A FEW DAYS AGO:
NARUTO POV:
Naruto stood near a clearing in the forest, punching a tree.
The reason he was here? He had been triggered by Tazuna's grandson, Inari, during dinner and was now releasing his anger onto trees rather than the kid.
"What do you know about suffering?"
A fist landed deep enough to cause a dent in the tree.
"Always laughing around, you don't know what it's like to be treated like dirt"
The tree started slightly creaking as the force behind his punches increased, as he lost himself in his memories.
A mob consisting of civilians glaring down at him with pitchforks and knives in their hands. "Today we finish what the Fourth started!"
"Hey, isn't that the boy?" a lady said to another "How could they have allowed it to pass?"
"Why can't the hokage be understanding and just exile him already?"
"DEMON"
"MONSTER"
"RAAAAAGH" He roared as his right hand hit the tree with so much force it went flying, crashing into two others behind it.
"Stupid brat" he muttered as he turned to another tree and started punching.
THE NEXT MORNING:
Naruto lay in the clearing, his hands still covered in dried blood and the trees around him all destroyed, making it look like a storm had passed through that area.
A hand reached for his neck, before hesitating and shaking his shoulders instead.
He woke with a start and pulled out a kunai, placing it at the owner of said hand's neck, only to come face to face with...
A pretty girl who looked to be around his age.
He removed it from her throat and placed it in his pouch before bowing repeatedly and apologizing.
"It's fine. I should have known better than to sneak up on a shinobi" she said as she massaged her throat.
He stiffened when she mentioned him being a shinobi but relaxed when he saw her point at his headband.
"So what's a pretty girl like you doing here? Can't be safe since Gato and his men are still around" Naruto asked as he sat down, legs folded.
"I'm collecting herbs to treat an injured friend of mine" she replied as she started plucking a few herbs of the ground and throwing them in a basket.
"I'd help but I don't know much about plants" he said with a sheepish grin "I could provide company though, I've been told I talk a lot so you won't get bored"
She covered her mouth to cover a giggle and asked "Do you have anyone precious to you?"
"Yeah. My teammates, the Hokage, and a few others"
"Then you'll become strong. I truly believe those with people precious to them are the strongest"
His eyes shone as he agreed.
They continued talking until the girl, who said her name was Haku, was done collecting herbs and left the clearing with an " I'll see you later ".
PRESENT:
"That's the girl you were talking about? The one you met in the clearing?" Sasuke questioned as he looked at Naruto with disbelief.
"Y-yeah" Naruto said
"I would have preferred if you didn't find this out, but I suppose it's better this way" Haku said with a monotone voice.
"Wait, so the friend you were collecting herbs for was ZABUZA?" Naruto yelled
"Yes. Now I need you to-"
"BUT WHY ZABUZA! HE'S DOESN'T EVEN HAVE EYEBROWS DATTEBAYO"
Sasuke and Haku both stared at Naruto.
"Why is that the first thing you think of?" Sasuke asked "Never mind, just a Naruto thing I guess"
"A-anyway, Naruto-kun, I need you to kill me"
"Uh, how about hell nah?"
"I am but a broken tool- what do you mean 'nah' !?"
"I ain't killing you. You're already captured, and Zabuza will in a bit as well. We won. Once Kakashi sensei knocks Zabuza out I'll be going back to Tazuna-san's house and sleeping for at least 8 hours."
That was when they heard the sounds of birds chirping and turned around to see Kakashi running towards a dog-held Zabuza, aiming towards the latter's heart.
"Hold that thought" Naruto muttered.
"Sasuke!"
"On it!" Sasuke said as he boosted Naruto using lightning chakra to cross the distance in seconds.
KAKASHI POV:
After marking Zabuza with his blood and summoning his Ninja-Hounds to hold him down, Kakashi had just started rushing at Zabuza, Raikiri in hand when...
"HOLD IT!"
All of a sudden, rather than Zabuza in front of his hand, he saw Naruto, whose hands were black and shoes were smoking.
His LIGHTNING COVERED HAND.
Naturally, he immediately stopped the jutsu and leaped backwards to avoid hitting his student.
Naruto didn't even slow down.
"Aaaaaaah!" the blonde yelled as he skid on the ground face first before finally stopping.
Kakashi turned to the direction Naruto had come from to see a sheepishly smiling Sasuke and the masked hunter-nin, unmasked and smiling, relief clear on her face.
Before he could do anything, the earth slightly rumbled as Sakura appeared next to them as she walked from an underground tunnel, an upset Tazuna in tow.
"It's bad" she said grimly "Gato is here with an army, and he has Tazuna-san's family with him."