C-Rank back up

Previously

"I'm going away for a while, don't ruin the place"

"Formation Delta!"

"How do you feel?"

"Welcome to Suna"

"Hey Panda-Kun"

"You should stay away from him"

"He's my Friend, my best friend, I'll never abandon him"

"At the Chunin exams!"______________________________________Team 5 walk back through the gate from another C-Rank. It's been about 3 months since the team first form, and all members were aware that the Chunin exams would be in about a months time.

"I'm SO happy that we get more C-Ranks!!" Mika shouted, she was leading the group to the Hokage's office, but she was walking backwards.

"*sigh* I agree. I think I would have gone crazy if we had only done D-Ranks" Katsu agreed. He was walking with his arms behind his head, looking up to the sky.

"What a drag, you can thank Zeref for his plan for that," Neisho stated. He walked normally, he just looked drained of everything you need to survive in life.

"Hn" was the Uchiha's response. He wasn't looking at the road, he was reading his book, Tales of a Gutsy Ninja.

"For a guy who hates that noise, you sure do make it a lot" Katsu pointed out.

"YEAH!" Mika shouted gaining the attention of everyone.

"What a pain" Neisho muttered.

"Hn" Zeref said not really listening to the conversation.

A sweet smell caught the attention of the Uchiha as he finally looked up from his book only to snap his head in the direction of the Dango store.

The three other members looked at him with confusion.

Without missing a beat, Zeref walked into the store leaving his team. When Yume, the worker at the store spotted the oldest Uchiha she immediately began to gather his Dangos.

"3 portions right?" She said.

Zeref gave a light smile and handed her the money.

She gave him the Dangos before wishing him luck.

Zeref walked back outside and rejoined his team, and continued reading only this time he held a Dango bag in his other hand and had a stick of Dango in his mouth.

"What's with you and your obsession with Dango?" Mika asked.

"My brother introduced me to it once, and ever since then, I've been hooked" Zeref quickly explained trying to ignore the pang of pain that came with mentioning his brother.

"Oh," Katsu said.

Neisho never said anything he only watched his student with a calculating look in his eyes.

When team 5 entered the Hokage's office Mika was the first to speak up.

"Hey!! We're back, mission complete!" She announced.

The Hokage looked up to see team 5 and an idea came to him.

"Good, but I'm going to send you on an emergency mission." He announced.

Instantly Team 5 snapped to attention, even Zeref who still had a Dango sticking out the side of his mouth.

"It seems Team 7 has run into some problems for their first C-Rank. According to the message Kakashi sent me the mission is no longer a C-Rank but a B-Rank. With your team's experience, I want to send you to the land of waves as back up." He stated.

"We would be honoured to" Neisho stated.

"Then you shall leave immediately, Team 5 you will be back up for Team 7" he announced.

Team 5 gave a short bow before separating to restock before meeting at the gate.

Zeref made sure he had extra clothes, weapons, food and more in his own made Storage seals.

When everything was packed away he headed to the gate.

When the whole of Team 5 we're ready they set off in a quick run.

"Why are we running?" Mika asked.

"Team 7 is running solo on a B-Rank mission. We need to move quickly to catch up to them. You all mastered your water walking right?" He checked.

"Hai" the team announced.

"Good we're going to be running across a river, we should get there in two days if we keep this pace up" he announced.

Team 5 held a look of determination on their faces.

After a full day of running, they cane to a large river just after the sunset

"Ok we'll rest here and run across in the morning, Zeref you keep watch for the first half, Katsu your the second," Neisho ordered.

Without responding Katsu set up camp. Mika got the food. Neisho supervised. Zeref sat in a tree and turned on his Sharingan to get a quick glance of the area.

When morning came with no issues Team 5 set off running across the river and under the half made bridge.

Once they reached land they ran for a little while longer, before Zeref had the urge to turn on his Sharingan.

Trusting his gut he could predict the Jutsu's of two Ninja up ahead.

"Sensei, 6 people up ahead. Two fighting, four watching..... wait, no 7 there is one away from the group of four." Zeref reported

Neisho spread out his Chakra and felt Kakashi, Team 7 and three randoms. One Civilian and two felt strong, so two Ninja.

"Team 5 guard team 7, I'll help Kakashi, keep an eye on that extra" he announced.

With that Team 5 split.

The students jumped in and surrounded the now tired team 7 except Sakura and Tazuna.

Neisho Used his clan's shadow capture Jutsu to hold Zabuza Still while Kakashi was free to continue the moves he was going to do.

"What!" Zabuza shouted.

"Capture complete" Neisho announced.

"I see the Hokage got my message" Kakashi announced.

"Water Style: Water Vortex Jutsu" Kakashi shouted.

Neisho released Zabuza right as the Jutsu hit, so he couldn't avoid it.

"Zabuza huh?" Neisho said looking at Zabuza who was now pinned to a tree.

Team 5 looked slightly annoyed that they didn't get to do anything, but they watched as the extra Ninja took Zabuza away.

Naruto threw a hissy fit at being weak.

Almost immediately after Kakashi fainted.

"How troublesome," Neisho said looking at his old friend who face-planted the ground.

Neisho put Kakashi on his back and looked at The old man.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"I'm Tazuna the bridge builder," he said.

"This is so troublesome, lead the way to your house." He said.

Tazuna leads the way.

Neisho right behind him with Kakashi on his back.

Team 5 surrounded their Sensei, Katsu to the Right, Mika to the left, Zeref behind.

Sasuke walked on the right of Zeref.

Sakura walked to the right of Sasuke.

Naruto walked to the left of Zeref.

They stayed like this until they reached Tazuna's house, where Tsunami took care of Kakashi.

Team 5 sat in a room while Team 7 was still with Kakashi.

"This is such a pain" Neisho muttered.

"Agreed" Katsu said giving a large Yawn.

"This is awesome our first B-Rank. I'm so excited!" Mika squealed.

...

The team looked to their fourth member to hear his response but he sat there quietly reading.

"Anyone else Suspicious about that Hunter Nin?" Katsu said.

"Oh... yeah he worked for Zabuza* Yawn* how troublesome," Neisho said.

The two who were listening looked at their sensei.

"You knew?" Mika asked.

"Yeah, if he was a real Hunter nin he would have stepped in earlier, he only got involved when Zabuza was at death's door. It's basic logic. But I didn't point it out, Team 7 needed rest" Neisho explained.

"Makes sense" Zeref mumbled.

"Oh, you are listening" Katsu deadpanned.

"Hn...." Zeref trailed off.

The whole team gave a sigh.

"So I guess were training then Sensei?" Mika asked.

"Yes, guessing from where the Senbon hit, Zabuza will be out of commission for about a week, same with Kakashi, shockingly, so we have a week to train, I'll train you, I assume Kakashi will train Team 7. *sigh* what. A. Drag" Neisho hissed.

He knew this wouldn't be easy, but he wasn't expecting it to be such a pain either.

Zeref was now reading through the notes he made on the yellow Flashes technique. He tried to learn the body flicker, and while he could get himself out of sticky situations with it, he could never utilise it like his brother did.

So he looked into the next best thing, the Flying Rijin, though it may be more difficult, Zeref always excelled when it came to difficult Jutsu's.

Not long after the conversation finished Sasuke walked into the room.

"Zabuza is alive," he said.

They all looked at him with boredom.

"We know," Katsu said.

"Oh..... ok then," he said and left.

"Well he was useless," Mika said.

Zeref slapped her on the back of her head.

"Watch your words," he said.

The next day came and Team 5 and 7 were standing in the nearby forest.

Kakashi was explaining tree walking to both teams.

"We've done this already," Katsu said.

Team 7 looked shocked.

"You already taught them this?" Kakashi asked an eyebrow raised.

"I believe that this is the first thing every sensei should teach, they can water walk too, it makes teaching Jutsu's so much easier. It's also the only reason on how we got here so fast, we ran across the river, troublesome man" Neisho explained.

Again Team 7 looked shocked.

"Anyway Team 5 follow, were gonna learn Jutsu's, and yes Zeref I'll help your theories" Neisho stated answering Zeref question before it was asked.

Team 5 walked off into a different section of the woods.

What? Chunin exams were soon, Team 5 didn't want their moves learnt by a potential enemy.

Katsu was learning how to fuse his Chakra nature with his sword.

Mika was learning a new Genjutsu.

Zeref walked a bit away from the team to practice his improved Flying Rijin.

Neisho watched Zeref closely.

"What did you want me to look at?" Neisho asked.

Zeref showed him a complex Seal.

"From what I understand about the seal that is shown on Lord 4ths Kunai is that it teleport the main Chakra to the signature that is placed in the personalised look of a mark. I just don't understand what it meant by mark." Zeref said.

Neisho was impressed the boy deciphered it this far.

"It means your own mark, it can be Kanji of words that means something to you or even a symbol, but it has to be personal and Specified to you. At least that's what I think." Neisho said.

Zeref looked surprised that Neisho came up with a solution so fast, as he almost forgot that his Sensei was a Nara.

Neisho left Zeref to think.

And think he did, he needed a Symbol, one that would represent him...

Then it hit him.... hard.

Fairy tail...

Yes he told himself he would move on... but, he never said that meant to forget them... this could be his constant reminder on who he once was... it was perfect.

With the image of the Fairytail symbol ingrained into his mind, Zeref walked up to a tree forced his Chakra through his hands, and with a steady flow managed to form the Fairytail sign on the tree, it was pitch black before it turned invisible.

It was still there he could feel his Chakra there but none but he could know it was there.

Now he had the seal and the Symbol he pushed his Chakra through the seal in his hand and in what anyone would say was a flash of black and blue, Zeref was standing back at the tree he marked.

.

.

.

He did it...

Mika was trying a new Genjutsu that would make people see what they want to see.

Example, if she was fighting someone and put them in this Genjutsu they would see themselves winning the fight, but actually they are frozen still. After all, Genjutsu and Taijutsu are her best, so if she can make someone freeze that could be her win.

She was testing it on animals, but she couldn't tell if it worked.

She tried it on Neisho and he told her where she went wrong and what she can improve on.

Finally was Katsu he was really trying to catch up to Zeref's Kenjustu skills.

Even Katsu knew the guy was too good for his own good if that made sense.

However this was more difficult than it needed to be, he was and Earth Style user, how the hell would he fuse that with his sword.

Zeref had it easy, he has a Fire and Wind Chakra type, even Mika who has a water Chakra type and Neisho who has a wind and Earth Chakra type are better off than he is.

He could surround the sword in Stone but that would basically turn it into a bat.

In frustration with the Earth still on his sword, Katsu gave his sword a powerful Swing while losing control of his Chakra.

This launched the earth off his sword at a tree which cracked it.

Katsu looked at the tree with a slight gleam in his eye.

"That could work," he said giving the Cracked tree a smirk.

Time skip

It's been around a week and each member on Team 5 had improved their Jutsu's.

Zeref can mark people if he can not only land a solid hit, but if he cuts them with his sword, though the mark will only stay for around 10 minutes, and if he Mark's with his hands he needs 3 seconds.

Mika could now Successfully trap her Sensei and he couldn't tell the difference, she could also place multiple layers of the Genjutsu, so if they broke it they would still be caught. The max is 2 for now though.

Katsu improved his aim and force behind his new skill, he called it a blunt blade. His Rocks would now go straight through trees, and while it did take up a lot of his Chakra, one good hit to the head would knock most people unconscious, or be a great distraction.

Team 5, and 7 minus Naruto were currently walking onto the bridge when they discovered that Zabuza nad his lackey were already here.

At first, it was Sasuke vs Haku as they found out, and Kakashi and Neisho vs Zabuza, leaving the four leftover students to guard.

Sasuke then got trapped in an Ice dome and Zeref immediately ran over to it.

"Sasuke use a fireball!" Zeref shouted.

At the same time, both Uchihas blasted off a great fireball Jutsu, one from the inside, one from the out. They both hit the same piece of ice but it only lightly melted it.

"Your fire will need to be much hotter to melt that" Haku stated.

"Shut up!" Sasuke shouted.

"When it comes to speed I am unmatched" Haku stated.

"Wanna bet" Zeref muttered.

He grabbed his newly marked Kunai and at an incredible speed threw it at Haku.

Haku reached out and grabbed it, but as he did Zeref teleported to it, grabbed his shirt and pulled him out of the mirror.

He then got into a Taijutsu match with the boy but was definitely faster than him.

It was all going well until...

POOF

"NARUTO UZUMAKI HAS ENTERED THE SCENE!!" He shouted.

Everyone paused and looked at the boy in orange.

Zeref and Sasuke facepalmed.

Both Sensei's had a sweatdrop.

The three other Genin had a deadpan look on their face.

Tazuna looked like he was gonna die.

The two enemies looked confused.

"Naruto...." Kakashi trailed off.

"Number one knuckleheaded Ninja" Haku whispered.

"Yeah pretty much," Zeref said.

"Wow, you need to teach your team stealth, Troublesome student " Neisho muttered.

Katsu gave a heavy sigh.

Sakura rubbed her temple.

"Your teammate is an idiot," Mika said.

"Naruto you Dobe, Think first would you!" Sasuke shouted.

"What the hell Teme I'm here to help!" Naruto shouted back.

It turned out that while everyone was thinking about how dumb Naruto is he snuck into the ice dome where Sasuke was.

Haku used the distraction the throw Zeref into the dome, now trapping all three boys in it.

"Naruto you're making it really hard to like you right now," Zeref said bluntly.

Naruto gained a tik mark.

"FINE!! Screw you two I'll deal with this guy!! Believe it!!" Naruto shouted.

He summoned a dozen clones and ran in every direction.

Haku, however, was faster and took out every clone, knocking Naruto back into the centre.

His continued for a while, with the two Uchiha's dodging the ice Senbon barrage.

Zeref more than Sasuke since he had unlocked his Sharingan.

Naruto went once more, though a lot more sloppy now.

Sasuke and Zeref blew fire and it clipped the edge of Haku's clothing.

With that spotted, they go to try again only for the boy with supposed endless energy to run out of steam and pass out cold.

Sasuke who now unlocked his one tomoe Sharingan and Zeref was left to defend.

Haku went for Naruto and Zeref was about to stop him, but Sasuke jumped in front punching Haku back but taking the brunt of the attack.

Naruto woke up and saw Sasuke drop to the ground, Zeref couldn't move he could only see as it flashes between Sasuke and Shisui.

"NOOO!! YOU TEME WHY???" Naruto shouted.

"My body moved on its own. I vowed to kill him.... my brother I mean... don't break your vows Dobe... as I did... Zeref... I'm sorry... I...I Lo-" Sasuke was gone.

A dark murky purple aura slowly surrounded Zeref his hair covered his eyes.

"SASUKE!!" Naruto Shouted.

He rested his head on his stomach.

"He risked his life for his precious people. I'm guessing it's your first time seeing someone close die.... he was a good Shinob-" Haku started but was cut off.

"SHUT UP!! HE WAS A TEME, BUT HE HAD A DREAM... HE WAS GONNA KILL HIM... HE HAD A DREAM!!!" Naruto shouted his voice slowly becoming distorted. A blood orange coloured aura bubbled around Naruto forming Ears and a single tail. His eyes turned red with slits, his whiskers more prominent.

Zeref was somewhat similar.

His purple aura formed Horns on his head and scales over his body. His Sharingan's were his Mangekyo and faded from yellow slits to blood red.

They were spinning.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Naruto announced.

"Silence" Zerefs voice boomed. Even those outside heard it.

Mika and Katsu were using the Myst to help out the team Sensei.

Everyone shivered at the voice that boomed across the battlefield.

"That wasn't Naruto, or Sasuke, so Zeref?" Katsu analysed.

"This Chakra, one is the Kyuubi but what's the other one... it feels worse" Kakashi stated.

"I'm not sure, but we should end this quickly," Neisho said, a serious look held on his face.

"Agreed," Mika said.

"What happened to Sasuke?" Sakura asked no one.

"Do you only care about one of your teammates" Tazuna quizzed quietly, Sakura didn't reply.

"Come," Zeref said.

Almost like a dog Naruto slowly crawled next to Zeref and sat next to him.

Zeref glared at Haku with such hatred those in Suna could probably feel it.

"Make no mistake, you will die, Naruto... Now" he ordered. Naruto without hesitation bolted towards Haku.

Haku moved to the other side of the dome while sending Senbon at the boy.

Naruto gave a deep growl and flung the Senbon everywhere.

"Behind" Zeref ordered. Without Missing a beat Naruto turned around to attack once more.

Haku realised, Naruto was only going on Zerefs orders for some weird reason. He threw Sendon at Zeref instead, but before they left his hand Zeref had disappeared.

"Stop and punch as hard as you can" he Ordered Naruto from behind Haku.

Zeref had teleported behind Haku where a stray Kunai of his rest.

With Chakra enforcing his arm he punched Haku straight in the gut and sent him flying towards Naruto who was mid-swing.

Naruto punched Haku in the face so hard it sent him flying through his ice and split his mask straight in half.

"He's all yours " Zeref muttered walking off towards Sasuke.

Naruto bolted over to Haku where he calmed down after he discovered it was his friend in the forest.

Zeref sat quietly next to Sasuke. His aura gone, the features that came with it were gone too. He stared at the body with a blank look.

No tears.

No Sharingan.

No nothing.

Sakura, Mika and Katsu came over not too long after.

Sakura burst into tears on his body.

Mika hid her face in Katsu's chest who looked sad and held her tight.

"You ok kid?" Tazuna asked Zeref.

"No. I'm not. He's my brother, not direct but family nevertheless. I promised to protect all I have left. But now I Have nothing. That won't stop me though. I'll keep flowing, much like a river. There may be obstacles and drops, but I'll never stop moving forward. I may have lost one. But I have another out there. I will find him.... and bring him home..." Zeref monologued.

Tazuna thought about the boy's words, it reminded him of Kaida (don't know if it's right, and don't care enough to check).

Tazuna knew the Village needed to be like that, if they want a good life, they need to keep moving forward, no matter what obstacle.

"Sakura..... I can't breath... get off..." a hoarse voice said.

Everyone looked at the boy in shock and happiness.

Sakura jumped onto him, but Zeref immediately pulled her off.

"HEY!" She screeched but one glare from the whole team 5 and Tazuna shit her up.

Zeref helped pull out the leftover Senbons.

"Idiot... you ever do that again... I'll bring you back to life, castrate you and watch you suffer." Zeref muttered.

Sasuke's heart rate increased at the obvious worry from his crush. Not that he would admit it.

"Naruto Sasuke is Ok!!" Sakura shouted.

Sasuke put an arm around Zeref's shoulders, as said boy walked him over to their Sensei's who were watching Zabuza say his last words to Haku.

"It's Snowing" Zeref muttered.

"But it's spring" Sakura stated.

"It was always snowing where Haku lived," Naruto muttered, he watched as a single snowflake landed on Haku and made it look like he was crying.

Time skip

Team 5 and 7 paid their respect to Haku and Zabuza at their graves.

Naruto announced that he was going to follow his own Nindo way, and they went off to say goodbye to Tazuna and his family.

Naruto and Inari were holding back tears to be more 'mature' than the other.

Sasuke and Sakura looked confused while looking at the two.

Neisho and Kakashi were talking.

Mika and Katsu were talking, though Mika was slightly blushing at her teammate.

Zeref was talking to Tazuna.

"Goodluck with your other brother kid," Tazuna said shaking Zeref's hand.

"Good luck with your new life old man," he said a slight smirk.

The two teams walked off.

"What should we name the bridge?" Tsunami asked.

"This bridge will represent Bravery and the will to continue. So how does the Great Naruto Bridge Sound?" Tazuna asked.

"It sounds great," Inari said.

"That Uchiha told me something as well. That no matter the hardships we need to keep moving forward, much like a river.. so how about  River Zeref?" Tazuna said.

"River Zeref... not bad" Tsunami stated.

The family only just lost sight of the two teams who headed home.

Zeref was excited.

The Chunin exams were soon.

That meant he would see Gaara.

Oh yes... he was excited.

But what was that aura about?How did he control Naruto so easily?

He gave a sigh... the answers would come when they come.

______________________________________

Next time

"You've all been recommended for the Chunin exams"

"LET HIM GO!"

"Gaara"

"Zeref"

"Still can't sleep?"

"This is my favourite view"

"If we fight...."

"... no holding back"

Quote of the Chapter: None

Ok, guys here her the vote results.

Hinata - 2

Temari - 1

Sasuke - 4

Gaara - 3

Other - 0

Single Pringle- 1

Alright, the votes are in. If you want others names them in the other section.

Sasuke is still winning but Gaara ain't far behind.

Ja ne