Naruto's POV~

I was on high alert for a large chakra signature with a water nature. Hinata-hime had her head tilted down so her bangs covered her activated Byakugan. Shika was walking next to the client with his eyes closed - using his "Shadow Sensing" to search for approaching enemies. Anko-nee was casually chatting it up with Tazuna - playing the "Newly-minted Jounin" act like a pro.

Two chakra signatures suddenly entered my range - one water nature and relatively large and the other... Wind and water natured? Perhaps the Hyouton(Ice release) bloodline.

"Duck!" I shouted, jumping my girlfriend and pushing her to the ground.

Not a second later a massive blade sliced over our heads and embedded itself in a tree. Then a large, bare-chested man landed on it.

Hinata took her altered Juuken stance, minutely twitching her head to make sure no one goes for her blind spot - if they could find it, that is.

Shikamaru got into his sword stance, hand on the hilt of his blade.

Anko-nee flickered through the hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu and summoned a massive viper that coiled around our client protectively.

She ignored his panicked screams with a sadistic smirk.

I channeled chakra to my fingertips and ran them across the tattooed seals under my flowing sleeves to release the gravity and resistance seals I had placed there.

"So, you're Momochi Zabuza?" I asked. The man grinned.

"I didn't realize that I was famous with even the baby Genin of Konoha!" He cackled. I scowled.

Wordlessly, Shikamaru flew into the air and drew his blade.

Zabuza cursed, leaning backward. He leaped to the ground, sword in hand.

They engaged in a Kenjutsu battle that I watched closely - but only for an opening in case I had to back up my teammate.

After five minutes, the two were caught in a stalemate.

"You're pretty good for a brat."

"And you're pretty good for an old man."

Zabuza flashed quick hand seals and a thick mist rolled in.

It didn't hinder any of us at all. Me with my sensing, Shika with his shadows, Hinata-hime with her Byakugan, and Anko-nee with her snake summons.

Zabuza began to list off vital points when I sent out my chakra chains to restrain him.

With a quick Fuuton Jutsu, the mist was dispersed.

"What the hell?!" Zabuza exclaimed in shock. "Who are you?! Haku!"

The second chakra signature turned out to be a young, effeminate boy in a Kiri Hunter-Nin mask.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto," I said, a scowl on my face. "And you have been hired to kill my client."

"Uzumaki...?" He whispered in shock.

"Yeah, what about it?!" I snapped, ire growing.

"Why are you working for Konoha? Uzu was betrayed by them! They're the reason Uzu was as damaged as they were!"

"Damaged? What are you talking about? Uzu was destroyed in the Third Shinobi World War."

"You mean you don't know?" He asked me incredulously.

"Don't know what?" I snarled, getting really tired of whatever mind game he was trying to play on me.

"That your clan is still alive."

"What?!" I growled, clenching my fists. "That's impossible! They were annihilated by Kumo and Iwa in the last war!"

"The Uzumaki are a clan of Fuinjutsu Masters! You don't think they could fool two nations?" He retorted.

I didn't have a comeback for that.

"So what? How do I know you're not lying?" I asked him angrily.

"Several Uzushio residents have joined the Kiri rebel faction to overthrow the current Mizukage and stop the Bloodline Purge." Haku, Zabuza's accomplice, spoke up. "Zabuza-sama only took this job because it paid so much - he wanted to use the money to help the rebel faction."

Anko-nee decided to speak up.

"How about we make a deal, Momochi?" She suggested.

"What kind of deal?" The swordsman asked.

"The kind where we both win."

"I'm listening."

~

"And that's how you get your money, we protect the client, and ultimately free the entirety of Nami no Kuni!" Anko-nee cheered. "How's that sound?"

"That is a terrible, horrible, incredibly foolish idea." Zabuza deadpanned. Then he grinned. "Let's try it and see what happens."

"I knew I liked you for a reason!" Our sensei cackles. "Now, C'mon! Let's get this party started!"

We had made it to Tazuna's house and discussed the plan in the guest room we were given.

The plan was perfect.

Zabuza reports back to Gato - only, he made it seem like he failed with the help of one of Hinata-hime's genjutsu. Gato goes to have him killed and we come out of hiding and we all massacre Gato and his goons.

Then, after that, we return, leave some Blood and Shadow Clones with Tazuna to continue to guard him and help with the bridge.

While that happens, Zabuza escorts the real Team 13 to Kiri's rebel base so we can contact the shinobi of Uzu that are stationed there.

And if the detour took too long? Tell Yondaime-sama that there was an unexpected storm that destroyed a massive portion of the bridge.

And, well... We don't really have a plan after that, but it's perfect!

I left two dozen Shadow Clones with Tazuna and his family just in case, and we all headed to Gato's base.

~

"What?! You failed?!" Gato screamed at Zabuza, flailing about angrily. "What do I pay you for?!"

Hinata released the Genjutsu and we struck. Zabuza beheaded Gato with a flick of his wrist and we all jumped into the fray - mercenaries falling left and right.

Haku raced to Gato's vault - as agreed upon in the plan - and we split the money.

A third goes to Zabuza for the rebel faction, a third to us, and the rest to Nami no Kuni.

Just as we all thought, it was as easy as pie.

~ Three Days Later ~

We stood at the edge of a heavily fortified, heavily concealed Rebel Faction camp.

"We wish to speak with the leader of the Rebels," Zabuza spoke to a guard, his slashed through Hitai-ate in full view.

"... Go fetch Terumi-sama." Guard #1 told Guard #2, who promptly ran off.

Not a few moments later an auburn-haired, green-eyed woman with a voluptuous figure strolled up to us.

"You wished to speak with me?" She asked icily.

"Yes. I have money to help the rebel faction and wish to aid you. This is my apprentice Yuki Haku, a user of the Hyouton Bloodline." Zabuza told her. "My name is Momochi Zabuza. These are Mitarashi Anko, Hyuuga Hinata, Nara Shikamaru, and... And Uzumaki Naruto."

"An Uzumaki? Working with Konoha?!" She exclaimed in shock. Her eyes narrowed into a glare. "Do you take me for a fool?!"

"Not at all, ma'am." I butted in. "I was not aware of the treason my village committed. I can prove my lineage as well if you like."

"Please do." She said.

I called on my chakra chains, the silvery color glowing in the dim light.

"This is the Uzumaki Kekkei Genkai, the Adamantine Sealing Chains," I said. "The woman who birthed me is Uzumaki Kushina and her husband is Namikaze Minato. I was told by them that the Uzumaki clan, along with all of Uzushio, had been wiped out during the last war."

I bowed my head in shame.

"I... I wish to meet my family. My real family. Please, please let me see them. I beg of you." I grit my teeth, refusing to let the tears fall.

Did they know about me? If they didn't, would they have come to rescue me had they heard of what was happening to me? Would they hate me like my supposed family?

So many thoughts ran through my mind of the "what if's" and the "maybe's".

Terumi-san put her hand on my shoulder, and I looked up at her warily.

"Of course." She said, a smile slipping onto her face. "Please, follow me."

We walked through the camp, heading towards the center. But Hinata-hime stopped when we passed by the infirmary tents.

"Can I... I'm very well-versed in Iryou-Ninjutsu. May I assist your medics?" She asked Mei - that was the woman's first name.

"You're a medic?" She asked in didn't. "I didnt think the Hyuuga practiced anything but Jyuuken."

"Hai, Mei-sama."

"Please do! And maybe you could... Ah, no, it's too much to ask." She stumbled over her words, blushing lightly. My girlfriend smiled knowingly.

"I'll teach your medics all I can, Mei-sama." She said before dashing off.

~

In no time at all, we had reached the barracks. Mei had us stop at the last door on the left.

She knocked, the noise echoing through the halls.

"Coming!" A voice with a thick accent called through the door followed closely by shouting, banging, crashing, and more shouting.

The door opened and fluorescent green smoke billowed out and gathered on the ceiling.

A tall woman with long, crimson hair exited the room - throwing curses and insults over her shoulder in a thick island accent.

She turned to us and her vivid green eyes caught my blue ones.

Her knee-length straight hair was up in a high ponytail, her bangs messy. She wore a red long sleeve shirt with the left sleeve completely missing. She had navy-colored gloves that reached up past her elbow and only covered her middle finger. She wore black hakama that fell to her ankles and wore a pair of geta sandals.

On her left shoulder sat a crimson mark - the very same swirl mark that was printed on every Chunin and Jounin flak jacket in Konoha.

Around her neck sat a navy scarf that had jagged edges - it reached all the way to her hips. Printed on it was the swirl mark again.

Around her waist was a belt with a large assortment of pockets and pouches, many scrolls hanging off it.

Then next thing I knew I was being dragged through the doorway.