed determination after what The Kaguya had said to him determined to gain power and get stronger than Naruto.
As the days went by the bridge got closer to being completed and by the end of the third day the bridge was at the halfway point. By then the people of the village started to show life again in their steps and eyes as Tazuna's dream was starting to become a reality. Naruto whenever he wasn't training also spent time with Tsunami's son and although Inari at first wanted nothing to do with him warmed up to him as he along with the rest of Wave began the process of recovering at long last.
Team 7 continued working out and training as Sasuke himself mastered tree walking and all three where now capable of it. Despite Sasuke's insistence that he be taught water walking next since Naruto knew it, Kakashi decided that they had learned what was necessary for now as they had more important things to do.
Naruto sparred with Kimimaro as the two used the Heijin barrier jutsu to protect themselves from harming one another as they trained using Shikotsumyaku and Kimimaro teaching him Kenjutsu and different sword styles of fighting. Naruto learning all he could from Kimimaro who despite breaking into a fit of coughing at times pushed himself beyond his limits to teach his cousin. Naruto learned how to do the Dance of the Falling Star and the Dance of the Larch abilities during that time period
"We're at the halfway point, however I should tell you that Gato and his men are getting upset. He may try something soon enough." Tazuna said to them one night as Team 7 ate dinner. "I won't be surprised if he tries to stop us."
"Will the bridge be completed Grandfather?" Inari asked the boy sitting with them for the first time.
"Indeed it will, this time next week we shall be connected to the mainland and Gato will no longer have any control over us." He said to him. Inari smiled and nothing made the bridge builder happier than seeing his grandson smile again.
"We'll stay until it's completed, I'm sure you could use the help." Kakashi said to him.
"Thank you all of you for what you've done." Tazuna said to him and the others.
The next morning Naruto was by himself and training fighting against fifty clones.
The Kage Bushins charged him and he shoot out two blades and rushed forward as they attacked him. Bringing them up he charged into the fray and connected them at the hilt forming his trademark weapon and spun it a vicious circle of death that cut through them as they charged and attacked.
Naruto evaded their attacks at him and reaching towards his shirt pulled it down exposing his chest and stomach.
"Dance of the Larch!" Several bones popped out of his body and starting to spin cut through them as he was protected on all sides and any who got too close would be cut down and turned into a poof of smoke.
Naruto cut them down and saw a final one. "Drilling Bullets!" He shouted and extending his hand fired bones at him and went right through him and he disappeared along with the rest as he beat them all.
"Yeah! I'm getting the hang of doing it." He said smiling and disconnecting the weapon put the bones back into his shoulders pumped a fist into the air. "Just wait till Kimimaro-san sees this, along with everyone else!" He said as he couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when the Dead Last had returned and was no longer the loser they thought he was.
Done training for the morning he went to go when his ears heard a grunting sound. Detecting it and his curiosity getting the better of him he went to see what was the source of it.
Heading East and being careful to cover his tracks and be unheard he tipple toed his way and soon came upon a small training ground that had been recently used. Training dummies where set up and he saw a figure darting past.
He looked and saw a brown haired figure training the figure going at a fast pace from target to target and throwing something at them. The figure was shirtless and weared a pair of brown pants and sandals and Naruto saw the remainder of their clothing not far. The figure continued training and Naruto was impressed with the speed the person was capable of, not as fast as Kimimaro, but faster than him and Sasuke he was.
The figure their back to Naruto leapt up and threw several objects at a pair of logs hitting them dead center. The figure landed on the ground and allowed a smile to form pleased with themselves.
"Wow, that was something." Naruto said and then backhanded himself mentally at what he just did as he gave himself away.
The figure turned to face him revealing a FLATLESS chest and the most feminine face Naruto had ever seen.
"Who are you?" The figure asked although they weren't on guard and seemed curious.
"Uh, my name's Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto said walking forward his arms out meaning he didn't mean any trouble. "I heard you and I stumbled upon you. Sorry if I interrupted you."
The brown haired figure smiled. "No problem, I didn't think someone was going to come upon me training.""
"Ah okay…" Naruto said and then stared at their face and then at their flat chest. At their face and their chest. At their chest and their face. Back to their chest and then to their face.
"Is there something wrong?" The figure asked.
"Um, uh, sorry if I offend you but are you a boy or a girl?" Naruto said to them. "If you're a girl you have the flattest body I've ever seen, n-not that I'm insulting you or anything I'm sure you'll develop eventually. But if you're a boy than I can understand why you was s-shirtless. Or are you one of those tran-" He said as he stuttered over his words
The figure laughed. "I'm not offended friend. I have become used to confused looks regarding my appearance and accepted that it. I am a boy, although most boys do wish I was a girl when they first see me. Haku is my name Naruto Uzumaki." He said and reached out his hand.
"Nice to meet ya." Naruto said shaking his hand. "What are you doing out here, it's a bit far from Wave for a civilian to be out here."
"I'm not a civilian, I live in a small village from here and came here on my boat that I have." Haku said to him. "This place I use as a training ground to protect myself from thieves and bandits. I've been training for over an hour when it got warm and I discarded my clothing." He said and walking over to his clothes put his upper clothing back on and put his long hair in a different style.
"What'd you use, I couldn't exactly see what you was using. Some type of kunai?"
"Not exactly, here take a look." Haku said to him and they walked to the logs he had setup and Haku pulled out several needles from them. "Senbon needles. I train with them, a well placed throw can immobilize a body part or knock a person unconscious, although I'm not that good with them yet."
Naruto looking at them thought in the back of his mind and remembered that Zabuza was taken out by a senbon wielding Hunter. But thinking nothing of it nodded as he examined them.
"Judging by your hitai-ate you are a Ninja of the Leaf correct?" Haku asked him.
"Huh? Oh yeah, yeah I am." Naruto responded. "I've been staying here for a few days with my team." An idea then popped into his head.
"Hey Haku, you should go to Konoha and apply there to be a ninja at the academy. I'm sure you'd make an awesome ninja with your speed and precision. I bet you'd be good as a ninja and be Genin in no time."
Haku smiled and shook his head. "That's a nice offer Naruto but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I have other more pressing things to tend to. I can't become a Leaf Nin as I have more matters to take care of. My career as a ninja I'm afraid won't happen."
"Huh, well that sucks." Naruto said folding his arms across his chest.
"Don't worry, not all of us where meant to be Shinobi." Haku said to him.
The two continued to talk for a couple of hours and Naruto felt as if Haku was the first person around his own age he could call a friend. A shame he'd probably never see him again after they left when the mission was done. The two talked about each other's beliefs and their goals that each other had.
"Well it's been nice seeing you Naruto. But I'm afraid I must go now." Haku said standing up.
"Oh yeah, it was nice seeing you." Naruto mentioned and shook his hand again and Haku started to leave. "Maybe we'll see each other again before I go back to Konoha!"
Haku turned and smiled at him. "Perhaps…" He said and continued going on.
Naruto watched him go and then turned and headed back to Wave.
Haku continued walking and the boy went into a defensive walk as he got closer to a cave. He checked to make sure no one had followed him and no one could decipher his tracks and continued his way towards the cave.
"Haku…" A voice said sensing his approach and he walked into the Cave and kneeled in front of the figure who was on a cot.
"Where have you been? You're not out this long…" Zabuza Momochi, not as dead as many believed him to be said to the boy and his servant.
"I am sorry Zabuza-sama I got carried away with my training." Haku said to him as he kneeled for forgiveness.
"No matter, I may not be one hundred percent but I'm more than capable of handling any stupid scum who comes this way." Zabuza said as Haku had posed as the Hunter Nin who had taken him out days ago. What he had done was made it look like he had killed him, when in fact he had knocked him out into a coma with his senbon as in truth he was a powerful ninja who served only Zabuza his master. Knocking him out under the guise of killing him he had taken the man to recover which would take a week for him.
"Zabuza-sama if we try again, what about the Kaguya? Want me to deal with him if he appears?" Haku asked referring to the white haired figure who had showed up.
"No, I'll handle him after I've recovered. Although, I have to admit he does seem similar."
Haku nodded as when he say him he too remembered encountering a young Kaguya child in his youth with Zabuza shortly after he joined him and swore servitude.
"Besides, A Kaguya, especially the last of them would fetch big bucks, The Kaguya had a bounty on their heads after what happened. 300,000 Ryo for finding and killing one the Mizukage offered. That kind of money ain't exactly pocket change. Even today we'd still get a large sum if we bring his corpse in. With that and the money Gato will pay us I'll have secured enough funds to start another coup in Kirigakure."
Haku nodded as the two where hired assassins by Gato and their target the bridge builder.
"Get ready Haku, in three days I'll be fully healed. And on the fourth day…" He then reached over and pulled up his Zanbato blade the weapon having gotten hundreds of lives ended on it.
"We attack…"