~Epilogue~

Later that night, Naruto found himself resting against the forest's young God Tree to recover his lost chakra. He and his team had just finished burying the dead and tended to each other's injuries, well mostly he and Sakura tended to Kakashi's and Sasuke's injuries. Of course, the raven-haired brooder had been rather difficult and had refused to allow Sakura anywhere near him to tend to his many injuries, which upset the pinkette greatly. The Uchiha heir had even gotten on Naruto's last nerve that the blonde had used a technique, which Ka'a had taught him, to render Sasuke unconscious. And despite the slight calculating gleam in the silver-haired Jounin's eyes, Naruto knew that his sensei was just relieved that the raven-haired teen would finally be tended to.

With a deep breath, Naruto slowly slipped further into his mindscape, further slipping into the rhythm of the forest, being part of the forest, becoming the forest.

Slowly Naruto opened his oceanic-sapphire blue orbs to find Ka'a casually sitting across from him in the tiny little clearing. Ka'a was leaning against the small tree opposite of the God Tree with one leg bent and the other stretched out in front of him. His right arm draped over his bent knee while his left hand absently fiddled with a blade of grass. Naruto watched with rapt attention as Ka'a absently allowed his youki, his demonic aura, flow and ebb in and out of the little blade of grass, making it grow and recede. Naruto had never seen the ancient Kitsune do anything of the like before, and it made him wonder if the great demon would teach him.

~If you wish.~ Ka'a soothing voice broke through the blonde's thoughts.

Naruto suddenly found himself fighting a blush. He kept forgetting that the old fox could read his thoughts. Ka'a then chuckled at the cute blush which kissed the teen's tanned flesh.

~Alas, my Kind One,~ Ka'a began, ~it was not your thoughts but your eyes that gave you away.~

~Mou, no fair.~ Naruto pouted, which made the Kitsune laugh lightly, and Naruto smiled despite him being slightly put out. ~So, you'll teach me?~

~Of course.~ Ka'a replied, ~It is no different from when you made the mangrove seed grow. I merely do so as a form of meditation.~

Suddenly at the mention of the little seed that Naruto had used in his rescue of Inari and his mother, the young kit's bright eyes dulled in remorse. Ka'a had noticed but made no comment. The ancient demon was not going to lie to the little blonde about what he had done was right or wrong. The belief of his own actions fell on the blonde alone.

Naruto had to make a decision about his own actions. The two samurai were the blonde's first kill. True, the blonde had killed animals before, for food; however, taking the life of another human being was another matter. Naruto was not killing some nameless or faceless thug. He was killing someone's father, someone's brother… someone's son.

The blonde did not even count the two Mist-brothers that had attacked them. In that instant, it was purely by accident. He had not meant to harm them. It was just the outcome of his accidental manipulation of the forest around him. But the samurai… He did intend to harm them. He had even prepared himself, for that moment, that he would have to kill the two samurai in order to protect Inari and his mother.

He knew by their disconcerted Heart Songs that the two samurai had done many terrible, terrible things in their lives and had felt no remorse for their horrible deeds. However, regardless of the fact that those two men were the epitome of 'bad men', it did not sit right with Naruto at how readily he had killed the samurai.

~Ka'a?~ Naruto quietly called.

~Hm.~

~Does it get easier?~

~Easier? What do you mean?~

~The killing… Does it get easier?~

~Iie.~ Ka'a answered firmly, ~It should never 'get easier'. For when that day comes then you have lost yourself.~

Naruto nodded. He may not like it, but he understood. He knew that as a shinobi, he would have to kill or be killed. However, it did mean that he would have to relish in it as so many of the shinobi world did. He would kill but only when necessary and then… he would mourn. He would mourn out of respect for what that one life had been. He faintly smiled at his vow.

~I know that I will have to kill again.~ Naruto confessed, which made Ka'a look curiously at his little Jailer, ~And when I do, I'll give my respects.~

Ka'a cantered his head to the side as he observed the little houshi before him.

~Even to the likes of the two samurai?~

~Hai.~ Naruto answered.

~Even to the likes of Gato?~

~Hai.~

Ka'a was silent for a moment before he asked, ~Why?~

Naruto blinked owlishly at the ancient demon before a rueful smile graced the teen's face.

~Even monsters were, at one time, someone's child.~

Then Ka'a truly smiled as he slowly stood up and approached the blonde kit-ling, still sitting at the base of the God Tree. Naruto just watched curiously as Ka'a suddenly dropped to one knee. The demon bowed his head respectfully and held his hands out on either side of him with his palms up. It was a position that Ka'a had no way of defending himself if he was attacked, and it confused the petite blonde that a great warrior such as Ka'a would allow himself to be in such a position.

~Ka'a?~

The Kitsune slowly looked up, locking crimson orbs with sapphire.

~You are truly one of Kami's Children.~ Ka'a remarked.

Naruto wrinkled his nose cutely as he looked at him eternal companion oddly.

~You're weird.~

At this, Ka'a laughed then dropped to sit properly before his little kit.

~My apologies, Naruto-dono.~ Ka'a chuckled, ~I believe it is best that I explain myself, but first, I must ask for your forgiveness.~

~Hunh? Why?~

~For I have kept something from you.~ Ka'a confessed, ~Something about… you.~

~Me?~ Naruto blinked in surprise and confusion, ~What?~

~I have… come to a realization as to why you specifically was chosen as my Host.~

Naruto's eyes grew wide but said nothing, waiting for his constant companion to continue.

Ka'a then slowly reached out and gently cupped Naruto's cheeks.

Instantly Naruto nuzzled into the demon's palm as Ka'a felt the all too familiar tingling warmth coursing down his arm and spine.

The sweet addictive purifying warmth of Kami's Holy Power.

Ka'a now understood why his kind and kin held a respectful fear for Kami's Blessed Ones. Their warmth was welcoming and yet destructive; hold on for too long and that warmth would destroy… much like fire.

~Ka'a!~ Naruto gasped as he pulled away when he noticed the slight pinkish hue of burnt flesh against the demon's palm where the kit-ling had nuzzled before. Ka'a ignored the slight burn in his hand as he gently caressed the teen's cheek.

~Worry not, my Little Houshi.~ Ka'a whispered, snapping Naruto from his daze as he recognized the strange word that Old Man Tazuna had called him. ~It will heal within minutes. And this… is what makes you, Naruto-dono, so very special…

~I know not who your mother was, but I do know what she was. For you have inherited her powers.~

~Okaasan…~ Naruto whispered in a daze.

~Hai. Your mother was a miko, a daughter of Kami, and you, as her child, are a houshi, a son of Kami.~

/

"Are you sure?" Inari asked for the umpteenth time since he agreed to help his big brother.

After the battle, Naruto had disappeared into the forest and had not been seen for a few days. Until one morning when everyone woke up for breakfast, they were all stunned to see the blonde in the kitchen, making breakfast. Inari was not sure what surprised him more; the fact that the blonde had returned or the fact that the blonde was making breakfast. Regardless, Inari was just happy that his big brother was back.

Of course, it also did not escape the little one's notice that there was a change in the blonde ninja. The blonde was more comfortable and more at ease with himself. Oh sure, the blonde had always been comfortable and at ease, but there was also a lingering sense of self-doubt and now…

Naruto was all calm, pose and strong.

"Yep… I know there's one around here. I felt it." Naruto replied with a grin as he and the little hero of the village continued trekking into the forest.

"But why are we looking for this specific tree?" Inari asked, "We have plenty of apple seeds."

And he aught to know since he and his friends ate quite a bit of apples just to get Naruto the seeds he wanted.

"Uh-huh… The apple is for Haku, and the holly is for Zabuza-san." Naruto explained as he looked for the allusive holly tree.

"What?" Inari stopped in surprise.

"I'm going to grow these for them. That way they can stay together forever and be remembered." Naruto easily stated.

"But why?" Inari asked, "They were the enemy! And done a lot of bad things!"

Naruto frowned as he looked at his otouto.

"It is true that their actions were wrong," Naruto began, "but I do not believe that their reasons were wrong."

Inari then made a face of disbelief.

"I heard that they were trying to take over their village."

At this, Naruto nodded. There was no point in lying about the truth; however, it was not the whole truth. Naruto then looked up and smiled as he found the grand holly tree that he had been looking for. He placed a small hand on the trunk and sent out a small portion of his chakra, asking the tree for a few of its seeds. He did not have to wait for long when the century old tree groaned and shook its branches, raining a few of its precious seeds on top of the two children.

Inari's jaw dropped in surprise as he saw the old tree move, and then it rained holly seeds. Quickly snapping out of his shock, Inari fleeted around Naruto, picking up the little seeds.

"Inari." Naruto's voice sounded unearthly in the silent forest.

Startled, Inari turned around and looked at his big brother, who had a stern expression on his face.

"Why did your father challenge Gato, who was in essence the law of the land?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, Inari squared his shoulders and proudly spoke.

"Because Gato was an evil man and because he was killing us!"

"That's right!" Naruto agreed, "Gato was an evil man. His rule was unjust, unfair and tyrannical. If not stopped, he would killed everyone and everything and then move onto the next village. That is how evil is spread by not stopping it. By good people doing nothing."

Inari then fell quiet as he listened to his big brother speak. It was then he understood.

Yes, what the two dead shinobi did was bad, especially to his village, but they too were trying to save their own village by trying to take over. Inari finally understood. Neither they nor his people were good or bad, they all were doing what they believed to be right, and in the end, Inari's people had won.

"I… I think I understand." Inari stated, which made Naruto's eyes soften as he nodded in approval.

"It's a start." Naruto encouraged, "Now, one more thing to do."

"Hai!" Inari cheered, "And don't worry, Naruto-nii, I'll protect you!"

"Arigato!"

/

"Where the hell did that dobe go!" Sasuke demanded once he realized that his blonde was nowhere to be seen… again.

After the Uchiha and Kakashi had healed and rested a bit, the entire Team had decided to stay and help finish the bridge. Well, the entire Team, save for the Avenger, had agreed to; thus, they were at the bridge working with the other villagers, but the blonde had disappeared… again! Sasuke had been having a difficult time in controlling his foul mood. He was hateful toward Sakura, who had pulled him out of the blissful darkness. He was resentful toward Kakashi, who allowed his blonde to be near the dead ninja in a respectful manner. And he was angry at Naruto for not being by the raven-haired brooder's side as he should be!

"Leave Naruto be, Sasuke." Kakashi warned as he witnessed the increased possessive behavior that the Uchiha heir was displaying.

Sasuke snapped his Sharingan red orbs on his sensei, discovering another reason to hate the older Jounin.

Kakashi wisely chose to ignore the highly agitated teen while mentally he was grateful that Naruto was nowhere near the dark teen. At the moment, it was only the Uchiha and himself at the bridge while Sakura was with some of the villages' women, helping them with making lunch for all of the bridge workers. Absently Kakashi prayed that the pinkette did not help too much since her culinary skills were non-existing.

Kakashi sighed as he lifted the heavy support beam into place. He had to come up with some sort of plan for meals on their trip back when suddenly he remembered the delicious breakfast he had just the day before. The silver-haired Nin can still taste the perfectly seasoned fish that was undoubtedly caught fresh that morning! And the rice and vegetables were steamed to perfection! And the eggs! Oh! The eggs! Kakashi had no idea where the eggs came from, but they were light and fluffy and had just the right amount of sweetness to them that Kakashi could just die happy from eating them.

Then the Jounin grinned as he remembered exactly who had cooked the delicious meal that had nearly brought tears to his eyes.

Now, Kakashi plotted as he mentally rubbed his hands together in a maniacal fashion, how to get … NARUTO -!

Kakashi suddenly froze as he felt an all too familiar warmth and calm that he had tasted once before.

Immediately he looked about him only to realize that everyone had stopped working. They too felt the warm and calming summer breeze caress against their hot and overworked flesh, cooling and refreshing them. And in an instant, the silver-haired Nin leapt to action, dropping the support beam, ignoring the shouts of surprise from those around him and began running toward the source of Naruto's call.

Kakashi had always known that his blonde student was powerful, but to be powerful enough to spread out his chakra for ordinary people to sense was something that the ex-ANBU thought was not possible. At first when he had sense Naruto's addictive chakra, Kakashi thought that his blonde was in danger, but as the more he felt and the closer he got, the Jounin realized that Naruto was doing something special. The Kitsune avatar's chakra filled heavily in the air, much like the scent of heavy rain lingering in the air. Kakashi sped faster to his favorite student's side. This massive calling was bound to draw the attention of some unsavory characters. Even though the Konoha ninjas managed to chase away Gato's men, it did not mean that they were finished with Zabuza's men, who were probably laying in wait and were hungry for revenge. At this horrible thought, Kakashi sped even faster forgoing the need for stealth in favor for more speed.

The silver-haired Nin saw a gentle glow of amethyst coming from Zabuza's gravesite as he busted out of the bushes and stopped dead.

"HALT!"

TWANG!

Kakashi barely registered Inari's startled cry as he equally barely registered the slight sting he felt on his arm as one of Inari's makeshift bolts grazed him.

"What the hell?" Kakashi barely heard from Sasuke, who had followed him immediately after he witnessed the silver-haired Jounin bolting from the bridge.

However, Kakashi paid the teen no mind as he looked upon the most beautiful sight he had ever seen.

Sitting in front of a pair of trees was Naruto, who was surrounded by the beautiful amethyst glow. His tanned flesh was tattooed with amethyst glowing tribal markings, which cascaded from Naruto's body onto the ground and racing toward the two trees. It was then that Kakashi realized that the trees were over Zabuza's and Haku's graves, and as Kakashi observed more closely, the Konoha Jounin smiled when he noted that the two trees were embracing each other as any pair of lovers would.

The holly and apple trees embraced and bound together forever, just as Haku and Zabuza were in this life and in the next.

Suddenly the amethyst glow faded, and Naruto's form began to sway. Before the blonde hit the ground, Kakashi was immediately by the teen's side, cradling his exhausted frame against the older shinobi's chest gently.

Slowly a pair of seraphim blue orbs fluttered open and stared into Kakashi's own dark gem.

"Pretty…" Naruto softly whispered before he fell into a deep slumber.