Promises Kept

A/N: Okay so I was rereading this chapter and didn’t really like the flow or the length too much so I decided to make a few alterations. The main two changes being an altered version of Naruto’s talk with Haku along with moving the battle on the bridge to the next chapter, both of which were done to help improve the flow of the story.

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They have been at Tazuna’s house for two days waiting for Kakashi to wake up so that they could figure out what to do next. The first night they were there Naruto told the others that he didn’t think that Zabuza was dead. This shocked them until he explained how Raven had once told him that Hunter-nins always removed the heads and disposed of the bodies on sight. He admitted that he hadn’t remembered this at first but the more he replayed what had happened the more he was certain that the Hunter-nin was working with Zabuza and had put him into a near death state to fool Kakashi.

After that Naruto and Sasuke went about setting up traps and securing the perimeter around not just Tazuna’s house but also the bridge while Sakura continued to look after Kakashi and study up on her medical Ninjutsu since there was a chance they were going to need it once Zabuza was strong enough to try again.

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Two days after they first arrive Kakashi wakes up and finds the others are talking in the room. “About time you woke up Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto tells him. “So what are we going to do to prepare for Zabuza’s next attack?”

“So you figured it out have you?” Kakashi asks as he tries to get up only to find Sakura pushing him back down.

“No way,” she tells him. “You’ve used up too much chakra and are confined to bed rest for at least the next couple of days.”

“But we need to prepare for Zabuza,” he tells her.

“We’ve already got it covered,” Naruto tells him, “I’ll train Sasuke and Sakura while you rest then you can take over once you’re able to move around more easily.”

“And who will guard Tazuna-san while you’re supervising?” he asks.

“Since I don’t expect Zabuza to be coming after us for another week plus Sasuke and I set up a defensive perimeter around the house and the bridge I think three Shadow Clones should be enough for now.”

“You know the Shadow Clones Jutsu?” Kakashi asks. Sasuke listens intently, silently fuming at Naruto’s abilities.

“Yeah, though three’s my limit when it comes to holding them for extended periods of time.” Naruto answers, “Raven-niisan taught it to me along with the Tree Climbing and Water Walking Exercises. I’m going to teach both Sakura and Sasuke the Exercises while I’m practicing my Kenjutsu so you just rest up Kakashi-sensei.”

“Fine,” Kakashi sighs dejectedly. ‘Must admit that Raven-san’s done a good job of raising him. He’ll make a fine shinobi and a great Hokage one day.’

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“Okay before I can even think of teaching you the Water Walking Exercise you need to master Tree Climbing,” he tells them. “This will greatly improve your chakra control since it requires you to maintain a set amount of chakra in a difficult part of the body to focus your chakra in the first place. Now in order to successfully complete this exercise you need to channel your chakra to the soles of your feet and use it to cling to the tree while you walk up it. Too much and you’ll go flying off, too little and you’ll slip off.”

“Sounds good and all dobe,” Sasuke says, “But why don’t you show us instead of explaining it.”

Naruto doesn’t respond verbally, instead he focuses his chakra and walks up the side of a tree and out onto one of the branches, hanging upside down like a bat. “Remember too much and you get thrown off while too little and you slide off,” he says before tossing two kunai down to them, “Either way if you don’t do it just right you end up on your ass.” Releasing his chakra he flips back down to the ground facing them. “Use the Kunai to mark your progress and just holler if you need any help,” he says as he point to a clearing a few trees over, “I’ll be over there if you need me.”

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The training progresses smoothly and after only three days both Sasuke and Sakura have fully gotten the hang of the Tree Climbing Exercise and were currently working on Water Walking. Naruto watches them from the shore of the pond as he goes through a few katas with his katana. Fortunately for them they had both packed swimsuits since they still haven’t gotten the hang of it and continually fell in.

“That’s enough for today,” he tells them fighting back his fifth nosebleed of the day as he watches Sakura get out of the water. As much as he hated to admit it the annoying fangirl was pretty cute and the way her wet hair framed her face was almost as intoxicating as the way her soaked bikini clung to her body. ‘Okay I’m going to need a cold shower after this,’ he thinks to himself.

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Haku smiles as she finds one of the herbs she needs for Zabuza’s medicine. Since she doesn’t wish to attract any undue attention onto herself she left her battle kimono and is currently wearing a pink yukata with her hair down. The girl smiles as a bird lands on her shoulder for a minute before taking off again, following the bird’s path with her eyes, Haku’s surprised to see the blond shinobi who was with the group that had nearly defeated Zabuza.

The boy is sleeping in the middle of a clearing with his Katana lying beside him. Haku couldn’t help but smile at how peaceful and young the boy looks as she slowly walks over towards the boy. Reaching her hand towards him she gasps in fear and surprise as she finds her wrist grasped tightly just a split second before the jagged blade of a fighting knife is pressed against her throat.

“Who are you?” Naruto asks as his eyes lock on hers. His voice is firm yet calm and he notices the subtle hint of fear in her eyes as well as the faint beads of sweat covering her fore head. ‘She’s partially afraid yet not hysterical like a normal civilian would be,’ he thinks to himself as he begins to analyze the situation, ‘She’s either a kunoichi, or at the very least has enough familiarity with shinobis so as not to be too surprised by my reaction.’

“Best to play along for now kit,” Kyuubi tells him.

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“Is this the plant you want?” asks Naruto as he holds out said plant for the girl’s inspection. When she asked him to help her gather medicinal herbs Naruto had been happy to oblige so that he could keep a better eye on her.

“Yes,” the girl tells him putting the plant in her basket. “So what are you doing out here at this time of morning?” she asks.

“Training,” Naruto answers honestly.

Haku smiles at him. “That Hitai-ate could you be a shinobi?” she asks innocently.

“Hai,” Naruto answers returning her smile.

“Wow, you’re incredible,” she says trying to stroke his ego abit. “Why are you training?”

“To become stronger,” he answers honestly, “A True Shinobi must always strive to be a strong as possible.”

“Hmm… But you already look pretty strong,” Haku says with a giggle as she ruffled Naruto’s hair.

“Maybe,” Naruto chuckles, “But a True Shinobi never stops trying to improve himself and his skills,” he tells her. “Raven-niisan says that a True Shinobi must continue to train so that he’ll always be ready to protect those he most precious to him.”

Haku’s gaze softens as she looks down at her lap. ‘So his path is that of a protector and not a warrior,’she thinks to herself. “Then you will become even stronger,” she tells him softly without looking back up at him. “When a person has something important to protect, that’s when they can truly become strong!”

Naruto nods at her words. “That’s what Raven-niisan taught me,” he tells her. “A True Shinobi is a warrior that fights till his final breath,” he says as he slowly reaches out to lift her chin, “A True Shinobi is a protector that defends the weak with all his might.” Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears as he holds her gaze as if looking into her very soul. “A True Shinobi is a friend who values the lives of those he cares for above his own.” He can see the conflicting emotions hidden just behind her warm brown eyes. “A True Shinobi honors his word and upholds his vows even though it may cast him his life. This is the Code of the True Shinobi.”

“And what if upholding your vows to the person most precious to you causes you to harm the weak instead of defending them?” she asks fighting back the sliver of doubt and pain she is feeling at the moment.

Naruto just closes his eyes as he considers her words. “A true friend would understand and not put you into a situation where you had to make such a choice,” he finally says, “I know these herbs are for Zabuza.” The shock of his revelation fuels her fear as she realizes she’s been discovered as she tries to get up to runaway.

However, before she is even able to get to her feet he grabs her arm. His grip is firm and unyielding as she tries to pull away. “I won‘t fight you here,” he assures her calmly as she continues to struggle to break his grip, “I just want to know why,” he states taking no further action to cause her to fear him. “I can tell you have a good heart. So why to you help a man like him?”

“Because he needs me,” she nearly yells. Her sudden admission causes both of them to freeze for a moment before she finally gives up her struggle and sits back down. “My parents died when I was young and after their death I had no one,” she tells him sadly. “I was alone and living on the streets like a stray animal when Zabuza found me,” she says trying fighting back the pain the memory causes. “He took me in and trained me to be a shinobi. He gave me a purpose, a reason to live. I am his weapon, a tool to be used as he sees fit. I exist to help him fulfill his dreams.”

“That’s bullshit,” Naruto replies as he lets go of her arm. “I too grew up alone,” he tells her as he gently moves a strand of hair from her face. “I both my parents died the day I was born and nearly the every villager hates me for something I never asked for,” he tells to her. “On my fourth birthday some of the villagers and a few shinobi tried to kill me… and not for the first time either.

“That was when Raven-niisan found me and took me in to his home. He gave me a family and taught me that the villagers weren’t really bad, just misguided. He showed me that there were those in Konoha worth befriending and that Konoha was worth protecting. He trained me to be a True Shinobi and not some tool or weapon to be thrown away on a whim. You’re a human being and not some mindless robot,” he tells her. “I know you care about Zabuza and owe him your life but that’s no reason to live like this.”

His words bring tears to her eyes causing her to look away to avoid his gaze. Though she knows that he is Zabuza’s enemy she can’t help but feel that if things had been different they could have easily been friends. ‘Perhaps more…’ she thinks briefly.

“Go back to Zabuza,” he tells her before standing up to leave, “And tell him that we’ll be waiting for him when he’s ready.” He walks slowly in the direction of Tazuna’s house pausing once he reaches the tree line. “The next time we meet we will be enemies,” he reminds her coldly. “Goodbye, Haku-chan,” he tells her softly before disappearing into the forest.

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A few days later the training is completed and everyone is back in fighting form. As they make their way to the bridge, Naruto’s nose detects the smell of blood in the air leading back the way they came. “You three go on ahead,” he tells the others, “I forgot something back at the house.”

“Hurry up dobe,” Sasuke tells him as he and the others continue on without Naruto. A few minutes later they are standing on the bridge when a sudden mist begins to roll in. “Looks like they’re finally here,” he says.

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A/N: Okay the next chapter will contain the new version of battle as well as wrap up the Land of Waves Arch. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far and as always please remember to R&R.