Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

New Beginnings:

You really are a stupid brat.

"Shut-up."

Out of all the things you could've done, you had to go and get yourself killed.

"I didn't have much time to think about it."

Even that idiot Fourth could've thought of something else besides rushing into it head on and taking the hits.

"I SAID SHUT-UP!"

Once again, I was back within the dark chamber that housed Kyubi and its cage. As I sat before the demon, I looked around the room while I gathered my thoughts. The room was lit by a red light that emitted from Kyubi. It was a rather large chamber, as it had to be big enough to house Kyubi. However, there was little else besides the bars that held Kyubi securely. For some reason or other, I was sent to this place as soon as I lost consciousness.

"You're mind is here because I willed it," Kyubi answered.

"Stop reading my mind."

"I can't help it; I'm IN it after all…"

I sighed and looked up at what represented my past life.

"Are you going to tell me why you "willed" me to be here?"

"Alright, you stupid brat, it's time to teach you how to use my chakra properly."

"Technically, it's OUR chakra, since we're supposed to be the same being."

"Well, I came first so it's my chakra we have at the moment."

"You're dead so now it's MY chakra."

"WILL YOU JUST SHUT-UP AND LISTEN TO ME!" Kyubi roared.

"Fine…" I replied, fading to a barely audible mutter.

"Alright, listen well, you brat," he began. "My chakra is way beyond anything a human should have, which is why I was a born as a demon. If a human was meant to have my kind of power, nature would have made one, eventually. However, the fact that nature chose me to hold this kind of power means that it's something humans were never meant to have. However, you're alive and breathing right now so obviously, something's wrong. I'm going to teach you how to control that power, as well as teaching you about what you can do with it."

"Really?" I asked. "When we do we start?"

"Not now, you're students are calling."

"Wha…?"

---

"Kyu-sensei!"

Yes, I will be right there…

"Kyu!"

Kakashi as well?

"Kyu-nii-chan!

…Naruto?

My eyes slid open, light flooding into my sight. I blinked a few times, until everything became clear. I saw Kakashi, Mizu, Naruto and…Haku! My eyes widened and I sat up.

"Ah!"

"You shouldn't get up so quickly!"

"You need rest!"

Immediately, several pairs of hands forced me back down again, making me realise how sore my body was.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded.

"Nice to see at least your temper is still intact," Kakashi commented. "I'll let these guys explain while I got get the others."

With that, he disappeared into thin air and I felt his chakra grow weaker, as it moved off into the distance. I glanced around to everyone's faces. Mizu's face was pale and obviously, she was worried. Well, I suppose that is understandable. Before I passed out, most of us were pretty heavily injured. Perhaps not as bad as me but since I had Kyubi backing me, I knew I would survive. Naruto, as soon as he realised I was going to live, set about risking my demise again by talking non-stop and generally annoying the hell out of me. I ignored him and turned to Haku, as he stood by the door, smiling as I looked at him.

"Nice to see you're alive," I said. "If we're alive, shouldn't you be dead?"

Haku simply smiled and replied, "We were betrayed by our employer, who arrived to…take care of things. Therefore, Zabuza-sama and I had a quick meeting where we arrived to the decision that we would kill our employer and ally ourselves with you guys instead."

"I…see…"

"Kyu, the fight was awesome!" Naruto exclaimed. "It was like four of us against one hundred! Haku, Zabuza and Kakashi-sensei were all really hurt and so was I but we fought anyway! Zabuza went crazy and killed twenty of them in a few seconds!"

"Really?" I sighed, inwardly. Naruto was overly excited again.

"Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed. "Even better, the village rose up against them!"

Now THAT was interesting…so this village grew a backbone. Well I guess something good came out of these pointless battles. However, what were Haku and Zabuza planning to do now?

"Haku, what are you and Zabuza planning to do now?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"You can't stay here and you still have enemies out there," I said. "It's obvious, isn't it? You both are missing-nins; you can't possibly expect to live a peaceful life from now on."

"Well, about that…"

"…we have decided to join the Hidden Leaf."

I looked towards the window and saw Zabuza climbing through the window. I raised my eyebrows and flicked my head towards the door.

"What's wrong with just coming in the normal way?"

"It's too crowded there."

"Wha…?"

Suddenly, the door slammed open, with Yuki and Mika rushing through the door, followed by Sakura and a nonchalant Sasuke.

"KYU-SENSEI!"

"YOU'RE ALIVE!"

With that, they lunged and enveloped me in a hug.

"We were so worried!"

"When you and Mizu returned, you were unconscious and we thought you were dead!"

"I will be…IF YOU GUYS DON'T LET GO!"

"Oh…"

"Sorry…"

I am glad to be alive and I am glad they were too. However, I had to admit, I found them rather irritating. As if Naruto was not bad enough, the Fourth just had to leave me with these three. I do not mind teaching them, I do not mind training them…but they seem to drain a lot of my energy, when I try to keep up with everything. I sound like I am older than them…

"Anyway, getting back to the point," I said. "Zabuza, what do you intend to do? Walk up to the village with that big sword on your back and ask for a place among the ninja?"

Zabuza chuckled and replied, "Of course not. Don't worry, little jounin. Kakashi and I will take care of it."

"Yeah, let the adults handle it. I realise that being under Ryu would make you think otherwise but adults can actually accomplish things," Kakashi said. "We're returning to Konoha tomorrow so use this time to rest. Naruto! Come out with me."

"Eh! But I want to talk to Kyu-nii-chan!"

"You'll see me plenty when we get back to Konoha!"

"Alright, alright…"

Kakashi, followed by his team, left along with Zabuza.

"Kyu, I would like to thank you for saving my life," Haku said.

I looked at him and nodded, "Don't worry about it…"

"You could have easily died, you know," he said. "I have some skill in terms of being a medic-nin and from what I know that attack SHOULD have killed you."

"Yeah, Kakashi's technique is quite deadly."

"This isn't time to joke about it!" Haku said, raising his voice. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I'm just glad that you're alive."

"Hey, who exactly are you?" Yuki asked.

Haku and I started, forgetting that there were still people here. Mizu, Yuki and Mika stood back, looking back and forth between us. Why were they so curious? They fought with Haku, right? Therefore they should know who he is. Well, I guess they want to hear about the details of the battle. However, I was sure Naruto would have said something to them by now. Anyway, I looked at their gazes and they were curious about Haku. Granted, they had just met each other but still, they should not be staring at him like that. Granted, Haku may look weird and very feminine but…oh no.

"Hey, Haku-san?"

Maybe they…

"Just Haku would be fine…"

…think that…

"Oh, well, Haku, do you…?"

Haku and I…

"…yes?"

…

"Are you in love with Kyu-sensei?"

Haku choked and I put my hand on my forehead and sighed. Maybe I should have foreseen this. Apart from Zabuza, Kakashi, Naruto and I, none of us knew Haku was a guy. I had to admit, I find it quite hard to believe that Haku is actually male. Naruto's shock (and perhaps disappointment) was definitely apparent. I looked at those three and they were very confused at this reaction. Well, since they did not know Haku was male, it probably did seem that way. I saved Haku's life and he just thanked me for it.

"Mizu, Yuki, Mika, listen closely," I said.

"Yes?" Yuki answered.

"Haku…"

"Yeah?" Mika replied.

"…is…"

"Is what?" Mizu asked.

"…a guy," I finished.

Then, time seemed to freeze. No one said a word. Haku closed his eyes and braced himself. I looked into each of their faces. They were all shocked and frozen. Then, like as if they were building it up, they let loose.

"WHAT!"

---

Kyu, concentrate on your chakra.

I relaxed and called upon my chakra.

Now, keep it flowing and focus on mine.

Keeping my concentration, I kept my original chakra flowing through my body and called upon Kyubi's chakra.

Try and merge them together as one stream.

I slowed the flow of my original chakra, and quickened Kyubi's one to match it. Then, as the speed of both slowly synchronised, I felt it occur. My body was changing. Fur sprouted along my body and my nails changed into claws. My canine teeth sharpened and grew longer. Kyubi's chakra began to seep out and enveloped my body, like last time. However, this time, my own, blue chakra was flowing along with it, keeping it quietly under control.

Alright, good work. You've completed the first technique: calling upon the chakra and then keeping it under control.

Kyubi was training me to use the chakra. This was a few days after we had returned from the C-turned-A-rank mission. Today, Mizu and the others had a day off from missions and I used this opportunity to conduct my own training. First, I had to learn how to control it. No training or proper growth can be done unless I mastered that first. I relaxed my chakra, feeling both streams fade away. I reached into my mind to converse with Kyubi.

Now what?

That will be all for now. It's not like we're in a hurry. Now that you can control it, you're body isn't in any danger from it and keep practising this exercise, until you can call upon more and more of my chakra and still control it.

Right, that makes sense. Well, I guess I should go drop in and speak to the Fourth now. He said he needed to see me.

Whatever.

---

As I made my way to the Fourth's office, I thought about what happened to Haku and Zabuza. Right now, they should be completing one of the missions that the Fourth assigned them to. Based on his decision and mine, they became part of the Anbu and together, with Ryu and Minoko, formed a four-man team. Ryu immediately tried to hit on Haku, without realising he was a guy. Immediately, Zabuza made him reconsider his actions. Minoko was amused with the idea another person in Anbu that was around my age. Right now, they were one of the most feared teams among Konoha.

I used Body Flicker and appeared besides the Fourth in his office. He was alone for the moment and barely glanced up as I arrived. He simply held up a piece of scroll and I took it. Reading through it quickly, I digested the information. It was Ryu's latest report and their team had just successfully completed a mission with no casualties.

"They're doing well, aren't they?" the Fourth remarked.

"Yeah," I replied. "Still, I can't believe you allowed them to join Konoha so easily."

"Kyu, if you went so far to save one of them, I'm sure you trust them, right?"

"Well, yeah…Haku has no intention to undermine Konoha."

"Then, that's good enough for me. From what I've seen, this Zabuza will never hurt Haku so I guess it's safe to trust them."

"Hn…whatever…"

"Now, are you and your team ready for your next mission?"

"Yeah."

"Then, here it is."

I took the scroll he handed me and read it. Then, I read it again, just to make sure I read it correctly. Then, I looked back at his smiling face.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, Kyu, I am."

"You want my team and me…to bring back Jiraiya, the Sannin?"