Naruto: Fourth Hokage

"Save it Sakura," Naruto retorted with an annoyed tone, "Emo-Sasuke and Sai couldn't beat her. Therefore you'd have lost easily."

Sakura didn't reply, instead she crossed her arms and huffed. But their attention was dragged from the crying Haku to the thugs, when one of the thugs stepped forward.

"Damn ninjas. You killed our meal ticket. Because of that, we have to kill you and take everything of value that village has," the thug said. The band of thugs started to run forward, when an arrow hit the ground in front of them. Everyone turned and looked at the assembly of villagers. It looked like everyone in the village was gathered there, Inari and Tsunami in front.

"If you dare take another step towards this village, we will respond with hostility," one of the villagers yelled.

"Everyone…," Tazuna said happily.

"A hero arrives late, right," Inari asked. Naruto laughed, "…Well done Inari! You gathered everyone?"

The little boy nodded.

"Well then, I'll help," Naruto said and, "Kage Bushin No Jutsu!"

A lot of Naruto kage bunshins came into existence. Kakashi looked at his 'kid brother' before doing making kage bushins of his own, although not the same amount. The sight of the whole village and a lot of ninjas, scared he thugs to no end, causing them to run away as fast as they could.

"Yay, we won!," Inari yelled while jumping in the air. Everyone celebrated, except three people, these three being Haku, Zabuza and Naruto.

"Speaking of which," Naruto said, "I have some unfinished business to take care of."

Kakashi wasn't able to say another word when Naruto ran off from the others.

"What could Naruto mean by that," Sakura asked. Sai and Kakashi shrugged.

When he was out of sight Naruto, shunshin'd from the scene…

Naruto was back up the tree in the forest where he threw it seal marked kunai at earlier. Hurrying back to the tree he left Ryota at, he came to see that the Iwa Jounin was long gone. What he found was a note with message dressed directly to him…

'What you won was a temporary victory. What I suffered was a temporary defeat. I will use what happened here today to as a motive to bring about your downfall! We will meet again very soon, and when we do, I'll take your life by whatever means I can!'

Naruto crumbled the paper before burning it with a small fire jutsu.

I'll deal her when she does come after me again, Naruto thought before putting the thought of Ryota to the side. Teleporting back to the top of the tree where his seal marked kunai was at; Naruto retrieved it before he shunshin'd back to Kakashi and the others.

Naruto reappeared behind Haku who was still holding Zabauza's body. No one but Kakashi noticed that Naruto reappeared back among them. Seeing that his other seal marked kunai was still in Haku's belt, Naruto retrieved and placed it back in its compartment in his pants with his other kunai. A moment later, Kakashi went over to Naruto and asked, "Is everything OK?"

"Just fine," Naruto said, "Nothing to worry about."

Kakashi didn't really buy it but he chose not to interrogate Naruto about it, at least for now. Sakura and the others then acknowledged Naruto's return before he knelt next to Haku and Zabuza's body. Naruto didn't say or do anything, but apparently his presence helped Haku, since gradually her tears stopped.

"We…have to bury him," Haku said with a thick and strained voice, "Naruto-kun…"

"I know," Naruto replied and laid a hand on Haku's shoulder before he continued, "For what it's worth, I'm truly sorry. I hope that in time, you and I can learn to trust each other, and you can learn to trust my friends, like Zabuza wanted. But…no pressure. Take your time."

He gave Haku a slight but sad smile, which she slowly and very shakily returned.

(The Next Day)

The funeral for Zabuza was held. Any injury the group had was healed by Naruto and the bodies of Gatō and his slain thugs were carried off to be burned. Naruto, Team 7, Tazuna, Inari and Tsunami looked at the cross which signified Zabuza's grave. Behind the cross, Zabuza's sword stood. Haku was kneeling in front of the cross, dressed in a black kimono. She had decided to stay in civilian clothing instead of fixing her shinobi outfit.

"Zabuza-sama, I will journey to Konoha, and live my life as I wish there," Haku said and bowed to the grave.

(A Week Later)

It's been eight days since the attack. They passing days were spent working on the bridge. All the workers came back, and helped. Naruto explained to Kakashi what delayed him from meeting up with him and the other Genins during the battle at the bridge. Kakashi laughed perversely when Naruto told him that he used used the 1000 years of pain jutsu on the Iwa kunoichi. The Konoha Jounin never thought that Naruto had it in him to use that jutsu, on a girl even.

Team 7, Naruto and Haku also spent the time getting to know each other. Haku was sad for most of the week; feeling like her only family was gone. Naruto consoled and assured her that she'll make new friends and in time have a new family back in Konoha, though the memory of Zabuza will stay with her and not be forgotten. Haku took some comfort in his words, though she was nervous about how life for her will be like for her in Konoha.

(Three Days Later)

The bridge was finished. Kakashi smiled when he looked at it.

"Finally we are finished. We now can go back home. I miss Konoha," Sakura said and Kakashi nodded.

"Thanks to you all the bridge is finished. Though this bridge is completed, it's…really sad that you all have to go," Tazuna said. The entire village had shown up to say goodbye to the shinobis who made it possible for them to escape Gatō's oppression. They were now at the completed bridge.

"Our mission is finished, so we have to return to Konoha," Kakashi said..

"Take care," Tsunami said

"We will," Sakura answered.

"I'm very sorry for the trouble I have caused all of you. Please accept my most humble apologies," Haku said with a bow. Tazuna nodded in acceptance.

"We'll visit some day," Naruto said confidently.

"You promise," Inari asked, on the verge of crying. Naruto nodded with a sad smile and said, "You've grown a lot during these passed few days Inari. You've proven that in spite of troublesome times, you can inspire and protect those precious to you. Kaiza-san would have been as proud of you as I am."

Inari ran up and hugged Naruto who in turned hugged him back. The darked haired young boy sobbed a little while embracing the blonde who he now looks up to.

"Inari," Naruto said, "Promise that you'll continue to protect those precious to you."

Inari looked at Naruto with a sad smile and a tear-stained face as he nodded.

"Are you sad that you're leaving Naruto-niisan? It's alright to cry you know," Inari said. Naruto ruffled Inari's hair before he turned and walked off and said, "Me cry? No way!"

Sakura, Sasuke and Sai sweat-dropped upon seeing a few tears escape Naruto's eyes. Haku giggled at Naruto's futile attempts to keep those few tears from falling. Kakashi sighed and shook his head slightly at the scene.

'You're in denial,' Minato sighed.

Don't rub it in, Naruto retorted as he continued walking while wiping away his tears. Kakashi and his three Genins followed after the Elite Genin as Haku hurried over to walk alongside Naruto.

"Well, we'll be seeing you later," Kakashi said and turned around to continue on his way with the others. The six ninjas walked away, leaving the cheering villagers.

"That boy changed Inari's heart, and Inari changed the villagers' hearts. That boy gave us a bridge toward hope and courage," Tazuna said, talking about Naruto.

"That bridge…oh, yeah, we need to name this bridge," one of the villagers said.

Tazuna thought about it for a bit when…

"I have a super perfect name," Inari exclaimed, "The Great Naruto Bridge!"

Tsunami laughed slightly and agreed, "That's a good name."

"It's settled then," Tazuna declared, "This bridge will be named The Great Naruto Bridge!"

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