Father Figure

Note: -_- Okay! Okay! I get the message. No making Minato evil. I won’t… I promise, but I’m going to be honest with you guys now. There will be times when you’re going to hate and love the characters in here. Times where you want to smack them for being stupid, and other times when you just want to make voodoo dolls out of them to get them to do what you want. There are going to be secrets that you don’t know about until later, and time’s that won’t even be revealed until the final chapter. I just ask that you keep an open mind. Minato isn’t going to be evil, but he will be a villain at times, and other’s when you’ll (hopefully) just want to hug him to death. But mostly I think you’ll want to strangle for to death for this next chapter.

Just One Moment
Chapter 4

A chill went down Naruto’s back as they travelled silently over the dark waters on their way to Wave. Mist encompassed the boat, as the oar’s man silently paddled away, the quiet lap of waves against the hull seemed amplified in Naruto’s mind. Knowing that if they were discovered there was a good chance they would all be killed.

Tazuna had so kindly informed them of the situation they were in when Kakashi demanded a straight answer. They were up against a powerful business man by the name of Gatou. His plan was to stop the villagers from building the bridge in order to monopolize the trade within the area, effectively stopping free trade. He had already commandeered the boating industry in the area, stopping them not only from receiving supplies, but also help.

The oar’s man was part of the group that wanted to help Tazuna... but if he were found to have been helping he and his family would no doubt be killed by the rouge ninja’s that Gatou had hired. They silently exited the boat, thanking the oar’s man for his help, watching as he took off into the mist, disappearing from their site.

Naruto’s first thought upon entering the village was that he now knew what hell looked like. The villagers looked thin and underfed, with dark circles under their eyes. The produce they had to offer was minimal, and what was offered wasn’t fresh. When Tazuna said that his village would die without their help Naruto had thought he was over exaggerating, now he could see that they were indeed on the precipice, and getting closer to falling every day. They needed that bridge like fish needed water.

For once in his life Kakashi had felt that he had done something right by agreeing to help these people. It had been a while since he had done work simply for the charity of it, but this was the biggest charity case if he had ever seen one. If it was possible for him and his team to help them then he would do his best. However his first priority was to keep everyone alive.

The group began to move into the forest towards Tazuna’s house. Naruto ‘s head shot up as he smelled something off to the side, sending a kunai flying he set of a chain reaction in the group. Kakashi who was already on caution drew a kunai, and got into attack position, while Sakura and Tazuna jumped back. Sasuke stood on guard watching the tree’s where Naruto had sent his weapon flying. Kakashi cautiously stepped forward to analyze the area, seeing only a frightened white rabbit.

Sakura frowned, and smacked Naruto on the shoulder. “You shouldn’t just send weapons flying, you scared the crap out of me.”

Naruto appeared to be pale, looking off towards a different section of forest, his hand clenching around another kunai, while his eyes made a flash of contact with those staring at them from the trees.

“We’re not alone.” Kakashi said looking at the rabbit.

Naruto gulped. “No. We’re not.”

Kakashi looked up towards Naruto and followed his gaze, his eyes widening before shouting for the team to get down. Naruto was already two steps ahead of him, pulling Sakura and Tazuna to the ground with him, while Kakashi and Sasuke threw themselves down seconds before a large sword passed over their bodies.

A loud thunk echoed as the blade wedged itself into the tree, and a figure moved onto of the sword. Naruto looked up from his position, Kakashi’s arm laying over his waist, while Sakura and Tazuna lay safely under him. Sasuke was already up on his feet, with Kakashi and Naruto not far behind, while Sakura helped Tazuna to his feet.

One look at the man and his sword and Naruto knew who it was. “Momochi Zabuza.” He whispered.

Zabuza tilted his head to look more closely at Naruto before grinning at the boy through his bandages. Naruto could feel a shiver run down his spine, but he held the man’s gaze, refusing to back down. A few tense moments later Zabuza broke contact, seemingly pleased with what he had seen. “Nicely done brat, yes I am Momochi Zabuza.”

“The demon of the mist. Also known as Silent Killer.” Kakashi stated, lifting his headband off his eye.

“Ah yes. And you would be Sharingan Kakashi. The Copycat ninja of Konoha.” Zabuza replied.

Sasuke appeared taken back by the revelation, as far as he knew Kakashi held no relation to the Uchiha’s... how could he have obtained a Sharingan eye? Looking upon his sensei’s face he was hit with the realization that despite how unreal it seemed, his sensei did in fact have the eye.

With a flash Zabuza was gone re-appearing on the pond, while mist began to encircle the group. Naruto moved closer to Sakura and Tazuna, with Sasuke taking up position on the other side. Within moments the killing intent hit them, the sheer force of the man’s power sent tingles down their spines, and fear into their hearts.

As the man began to list of possible ways to kill the group Sasuke began to panic. Unaware where the enemy was attacking from he felt like he should move away from the large grouping, where they would make a bigger target. Naruto put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.

“He wants you to separate from us. That way he can kill us off one by one.” Naruto explained, also taking hold of Sakura.

“But here we’re sitting ducks.” Sasuke said now completely unnerved.

Kakashi looked back to Sasuke in complete seriousness and said, “I will never let my comrades die again.”

Without warning Zabuza appeared between Kakashi and Sasuke moving to attack the boy. “There’s no help now.” The man whispered in the boy’s ear as he swung his weapon.

Before he could complete his swing Kakashi had plunged his kunai deep into the man’s stomach, before he exploded in a splash of water. ‘A clone, then-where?’ Before Kakashi could complete his thought he was cut in half with a sword to the stomach. Sakura gasped, but was relieved to see the blood swiftly turn into water. Zabuza surprised by the turn of event’s was trapped with a kunai to the neck, unable to move.

Kakashi was pleased, but his pleasure quickly turned to panic when Zabuza dispersed in a cloud of water before a kick in the chest sent him flying into the water.

“You’re foolish. You should have stayed out of the water.”

With that final statement Zabuza disappeared from the group and had trapped a water logged Kakashi in a water prison. Kakashi still slightly disorientated from the kick and landing took a few moments to gather his bearings... and when he did he was horrified to see that he had failed his students. He was trapped and he was thus in no position to help them. Their only option would be to run for it.

“Run! Get out of here now, you’re no match for him!” Kakashi yelled towards the group, his eyes meeting the horrified ones of Sakura and Sasuke. Naruto stood firm looking to Zabuza, then to Kakashi, and finally Tazuna and his own team.

Zabuza had already created another water clone that was advancing on the group, and with Kakashi trapped and unable to help them there were few options for Naruto.

“There’s no way we’d make it out. Not all of us at the least. Tazuna is far to slow to keep up with us, he’d be the first killed, with Sakura not far behind. If by chance we could get past the water clone, which he would make another of no doubt, then we would still have to fight Zabuza himself. Not even mentioning his friend in the wings.”

At that Zabuza’s head perked up and his position became tense. “How did you know about that?”

Naruto met his gaze unwavering. “I smelled him.”

Zabuza smiled at that, and with a tilt of his head he motioned for his partner to come out from the wings. “It appears that you were sniffed out Haku.”

A lithe figure appeared to float down from the trees. Despite the boy’s small stature he was an imposing figure, his mask allowed no emotions to pass on to the group, while his kimono was dark much like his shorts with a ragged bottom. In Naruto’s opinion he looked like a dark angel.

Kakashi felt his heart drop. What Naruto had said was true. There was little to no chance that the group would survive, running or not. They did not have the skill to defeat twos class fighters, and even if they ran they would still be picked off one by one. Naruto was following along the same wave length as Kakashi, calculating his opinions he came to a final decision.

“You’re missing nin... correct?”

Zabuza looked towards the boy in amusement. “Yes we are.”

“And you are nin for hire correct?”

Zabuza smiled at that. “Yes we are.”

“What would you say if I said we could offer you something better than what Gatou has to offer in exchange for letting us go?”

Zabuza was now grinning full force. “I’d say I’m listening.”

Naruto took a deep breathe. There was a good chance that what he was about to attempt would fail, but he had to give it his best, he would not let him team down.

“I’m the son of the 4th Hokage of Konoha. I am also the container of the demon Kyuubi no Kitsune, and I offer myself to you as a hostage to do with what you like in exchange for allowing my compatriots to go free. “

Zabuza quirked an eyebrow. “You’re the son of the 4th? One of the greatest ninja ever known, and one of the most powerful?”

“Yes.”

“You look just like a normal runt to me.”

Naruto bit his bottom lip before taking his jacket off, swiftly followed by his shirt. “Hey kid stripping isn’t going to help your case. Not that I mind or anything, but I don’t think that’s one of the things I want to do with you as a hostage.”

Naruto glared at the figure. “I’m trying to prove a point here.” With that Naruto closed his eyes and summoned his chakra, causing a seal to appear around his navel.

Zabuza and Haku started at the revelation. “Well I’ll be damned. The kid was telling the truth.” Zabuza said with surprise.

“So why should we let your friends here go? We could easily just kill them and still take you hostage.”

“Not quite.” Naruto said, taking out a kunai.

“That didn’t work for your sensei what makes you think you can do anything?” Zabuza said with a smirk.

“It’s not for you. It’s for me.” Naruto said holding the kunai to his chest just above his heart. “If youlay a finger on them I’ll kill myself, and any money you might have seen from selling off the ‘weak point’ of the 4th will be lost.” To prove his point Naruto pressed the metal into his skin allowing a slight dribble of blood to flow.

“Naruto don’t!” Kakashi yelled through his prison.

Sakura and Sasuke stood in awe of what their teammate was willing to do to protect them. They had no clue what to say. Sakura started to cry silently tears falling from her eyes, while Sasuke gained a new respect for Naruto. Tazuna couldn’t believe the fortitude of the small boy he had thought to be useless, he felt his heart grow heavy. Another sacrifice made because of the working’s of Gatou. His blood began to boil beneath his skin.

Haku watched on silently. The boy was willing to give up everything, including his own life to protect his friends. To protect his special people. He would not allow the boy to harm himself. With that Haku tugged Zabuza’s arm, when Zabuza turned to him he began. “Take the offer.”

“You want to?”

“Yes.”

“Well you heard the boy. We accept. Now get over here before we change our minds.”

Naruto hesitantly removed the kunai from his chest, picking up his jacket and shirt and walked over to the group. He stopped when he felt the weight of Sakura latch onto his back, burying her head into the crevice between his neck and shoulder. Her arm wrapped around his front. He could feel her tears streaming down his back. She was whispering ‘I’m sorry’ over and over again before he turned around and gave her a small hug.

Sasuke grasped Naruto’s and gave it a small squeeze, before he felt himself being pulled into the group hug, Naruto’s arm’s wrapping around him. It had been so long since Sasuke had been hugged, not by his mother, not by his father, and not by his brother who was so rarely there. It was... nice. It wasn’t until Naruto had finally let go and Sakura moved to give him space that Sasuke realized that he might never see the blonde again, that he might be killed by a foreign enemy as revenge against the forth, or that he might be used as a tool to make his father weak. For all he knew this was the last moment he would ever see the dobe he had slowly and reluctantly become fond of. And it hurt. It hurt more than Sasuke had expected.

Naruto took a deep breathe, unable to look up to meet his captors eye as he stood in front of them. Finally looking up he was met with Kakashi’s pained look. The man appeared to be hurting inside and that in turn hurt Naruto. He was doing the only thing he could think of, he had to save his team... no... his family. He mouthed the word’s ‘I’m sorry’ to his sensei who shook his head.

“Please Naruto... don’t do this.” Kakashi was near the brink of pleading with the small boy. But Naruto merely shook his head. He had to do this, and it was worth it to save his loved ones.

As an arm latched around his waist Naruto turned to look at Kakashi one last time. “Goodbye Kakashi sensei.”

“Naruto!”

With that the three disappeared, and the water prison surrounding Kakashi released, allowing him to go free.

In just one moment Kakashi had lost another comrade. Just like Obito someone else sacrificed themself because of his mistakes. As the water flowed down from his form Kakashi’s eyes flashed with fire. Summoning his nin dogs he sent them off to catch Naruto’s scent, while sending Sasuke and Sakura to Tazuna’s to protect him. He would find Naruto and bring him back. He wouldn’t fail, not this time.

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Again. Short I know. But I felt like it should end there for now. Anyways I’ll hopefully be able to do the next chapter soon as well... and boy it’s going to be a doozy. You’ll finally get some flashbacks, and I’m going to really start messing with the Naruto plot.