Note: Sorry if it jumps from one subject to the next w/out a line. My computer wasn't working so well. So the line wasn't popping up.

-1Chapter 8: The Hunter, Becomes the The Hunted

Haku jumped from limb to limb. The cut on his shoulder wasn't big, but it was bleeding heavly. If he didn't find something to wrap it in he could bleed to death.

The sun was setting and the woods were getting dark. At this rate Haku would be traveling in the night. The camp he had made for himself was further away from Konoha. This way he could rest and take of himself without worrying about being seen or caught off guard.

His heart was racing and his breathing was hard. After all two attacks in less than twenty four hours was hard to keep up with. The next branch was large enough, so he rested on it. Haku realized he wouldn't make it to the medical supplies in time. rip! He tore a strip of cloth from the hem of his shirt. It was long enough so that he could do several wraps around the wound.

When Haku released pressure on the wound, blood gushed out. He immeditately replaced his hand. Only under the sleeve this time. Gentley he pulled up the sleeve with his free hand. Blood trickled down his arm all the way to his wrist. Where it dripped casually to the ground.

Haku pinned peice of cloth in front of the wound. Then he proceed to tightly wrap it around the wound. This was hard considering the postion his hands had to be in.

As if it couldn't get worse, a crack of thunder signaled the approaching rain. drip, drip, Slowly the rain came, and slowly it gathered speed and power. Haku listened. The branches were so cluttered together above him that he was hardly getting wet. So he listened, closed his eyes and took it all in. The smell of moisture, the sound of pitter patter as the rain hit the ground.

The forest was peaceful. Haku was contempt, and without realizing it, he fell asleep. Still sitting on the branch, still listening to the rain, still smiling.

The rain outside panged against the windows in the Hokage's office. Standing in front of her desk were a silver haired jounin, a pink haired medical genin in training, and a blonded headed escapee from the hospital. Tsunade sighed. What they had told her was interesting. But that just meant more work. So she had Shizune get the reports that were made on that mission.

"I have them!" Shizune walked into the office holding a large file stuffed with papers. Tsunade sighed again. This wasn't going to be easy. "This isn't all the reports, it got mixed up with other missions. So instead of keeping you waiting, while I sorted through them, I decided..."

"To have us do the work." Naruto finished her thought. Shizune smiled. That wasn't what she had intened but it did sound like a good idea.

Sakura took the folder and started sorting the jumble of papers. "I found one peice already! It's easy when they're labled." Naruto came over to help. The other three stood back and let them work. Mainely because they thought they do enough already, the other was that they seemed to be having fun looking for the reports.

Tsunade turned to Kakashi who was watching his two students. "Kakashi-san."

"Hmm?" He turned around.

"I need to know," she put her hands under chin as she usually did. "Will any other citizans of Konoha be targeted? If so I have to take immediate action to protect the village." Kakashi's eye looked up as he was thinking. The only people on the bridge that day were, Sakura, Naruto, The bridge builder and Zabuza. And, Sasuke.

'Zabuza's dead, and Haku's friend. The bridge builder wasn't a threat to him. Sakura wasn't either. And he beleives Sasuke is dead. It wouldn't matter if he didn't think that.' "No, I only a danger to Naruto and I. Haku won't listen to reason. He beleives what he saw that day. Me fighting Zabuza, Naruto fighting him."

Tsunade rubbed her chin, pondering over the thought. "I see, so there is no threat to village. But there is still a threat to you. We have either catch him... or kill him." Kakashi stood silent. He didn't want to kill Haku a second time. He quickly changed the subject.

"Do you have any idea how he's alive, or what's on the needles he used?"

"I have a theory and yes. My theory is that when you hit him with the Chidori, it didn't quite make it to his heart. Therefore only stunning him, putting him into a comma like state. So his pulse must have been very weak if it was hard for you to feel it. Now about the needles. I don't know exactly what it is. But it's some kind of poison made from blowfish. Now blow fish can be deadly. But this liquid he uses attacks the nerves and evokes pain. For that to work he has to have percise accuracy. It's meant to be a tortuing devise. The human body can take only so much pain." She finished and sat back in her chair.

"Last one!" Sakura and Naruto held up the complete report, which had been only a small fraction of the folder. "It's complete." naruto handed the report to Tsunade.

"It says you were expose to be on a C-class mission! How is that possible. What you described was a B-class." Tsunade looked at the report and then at the ninjas, wondering which one was lying.

They all sighed, "He was part of a poor country. They couldn't afford to pay for a B-class. So they said it was a C-class. And of course there are large difference between the two." Kakashi explained. Tsunade frowned. Thinking that they tricked Konoha like that. Just to save a few dollars. That wasn't the only problem. They had genins on a chuunin level mission. That was more danger than she wanted them in.

"Now what do we do?" Naruto asked. He was anxious to get going, or at least do something.

"Well he's after you. I can't just put you in danger."

"We have to do something about him! If Haku is left alone... who knows what he can do?" Naruto wanted to hunt him down. To knock some sense into him!

Tsunade sighed. Three sighs in less than an hour. "Huh, I guess I can't argue with you. But I can't use you as bait!"

Sakura said, "You don't have to use us. We will do it ourselves. I may not be in danger, but I can't just stand by and let my friends get hurt. We should hunt down Haku and bring him back. If I go along then at least they have a medical ninja with them. Right? Let us go. There's no need to innvolve other people." Sakura stood tall and proud. She knew she should help her friends. If that meant just getting them the chance to capture Haku, then that's all she needed.

Tsunade restrained herself from sighing yet again. But before she could speak Naruto wanted his turn. "Plus we are the only qualified for the job. We have fought him before and now, after Kakashi-sensei fought him, we know what he's capapble of. Besides, who else would you ask? No one knows what he looks like." Naruto smiled, his hands on Tsunade's desk.

'I'm going to get scolded for his behavior. Naruto please let her speak next time.' Kakashi thought.

"Naruto," Tsunade said. Her voice a little agitated. "Before you so rudely interupted. I was going to say 'okay'." Naruto's smiled faded. He had just jepordized their chances of getting another 'okay.' "Now listen, I will let you pursue Haku. But proceed with caution. The last thing I need are three dead ninjas."

Naruto jumped into the air. 'I hope your prepared, Haku. Cause I'm coming for you!'

Sakura, Tsunade, and Kakashi looked at Naruto confused. He was punching the air and kicking it too. Then he was doing a little victory dance. "Kakashi-sensei," Sakura whispered, "Is there something wrong with Naruto?"

"Maybe he's still a little dillusional from the fight?"

All three ninja were packed and ready to go. Surprisingly Kakashi was at the gate first. Naruto had the largest pack out of all of them. It stuck to the ground while Naruto tried to pull with him. It was all he could do to move it three inches. Kakashi and Sakura sighed.

"I can do it! Hold on! Almost..." the straps on his pack were stretching when...

SNAP Naruto's feet went flying as the pack pulled him back. "Ow," he just sat there. His body sunken into the pack. Sakura went over to help him. "Stupid pack!"

"Let me see what you brought. I'll organize it for you." Sakura opened the flap and almost felt like exploding. "Naruto! Half this stuff isn't necessary!" She turned to the guards at the gate. "Could take back the stuff I leave out. It would save us a lot of trouble and time." They nodded. They had heard of her strength and were afraid of Sakura getting angry and going after them.

Sakura got to work removing items and replacing the necessary things. Soon the pack was light enough to carrry. And the guards had a wheelbarrel full of stuff. "Let's get going." Kakashi said while forming a hand seal. He then thrusted his hand on the ground. A cloud of smoke appeared.

When it cleared a small dog with a vest a headband appeared. "Pakun!"

"Oi, Kakashi what is it?"

"I need to you to track someone down. Here's his scent." Kakashi pulled out a long black hair. It was Haku's. Pakun took one long sniff of it, then he was off.

"This way!" All of them began following him. Expecting to get to Haku soon.

Haku didn't stop, he knew they would be after him soon. If that was so then they would have reinforcements.

He had managed to get his supplies and leave before the sun rose. Now he had a good lead. Haku slipped and decided it was time for a break. 'I've been running for hours.' breathing heavely "How far have I come? Where am I?"

The view around him was mgnificant. Over the hill, the road was surrounded by a large field of flowers. Each flower had a pastel color to it. Pinks, blues, yellows, reds; all of them wavered in the breeze. Haku sighed. He would enjoy living in a place so peaceful and beautiful as this. He took in everything. Every little inch. His lungs filled with the scent and air of peace.

Then his mission returned to mind. He had to keep moving. If they caught him while they were still in numbers, and he was still injured, it would be the end. 'If only you were alive, Zabuza. Am what I doing really for you, or me?' Haku felt his heart get heavy. Thinking of Zabuza made him feel loney.

The branches shifted in the wind. Leves rustled, grass created little waves. 'If only you were alive, we could enjoy this together. I'll be with you again. Once they fell what I felt. Once you are avenged.'

They were a ways away from Konoha. At least seven miles. Now the sun was setting. "Let's make camp here." Kakashi said pulling out a tent. "I'll set up the tent, Naruto gather fire wood. Sakura-chan, would please cook the food tonight."

Naruto went to gather wood. Sakura pulled out a pot and some cold dumplings. They didn't know how long they would be out here, so Sakura had to rationize the supplies. She enjoyed cooking for them. It made her feel like she was part of this, even though she wasn't attacked. Sakura was glad for that too. After seeing how much trouble he gave Naruto. Thinking of Naruto being hurt made her feel angry, and sad. After all he was her friend. 'My best friend!' she realized.

Naruto came back to the clearing with an armful of wood. "I hope this is enough." He dropped the sticks into a pile. Kakashi saw that Sakura was about to light the pile of wood. He sighed and walked over to the them.

"Let me help. You see if you just leave the wood like this it won't stay lit for very long," Kakashi started arranging the wood. He put the twigs in a little pile. It would make nice kindling. Then he put the larger pieces in a tee-pee like shape around the twigs. "Now light it. It should burn a lot longer." Sakura nodded and took back out the matches. The kindling lit and a fire was begining to emerge.

"Arigato, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura replied. Naruto sat down next to the small campfire. He outstretched his hands. Even though it wasn't that cold, the warmth of the fire felt good.

When the fire was really blazing, Sakura put a pot of water over the it. "Where did you get the water?" naruto exclaimed. Sakura thought for a moment. "I really don't know, maybe..." she shrugged. "I forget."

Naruto jutted out his jaw again. "Sure you forget." He looked to his teacher. Kakashi had put up the tent, but he wasn't there. "Hey, Sakura-chan, where did Kakashi-sensei go?" Sakura turned around to the tent as well. Naruto was right. He wasn't there. But why would he leave without telling them? Then a noise came from the bush.

"Kakashi-sensei, where were you!" Naruto stood up and pointed at him. Kakashi's eye crinkled as he smiled.

"Pakun wanted to be walked," just then Pakun popped his head out of the bushes and came up beside Kakashi. "It's easier if he stays with us, and it saves me from using too much chakara from summoning him all the time." Kakashi walked into the tent and started setting up the sleeping bags. But only two sleeping bags. Pakun sat next to Sakura and sniffed the dumplings floating in the water.

"They smell good. When will they be done?" Pakun asked.

"In a short while. Did you want some?"

"I would love to have some, arigato." Pakun then layed down and closed his eyes. In a few minutes he was asleep and snoring ever so quitely. Sakura smiled. Realizing that he wasn't use to being summoned for this long of a period. She pet his head. Naruto then wished he was that dog.

Naruto turned to his sensei, "Kakashi-sensei, why are there only two sleeping bags?"

"Hmm? Oh, because you and I will be sleeping in shifts. If Haku attacks durnig the night, then someone has to be on lookout. Ok? I'll take the first shift though. This way you can sleep off you food." The jounin put his hand behind his head as he usually did.

Sakura smiled. 'Good, I get to sleep a full night.' Then she turned to the pot of dumplings. "Oh, they're done!" She sad pulling the pot of the fire. "We each get two," she said feeling happy to be in control of something.

Naruto whinded, "Only two! Why?"

"Because Pakun wanted some!" At the sound of his name, Pakun lifted his ears. His eyes slowly opened as his nose twitched to the smell. "Sorry did I wake you?"

"It's alright, the food is ready." He stood and shook. Kakashi came over with plastic plates and chopsticks. "I can't use those Kakashi."

"I know. That's why I didn't bring a pair for you." Kakashi gave each one of them a plate. Naruto put his plate out first, he was starving. Sakura put two dumplings on everyone's plate. Everyone said arigato and began to eat. Naruto's eyes were on Kakahsi. After all this time, he still didn't know what his sensei's face looked like.

"I ate a large meal before we came. Naruto, would like one of dumplings?" Kakashi said while sliding one of the dumplings onto Pakun's plate. Naruto and Sakura sighed. "Sure I'll have it," Naruto replied. Kakashi plopped it on his plate then stood up. He jumped into one of the trees. Already taking his lookout postition.

Naruto leaned over to Pakun who was enjoying the extra dumpling Kakashi had given him. He truly was a real dog. "Hey Pakun," the nin dog looked up, "your one of his dogs. Have you ever seen Kakashi-senei's face?"

Pakun finished off the last of his dumplings. "No." Naruto was shocked. Surely one of Kakasi's dog has seen his face. "None of us have, if that's what your thinking." The dog licked his paws and the plate. Then he settled next to Sakura again.

Naruto looked away disappointed. "Ew!" Now his dumplings were cold.

"Something wrong with the dumplings, Naruto?" Sakura had finished her food as well. "Is it the way I cooked them?"

"Oh, no Sakura-chan. It's just that I was talking too long with Pakun and they got cold." Naruto didn't want Sakura to get mad at him. Sakura reached and grabbed his plate. She stuck the dumplings on a stick and held them over the fire.

"I'll warm them up for you." Naruto saw her smile. 'I guess it's a girl thing,' he thought. But he didn't stop her. Naruto liked Sakura doing things for her without him asking.

"Arigato, Sakura-chan."

Haku sat under a tree. The moonlight made his face look even more pale. It had been a long day and all his energy was fading away. He had distanced himself from Konoha pretty well. There was a town over the hill. He would take rest there tonight. Maybe, just maybe, he had lost his persuers.

Okay, maybe my computer will work for the next chapter. Please R&R! I like to hear what people have to say about my story.

Read on...