Kiara: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 2: Encounter

With Itachi and Zabuza, Zabuza's POV:

"Our job just got a whole lot easier!" I said.

"Don't get cocky Zabuza. Kakashi is still unpredictable." said Itachi.

"Let's have some fun." I said.

"Right!" said Itachi.

Kakashi's POV:

I was moving quickly through the forest. I was about half way between the Grass and the Leaf when I saw several kunai knifes heading my way. I dodged them fairly easily.

"Well done Kakashi!" said a really familiar voice. I looked around and saw two figures. 'No it can't be! Zabuza!' I thought. "Surprised to see that I'm still alive Kakashi."

"You teamed up with the Akatsuki Zabuza?" I asked.

"Yes, you see after our fight on the bridge Kisame and Itachi found me. After I was fully healed they asked if I wanted to join and I accepted the offer." Zabuza said as I saw a smile creep across his face underneath the bandages. 'Not good Zabuza was powerful before, but not that he has the power of the Akatsuki. I don't know if I will be able to hold out for long.' I thought.

"Fine you want a fight, you'll get one!" I said. I uncovered my Sharingan.

I looked between Zabuza and Itachi. Trying to figure out who was going to attack first, which was interrupted by Itachi making hand signs.

"Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" said Itachi. I moved out of the way and caught something moving in the corner of my eye. I looked in that direction and saw a water dragon coming at me. I got out of the way just in time. 'They're trying to wear me down and make it so that I can't fight back. I could fight them one on one, but not together. Not good.' I though. Zabuza making hand signs pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Ninja art: Hidden mist jutsu!" said Zabuza. I watched Zabuza and Itachi fade away into the mist. I looked around to see if I could hear them when heard several kunai's. I turned around and deflected each one. "Not bad Kakashi, I must say you never disappoint me."

I saw another fireball. This time I almost didn't get away do to the mist. However if Itachi made a fireball then Zabuza's going to make a water dragon. I looked around to see if I could find it. Just when I thought that he wasn't going to it hit me in the back making me go flying.

I regained my senses as flew threw the air. I landed on a branch and looked over my shoulder. The mist was lifting so I could see clearly. I saw Itachi standing next to Zabuza on the tree branch across the clearing with the water dragon in front of them. I turned around to face them and stood up straight.

All of a sudden my vision was becoming clouded and I was becoming tired with a little bit of dizziness and light headed. I tried to shake the feeling, but it wasn't working. I heard Zabuza laugh.

"What's the matter Kakashi? You don't look so good!" said Zabuza.

"What did you do?" I asked. I had put my hand on the tree to help balance myself.

"The water dragon is made of water mixed with a powerful toxin. That toxin can naturalize anyone just by touch!" said Zabuza. 'I only have two options. I could fight and see if I could beat them before the toxin takes it's course or I could run and see if I could get back to the village.' I thought.

"Basters!" I growled.

"Kakashi you can put an end to this. All you have to do is surrender!" said Itachi. 'Are they after the scrolls. No, if they were just after the scrolls then they would have just killed me and taken them. Then what are they after?' I thought.

With the toxin in my system my vision was getting more clouded by the minute. Which really didn't help the situation at all that's not including the sleepiness, dizziness, and the light headiness.

"You have no chance. With each passing moment the toxin spreads!" said Zabuza. 'That's it I have to head back to the village.' I thought.

Normal POV:

Kakashi turned around and started heading back to the village as fast as he could with Itachi and Zabuza hot on his tail. With the toxin working fast than he had hoped he had to stop and rest against a tree.

"Where'd he go?" asked Zabuza.

"He couldn't have gotten far." said Itachi. Kakashi put him had in his pocket and felt the crystal Kiara gave him. He closed his eyes hoping that he would see her again. Then all of a sudden he got a rush and he opened his eyes. His vision was a look clearer now.

That's what he needed, a drive for him to keep going. He made a promise to her to return to the village safely. He launched off the tree and continued for the village. Once he touched the crystal everything was fine. All the symptoms of the toxin were gone.

He had hoped that he would reach the village, but that hope vanished when smoke bomb on the trees. He tried to avoid them, but it was too late, they had already activated. He didn't fight it for already knowing he had lost.

Even if he were somehow able to get out of the smoke screen the gas would have taken its toll before he reached the village. He let the gas fill his lungs knowing that it was sleeping gas.