Hi all. So I'm not exactly sure why some things are highlighted in this chapter but please ignore it for it's of no significance. Please enjoy and if you like or dislike let us know. My co-writer and I love the feedback. If you want pics feel free to visit my co-writer's pinterest page Tsukiange. Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Lie POV

The next morning came quickly as I stretched and walked downstairs. I am finally growing accustomed to sleeping at night. When I arrived in the dining room I looked around to see Sasuke and Kakashi eating. Tazuna was still asleep as was his daughter and grandson.

"Have you seen the dobe," Sasuke asks as I grab an apple off of the table.

I sat down across from Kakashi. "Nope, but Shizuko is missing as well so I'm sure wherever they are their together."

"Do you think they're safe?"

I looked at Sasuke with an eyebrow raised, "do I sense concern in your voice. Kakashi we may need a doctor Uchiha may have finally cracked."

Kakashi failed to hold back a chuckle but proceeded to console Sasuke. "As long as they're together I'm sure they're fine."

The day went by quickly. Sasuke left breakfast to look for the others and all three of them rolled in pretty late in the evening. I went to the bridge and helped Tazuna work. At some point he had commented about how surprised he was that a girl worked so hard doing manual labor. I finally started getting use to the old man and explained the kind of training ninjas go through.

Evening came, Naruto and Shizuko only came for dinner and left again. Shizuko seemed more comfortable with Naruto. She had an easiness around him with her smiling and gazing at him, I made a note to tease her about it later.

The next day the group followed Tazuna to the bridge. It was becoming dangerously close to becoming complete. Shizuko told us not to worry about waking Naruto since he had been training all night. Which was fine because it was early and no one needed to hear him yelling for no reason like he always did. We discussed the final touches that needed put on the bridge on our way there. As the work site came into view the flowing conversation came to a halt. A thick unnatural mist covered the bridge and there were no workers in site. We surrounded Tazuna as we continued forward, a ninja at his every corner.

"Looks like you made it." The dark voice of Zabuza chuckled through the mist. "I see that one's still trembling."

Five water clones of Zabuza appeared in front of us, caging us in a tight circle.

I looked to my left and Sasuke stared the clone in the eye, a small smirk growing wider became clear on his face.

"I'm trembling with… excitement."

Damn that Uchiha. I never admitting to myself how attracted I felt to the cocky Uchiha until I saw him smirking and battle ready. Shizuko rolled her eyes to the left of me. There was no doubt in my mind that her current thoughts were that she had the cockiest team in the world.

Sasuke moved making quick work of the surrounding Zabuza clones and taking his spot back to my right.

"Heh, the brat's improved. Looks like you've found yourself a rival Haku."

"Seems so."

The mist cleared slowly revealing Zabuza Momochi. The young tracker ninja who had managed to fool everyone the last time we met was at his side. I felt Shizuko jolt at the tracker-nins voice, staring in shock.

"It can't be…" she whispered.

"No one can beat Haku's speed."

With that Haku rushed the group and Sasuke eagerly emerged to face him.

The fierce sound of metal against metal echoed as Sasuke's kunai clashed with Haku's senbon. The two ninja caught in a deadly dance as we spectated from the sidelines.

In one final 'clank they came to a halt. Weapon against weapon occupying each of their right hands. The left hands stayed close to their own chests ready to defend their weak sides.

"You're good but it looks like I've won," Haku said in a somewhat sad monotone voice.

Sasuke smirked thinking the boy was trying to psych him out with a bluff. "How do you figure that?"

"Simple, we're surrounded by water and I have one of your hands blocked," Haku informed. He began forming one handed signs.

We all looked on shocked having never seen that before.

"A thousand flying water needles of death," Haku said barely audible.

The water around Haku and Sasuke began to slowly rise around them. The water formed long needles, surrounding them both. Obviously leaving a spot for Haku to escape.

It looked like Sasuke was in trouble. He was in a circle of razor sharp water needles. If he was smart he would have noticed the small opening in the top. The needles closed in and a big blast blocked the view of what happened next. Haku moved back but quickly looked up in time to block the shuriken that Sasuke threw his way. He landed with a smirk a few feet away from Haku.

Kakashi looked proud, "don't take my team for granted. Sasuke is an Uchiha who graduated at the top of his class with the highest marks. Lie and Shizuko are the best team of skill. Last, let's not forget our number one hyperactive knucklehead ninja Naruto Uzumaki."

"Impressive, but I'm afraid this is where your luck comes to an end," Haku said with regret and made a few hand signs. Zabuza explained Haku and his kekkei genkai. Meanwhile ice mirrors began to form enclosing Sasuke in a half dome. I watched as Haku molded himself into one of his mirrors.

Sasuke stood there. Kunai in hand and got pelted by needles coming from all different directions. What was happening? Were the mirrors holding clones?

As if reading my mind Shizuko looked at me, "the angle of the needles don't line up with the mirrors. They can't be directly coming from there."

I looked at her and then back at Sasuke. I have to get close enough to tell him. My thoughts got interrupted by a puff of smoke. I sighed heavily as the smoke cleared to reveal the yelling voice of my most annoying teammate.

"Never fear Naruto Uzumaki has arrived."

I smacked my forehead. Shizuko momentarily looked like she had lost all faith in humanity. While Kakashi sweatdropped, "Naruto have you never heard of the element of surprise. You would have been much more useful if you would have stayed hidden."

Unfortunately he didn't listen to Kakashi's speech at all. Instead Naruto took the opportunity to sneak into Haku's death bubble. Surprising Sasuke in the process.

I couldn't hear the conversation I'm sure it had to do with Sasuke clearly telling Naruto how much of an idiot he was. I continued to observe the next few waves of attack. Naruto was using his shadow clone technique. Sasuke awakening his sharingan and using his fire jutsu.

"Keep it up Naruto, I got part of him."

That's all I need to hear. He's going from mirror to mirror.

I stepped closer to Shizuko who was on the other side of Tazuna and whispered to her.

"I have a plan. Do you have a jutsu that could make a projectile strong enough or hot enough to shatter one of those mirrors?"

Shizuko thought for a second and then whispered a quiet, "yes" across to me.

"I'm going to force him into a specific mirror, or at least try to when I do I'll give you a signal."

"It's risky," she warned..

"Yeah… So is this though."

She nodded. I waited until Zabuza and Kakashi's attention got turned back to my other two teammates and I did quick hand signs. A water clone of me appeared as I sunk down into the darkness of the shadow under me. I traveled by shadows until I reached Naruto's shadow inside the mirrors and morphed out of it behind him.

Unfortunately, Sasuke and Naruto were already bleeding pretty badly. Both on the verge of collapsing. They looked surprised to see me.

"I have a plan. Keep doing what you are just a little longer."

They both looked at me near exhausted but readied themselves for the next wave. Naruto and I both did clone jutsu and the clones rushed the mirrors. I summoned my chained scythes and did my best to block the majority of the needles. The ones I could hear splicing through the wind since I could see none.

I blocked some. Not nearly enough but that wasn't my goal here. I got closer to Sasuke while blocking him, I need you to secretly tell me the last mirror he goes in every time."

Sasuke nodded a silent understanding. Next was Naruto. The wave of attacks ended and our clones gone. Sasuke positioned his foot forward towards a mirror. We all still have needles protruding out of our bodies, Sasuke with the most, followed by Naruto, and last I.

"You've made your grave entering my jutsu girl. You will be the first to fall," Haku's voice resonated through the dome.

"Talk is cheap. Show me BOY. Show me what you're made of. Kill me if you can," I answered smirking in battle stance.

I made my water clone hand sign and we began our next round. As the real me guarded I grabbed the closest Naruto. "Focus the majority of your clones near the side the others are facing." That clone immediately disappeared relaying the message to the original.

The needles came sharp and fast piercingI major pressure points, several at once. My body felt automatically slower, "Lie!"

I could hear Sasuke yell but I ignored it. Looking at his foot that still faced the direction of the last mirror.

This is it. "Is that all you got. If you don't take me out it's all over for you."

He responded slowly, "Is that so? Well I guess I better get serious then."

I hoped we could pull it off this time. My body hurt and using all those water clones left me weak.

Haku went again. As did we. Right off the bat I blocked a senbon aimed at my jugular. I narrowed my eyes. He's serious.

It was all going according to plan… I felt myself falling forward.

We continued though sending more than normal but not a suspicious amount of clones at a certain area. I thought it was working. I could feel them disappearing. Everything was going ok, that's when I felt myself falling forward. I hit the ground but recovered fast enough. I turned around pissed. I had hit the ground. Sasuke pushed me forward. I turned to yell but stopped myself when I saw his face. Where he was lying.

No… I crawled over to him.

"You idiot why would you do that?" I asked confused and upset. Not crying but shaking uncontrollably.

He smiled a cold sad smile, "to protect you."

He closed his eyes after that. Naruto scurried over, "is he?"

I didn't hear him though I stopped my shaking and shook my head. I allowed only a single tear to fall. I don't remember what happened next.

(3rd Person POV)

There was a mixture of red and black chakra that was visible from outside of the ice dome. Shizuko looked on concerned for her teammates.

Kakashi started concerned and Zabuza looked amazed.

"That's not Haku's chakra," he starred in a stopper.

The red chakra concentrated. Inside the ice mirrors Naruto was on all fours with anger emanating and focusing. His now animalistic face rushed towards an ice mirror. Shizuko took aim with her light bow at the mirror Naruto was rushing at. She shot with beautiful precision. The ice shattered. The boy fell forward only to meet Naruto's fist.

Haku's mask shattered as he fell to reveal a person Naruto had once met in the forest. The sight of this kind, innocent face brought Naruto out of his rage into a drained position on his knees. Shizuko looked on sad and worried. Sad for Naruto who had seen the death of someone he knew, for she knew that pain all too well. She worried for her friend and Sasuke. She wasn't sure if he was still alive or what was going on with the black chakra swirling around her friend. Lie currently resembled a statue. She was motionless and unnaturally still.

Shizuko couldn't move to save any of her friends. She couldn't abandon her charge or Zabuza would no doubt cut him down. She felt useless.

All seemed still for too long. That was until a distant chuckle came through the dense fog. Most looked forward past their friends to see Gato the Tycoon with a band of his thugs. Some of them were ninja, others where ruffians carrying blades.

"So much for the great Demon of the Mist. Now I'll take care of this problem," He kicked Haku towards Zabuza, "kill them all."

Zabuza grabbed his blade and the swirling chakra around Lie stopped. She rose laughing, her black eyes shone a demonic red, "so many bodies, so much blood. So many people to kill."

She materialized her chained sickles and jumped into the fray with Zabuza. It was a barrage of kicking and slashing. Lie ricocheted from one end of the mob to another leaving a bloodied path until Lie and Zabuza where the only two.

She didn't bother attempting to take Zabuza's life though. She could sense his death near. Bloodlust lingered in the air.

"Hello little angel. Your next," Lie's demonic voice announced

Shizuko shuddered. This was her demon. Lie chuckled as Kakashi jumped in front of Shizuko, "Lie, stop immediately."

She laughed more disappearing in a shadow and reappearing within Shizuko's own.

Shizuko turned with a surprised face. Her friend was holding a scythe to her throat, "please Lie stop, we're friends. Please don't make me hurt you."

Another evil laugh came, "I'll show you what I do to my 'friends'. Wha- what why can't I move?"

I watched her amused face turn sour as she attempted to flex her arm but it remained still.

"You have no power here girl. You called on me, your weakness called for my strength," she argued with herself.

"S-sasuke," Naruto said faintly, finally regaining his own consciousness.

To this, Lie's eyes shot open and her red eyes darkened to her normal black. Her weapon disappeared and she fell to her knees. She looked fragile, head hanging hiding her down turned face.