Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Irony of it All ❯ Inari, Rayne's family and Zabuza's BACK?! ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11: Inari, Rayne's family and… Zabuza's BACK?!

SAKURA'S POV

I yawned, listening to the loud noises of construction

"You sure seem bored all by yourself," said Tazuna's voice. I looked over.

"Where's the blonde kid, the one with the attitude and that smart mouth one?" Tazuna asked.

"They're still training," I responded.

"And you don't have to?" Tazuna asked me, carrying a plank of wood. I gave a satisfied smile,

"I've already completed my training. That's why Kakashi-sensei sent me to protect you."

"Is that so?"

“What!?! He doesn't believe me! Oh I'll make him believe!” Sakura thought angrily. A man walked over to Tazuna as he laid the wood down on a pile. The man held his hard helmet in his hand.

"Tazuna..." Tazuna stood straight and looked at the man, wiping his face with a cloth.

"What is it Giichi?" The man named Giichi looked down.

"Well the thing is...I-I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and... I don't want to work on the bridge anymore..." Tazuna looked outraged.

"What!? Why you too!?"

"Tazuna, we've been close for a long time now. I want to help you with this task, but if I continue helping, Gatoh will come after me too, after everyone. If you get killed, then what's the point?" The man looked up at Tazuna. "Why don't we stop with the bridge, while we can still get away with our lives."

"I can't do that," Tazuna objected looking at the ground. "This bridge is our bridge. We started building this bridge together believing it would bring resources to our poor country."

"But if we lose our lives..." Giichi began.

"It's already noon, let's stop for today," Tazuna said walking past Giichi.

"Tazuna!" Giichi stretched his arm out after Tazuna.

Tazuna looked back. "Giichi, you don't have to come to work tomorrow." Then he continued walking.

3rd POV

"Dammit!" Rayne and Naruto shouted. She looked at her tree, dirt covering her clothes and her hand clenching her chest.

"What the hell is this!?" Naruto shouted. She turned her head slightly to watch him angrily beat the ground with his feet and hands. Rayne then turned to Sasuke who was in the same condition as them. She looked up at his tree, then at hers.

“Damn, I'm beating him by three marks... but he's catching up.” Naruto and Sasuke then turned their heads and glared at each other, standing up at the same time.

“I will not lose to you!” Naruto thought. Rayne watched as the both ran at their trees. She closed her eyes then fell back.

SAKURA'S POV

 

"Hey where are we going?" I asked. Tazuna and I were walking along thee dirt paths of the country's town. The roads were quite busy with people walking and people lining the streets.

"I'm suppose to bring home food for supper," Tazuna answered my question. I examined the people walking. Some people held signs saying, "Will work for money" or "Will do any kind of job".

"Thief!" A big voice boomed at a little kid ran past into an alley. I looked around, little kids sat against buildings, literally wearing rags for clothing. Some didn't even have parents. “This isn't right…”

"Here we are," Tazuna announced. I looked up at the building we had stopped at. It was worn down and old looking, like the rest of the buildings I had seen.

"Welcome," a voice greeted as we entered. I looked around. “Is this suppose to be a store?” The shelves were bare. There must have been only two items of each food, with the few choices of food there was. Suddenly I grew stiff. I turned around, I guy very close to my "personal space".

"PERVERT!!!!" I yelled kicking him in the face.

"You sure surprised me," Tazuna told me as we made our way back to his house. I felt someone grab me, AGAIN! I whirled around.

"Why you-" But I stopped. Behind me was a little girl, scratches and dirt all over her body. She looked at me with wide eyes. She held her hands out and smiled at me,

"Please?" My eyes softened. I felt so bad for the little girl. Imagine, growing up like that. I shuffled through my bag and found some candy. I took a handful and put them in the little girl's hands.
She looked down at the candy then grinned at me,

"Thank you!" I gave her a small smile and nodded my head. I watched her run away, weaving through the people.

"It's been like this ever since Gatoh came," Tazuna said as I wiped at my eye. "All the adults have lost hope." I turned and looked at his serious face,

"That's why, we must finish the bridge! A symbol of courage. We need the people to lose the fear and regain the desire to stand up for themselves."

"If that bridge can just be completed," Tazuna clenched his hand into a fist. "Then this country can return to that time. The people will return to how they use to be!" I looked up at the sky. “Sasuke, Naruto, Rayne, we need to help!”

RAYNE'S POV

 

“Dammit,I can't breath!” I was almost there, nearing the top. I knew I was way higher than Sasuke and Naruto by this point. I gasped for air, feeling my lungs painfully expand and send stabbing feelings through your body.

“I can't… I can't make…” I felt myself losing consciousness. I heard a 'plopping' sound and then felt myself soaring, eyes closing to blackness.

“R-rayne…” Gasp could be heard from the room.

“He said my name! He said my name!!” A younger version of Rayne cheered, jumping up and down.

“Yes he did, that's fantastic!” My mother said grinning from ear to ear, her dark purple hair shaping her face with her green eyes. Suddenly, I was caught and I jumped about a foot into the air. I turned around to see my dad smiling at me. He had spiky dark bluish hair and onyx eyes.

“Daddy!” I ran and jumped onto my dad's arms. He laughed and looked at Mitsu, who's trying to walk toward us.

“Don't scare me like that!”

“Remember Rayne, a ninja has to be ready for anything, especially when they least expect it.” I tilted my head to the side.

“What?” I asked innocently, “How can I be prepared if I don't expect it to happen?” My father chuckled and saw the boy who now reached them.

“What did my boy say?” He asked. I grinned and jumped down.

“He said my name!” I exclaimed proudly as my father picked him up.

“He did, did he?”

“Ray-nee-chan…”

“Rayne?

“RAYNE!” I groan from the light that peeked through from under eyelid. I looked at Naruto who was kneeling over me. I noted that Sakura and Sasuke were there too. I tried to sit up but pain suddenly shot through me. I winced and ended up falling back down.

"Are you okay?" Sakura asked.

"Depends, am I dead?"

"No," Sakura said.

“Am I in pain?”

“Yes.”

“Then no.”

"Hey, hey Rayne, what happened?" Naruto asked. I sweatdropped. "I was kinda hoping you'd tell me."

"Well, you were climbing and then you just...fell. Well first you fell, hit a tree branch, then fell again.” Naruto explained with large hand gestures and a spastic voice. I felt my side. "I'm gunna have the bruise to show it," I said bitterly.

"But you didn't hit the ground though. Sasuke caught you and we brought you back here," Naruto went on. I blinked then looked at Sasuke, who seemed extremely interested in the floorboards. I smiled slightly.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, especially to you.” Sasuke glared at me, “But thanks Uchiha.”

"Hn."

"But guess what!" I looked over at Naruto. "Hm?"

"After Tsunami told us to leave, we went back into the woods and something funny happened!" I looked at Naruto with an eyebrow raised and made a mental note to thank Tsunami later.

"Well to put it bluntly, Sasuke asked for help!" Naruto cracked up laughing. I blinked, then started laughing with Naruto, trying to picture THE great Uchiha Sasuke asking for assistance.

"D-Dont make me laugh!! Y-You're hurting my c-chest!" Sasuke glared. Sakura looked from Rayne to Naruto with a frown. I clutched your chest and slowed my breathing.

“Supper's ready!" we heard Tsunami call.

"Here, I'll help you Ray-nee-chan," Naruto offered still chuckling slightly. He helped me stand up and I leaned on him slightly. Sasuke and Sakura exited with Naruto and I following. In the hallway Sasuke lingered a bit and kept glancing back at us, seeing us talking. I looked up one time at him and saw him glare at Naruto but looked away after seeing me. I looked at Naruto in confusion, wondering what's wrong with Sasuke. We walked into the dinning room to find Kakashi, Tazuna and Inari already seated. The rest of us sat down as Tsunami brought some food over. Sakura and Tazuna were at the heads of the table. Naruto was on Sakura's left with Kakashi next to him. Sasuke was on Sakura's right with me next to him and Inari next to me.

"It's been quite some time since we sat down to a meal with so many people," Tazuna commented. I looked up from my bowl as Sasuke and Naruto began shoving food into their faces.

"I want some more!" They said at the same time standing up. Sakura and I watched them. Then suddenly they both turned green and bent over their chairs. My eye twitched,

"I'm not very hungry anymore..."

"If you're gonna throw up then don't eat so much!" Sakura yelled, an anger mark on her forehead.

"We have to..." Sasuke started.

"We have to become as strong as possible, as fast as possible," Naruto said wiping his mouth and looking at Sasuke. Kakashi looked at me. "Rayne..."

You looked him. "Hm?"

"I don't want you to train tomorrow. In your current condition, it would defiantly not be good," Kakashi told me.

"But sensei-" I started protesting

"And by not good, I mean deadly."

"Kakashi-sensei, simply eating could be deadly, but I'm doing it. Well, I'm not anymore," I hissed, glaring at Sasuke and Naruto.

"You know what I mean."

You sighed. "Fine" but instead thinking, “I can rest for half a day then train the other half. I can't let cockatoo pretty boy and Naruto beat me!”

“She's going to train anyway. Someone as stubborn as her wouldn't give in that easy.” Kakashi sighed. “But she's going to go against me no matter what so may as well not say anything.”

Everyone was sitting at the table, a cup in hand. Except for Tsunami and Sakura that was. Tsunami was washing dishes and Sakura was staring at the single picture on the kitchen wall.

"Excuse me...but why is this picture torn?" Sakura asked. All of us looked at her.

"Inari was looking at it all through dinner," Sakura continued. I looked at Inari.

“Yeah,I did notice that... I felt Tazuna, Tsunami and Inari grow tense.

"My husband..." Tsunami said, her back to everyone.

"The man once called hero in this country..." Tazuna started. I watched as Inari stood up from next to you and walked to a door.

"Inari, where are you going?" Tsunami asked. Inari said nothing and shut the door behind him. Tsunami walked over to the door and opened it.

"Father! How many times must I tell you not to talk about him like that around Inari?" Tsunami walked through the door as well and closed it. It was silent for a moment and we turned back to Tazuna.

"What is wrong with Inari?" Sakura asked.

"Obviously he's upset," you said in a no-duh tone.

"I know! I wanted to know why!" Sakura said giving you a cold stare.

"Then you should have said that in the first place," I answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and besides, she was starting to be annoying again.

"Can you two not argue for once?" Sasuke asked from beside me.

"Depends, can you and Naruto get along?" I countered. Sasuke said nothing but rolled his eyes.

“Can you two stop arguing?” Naruto asked. Sasuke glared while I shook my head in a `no' form and sigh.

“It seems as though only Naruto and I can go through being a team without arguing…much. Sakura obeys your every demand so that doesn't cound.” I said. Sakura glared while Sasuke smirk.

“Although it seems as though you like to start the arguing…”

“Do not. Only the actions of people make me want to saw something, and when I do we argue. Not my fault.” I countered. Sasuke and I then started to have a glaring battle with everyone sighing in the background. Kakashi looked at Tazuna and changed the subject,

"There seems to be a story behind this..." We all turned our attention back to Tazuna.

"Inari had a father, not related by blood, but they were just as close as if they were. Inari use to laugh a lot back then but..." Tazuna clenched his fists and his voice grew shaky. Tears fell from Tazuna's eyes.

"But...Inari has changed since the incident with his father. The courage has been stolen from Inari and this country forever ever since that day, ever since that incident."

"Incident?" Kakashi questioned.

"Before I get into that, I first must tell you about the man who was called a hero in this country," Tazuna said taking off his glasses and wiping his eyes. Tazuna started his story. The man spoken about went by the name of Kaiza. He had saved Inari's life when he almost drowned. He had been a simple fisherman, but with more courage than a lion.

"After that Inari and Kaiza became very close. Inari's real father had died when Inari was very young, but Kiaza and Inari became inseparable. It wasn't long before Kiaza became part of the family and the city needed a man like Kaiza." Tazuna plunged into another story. How Kaiza singly saved the country from drowning. I smiled, this man seemed so inspirational.

“If something is truely precious to you, even if you lose your life, with your two arms, you must protect it”
Those were the words spoken by Kaiza...a true hero.

"It was after Kaiza saved the city was he known as a hero. Inari couldn't have been prouder. But Gatoh came to this country not long after that." Tazuna's story then turned dark. When Kaiza stood up to Gatoh, Gatoh got angry. He beat Kaiza and broke both his arms. The next day the city and Inari watched as Kaiza was killed.

“So Inari...saw his parent die too...” I snuck a glance at Sasuke, he was staring at the table. I looked a everyone else, they were all still looking at Tazuna.

"From that day, Inari changed. So did Tsunami and the whole population..." The words echoed in Naruto's head "Hero? Are you that stupid? There's no such thing as a hero!" Naruto stood up but fell over.

"What are you doing Naruto?" Sakura asked.

"If you're thinking of training, I would rest if I were you. You have used up too much chakra, use any more and you'll die," Kakashi said.

Naruto looked up. "I'm going to prove it..."

"Prove what?" Sakura asked. Naruto stood up and clenched his hand into a fist. "I'm going to prove that in this world, there are people known as heroes!" I smiled,

"Then I'll help you!" I stood up, only to fall backwards in my chair. Everyone sweatdropped.

Sasuke shook his head, muttering. "Idiots..."

“I don't see you doing anything about it…” I harshly said back as I manage to stand up with Naruto helping.

LATER THAT NIGHT…. Still Rayne's pov…

 

I was laying on my bed next to Sakura, me being closer to the door. Naruto ran out back into the woods earlier and now… it's time for bed. But for some reason, I couldn't…. and I know why. I can never go to bed knowing a storm is coming. And as for storm, it can mean a real storm or just something big. So much for being lucky and having the Kouseki bloodline. I stood up and walked out the door, not sure where my feet was taking me. I didn't notice, but Kakashi and Tazuna was in the dining room.

“Huh? Where's she going?” Tazuna asked.

“Just leave her alone.” Kakashi answered. They then continued to talk. I noticed I was in front of Naruto and Sasuke's room.

“Why am I here? Naru's not here…” Instead of my better judgment, I knocked on the door. I heard a moan and footsteps.

“Sasuke moaning? OoOoOoOo… I wonder if he's doing anything naughty.” I ginned to myself. He opened the door and asked,

“What do you want?” I took at good look at him before answering. His hair was sticking up in more random places (if that's even possible….) he has a light blue shirt and gray sweatpants. Compared to me, it looked like he was going to the gym. I was wearing a light tank-top and shorts.

“Can't sleep so I thought,” I shrugged my shoulders, “Might as well come bother you since Naru's not here.” Sasuke sigh and opened the door, which I enter. He went back to his bed with me following, sitting on Naruto's bed. Sasuke and Rayne sat in silence, until Rayne asked,

“Can I stay here the night?” Sasuke looked up at her to see her looking to the side with a small…blush? Yeah, blush and fidgeting with the blankets. He smirk and walked toward her,

“What's that I see? A blush?” He teased. Rayne's cheek heated up more thanks to the distance that Sasuke created. She moved in close toward his face, making him frozen in shock. However, she continued past his face and whispered to his ear,

“It may be, but I see one on your face too.” She then pulled back and gave a small innocent smile. Sasuke pulled back in surprised but turned around and huff.

“Hn. Sleep on Naruto's bed.” He then went under the covers of his bed, Rayne doing the same. After a few moments, Sasuke asked,

“Rayne.”

“Hm…?” Rayne asked lazily from her side of the room. Unknowing to them, there was more than four ears listening.

 

3rd POV

 

Kakashi and Tazuna was walking back toward their own rooms when they past by Sasuke and Naruto's room, stopping when they heard one word,

“Rayne.” From Sasuke. They stopped, glance at eachother wondering why Rayne was with Sasuke and decided to listen. From the window inside the room, two more people were listening in.

“I remember…” Sasuke paused, making Rayne turn to her side facing him. He did the same and continued, “I remember you saying that your mother was from Kirigakure, but you're from Konoha, right?” Rayne sigh.

“My family is very weird Sasuke, we all know and have bloodline limits that we're not suppose to have.”

“What do you mean?” Sasuke asked softly.

“My mother was from Kirigakure, that's right but you see, my grandfather was a Kouseki, my grandmother wasn't. The Kouseki clan has a strict rule about marriage. We're only suppose to marry from within our clan unless it was accepted by the councilors.” Rayne paused, catching her breath because her chest still hurt. Sasuke noticed and waited, “My grandfather, a Kouseki, loved my grandmother but she was from a clan in Kirigakure. The councilors wouldn't approve of it and he left, marring my grandmother. My mother took my grandfather's last name making her Kouseki Akari, or Crystal Light.” Rayne cough lightly and Sasuke was about to move toward her but she stopped and continued talking. “So she came to Konoha and trained her because she didn't want to take the exams there after what happened. I mean, she could've taken it sooner but she decided not to until she was older when she could have been as strong as a Jounin. When she came here she met my dad, Hane Fushigi. Hane's not his real last name but he said that his last name has feathers part of it so he took `Hane' as his last name. Mother found the Kouseki clan and they accepted her, thinking she won't come back to grandfather. Instead, after a few years' mother and father wanted to marry but the counselors wouldn't agree, eventhough dad's from a very power clan since they know his real last name, so they ran away. They came back here to Kirigakure and had me. But then we moved back when I was about two and a half and had Mitsu when I was three.” Rayne then became drowsy and started falling asleep but continued talking, “The Kouseki clan specializes in wind and I do specialize in that but since my mother was from here I learned and now specialize in water jutsus too…” Rayne trailed off falling fast asleep. Sasuke sigh at the girl, falling asleep while talking. He got up and walked toward her bed.

“Stupid girl…” He muttered moving her closer toward the middle of the bed. His hands linger at her face for a moment before turning around and going to bed himself. Kakashi and Tazuna agreed to keep this conversation quiet and both left to sleep in their own room. Outside though, the two sat on the tree.

“That's why she knows so much water jutsus.” One of them concluded while the other nod and the first one continued, “But we haven't seen her use any wind jutsus yet, and she says she specialize in it. Heh, can't wait to see those.”

 

ER… EARLY MORNING IN THE 6TH DAY OF TRAINING… still 3rd POV

 

"Good morning," Sakura yawned as she joined everyone at breakfast. Rayne took her head off her hand and put on a shocked face. "Oh my God, Sakura!"

She seemed a little shock at her outburst. "What!?"

"Your hair! You're shirt!"

"My hair!?!" Sakura freaked out and ran from the room, probably to the nearest mirror. When she exited the room Rayne cracked up laughing, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her hair, except its color.

“Rayne," Kakashi said in a stern voice. She coughed stopping her laughter. "I'm sorry sensei, won't happen again." Sakura walked into the room. She sat down, she didn't seem mad at all.

"Uh Sakura...?" She looked at Rayne and smiled,

"Not to worry, I got rid of those three hairs sticking up. I also washed the dirt off my shirt." Rayne sweatdropped and watched as Sasuke rolled his eyes. Sakura saw too and she frowned. Tsunami came to the table and placed down food.

"Naruto didn't come back again last night?" Tazuna asked. Sakura rubbed her eyes. "He's so dumb, he's been climbing trees every night this week.” Rayne looked up, noticing for the first time Naruto wasn't there. Usually, she'd be out with him but last night she stayed with Sasuke collapsing.

"Okay, Sasuke, Rayne, it's time to beat you!" Naruto yelled...again.

"Yeah right Naruto," She said running at her tree. The three of them were head to head. Each glanced at each other as they ran.

KATHUMP

 

 

“Crap!” Rayne's body suddenly stiffened and she started falling. She didn't pass out, but her whole body seemed to be frozen.

"Ray-nee-chan!!" She heard Naruto yell. Suddenly she was jolted back to normal. She felt...warm, a comforting feeling. Rayne looked up.

"SASUKE!?!?!" She yelled so loud you fell on the ground.

"Ow!" Rayne rubbed her backside. "Why'd you drop me!?"

"You're the one who yelled," Sasuke said glaring.

"Well… you still didn't have to drop me…!" Rayne finally said. Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." Rayne spit her tongue out and rested against a tree.

"He could have used up too much chakra and died by now.." Sakura said shrugging. Rayne looked at her coldly.

"Don't say things like that..." She gave Rayne a weird look that she returned with a glare. She closed her eyes and shrugged again.

"There's no need to worry," Kakashi stated.

"I don't know...he could be dead for all we know," Sasuke said. Rayne flicked a spoonful of rice at him. He brushed it out of his hair and glared. She returned that also. Sasuke then stood up.

"Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"I'm going for a walk," he said and walked to the door.

"But we're about to eat breakfast..." Sakura looked at his plate...that only had crumbs.

"That was fast..." she muttered. Rayne sighed and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Kakashi asked. Rayne didn't say anything but walked to the door. She felt everyone's eyes watching her as you closed the door behind her. She sighed as she kicked a pebble along the road.

“Naruto, just how strong is it that you want to be?” Rayne looked up as she heard the scuffing of feet. A really pretty girl in a pink kimino held a basket and walked past her. Rayne turned and watched her back.

"Your friend is a little ahead," the girl said stopping. Rayne looked at the girl's back,

"You met Naruto?" The girl turned around and smiled,

“Yes. A charming young fellow."

“Charming, eh?” Rayne smirked slightly. "Let me guess, he told you all about his dream of becoming Hokage?" The girl looked at you with soft brown eyes.

"Yes, how did you know?" Rayne laughed slightly. "He tells that to everyone and their mother." The girl laughed quietly. Rayne looked at the basket in the girl's hand.

"Medical herbs?" The girl looked down at her basket then up at Rayne. "You know these from a glance?"

"I read about them in a book. They for someone special?" The girl nodded. "Yes, he is hurt very badly."

"He? A boyfriend?" Rayne asked. The girl laughed in her quiet voice again.

"Oh no, I'm a guy." Rayne's mouth dropped. “No way!! He's prettier than me!!!” The boy smiled,

"Is that bad?" Rayne rubbed the back of her head,

"I'm sorry...it's just that, you're way prettier than me." The boy smiled.

"No, I think you have a very pretty face." Rayne blushed slightly and looked off toward the side but smiled lightly.

"Thank you." The boy nodded and smiled.

"Well, I must be on my way. I hope we meet again." Rayne nodded as the boy turned back around and continued on his way. She sighed and turned around also. Rayne walked into a clearing just in time to see Sasuke punch Naruto and Naruto yell out. Rayne sweatdropped.

"You missed breakfast," Sasuke said crossing his arms as Naruto nursed the new bump on his head.

"Trying to find excuses to knock around people now Sasuke?" She asked, walking up beside Sasuke.

“Naruto!" Sakura called from next to Kakashi. "What is he doing? Sasuke and Rayne didn't come back either..." Suddenly a kunai landed right in between Kakashi and Sakura. Sakura gasped and stepped back looking up. Naruto grinned stupidly from up on a high branch.

“No way, someone like Naruto can climb that high?” Sakura thought.

"So what do you think? Look how tall I got!" Naruto bragged. Naruto stood up on the branch but started to lose footing.

"BAKKA!!" Sakura yelled. Kakashi's eye widened. Naruto started to fall and Sakura yelled. Naruto swung down but attached his feet to the branch.

"Haha, got you!" Naruto grinned, hanging upside down on the branch. Suddenly came a sickening popping sound. Naruto yelled out as he began to fall. For a moment, time froze.

"NARUTO!!" Sakura yelled.

"AAAHHH-oopp?" Naruto looked up.

"Naruto, you moron," Rayne said crouching on the branch upside down, holding onto Naruto's ankle.

“Rayne!" Sakura said with relief.

"Ha, that was a close one!" Naruto exclaimed punching his fist out.

"Ah! Naruto you idiot!" Rayne yelled as his weight started to pull her forward. Naruto started screaming as she let out a gasp. The two of them began to fall until Rayne felt a jolt. Rayne and Naruto looked up to see Sasuke holding onto the hem of Rayne's vest.

"Bakkas," Sasuke muttered.

"Sasuke-kun! You're the best!!" Sakura yelled from the ground. Rayne and Naruto swayed slightly from side to side. Rayne let out a mushroom sigh.

“I can't believe Mr. Ego saved me...again!”

"Shall we go back?" Sasuke asked. Naruto and Rayne looked over at him. The three of them had been out all day, and now it was night, the full, silvery moon illuminating their bodies. Now, all three of them were on the very top of three trees, sitting and looking out around.

"Yeah!" Naruto shouted. Rayne laughed slightly. The door opened as Rayne and Sasuke walked in, supporting Naruto between the two of them.

"Hm? The three of you are filthy," Tazuna observed as the three of them walked in.

“Really? I guess we're suppose to be squeaky clean since we keep on falling down again and again,” Rayne said sarcastically, looking up. Naruto and Sasuke looked up as well. Naruto grinned.

"The three of us made it...all the way to the top."

"Good. Naruto, Sasuke, Rayne, tomorrow you'll go back to protecting Tazuna on the bridge," Kakashi announced.

"Yeah!" Naruto shouted jumping up. He lost his footing and fell, bringing Rayne and Sasuke down with him.

"You're such a total loser," Sasuke insulted. Everyone started laughing. Rayne fell completely back and smiled.

"The bridge is nearing completion, all thanks to you guys," Tazuna announced after dinner.

"But please don't overdo it," Tsunami said collecting the dishes.

"I've been wanting to ask, why did you still go along with the mission even though I lied to you about it?" Tazuna asked. Kakashi looked at him.

"To abandon one's duty is not courageous. Below the courageous, there is nothing. Those are the first Hokage's words," Kakashi finished to answer the silence.

"Why?" Everyone turned to Inari. Tears streamed down his face as he stood up and slammed his hands down on the table.

"Why do you try so hard!? Even if you do train, you cannot defeat Gatoh's men! No matter how hard you work, no matter how hard you try! Against the strong, the weak always lose!" Inari exclaimed.

"Just shut up. I'm different than you," Naruto said resting his head on his crossed arms.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about this country and yet you butt in! You don't know what's it like! You haven't had a hard life!" Inari shouted. Rayne was taken aback. She stood up shadows covering her eyes. Rayne looked at Inari, her eyes fierce.

"An idiot like you should just keep crying! You baby!" Naruto shouted. Everyone's attention went from Rayne to Naruto.

"Naruto! You went too far!" Sakura scolded.

“Or maybe not far enough..." Rayne growled said quietly. Sasuke and Kakashi looked at her. Naruto turned his head and stood up. Closing his eyes he walked away. Sasuke looked from Naruto back to Rayne. She caught his gaze and turned her head. Inari looked at her. She closed her eyes and walked to the door, slamming it behind her. Kakashi looked away from his two angry students. His gaze went to Inari, who stood crying.

~~~~~~

Inari sat with his knees to his chest. The tip of his sandals went past the wood flooring stretching off the house. The water rippled silently. Rayne watched silently from the rooftop while Kakashi came outside. Inari looked up at him as Kakashi sat down.

"Naruto didn't mean any harm by what he said, sometimes he just says things without thinking.
We were told the story of your father. Like you, Naruto grew up without a father too. In fact, he didn't know either of his parents. But, I never seen him cry, sulk or give up. He's always trying his best to get people to look his way. For that dream, he'd risk his life without a second thought." Inari looked away from Kakashi to the water. After a moment he looked back to Kakashi.

"But...Rayne?" Rayne perked her head up at the sound of her name. She was laying on the rooftop of the house, back on the shingles and hands behind her head. Kakashi closed his eyes for a second but opened them.

"Rayne's a little different. She's a lot more quiet then Naruto, but a lot the same. Both her parents were killed when she was younger and she really only had one true friend and another friend that she talks to. She has a goal and she does everything in her power to achieve it, pretending nothing is wrong as she does so. She also had to protect her brother, who doesn't know her at all. In fact, he never knew that he had a sister and lives with a foster family. I'm assuming the reason you acted out earlier had offended her. I've never seen Rayne look weak and when you shouted out what you did, it must have insulted her, as if you were calling her weak." Inari looked back out at the water. Rayne eyes softened slightly as she watched the moon.

"They both know what it means to be strong, just like your father. The two of them probably know exactly what you're going through. The thing Naruto said to you earlier...he's probably said to himself a million times." Kakashi looked toward the ocean,

"He's used his body up to it's limit. I don't think he'll be able to move around," Kakashi and Inari walked back inside the house, leaving Rayne by herself. She looked up to the moon and stars, a habit she got from Shikamaru.

“So this is where you ran off to.” She heard someone say then walking towards her. The person stopped, then sat down.

“Cockatoo,” Rayne said, earning her a glare from Sasuke.

“What?” He asked after a moment.

“Don't tell anyone what I told you a couple of days ago, about my family. I don't even know why I told you.” Sasuke was quiet a moment before nodding and agreed. They stayed out there for a while, talking about random stuff, and actually having normal conversations, well, as normal as you can get from them.

NEXT DAY-MORNING

 

Team seven, minus one and including Tazuna, were assembled outside. Tsunami stood in front of them, seeing them off.

"Kakashi, your body is okay?" she asked. Kakashi nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just let Naruto stay here and rest." Tsunami nodded and the group was off.

NARUTO'S POV

I slowly opened my eyes. My ears picked up nothing, silence. I bolted upright in bed.

“I overslept!" I ran to the kitchen where Tsunami was washing dishes.

"Did everyone leave?'"

"Oh Naruto, your sensei gave you the day off. He said you needed to rest your body," she said. My mouth dropped. I ran into my room, quickly pulling off my clothing and getting dressed. I slipped on my sandals and ran out the door.

"I'm off!" Tsunami turned around as I slammed the door behind me.

"Dammit, they could have woken me up!" I complained as I hopped quickly through the trees.

"Hm?" my eye picked up something on the ground.

BACK TO THE REST OF THE TEAM

 

"W-what is this!?" Tazuna shouted. Sakura gasped as they saw all the slaughtered men on the bridge. From next to Rayne, Sasuke took a step forward with his eyes narrowed and Rayne also took a small step forwad.

WITH TSUNAMI AND INARI

 

"Inari! Can you come help me?" Tsunami called. Two ninjas stood outside the house, unsheathing their katanas.

WITH THE TEAM

Mist started to cover the area.

"Sasuke, Sakura, Rayne!" Kakashi warned. Tazuna stood in the middle of the circle the four had created with their bodies. Sasuke and Sakura took out kunais. Rayne took out her chackrams, holding it in front of her body.

“As I expected, he is alive. And he's already here…” Kakashi thought.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Kakashi, and I see you still have those brats with you. Pitiful, that one's still shaking," Zabuza's voice echoed through the mist. Rayne's eyes widened slightly as water clones surrounded them. Sasuke smirked.

"I'm shaking...with excitement."

"Have at it Sasuke," Kakashi said. As the water clones lunged, Sasuke sliced through them. He spent less then a second on each clone.

"Oh? So he's seen through the water clones? The brat's improved." Raune narrowed her eyes as she looked over her shoulder. Zabuza stepped into their vision, the boy from before stepping up beside him.

"It looks like a rival has appeared, eh Haku?" Zabuza said.

"It seem so...."

 

so I added two chapters `cause I won't be updating this weekend, like always, and maybe not Monday. I donno, maybe I will if I'm done with the stuff on the weekend. So I made chapter 10 and 11 extra long for that. Hope you guys like it!!