A/N: Another short chapter I'm afraid. Still not sure where this story is going. Still have to write and upload in the library so you'll get updates when you get them i suppose. Also i haven't checked the grammar or cleaned it up cause the library is closing soon so sorry about that.

Chapter IV

A deep frustration loomed within the dark cage of the seal as Kyūbi sat amongst the scrolls she had memorized front to back. The whole point of learning seals and teaching them to Naruto was to be free, yet the blond hadn't made much progress. Kyūbi wrapped her tails around herself as she lost in thought. As containers went shouldn't ask for much better, the boy was loyal to a fault and so desperate for her attention the decades of hatred she held were slowly being chipped at but she refused to acknowledge that it had anything to do with Naruto. Besides above all else she still desired freedom.

One of her abilities being able to sense negative emotions allowed her unparalleled sensor powers even when she couldn't see through Naruto's senses. Because truly every human in the world felt negative emotions and acted within a certain way, some more strongly than others, thus no one could hide from her or Naruto.

Her abilities along with his meant he was strong, abnormally so, but Naruto never flaunted his power. No he was clinical and efficient. But human, so even if he was stronger than most shinobi in Konoha even without using her chakra, he was known to make mistakes.

Thus remembering standing in front of Danzo listening to the old war-hawk demean Naruto for his failure with the rebels, Kyūbi felt the waves of negative emotions rolling of her 'son' at the thought of killing the old man.

"Calm down gaki" she spoke in his mind "he's still our best bet to get me out, they all know I'm in you but they would kill us before releasing me… that mans greed is still our ticket out."

"Hai, kāsan" the blond thought back.

Kyūbi was drawn to the other negative emotions she felt, Kakashi's was well hidden but she could still feel unease coming from the Jonin. The drunk walking with them down the road had fear and anxiety rolling off him.

Further away from Naruto, Sakura walked quietly next to Sasuke, the pink haired genin gave off anxiety as well and sadness. Sasuke radiated annoyance and buried behind it all was hate, true hate. She scoffed to herself 'as true hate as a human could feel anyway, he doesn't understand true hate and suffering'.

Naruto heard his mother go quiet and focused on the road blocking out conversations the others were trying to have, mostly Sakura talking and Kakashi answering.

After coming around a slight bend in the road Naruto felt the negative emotions of the killers hidden in the puddle way down the road, probably before Kakashi even noticed the puddle itself. Letting out his Kekkei Genkai slowly his second sensory ability allowed him to detect magnetic fields and metals themselves. Seeing as Kakashi wasn't doing anything after glancing at the puddle Naruto decided to act just as they burst from the puddle killing his sensei.

Making a one handed ram seal he muttered "Satetsu Shigure."

Sasuke who was about to move on the offensive decided against it when he saw Naruto's sand form in the air. He had seen a few of the dark clothed boy's attacks to warrant caution. So he got in a defensive position in front of Sakura and Tazuna.

The sand had shaped like hundreds of senbon needles and shot after the two ninja in front of him as soon as he muttered his attacks name.

Meizu the more hot headed of the two brothers was just planning on defending with his gauntlet but Gōzu knew better and so in a split second calculation he unhooked his chain and kicked his twin. Shock registered on Meizu's face as he flew off to the side and saw the detached chain trail him "Gōzu!" he managed to cry before his twin brother was littered with hundreds of black needles.

Meizu saw his brother's last shuddering breath and flew into a rage, there was no time to think this was a battle so steeling himself he charged at the boy who had taken his brother from him. Not noticing the sand leaving his brother and forming behind him as a small wave of undulating metal blades.

He would never realize how luck he was when Kakashi suddenly appeared and knocked him out "maa, maa Naruto I got it from here."

Sakura looked slightly sick at seeing the bleeding Gōzu behind her sensei but was too relieved that Kakashi was actually alive "Sensei! You're ok!?"

Sasuke looked to Naruto and watched as the sand return to him "he's not just brutal in training, he killed without hesitation. I need to train more…"

Kakashi dragged the unconscious shinobi away while a clone sealed up his brothers body "I need to talk with him, guard Tazuna I'll be right back."

Sakura finally calmed down realized she witnessed her first kill and she was troubled about how Naruto made it look so easy. Sure in the academy they had specialized classes that dealt with the fact they'd be taking a life or using sex as a weapon but finally seeing what she had spent years learning mad her worry.

"He really killed him… will I be able to do that…" she thought then noticed Naruto look at her and tilt his head kind of like a confused puppy, she almost giggled but she felt that now would be inappropriate.

She had started taking note of her other teammate, mainly because she was very observant when she wanted to be and she wasn't the top kunoichi of her class for nothing. She noticed that Naruto seemed to be able to sense others occasionally, she hadn't pinpointed everything and was afraid to ask him. But she had seen him on multiple occasions when she was feeling strongly about something and lost in thought, that he would stop what he was doing and no matter how far away he was from her he'd turn his goggle covered eyes to her.

Before she could start over analyzing everything Kakashi returned looking slightly unhappy as if he didn't get what he wanted from the man "Well lets go team, I sent a message for our prisoner to be picked up so no time to dawdle."

Tazuna looked relieved and followed the team quietly.

XXX

Back in Konoha the pale-eyed Hyūga heiress stood with one of Naruto's clones she was still unsure of how he was able to use them from so far away, though she supposed with their own chakra systems they could be away from him until they ran out. She wasn't exactly a knowledgeable person when it came to ninjutsu. Naruto in the times since they began sparring became more of a partner and a sensei. She would never say out loud but she felt she was learning more from Naruto than she was Kurenai.

Now she was practicing her family's taijutsu all the while wearing a weighted vest and on her arms and legs plus using resistance bands. To top that all off though she was actually striking a tree getting her body truly used to punishment and toughening it up. Occasionally Naruto would throw one of his sand shuriken at her or try to trip her just to mix it up.

"Hinata-chan" the clone said still making it sound like he had difficulty addressing her this way.

Finishing her kata to hide her blush, she liked when he addressed her as such even though she was still confused about whether they were dating or not, she didn't dare asked him and just assumed they were "h-hai Naruto-kun."

"I feel we should up your training, your endurance isn't increasing enough" he said.

Feeling her aching muscles and her sweat drenched body she blanched at Naruto-clone. She didn't mind the training but it was already so tough that on her days off she just lay around unable to move a muscle, how much more could she endure.

Unknown to her Naruto had given his clone a mission silently, to gather more information on her so along with this new training came a plan to eat with her. Kakashi had mentioned people are more open when relaxed and around good food and drink.

"After sparring and our morning workouts we will now run two miles a day, until you are used to it and are able to do it quick enough, we increase by increments by two miles each time I feel you have adjusted."

Hinata felt like she may actually get upset and voice her opinion but his next words killed any thought of that.

Looking at the sky he said "if you finish before sundown ill take you to dinner my treat."

Although that's all he meant, Hinata had heard differently and was as red as a tomato "our first date oh my…"

Poking her index finger together "h-hai… let's s-start onegai…"

XXX

Back with Team Seven they made their way to the land of waves, chattering peaceably between the members as they discussed future training regimes. Kakashi smiled as he listened in on his genin team glad they were taking their jobs seriously. He would talk to them later about the death of the enemy to make sure they were alright. Looking to Naruto he had to agree with the Hokage who had mentioned quietly to him not long ago that he believed Naruto had been part of Danzo's ROOT program. The Hokage said he had never seen Naruto kill but he got the feeling from the boy like most seasoned warriors he could spot someone who had spilled their fair share of blood. There were a bunch of reports of Naruto harming people around him when annoyed, like a kid lashing out, he assumed Naruto's mental development may be stunted.

The other thing that bothered him is that the Hokage had also mentioned one of his ANBU spent a lot of time watching the boy. Which wouldn't be a big deal but it seemed she was doing this on her off hours, and he couldn't pinpoint what her relationship was to the Jinchūriki yet.

His senses picked up the movement off to the side at the same time he saw Naruto's sand shaped as a spike slam into the bushes.

Sakura squeaked and then made a face as Naruto's tendril of sand drug out a dead white rabbit "dinner?" asked Sasuke with a smirk. Suddenly a wall of iron sand solidified in front of them as a huge sword slammed into it.

"Interesting" came the voice from up on a branch "you got a Kekkei Genkai kid… haven't seen that one before… a bunch of brats out playing ninja eh?"

"We aren't playing!" said Sasuke "we are ninja…"

The man cut him off "When you've hovered between life and death so many times that it doesn't faze you, you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly that your profile has been entered into my bingo book, then you may have earned the title ninja."

" Momochi Zabuza, Kirigakure no Kijin (Demon of the Hidden Mist) one of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū (Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist) and a nukenin" declared Kakashi but then saw his insane sand wielding 'genin' make and arm of sand and pick up Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō (Decapitating Carving Knife).

The sand arm cocked back and then with great force chopped at the nukenin, only to cut through the water clone the tree and slam the sword into the ground almost to the hilt.

"Impressive" came Zabuza's voice as the mist in the area thickened at the same time his voice said evilly "Kirigakure no Jutsu."

"Team gather around Tazuna, Naruto you're on defense let me handle it from here" said Kakashi as he disappeared into the mist raising his headband but the genin didn't get to see his Sharingan.

Sadly the mist kept Kakashi from being able to fully utilize his Sharingan, adopting a defensive stance he began making clones and setting out traps as he devised as many plans as he could while keeping his senses focused on Zabuza. Meanwhile he had felt Naruto's chakra after he told him to defend the client so he could only assume the boy made one of his crazy contraptions like he had seen when training his team.

Sure enough Tazuna and the rest of team seven were under a dome of metal, Naruto had activated a flashlight as he did it so they weren't in complete darkness.

"Do you think sensei will be ok?" asked Sakura.

Naruto was using his sensory skills to follow the battle "without having to work about us he will be able to fight to his full ability, besides if sensei doesn't kill him I will."

Sakura looked at Naruto with worry but she suspected that he might in fact be as strong as their Jonin sensei. Sasuke wasn't as sure but he was willing to fight given the chance.

"Uh Naruto how will we know what's going on and when it's safe to come out?" Sakura asked "what if that Zabuza guy tries to trick us into coming out?"

"I'm keeping track of the battle, I know where they're at and who is who, besides this dome goes all the way underground there is no way anyone can get in if I don't let them."

"How are you keeping track of the battle when you're stuck in here with us?" asked Sasuke.

"I'm also a sensor" said Naruto "it's a special ability I have that allows me to feel negative emotions, I know Kakashi's so I can follow along, and this Zabuza's not hiding his killing intent he's like a beacon in the dark to me."

Sakura looked at the boy "oh… so you can feel our negative thoughts?"

He shook his head "no, your emotions. It would be difficult to explain it to someone who can't feel what I feel. And I can't always tell exactly what a person is feeling, but the longer I am around them I get used to their emotions and it becomes easier."

"Wait so that's why you're always looking at me?" she asked.

He raised an eyebrow "when you get upset I can feel it so I look to make sure my teammate is ok."

Sakura blushed faintly "aww he was worried about me."

"Cha as a teammate! Besides Sasuke-kun is still better!"

"I-it's not like I like him like that! H-he's just the f-first person to notice when I feel down since Ino and I stopped being f-friends…" she thought sadly.

Her inner voice quieted down, and even Sasuke contemplated on his teammates sensory skills. They sounded useful if a bit odd.

XXX

Outside the dome both shinobi were tiring but on mostly equal ground as Kakashi couldn't use his full arsenal or his Sharingan but after noticing the dome as mist cleared from one of his fire Jutsu he knew his team was safe so Zabuza had his full attention.

" Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" Kakashi said making a copy of himself then both started performing the many hand seals needed before he called out with his clone "Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)."

Zabuza realizing his mist was dissipating from the movement loss of chakra and all the ninjutsu flying around went on the defensive. Dodging the dragons flying at him he made his own hand seals only to stop and duck under the swipe of a kunai. His sword still jammed in the ground left him to defend with his own kunai. It wasn't until he blocked did he realize his mistake when he noticed the second Kakashi flying at him with great speed "Raikiri! (Lightning Cutter)"

Zabuza twisted at the last second do dodge the fatal blow but it ended up with him taking the kunai to the shoulder and the lightning technique severing his left arm "ARGH!" he cried out.

Before Kakashi could finish off the demon a hail of senbon needles began to rain on him taking out his clone and forcing him to jump back. A ninja dressed as a hunter-nin grabbed the one armed man and used Kiri-Shunshin (Mist Body Flicker) to escape.

Kakashi held his position until they were gone then dropped to his knee, he didn't have to wait long to notice his genin emerge from their protective dome.

"Sensei!" Sakura cried out "are you alright?"

"Hai, hai" he said "just chakra exhaustion… it was an intense fight…"

Then he collapsed just as Naruto's sand scooped him up and carried him beside them as if he was on a stretcher, Sasuke looked at Tazuna "we best get moving, are we almost to your home?"

"Uh… yeah" the old drunk said "follow me."

"I didn't see enough blood today…"

"Sorry Kāsan, someday…" Naruto thought then looked to the buried sword, using his sand he pulled it out and carried that too.

"enough of that" she said feeling his sadness creeping up on her not daring to admit that affected, even if it was a very minuscule amount "finish this stupid mission we got more important stuff to worry about!"

"Hai mother…" he unknowingly said out loud but only Sakura had heard him.

She glanced at him in confusion and worry.