Images flash past; my parents and I as a happy family; my parents dead at my feet; sitting helplessly on the streets, starving and cold; Zabuza finding me and accepting me; training using my kekkei genkai; protecting Zabuza; killing enemies... Now, on the ground, pain catapults through a gaping hole in my chest. I'm bleeding to death… but Zabuza is alive.

I open my eyes to find myself on an open space. Trees surround me and lush green grass blankets the earth. Sun spills through the leaves, creating patterns of light and shadow. It's incredibly bright. I'm dressed in a white summer kimono. I know not where I am, just that even though it seems to be a wonderful place, it is not where I should be. I need to get back to Zabuza. He's fighting and here I am not being helpful in any way. I don't know how I got here and if I am indeed dreaming, as it might seem, I need to wake up…immediately.

I feel a sharp pain in my chest. Falling to my knees, I cry out in pain. I gasp for breath and struggle to stand on my feet. It is essential that I get up.

Zabuza needs me and I need Zabuza. I cannot let pain hinder me. No matter how far I go, I get nowhere… Perhaps Zabuza will come for me instead. I can't go any farther. The pain is too much and even when I walk, nothing changes.

My body is weak and I'm at my climax. I lie on the soft grass, the sun shines on my face. I'll wait forever if that's how long it takes. There is nothing more I can do. I wonder if I'm dying but even if that's the case, I'll survive at least until Zabuza comes.

Images of my life shoot through my mind again and some of them I want to take a closer look at but they fly by too quickly. It seems like days, weeks, months maybe, that I lie on the ground. I start to wonder if Zabuza will ever come. It's been so long… My mind sinks into another flash of memories.

Has he abandoned me? Perhaps he found someone else. I'm of no use to him right now. Did I do enough for him while I stood by his side? I pray that this is all a dream. No matter how beautiful this place looks, I feel so completely alone. Did I hope too much? Am I dead? No, it's a dream. Zabuza will save me, like he did before.

I can't be dead. I get up and begin to walk again. There must be some end to this. I'll keep searching; I'll keep waiting; forever if I must. Zabuza is probably searching and waiting too. I refuse to let my life slip away so easily. Being dead is not an option. I'll find the correct path, and I will make my life worth living.