Hello All, Just wanted to say if you are still reading we thank you for the support. My cowriter Tsukiange

and I will have one more chapter together before breaking off into separate stories for a while so if you are interested in the

NaruxShizu love story tune into her page and if you are more into the Lie/Sasu story please continue with mine. I have recently

noticed that I unintentionally skipped my Zabuza fight chapter and will be fixing that before the next chapter comes out so if you

are a dedicated reader and want to go back to it I will make sure to note the chapter number in the next heading. With that being

said we do not own Naruto or any of their characters so enjoy reading.

Chapter 19

Lie's POV

The day of the competition finally came. I had had no luck whatsoever on getting any information on how to defend against that holy fire so I'm hoping I can just stop her from performing the jutsu when the time comes. It was nice to get away from camp where I had been training with the guys. I was sick of Ezrah and Nanuzuki being all lovey dovie. Even now as they all accompanied me to the stadium Ezrah had his arm wrapped around Nanuzuki's shoulders teasing him about something. Which was fine. But damn, it was all the time. Akumu walked by my side in front of the other two.

"Are you worried?" He asked in a slightly teasing way himself.

"No love I am not," I lied with a straight face still thinking about my gameplan. I had no doubt that if I could stop that fire, I could beat the little angel. But I had to make sure I stopped it. If not I could very well be burnt alive.

He smiled and walked a little closer with his hands shoved in his pockets. We got to the stadium, "After this, we are going to depart right? After this stupid competition."

"Yes," I replied. There was no reason to stay here anymore. The angel book wasn't here, and I was reunited with my mate. Now all I had to do was finish the sacrifice to make the change permanent once I do I would stop being so indecisive on my decisions. So I could genuinely inhabit this body, and I had a long way to go.

The others took the stands as I waited in a cockpit-like area for the other contestants to show up. One by one they piled in seeking a seat on the bench. Naruto ran over to me when he got there.

"Lie are you ready! I'm gonna win, I know it!" He said happily standing in front of my sitting form.

I smirked. He hasn't changed, "you're fighting the Hyuuga boy on Lee's team right?"

He gave me a thumbs up, "Yeah and I'm gonna win too! You're not gonna take it too hard on Shizuko right?"

I looked at him curiously, "Who knows? I doubt you'll have to worry about that though." I stood noticing Shizuko walking into the area giving an uncomfortable look towards Naruto and me, "Good luck Naruto, you'll need it."

I walked past him intentionally brushing Shizuko's shoulder as I passed her, "Hope your ready angel, I know I am."

"I haven't seen anything to be afraid of," she said, I could practically hear her eye roll.

"Good, fear would only hold you back, and I want you at your best when you fight me," I said, and we all made our ways out to the middle of the stadium so that all the villages could see the contestants. I kept my hands in my pockets as the village chunin explained the brackets and rules. I didn't need to look around to realize that Sasuke hadn't arrived here yet.

"If all of the contestants aren't here by the time of their match they will be disqualified," A ninja with face bandages announced. We all nodded and walked back to the cockpit.

"The first match will be… Uzumaki, Naruto vs. Hyuuga, Neji."

"Good luck Naruto," I heard Shizuko say to which he gave a thumbs up to and rushed into the arena.

Let's see what you can do Naruto.

I leaned my back against the wall of the dug-out. The battle had begun with Naruto charging in blindly like he so often did.

I got bored very quickly watching the Hyuuga boy slowly humiliate Naruto. I turned my attention to my opponent leaning worriedly against the rail looking out towards her teammate.

"Do you think he'll win?" I asked with a smirk walking over to Shizuko but immediately feeling a different aura around her. I kept my distance but continued looking Naruto's way as her face turned to me.

"You're asking me my opinion on things now?" She said in a 'I don't know what you're playing at, but I'm not buying it.'

I shrugged, "Sure, why not. Nothing better to do right now except watch Naruto struggle. Plus you seem different." I shot my eyes her way attempting to catch her reaction.

Her eyes met mine defiantly, "I am different. I'm not going to lose to you Lie, and I am done trying to convince myself that you are better than you are. If you want to be my enemy Lie, then I won't hold back and yes. I have no doubt that Naruto will win,"

I laughed, "I sure hope not little angel. If you hold back, you surely won't survive."

I stayed where I was a few feet beside her in silence. Naruto looked to be hatching a plan on the battlefield, and it was about time. He burrowed underground with one of his clones and popped up under Neji in time to uppercut him under the jaw sending him flying in the air where he and his other clones took care of the rest.

Naruto stood victorious in the middle of the arena with a knocked out Neji a few feet on his left.

"Looks like you were right Shizuko. So far one member of team 7 is victorious. I wonder if Sasuke will be too. Gaara sure won't be an easy victory."

"Up next was Shikamaru and Temari," The Chunin referee announced.

Naruto ran back into the dugout and rushed Shizuko into a hug, "did you see that. I did it."

"Great job Naruto I knew you could," she laughed back with a red face.

He let go of her and looked over at me and gave me a thumbs up. I smirked. I was glad Naruto won, he worked hard and definitely earned his win. However, I couldn't forget the plan. I was leaving, and I couldn't let them think that there was any changing that fact.

"So Naruto, are you going to cheer for me?" I asked with a smile watching as he glanced nervously from Shizuko to me.

"Um…. well, you see…." Naruto struggled, and I laughed going over and putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry Naruto. You don't have to pretend that I'm still part of the team. No one else is. It's boring here. I'm gonna go get some air." I released my grip on his shoulder and began to walk away.

"You're wrong Lie! You are part of Team Seven and always will be no matter what those wacko's tell you. We all know it, you have a bond with us that will never change."

I didn't look back at him. I didn't stop. I had to pretend like I didn't hear him. This is all for their own good anyway. I will end up destroying them if I stay.

I walked outside and leaned on the outside of the building with my eyes closed. Drawing in slow, steady breaths. The sun was warm, and the wind was easy. It was a perfect fall day, and despite being right next to the stadium, it was nice and quiet. I slid down the wall into a sitting position. I was so tired.

"You're not planning on sleeping through your match are you?" I opened my eyes slowly. I knew the deep angsty voice of that Uchiha anywhere.

"You're one to talk. I at least showed up for the beginning. Naruto won his match by the way. I see you were busy working on your intimidation factor," I said with a small smirk looking at his new all-black jumpsuit like outfit except it had shorts and was kind of baggy.

He took the seat by me ignoring my small insult, "So where is your new team?"

"I assume they are bored in the stands somewhere but who knows they could literally be anywhere as long as it's not near me right now that's fine."

"Never thought you'd say about something like that? If you don't like it so much don't be with them." He said looking at me with a straight face.

I chuckled, "Things used to be that easy, didn't they. It's not anymore though. I'm not interested in talking about these things Sasuke."

"Alright let's talk about something else. You're leaving with him aren't you?"

A sad smirk appeared across my lips as I looked at the raven-haired boy before me, "Yeah, that's the plan. Team 7 will officially have to go on without me. I'm sure you all can handle that."

"Don't go. Just stay here. If you're afraid of them-"

"Hahahaha I'm not afraid of them Sasuke. They are my clan, all that's left of it anyway. Wouldn't you want to be with your clan if you could?"

He got silent. I knew it was a sensitive subject and I hit it hard. "Why weren't you with them all along then?"

I got silent. I couldn't tell him the real reason I left my clan. I sighed a massive, complicated sigh. "The Kuriyama clan got massacred when a demon bonding ritual went wrong. The guys were the only ones not in the village at the time on a mission, and they finally found me. I have been engaged to Akumu since my own bonding ritual took place. Demon bonds are not easily broken. Our demons are soul mates and the closer we are, the more the demons start affecting their human hosts. I am drawn to him almost by gravity. That is why I have to be with them."

Sasuke remained glaring at the ground beside me, "What a pathetic excuse. Fate can always be altered you just don't want it to be."

I scoffed and stood staring Sasuke straight in the eye, "Don't think you know for a second what I want. I didn't find what I was looking for here Sasuke. It's time for me to move on or I will never accomplish my goal."

He looked around silently again. I could tell he was reflecting his own goal behind his downcast eyes, "What is your goal Lie?"

I chuckled a little, "That isn't of anyone's concern except my own." I looked at him one more time. "Your match is about to start Uchiha, but before I go, I wanted to say something. Anything you hear about me. It's best to believe it's true and as for you not knowing what I want."

I leaned in and kissed his cheek, "I never do things that I don't want to do. Good luck."

With that, I turned and walked away not waiting to see the look on his face. I couldn't do that today, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye either.

I walked back into the dugout to see Shizuko talking to Naruto and the scrawny ninja named Shikamaru standing victorious in the middle of the arena.

"Next match will be Gaara of the sand vs. Uchiha Sasuke," the proctor called out.

The stands went silent. This was the match everyone was waiting for.

Gaara materialized on the right-hand side of the arena with sand falling around him. There was a wait for Sasuke. The proctor called out again, "Uchiha, Sasuke, please report to the arena."

They waited for another moment or two.

"Where the hell is he!" an excited Naruto yelled angrily to Shizuko.

She shrugged and looked towards me for a moment, but I just sat down calmly on the bench.

"If Sasuke doesn't report to the arena in 5 minutes the match will be forfeited."

"I can't do this I'm gonna go find him," Naruto said frantically and ran in the direction of the door.

Before he passed me, I caught the back of his collar slightly clotheslining him, "What did you do that for Lie I gotta find Sasuke or-"

"Look," Was all I said pointing towards the left-hand side of the arena where Sasuke and Kakashi had appeared in a whirlwind of leaves.

"Oh," Naruto said as he looked over at Sasuke. "What a jerk, making us wait that long."

I chuckled a little as Naruto got back up and looked at me awkwardly.

"Go on scurry back to your spot and watch the fight," I said annoyed.

He just nodded with a silent but understood thanks and walked back to Shizuko rubbing his head in embarrassment.

The proctor said a few words and then disappeared from the arena. An evil smirk spread across the redheads face Sasuke cracked his neck and readied up unphased.

Suddenly sand burst from Gaara's gourd, and he grabbed his right eye. The battle began. Sasuke threw a burst of shuriken his way which was caught by a sand replicate of Gaara. The sand rushed for Sasuke who avoided it by jumping in the air and unleashing a barrage of taijutsu on Gaara's sand clone. He destroyed it quickly and went for a misdirection by throwing a fist at Gaara who easily blocked it with his sand, but in a flash, Sasuke was behind Gaara kicking him into the air causing his face to crack.

Interesting. His whole body is made out of the sand. Or at least covered in it in some sort of exoskeleton fashion.

The match turned into a game of speed versus defense, and at first, Sasuke was winning. Gaara shielded himself in a cocoon of sand. Sasuke punched it but only ended up injuring himself as spikes formed on the ball upon impact and wounded his leg. We all waited. A small amount of sand appeared over the dome and turned into an eye much as he did in the written exam. Suddenly the sand around the dome started chasing Sasuke. Sasuke ran up the right side of the Arena where he kneeled for a moment and formed hand signs.

Suddenly a loud chirping noise and bright light burst in Sasuke's palm. He knows lightning jutsu?!

He ran at the cocoon with the lightning in his hand and pierced the center.

"Blood, my blood," everyone could here Gaara scream from inside his sand dome, and suddenly Sasuke got pushed back by a giant arm made of sand. It retreated quickly after the attack back into the small hole that blemished the dome when a strong gust of wind forced its way out, and the sand dome fell apart around Gaara who was holding his shoulder and panting in pain.

At that moment the stadium covered in feathers. Akumu, Ezra, and Nanuzuki appeared around me. It's time to go everything is falling apart here. I looked around, and most of the stadium was passed out, and the jonin were rushing towards the Hokage. Can I really leave right now? Is this an attack?

I looked over at Shizuko who was somehow not affected who was looking from a passed out Naruto in her arms to me.

"It's time to go Lie. This village's problems are none of your concern," Akumu said putting a hand on my left shoulder.

He was right, but it wasn't easy to turn away from all the chaos. It wasn't easy to betray Shizuko so outright. I did though. I turned my back to her.

"You're leaving when this village needs you."

"This village hasn't done anything for me. I'm going back to the world that I belong to."

"I don't believe you. I don't believe that you want to go back there. I know it was your village that you saw when Kakashi put you in that Genjutsu during our first survival test. I don't believe that you want to go back there. What has you so brainwashed!"

I just looked at her tear stained face and smiled, "Bye little angel. You should be far more concerned with saving your village. This is your home. Not mine."

With that, I walked out with my team.

During the panic, several people were rushing towards the stadium. There was a large purple dome on top of the building the Kage's were all sat at.

"Stupid humans, watch where you're going" Nanuzuki growled irritated as he took his ninja claw out from the holster on his side and raked it across three screaming civilians running our way.

"Fuck off Nanuzuki if you can't be here without causing a scene why don't you all just wait for me at the village's edge. I'm trying to escape without causing a scene or getting into a bingo book so stop killing innocents." I yelled punching him in the face.

Nanuzuki fell, and Ezra went in to punish me, but Akumu caught his wrist. "We'll wait in the southeast. Don't take too long or we'll come looking."

I nodded, and they all vanished. I turned to grab my blindfold that had escaped my grip during the punch to see Shizuko standing there staring me down.

"You killed those men. You heartless witch… We trusted you. Were you apart of this... This attack on us. You knew didn't you?" She reached back for the sword on her back.

"Are you going to slay me with that sword. Are you strong enough to hold it up right now? This stupid village doesn't mean enough to me to plan an attack on. Use your brain. If I wanted to kill the Hokage, I'd be way more discrete."

"You'll kill these innocent people why should I believe you wouldn't harm the Hokage."

"I don't have time for this," I said irritated. "You can waste time here all you want, but people could be dying, and you could be saving them."

I did a few hand signs and started to shrink into the shadow below me, "Goodbye Shizuko Hikari."

"You're a coward!" I paused, half of my body in the shadows, "You could have stayed and fought for your freedom from your village. But, you took the easy way out and turned back to the shadows where you came from."

Shizuko aimed the point of her sword at my head as we locked eyes. "You have my word I will find you and destroy the darkness."

With that, I headed quickly to the little cottage and packed my things and met my team at the border.

"Are you ready my dark Lily."

"Let's just get out of here."

I followed them into the night knowing that I didn't have the strength to look back upon the only place I had ever been comfortable living at. My life was never meant to be that easy.