Chapter 15

“Keep rowing correctly Naruto,” Kakashi said. “We’re almost there.”

Kakashi kept repeating that as Naruto couldn’t help but shake with fright as he attempted to row forward. The paddle in his hands kept swerving in odd directions from the lack of stillness in his arms. It would cause them to sail sideways or even circle back in a u-shape. Naruto had to strain to keep himself from shaking or else they’d keep going off course. His anxiety was so overbearing he almost felt like he couldn’t breathe.

His chakra had become entirely lightning in nature, something that had rarely happened in his life. There was nothing Naruto could do to combat the distress he was in but push everything down and pretend it didn’t exist. It was a bad strategy but it was either that or nothing.

So much ran through Naruto’s mind from what just transpired that felt like a shot of poison to his heart. The image of Sakura’s corpse was burned in his mind. He felt guilt well up inside him, thinking that if he had stayed behind rather than rushed to fight Zabuza then he could have protected her. Tears welled up in Naruto’s eyes when he thought of her lying dead on the pavement of the bridge.

If I had just stayed behind and stayed with the group I could have protected Sakura. He thought. How could I say I love her when she died in the very battle I wanted to prove I was a strong ninja in?

But what hurt worse was meeting Haku and Zabuza. It was Haku’s hateful gaze that was also seared into his mind. Killing the most important person in her life was more than enough to earn Haku’s undying hatred. And Zabuza’s words to him kept stabbing Naruto through his heart with their bitterness.

Tell me I’m selfish…Repeated endlessly in his mind. Tell me when I stand here on the brink of death to fight a kingpin whose only goal in life is to see more innocent souls destroyed by green powder…You must be willing to sacrifice others as well as yourself if you want anything to come true!

The words sounded harsher in memory than in the moment when Zabuza stated them.

If you were to become as strong as me you would have to become as coldhearted and evil as I am. Circulated in his mind. That is the only thing you are right about. That you must harden your heart to become strong and make it as cold as ice to attain my level of strength.

And that was proven true just moments after Zabuza stated that. Naruto could never have defeated Zabuza unless he’d used the nine-tails’ strength. If he had not broken the self-imposed rule of not using the demon’s power, his entire team would be dead as well as Gato. And that guilt would have eaten away at him more than the nine-tails’s influence on his psyche.

Exactly as it should be. Naruto thought. I have every right to fully grasp the power gifted to me by fate…I was not accursed. I was blessed with power those mere mortals couldn’t comprehend…if I hadn’t those worms would have died. All the more reason to not hesitate to grab more power. I deserve to be Hokage.

Naruto had nearly given up trying to reply these kinds of thoughts from flooding his mind. They came almost as naturally as his less harsh ones. He was wondering how much of the nine-tails had merged with his mind. Was it reversible at this point? Naruto didn’t know.

At this point there was no way of undoing it but suppressing it. The more he recognized these thoughts the easier it was to isolate them and criticize this mentality. With paranoid fervor Naruto would watch his inner emotions and pinpoint which thoughts sounded the most unnatural for him. And that was the least of his concerns at this point.

Basically, good was evil at this point to him and evil was good. He had never thought about it that way before but Zabuza had certainly made it sound that way. Naruto had previously thought being good meant attaining purity of heart, being fun loving and the opposite of mean. A good person would almost never kill people and would never use others as pawns.

A good person would place their burdens entirely on their own shoulders and not on the backs of others. Naruto had never thought it could be called good to place one's ambitions on the backs of others, especially ones so young. It was something Jiraiya had taught him whenever he saw him. But apparently everyone else had a different definition.

Zabuza became a demon…Naruto thought. Because to him…what did it matter if one was good if others died. Well…I became a demon…am I no longer selfish? Am I a noble warrior and protector like him?

The answer was no. Zabuza had given every portion of himself to defending his land. Naruto had only in a moment become a mindless monster that was willing to eat everything in its path to satiate its hunger and desire for power. It was not the same as Zabuza dedicating his life to the way of shinobi.

The way of shinobi is not a path used for evil or selfish gain. Naruto realized. But a road one takes for the sake of others. For their entire country. I…I suppose…I didn’t understand that. I took the path of shinobi for the sake of glory and popularity…I am nothing like Zabuza. I was being selfish by not sacrificing everything for my nation, especially since I wanted to be Hokage. How…how could I be so egotistical in that being my motivation?

He looked back at Kakashi, who sat behind him at the other end of the boat. While Naruto continued to paddle wrongly at the front end, his sensei groaned in pain as he slumped against the wooden boat. He was in terrible shape as he lay beneath a blanket with his eyes closed, the jonin half asleep.

After the two of them paddled for seven miles from Dotou Island, Kakashi’s body had given out. He had depleted his chakra to only an inch of it surrounding his body. The Finding Glass jutsu consuming his chakra was the only way they could locate Tazuna. Looking through it gave Kakashi the exact directions to where the bridgemaker was as well as his current location. However, in order to provide the necessary chakra for this venture, he had to keep his Sharingan activated.

Keeping it active seemed to drain Kakashi a considerable deal. He was barely conscious after the last mile they paddled. The large magnifying glass in his hand no longer carried the image of Tazuna as there was no more chakra Kakashi could spare. However, Naruto was no longer worrying about how tired his sensei was. He could only think of the monster the jonin was.

He’s no different from Zabuza. He thought. He even agreed with everything Zabuza said about sacrificing one’s morality for their country. So…he’s the same. They both call good whatever protects and prospers their nation. But…is that a good or bad thing they are the same?

If Zabuza was good then Kakashi was good. There was no doubt about this. But he hated Kakashi while admiring Zabuza. Naruto wondered why this was. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the truth was they had come here for the sole intent of allowing a crime lord more control of a sovereign nation. Naruto could hate the ninja that served under Zabuza for killing Sakura but that was stupid, he realized.

If someone came to Konoha with the intent to keep the people addicted to green powder…Naruto thought. I’d want to fight them off too. Maybe that was the reason I couldn’t kill Haku…because I couldn’t bear to kill someone defending their home…I don’t view Zabuza in that light because he’d be doing what I’d do.

But then he realized something.

But Zabuza also said he would do anything to protect his nation. Naruto thought. Whether it was moral or not. So Zabuza would probably kill Tazuna if Gato was paying him enough money to gather an army for his coup against Yagura or whatever. It’s not like he’s an angel. And if I want to become Hokage…I have to be willing to kill Tazuna for my village. Konoha wouldn’t call anyone a hero if they knew that person wasn’t willing to kill a man for more than a hundred million ryo…even if they were innocent.

“Here we are!” Kakashi shouted behind him.

Naruto turned around in shock to see Kakashi had woken up and was staring forward. His eyepatch and forehead protector covered his Sharingan as he looked toward their destination. The last of Kakashi’s chakra had been drained away as he held up the light blue magnifying glass. Tazuna’s image was now in the glass portion of it.

He then turned back to find an island in front of them. Naruto was surprised to see it, knowing that it meant that his contemplation had him stuck inside his own head for far too long. It was one of the many islands that surrounded Dotou Island.

Underneath the dark skies of dwindling daylight he could make out mangroves surrounding the island as well as a sandy beach. Smoke from what he assumed was a campfire rose from the shore. Upon closer inspection, wood boats were tied to the mangrove trees that formed a small thicket around the shore.

Naruto could feel his heartbeat pound as strong as a fist knocking against a table at this sight.

What will I do? He thought. Could…could I really do this? For Konoha?

“Looks like this mission won’t be a bust after all,” Kakashi said. “We may yet complete our objective.”

“Yeah…” Naruto said while it seemed every muscle in his body tensed up. He couldn’t paddle anymore but that didn’t matter. They were so close to the island as it was and with the current of the water pushing them toward it, they would reach it in mere minutes. “We just might.”

“A hundred million ryo…” Kakashi said. “Or more…that’ll be a hefty sum for the Leaf Village to get. Oh…to get that money means a lot of us shinobi might be able to rest for a while. I have to sacrifice going on missions for teaching ninjutsu or sacrifice teaching for missions…with that reward I might not need to choose one over the other for a while.”

Yes. Naruto thought. I must kill Tazuna…for the sake of the village. I have to…to serve the village…and make money. It makes its economy almost entirely from these ninja missions. I can do it easily. Tazuna is no different from any of the ninja that died today defending this bridge…I’ll be a hero-

He cut off that thought, recognizing it was the nine-tails’ influence on him. Naruto’s eyes never left Kakashi as he sat up and groaned. He tried to reach for a paddle that he laid beside him but stopped just as his hand neared the oar. The jonin screamed in pain and grabbed his right wrist. Kakashi then fell back against the back of the boat, continuing to moan in distress.

“Ah, darn it,” he said.

“Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto said.

Kakashi feebly waved his hand to signal he didn’t want assistance.

“My…my body…” he said. “It does this whenever I use the Sharingan for too long.”

“Yeah…” Naruto said. “I didn’t know you were a part of the Uchiha.”

“I’m not,” Kakashi said. “I am a Hatake…although…although I wish I wasn’t.”

Naruto would have asked further but remembered that this is how implanted dojutsu acted. It was possible to transplant a functioning eye with kekkai genkai into another chakra user. Hypothetically, anyone could have any dojutsu.

However, this came with a price. This price was that the new user of the transplanted dojutsu was not as effective a user of it as the original. With the Sharingan this took the form of them not being able to deactivate it, so they had to keep that eye covered. And even when using it, it took more chakra to activate it and the toll on their body when using it was costly. One could die by overextending their transplanted Sharingan.

I should have known Kakashi had a transplanted dojutsu. Naruto thought. It only makes sense since I’ve never seen him take that eyepatch off, even when sleeping. Anytime the Sharingan is active it drains his stamina to the point of near death.

“Kakashi-sensei…” he said. “Where did you get that-?”

“From an old friend,” Kakashi said rather sorrowfully. Naruto could tell that one statement made him nearly cry. “Someone…someone who was too good for this cruel, awful world. Someone…someone much like you Naruto.”

Naruto was taken aback by Kakashi’s statement. Usually he was berating him about his lack of impulse control, his deficiency in taijutsu or reminding him that he always had to take into account his low chakra layering into his ninjutsu. Sometimes Naruto thought he was always more biased towards Sasuke due to his talent but Kakashi was always criticizing him as well.

He almost never said anything nice about anybody and when he did it was always the rare moments he saw them excel as a ninja. Kakashi was always very conservative with his praise and when he complimented someone it was always for outward physical accomplishments. Moral character was very rare for Kakashi to admonish.

Does this mean…? Naruto thought. There’s still a part of his innocence left…?

Naruto didn’t have time to contemplate this as they arrived at the island before he could finish his line of thought. The thicket of mangroves became too close for him to ignore and he was slapped in the face with a branch. It didn’t hurt much as even half a foot of wind chakra was enough to protect him from such a slight brush but it did make him more aware of his surroundings. Naruto faced the sandy beach in front of him, the light of the fire a beacon of burgeoning anxiety to him.

Can I do this? Naruto thought. Can I–can I really…really kill?

You can. He told himself. Your entire life you've been looked down upon and chastised for merely existing. It’s time you gain some honor. It’s time you reach out and grab that very honor with your own two hands.

Naruto shut off the thought before it could get any further, knowing he would never think that before merging with the nine-tails. He wondered if he was being influenced by the nine-tails or he was actually becoming the nine-tails. At first Naruto wrote it off as an unimportant distinction but he put more thought into it now.

If I’m merely being influenced by such a force then I can shut it off and stop listening. He thought. But if I have become the nine-tails, at least to some extent, then there’s probably no undoing it. And why would I want to? To have such power and glory all to myself is freeing. Others would beg and plead for such a chance at godhood but I’ve been blessed with-

Naruto again had to shut off the line of thought as he stepped out of the boat to see more boats just like their’s were tied in the thicket as well. Maybe two dozen boats floated above the shallow water in the thicket. Naruto used a bit of rope found in his boat to tie it to a mangrove. His pant legs up to his ankles became submerged with water as his sandals sunk into wet sand. He looked to see Kakashi awkwardly stepping out of the wood boat.

He neared the dry land along with Naruto, every step looking agonizing to the young ninja. Every step Kakashi took seemed to have a pins and needles effect on him. He didn’t so much walk toward Naruto as barely keep himself from collapsing into a screaming child with every leg movement. He pitied Kakashi, hating that the dreaded Copy Ninja was reduced to intense pain whenever using the legendary Sharingan.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Naruto,” he said in a strained voice. “When you see them…draw your kunai…you’re going to have to kill Tazuna when we find him. I’m too weak.”

The newly promoted ninja drew a pained expression on his face, hating that Kakashi ordered him to do the dirty deed. Naruto had never managed to kill even the doomed prisoners dragged to him by his sensei. He would have rather died than kill Haku. He only managed to kill Zabuza, not because he lost control, but because allowed someone to take control of him. Naruto knew there was no way he could do this.

But I must. He thought. For the sake of the Leaf Village.

Naruto and Kakashi moved through the ankle-deep water as they traversed the thicket of mangroves. Naruto had to duck under many branches and push aside wet leaves to get to the dry, land portion of the island. Kakashi stumbled awkwardly through the maze of trees and continuously fell onto branch after branch.

Naruto had to help Kakashi up numerous times after he tripped and collapsed onto the branches around him. He glared up at Naruto many times whenever Naruto steaded the ninja before the jonin’s gaze softened. He was clearly in pain but was trying his best not to show it.

“This is unbecoming of a ninja,” Kakashi said. “In this state I am nothing more than a liability, a parasite, to the Leaf. In case you need to fight or run to complete the mission…leave me be…and let me die.”

“No,” Naruto said. “No you’re not...you’re not that far gone. You-you shouldn’t think of yourself that way.”

“Naruto,” Kakashi said with a pained tone as Naruto lifted him up. “In the wild, animals that cannot take care of themselves and are wounded are eaten by the stronger. In packs of hunters such as wolves…the weak drag the strong down…so they must be left behind.”

“Um…” Naruto said, drawing on his knowledge of animals. “Wolves actually-”

“Don’t question me, Naruto,” Kakashi said tersely. “Just obey…and move on.”

Naruto steadied Kakashi so he could walk a ways without stumbling before they got to the beach. There, they saw Tazuna and his crew of bridgemakers. Naruto’s heart beat even louder at the sight.

A group of thirty or so men were gathered around several campfires on the beach. Some slept in blankets, some warmed their hands and others cooked over the open flames. It was an odd sight for Naruto that the enemy of his nation was not a powerful ninja like Zabuza but just ordinary men whose only skill was bridgemaking. Behind them were what Naruto recognized to be a semi-tropical forest of palm trees.

No powerful ninjutsu that could control the elements, induce madness-bringing genjutsu or form solid objects from nothing. These engineers and builders probably didn’t know a lick of taijutsu. Naruto could definitely kill them with even less chakra than he already had. This level of vulnerability to his target made him shutter.

It’s like I’m going to assassinate a child. He thought grotesquely. How-How could honorable shinobi kill ordinary craftsmen?

Once Kakashi and Naruto stepped onto the open sandy beach the gathering of more than thirty men saw them. Utter terror was painted across their faces. Some stood up and ran towards their boats before realizing they had no way of escape. Naruto and Kakashi stood precisely behind where all of their boats were moored.

There was no way that they could somehow flee to their boats without being intercepted by either one of them. Some men stood up with fists clenched, ready to fight and die where they stood. Some began to weep while others just stood in odd silence.

However, the one that fascinated him the most was Tazuan. Naruto looked squarely at Tazuna to find him neither running nor standing to make a last stand. The young ninja could see pain etched in his expression, the wrinkles around his face like canyons. The shadows under his eyes looked as dark as bruises. When Naruto neared him, the old man made no sudden moves nor looked ready to budge. It was at that moment, Naruto realized Tazuna was the same as Zabuza.

He’s selfless too. He thought. He could have abandoned the bridge long ago and no longer been a target of Gato…but he gave up everything just for the sheer possibility of a better future for the next generation. He has decided he has done all he could…and has accepted the possibility of death long ago.

Despite wanting to cry, Naruto hardened his expression.

Here goes. Naruto thought.

“Kill him, Naruto,” Kakashi said. “End this already.”

He took the kunai from the pouch around his waist and walked forward. Tazuna made a slight motion as if he was about to stand up as Naruto neared the bridgemaker but then sat back down. It was very obvious that he had given up at that point.

Here goes. Naruto thought. I’m…I’m going to be recognized by the village…

Yes. A part of him he didn’t entirely understand said. To become Hokage…no matter the price.

All the other men here stared in immense sorrow as Naruto walked towards Tazuna, carrying the kunai as awkwardly as if Kakashi was in his weakened state. He pushed himself forward, trying to get his legs working despite them feeling as stiff as lead. He couldn’t move much, his feet feeling as heavy as stone.

Naruto looked in Tazuna’s eyes, finding sorrow and regret in them. However, that didn’t take away the stoniness of his determination. Not a tear could be seen in his eye. Only acceptance.

“Come on, Naruto,” Kakashi said. “Hurry up!”

The young ninja looked behind him to see that Kakashi was glaring in anger at him. He was obviously incensed that Naruto had not already assassinated Tazuna. The jonin was stumbling forward with a heavy gait. It was clear that Kakashi was doing everything he could from falling over and collapsing in pain.

This only made his expression even angrier and his gaze more heated. As Naruto turned he could see the jonin so mad that he was afraid Kakashi would murder him if he could. His words sounded like venom to Naruto.

“Hurry up!” Kakashi said. “Before he gets away!”

Naruto then turned back to Tazuna to see the calm, dour face staring back at him.

I can do this. He thought. I-I-I…can do this…!

He thought back to Zabuza and how he made Naruto feel guilty for being alive.

One who cannot sacrifice their morality is truly the selfish one. He thought. There is no higher priority to their nation…to their ninja village…that is why I must do everything to earn the place of Hokage!

He raised the kunai into a killing position.

Even kill if I must. Naruto thought. A Hokage must do much worse!

He stood above Tazuna as he sat near the campfire, the kunai poised to strike.

“Do it, Naruto!” Kakashi cried. “Don’t fool around! Just end it!”

If I don’t…He thought. I’ll never earn the village’s respect!

Tears stung his eyes before they fell down his face. He was hesitating so much he wondered if he was even capable of it. Naruto could only think of what further harm would become of the Land of Water if the bridge was never finished.

“Don’t tell me that after everything you’ve experienced,” Kakashi lectured. “That you still don’t have the resolve to kill.”

“I do!” Naruto shouted. “I do, Kakashi-sensei! Just-Just…!”

“You will never become Hokage if you are unwilling to do this,” Kakashi said. “That position can only be fulfilled by someone who sees those outside the Leaf Village and Konoha as a detriment to our survival. Not as someone who is sympathetic towards them!”

Naruto now had renewed vigor.

Yes…He thought. Hokage. The position I’ve always sought…what I’ve dreamed for!

His chakra layering turned to red flame rather quickly. Surprise filled Tazuna’s expression as the fire licked around Naruto’s body. The taunts in his early days as an academy student of not having enough chakra, being ignored by the adults and children alike and seeing Sasuke surpass him at every opportunity. The urge to prove them all wrong welled up so strongly inside him he wished it wasn’t Tazuna’s life that was in his hands. It was the lives of everyone in the Leaf Village he wished was at his mercy.

I deserve to be Hokage more than anyone else. Naruto thought. Me! I deserve it as I was given nothing–nothing while they all were handed friends, privilege, respect and talent on a silver platter!

It was at that moment he wished he could crush the citizens of Konoha, especially Sasuke.

Why does he get to be admired and respected while I’m cast into the mud and forced to flop in it while he looks down his nose at me?! He thought. Why did Sakura never give me a chance?! Why did Iruka hate me with a passion?! Why do I have to work hard and train until I’m nearly dead just to get even a little respect while they all enjoy life to its fullest without doing half of what I do?! I-I am better than them! I deserve it! I deserve all of it!

He then glared down at Tazuna, his anger reaching a breaking point as he resolved to kill him.

And this old man would look down on me too if he lived in the Leaf Village! Naruto thought. All of them would! All I want are friends! All I ever wanted were friends! And if I must sacrifice my morality to become Hokage…then so be it!

Just as Naruto jabbed the kunai down toward Tazuna, he finally understood the meaning of Zabuza’s words.

But then again…Naruto thought. Zabuza didn’t take the title of Mizukage upon deposing Yagura.

He stopped, his arms falling to his side as he held the kunai so loosely it almost fell to the ground. His chakra no longer flared with the intensity of fire and became a state Naruto was no longer familiar with. As Naruto looked down at Tazuna he could no longer see anything, the true meaning of Momochi Zabuza’s words piercing his heart. All the while, Kakashi yelled at him from behind.

“What are you doing, Naruto?!” Kakashi yelled.

Zabuza didn’t become leader of the Hidden Mist once he defeated Yagura. He thought. That is why Zabuza is selfless. He knew he wasn’t fit to lead the village, only act as a soldier to depose one who also wasn’t worthy of the title of Mizukage.

Understanding wormed its way into the young man’s spirit, something akin to enlightenment flowing through him.

That’s what bothered me. Naruto thought. Momochi Zabuza, the killer of the one hundred other academy students of the Hidden Mist…never wanted the position of Mizukage. And even after his coup he didn’t decide to take it easy and retire from fighting…he continued protecting his country from Gato.

His fist tightened in determination. Naruto could feel Kakashi’s heated gaze behind him but he didn’t care. He knew now why Zabuza’s words pierced deeper than any blade.

“What are you doing you traitor?!” Kakashi yelled. “Kill Tazuna! Kill Tazuna!”

He understood that sacrifices must be made for whatever you call good. Naruto thought. It’s why he never allowed Haku to never have a dream of his own…because Zabuza never had a dream of his own. He just became a servant to whatever the needs of his country was.

However, despite acknowledging the nobility of such an ideal, Naruto could not say he shared the same desire.

I don’t…Naruto thought. I don’t really care about Konoha. Or the Leaf Village. I just pretended like I do so I could gain their trust and finally…finally have friends.

He smiled.

Friends are what I really wanted. He thought. More so than anything else. But now…just like Zabuza…

He looked down to see that Tazuna was staring up at him, the old man confused.

“Hurry up!” Kakashi shouted. “We don’t have all day!”

For the first time in my life…Naruto thought. I realized that sacrifices have to be made to attain what ideals you have. And I didn’t have any ideals…I wanted friends.

He tossed the kunai back toward Kakashi. Naruto looked out of the corner of his eye to see that Kakashi caught it in surprise, staring down at the weapon as an unearthly groan came from his mouth. It wasn’t anger. It was beyond that. It was more like deep confusion from the bottom of his soul.

Well…Naruto thought. It’s time to change that.

Tears stung his eyes as he looked down at Tazuna.

It’s time to gain some real ideals. Naruto thought. Like both Kakashi and Zabuza had…even Haku. But unlike them…unlike them…

His chakra was acting weird, taking on a color and disposition Naruto had never before seen.

What I’ll be willing to sacrifice for…Naruto thought. The thing I’ll strive for…

Naruto’s chakra became as white snow. It no longer flowed but emulated from around him like light. His chakra no longer transmuted into flames, liquid or even solid matter. It morphed into rays of light. The men around him covered their eyes, the chakra of pure light coming from Naruto was so blinding.

The dull grayness of the world around sparked with life as long shadows were cast outward from the workers. Naruto wasn’t so much bathed in light as much as he was casting it. His very presence was the source of it.

Is goodness itself. He decided.

All eyes were on Naruto as he became a far brighter source of light than the campfire. The whiteness surrounding him was spellbinding if the impressions of the workers around him were anything to go by. Tazuna now looked up at Naruto with immense confusion in the midst of protecting his eyes from the blinding white light.

“N-Naruto!” Kakashi yelled. “What are you doing?! Stop this and kill Tazuna!”

I’ll try and fight…Naruto said. For what I believe to be moral…rather than sacrificing my morality for my cause. Kakashi, Zabuza, maybe even Haku…they all sacrificed their morality because a sense of good and evil prevented them from being tools for their nation.

“N-Naruto…” Kakashi said, afraid.

I can’t say that I am willing to do the same. Naruto thought. To defy my conscience and do what I know is wrong for the continued survival and prosperity of my people…is evil. It’s not selfish…but it is evil.

His expression hardened.

So I will sacrifice my people’s prosperity and peace for my morality. He thought.

He looked down at Tazuna. The old man clearly expected to die at this point but now understood that would not happen. In his blank expression, tears formed. Tazuna’s gaze became flooded with tears before they streamed down his face.

Yang Chakra. Naruto realized. The chakra born from goodness and nobility of the spirit.

“The-the…” he said. “The Child of Light…”

“Go!” Naruto shouted. “Leave now! Before anyone else gets to you! If my teammates recover before they can find you…”

He breathed in heavily, knowing that his fellow graduates of the chunin exam would probably kill Tazuna rather than let him live. Hinata might not but Sasuke and Sakura would have. Kiba, Shino and possibly Choji and Ino as well. Shikamaru…maybe.

Although Shikamaru was so apathetic to the goals of the Leaf Village it was hard to know what he’d do. In a way, Naruto realized he was betraying the other newly graduating ninja he’d grown up with. If they saw him do this…they might hate him even more than they already did.

But sacrifices have to be made for what you believe in. Naruto thought. Just as Zabuza said. And if I’m not willing to make that sacrifice, to pay that price…what I believe in is a worthless ideal.

Tazuna nodded before rising to his feet.

“Naruto…” Kakashi said, sounding like he was on the brink of weeping. “Naruto…what have you done?”

“Come on!” Tazuna shouted. “We may have hope yet!”

“What’s happening?” a man asked. “Do you know this kid or something?”

“Yeah, who is he?” another asked.

“Nevermind that!” Tazuna answered. “Just know we gotta hurry and get on out!”

“Yeah!” another worker said. “The bridge from Dotou Island is almost finished! We have maybe another week to connect it to the mainland!”

“Let’s go!” said another worker. “No time to waste!”

Immediately, the swarm of workers fled the beach to head back to their boats as they kicked up clouds of sand in their wake. With the beach becoming filled with sandy air, the workers of the bridge untied their boats from the mangroves and pushed them out to the water. Naruto looked to see Kakashi collapse to the ground beneath him, crying with intense pain that Naruto had never heard before.

“N-N-Naruto…” he said, his eyes filled to the brim with tears. “You–You’ve ruined everything…oh…oh…oh Naruto…! You’ve…you’ve disgraced the Leaf Village…and you’ve made me a disgrace! Just…just as my father did…I hate you…”

Naruto became filled with sorrow and regret at the sight. For a moment, he began to share Kakashi’s pain and disappointment. He had raised and taught someone who wound up betraying the Hidden Leaf for the sake of their individual morality. The Yang chakra faded to blue water chakra as a result. Naruto turned to find Kakashi’s gaze downright murderous.

“Traitor…” Kakashi said in between sobs. “Traitor…to the Hidden Leaf Village…the highest dishonor one can know.”

It was at that moment that Naruto realized he was a traitor. No matter what good he had done in this moment, he had betrayed the trust of the Leaf Village. To them, he was an evil person. Naruto now felt the burden of that which he sacrificed on his heart. It was so heavy he was beginning not to breathe.

I…He thought. Have failed. My intended purpose, of prospering the Leaf, has failed. I sacrificed the Leaf…for my sense of right and wrong.

Just as the first of them began paddling, one of the workers ran to Tazuna and placed his hand on his shoulder. He tried to get Tazuna to come with him but the old man only stared forward. He looked beyond grateful.

“Young man,” he asked. “What is your name?”

“Naruto,” he answered, straining as hard as possible, his eyes full of tears. “Naruto…Uzumaki.”

Tazuna sighed, his face filled with a certain sorrow too.

“Hmm,” he said. “I’ll remember that.”