NARUTO UZUMAKI
Naruto decided he hated bridges. Too open and windy. Too easy for thoughts to sneak up behind him and slap him on the back of the head like Iruka-sensei used to.
He pulled his jacket tighter. Not because of the wind—he wasn't a wimp or anything—but because this mission was weird and boring. Sakura-chan and Eishin were gone doing ninja stuff, probably something cool. Which left Naruto stuck guarding some stingy old man and babysitting the creepiest teammate ever.
He glanced at Sai. Pale skin, spooky smile, dead eyes. The guy didn't blink enough. Probably didn't dream, either.
Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Tch... this sucks."
Naruto squinted against the sun as he trailed behind the merchant's cart, kicking small pebbles along the dirt path.
"Careful with that crate, boy!" Gendo barked at Inari, who struggled to balance a wooden box nearly half his size. "Those are premium silks from the Capital!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. What a jerk. Ever since they'd left Konoha, Gendo hadn't stopped complaining about everything – the road conditions, the food, even the weather. Like any of them could control that stuff!
"Hey, let me help," Naruto said, rushing over to take the other end of the crate. Inari shot him a grateful look.
"Thanks," the younger boy whispered. He was scrawny. Eyes heavy. Wore that big yellow poncho like a turtle shell.
They hauled the box back to the cart for the… Naruto forgot how many times. The merchant wanted to check his inventory and stopped, had them unload and load in the middle of the bridge. So annoying.
A shiver ran through him, from toes to head, it left him feeling like a jelly. Naruto turned around and found the creepy guy looking at him creepily, with his creepy eyes, a creepy silence and a creepy smile.
"Why do you always smile like that?"
"Hum," He tilted his head, "It's supposed to make people feel at ease."
Bet he eats kitten stew. Tora will not like him. Another shiver.
"Where's Eishin and Sakura-chan anyway?" Naruto muttered, scanning the misty horizon. "They've been gone for so long."
He scowled, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Stupid Super Pervert," Naruto muttered under his breath.
He still hadn't forgiven that—the whole Shadow Clone lesson fiasco. Naruto had pulled out his trump card, expecting a full-on meltdown. The Sexy Jutsu was unbeatable. But Eishin just looked, and then, that insane move. Without hesitation, he pinched his chest.
Right there. Right on the nipple.
Who does that?!
Naruto's whole face burned at the memory. It wasn't even anger anymore—it was this twisty, crawling thing in his gut that he didn't have a name for, it made his stomach tighten strangely.
The jolt he felt then went straight through him, electric and sharp and… weird. It wasn't pain. It was… he didn't know. It stuck in his ribs like a tick. And worst of all, it lingered. Sometimes it crept back when he wasn't thinking, like now, rising in his throat with heat he couldn't shake.
And the bastard dared joke about it! Like he knew exactly what had happened. Like he'd won their little game. No way was Naruto letting that stand!
It made him want to punch the guy and show him up at the same time. He'd get him back. He'd refine the jutsu. Push it past limits. Make a version so flawless, so devastating, even a creep like Eishin would stutter and sweat. No more cool act. No more nipple nonsense.
Then he'd laugh right in his smug face.
Yeah. That was the plan.
Naruto straightened, the fire in his chest flaring again, different from the usual kind. More stubborn.
He'd make Sexy Jutsu so strong, it'd be a real jutsu. Just to prove a point.
"Investigating," Sai answered flatly from his position at the rear of the cart, dragging him out of his plotted revenge.
"Yeah, I know that!" Naruto huffed. "But what's taking so long? And why'd he have to take Sakura-chan instead of me? I could've helped!"
Sai's expression didn't change. "Perhaps he thought your skills were better utilized here."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Naruto demanded, but Sai had already turned away, scanning all around with that eerie focus of his.
Naruto huffed, "Creepy bastard," he mumbled.
"Let's move quickly," Gendo ordered, pulling his cloak tighter, as if he weren't the one constantly making these stops. "I don't like lingering in the open."
For once, Naruto agreed with the merchant.
They began their trek once more. He hadn't noticed it at first, but the more they advanced, the thicker the mist became. He heard somewhere that the Land of Waves was close to the Land of the Water. Must have a ton of mist there to call their village the Hidden Mist Village.
So it probably wasn't unusual. It didn't feel like it, though.
But it was hard to tell if it was the mist giving him the shivers or if it was his proximity to the creepy guy.
Still, it made him wonder how true that was; how misty the Land of the Water was?
"Stay alert, Naruto." The pale boy called sharply, ink brush already in hand. "This is no natural fog."
Naruto looked around, only now realizing how deep in the fog they were. "Stay close, Inari," he said, dropping a hand to his kunai pouch. Every instinct in his body was screaming danger.
A deep, rumbling laugh echoed across the bridge, seeming to come from everywhere at once. "Well, well... what do we have here? A couple of Leaf brats playing ninja?"
A massive figure materialized from the mist – tall and muscular, with bandages covering the lower half of his face. But what caught Naruto's attention was the enormous sword strapped to his back, nearly as long as Naruto was tall.
"Who are you?" Naruto demanded, stepping protectively in front of Inari and the cowering Gendo.
The man's eyes crinkled in what might have been a smile beneath those bandages. "Me? I'm Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Mist. And I've come for your client."
"Of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist?" he heard Sai mutter.
Naruto's mind raced. This guy was bad news. He can feel it; nothing like those dudes from before.
"You'll have to go through us first!" Naruto declared, trying to sound braver than he felt.
Zabuza laughed again, the sound chilling Naruto to the bone. "That's the plan, kid."
What is it with all the creepy guys that keep popping up lately?
In a blur of movement, Zabuza unsheathed his massive blade, the metal catching what little light penetrated the mist.
"I'm very interested in having a chat with the cousin of the Fire Daimyo's cousin," Zabuza drawled, eyeing the trembling merchant. "Nothing personal — just business."
The cousin of the cousin… what? So confusing!
"Wait, what?" Naruto's jaw dropped. "This guy is related to the Daimyo?" He shot an accusatory glance at Gendo, who shrank further behind the cart. No wonder they'd been assigned this mission!
They were totally the best!
"N-not directly," Gendo stammered. "It's a distant connection—"
"Distant enough for a hefty ransom," Zabuza cut in. "Now, are you kids going to step aside, or do I need to get messy?"
Sai slid smoothly into a fighting stance, his face still eerily calm. "Our mission parameters are clear. The client must be protected."
"Yeah, what he said!" Naruto added, drawing a kunai. "You're not taking anyone, Bandage-Face!"
For a moment, nothing moved but the swirling mist. Then Zabuza sighed.
"Have it your way."
He vanished, and Naruto barely had time to blink before a crushing force slammed into his side, sending him skidding across the bridge. Pain exploded through his ribs as he scrambled to his feet, just in time to see Sai narrowly dodge a swing of that massive sword.
He's fast! Naruto thought frantically. Way too fast!
But this was no time for doubts. With a battle cry that sounded braver than he felt, Naruto charged, three kunai flying from his fingers.
Zabuza deflected them with contemptuous ease. "Is that the best the Leaf has to offer these days? Pathetic."
"I'm just getting started!" Naruto growled, feinting left before lunging right.
For a heartbeat, he thought the move had worked — until Zabuza's knee connected with his stomach, driving the air from his lungs. Naruto crashed to the ground, gasping.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Sai's ink creatures slithering across the bridge, only to be sliced apart by that monstrous blade. Even two-against-one, they were outmatched.
He needed a window for the Rasingan; at least ten minutes but…..
"Stay back, Inari!" Naruto shouted as he staggered upright, tasting blood.
"But Naruto—" the boy began, eyes wide with terror.
"Just protect Gendo!" Naruto cut him off, already racing back toward the fight.
Naruto dashed in first, cocky and sure, because that's how he did things. Sai followed—too quiet, too graceful, too freaking weird.
They struck together. Zabuza blocked both hits with the flat of his massive sword like they were toddlers with sticks.
Naruto growled. "Okay! Stronger than he looks!"
They came at him again. Kicks. Punches. Feints. Nothing worked. Zabuza flowed around them like smoke with a blade, and Naruto took a hit to the stomach so hard he nearly puked breakfast.
He bounced once. Hit the ground. Spit blood.
"Ugh… ow…"
Sai threw a kunai. Zabuza batted it away and flickered forward, sending Sai sliding with a casual backhand.
Naruto wiped his mouth and stood, legs shaking. "Damn…"
Zabuza didn't press. He just watched. Sword resting on his shoulder like it was weighted nothing.
"Why're you still getting up, brat?" he asked. "You know you can't win. Persistence won't save you—not when your jounin isn't here to hold your hand."
Naruto grinned through the ache in his ribs. "Because I'm too stupid to stay down."
"Hmm. You fight well," Zabuza commented during, not even breathing hard. "But this is the difference between playing at being shinobi and being one."
With frightening speed, he appeared before Naruto, the flat of his blade smashing into the boy's chest. Naruto felt something crack as he was hurled backward, crashing against the bridge's guardrail.
"Let see if you can still stand now."
Pain lanced through his body as, once more, he tried stand but with not much success. Through blurry vision, he saw Sai engaging Zabuza, ink beasts pouring from his scroll, only to be cut down like paper dolls.
"Naruto!" Inari's voice broke through the fog of pain. The younger boy had abandoned his post by Gendo and was running toward him, tears streaming down his face. "Get up! Please get up!"
"S-stay back," Naruto croaked, but Inari was already at his side, hands pulling desperately at his arm.
"You can't die!" Inari sobbed. "Not like... please!"
Why is he….?
Naruto gritted his teeth so hard they hurt more than anything in his body. Or he tried to. But the pain in his chest was hard to beat.
Still it gave him enough resolve to stand. With a groan that turned into a growl, Naruto pushed himself up, legs trembling but holding.
Across the bridge, Zabuza had Sai pinned against the railing, massive sword pressing against the pale boy's blade.
"Not... yet..." Naruto panted, wiping blood from his split lip. "I'm not... done..."
Zabuza turned, surprise briefly flickering in those cold eyes. "Still standing? Hoho." He released his pressure on Sai, who slumped slightly, before facing Naruto fully. "But what do you think you're accomplishing here?"
He gestured toward Inari with his blade. "Look at him — working himself to death for scraps while nobles like your client grow fat. That's the world we live in, kid. The strong prey on the weak. The rich use the poor. And shinobi? We're just tools in their game."
"Shut up," Naruto snarled, but Zabuza continued.
"You think you're being a hero?" The swordsman laughed. "Wake up. That merchant doesn't care if you live or die, as long as his precious cargo reaches its destination. That's all civilians see us as — weapons to be pointed at their enemies or… monsters to be feared."
Naruto glanced at Gendo, who was cowering behind crates, not sparing a thought for Inari's safety. Something ugly twisted in his gut.
"Maybe you're right about him," Naruto admitted, straightening despite the pain. "But that doesn't make you right about everything."
"Oh?" Zabuza raised an eyebrow, amused. "Enlighten me, then."
"I'm not fighting for Gendo. I gave my words. I'm fighting for Inari and his mom and everyone else in this country who's been stepped on by people who think they can do whatever they want!"
Zabuza studied him for a long moment. "Noble sentiments. But sentiments don't stop blades."
He moved again, that impossible speed turning him into a blur. Naruto braced himself, knowing he couldn't dodge in his condition.
Think! What would Eishin do?
The answer came in a flash of inspiration. Not what Eishin would do — what he'd been trying to teach Naruto to do!
He remembered the seal, it was one. Hand moving, Naruto gathered his chakra, focusing it like never before.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
For a terrifying second, nothing happened. Then, with a series of pops, four copies of Naruto appeared around him. The super pervert droned on about how forbidden the jutsu was that Naruto dared not try more than four. He could do more.
The surprise was enough to throw off Zabuza's timing. As the swordsman adjusted his strike, the real Naruto ducked low, using the distraction of his clones to slip under Zabuza's guard. With every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he launched upward, fist connecting solidly with Zabuza's jaw.
The impact sent shockwaves of pain up Naruto's arm, but the look of utter shock on the bastard's face was worth it.
"You're wrong," Naruto panted. "About shinobi just being tools. About the strong always winning."
He wiped blood from his mouth, blue eyes blazing with determination.
"Because I'm going to change all that! I'll become stronger than anyone, not to step on others, but to protect people like Inari! That's my nindo!"
— — — — — — —
A/N: Okay, so I might have felt like I was fishing for compliments last time… and you all delivered way more positivity than I expected. Not gonna lie, I was kind of bracing for "where's the smut, you fraud?" but instead you were supportive as hell. Seriously, thank you.
I do like a bit of buildup, some actual plot -- and come on, it wouldn't feel like Naruto without some fights mixed in, right? Smut's great, but I like earning it. Thanks for sticking with me on that!
Also, this chapter's from Naruto's POV for the first time. I originally skipped over the Zabuza vs. Naruto and Sai fight because, y'know, smut. But honestly, I felt like a bit of a fraud for brushing past a fight that should mean something, especially for Naruto.
Hopefully, I got his voice right… let me know what you think!
PS: If you're enjoying the story and want to support it, you can read up to 8 chapters ahead (plus audio versions) over on Patreon. It helps me keep writing and is always appreciated. patreon.com/vizem