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Akari took a deep breath. Then finally, hesitantly, she spoke. "So…" She began, "You guys… You're eyes…" Kasumi blinked; Yuki lifted her head up and raised an eyebrow. "Uh, is that like… a kekke genkai or something?"

Yuki moaned and slammed her head back down. "Yup." She said. Kasumi also nodded.

"Cool." Akari said. "So, like… what can you guys do?"

Kasumi opened her mouth, but was cut off by Yuki. "You'll have to see tomorrow!" She exclaimed, sitting up. Yuki laughed. "This is really gonna be an interesting team." She said, jumping up. Akari raised an eyebrow.

"Whaddya mean?" She asked. Yuki put a hand on her shoulder.

"Trust me." She said, "You'll find out."

Chapter 4

The next morning, Akari went through the same process as the day before. Only this time, she packed some food and weapons in her backpack.

Walking to the screen door, Akari stuffed a rice ball into her mouth. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to have ramen with Naruto this morning. No. She had her first mission today! She couldn't be goofing off!

Or could she?

Akari noticed that a note had been taped to her screen door. She opened the door and pulled the little paper inside. It read:

Akari,

Sorry but I can't make it today. I've been

assigned another A-rank mission and I

must attend. Hope you can understand.

You and the other girls will be going

on a mission with Squad 7 today instead.

Have fun.

Jorato

'Great…' Akari thought, 'So much for learning some new jutsu…' Suddenly, someone knocked on Akari's door.

"Akari!" Naruto's voice rang.

'Damn…!' Akari thought, walking over to the door.

"C'mon! We got a mission today!" Naruto exclaimed. "You're gonna be late!"

Akari moaned. "I know…" She sad. "I'll meet ya there ok?" There was a slight pause.

"Ok," Naruto said. "But if you're late you owe me a bowl of ramen!"

"Ugh…" Akari moaned. "How'd I know that was coming?" She sighed. "Deal."

Akari heard the sound of what she suspected was Naruto jumping into the air. Then, she heard rapid footsteps that gradually got softer and softer until they disappeared. Akari smiled. She walked over to her kitchen and grabbed some ham and a few slices of bread.

Ten minutes later, Akari looked down at her watch and groaned. "Ugh…" She grunted, "I owe Naruto lunch."

"Ok gang," Kakashi began, "Squad 9 is going with us on this mission…" He paused. Sasuke had his arms crossed, nose in the air and Sakura was complimenting him like the little fan girl she is. "That is…" Kakashi continued, "If they even get here." Then, Kakashi looked around and slapped his forehead. "And Naruto still isn't here…"

"Hmph. I've got somewhere to be." An old man shouted. The man was Squad 7 and 9's client, Tazuna "Those brats better hurry up."

"Hey guys!!" Naruto's voice rang. "I'm here!! Sorry I'm la—"

"Naruto!" Sakura screamed, punching him on the head. "I thought you said you were gonna get Akari!"

"I did!" Naruto shouted, gripping his head. "She's right behind me!" Sure enough, Akari was leaning against one of Konoha's gates with her headphones in her ears. "READY TO GO AKARI?!" Naruto screamed.

"YEP!!" Akari screamed, flashing the thumbs up.

"GOOD!!" Naruto screamed back. "THEN TAKE THOSE THINGS OFF!!" Akari blinked.

"WHAT?!" She screamed.

"TAKE-THOSE-THINGS-OFF!!" Naruto screamed even louder. Sakura steamed and smacked Naruto again.

"OH! OK!" Akari laughed and took the headphones out of her ears. She walked over to the gang and began to turn her iPOD off.

Sasuke leaned in, face still as emotionless as ever.

"What's that thing?" He asked. Akari turned to him and smiled.

"It's called an iPOD." She said. "It can store music on it and I can listen to it whenever I want!"

Sasuke said nothing. He merely nodded and walked away. Akari blinked and sighed.

"Can we get going?!" Tazuna shouted, taking a swig of whatever was in the bottle in his hand. Kakashi sighed.

"We have to wait for the rest of Squad 9." He said. As if on cue, Yuki came walking out of Konoha's gate and completely passed the others.

"Hey guys." She said, waving slightly. "Let's go, 'k?"

As Yuki continued down the path, completely ignoring fact that the others hadn't moved yet, Kasumi came walking towards the gates. She stopped at the small booth next to the gates and began talking with Izumo and Kotetsu. The three of them smiled and laughed until finally, Kasumi began to walk towards the gate.

"Can we PLEASE leave NOW!?" Tazuna shouted. Kakashi sighed.

"He's right." He said, "We've wasted too much time as it is." He paused, looking over his fairly large group. Yuki was almost out of sight, Akari had begun digging in her bag for God knows what, Sakura was still being a fan girl to Sasuke, Naruto was trying to get Sakura to pay attention to him, Kasumi was gazing up at th large white gates, and Tazuna had continued to drink. Finally, Kakashi sighed. "Squad 7…" He said.

Akari looked up "Ahem…!" She said. Kakashi laughed.

"And 9," He said. "Move out!"

An hour later, the tension in the group had risen—no—shot up. Naruto had been complaining about how long it was going to take to get the Tazuna's village, Sasuke and Yuki kept having mini battles—well, if you call small insults back and forth battles—while Sakura kept yelling at Yuki for insulting Sasuke, Kasumi had hung in the back of the line—Kakashi kept reminding her to keep up—and Akari was listening to her iPOD again, so she couldn't hear anything.

"Hey, old man?" Naruto whined. Tazuna stopped and barred his teeth.

"What do ya want now?!" He exclaimed.

"Are we almost there ye—" Naruto was cut off by Sakura, who—out of nowhere—swooped in and smacked him on the head. "OW! Sakura-chan! What was that for?!" Naruto cried.

"For being a moron!" Sakura shouted. "You'll never shut up will you? You should be more like Sasuke!"

Sasuke let out a small 'pff' and glanced over at Akari. 'Kinda makes me wish I had one of those stupid things…' He thought, 'Damn it… then I wouldn't have to hear them bicker.'

Akari was somewhat in the back of the line, listening to 'Hell Song' by Sum 41. She looked up and noticed that Naruto had turned around, almost facing her, and he was talking.

"NARUTO?!" She shouted, "YOU TALKING TO ME?!" Kakashi immediately pulled the earphones out of Akari's ears. "OW!!" She screamed, "What was that for?!"

"We need to be quiet," Kakashi whispered, "or else we may get caught." Suddenly, a kunai attached to a chain flew towards Tazuna.

A few things happened at once: Akari jumped almost two feet off the ground, Kasumi ducked, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, gasped, Kakashi's eyes—or eye—widened, and Yuki—from the front of the line—rolled her eyes.

"Protect the bridge builder!" Kakashi shouted. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke ran next to Tazuna in a defensive pose.

Kasumi timidly ran over to Tazuna and stood behind him, back facing him, and pulled out a kunai. Naruto glanced over at Akari and his eyes widened.

"Akari?!" He shouted, "What're you doing?!" Akari had put her headphones back in her ears. "AKARI!!" Naruto screamed. Sasuke, Sakura, and Tazuna noticed and their eyes widened as well.

"She's going to get herself killed!" Sakura shouted. Naruto had his mouth hanging open. Sasuke merely rolled his eyes and groaned.

Akari, meanwhile, was looking around, trying to find the attackers. Suddenly, from a bush in front of her, a chain flew towards her. Akari gasped and jumped out of the way.

"Shit!" She shouted, a little shaky. Akari closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The only thing she could hear was the music.

Everybody's got their problems.

Everybody says the same thing to you:

It's just a matter've how ya solve 'em,

And know how to change the things you've been through.

Akari's eyes snapped open; from the corner of her eye, she saw another chain fly at her. Narrowly dodging, Akari dropped down on one knee and pulled out a kunai.

I feel I've come to realize,

How fast life can be compromised.

Step back, do you see what's goin' on?

I can't believe this happened to you…

This happened to you.

It's just a problem that I faced with, am I

Not the only one who hates to stand by?

Complications that're first in this line,

With all these pictures running through my mind.

Knowing endless,

Consequences,

I feel so useless in this.

Get back, step back, and as for me,

I can't believe…

Part of me, won't agree,

Cuz I don't know if it's for sure!

Suddenly! Suddenly, I don't feel so insecure!

Part of me, won't agree,

Cuz I don't know if it's for sure!

Suddenly! Suddenly, I don't feel so insecure!

Anymore!!

Akari looked around, wondering why whoever was attacking hadn't attacked again yet. Instead of finding anyone, Akari noticed that Yuki was also gone.

Everybody's got their problems.

Everybody says the same thing to you:

It's just a matter've how ya solve 'em,

But what else are we supposed to do…

"Sh-she's insane!!" Sakura shouted. "She's going to die if she keeps this up!"

'Good,' Sasuke thought.

Part of me, won't agree,

Cuz I don't know if it's for sure!

Suddenly! Suddenly, I don't feel so insuqure!

Part of me, won't agree,

Cuz I don't know if it's for sure!

Suddenly! Suddenly, I don't feel so insuqure!

Anymore!!

Yet another chain was sent flying at Akari. She managed to dodge and ended up accidentally slamming into a huge man: One of then demon brothers of the Mist. Akari's eyes widened as she slowly turned around.

Why do things that matter the most,

Never end up cuttingit close?

Now I find out, it ain't so bad,

I don't think I knew what I had.

Why do things that matter the most,

Never end up cuttingit close?

Now I find out, it ain't so bad,

I don't think I knew what I had…

The man—one of the Demon Brothers—raised a hand fully encased in metal. His eyes narrowed and then widened as he began to thrust his hand at Akari.

Suddenly, something hit Akari from the side, knocking her to the ground. When she skidded to a halt, her eyes snapped open; lying next to her was Yuki. She was gripping her lower arm and had her eyes closed tightly.

Finally, her eyes snapped open and she groaned. "Are you crazy?!" She shouted, jumping up. "Augh…"

"Y-yuki!!" Kasumi shouted. "A-are you ok?!" Yuki barred her teeth and glanced over at her newfound teammates.

"Don't worry 'bout me now!" She shouted.

Akari just stared at her blue-haired friend. She'd saved her from God knows what that guy was going to do to her!

"Yuki! Akari!" Naruto shouted. Another one of the demon brothers was right behind them. The man laughed evilly; Yuki and Akari's eyes widened.

Suddenly, Naruto jumped in front of them and sort of pushed them out of the way. In an attempt to escape, his hand was cut on a claw like glove on the man's hand.

"OW!!" He shouted.

"Naruto!" Akari shouted.

"You dumb ass!" Sasuke exclaimed. "Look out!" The other demon brother had released his chain in Naruto's direction. At the same time, Sasuke had leapt into the air and thrown a shuriken at the chain. Then he threw a kunai into the center of the shuriken, trapping the demon brothers against a tree.

"What the hell?!" One exclaimed. The other had gone rushing towards Tazuna, Kasumi, and Sakura.

"Shit!" Sasuke muttered. He ran in front of Sakura and was ready for the attack.

Suddenly, the chain holding the second Demon Brother broke. Naruto panicked as he sprinted towards him.

"Oh no you don't!!" Akari shouted. She jumped into the air and fell right on the man's back. "Now STAY down!!" She exclaimed.

"Ah!" The Demon Brother attacking Tazuna shouted. "Wh-what the—" Suddenly, he was cut short. Kakashi stood in front of Sasuke with the Demon Brother under his arm.

"Whoops!" He said, "Looks like you left you're guard down." Kakashi's shadow clone was standing next to Akari with the other Demon Brother under his arm.

"Yeah!" Akari screamed. "That was awesome!!" Kakashi sighed.

"Akari!" He shouted. "What was that back there? I took those things out of your ears for a reason!" Akari turned to him and crossed her arms.

"And I put 'em in for a reason!" She exclaimed. "I wanted to see if I could fight without being able to hear anything! That could come in handy, right?" Yuki let out a soft 'pff'.

"You got your ass kicked." She said, "Plus, I had to save you."

"That was quite impressive…" Tazuna stated, glancing over at Yuki.

Yuki smirked. Akari blushed angrily. Yuki sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Look, I didn't even want to come here." She said. "Sorry if I stole your thunder back there." For some reason, she emphasized 'thunder'.

Akari sighed and half smiled. "It's ok." She said. "Heh, now that I saw what you can do, I have a chance to do better!"

Yuki laughed and batted Akari on the back. "Guess so!"

Suddenly, Kasumi came running over. "Y-yuki-san!" She exclaimed, "Y-you're bleeding!!" Yuki blinked and looked down at her wound.

"Oh." She said.

Meanwhile, Naruto was pissed.

"Right!" He shouted, pointing at Tazuna, "You say she's cool, but when I came into the picture, I was mister loser?!"

"Yep." He said gruffly. Naruto balled his hands into fists and barred his teeth.

"Grrr…" He growled. 'I was useless!' Naruto thought, 'Sasuke looked as if he'd done this a thousand times! And Yuki's totally cool with all of this!!'

"Oh relax Naruto. That was all an accident anyway." Yuki said. She glared at Sasuke. "Yeah, nice job tough guy." She said sarcastically.

"Naruto." Kakashi began, "Sorry I didn't help you right away." He glanced down at Naruto's hand. "Stand still. That wound… you need to open it up and get the poison out." Naruto's eyes widened.

"Wh-what?" He said.

"Don't move a lot." Kakashi continued. "That poison's in your blood and if you move, it'll spread the poison around."

Naruto was silent. He blinked. Once, twice, three times…

Finally, he lost it.

"AH!!" He screamed. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Yuki slapped her forehead. "Moron!" She shouted. "He said don't move!! You're gonna end up killing yourself!!" Kasumi took hold of Yuki's arm and checked it over.

"Y-yuki-san…" She said, "You've got the same poison in you t-too…"

Yuki blinked. Then, she laughed. "I thought so." She said. She raised her arm up, revealing a small gash on her lower arm. "See, Naruto? I've got poison in me too! I'm not doing anything!"

Kasumi took hold of Yuki's arm again and grabbed a medical kit out of her backpack.

"S-sorry, Yuki-san," She said, "I'm no medical ninja, but I'd heard of these two, so I brought some supplies just in case."

Yuki smiled. "Thanks Kasumi." She said, scratching the back of her head.

Kakashi meanwhile had tied the two Demon Brothers to a tree. He sighed.

"These two are Chunin from the Hidden Mist village." He said.

"How'd you know about our ambush?" One of the Demon Brothers asked.

"A puddle…" Kakashi said, "on a sunny day… when it hasn't rained in weeks." He paused. "It was obvious."

"This stuff is too advanced for us!" Sakura stated. "We should go back now and get Naruto and Yuki a doctor."

"Grr…" Naruto growled. He suddenly pulled out a kunai stabbed his hand. "Why am I so different?!" He muttered. "All my life I've spent countless hours training!! Pushing myself until it hurt! Anything to get stronger; to reach my dream." He paused, scooping poison out of his wound. "I will never run away, and I won't lose to Sasuke!" He raised his hand up. "Upon this wound, I make this pledge! Believe it!" He turned to Tazuna. "Bridge builder, I'll complete this mission if it kills me!"

"Naruto," Kakashi began, "that was cool how you took the poison out and all, but," He paused, noticing Yuki and Kasumi's muffled laughs, "if you lose anymore blood… you'll die."

"…" At first, Naruto said nothing. Then, his face started turning red and his eyes widened. Finally, he lost it. "AH!!" He screamed. "Oh great! No, no, no!"

"Show me your hand…" Kakashi said. Naruto stuck his hand out and Kakashi checked it over. 'The wound… it's already starting to heal…' He said. Naruto had begun to shake.

"Um," He began, "y-you've got a really serious look on your face…" He paused. "Am I gonna be ok?"

"You'll be fine." Kakashi said, bandaging Naruto's hand. He then turned to the group. Sakura was blabbering about how cool Sasuke was, Naruto was panicking, Tazuna was drinking, Sasuke and Yuki were trying to ignore the fact that the other was here, Kasumi was trying to get some poison out f Yuki's arm, and Akari, again, was listening to her Ipod. "Hm…" Kakashi moaned. "Let's get going." He said. He tapped Akari on the shoulder and motioned her to walk.

Akari nodded and stuck her iPOD into her pocket, still listening to it.

"Akari's gonna get herself killed!" Sakura whispered to her teammates.

"Hm…" Sasuke moaned. "Do you think we'd be that lucky?" He said to no one in particular.

"Tch…" Naruto butted in. "You don't like her don't you? Sasuke dumb ass?"

"So what if I don't?" Sasuke snarled.

"She's my best friend!!" Naruto shouted.

"Um, guys," Sakura whispered. "Please stop fighting!"

"Yeah seriously…" Akari's voice said from behind the three teammates. Apparently her song was over and she had turned off her Ipod.

Sasuke let out a 'tch' and looked forward. "How much of that did you here?" He asked.

"Just Sakura tellin' you guys to shut the hell up." Akari said.

"…" Sasuke didn't say anything. Akari sighed and glanced back at Kasumi and Yuki.

Kasumi had started catching up, but Yuki seemed to be the one falling behind now. Akari slowed down until she was standing next to her blue haired friend.

"You ok?" She asked. Yuki sighed and nodded. "Ok, what's wrong?"

Yuki glanced up at the sky. "Well…" She began, "Ya know how yesterday I said I don't like other villages?" She asked. Akari nodded. "Well, I just…" She paused. "Earlier… I hurried out of the village 'cause I just really wanted to get this over with." She paused again, scratching the back of her head. "I mean… who knew we'd have ninja after us…"

"Is that why you disappeared for a little bit back there?" Akari asked. Yuki nodded.

"Sorry about that." She said. Akari shook her head.

"No, no." She said. "It's fine." Akari laughed. "Hell, ya saved my life! Now I think I owe YOU one!!" Yuki smiled and laughed.

"Thanks." She said.

"You're welcome." Akari said. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Akari perked up. Her eyes darted back and forth. 'If I'm not mistaken…' she thought, 'we aren't very far away from our next—'

Out of nowhere, a gigantic sword flew through the air and slammed into a tree. A huge man stood on the sword; He was from the Mist Village.

Akari gulped.'—battle…'

So Yuki doesn't like other villages? Huh, who knew?

…oh wait… I did… ^^

Please review and tell me how I did!!