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If any of you guys read the last chapter, you'll know it was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
It was difficult to get through writing it but I pulled through and produced something I hope you guys enjoyed. Now as sad as it was, I would like to say that will about as bad as it gets.
I actually envision this to be a lighthearted adventure story. It's supposed to be fun and make people jump up and scream "YEAH!" when Naruto finally kicks some ass. So please bear with the, what I like to call, 'The Genesis Arc'.
where Naruto finds his place in the world and comes to terms with himself and his demons so that he can finally be the man he was meant to and take the world by storm.
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Starting with this chapter…I plan to make the Kyuubi a woman…for the sole reason that before I started watching/reading Naruto I always pictured the Kyuubi as a being female.
From the goddess Inari, Yasaka from High School DxD and the infamous Tomamo-no-mae. Anyway, I will try to make her a bit different from the usual portrayals of FemKyuubi, hopefully you will like it.
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The scene on the bridge was one that tugged at the heartstrings of even the most hardened shinobi.
As Naruto sobbed painfully whilst clutching onto the cooling corpse of the only person to ever show him love and affection, the two veteran shinobi looked on helplessly.
Kakashi for his part was extremely confused. From what he could gather, Naruto seemed to have some kind of relationship with Zabuza's accomplice.
He was unsure how that happened but from the reaction of his student, he can tell it meant more than anything to him.
He was having flashbacks to a similar event from his part when his teammate, Nohara Rin, did something similar in terms of intercepting his [ Raikiri ] to take a death-blow. To this day, the nightmares of that event still plague him.
He looked on sadly at his student, whose personality reminded him of his other teammate Obito. In his mind, instead of Haku lying on the ground, it was Rin.
In place of Naruto, it was Obito crying over her body. The images froze him on the spot bringing up all the demons that have haunted him throughout his life.
Zabuza, for his part, was numb at the scene. His 'tool' did her job, the one he trained her so well to do, and risked her life to save his and she succeeded.
But as he looked on at the blonde brat cradling her in his arms he can't help but feel a piece of himself missing.
He thought back to the dirty little girl that he met under the bridge that day. How he took her in and trained her to be the perfect tool.
He thought back to the many adventures they had on the road. While always being on the run was far from a glamorous lifestyle, having her by his side made it all the more bearable.
The warm smiles she would use when she welcomed him home made him feel comfort that he never thought he would.
He's never had any children, but he couldn't help but wonder if that was what it was like to have a daughter. It was a bittersweet thought for him as it was too late now, to tell the girl what he should have a long time ago.
Maybe if he did she wouldn't have done what she did and would still be alive instead of taking a killing blow for him. He knew he was going to die anyway though, he lost far too much blood, all Haku did was give him a little more time.
He could feel his eyes getting a little moist from thoughts of how it seemed his adopted daughter died in vain.
The sombre atmosphere on the bridge was interrupted by the unwelcome sound of clapping and snickers.
"Ooh oh…looks like you're getting your ass kicked. How disappointing, Zabuza."
Came the obnoxious nasally voice of a short man standing at the end of the bridge surrounded by numerous thugs.
"Gato!" Spat out Zabuza. "What are you doing here? And what's with those thugs?"
"Hehe…we had a little change of plans." Replied Gato snidely. "I'm sorry Zabuza, but you're going to die here."
"What?!" Roared Zabuza.
"If I rented out regular ninja, it would cost a lot of money. So, I rented out a nuke-nin like you. If you ninja had just killed each other, it would have saved me the trouble and money."
Commented Gato with a sneer on his face.
"And you call yourself the Kirigakure no Kijin? You're just a cute little demon if you asked me."
He finished with a mocking tone of voice much to the amusement of the thugs around him who started laughing and jeering at Zabuza.
"Kakashi, I'm sorry, but the battle ends here." Stated Zabuza. "Since I don't have a reason to kill the bridge builder, I have lost the reason to fight you."
"Yeah, you're right." Replied Kakashi, monetarily pushing whatever thoughts of the past to the back of him mind to deal with the situation at hand.
"That's right, I owe that little bitch of yours a favour, for breaking my hand like this. But it seems like she's already dead.
That's too bad, she would have made a nice gift for my men to play around with.
I'm sure they could have broken her to make an obedient little house pet." Commented Gato with a lecherous tone of voice.
The reactions from those present ranged from the tightening of Kakashi's eyes to Zabuza gritting his teeth in anger. Gato was about to open his mouth to make another snide comment, before he froze in his tracks.
He broke out into a cold sweat and momentarily lost control of his bowels, as evidenced by the wet spot in the front of his pants.
An unholy amount of killer intent flooded the bridge. Rage. Hatred. Violence. These were some of the emotions intensely permeating the atmosphere.
Kakashi knew the sensation well enough from 13 years ago, when the Kyuubi rampaged in Konoha. But for some reason this time it felt more concentrated, more potent.
It honestly made him tremble. He knew exactly where it was coming from though as he looked to his student who was still cradling the body of Haku.
Blood red chakra was swirling dangerously around his body. Kakashi could only hope that the seal held up.
Zabuza, for his part was caught between being impressed to trembling in his boots. He was no stranger to killing intent, but the intent waving off the blonde brat was chilling.
He could feel his body freeze up and the hairs on his neck stand on end. It felt like the Shinigami had come to claim his soul. He could feel the stroke of death run up his spine.
Gato's subordinates were faring even worse. As untrained thugs, they were never exposed to intent like this as such they had no way to deal with it.
Their breaths caught in their throats, their knees trembled, and they were having visions of the gruesome kinds of death they will suffer at Naruto's hands.
It was too much for some of them who couldn't handle it and they collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Naruto, for the first time in his life, let go. All the pain, all the hatred, the desire to cause bodily harm. All the negative emotions he supressed his whole life came crashing through his very being. And it was all directed at the source of the problems in this country.
If it wasn't for this greedy fucker, his beloved Haku-chan might still be breathing. It was a bit of a stretch to think that, but with the state his mind was in, Naruto didn't really give a fuck.
The only person to ever show him love and grant his a small measure of happiness in his hellish life, was robbed from him.
He was emotionally stunted to begin with, and now, with all these new vicious sensations coursing through him he didn't know what to do. He needed to direct it somewhere.
For the first time in his life, Naruto embraced the hatred that was always knocking at his door. He embraced the pain, the insanity, the agony and welcomed them with open arms.
He wanted to slaughter these fucking animals. But he also thought of the love that he experienced, the happiness that Haku-chan granted him.
The feeling of peace and serenity. He was so confused. All these conflicting emotions, some of them didn't even feel like his own, running through him and he didn't know what to do.
Naruto didn't know it, but for a few moments, the blood red chakra cloak that surrounded his body flickered, turning a golden orange for a few moments.
This went unnoticed by everyone on the bridge. But deep within the mind of Naruto, a large blood red eye with a vertical slit iris snapped open before a fanged grin broke out on a large maw.
"Oi Gaki. Throw me a kunai." Called out Zabuza to Naruto who paused momentary to look up.
Zabuza looked at his anguish filled eyes and flinched a little knowing those eyes reflected his own inner feelings but he had to keep it contained for now.
Naruto, even though conflicted did as asked as he knew the man had no reason to fight them anymore. Plus, he was Haku's precious person.
"I know you want to go wild but I suggest you don't move from that spot. For some reason Haku seemed to be in love with you. I have never seen her smile so brightly in all the time I've known her.
It was a beautiful sight. I have lived a life of many regrets and I have committed many sins. None weigh me down more than the regret I have for never telling Haku how much she meant to me.
I regret not telling her that she wasn't a tool and that I thought of her as a daughter. She brought a brightness into my dark life and shined brightly like the sun, chasing away all the darkness.
But I don't have to tell you that, you know better than anyone. I can feel my life slipping from me.
I know that I won't make it to see tomorrow. But I'm okay with that. I want you to watch though.
As the man that Haku chose, I too will put my faith in you.
I know you will be somebody feared in the future, so let me give you a lesson about the life of a shinobi. We may be tools for our villages, but we are human too.
Listen well, the measure of a shinobi isn't taken from the life that they lived, but the way that they died. My last act in this life, will not be as the Kirigakure no Kijin, but as the proud father who will pave the way for the one who gave my daughter back her smile, by protecting what is precious to me.
All I ask is that you bury me next to Haku when this is done" Finished Zabuza with an uncharacteristic smile on his face as tears ran down from his eyes.
He caught the kunai Naruto threw at him with his teeth, as his arm were immobile from the damage he took from the fight with Kakashi.
The thugs were finally regaining some of their bearings when Zabuza exploded into action.
With the swiftness of a predator, he pounced on his prey. Slashing throats and crushing skulls under his boots.
His powerful neck and leg muscles were on full display as he tore into the gang of thugs like they were made of paper. It was a gruesome, but at the same time mesmerising sight to Naruto.
As Zabuza took down more and more thugs, ignoring whatever wounds were inflicted on his body, Naruto wondered if this is what it meant to be a shinobi. He always bragged about being Hokage, but he felt so weak and helpless right now.
Holding the dead body of his would-be lover and watching the man she sacrificed herself for tearing through the enemies that threatened them, even though he was on the brink of death.
Was this true strength? Was this what Haku spoke of? Even though he knew he was going to die, Zabuza walked to his death with his head held up high.
Naruto, for his part let a small smile grace his face in the midst of the carnage.
'I understand now Haku. I understand what you were trying to tell me.
I promise you, that I will carry your words and your thoughts in my heart forever. This is my promise of a lifetime.' Thought Naruto with a sad smile.