Here's the revised Chapter Two!

Disclaimer: Once again I DO NOT OWN NARUTO!


Zara had plans to excape laid out since her thirteenth birthday. Over the next three years she had added and taken away ideas until the plan seemed almost garenteed to grant them freedom.

When she had brought the idea up to her father he forbid her to think of it anymore. The chief refused to loose another child to Amekagure. She was all he and her mother had left.

Zara had promised her father that she wouldn't think of it again but she couldn't. She had grown up her whole life hating the Amekagure village and their new snowy home. Now that ecsape sounds possible she just couldn't pass the oportunity up.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by her mother calling. "Zara! You're going to be late to training!"

Zara jumped off her bed and ran to grab her katana. "Thanks, Mom!" She called as she headed out the door, pulling her light grey jaket over her head. She raced down the snowy streets to meet her friend Awai at the park.

When she arrived at the entrence to the park she had to quickly dodge a blade aimed towards her head. She jumped to the side to see a pouting Awai, her long black hair pulled into pigtails high on her head.

"How do you always do that?" The other Arashi asked in a whiny voice.

Zara just gave her friend a small smile. Her and Awai had been friends when they were four, before Kousetsu. Their grandmothers had introduced them. They had practically grown up as sisters. Anything Zara did Awai was right there with her. Now they were both about to go through the same test of strangth. They were going to be tested to become Jonin.

"Come on, Awai. If you can't get one hit on me today you will be treating us to lunch." Zara unsheathed her Katana and waited for Awai to move.

When the clan was moved to the small snowy village, the former ninja were stripped of their ranks and became ordanary clan members. Even the cheif was stripped of his title, though most still refured to him as 'cheif'.

Since then Amekagure had taken over the training of new ninja and the students went through the ranks under the close eyes of the Amekagure shinobi. Awai and Zara had easily made it through the first few ranks and were to be tested to become Jonin the tomorrow.

Awai and Zara slowly circled each other until suddently Awai leaped towards Zara, Yellow eyes flashing in antisipation. Zara had seen it coming and blocked the blade with hers. "Close, but not close enough!" She taunted as she pushed Awai away.

Awai quickly recovered and came at Zara again. Her Katana struck out in fury and Zara easily knocked it away. "You're forgetting a basic rule Awai. 'Do not lash out at your oponant in anger or you shall surely fail.'" she quoted.

"Shut up." Awai muttered as she picked up her sword and quickly turned on Zara again. As she was running she hit a patch of ice and fell on her face. Zara hid a laugh behind her sleeve as her friend pulled her face out of the snow. "Damn ice!" she cursed, "I'll be happy when I don't have to look at it again!"

Zara quickly shushed Awai. "Do you want the guards to hear?" she indicated to the guards surounding the park.

"Oh please! They can't hear me. They're out of hearing range!" Awai explained. "You should know that."

Zara winced before quickly replying, "Can never be to sure." She looked over to the guard stationed at the entrence to the park. He hadn't seem to have heard anything.

"Let your guard down!" Awai jumped at Zara only to find herself face first in the snow again after her friend stepped out of the way.

"Are we forgetting the basics today Awai?" Zara teased, "'Silence is the key to landing a hit.'"

Awai hmphed. "Whatever."

Zara hid another chuckle behind her hand. "Just a little longer then we'll go bother rain boy, ok?" Awai perked up at this and nodded.

Zara gave another small smile. " Alright then. My turn to attack?" she asked right before she lept at Awai.


After Awai had landed on her face for the ten thousanth time she got up and threw her sword at Zara who skillfully dodged it. Awai let out a frustrated cry.

Zara smiled. "I've told you ten times already Awai. Lashing out in anger does no good."

Awai glared at her dark-haired friend. "But you keep trying to get me all worked up!"

"Trying?" Zara raised one dark eyebrow. "I think I'm succeeding." She had to quickly dodge a snowball then while trying to not laugh.

After a few more badly aimed snowballs Zara raised her hands in surrender. "Alright! Let's just go bug rain boy."

Awai droped her half made snowball and got up to collect her Katana. She then ran ahead of Zara. "Race ya!"

Zara laughed and dashed after her friend.


Zara had arrived at the guard post ahead of Awai. She turned to find the guard smiling at her. He had his long blond hair tied together in the middle. His gray eyes shined as he waved to Zara.

"Beat Awai here again?" His voice had hints of laughter in it.

Zara nodded. "Of course."

Just then Awai came walking up the hill. "Zara you mean-head! I asked you to wait up!"

"You were the one who called the race," she said with a shrug.

"Yeah but I saw-"

"Something shiny?" the guard offered.

"No! Shut up Kouu!" Awai sent him a glare. "I saw the poster for the festival next week."

Zara sent Awai a withering look. Awai was coming with her when they escaped so she knew not to look into the future in this place. The festival being the only interesting thing this town had to offer and knowing they'll miss it wouldn't help their resolve.

"Ah yes." Kouu stated. "The Festival! If I'm not mistaken the poster has shiny stuff on it to." Awai smacked him upside the head. "Ow!"

"That's what you get!" She stuck her tounge out at the blond haired guard.

Zara shook her head, small smile planted on her face. "You guys are idiots."

"Hey!" they yelled in unison.

"We're not stupid!" Awai protested.

Kouu smiled. "I know I'm not. Not so sure 'bout little miss piggytales over here." Awai shot him another glare before smacking him again.

As they begain their usual bickoring Zara turned to look over the town. Kouu's post had the perfect veiw of the snow covered village. It had begun snowing again and the flakes were drifting lazily down on the small houses and shops. Smoke was rising from the chimneys from the fires that kept the buildings warm.

Zara had grown use to this veiw. The first time she had seen it she cried. Her tears mingling with some if the other clan's. Compared to rain soaked streets in semi-cold temperatures. they were confined to snowflooded streets and freezing temperatures.

Over time she has become able to look at it with out so much of a second thought. The snow had forcefully become an ordanary thing enstead of a harsh cold punishment as it was in the begining.

She was brought back to the presant by a hard poke to her side. "Oi! Ya there Z?"

Kouu asked. "Yeah." Zara rubbed her side. "What the heck did you do that for?"

"You spaced out!" Awai explained. "Kouu poked you to get you back on our planet."

"Oh thanks." Sarcasm dripped from her words.

"Anyway... Kouu has invited us to see the fireworks with him during the festival." Awai's voice held a slight hint of sadness that seemed to go unknown to Kouu.

"Sweet. You have a shift then though. Don't you?"

"Kouu nodded. "You guys can come up here to see them. This hill has the best veiw of the village."

Zara nodded and smiled. "Alright then!"

"Cool." Kouu smiled as Awai jumped up and down.

"We should go back now though. It's getting late." Zara gestured to the sun seting in the background, sending pink and orange streaks across the sky.

"Aw man!" Awai pouted. "Why does curfew have to be so early?"

Kouu laughed and Zara shook her head. "Come on. You remember the last time we were late home, don't you?" Zara questioned.

Awai shuttered. "It took me weeks to get warm again!" She ran ahead. "Lets go!" They each turned and waved to Kouu before they headed home to their warm houses.