To Shatter

Even the blossoming flowers will eventually scatter…

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Blood, blood everywhere.

Naruto is slumped against the concrete, face down in a pool of his own crimson liquid. He's so cold…he's freezing. It's like there's ice in his veins. And it feels like it's so hard to move…

Screams ring in his ear. Loud, so, so loud. They're pitiful screams of a young, broken kunoichi and Naruto can't bear to hear them.

'...sakura-chan…'

The screams are louder, ripping through the air, the pitch and tone increasing with every second.

'Stopstopstop please', he pleads.

The screams cut off harshly, turning into a fit of choking, of gagging. A gurgle of blood. He clenches his fists, eyes closing as he tries to move, but he feels so slow, and he's trying to get up but he just can't…

It stops. And Naruto's head slumps to the ground, bare, bloodied skin touching the concrete. There are unshed tears in his eyes.

'..sa..kura…'

Short coughs, labored breathing. His eyes are closed, blood dripping from his forehead, down his face. The sound of steel ringing as it clashes echoes in his mind. They sound…close? But far away? Everything's hazy…and he's so tired…

Naruto's numb body barely feels the massive one sided blade plunge through his chest. His mouth opens in a silent scream, eyes widening in shock, his hands twitching as he lies face down against the hard concrete.

The blade sinks, slicing through him, forcing him down, scraping his cheek against the rough concrete. 'God it hurts so much. Kakashi-sensei…Make it stop, make it stop…'

The massive blade digs deeper, pinning him to the ground, tearing through his bone and muscle and blood, splattering him all over the stone underneath. The sound of heavy breathing above him turns into a deep, throaty chuckle.

"Hurts don't it you fucking gaki", says a voice. It isn't a question and Naruto can almost hear the feral grin that he knows is plastered on the face staring down at him. His teeth grit as he bears the pain. The blade twists in Naruto's chest, taking his breath away. He bites through his tongue in sheer agony and shock. Blood splatters out of his mouth, dripping down his chin.

"That was for my fucking arm, you stupid brat."

The blade twist again and the pain is unbearable for the orange clad genin. He screams too. Just like Sakura-chan... But it isn't a loud and desperate scream. It's a broken one, rough, like his vocal cords are cut.

"That's right, scream. No one's left to save you now. You're precious teammates are dead. Dead."

Dead. The word echoes in his mind. Dead. No. No. . .no. Not Sakura-chan…not Sasuke-teme… He can't bear the thought. It hurts more that the blade plunged into his chest. Not his team. Not his family…

"Yeah that's right. Dead. And you and your washed up jounin sensei are next."

No! Not Kakashi-sensei! Please not Kakashi-sensei…

"You know, for a legend, he's been quite easy to deal with. Guess it was all hype after all. Typical leaf shinobi."

Momochi Zabuza laughs, dark, twisted sounds ripping from his mouth.

A kick to the stomach. The blade sinks farther into his chest; chakra enforced steel digging through the concrete beneath him with ease. Naruto coughs up blood. He can feel his body failing but it can't end like this…it can't…

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he can hear someone yelling his name, screaming it in fact. It's a loud, male scream that is piercing through the air. He can hear it, just barely. And it fills him with fleeting warmth and confidence.

'..kashi..sen..sei…'

The man above him pauses in his monologue, going stiff as he too hears the scream. Zabuza frowns, looking into the mist and listening as there is a lull in the sounds of combat.

"Huh. Well would you look at that. Looks like I still have a job to do. I'll be back to finish you off slowly you brat", the man says, wrenching his blade from the bloody boy's chest. Naruto slides off the massive weapon, crumpling on the floor. He lays there for a moment. Two. And then the urgency of the situation sends what little adrenaline is left to his broken form. He tries to breath, tries to gain enough breath to yell a warning to his sensei, to let him know. But his lungs hurt so bad, so, so bad and it's so hard to breath and he just can't seem to get them to work right. All he can feel is the blood in his throat. He can't breathe…he can't breathe…

And he panics.

He knows Kakashi won't be able to find him in the mist, he knows that silent killing is like second nature to Zabuza, knows that it'll be hard for Kakashi to fend off not one, but two ninja without his eyes…

Naruto struggles to move, even though he knows he can't. He needs to warn Kakashi-sensei…needs to let him know that Zabuza is coming… He can't end up like Sakura-chan…

Naruto tries. He really does. But it's no use, and he stays crumpled in a pool of ever growing blood, body achingly numb and cold.

It can't end like this…

But it hurts so bad.

He can't take it anymore.

'Someone…help me…please…anyone…please...'

Nothing. And Naruto knows this is the end. That it's over. Moments pass but it feels like an eternity for the blonde. He knows he's dying. But the burning in his stomach won't go away. He's so tired. He just wants it to stop. His world fades into darkness. But the warmth keeps building in his stomach and it snakes out and feeds his limbs and his chest and suddenly he can breathe. He takes a choked breath, bloody lungs filling briefly with oxygen. He gasps, the warmth expanding to the rest of his body, and now it feels like he's on fire.

The demon sealed inside him has answered his call. And its blood red, malevolent chakra is a testament to its self-preservation.

Naruto only has a second to ponder what has motivated the Kyuubi into helping him before the thin layer of demonic chakra covering his body explodes in a painful crimson blaze.

This time, Naruto can't scream.

Blood splattered across the dirt road as the sound of whirring chains filled the air.

"Kakashi-sensei!" they screamed.

They'd been ambushed. By a stupid, stupid disguise no less. Naruto cursed internally, watching Kakashi's bloody body fall to the ground in pieces.

Really? A couple puddles? How had they not noticed?

The two ninja were coming toward them, black cloaks and gauntlets menacing in the shadows of the trees. Right next to him, Naruto could feel Sakura tense, could sense the worry leaking from her body.

"One down", he heard one of the ninja say, the breather around his mouth masking his voice with heavy static. Their gauntlets were sharp, glinting in the light and Naruto could see something dripping down them…

"Poison", he heard Sakura whisper. Naruto grimaced, too late to stop Sasuke, who had charged ahead blindly to intercept the two ninja and not heard Sakura's low murmur. Forming a familiar hand seal, Naruto muttered the name of his now favorite technique and three Kage Bunshin appeared next to him in small puffs of smoke.

He ignored Tazunza's speculative and worried look and instead focused on the situation. The two unknown ninja were engag…wait. One ninja had occupied Sasuke and the smaller, more agile of the two was now making a beeline straight toward Sakura, who was still tense and shocked. But that didn't make sense. If they were taking down strong ninja first, they'd go for him and not…

Naruto's eyes widened, turning to Tazuna who met his gaze, flinching.

The bridge builder. Naruto cursed, moving into action almost too late.

"Sakura!" he yelled, flinging his body toward the two of them, "Protect Tazuna!"

Naruto's shout broke the little spell hanging over the green eyed girl and she barely got a kunai out in time to block a vicious slash from the attacking ninja. Naruto rushed to her aid, his kage bunshin running the other way to help an embattled Sasuke.

Sakura dodged another attack and Naruto was on the other nin, his strike to the back landing true. The nin stumbled and Naruto followed up with another kick, his kunai flashing toward the shinobi's head. But the man just dodged, head bending back, his legs sweeping out…

"Oh shi-"

Naruto landed hard as he was swept from his feet. The ninja was heading toward Sakura, chain whipping out to wrap around her… Naruto could see the panic in her eyes, could see glint of fear and desperation. He pushed himself off the ground, dirt grinding beneath his feet. He wasn't going to make it. He wasn't quick enough. The chains were almost around her…

And then it was all over.

Silver hair glinted dully in the sunlight.

"Kakashi-sensei…" Naruto breathed. The silver haired jounin was kneeling on top of the now unconscious ninja, hand forcing the man's head into the dirt.

"Yo." Kakashi said with a wave of his gloved hand.

Naruto pulled himself to his feet, head turning to see Sasuke and one of his remaining Kage Bunshin walking toward them, the body of the enemy ninja slumped between the two. Kakashi gave his students an appraising look.

"Nice job you three", he said, "You acted quickly and efficiently. You might have been a bit too rash," he looked at Sasuke, "A bit too slow," he looked at Sakura, "Or a bit too hesitant", he looked at Naruto. He gave them all a speculative look.

"But you three did far better than I had expected. Especially against ex-mist chuunin like the Demon Brothers."

His three students basked in his praise. Kakashi just stared at the three, the gears in his head grinding furiously. Perhaps…

"But sensei, we thought…how did you…?" Sakura asked, stumbling over her question.

"Kawarimi", Kakashi, drawn away from his thoughts momentarily, responded, eye crinkling in a small smile, "You never know the value of a good Konoha log."

His students smiled at that, happy to have their jounin sensei back. Sasuke and Naruto, now that his shadow clone had been dispelled, rolled the semi-conscious ninja next to the knocked out one. Sakura stood back, away from Tazuna as she watched Kakashi's one visible eye narrow. The man's orb swiveled around and fixed on the only non-ninja present.

Tazuna.

Naruto knew exactly where this was headed.

Hand still pressed against the mist ninja's head, the jounin gave the old drunk a hard, dangerous stare.

"So tell me, Tazuna-san, why are two ex-Hidden Mist chuunin after a lowly bridge builder like yourself?"

"I don't think we should."

This had been surprising.

"Naruto, but he needs our help… We can't just abandon him!"

Kakashi watched his team argue; glad that view from above obstructed the shocked expression that was no doubt visible even beneath his mask.

"…But he lied to us."

For once, and it was surprising to the copy nin, Naruto was to the one to voice his objection over helping another person. Sakura and Sasuke weren't really sure what had brought this sudden train of thought, but Naruto wasn't budging. Kakashi knew, of course. How could he not? Naruto had been lied to his whole life… Something like this, being lied to and being put in danger needlessly didn't sit well with the orphan.

"Why are you so worried dobe? We can handle it." Said Sasuke, predictably eager and willing to continue with a dangerous mission. The raven haired boy was fiddling with a kunai, eyes narrowed at the blonde in front of him. From his perch in the tree above his three students, Kakashi listened, taking careful note of the conversation.

"I just have a bad feeling, that's all. There could be more ninja that are really dangerous!" said Naruto, clearly agitated over the situation.

"Tch."

"Naruto, I think we can handle it. After all, Kakashi-sensei will be with us. And this country really needs our help." Sakura explained, taking Sasuke's side in the argument. Naruto just sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Look, all I'm saying is that we could be in way over our heads. He lied to us and that's putting us as a team at risk…"

The three debated some more and Kakashi waited. He'd let his genin figure it out. He wanted this to be a joint decision. A team effort.

"…But okay. You're right. Kakashi-sensei is with us. We can do it." Naruto had finally relented.

Sasuke 'hnned'. The three genin paused in their conversation, and Naruto looked up; blue eyes fixing on Kakashi's long form sitting on the branch above them.

"Well you heard us sensei, what now?"

The ninja gave them a long look, silent while he contemplated his team's decision. They were strong. They'd been exhibiting excellent and rare team work… Naruto and Sasuke hadn't been at each other's throats and Sakura seemed to have calmed down… They could do it… It'd be a good experience.

Kakashi gave the three a slow nod.

"I'll let Tazuna know", he said, blurring into the shadows. The genin of Team Seven glanced at each other briefly, and then gathered their things, shuffling away to meet Kakashi on the dirt road again.

Naruto was behind his two teammates, the last one onto the dirt path. He glanced at Sakura and Sasuke. They were strong. They could do it. Thoughts swirled in Naruto's mind and emotions bubbled within him. They'd been working well together, and plus, they had Kakashi-sensei! Naruto bit his lip, taking surprisingly little comfort at the thought as he stood behind Sasuke. With all of the things stacked in their favor, Naruto still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Silently, he walked behind his teammates, the pit in his stomach never settling.

The sound of death screamed over their heads.

Naruto tilted, eyes turning to the side as he heard a loud sound of a blade lodging in the trunk of a tree. And a blade it was indeed, he thought, eyes widening. Almost six feet of cold metal, sharp, the edge a dull black color and the rest of the steel gleaming, was stuck fast in the trunk of a wide, strong oak tree. Naruto gulped.

There was a man standing on top of the blade, muscled and sinewy, body obviously tensed, but his posture screamed confidence. Bandages were wrapped over his arms, legs and his lower mouth, making Naruto wonder what the dark man could be hiding.

Team Seven began to slowly get to their feet, following their sensei's lead, who in turn began to bark orders to them.

"Triangle formation. Now."

The three genin took up their stations around a shaking Tazuna. The man standing on his blade just scoffed. He eyed the Konoha ninja, dark orbs lingering on Kakashi.

"Hah. Sharingan no Kakashi. It's a pleasure." The man's voice was deep, rough and raspy as if unused.

Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto saw Sasuke stiffen. Why? Sharingan…? Wasn't that an Uchiha clan thing? How could Kakashi…? Naruto frowned. Sasuke must have been wondering the same thing. The blonde kept an eye on the black haired boy, pondering what this could mean.

"Momochi Zabuza. Demon of the Mist. I'd have to say that I don't return your sentiment. Leave." Kakashi's voice was cold, extremely so.

Zabuza laughed.

"Just leave? Not likely. I have a mission to fulfill, so just give me the old man Kakashi and you can keep your little wannabe ninjas safe."

Kakashi glared at the ex-Mist nin.

"As if I'd trust the word of a man who turned his back on his graduating class and slaughtered them all."

The three genin froze behind him. Sakura's eyes widened and Naruto shuddered. Slaughtered his whole class? That was unbelievable…

Zabuza grinned beneath his mouth bandages, a twisted, wicked smile.

"Mist is a different place Kakashi. Give me the bridge builder. You won't last in a fight when you're trying to protect those brats."

The man flared his chakra, and suddenly the whole area was flooded with killing intent. Sakura immediately sank to the ground, knees falling to the dirt. Sasuke was wide eyed, frozen in fear as the feeling washed over him. Naruto just clenched his fist, teeth gritting as feeling of fear, anger, and anguish flooded through him.

We're weak. We're just going to die. It's no use. It's no use.

"Stop."

Kakashi radiated his own chakra, blue glow flowing out to touch his students. The energy was comforting, soothing almost. The three genin relaxed slightly, the effects of the killing intent held at bay by the warmth of their sensei's chakra.

"I won't let you die."

Zabuza scoffed, crouching down on his blade.

"I gave you a chance copy-nin."

Kakashi said nothing.

"Tch. So be it."

Zabuza flickered out of existence. His deep voice echoed in the wake of his departure.

"Kirigakure no jutsu."

The light mist around them began to thicken. Kakashi looked back at his students, one eye gazing on their faces. They were scared. Perhaps… Perhaps he should have listened to Naruto… But it was too late. Trial by fire.

"Don't worry", he said, chakra flowing out more, bathing his three genin, "I won't let anything happen to you. Just keep a straight head, be aware of your surroundings and stay on your toes."

A gloved hand moved up toward his headband. It'd been a while since he'd used it. But there was no time like the present. He heard a sharp intake of breath as he pulled his Konoha headband up, knowing his students eyes were upon him.

His blood red sharingan swirled into existence, three black tomoe swiveling in his eye.

"Oh?", said a voice from deep within the mist. "The sharingan already? I feel honored."

Kakashi ignored the low chuckling that followed, electing to speak to the three genin behind him.

"Zabuza is an ex Mist jounin. He relies on stealth attacks, water ninjutsu and intimidation tactics. Don't let him get to you but don't try to go toe to toe with him. He's far too strong. Focus on Tazuna, I'll hand Zabuza." His three students nodded, one still looking intently at his uncovered eye.

"Do you think telling them that will help? It's no use Kakashi. They're far too young. Too bad they'll never live to actually be a challenge."

Kakashi whirled around, flickering out of view. The kunai in his hand pierced through the eye a water clone that had been sneaking up behind Sakura.

"You won't win Zabuza. You're no match for me. Give up.", he called into the mist. The grip on his kunai tightened even as he soothed a panicked Sakura with his lightly glowing chakra.

The ex-Mist nin just chuckled.

"I don't have to beat you Kakashi. I just have to exploit those three little ninja brats you decided to let tag along. Hah…"

Kakashi looked into the mist, sharingan swirling.

"Now… Lungs, heart or throat?"

The soft sound of metal swinging in the air alerted the silver haired jounin and he only had a moment to block the swing of steel toward Tazuna, his metal arm guards barely holding against Zabuza's massive blade. The man smirked as Kakashi shoved a kunai into his stomach, water leaking out from his wound.

'Trap!' thought Kakashi, whirling around, eyes wide. He was too late to stop the boot that caught him in the chest, sending his body flying back and into heavy, heavy water.

'Shit, heavy water…?' Kakashi surfaced, struggling to pull himself out with his chakra. But he wasn't fast enough.

"Suirou no justu." A ball of liquid coiled its way around the Konoha jounin. Zabuza laughed, a rough sound ripping from his chest.

"Hah! This is Sharingan no Kakashi, Copy nin Kakashi? This is it? How easy." The man stood on the surface of the water, arm outstretched, holding Kakashi still while the other gripped his massive blade. His gaze traveled to the three genin still standing in the dirt path.

"Now… What to do with you three?"

Two water clones burst into life.

"RUN!" Kakashin yelled, his words muffled by the ball of liquid surrounding him. "He'll just kill you! Leave me! That's an order!"

Naruto looked uncertainly at his two teammates. Leave Kakashi-sensei? Sakura looked to be considering it already, shaking with fear. Sasuke was quiet, staring at the mist nin, eyes glazed over.

Shit. Both of his teammates were useless. He needed to do something, anything to break them away and anything to take their attention. And Naruto knew how to draw attention. Naruto's fingers came together after only another moment, throwing caution to the wind.

"KAGE BUNSHIN!"

A horde of Narutos swarmed over the dirt path, all with determined, cocky grins on their faces. Some fingered kunai, others just stared at the mist nin, eyes narrowed.

"As if we'd let you take Kakashi-sensei without a fight!"

Zabuza merely eyed the blonde, scoffing.

"You? Kill him."

The two mizu bunshin raced toward Naruto. The first one cleaved three shadow clones in half.

'Well shit', thought the blonde, watching Zabuza's clones systematically slaughter his own. His fingers folded into a cross seal again, and more kage bunshin sprang to life. At least it would be a distraction while he thought of a plan…

He fingered the kunai in his hand, thumb pressing against the sharp edge. They needed to get it together. He turned to his two teammates, noticing that Sasuke was starting to come out of his reverie. Sakura still looked lost. Naruto ground his teeth in frustration, the dispelling sounds of his shadow clones coming closer and closer. Why the hell weren't they moving?

"Hey! You guys! Any freaking time now."

A kunai flung from Sasuke's hand toward a water clone was the response that Naruto had been waiting for.

"Bout time teme."

Sasuke hurled another kunai, forcing the mizu bunshin to dodge and allowing Naruto's shadow clones to swarm.

"Shut up dobe."

Naruto grinned, his hands crossing into another seal. Another kunai whipped by him. One mizu bunshin took it in the stomach, stumbling as a shadow clone sunk another into its chest, dispelling it into water. Across the dirt road, Zabuza just laughed, summoning another clone, taunting the two genin. Naruto drowned it out, muttering to Sasuke.

"I've got a plan."

The black haired boy raised an eyebrow, another kunai twirling on his index finger. He watched Naruto's clones duke it out, the small puffs of smoke becoming more and more frequent.

"That's surprising."

Naruto ignored him.

"Get Sakura to start throwing kunai with you. Snap her out of whatever is going on in her head. She'll listen to you. I need to get close to Zabuza. Take these."

He slid a handful of kunai into Sasuke's pouch. The Uchiha gave him a sidelong glance. Naruto just smiled.

"They're me. Get them as close to Zabuza as you can."

With that, Naruto dove headlong into the fight, ignoring Sasuke's incredulous look. They were him? Did he mean his? That didn't make sense…

Sasuke's eyes widened as understanding hit him. He fingered the kunai is his pouch. They were 'him'… But if that was true…

"Sakura!" he barked, eyes swiveling to the pink haired girl. No response.

"Sakura! Snap out of it!" he said again, frustration seeping into his tone. This time the girl's head snapped up.

Sasuke tossed her three kunai Naruto had given him. The girl looked down at the weapons, a question on her lips.

"Throw them as close to Zabuza as possible. Naruto has a plan."

Sakura looked shocked, but wisely cut off any more questions, gripping the kunai. Sasuke nodded approvingly and the two genin slung their blades toward the original mist ninja. They fell short, digging into the dirt around Zabuza.

He laughed, a rough, twisted sound.

"Hah, you missed. You kids are even more pitiful than I thought. Konoha's gone soft. I thought you'd be fun, but I guess I'll just kill you and get it over with."

More mizu bunshin were summoned, their forms blurring out of the water and racing toward the remaining clones and the two genin. Sasuke gripped his kunai, looking expectantly at the ground around Zabuza.

Kakashi watched the raven haired genin. What was he looking at? Was he contemplating his miss? The copy ninja didn't understand. His student were about to die and he was useless. Sasuke was just staring at the ground, ignoring the approaching water clones and Sakura looked lost and nervous. Naruto's clones were being decimated… Wait…

The kunai in front of Zabuza wavered, four blades changing shape so quickly that the mist ninja had no time to react.

"Wha-"

Sasuke smirked and Kakashi's eye widened.

The first Naruto latched onto Zabuza's sword arm. The second was dispelled as it tried to attack Zabuza's head, killed by a vicious head butt, but the third and fourth, the real Naruto, did their jobs perfectly. The shadow clone gripped the man's arm tightly. The real Naruto broke it.

A low yell ripped from Zabuza's throat as the water barrier around Kakashi dissolved.

"I'm going to fucking KILL you brat!"

The man flared his chakra, pushing himself onto the water as he flung the orange clad blondes away. The two shadow clones dispelled and the real Naruto found himself floating in heavy water, looking up at the cold eyes of Zabuza.

His massive blade flashed down and Naruto winced.

Nothing. The blonde cracked open his eyes. Kakashi stood there, water dripping down his hair.

"I'll take it from here." Kakashi was gripping Zabuza's sword hand, a kunai held to the man's throat. The ex-Mist nin's eyes were wide with surprise, one arm hanging useless by his side. His brown orbs looked at Kakashi's own, staring at the crimson sharingan and its tomoe that spun slowly. He felt something welling up in his gut as the black dots spun more rapidly, blurring together with every passing second. Fear.

"I see your future Zabuza."

The swirling sharingan spun to a halt.

"And it's death."

'Please please please please don't let me be too late.'

Naruto's body blurred through the empty streets.

He'd woken up late, left behind by his teammates because they thought that it'd be alright. Thought that Zabuza wouldn't show up so soon. Thought that Gato wouldn't make his move so early, so quickly.

They'd been wrong.

Naruto had awoken to the sound of screams, high wails of terror and pain. His eyes had snapped open and he listened carefully, years and years of avoiding villagers ingrained into his mind. He heard the yells, the threats of death, a crying Tsunami and a blubbering, but brave Inari.

He'd smiled at that.

And then he'd moved into action.

The two samurai had been nothing really, even to Naruto. Untrained in stealth and lacking the physical strength of ninja conditioning, they fell quickly; their speed and precision lacking. The blonde hadn't even been focusing, dispatching the two thugs unfocused, his mind a battlefield away. The whole time Naruto had just been thinking about his team. Sasuke. Sakura. Kakashi. Because if Gato was making his move, then Zabuza was making his as well.

And he'd be out for blood.

So he ran. And ran and ran and ran. As fast as his feet would carry him, he sped to the bridge, all the while thinking of a black haired boy, a pink haired girl and a man with one eye.

Naruto was close now, could hear the sounds of jutsu going off, could hear the faint sounds of ringing metal, even though the mist thickening around him. He let a breath he didn't know he was holding. They were still alive, still fighting. There was still time.

Naruto jumped, landing softly in a crouch against the concrete bridge. His eyes swiveled. It was damn hard to see in the mist and he squinted his blue eyes, straining to get a grip of the situation.

Where was everyone? He knew he'd heard the sounds of a fight… But…what if…what if…he was too late? Panic settled into the blonde genin's bones as he crept across the bridge, ears listening intently for anything.

A soft step of a sandal was like a thunderbolt behind him and he whirled around, a kunai already held firmly in his hand.

A mask stared at him, only a few feet away, expressionless face tilted to the side just a little. Naruto slid into a defensive stance, eyeing the ninja who was garbed in baggy robes and pants. The ninja only cocked his head, staring at him for a few moments. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he spoke.

"You're too late." His (surprisingly soft, Naruto noted) voice intoned, almost monotone in its delivery. The blonde genin gripped his kunai harder at these words, a sinking feeling beginning to take form in his stomach. There was so much finality in his voice…

"What do you mean I'm too late? Where's my team? What happened?" Naruto questioned, a million thoughts already racing through his mind. The masked ninja only tilted his head again, as if curious.

"Did you not understand? You're too late. It's over."

Naruto balled his fists, nails digging hard into his skin. 'It can't be over…'

"Tell me. Where are my team mates?" he demanded, his voice low.

"The pink haired one? I do not know. But the Uchiha…"

The ninja paused, as if weighing what he was about to say.

"…Your team mate failed. He was too arrogant, too headstrong. So I killed him."

Naruto froze. Time stopped. His eyes widened and his back went ramrod straight.

"Wh…what did you say?"

Sasuke…dead? It couldn't be. It just couldn't be.

The masked shinobi spread his hands out wide and his voice held a tone of amusement and pity.

"Is this your first time having a comrade die? Don't worry, you will follow him soon."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. Like hell he would. This ninja…he…he killed Sasuke. Killed. His friend. His damn friend. Naruto knew one thing. He wasn't going to die. Not now. Not to this person. Not here on this damn bridge. He would survive. He would avenge Sasuke. Hatred reared its head within Naruto and a low growl formed in his throat.

"I'm going to kill you" Naruto snarled, raising his kunai. The ninja just stared at him, as if laughing.

"You're welcome to try…Naruto-kun."

Naruto started, jerking back.

"How do you know my name…?" he growled.

The ninja laughed, the light sounds so open and mocking. The laugh was so familiar…

"You are a brash and bold ninja. You are brave. But you are also a fool. You give your name and your skills and your goals out freely to strangers you've never met before…"

The shinobi began to walk, circling Naruto like he was prey. The blonde gripped his kunai tighter, gaze swiveling with the other man.

"…You shout them aloud. You scream them. You tell them to everyone, anyone who will listen. Even poor civilians who are just trying to gather herbs in the forest…"

Naruto flinched, as if hit. This ninja…this person was the 'girl' he'd met in the forest…? This person killed Sasuke…? This was Haku? He couldn't believe it… If that was true…then…

Morning in the forest. Lying flat out on the ground, gazing up at the trees. Light filtering down.

"What's your name…?"

Long black hair. Soft brown eyes.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto! And I'm going to be Hokage!"

Gentle hands guiding his to the right herbs.

"How come your teammates are not around training with you…?"

A grunt of frustration.

"Sasuke thinks he's too good to train with me… Sometimes he's such a teme… He doesn't even have a sharingan yet!"

Calming words.

"And what of your teacher? Surely you have one?

A sigh. Callused hands folding leaves.

"Kakashi-sensei is still resting… He's pretty banged up. I think it'll be a while before he's all rested. Which sucks because I really want him to train me!

A soft goodbye.

Naruto's face grew pale.

"You see?" said Haku, still circling the blonde, watching the expressions flash across his face. "You trust too easily. You believed the sob story of someone you'd never met before…someone you talked to for mere minutes. You spilled everything to me."

Naruto clenched his jaw. That wasn't true…

"You spilled your secrets…you spilled your teammates secrets. You got them killed. You killed your friend."

No no no no. He didn't kill Sasuke. He didn't. He didn't mean to … he didn't want to hurt anyone!

"You betrayed them…" continued Haku, "…Because you were desperate. Desperate for acknowledgement. You still are. And desperation attracts people like me. You were an easy target Naruto-kun. And it was simple to devise a strategy to take care of everything based on your information. I'm sorry it's come to this."

And then he struck. Haku blurred into the mist as Naruto tore himself to pieces with grief. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have sold them all out? So distracted by inner turmoil, the blonde didn't block the kick swinging toward his head. He barely put up any defense when the fist slammed into his stomach and his counterattacks were feeble as he was swept from his feet and his chest stomped on.

Coughing up blood, he rolled to his knees, dazed. He wasn't going down without a fight… Not when he'd already failed his teammates once. Kage bunshin sprang to life around him as he formed seals, a small sea of orange appearing in the mist.

But it wasn't enough.

Haku tore them apart, speeding through the clones with years of practices ease. Naruto summoned more, but Haku would just appear somewhere else and attack from the mist, his mirrors allowing him to disappear in mere seconds. For every clone that Naruto created, Haku destroyed two or more in the same span of time. Water froze, ice shattered and shadows were destroyed in minutes.

Haku blurred and Naruto struggled to keep up. But it wasn't enough. Icicles pierced through his body, pinning him to the concrete and then suddenly it was over, Haku standing over him with an air of finality. Naruto struggled to move, even as blood leaked out of his mouth and down his chin, struggled to get up, to do something. Haku gazed at him, hands folding in seals.

"You are strong. You have heart. You fight for your precious people, as do I. But you are too slow and too weak. Goodbye Uzumaki Naruto."

No! It couldn't end like this! Naruto pushed against the concrete, arms shaking. Haku formed a final seal. The air froze. Naruto flung his body up, blood leaking from his frame and his muscles tearing in his haste.

But it was too late.

As Haku's technique ended, and the air around them condensed into millions of ice particles, Naruto could only stare and think.

'I failed.'

Darkness claimed him in the form of a myriad of frosty needles.

Deep chuckling, low and throaty.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"…up…."

Drip. Drip. Drip.

"…stupid…ape…up!"

A dark room. Silent except for the sounds of dripping water. Heat. Intense, raging fire.

Naruto gasped for air.

A low snarl. A gaping maw and a row of wide teeth. Molten lava dripping to the floor.

"UP!"

Naruto's eyes snapped open.

"Oh good. You're still awake."

Blue eyes whirled wildly around. Naruto's vision was blurry, blonde hair hanging over his face. There was a man sitting next him, a hulking figure with bandages wrapped around his body. Naruto tried to breath, choking on his own blood as he took in a rattling breath. Kami, what had happened…hadn't Haku killed him…?

He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond and his energy had all but fled. Naruto slumped against the ground, listening.

"Hm, you wizened up and stopped struggling. Smart kid."

Naruto's eyes jumped to the crouching form of Zabuza next to him. The man wasn't facing the blonde, but rather fiddling with something a ways behind him. Naruto was curious but couldn't turn his head to see what was happening. He heard Zabuza mutter, heard the slap of his hand on flesh. A cry of pain. Whimpering and then…

"…Naruto!...Naruto…help!"

Naruto's eyes widened and his head snapped to the side, trying to get a view of what was going on behind him.

"…S…Saku..ra…chan..?"

He heard the pink haired girl try to respond, but her voice was silenced by another quick slap from the swordsman.

"Shut up dumb girl", Zabuza growled.

He turned his attention to Naruto and the blonde could hear the venom in his voice.

"Can you hear her whimpering? What a joke."

He kicked her, earning a gasp of pain from Sakura. The girl writhed on the floor and Zabuza just threw his head back and laughed. He turned to the blonde again, now noticing that Naruto was again struggling to move, glaring at him with hatred burning in his eyes. This made the ex-mist nin laugh louder, smirking at the two genin.

"Oh? She's precious to you isn't she? Do you like her? Heh…that will make this more interesting."

Naruto just struggled, his teeth bared at the "Demon of the Mist". The man chuckled some more, standing, grabbing Sakura by the throat and pulling her up with him. The girl let out a strangled noise, eyes swiveling wildly in her head.

"Tell you what. I was going to have a little fun with you kid… but now I'm going to give you a lesson here."

Panic set in to Naruto. He looked up at Sakura, still in Zabuza's clutches, and looked back down at the man's twisted expression beneath his face bandages. Zabuza watched his eyes, looking at the blonde as he spoke.

"I'm going to torture her. Slowly. Just so you can see everything. How's that?"

Naruto froze. No no no. Not another one. Not Sakura-chan. Anyone but Sakura-chan. Please. Please. Not her. Him instead! Not her! The blonde tried to talk, to force his crushed and weak body to shout.

"…Kashi…sensei…p..please…no…"

But it was no use. His throat was raw and bloody, his lungs failing. His gaze met Sakura's panicked one. She looked so scared…so tired…so helpless.

'Help…' she mouthed, '...Help me.' And Naruto's heart fell. He needed to save her…but…but…

Zabuza just laughed some more.

"Heh, try to call for your sensei. He's a bit too busy right now. He can't save you. If you'd like I'll tell Haku to give him a message…heh."

Naruto felt sick. He tried to turn away. Tried to pull his gaze away from Sakura's panicked green orbs. Tried to close his tired eyelids.

"No, no, don't turn away. I'm going to make you watch. Open your eyes. OPEN YOUR EYES."

He did. And he met Sakura's own sad face.

"There you go. Good. Now watch. Listen. But more importantly, watch."

Sakura was still staring into his eyes. She looked betrayed…hopeless…resigned…

'…It's your fault…' her jade orbs screamed.

And Naruto flinched away from her gaze.

'…I'm sorry…'

She just looked at him, eyes empty.

'…I know…'

Zabuza's cold brown eyes looked upon the girl.

And a few feet away from Naruto…it began.

The other ninja talked to him, his voice low as he did his work.

"Can you hear her scream? See her begging for her life? This one was never meant to be a ninja. What a pathetic bitch."

She cried. She whimpered. She screamed. Naruto winced and flinched with every noise, with every sound of a hopeful, dying kunoichi.

"I'm teaching you a lesson boy. A very good one. Too bad you won't live to use it, heh."

She bled. Her saliva and blood mixed with her sweat and dripped down her body. Soaked into her skin…into her hair.

"See the blood? See it? SEE IT?! This is what it means to be shinobi. This is what it means to be a killer."

The smell of urine filled the air and Naruto's head bowed, tears leaking from his eyes. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Not like this. Not to his beautiful Sakura-chan.

"Listen to her screams. Listen to them."

Bones broke. Shattering. Splintering. Naruto choked, listening to Sakura's screams. Listening to her ragged breathing, to her strangled sounds of pain. Tears fell freely from his face. This wasn't supposed to happen…

After a while…it stopped. A bloody kunai clattered to the ground.

"I killed her", said Zabuza, staring down at Naruto, "Well almost; she'll bleed out in a few minutes. Aren't you angry? Can you feel your rage boiling? Can you feel your hatred burning?"

Naruto looked up at Zabuza's tall frame, eyes bright with tears. Frustration. Anger. He looked at Sakura's broken body, looked at her empty eyes.

'I'll kill you dammit…I'll fucking kill you…'

Zabuza spoke to the blonde in a low voice.

"And yet, you're useless. There's nothing you can do. Nothing..."

His voice trailed off.

"Now…I'll finish the job. Stay here…heh."

Footsteps faded away.

Naruto listened to Zabuza kill her. He listened to Sakura's blood clogged throat as he strangled her to death. He listened to her choke on her own saliva, on her own blood. He listened as the sounds stopped. He listened to a mad man's chuckles.

He felt the blade tear and wrench through him. He felt the pain. Felt the torture that Zabuza was inflicting on his body. But he couldn't seem to care.

'Sasuke…'

Naruto felt his body go numb. Felt his throat constricting.

'…Sakura…'

He felt his lungs failing. Felt his vision go blurry. Felt his body fading away. Naruto felt fear.

'…Kakashi…'

Naruto could feel himself dying.

'…Why can't I protect anyone…?'

And for the first time in a very long time…Naruto felt something foreign…something not his. A feeling that was within him, but that didn't belong to him. There was a chuckling somewhere deep in the recesses of his mind.

'…Why am I so weak…?'

A second later, Naruto's rage blossomed within him, a ravenous fire.

And then he knew no more.

Drip. Dr-ip.

"Feh…pathetic. I give you a little bit of my power to make you wake up and you lose again. Now I have to lend you some more so that I can continue living, you pathetic monkey."

Massive teeth loomed in front of a small blonde on his knees. His eyes were wide, gazing up at a bubbling mass of swirling chakra.

"…Ky…Kyuubi?"

"Who else would be trapped inside you, idiot human? I should just eat you now and be done with this."

A wide grin shown in the darkness and chakra pressed up against the gates of the massive seal. Naruto stared at the demon fox, fists balled, unperturbed with the blistering heat emanating from malevolent red chakra.

"I…I need more power Kyuubi…" he said softly, "I need to win…"

Kyuubi's grin widened and the chakra around him bubbled fiercely.

"Oh, I know. Take it."

Chakra exploded around Naruto. The blonde's blue eyes were hard as he locked his gaze with that of the demon fox.

"…Thank you…"

Heat consumed Naruto in a wave of blood red chakra. Kyuubi roared with laughter.

"Kill them all, human."

His fist was covered in blood.

"ZABUZA-SAMA!"

Someone was screaming.

His fist was wreathed in crimson chakra. He was staring into the eyes of some man. They were wide with shock, mouth open in a silent scream. A massive steel blade clattered to the concrete, blood dripping from its handle.

He looked down at his hand, still half buried inside the man's chest, chakra flickering and burning the man's skin away.

His hand was pulled out of the chest cavity with a sickening squelch and the man slumped to the floor, blood bursting from his fatal wound.

He twisted in time to avoid an icicle aimed for his head, clawed hand reaching up and snatching the chakra enhanced project from the air, crushing it within his grip. He batted the next two from the air, chakra flaring around his arm.

He met a masked ninja in combat. He was fast. He was strong. But he was not enough of either. Red chakra bled from his body, swirling around him.

Porcelain shattered, pieces littering the floor around them.

His claws gripped the man by the neck, holding him in the air. He looked…familiar… There was pity…hatred…and sadness…and anger…and…happiness in his eyes.

He crushed the man's windpipe.

The body fell to the floor.

Clapping.

Red, slitted eyes turned quickly.

There was a fat man in a suit. Clapping. For what?

"A very nice display, little boy. Very nice indeed. It's a same your sensei and you will have to go as well. Powerful. But dangerous. The bridge builder will be next, but it will only be a matter of time."

There were men behind him. Armed. Dozens. Fighters. Killers. Many of them. There was shuffling next to him and he turned briefly, eyeing the new comer that stood a ways off into the mist. Silver hair. Mask. Deadly. But just one.

He turned back in time to hear the fat man speak.

"…Kill them."

The men charged, a swarm of rough, rag tag soldiers and mercenaries streaming across the bridge.

His mind was made up.

Red chakra and killing intent saturated the air, so much that Kakashi froze in his place and Gato's men running across the bridge faltered, taking a minute to regain their courage. But by then, their blood was already being spilt across the concrete by a small boy wreathed in demonic chakra.

Kakashi watched in morbid fascination as Naruto ripped apart the mercenaries. His claws sunk into their bodies and his chakra flayed skin from their limbs, wrenching away body parts and piercing through their flesh.

A single red tail, newly formed, waved behind the blonde.

The swirling mass of energy protected Naruto from any attacks, simple steel melting against the corrosive power and heat of Kyuubi's chakra. The world around the young blonde was on fire, everything that the crimson chakra touched sparking and coming to life. Wood, steel and concrete alike burned beneath his touch.

Slowly, the mercenaries died. Some bled to death, some burned to death. But the rest, Naruto chased across the bridge and executed, painfully.

Kakashi simply stared, sinking to his knees from chakra exhaustion and plain disbelief.

What had happened to make Naruto unleash the Kyuubi…? Surely not Sasuke and Sakura…?

The weight that had settled in Kakashi stomach since the start of the battle increased tenfold and his heart dropped. His students…not his students…

Kakashi clenched his fist, biting his lip beneath his mask. If Sakura and Sasuke were…dead… Then he had to save Naruto… He couldn't give up.

The copy ninja got to his feet, wavering slightly as his vision was dotted with black.

A low snarl ripped across the bridge and Kakashi watched as Naruto slit Gato's pleading throat open, spraying his blood over his already tarnished uniform. The man's short, fat, dismembered body slumped to the ground amid the other bodies that were dead or dying.

Silence. The sound of fire crackling in the background.

Kakashi met Naruto's gaze as the blonde looked up at him, red eyes glowing in the bloody mist.

'…This is it…'

Naruto leapt toward him, Kyuubi enhanced jump propelling him across the bridge. Kakashi braced himself, pulling his last chakra from within his body, forming it in his hand. The sound of a thousand birds ripped through the air and lightning leapt to his clenched fist, chakra shrieking. He had one shot. His chakra was gone, his body tired and torn. Light danced around his body and his sharingan swirled in agitation.

Naruto was walking toward him, chakra glowing menacingly. The shroud that had been covering him had vanished. And now…now was Kakashi's chance to strike him down. To prevent to Kyuubi from being unleashed completely.

They stood, the sound of chidori in the air around them.

This was his chance.

His only chance.

But he couldn't.

Couldn't hurt Naruto. His sensei's legacy.

Kakashi stared at the blonde, unable to strike him with the lightning blade and lowered his arm, letting the chakra dissipate into the air. He thought he saw a flicker of something in the blonde's eyes, but it was gone quickly.

'So…this is how it ends…losing all of my students…and dying by my sensei's son's hand…the Kyuubi unleashed…'

The copy ninja sank to his knees, already feeling the blistering heat from the demon foxes chakra as Naruto neared. He bowed his head, waiting for death to come.

Silence. The heat from Naruto's chakra faded.

Orange swam into his vision and the blonde sank to his knees in front of the jounin. Bloody legs met concrete.

Kakashi's head slowly tilted up.

There were tears in Naruto's blue eyes. He looked so lost… His chakra was dissipating and those haunting, sad azure eyes were showing through again. And there was nothing but pain in them.

"Wh…what?" said Kakashi softly.

Naruto's small frame fell forward, in free fall. Kakashi moved to catch him, sliding under the blonde as he slumped against the older ninja, chakra having been completely burnt out. Kakashi, unsure of what to do, awkwardly wrapped his arms around the boy.

"It…it's okay Naruto", he murmured, trying to comfort him. But the blonde just cried, clutching Kakashi's bloody vest.

"…what did I do...what did I do…"

Naruto's grip on Kakashi tightened and the older man could feel the blonde's body shaking. Kakashi held Naruto closer, tighter.

"…Sakura…Sasuke…I couldn't…I couldn't save them…"

The blonde shook even harder in Kakashi's grasp, hiccupping, his words coming out strangled.

"…I…I killed them…I killed them all…"

Naruto cried, tears streaming down his face.

"…K..kashi…sensei…I'm so…so…sorry…"

Kakashi just held the blonde in his arms as his body wracked with sobs.

The bridge around them burned.

An: Well, what do you think?

Thanks to puffdadder and The Pro for all of the beta help. You are both amazing.