Chapter 22 - I'm a man, you know?

"I never thought to say this but I'm glad to see you, bastard fox" - Kiba said while hugging the redhead's leg. Kurama just looked at him while his eyebrow trembled uncontrollably.

"Kiba ... you better let him go because I'm sure if you keep doing that, he will send you with a kick to Konoha" - Sakura said seriously.

"I'm sorry for that" - sighed the Inuzuka - "It's just that I was stressed ... without lying, I was sure it would be another fight and let's say we're not fit for another Round"

"I hate to admit it but the idiot is right" - Sasuke sighed - "Kakashi-sensei is unconscious and we don't have much Chakra left"

"Using Tsuga is much more tiring than you think" - Kiba muttered - "And it is not for offending you Sakura, but your stock is so low that you run out easily"

"You don't have to remind me ..." - the pink-haired girl sighed.

"But back to the subject ... and the others?" - Sasuke asked that he and Kiba took their sensei.

"I decided to come before because I felt that something could happen" - replied the redhead - "I asked permission to Kurenai-sensei"

"I guess we'll wait" - Tazuna nodded as he looked at the redhead.

After 15 minutes, the girls from Team 8 arrived.

"Team 8 has arrived to support the escort mission for Tazuna - Kurenai said seriously as he looked at the bridge builder - "We have updated the difficulty of the mission and decided to continue it but expect a reward proportional to the level of difficulty... "

"And one more thing ..." - Kurenai said with a cold look - "I hope that a situation like this is not repeated because this could have caused your death, but the complete annihilation of team 7 ..."

"I am sorry to have hidden the information and I promise to pay whatever is necessary when all this is over ..." - Tazuna said as tears ran down her cheeks - "I only ask you to help this old man ... this is the last chance to save Nami no Kuni ... "

"As we said, we came to support team 7" - Hinata smiled - "We never said we would go back"

"Thank you ..." - Tazuna said while crying with happiness - "Thank you for giving hope to this old builder"

"Guys ... I need you to tell me what happened before we arrived" - Kurenai said seriously.

"Hai!" - said the Genin of team 7 while telling her what had happened.

Kurenai was silent for a few seconds, and then report something that perplexed the boys of team 7 - "Zabuza is still alive ..."

"Why do you say that, Kurenai sensei?" - Sasuke asked with intrigue.

"From your expression, I can see that you know something, don't you?" - said the red-eyed kunoichi when he saw that Kurama was still as if nothing - "Why don't you explain to them, Kurama-kun?"

"Senbon needles are only lethal if they hit a vital point" - replied the redhead - "In fact, outside being used for medicine and hitting pressure points, they also serve to create the illusion of a false death"

"That means that ..." - Hinata said but was immediately interrupted by Kurama - "Exactly"

"This 'Hunter' was likely a companion of Zabuza" - Kurama said seriously - "And he came out to rescue him when he saw that you were about to kill him ..."

"One week" - said Kurenai - "That is the time it will take to recover"

"I think we better go to my house" - said Tazuna - "It is not that far and is currently the safest place because Gatou has control of all the rest points of Nami no Kuni"

"Ok" - nodded Jonin Sensei while she and Genin followed the old bridge builder.

* * * * * *

They walked for 15 minutes when they saw a house surrounded by trees, without asking permission Tazuna came in and shouted - "Tsunami! I'm back!"

In response to the call of the old builder, footsteps were heard from within. These were approaching at high speed so that after a few seconds the voice of a woman could be heard - "Tousan! You don't know how worried you were about Inari and me!"

In response to the call of the old builder, footsteps were heard from within. These were approaching at high speed so that after a few seconds the voice of a woman could be heard - "Tousan! You don't know how worried you had us!"

When they saw the origin of the voice, they were perplexed especially Kurama and Sasuke. The woman had dark blue hair, which reaches her back, her eyes are deep black, a small nose and mouth. She wore a mainly pink T-shirt except at the edges of the neck and sleeves that are red next to blue pants. But that was not what surprised them, but she was quite similar to matriarch Uchiha and Sasuke's mother, Mikoto Uchiha.

"Father! How is that ...?! Ara? Why didn't you tell me we have visitors ?!" - Tsunami said as she looked reproachfully at her father and then see the ninjas and give them a smile - "Forgive me for the comedy that you just see, come and make yourself at home"

"Thank you very much" - Kurenai said with a smile and then see the builder - "Tazuna-san Could you tell us where we can let Kakashi rest?"

"Around here" - Tazuna said as he directed them to an empty room.

* * * * *

After leaving unconscious Jonin, Kurenai told team members 7 and 8 that she would train them to increase the chance of victory against Zabuza and other possible mishaps they might have while Tazuna explained the situation to his daughter.

Kurenai started teaching team 7 chakra control while team 8 kept training the teamwork. Kurama just sighed but he listened to his Sensei this time.

They didn't stop until dinner time arrived.

Upon returning, they saw that in addition to Tazuna and Tsunami, there was an 8-year-old boy. He had black eyes and hair, he was wearing a white hat with blue stripes, he was wearing a yellow shirt and a green bib. Seeing the arrival of the ninjas, he looked at them with disdain - "It would be better if you return to your peaceful village, this place is not good enough for people like you"

"Inari!" - Tsunami yelled at him.

"Why do you stop me Kaasan ?!" - Inari shouted and then continue looking at the shinobis - "You better get out of here, Gatou's men are many and strong. If you stay, you will just die ..."

Kurama took his head as he felt the headache growing with every second. Slowly a new memory appeared in his mind, in it a man of short stature was seen, he wore sunglasses, had light brown hair and wore a black suit, behind him, was a man in fishermen's clothing from the region. The man was crucified in front of the village crowd and among them, he could see a small Inari crying - "Kaiza! *Sob* Kaiza! *Sob* KAIZA!"

When he came back to himself, Kurama saw the little boy once more and said - "I don't know what you've been through or who you've lost ..."

"I also don't pity you ..." - continued the redhead with a cold look - "Because there are many people in this world who have lost their family or loved ones ..."

"At least you still have your family, you have a mother who cares about you, you have a grandfather who loves you, you have someone who sacrificed for you ..." - Kurama said - "So stop crying, because. .. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO SUFFERS IN THIS WORLD! THERE ARE PEOPLE MUCH WORSE THAN YOU! "

"What do you know!" - Shout Inari - "You live in peace in that great worry-free village! You have no right to speak!"

"Look little crying child ..." - Kurama said while taking Inari from her clothes - "The bastard of my 'father' the same day I was born despised me"

"The son of a bitch tried to kill me!" - the redhead shouted angrily - "If it wasn't for my 'mother' ... I wouldn't be here!"

Those present were shocked by the young man's words.

"And only because he failed with his Jutsu and transformed me into this!" - Kurama said while releasing his Henge by pulling out his ears and fox tail - "My mother sacrificed her happiness so she could get me out of the village just to return to a war-torn land where there was no one but us!"

"..." - Inari was silent while looking at the floor.

"Since I was 4 I have only trained to be strong enough to protect my loved ones!" - Kurama said seriously - "No rest! No stop!"

"Every time I fell, I got up!" - Kurama roared - "Blood ... pain ... sweat ... tears ... Nothing stopped me!"

The shinobis only kept silent while listening to the boy's life.

Inari was trembling while remembering his life which was not very different from that of the other children, in fact, compared to the rest of Nami no Kuni's families, he had a good life.

"Better I will leave the subject here ... I do not want to continue with the other events" - finished the redhead while looking at the civilian boy - "Do you still think your life is bad?"

Inari kept looking at the floor without looking up.

"I think you went over, Kurama-kun" - said Kurenai.

"No" - Tsunami denied - "My son needs to open his eyes and understand that despite all his pain, there are people who are much worse ..."

Inari trembled when he heard his mother as tears began to run - "I'm sorry ... * Sob * I ... * Sob *"

Tsunami only hugged his son while he released everything he had inside.

Tsunami only hugged his son while he released everything he had inside. She knew that all this was cruel to her son, but he had to grow up, more knowing that a bad word could cause his death.

"I'm going to get some air" - murmured the redhead as he walked outside.

"Wait! * Sob * I want to ask you something!" - Little Inari shouted.

Kurama stopped where he was and gave him a look.

"Tell me what I have to do to not lose my family!" - shouted the boy.

"If you don't want to lose your family ..." - muttered the redhead - "Then be stronger ... and if you can't be stronger ... then ask for help ... because there are things that one cannot do alone ... "

"Everyone has their motivations" - Kiba muttered while shaking his head - "Kurenai-sensei, I want to go out to train a little"

"You can go" - the red-eyed kunoichi nodded as she watched the two boys retreat. Hinata and Ino wanted to go after the redhead but their Sensei stopped them saying it was better to leave the boy alone.

"..." - The other Genin could only let out a sigh and nod until they saw Inari leaning in front of them - "Please! I ask you to help me protect my family!"

"That's what we came to do" - Kurenai smiled as she stroked the boy's hair with a smile on her face. It seems that Kurama did manage to open the boy's eyes.

* * * * *

After a few minutes, those present in the room separated. Kurenai and Sakura were the ones who stayed on guard to protect Tazuna and his family while Hinata and Ino went to sleep although they were still worried about the redhead. Sasuke decided to go practice in the yard to clear his mind.

"Only with the necessary strength, can we defend those who are important to us" - Sasuke murmured as he looked at the stars - "I have to continue strengthening ..."

Kurama had used a Shunshin to appear in a treetop. There he lay down and began to see the stars - "I thought I had forgotten the grudge I have for that bastard, but every time I remember Kushina-chan's face of suffering ... I feel like I lose control ..."

He was silent for a few seconds and shook his head - "Maybe tomorrow everything will be better ..."

On the other hand, Kiba was with Akamaru lying on the grass.

"In case one has to suffer to become strong?" - he wondered as he remembered how his partner Sasuke had gone through a traumatic event too and was stronger than him - "Does there has to be a pain so that one can overcome it and learn something from it?"

"Woof ~?" - Akamaru could only look at his partner with concern.

"Sorry old friend ..." - sighed the Inuzuka - "It's just that I can't get that idea out of my mind ..."

Akamaru only gave him small licks on his face, as if he were telling him not to worry, that everything would be fine.

"Thank you" - Kiba smiled as he fell asleep with Akamaru on his c.h.e.s.t.

The next morning.

Kiba woke up when he felt that there was someone nearby - "Who is there ?!"

As he looked around, he hears the clattering of some bushes. He was about to attack but stopped when he saw who was showing up. Among the trees came a beautiful young woman a little older than him, she had long black hair, pale skin, large dark brown eyes, beautiful eyelashes, and a thin complexion. she wore a kind of sleeveless pink kimono, with a white obi that fit her slender figure - "How beautiful ..."

As if he had heard it, she gave him a small laugh that made the Inuzuka turn as red as Uzumaki's hair.

"If I can know ..." - Kiba said after recovering from his shame attack - "What does a girl as pretty as you do in this desolate area like this?"

"I'm looking for medicinal herbs to cure someone important to me ..." - Said the young woman while releasing a small smile.

Kiba was sad to hear this, immediately associated him with her partner - "Your boyfriend?"

"No ... He's more like my father" - replied the girl and this encouraged the Inuzuka - "Let me help you! Between the two of us, we can find them faster!

"Thank you" - she said with a smile.

Kiba was dumbfounded by her and after gathering some courage he asked her - "By the way... What's your name?"

"Hmm ~? My name is Haku... and you?" - She said.

"My name is Kiba Inuzuka and he is Akamaru" - Kiba said so that Akamaru also responded - "Woof ~"

"Nice to meet you Kiba-kun, Akamaru-kun ..." - Said the smiling Haku.

After about 10 minutes, they found all the necessary herbs.

Kiba was happy to help but sad because maybe he would never see her again. He was on a mission and from what he heard from her, the person she was taking care of was very important and could not leave him alone - "Thank you for helping me Kiba-kun"

"It's nothing" - Kiba replied as he watched her withdraw but her expression changed when she stopped her steps and looked at him. Hope had returned to his gaze.

"One more thing, Kiba-kun ..." - Haku said as she watched the Inuzuka.

"Yes?" - Kiba said with a sparkle in his eyes.

"I'm a man ... You know?" - Haku said and then leave.

Kiba was disconnected from reality for 30 minutes although if one listened carefully, one could hear the sound of something breaking into thousands of pieces ...

"MAN ?! GOD! HOW IS SOMEONE SO BEAUTIFUL IS A MAN ?!" - Kiba's scream echoed throughout the forest.

In the distance, Haku was laughing slightly.

"Kiba Inuzuka-kun .." - Haku said as he disappeared from the place - "I think you're someone interesting ..."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Sorry for the mistakes but I can't do much for it. I am doing all this alone, not only "translating", but also rewriting history so that it has a little more cohesion with the future plot, as well as improving the interaction between characters. There have been chapters where I had to literal, write from scratch so that they make some sense and I will continue to do so to try to bring the best possible story. That is why I ask you a little patience and if possible let me know if there are many errors because from the paragraph section of the Inbox, it does not indicate the part that you try to correct me and since I do not have a native English language, I skip the error part and it ends up being the same.

Chapter 28 available in Pa-treon.