Lava and Ice

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Naruto x Mei

Author notes: I'm going to change Mei's age a bit so she and Naruto aren't so far apart age wise. Mei will be 16 and during the first part. So don't worry she'll still be powerful in her own way, but it'll give her chance to improve. This will NOT be a harem so don't ask.

Remember Mei is FLIRTY, it's apart of HER personality!

"Naruto," - Person Speaking.

'Naruto,' - Person Thinking.

"Naruto," - Bijuu/ Boss Summon Speaking.

'Naruto' - Bijuu/ Boss Summon Speaking.

"Raiton: Jibashi!" - Jutsu/ Techniques.

Chapter 4: Hidden Truths

Last time on Lava and Ice

"Remember my beloved you only need me in your life, no one else can help you like I can." The voice said in Naruto's head, as he felt a pair of arms wrap around his back.

"And here I thought you got rid of her, are you still staying attached to her web of lies Naruto?" Kurama asked.

"She was the only one who I ever trusted even if she did what she did, she told me about you and was honest with me unlike everybody else." Naruto replied.

"Be careful kit, we both know that she was extremely manipulative. She almost had you killed because she wanted someone dead, so promise me that you'll be careful." He said.

"I promise." Naruto said. Hey

"Are you alright Naruto-kun?" Mei asked while bribing him out of his stupor, he looked at her and she caught a quick glance at his eyes. She noticed that they were full of loneliness, uncertainty but most of all she noticed that he was lost.

"Yea." He replied with a quiet voice as he stood next to her, he didn't know why but he felt like a storm was brewing and he was in the middle of it all.

"I don't know what's going on with you Naruto but I promise to make sure that I'm by your side through all of it." Mei thought to herself while looking at the flamed haired teen.

Naruto was laying down on the roof of the client's house while watching the stars, it was one of the few things that he truly loved. Seeing the stars so high above shining bright but yet so far away. It always made him wonder just how small the word truly was.

Everytime he set his gaze on the stars he felt at peace like everything was being washed away, it was one of the few hobbies that he had and truly enjoyed.

"So this is where you ran off to." Came the alluring voice that he immediately recognized.

He turned his head slightly to the left and saw Mei smiling warmly at him.

"May I join you Naruto-kun?" She asked him. She had been looking for him for about ten minutes and finally found him on the roof.

He nodded before turning his head back to the stars as he silently named the constellations that she had taught him.

It was one of the few memories that he held close to his heart, one where she treated him like a person and not a tool.

Mei looked over at Naruto and watched him, she noticed that he kept to himself, and when he was asked a question he always gave a quick answer.

During the time on the road she noticed that he wasn't close to any of his teammates. She did notice Kurenai trying to work up the courage to talk to him, but she always seemed to lose it when would look at him.

"Is there something you need Mei-dono?" Naruto asked while looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"No, I just wanted to get away and catch some peace and quiet. Your friends are interesting the blonde one keeps trying to do my hair and it's quite vexing." She replied before laying down as she turned her head to the right to look at him.

Naruto mentally scoffed at the word friends, they weren't his friends and never would be. They were spoiled clan heirs who thought they were powerful because of their clan names.

None of them truly understood what struggling was, not even Sasuke. None of them never had to dive through dumpsters for food or even eat rats to survive, they never once had to sleep outside in the rain or snow. No none of them knew the true meaning of struggle.

"You seem like you're lost in thought Naruto-kun, would you like to talk about it?" Mei asked him as she sat up and brought her knees to her chest.

A gentle but cold breeze flew past them as she shivered slightly before rubbing her arms as she tried to warm herself up.

"Here."

She turned her head to the right and saw Naruto holding up a black jacket.

"Thank you." She mumbled quietly before sliding her arms into the jacket and slowly zipped it up.

Naruto slowly brought his hands up to the ram hand seal and whispered out 'Kai'.

Mei immediately noticed the jacket getting warmer and barely saw the seals fading away. To say she was shocked was an understatement, these level of seals were far beyond anything a genin should've been able to perform.

"You know Fuinjutsu." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yea, it's something that I picked up when I was younger and got hooked on it. The only limitation is the users imagination. Plus not many people use Fūinjutsu anymore." Naruto replied.

"You're quite intriguing Naruto-kun, not many people your age are interested in seals. Most of them are into ninjutsu thinking that they can become powerful since they know one strong jutsu." She replied.

She looked at him with interest and pulled the hood over her head before laying down.

"Were you disappointed when Zabuza refused your offer?" Naruto asked.

She stayed silent and mulled over the question, it was an innocent question but one that had many answers.

On one hand she could've easily killed Zabuza with her boil release for refusing her offer. Killing him wouldn't do her any good, she knew that her ex sensei was powerful. He was considered the second strongest swordsmen out of all seven of them.

On the other hand she couldn't bring herself to kill him, he was there for her when her parents died and raised her as if she were his own flesh and blood. She was conflicted she had her duties as a Kage to kill a traitor or to spare him for being the father figure in her life.

"I-I don't know, I have my duties as Mizukage and the council wants me to kill him. But he was my sensei and raised me when my parents died, what would you do in my situation Naruto-kun?" She asked hoping he could provide her some fresh insight.

"You really love your sensei don't you?" He asked her.

She nodded her head in response as he slowly let out a sigh.

"You have to remember that you're the Mizukage and that your word is the law, if you decide to spare Zabuza's life then everyone in the village has to deal with it." Naruto paused while looking at Mei.

She wanted help and he was going to provide it, he didn't know why he was helping her but he was.

"Tell the council along with anyone else who disagrees with you. If they don't like your choice then they can turn in their Hitai-ate and retire." He finished before giving her a small smile.

She stayed silent while mulling over what Naruto had just told her, it was true that her word was law. The more she thought about it the more she realized that they needed him to help strengthen the village.

"Enough about me Naruto-kun, I want to know more about you." She said hoping to change the topic.

Naruto turned his head to the left again while giving her a look that said 'no'.

"Come on Naruto-kun you know more about me than I do about you, how about you just tell me your hobbies. Would that be satisfactory?" She asked.

"Cooking, reading, training and watching the stars." He replied before placing his hands behind his head and laying back down.

She couldn't help but giggle at his quick response, it felt rehearsed but for some reason she found it quite cute when it came from him.

"I've been wondering Naruto-kun why don't you ot any of your teammates ever get along? I mean Konoha always preaches about teamwork, but I've noticed that you're not close to any of them, you like to keep your distance from all of them, why is that?"

Naruto slowly turned and looked at her. He stayed quiet for a few seconds before opening his mouth to speak.

"Have you ever tried making friends? I mean I tried with them, I've stood up for some of them when they were getting bullied, or even gave them my food when they forgot there's even when I had little myself." Naruto looked at her

"I know this may sound childish and stupid but I tried everything I could to make friends with them but yet they always acted like they never knew me or they'd break into my apartment and trash what little I had." He replied with a small sigh, he knew he shouldn't be acting like this but he accepted the fact that he'd never have friends or love.

"You should get some sleep Mei-dono, you have a long week ahead with having to find your sensei and all." Naruto said before hopping off the roof and walking into the forest.

FLASHBACK

As Naruto walked away from another dead body in the forest he looked up and saw her, she smiled at him and gently kissed his forehead.

"You did good Naruto-kun, you've made me very proud to call you my future husband." She said with a fake warm smile on her face.

Naruto beamed with happiness that he was finally getting praised for doing something right, he was finally being accepted by someone even if it was by one new person he just met two

months ago.

"Do you want me to do anything else for you Lucy-chan?" He asked with blood still covering his face and body.

"No Naruto-kun, you've done enough for today. I'll be gone for a bit but remember what I've taught you and who to stay away from since we want to surprise him." She smirked sadistically.

"Hai, I have to stay away from the Hokage and your grandfather. You want to surprise him to show him that you're ready to take over his program!" Naruto beamed with a megawatt grin.

"Yes Naruto-kun, and once my grandfather gives me his program then we can finally get married and run it together as husband and wife!" She smirked. She couldn't wait to see the look on her grandfather's face when he found out that she manipulated the demon brat for her own selfish goals.

"Soon old man, your life is limited and when I get the chance I'll end your pathetic life! Everything that you've worked for will be mine and the Kyūbi brat will forever be under my control!" She thought to herself as she walked away to complete her mission.

"Remember Naruto-kun, you're the light that shines on the trees and I'm the root that holds them up together."

FLASHBACK END

"Hey wake up you'll catch a cold." A soft angelic voice spoke as she gently shook a prone boy awake. She looked him over his bright blonde hair was extremely exotic, the way his nose twitched made her smile warmly gently especially when she had touched his whisker marks.

But what captivated her the most where those cerulean blue eyes, bluer than any sapphire and bluer than the ocean. They held such warmth and loneliness that her heart skipped a beat.

"His eyes are like mine." She thought to herself.

"T-Tenshi?" Naruto whispered out while looking up at the beautiful girls face. Somewhere in the back of his mind he desperately wanted her to be an angle to take him away from all of this pain and suffering, a desperate escape from this cruel dark world.

"I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not an angel." She giggled, her giggle was like melody to his ears so perfect. She smiled warmly at him and couldn't help but blush at his comment, she was called an angel for the first time in her life.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to embarrass you, uhm what's your name?" Naruto asked hoping to find out this girl's name.

"I'm Haku, and you are?" She asked while looking at the blonde shinobi.

"I'm Naruto." He replied as he finally noticed the basket next to her.

She noticed his eyes focusing on her basket and gave a small smile, "my friend came down with a flu. We didn't have enough money to buy the proper medicine so I'm out here picking her some herbs in hopes to help her feel better."

"That's quite noble of you Haku-san, I hope your friend gets better. If you like I'd like to help you pick out some herbs, I grow some myself as well as some poisonous ones." He replied before giving her a warm smile.

"I'd appreciate that Naruto-san, you're doing my friend and I a favor."

That concludes chapter 4, I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter.

So we got to see a glimpse of Naruto's past and the person who took an interest in him, don't worry we'll see more of his past and how they met.

I think I made it obvious about who she is, but I'll explain why I decided to do something like this.

Until next time Ja Ne!