Be better

"Because I would have liked to have someone to make me see the truth and support me while I was sad" With a smile, Naruto continued "And even though I didn't have the chance to meet someone like that, I decided that I would be the one to support others as I would have liked to have been supported"

"To be the hero you never had..."

"Something like that."

"B-but I can't be a hero..." Lowering his gaze, Inari continued "Gatoh scares the hell out of me... I'm weak and small... even kids my age are stronger than me."

"What would you do if you had Gatoh in front of you?"

"I-I would hit him really hard!"

"And do you know what those kids would do if they had him in front of them?"

"No..."

"They'd probably get so scared, they'd pee their pants" With amusement, Naruto continued "On the other hand, even you, being small and weak, would dare to hit him... don't you think that's something a hero would do?"

"I-I don't know..."

"Mmmmm..." Rubbing his chin as he looks at the boy, Naruto continued "How about we do this. I'll be taking care of your grandfather for a few months, and during the process I have to train a lot so I can be very strong and protect the ones I love... would you like to train with me?"

"R-really!?" Looking up with excitement, Inari asked "Can I be as strong as daddy!?"

"No" Sighing while shaking his head, Naruto chuckled as his face instantly became depressed and continued "I promise you that you will be much stronger than your father."

"Promise?" stretching out his pinky finger, Inari asked.

"Promise" Hooking his finger with the boy, Naruto smiled earnestly at him and whispered "And don't tell anyone, but I'll take care of Gatoh myself and give him a punishment for being a great villain"

"B-but he's very strong" Opening his eyes a little wider, Inari continued "He'll hurt you."

"Didn't you already see that I'm much stronger" Snorting, Naruto continued "I can have a whole army just by putting my fingers together, do you think Gatoh can do that?"

"Sniff I don't think so..."

Nodding with satisfaction, Naruto asked "Do you feel better now?"

"Sniff Yes" Nodding while wiping the tears from his face, Inari replied.

"How about now if we go downstairs and for starters you apologize to your mother? It would be horrible if she scolded you and ended up banning you from training."

"Mn" Nodding as he stared at the photo of his father, Inari held it firmly for a few seconds and stood up, then got down from the table and left the photo next to his bed.

Giving one last look at the wonderful view of the sea, Naruto sighed and stood up, then hopped down and waited for Inari.

"Ready?"

"Mn."

Leaving the room along with the little boy, Naruto walked down the stairs and looked at the group drinking tea while conversing, then approached them and looked at the worried mother who was staring at him "Miss Tsunami, Inari has something to tell you."

Walking towards his mother with his head down while fiddling with his fingers, Inari mumbled "I'm sorry mom...I didn't mean to yell."

With surprise in his gaze, Tsunami stared at her son for a moment and then lifted her gaze to Naruto, who just smiled at him and nodded.

"Hahaha~" Laughing gleefully, Tazuna stretched out his hand to the boy beside him and pulled him into his embrace, then looked at Kakashi and the others and exclaimed "Did you see that!!!? My grandson is a very polite boy!"

Finding himself suddenly enveloped in a firm embrace, Inari looked up at his noisy grandfather and stood silently for a moment, then released from his arms with difficulty and stood in front of him while staring at him "Grandpa!"

"What!?"

"When I grow up, I will be someone as brave as you!" with a serious face, Inari continued "I swear!"

"..." Opening his eyes a little wider in surprise, Tazuna stared at his grandson for a moment, and his eyes began to redden rapidly, then openly laughed and gently patted his head as he exclaimed "Of course you will be, and much braver than this old geezer!"

Holding her hands to her chest, Tsunami stared at her son with her father and sighed with relief, then smiled softly and turned her gaze to Naruto, bowing her head slightly to him in thanks.

"Mom, I'll be right back!" turning, Inari ran towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" with concern, Tsunami asked.

"I'm going to visit dad and tell him I'll be a hero like him!" Turning with a bright smile, Inari replied, then walked out the door and closed it.

Looking at the boy who walked out the door, Tsunami's eyes reddened as he smiled widely, then turning to Naruto and bowing slightly "I really appreciate it...I couldn't remember when I last saw him smile."

"Inari is a good boy, so it was a pleasure" Sitting down, Naruto took his cup of tea and took a brief sip, then looked up at Tsunami and continued "Miss Tsunami, I'd like to see if you could allow Inari to train with me during our stay?"

"Train?" Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Tazuna asked "Train what?"

"The basics, speed, strength, stability and well, whatever he absorbs" Turning his gaze to Tazuna, Naruto continued "As you know Inari has been very bad lately, and I think his sadness and anger could be destructive for a boy like him... thoughts plague him and he had practically lost all hope.... I think it would be a good idea to, guide those negative feelings in his mind and use them for something that can help him... I think it will not only help him to overcome this sad stage, but also help him to form much more self-confidence and character building."

"This..." With hesitation and doubt, Tsunami lowered her gaze to her father and looked at him silently.

"I would thank you from the bottom of my heart" Resting his hands on the small table, Tazuna bowed.

"It's nothing" Shaking his head, Naruto continued "As soon as we can make sure the area is safe and that there are no dangers, I will begin your training."

***

Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Tazuna-san!"

Startled as he jumped up, Naruto frowned deeply still half asleep and looked around as he heard the loud knocking on the door.

"Tazuna-san, something important happened, come out quickly!"

Looking at his team who got up as fast as he did, Naruto walked out the door of the room and looked at the old man walking out of his room with a worried face, then walked towards the staircase as Tazuna spoke to him.

"That voice is from a friend in the village, he works with me on the bridge, something must have happened."

All quickly descending, Tazuna went to the door and opened it, looking on the other side at a man in his 60's replete with sweat on his pale face.

"What's wrong, Giichi!?" Holding Giichi's shoulders, Tazuna asked with concern "What did Gatoh do now!?"

"He..." Opening and closing his mouth, Giichi shook his head and replied "You have to see for yourself."

"Let's go" Being fully ready, Kakashi walked past Tazuna and continued seriously "Sakura, stay guarding the family, Naruto, leave some clones guarding the perimeter, the rest follow me."

Instantly forming the clones, Naruto sent a dozen outwards and left another dozen in the house, then looking at Sakura and nodding towards her "We trust you with the place."

"Mn" Nodding earnestly, Sakura turned and walked quickly upstairs "I'll be watching upstairs"

"We're leaving"

Quickly following Giichi who seemed to have seen hell, Tazuna clenched his fists tightly as worry boiled inside him, heading straight towards the direction of the bridge.

After a couple of minutes, Giichi pointed towards the large group of men staring at the bridge and continued "When we arrived to continue the work, we found that... no one dared to approach."

Advancing towards the group of people, Tazuna ignored the stares on him and stepped forward, then stared at the picturesque crimson sight covering the entire entrance of the bridge and turned extremely pale instantly.

At the entrance of the bridge, numerous metal rods were embedded deep as blood dripped down the metal, each having severed heads with eyes wide open and obvious horror in each of them, while a small wooden table stood right in the center with what appeared to be a large scroll on it.

"That's..." Opening his eyes a little wider as he saw long metal rods embedded in the floor with heads on the ends, Sasuke muttered in surprise "Human heads..."

"You know them?" looking at the blood dripping everywhere, Kakashi asked grimly.

"Th-this..." Opening and closing his mouth in obvious disbelief, Tazuna slowly approached towards the bridge and stared at the head that was higher than all of them, then muttered "T-that's Gatoh... Gatoh and his people."

Opening his eyes a little wider in surprise, Kakashi looked at the deformed head, and walked towards the spot calmly, being instantly followed by Sasuke and Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto" Arriving in front of the small table, Kakashi looked at the small note next to the scroll and turned it over, finding more text "Thank you for the opportunity, we will be better. Please accept this thank you gift and I hope it will make up for our mistakes."

"Haku..." With surprise in his eyes as he looked at the horrible scene, Naruto muttered "I guess we won't have to worry anymore."

"Apparently they left you a gift before they left" Taking the scroll and looking at it carefully, Kakashi turned to Naruto and asked "Shall I open it?"

"Go ahead" Nodding, Naruto took the note and read it, then took it to his pocket and put it away carefully.

Opening the scroll, Kakashi injected chakra into it and waved it in the air, making a small mountain of objects as the metallic sound echoed through the place.

"This... apparently these are the weapons of these guys" Looking at the numerous katanas, swords and other types of different weapons, Kakashi turned his gaze to a bundle of books carefully tied together so they wouldn't scatter and took them, then read the cover of the first one and raised his eyebrows "This is interesting."

"What is it?" Curious, Sasuke approached Kakashi and asked.

"Techniques... this one in particular apparently is Zabuza's diary, I guess it must have his notes on his swordplay."

"Oh... shit" Totally ignoring the weapons and books, Naruto was sitting on the floor surrounded by 5 metal suitcases, while in front of him there was one open and its contents made him open his eyes wide.

"What does it contain?" noticing Naruto's surprise, Kakashi looked at Naruto and asked with interest.

Taking the suitcase, Naruto turned it towards Kakashi and muttered "Money... a lot of money."

Noticing the inside of the suitcase full of neatly sorted bills, Kakashi opened his eyes a little wider and looked at the rest of the suitcases beside him "If they all contain money, there must be at least about 15 million Ryus."

"..." Staring at the rest of the suitcases in a daze, Naruto was was silent for a moment and asked towards Kakashi "What shall we do with these?"

"Mmmmm..." Staring at Naruto for a moment, Kakashi shrugged his shoulders and replied "You decide. All this was left to you and our mission has nothing to do with these belongings, so it's none of our business."

"I see..." Lowering his gaze as he nods, Naruto stood in total silence for a moment and turned his gaze towards the group of men in the distance, then stood up and shouted "Tazuna-san, it's safe, I need you to come!"

Without waiting for even a second, Tazuna nodded and quickly ran towards them, then stared at the head in the center and clenched his fists with a elated face "It's really him, finally that bastard is dead!"