In Which Stupid Things Are Done

I knew I wasn't a great person. Not since I graduated, and not since I started to think of different ways to fix this world. I used to just want to keep Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun safe, help them get stronger, but recently my mind was having fun coming up with scenarios that had me disrupting the other of things around me. Creating anarchy, even leaving the village and wreaking havoc as best as I could.

Every time my mind went there, I forced myself to go out, either train or just see Konoha. It was a beautiful city, village, call it what you will. Night was my favorite time to see the sights. The Hokage Monument looked serene with moonlight, and there were generally paper lanterns lit around the village. When it got past eleven, there weren't people outside. Ninja were out, running around and carrying the messages they needed to or reporting in, and I often perched on the edge of a building and watched what I could.

Team Seven had gotten considerably better in the month that I assisted with their training, and that Kakashi-shishou whipped them into shape. He didn't train them the same way he trained me, because he knew they wouldn't react the way I did to it. He pushed Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun as hard as he could, but Sakura-chan couldn't even last a few hours with them. I ended up helping her most of the time, and I knew it bothered Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun.

They were learning sure, but it was from Kakashi-shishou, and he didn't do things the way they were used to. Sakura-chan was only going to get so much better with my help however. She tired easily. She didn't have much chakra, and at first all I heard from her was complaining. Then I made a comment about how I didn't complain when my clan was killed, and how she should suck it up. I said it under my breath and I didn't mean for her to hear it, but I didn't hear her complain after that.

It was gradual with the three of them, but there was improvement. I made sure that when they did their boring D-rank missions, which I actually didn't do when I started because I shadowed Shishou. He mostly stood to the side, then he would disappear until after lunch, where the team met up at the training ground to train. I felt it slowly driving me insane, I was used to running, moving around and doing missions that weren't in the village. Eventually I was just bringing books and notebooks to either learn a new technique or write out a plan.

Shishou was so busy helping Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun, I hadn't really learned much of anything new. I worked on my speed and my strength on my own. I knew I was just like a small child that suddenly had a sibling, I was jealous that I didn't get attention from someone I really looked up to, but I knew that's how it would be. All I could hope was that I could learn enough skills from him that I could work on in time.

I didn't really sleep much at night, I spent a lot of my time either reading or training. When I got up and went to train, I did as many laps as I could around Konoha, and sadly that meant I had close calls with Shishou's rival. I hadn't really ever talked to them, if they appeared I would shunshin right out of that problem. In order to work on my strength I usually just added more chakra to my body weights. I was getting very bored in the village, and I never thought that would actually happen.

I don't know if Kakashi-shishou noticed that I was starting to get bored, I felt that he should have noticed. It wasn't until I was wandering around the roofs of Konoha one night, it was after midnight actually, when he found me. I was sitting on a building near the outskirts of Konoha, I could see the forest, and I felt like it was calling to me. I felt his chakra in the back of my mind, I didn't bother turning to look at him. I knew he was there, and he knew that I knew. He didn't say anything at first, it seemed like he was considering what to say to me.

"Mirai-chan, it's been awhile since we talked. I know something is bothering you, and normally I wouldn't ask because it's not my business, but I think I'm one of the few people in the village that might understand how you feel." I knew he didn't want to ask me what was wrong. He was a recluse and he didn't like people, he didn't like feelings. I actually didn't like them much either anymore. Not since I was conflicted in everything I did.

"Shishou… I'm just worried about Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun. They are getting better, but if we go on a mission outside of the village and it turns south- I feel like I'm not going to be strong enough to keep them safe. I haven't learned anything new since you became their sensei, and I know that's selfish, but I've been in the field longer than they have. I can't let them get hurt." I trailed off at the end, because I felt like I was complaining and being selfish. It had been a while since I didn't have someone's attention, not like when Kakashi-shishou started training me.

"Oh Mirai-chan, that's why I'm working them hard. They need the work the most. I know if we go on a mission, you will be more than strong enough to keep them safe. Since you are working with Sakura-chan, she has gotten a lot less whiny. I actually overheard her telling Naruto-kun about the new outfit she was going to buy, because it would be easier to train and fight in it. You've changed her for the better, and believe it or not, you've learned quite a bit since they got on the team. You didn't have a team before, and now you can work with them. Besides, we are getting assigned a C-rank mission tomorrow. So go back home, and get some sleep." He ruffled my hair, which still irritated me as much as it did at the beginning, but to get back at him I gave him a hug. He sighed, and he pushed me off, but I grinned at him as he disappeared into the night.

When he was gone my grin became a scowl. If we were getting a C-rank mission, that meant shit was going to go down tomorrow.

When we met to get our mission, Kakashi-shishou was actually on time. If that wasn't ominous enough, I didn't know what was. I wasn't wearing my actual mission gear yet. The drunk old man would get to see civilian me, then he would see the ninja me, the me I was used to being and was more comfortable, and then he would back off. He wouldn't get hurt. He would just get traumatized enough that he would learn not to lie to ninja.

I didn't like how the Hokage acted when he was around Naruto-kun. He tried to be his best friend, and it suddenly occurred to me that Naruto-kun didn't know one essential thing he had known before. I wasn't sure how that would make everything turn out, as far as I knew the Hokage hadn't tried to tell him.

Naruto-kun didn't actually complain about getting D-rank missions. That might be because I had explained to him several times that D-rank missions were important for new genin to do, because they had to learn to follow orders and get things done quickly. Since then he hadn't complained, and Sasuke-kun just did them diligently without complaining. Sakura-chan tried to take charge, not in a boss around way, but she wanted to be part of the mission, and she didn't seem to boss Naruto-kun around quite as much as I thought she would have.

The Hokage announced that we would be getting a C-rank, and starting rifling through scrolls. Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun were both starting to get excited, and Sakura-chan looked like she was getting nervous. She gave me a small glance and then looked back at the Hokage. She had improved quite a bit from where she was, and true to what I had been told before, she was wearing more ninja suited clothing.

It was pink sure, but she had short pink khakis with mesh leggings underneath them, and a matching pink vest, also with mesh underneath. I suggested to her that she get something that could also be a weight, but I wasn't actually sure if her new outfit did that or not.

I heard the Hokage talking, but I wasn't paying attention. I knew what all was going to happen, and I wanted to be able to keep them safe. I didn't know how things would go now, because Naruto-kun didn't know he had something inside him, and if he got upset it would easily get let loose. Since I had my sharingan, and Kakashi-shishou did as well, we would probably, at least I hope so, be able to calm him down.

I came back to reality when I heard a gravelly voice, slurring his words, talking to the Hokage.

"So thissss iss the group of ninjas' meant to protect me? Might to a better job watching some toddlerss. Is thiss the bessst you got?" I felt my eye start to twitch, I had known he was an annoying drunk before, and I had been the daughter of one in my old life, but this wasn't the same thing. They hid that they drank, this man didn't care if we knew. I wouldn't mind letting him get roughed up a little by the demon brothers.

Kakashi-shishou sighed, I could tell he was going to have fun dealing with him as well. "Tazuna-san, I assure my team is more than fit to see you safely to you home. I myself am Jounin, and my apprentice is more a low level chunin. The three genin that are team seven have gotten considerably stronger than when they graduated the academy. You don't need to worry. So long as the information about the mission parameters is correct, we will have no issue keeping you safe." I saw Tazuna-san scrunch his eyebrows slightly, at the mention of mission parameters being correct, but then it was gone, and he took a swig of his bottle.

"That poison will kill you old man. You need your liver to live. Watch what you say to my team." I couldn't keep my anger out of my voice, I didn't like that he thought they were children. Sure they haven't been exposed to actual dangerous missions, but he was paying for the wrong type of mission, and he should know that it would be his fault if they got hurt. And I won't let them get hurt, not if all I have to do is hand him over. Or at least pretend to.

I saw the Hokage and Shishou both narrow their eyes at me, but I kept my eyes on the ground and put my hands in my pockets. I didn't like being around people who hoarded power, such as the Hokage, and the power play was getting on my nerves. I needed to get out of the village. Stretch my leg, fight the bad guys that want to take advantage of the weak. Sure I wouldn't be doing much to stop what would happen in a few years, but I needed to keep them safe until at least after the chunin exams. That would be a fun thing to traverse through.

Shishou told us all to pack for a couple of weeks, and to meet at the gate in an hour. I already had my pack ready, enough for a good month, and I had prepared a ton of food that was preserved and could be stored in a seal. Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun both had scrolls of food, I showed them how to use them recently because I knew this was coming up. I even had weapons sealed away, and several books. I knew this mission would last a while, and I didn't want to get bored. I knew I would though.

One thing I had ensured since Naruto-kun graduated, is that he still knew the shadow clone jutsu. Sasuke-kun also knew it, because I couldn't teach one and not the other, but I knew a lot of Naruto-kun's skill came from this jutsu, and since he was able to pick it up easily, I figured it was good I showed him.

I made sure both boys packed more than enough clothing. They didn't understand why I wanted them to have more than enough, but later on they would thank me. Since they used storage scrolls it wasn't like they had to carry a lot of stuff anyway.

I didn't know if I was ready for them to actually be in harms way. Up until now, they stayed in the village and I went and did the missions that could get me killed. Sasuke-kun had been in danger, but that was years ago and I was strong enough to keep him safe now. At least I wanted to think I was.

Kakashi-shishou was on time, waiting at the gate. The three of us were ten minutes early, and Tazuna-san came wobbling over to us a few minutes later. I was actually in my mission gear, and I didn't even give him a glance. I was looking out at the forest, aching to go run and not be stuck in a dome. The ninja that were on guard duty saw me and they thought it was amusing. They were used to me looking like a miniature Kakashi, and even they could tell I had cabin fever.

While we walked, it was an agonizing slow pace that made me ache for higher rank missions, I paid attention to what Kakashi-shishou said, along with the boys and Tazuna-san, but a lot of my attention was on the forest around us. I couldn't feel anyone, besides the current entourage, and I wanted to have as much heads up as possible. I wanted to keep Naruto-kun from getting in harms way, but I had a feeling things weren't going to turn out the same way now.

I could hear Sakura-chan giving the boys a lesson on something to do with the different countries, I think, I didn't pay much attention to what she said at all. I knew she would give a few speeches, she thought the boys were uneducated. Which I didn't understand, because Naruto-kun obviously wasn't dead last anymore. Sure he might not remember the information right away now, but it was there.

I knew Naruto-kun still liked her, and the fact that she was training more and not being as mean to him kind of helped. He seemed happy, as did Sasuke-kun. He didn't dislike her as much as he had, and that was because he could see her trying. She wasn't a defenseless fangirl, she didn't dress the same, and she was improving her ability to fight.

Kakashi-shishou walked past the puddle first, and he gave me a sharp look. I started to slow my gait just enough that I slowed down and was at the rear of the group. Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun were both behind Sakura-chan, who was near Tazuna-san. I could feel the chakra, they really weren't hiding well, and it hadn't rained recently so I didn't get why they thought they could trick anyone.

Moments of intense action used to slow down my perspective. I could see the demon brothers appear, all they did was dispel their jutsu, and they were there, blades ready. I already knew they had poison on their weapons, and both of my swords were out and blocking their attacks. They were trying to do what they had done to Kakashi-shishou, wrap me in their chains and slice me to pieces. I flared my chakra, and figured I should let them go at Tazuna-san just enough that it was obvious they wanted to kill him. Couldn't interfere now too much could I?

Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun both had kunai out, and they charged at the same time. The demon brothers didn't engage with them however. Sakura-chan was behind me, and Kakashi-shishou jumped forward as soon as the demon brothers went for Tazuna-san. I made sure to pull both Sakura and Tazuna out of the way, and a few seconds after that the two rogue ninja were tied up in their own chains.

I knew Shishou would want to question them, so I made sure everyone else wasn't hurt or anything. Tazuna-san was a little shaky, but everyone else was fine. I gave Tazuna-san a piece of chocolate, I told him it would help him calm down, which it might actually do. Kakashi-shishou returned, eyebrow furrowed and obviously upset.

He glanced at Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan. Then he made a beeline towards me and pulled me aside.

"Mirai-chan, we might have a problem. I questioned the demon brothers, and they are leading me to believe that Tazuna-san lied to us about a few things. I know you want to keep your brother safe, but I need you to go ahead of us and make sure things in wave aren't as bad as I think they are." He didn't seem like he wanted me to go, but he had a good point. I nodded, there was no reason to disagree when it meant I might be able to make their fight later a bit easier to win.

It didn't take me very long to make it to Wave. I knew they would be at least a couple more hours, but since I was moving at full speed and I could run on water, I got there with no issues. I knew there was poverty, but the buildings were old and it was easy to tell that the people didn't have money.

I could see the thugs that worked for Gato, and they stood out quite a bit. I wandered around the town a little, trying to see if I could either find Gato, or someone who would be able to take me to him. I couldn't sense ninja around me, but for all I knew they were better at hiding than I could sense.

Eventually I gave up, and figured I could find the bridge and Tazuna-san's house. It was doing that, that I found something interesting. I got near the bridge, and I could see the workers not working, but fighting and arguing. I knew I looked like a ninja, and the fact that I had a headband across my forehead meant I couldn't really hide.

I walked up to them, they looked like they could actually end up hurting each other. "Everything alright over here guys?" Pretty much all of them jumped, maybe they saw me but didn't expect me to engage them?

One of the men had a very red face, I could tell he was the one instigating the fight. "What would you know about our problems little boy? You aren't from here, you don't know what we are going through. We live in fear that Gato is going to send his men to hurt our families, or even us in our sleep." All I could give him was a dead stare.

I took a few steps toward him, the other workers moved and seemed scared themselves. "You know, my entire clan was killed by my brother. I don't think he did because he wanted to though, he did it because there are monsters out there. And guess who can make monsters go away? People like me. Sure I'm also a monster, but monsters are good at taking out monsters. I wouldn't expect one of you to do it. You don't have it in you. But guess what? My team is on its way, and I can promise you we will fix things here. I might not care for people, but Konoha does. I lost family, but I've been able to create my own since then. Your village can do the same."

I wasn't sure where the fight with Zabuza was supposed to happen, but what I knew, was that they were going after Tazuna-san. So if Tazuna-san were to 'appear' I might be able to flush them out. So that's what I did. I made a clone and had the clone do the transformation jutsu, and walk the path that lead to his home. He lived not too far from the village, but it was enough of a walk that I thought it might work.

I couldn't feel the chakra coming, but it wasn't there one second and then it was. I did my best to stay hidden, I couldn't let either Zabuza or Haku know I was here, I mostly wanted to get them out in the open and get them off guard. Zabuza was standing on a tree branch, looking down at the clone. My clone actually wasn't reacting to him, and that is probably what gave me away.

Zabuza threw something at the clone that dispelled it, and starting looking around in the bushes and the trees, obviously searching for whoever tricked him. I did my best not to move, but crouching underneath the bush I was hiding under, I realized just how stupid I had been. I'm not Kakashi-shishou's level of strength, and there was no way in hell I would ever be able to so much as touch him. I might be able to anticipate his moves and attacks, but there was no guarantee that once I released my weights that I would be fast enough.

I felt like I was on my first mission again, my heart was pounding and I knew in that moment that I had absolutely no hope of winning this fight on my own. All I had done is get his attention, the fucking demon of the mist, and I would regret it more than anything I have ever done in this life. He knew exactly where I was, he was a trained assassin, he killed his entire class when he was my age when I graduated, and I thought this was a good idea a few hours ago. If I did die now, I actually kind of deserved it.

Despite all of this, I knew I couldn't just hide in the shadows and be a coward. I pulled him out here, and for all I know my team could show up in ten minutes. I could try to buy time, try to get him to talk, anything. But not hide. Not after everything I've already been through.

I released my weights, and at the same time ran to the clearing. I had my head down, and I was trying to keep myself from just giving up and running. If I could feign strength and courage, I could live just a little bit longer. My sharingan was activated, but my vision was blurry because I had suddenly started crying. Now of all times to freak out, I had to get control. Control would save my life.

I could tell he was just staring at me. I knew I wasn't what he expected, some child alone without anyone to back them up. Easy to kill, but why would I draw him out? It hit me. I knew some of his plan, I knew a few things about him. I might, might- be able to talk to him. My vision cleared and I looked up at him.

He was very smug, he was probably already deciding how to kill me, what to use, where to stab probably the jugular and I really didn't care. I didn't have my swords out yet, but I could feel my chakra thrumming through every cell in my body, it was a high I hadn't had a long time.

"Zabuza-san. I don't want to fight, I just want to talk. I know who you are and that you have an apprentice in the trees waiting to save you in case anything turns south. I'm going to be honest. It was stupid of me-" In an instant I could feel his killing intent- the demon chakra- and I understood where he got the name. But his chakra wasn't as bad as someone I knew, someone who helped kill my clan.

Don't let him win.

I clenched both of my fists hard enough to cut my palms with my nails. He had menacing chakra but I knew worse. I knew what else was out there, the actual monsters who drove me to be stronger.

"Zabuza-san, you think you're so strong, but really, there are other monsters out there much worse than you. The man who is responsible for killing my clan, the man I know wants to end the world. I might not be able to beat you, not by far and no chance in the world, but I know someone who can. He is my Shishou, and I will be like him one day." I met his eyes, and instead of the smug look he had before, he was curious.

I was caught off guard when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small book. He flipped through it for a few seconds, then stopped on a picture, looked at me, and closed his book.

"I know exactly who your sensei is brat. That doesn't mean I'm going to take it easy on you though. You aren't even on my apprentices level." I felt his chakra surge before he moved, and since I kind of knew where he was going to attack, thanks to adrenaline and being high strung on doing a stupid thing, I was able to dodge.

His sword, I don't remember its name, I knew it was massive even when he was standing on the tree, but when it was being used to try and chop me in half, I almost forgot how to breathe, the thing was three times my size and he carried it around like it was nothing.

I did my best to enhance everything I could with chakra, but I could feel the toll right away on my reserves.I'm so fucking stupid- The entire time, Zabuza-san was amused. He wasn't even trying, I could tell, and I wanted to find a way to knock that smirk off his face. Genjutsu might get me a couple of seconds to gather myself, but I doubted it would even be enough to help.

I couldn't tell if Haku was nearby, I couldn't feel chakra well, I was overwhelmed enough it seemed. I knew I couldn't take even a brush against his sword, I would lose no matter what. Zabuza-san seemed to understand that I was just going to dodge and avoid him. He suddenly froze, and I stopped moving so suddenly that I almost fell on my face. My breathing was labored, my entire body was throbbing, my head was pounding and my chest hurt.

Zabuza-san looked at me with hooded eyes. "I can't believe your sensei even let you leave the village in this state. You aren't ready for battle. You are a child, killing you isn't even worth it. But since you are here, that means Kakashi of the Sharingan is going to be here soon." He jerked his head to the side just a little, then looked at me again with a glare.

I didn't even see him move this time, all I knew was that I was on my feet, then I was in the air, then I wasn't. I could tell I hit my head, but I had stopped feeling things. My vision pulsed from clear to blurry, and I barely felt the chakra signature that gave me hope. I saw the white hair, and I think I might have tried to get up and say something, but it felt like my throat wasn't working.

Shishou needed to know that Haku was in the trees, and he would pretend to kill Zabuza-san, but my entire body felt weak, and before I knew it I was face first in the dirt, and I couldn't feel anything. I could hear the fight, metal on metal, and as I faded into the darkness, I felt my fox and my raven, I knew they were angry because I heard them screaming, then I was gone.

Kakashi and team seven made decent time to the country of Wave. Tazuna was reserved, Mirai had gone ahead of them and Kakashi was agitated that they hadn't heard back from her. Sasuke and Naruto were both confident she was kicking butt, and Sakura was nervous that without Mirai, she would get hurt because Mirai gave her confidence.

The boat ride was quiet, unless you count Tazuna moaning about Gato and his family that was affected by his cruelty. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were all disgusted with what Gato did to the people of wave, and they were all determined to do what they could to stop him.

Kakashi still wasn't paying much attention to them however, because he could feel remnants of Mirai's scent and faint chakra signature. It seemed like she wandered around town, gathering information. Tazuna got off the boat, and before they even made it to the town to go around and past it to his house, Kakashi felt it. A massive flare of chakra that wasn't Mirai's, but rivaled his power.

"Mirai-chan is in trouble. Make sure Tazuna-san gets home, but if he gets close to the fight stay hidden." And he was gone, running to find his student, the one that only wanted to keep her family together and be there for for them. Kakashi felt his chest start to tighten, because he could feel her chakra, but he knew she wasn't using any justu's. She was probably just dodging, biding her time. He would save her.

Naruto and Sasuke were both alarmed when Kakashi ran off, because he looked alarmed and scared for their sister. They both turned to Sakura.

"Sakura-chan we need to follow Kakashi-sensei, can you guard Tazuna-san? Maybe stay in town and keep him out of harms way?" Naruto-kun could barely feel anything, all he knew was the anger and the fear he felt for the person who welcomed him into her family, who became his sister and gave him a brother, a family.

Sakura started nodding right away. "You two make sure everything is okay, I'm sure Tazuna-san and I can find something in town to attend to. He will be safe." Her grip on her kunai tightened, and then she put it away. She would be in town with civilians, unless there was trouble she didn't need to have a weapon out.

Tazuna shrugged, he didn't seem to care. "We can shop for food. Tsunami-chan- my daughter, will probably need food to make dinner. Just make sure you keep everyone on your team safe. I liked that little runt, it was easy to tell how much she idolized your sensei. I'm sure she will be fine." He felt guilty, because it was his fault these ninja, who might not be the right level, were even here, and were in so much danger. This team was a family, even the pink haired girl who didn't completely fit in yet.

The boys looked at each other, and then took off in the direction of the massive chakra signatures.

I got there right as Mirai-chan was slammed into a tree, I could see her eyes widen, she saw me and she knew she would be okay. But she was trying to say something, and I barely caught her mumbling about a fake hunter nin. I turned and looked at the demon of the mist.

"Zabuza, I figure you are here to take out my client Tazuna-san?" My blood was ice, because he went after my apprentice, someone the Hokage trusted me to teach and become like myself one day. He wouldn't walk away from this fight, not if I could help it.

"Kakashi of the sharingan. So you finally appear. Your little pet there is rather adorable. Sacrificing herself for you, dragging me out of hiding to give you time to get here to save her. When you lose, I might just take her for myself. I know someone who wouldn't mind having a companion. And oh is she feisty, I like feisty." He chuckled, he was trying to draw a reaction out of Kakashi, he wanted him angry and irrational.

Kakashi reached up and lifted his headband from his eye, which reminded him that he couldn't fail. He failed a different team in a different time, and there was no way it was happening again. He could feel his other two students running to their location and he scowled slightly. He didn't want them in danger, but they might be able to help him.

For once the boys didn't rush into the clearing, they were on the edge for a few minutes, probably trying to figure out how to attack and making a plan. Kakashi couldn't tell what they were planning on doing, but he figured it would be something beneficial.

Zabuza lunged to attack, Kakashi flickered to the side. This was going to be a long fight.

Kakashi was sure every limb on his body was going to fall off, it had been a long fight, and just when the three of them thought they had Zabuza, the masked nin appeared and whisked him away. Kakashi knew it wasn't a real hunter ninja, Mirai had already told him it would happen, but there was nothing that any of them could do. All three of them were beaten and battered, Naruto and Sasuke had come up with an amazing plan and helped save Kakashi, they both even got a few hits in. But Zabuza was on such a high level, they were lucky they got out alive.

The boys carried Mirai and not long after the battle Sakura and Tazuna both walked up holding a single bag of groceries. Kakashi was barely able to keep his body up, but he needed to at least make it to Tazuna's house before he crashed. It wasn't a long walk, before Kakashi knew it they boys were laying Mirai on a bed, and he himself was crashing on the floor in the same room. They had both gone on so many missions with each other, it was natural and normal for them to sleep in either the same room or even the same tent. Only when it was cold did they do that though.

Who knew when Mirai would wake up.

Kakashi woke up before everyone else the next morning, Sasuke and Naruto were crashed in a room they were sharing on their own, and Sakura had a room by herself. Kakashi made sure everything around the house was secure, safe, it was three in the morning and he didn't know what woke him. When he walked back to his shared room, he saw Mirai curled up in a ball, she didn't seem okay.

Kakashi remembered her smashing into a tree, she probably hurt her head pretty bad. That would need to be looked at, but now wasn't the best time. He knew the diagnostic jutsu, that was about it, but he figured he could try to tell if there was anything wrong with her that needed immediate attention.

He carefully got Mirai on her back, and he did his best to see if there was anything wrong with her head. There wasn't much he could tell, he wasn't an expert in healing, but he could tell that her chakra was recovering. She might just need a days rest before being able to at least help out a little. Hopefully.

Everyone else woke up a few hours later, first Tsunami, who started to make breakfast, then Sasuke and Naruto, followed by Tazuna. There was a faint chakra signature in a different room, but the person didn't come out. Everyone had breakfast, and Tazuna headed for the bridge to work. Kakashi figured he could send Sasuke, who already was good at the jutsu he wanted to teach Naruto and Sakura. Mirai was still asleep, but she seemed better than the day before.

Sakura and Naruto picked up the jutsu easily, Naruto was familiar with it and Sakura had very good chakra control already. Kakashi was actually surprised, Mirai had done a pretty good job getting them ahead. He figured he could let them both go help out Tazuna, because they could carry stuff and help out any way they could.

It was like this for another day or so. Then something happened during the night that none of them were expecting.

I could feel my body in certain parts slowly coming back to normal, my whole body tingled, then it stopped, and other parts of my body came back. I couldn't hear anything for a while, then I could slowly make out what sounded like someone either in a kitchen or in a different room tinkering around, humming songs that reminded me of my mother.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I came to, and I could only hear the breathing of someone in deep sleep, and I could feel the chakra signatures of my friends in a room not too far. Sakura was also nearby, and so was Tazuna. Kakashi-shishou was in the same room with me, which gave me comfort. I recognized who must have been the female humming, it was very slight, and there was an even more slight signature on a different floor above us.

I tried to move, and I was surprised that I actually could. I opened my eyes, and immediately shut them, the pain went right down my spine, and I felt my body spasm I must have hit my head really hard. I knew where I was, and what was going on. I figured Zabuza-san got away, because Haku is crafty and I wouldn't be surprised. I didn't know how long I had been out, but I figured it hadn't been too long.

I was suddenly dying of thirst and since I didn't know the layout of this house, I sucked it up. I needed to get up, move around, and get a drink of water. Falling back asleep shouldn't be too hard, and I opened my eyes slowly this time. The room was dark, and it didn't hurt quite as much to open my eyes. I slowly sat up, and I could feel where I hit the tree. My back was killing me, and both my left leg and left arm felt like they went through hell.

I sighed. At least my stupidity didn't get me killed. I slowly stood up, and winced when my head throbbed again and my vision went red for a second. The chakra in my head didn't feel right, I tried to redirect it but it didn't seem to listen to me. I figured I could get water and ignore it for now, no one else was up and it wouldn't freak anyone else out right now. My body was sore, but I've trained harder and been in more pain than this before.

I slowly made my way to what I assumed was the kitchen, and as quietly as I could I opened cabinets to find a cup to drink water. I found one, and I filled it from the sink, and I sipped on it. I knew it was better than gulping it down, and it helped me control my breathing, stay calm. Something felt very off about everything. I rinsed the cup out and cleaned it with soap, and set it in a dish drain that was on the right of the sink. As I turned around, I saw a cloak, black and red and white, and my blood became ice. I started to follow it, but it was always just out of sight, turning corners, and eventually I was outside.

I swear it was Itachi-nii-san, and I walked up to him slowly. It didn't seem real, it couldn't be. Why would he be here? Why now? He shouldn't show up for a few more months at least. Not until after the chunin exams I think. Then he looked up, and I realized it wasn't him.

It was Madara.

But I was so torn, because I saw him and it looked like him, but I didn't sense him. I could normally at least tell if there was a body somewhere, even if I couldn't sense their chakra, I could sense what was around them. My eyes told me one thing but my senses told me another. I knew I shouldn't lash out, I tried to tell myself it wasn't real, but I didn't have my swords on me and I could feel the fear in every part of my body.

I started forming handsigns and I ran forward after a ball of flame hit him, but it went through him, and when I tried to hit him he just stood there. I realized I was crying, because this was the image of the man who I knew helped kill my family, he was behind a lot of the fucked up stuff in this world, he wasn't here but I was seeing him, and that was a bad, bad thing for a ninja. Seeing something that wasn't there, hallucinating, was a sign of breakdown. Weakness. And I couldn't be weak. Not when my family needed me.

My legs gave out beneath me, and I felt the tears but I didn't think I was crying. I touched my face, and it was wet, and my vision was blurry, throbbing with my headache. It had to be because I hit my head. I didn't just see things, I had been fine since I was nine. Why break down now?

I could tell that Kakashi-shishou was up, he was concerned but I knew he was at least glad I was up. I got on my feet and wiped my face. I wasn't still crying, but my eyes were probably red, but not just because there had been tears. I looked at him and his eyes narrowed, my sharingan was activated then. I couldn't will them to go back to normal, nothing seemed to work.

I walked over to him, I could tell he was tired and just as sore as I was, but his team was still alive, and I hadn't completely lost it. Not yet at least. I wouldn't go down without a fight.

I woke up a few hours later, not in as much pain, but sore. My head didn't hurt. I looked at a mirror before I left the room, Kakashi-shishou was already up and in the living room, and my eyes were back to normal. For now at least. I grabbed a change of clothes and went to the bathroom. I didn't need to shower, I had wipes that would get me clean, and all I needed to really clean was my hair. It had gotten a bit longer, I needed to get it cut soon. I had long since found a way to keep my hair blonde, it wasn't hard.

After I was changed and no longer looking like I lived under a rock, I went to the living room and found Tsunami-san with Kakashi-shishou. Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun were both still asleep, and Sakura-chan was just getting up. Shishou seemed glad to see me up, and Tsunami-san immediately jumped up and ran into the kitchen to get me food, I really hadn't eaten in a long time.

"Glad to see that you're up Mirai-chan. I know you are still probably tired and spent, but I want to get some training in with Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan. Would you be alright going with Tazuna-san to the bridge to keep an eye on them?" I knew he needed me there, team seven needed a lot work still to stand a chance against Zabuza. All I could really do was nod.

I knew it wouldn't be hard to keep an eye on him, and if I kept medicine with me it wouldn't be too bad. I was sore, so after I ate I went outside and stretched. I didn't work out much, my body was already suffering, I could do that when I felt better and had time on my hands to help Tazuna-san.

I could already tell he was more reserved after the fight, he seemed hesitant to talk to me, probably because I could have very well died. But I didn't blame him. I had been stupid, I thought I could beat someone far above my level. I could still see things on the edge of my vision, a flutter of black, and I would turn to look at it and there would be nothing there. I had to rely on my chakra sense, because something in my head was making me see things.

I sat on the wall of the bridge, watched the workers do their thing. A few of them recognized me, no one talked to me though. I guess it was because I was a ninja, and I had already made my own presence known. Tazuna-san was good at building. That's the main thing I noticed, his workers cared about the work, and Tazuna-san was good at inspiring them. When they took their lunch break, I took out the lunch Tsunami-san made for me and ate it while watching them and keeping a check on the chakra signatures around me, and watched them.

Tazuna-san went from small group to small group of workers, and made they were all okay, asked about their families, showed that he cared. Eventually he made his way over to me, and sat down on the wall with me.

I could feel how uneasy he was, he wasn't sure he would say the right thing, and he felt bad. So I talked first for him.

"Tazuna-san, I don't hate you. I look up to you, because you found a way to help the people you care about. I went and I did a stupid thing, if I had died, even if I had gotten hurt worse than I did, it was my fault. I know better. But now I know I'm in the bingo book, which I guess is kind of cool." I was staring down at the newly made cement, it was a nice day and the smell of the sea took me back to my old life. I looked at him, his jaw was slightly open, and he seemed shocked. "Besides, once I feel well, I will do what I can to help you build the bridge. I can do quite a bit, and it would help my stamina." I smiled, for the first time since we started the mission, it was nice to be here, helping. I didn't need to get stronger right now. I needed to be smart, and I needed to be here.

I would do what I could.

Tazuna-san got home before Shishou and the rest of the team, so I was left to help Tsunami-san out. She asked me to help with dinner, and doing so took me back to when I was five, except this time, I was tall enough to reach the counter, and I knew what I was doing. She had me saute beef and vegetables, there wasn't much vegetable to go around for how many people there were. But that was how it was in wave, only the rich got to eat well.

She didn't talk much to me, she was probably thinking about the bridge, civilian worries that I couldn't remember going through in my first life. It was nice to cook again, it had been a long time since I cooked with company, and after a day of being outside, swearing there was something moving around on the edge of my vision, it was nice to be inside where I knew it was safe.

Team seven got back right around sunset, and I was already getting ready for bed. Tsunami-san let me eat early, I told her I wasn't feeling well, I had a long few days, I just wanted to rest. All she could do was smile at me, it slightly creeped me out, but I knew she meant well. I wasn't used to being around civilians. They thought a different way than ninja, and being near her, it made feel like I was a criminal.

I knew I wouldn't just lose it, I had enough control, minus what happened the night before, but I wasn't awake fully and I had just woken up. I still saw things on the edge of my vision, it would be there and then be gone.

The next few days went exactly the same, I helped Tazuna-san with the bridge after my first day of resting. The other bridge workers saw me helping, and the fact that I was so much smaller than them, and I was carrying more weight than them, I think it made them work harder. At the house I made cookies, a lot of them, and since they were such a foreign thing, they went quickly, but everyone loved them.

I hadn't been dreaming the whole time, and that was something I knew was an indicator that something was wrong. I could normally at least visit my my mind palace, and plan things, scenarios and recall information on characters I was starting to forget, but when I tried to go there, it was like static. I knew how to get there, but there was a blockage. At first I didn't push against the blockage, I was afraid I would make my head hurt worse, but my head continued to throb worse and worse each day.

So the night after I made the cookies, I went onto the roof, I could see the stars, and I was alone. I was afraid that pushing would possibly make me lash out and see things, and if I wasn't near Kakashi-shishou, I could keep him from being worried, I closed my eyes, I could see the doors in my head, I wanted to slam them open, and just shoved.

It wasn't good enough, so I pushed again, putting all the anger I could at how I felt about the world, and the doors probably should have open, but instead my eyes did, and I could see things swirly across my vision, it was just shapes and swirls, red and black, weaving in front of me. I sat up, and they kept weaving, but they started to move around the trees near the house, and in a sudden fit, I was sure there was something behind me, something or someone that wanted to kill me, and I felt myself closing up, my chakra in my chest hurt I was pulling it in so hard, and I did the only thing I could.

I ran.