In the forest outside of Tazuna's home, naruto is talking to Inari. Inari asks, "Why did you bring me out here?"

Naruto answers, "You are not the only one who lost precious people. I never met my parents. They died shortly after I was born. They were fighting a great, and powerful opponent, who could destroy this village with a swipe of his hand. I was always told they loved me, but how can I know? I never met them! I never felt the warmth of their hugs, or the love in their kisses!"

Kurama says, "More like I could destroy a village with the swipe of my tail."

Naruto inwardly smiles, as he asks, "So how was your nap?"

Kurama answers, "It was good, Gaki. Now get back to your Talk no Jutsu!"

Naruto then says, "You know the silver-headed man?" Seeing a nod from Inari, Naruto continues, "His name is Kakashi Hatake. He's known a "Genius among Prodigies" He knows over one thousand Jutsu. Kakashi is one of the strongest people I know, but he has deep seated trauma. First, around the age of six his real Tou-san (Father) died. Then a couple years later when he made Jounin his best friend died. After that his other friend was dying, she had a great being sealed inside of her. The being was killing her from the inside, out. So she ran in front of his attack killing her instantly. Next were my parents. They treated him like a son, and Kakashi thought of them as his second parents, but as you know they died. It tore at Kakashi's mind. He's fine, but he doesn't do much."

This shocks Inari. Then Naruto says, "You know the "Duck Butt"?" Again Seeing a nod from Inari, Naruto continues, "His name is Sasuke Uchiha. He is the "Last Loyal Uchiha of Konoha". His Nii-san (brother) killed every member of his clan. Sasuke looked up to his Nii-san. His Nii-san is named Itachi. He was a prodigy just like Kakashi, but the horror of the Third Great Shinobi World War turned him into a pacifist, but he knew he still had to kill. The Uchiha then planned a coup, because of the attack during my birth. So when the threat of war peaked, Itachi killed every member, but his Otōto (Little Brother), Sasuke. Itachi loved Konoha, and would do anything to insure it's protection. Going as far as to kill his whole family, but he loved Sasuke more.

Kurama says, "The only good Uchiha!"

Naruto replies, "You just had to ruin a moment, didn't you, Furball?"

Kurama is silent. Which irkes Naruto to no end. Naruto then asks, "Inari, what is your pain?"

Inari is shaking. He didn't think He then answers, "My stepfather died protecting our family, and Nami no Kuni (Land of Waves). He once told me "If something is truly important to you... even it's heart-breaking, even if it's sorrowful... you keep on trying and trying, even if you lose your life, you keep on protecting it with these two arms!! ...Then, even if you die, you leave behind the proof that you are a man... forever..." He was a hero, and I believed it, until he died. Gatō sent some of his men to find my stepfather. They cut off his arms, and then was executed in public for everyone to see. I felt betrayed. He said that he'd be there for us, but he died..."

Naruto went done one one knee, grabs Inari by the shoulders, and pulls the little boy into a hug. Inari starts to cry. The blonde says, "That's it, cry. It's okay to do so. Cry when your sad, cry when your happy, but don't be a coward. Would your stepfather like to see you like that?"

Inari gets out of the hug, with anew resolve. He answers, "No he wouldn't! Thank you Naruto-nii!"

Naruto smiles, and they walk back to the house with a smile on each of their faces.

When they got back to the house, Kakashi says, "Today we are going to be training. Actually, we'll be training for the rest of the week. You'll be briefed by Darui about my team's situation."

Naruto nods, and finds his Sensei. Darui says, "Zabuza faked his death with the help of the Haku person, who disguised himself as a Hunter-nin. Us Jounin will be training the Genin. The training will be enough. You are too advanced though. The other Genin still have to do Chakra Control Exercises. So, once they are done, they'll have a spar with you, just a simple one. It is just to get their Taijutsu up. Then they'll go to Kakashi to learn some Jutsu."

Meanwhile, Kumo just found out the money from Gatō was fake. Which angers the Raikage more than any "concert" Killer B has tried to put on. So he writes a note, and sends it by hawk to the Land of Waves.

A day later, and Sakura has mastered the Tree-walking Exercise. Sakura then goes to Naruto, and says, "I was told to go to you when I finished with the Trr-walking Exercise. So what are we going to do?"

Naruto answers We are going to have a simple Taijutsu spar. Now follow me!"

So Sakura does. Once they get into a clearing suitable enough, Naruto says, "Stop. This is where we are going to have our Spar."

Sakura asks, "What are the rules?"

Naruto answers, "Rules... Ah, I got. No Ninjutsu, nor Genjutsu, but you will be able to use the "Academy Three Jutsu". So the Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Technique), Kawarimi no Jutsu (Body replacement Technique), and the Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Technique) will be the only Ninjutsu allowed."

So Sakura, and Naruto settle into the respective Taijutsu stances. Sakura's is real basic. It's just the Academy Style of Konoha. While Naruto's Taijutsu stance is a mix of every Taijutsu stances that he has learned. Naruto then yells, "Hajime (Begin)!"

Sakura is unsure of herself, but rushes forward anyway. As she readies a punch for Naruto's face, he catches her fist. Naruto then spins, kicking Sakura in the face, and makes Sakura fall face first into the dirt.

Sakura gets back up, with a running start, and luckily punches Naruto in the face. The blonde quickly does some hand seals. Tiger → Boar → Ox → Dog → Snake. Naruto then disappears in a puff of smoke, and a somewhat shattered log appears. Sakura thinks, "Shit, Kawarimi! Where is he?"

Naruto then says, "Paise Log-sama! May you forever be praised by Shinobi kind!"

Sakura spins around to see Naruto right behind her. Naruto then looks at the shattered log. Naruto thinks, "Surprisingly strong. Gotta keep that in mind."

Sakura then attempts a spinning backhand, but it gets blocked by Naruto. Who jumps, and knees Sakura in the chin. Sakura then goes flying in the opposite direction, landing face first, back into the dirt. She is really angry right now, and yells, "WHY ARE YOU BARELY FIGHTING BACK?!" Sakura then continues to attack Naruto

Naruto, as he is dodging every attack, truthfully answers, "Sakura-chan, I am on par with Kakashi-nii, and I have never used Kurama, or more commonly known as the Kyuubi's power, ever! This is a training spar. I'm not supposed to beat the ever living shit out of you am I?"

Sakura replies, "I guess not."

Naruto then catches one of Sakura's punches, and counters with a solid punch to her gut. Sakura folds over Naruto's fist, but he disengages from her. The Uzumaki then sees that Sakura is huffing, and puffing, like the big bad wolf. He then says, "Sakura you did good today. We are done with the spar. So go back to the house, and take a nap. You for sure have earned it."

Sakura, with a thankful expression on her face, leaves the opening. Naruto then sits down on the ground in the lotus-style, and starts meditating. Soon after, Naruto has orange pigmentation around their eyes. He then opens his eyes, which are now yellow, toad-like irides, instead of the normal azure blue. The blonde then senses somebody, and says, "Come out! I know you are hiding there!" In fact, he knew someone was watching the whole time, throughout the duration of the spar.

A young man with an androgynous appearance comes into the clearing, and out of the brush. He has long black hair, pale skin and large, dark-brown eyes, and a slender frame. The boy wears his long hair loosely, and wore a pink, sleeveless kimono, with pale red edges and decorated with small plum-coloured swirls, that went to his ankles. Around his waist was a simple white obi tied in a bow, and he wore a pair of light brown sandals with dark straps. He also wore a dark-coloured choker around his neck.

Naruto asks, "What is your name? Why are you doing her?"

The man replies, " I could ask the same thing, you know. I mean why is a shinobi from Kumo sparing a kunoichi from Konoha?"

Naruto answers, "I have a place deep down in my heart for Konoha. Seeing as I was born, and lived there until I was six. When I was banished for "killing" a special branch of Konoha's ANBU Black Ops. I answered your question, now answer mine!"

The man nods, and answers, "My name is Haku. I'm here to collect herbs to help heal my Tou-chan (father)!"

Naruto smiles a bit. He knows exactly who this man is. Haku is the Hunter-nin. He says, "I'll help you, if you need it, that is."

Haku replies, "Of course you can help. I show you the exact herb I need, and then we can both pick them."

Naruto then nods his head, and says, "Okay, but before we start. Does the name Zabuza Momochi mean anything to you?"

Haku's form tenses. He starts to reach for a hidden senbon, but stops, when Naruto says, "Your reaction was all I needed. Don't worry, I won't rat you out. But just to warn you... Gatō won't pay you, or Zabuza a cent, and I'll still help you pick these herbs."

An hour later, and they finished picking the herbs. Haku has just left the clearing to go back to Zabuza."

Naruto found out that Haku is a good-hearted, compliant, and eager shinobi, believing that a person becomes truly strong when they have someone important to protect. Despite his talent for battle, and incredible abilities, Haku disliked needing to kill others in his role as a tool, and avoided doing so whenever possible. When forced to face an opponent, Haku did all that he could to avoid inflicting great harm, even putting them into a death-like state to prevent them from fighting further.

The blonde Uzumaki then leaves the clearing to go back to the house. Once there, it is dinner time. They ate, talked, and laughed. Even Inari had a smile on his face the whole time. Which Tsunami quite enjoyed. Tsunami asks, "Inari, why are you so cheerful lately?"

Inari answers, "I believe in Tou-san once again. I'm going to protect Nami with my own two arms!"

Tsunami smiles, and says, "That's great Nari-chan! Kaiza would be proud of you. Anyway, who made you have a change of heart?"

Inari answers, "Naruto-nii talked to me."

Tsunami, who is still smiling, looks at Naruto, and says, "Thank you Naruto-chan! You made my Nari-chan believe again."

Naruto replies, "Their is no need for thanks Tsunami-san. Nari here, just needed someone to talk to, and I just so happened to be that person. It's really no biggie."

A couple hours later, it's now night time, and Naruto is going to sleep. Then Kurama says, "Don't call me furball, Gaki!"

Naruto, with a smile replies, "You know you like it. So stop kidding yourself. Anyway, good night you furball!"

Kurama just growls, as Naruto falls asleep with a smile on his face.

A couple days later, and Sai has finished the Tree-walking Exercise. So he tries to find Naruto. Which wasn't that hard, since he is just standing in the middle of the clearing. Naruto says, "So... Sai is the next one to finish the Tree-walking Exercise. I guess Dull-sensei owes me five hundred Ryo."

Sai asks, "Why are you teaching us Taijutsu?"

Naruto absentmindedly answers, "I'm on par with your Sensei, and that's without any special Ninjutsu, Chakra Cloaks, or Chakra Modes. All though, I am faster than Kakashi-nii. In fact, I am the fastest shinobi in all of the Five Great Nations."

Sai asks, "So... What are the rules of this spar?"

Naruto answers, "Well, since you are stronger than Sakura, I'll say that Nin, Gen, and Taijutsu are allowed. Just nothing too crazy, all right?"

Meanwhile, Darui is chillaxin', when he spots a Kumo messenger Hawk in the air, circling his position. He puts his forearm out so that the hawk can land. When the hawk lands, Darui gets the message from it's ankle, and the hawk flies away. Darui then opens the message. It reads, "Darui, new plans. You are to kill Gatō, and all of his subordinates. I don't care how you do it, nor do I care if you team up with the Shinobi protecting the stupid bridge builder. No if's, or but's about it!"

Darui then goes to see Naruto, who is sparing with Sai in the clearing. When Darui got to the said clearing, he sees Naruto slashing through ink tigers.

Naruto then gets close to Sai, and punts him across the clearing. The blonde then creates two Shadow Clones, who goes the same hand seals. Snake → Ram → Boar → Horse → Bird → Clap Hands Together. The real Naruto jumps into the air, as the Shadow clones use the Wind Release: Gale Palm to push Naruto across the clearing. Naruto flies at Sai, readying a punch. When Sai gets up, Naruto sucker punches him, while he yells, "Naruto Sutorīmu (Naruto Stream)!"

Sai is now down for the count. This is when Darui enters the clearing, and walks toward Naruto. He says, "Naruto, we got a new order from the Boss."

Naruto asks, "What's the order from Raikage-jiji, Dull-sensei?"

Darui answers, "The order is to kill Gatō, and all of his subordinates. We'll do it at night time!"