I appreciate the reviews I've gotten in the last chapter. They've made me happy and motivate me to write ^_^. For all who reviewed, thank you so much! As for the rest of you…well…

ANYWAY! Enjoy this chapter!

Warning: Some Sakura bashing. I'll see how it goes.

-AU so however the story goes, IT GOES LIKE THAT…

Summary: After friends and family are killed, Kagome dies and is reborn into the Naruto world; but with some deadly secrets. She attends the Ninja academy and joins team 7 as a new life begins for her. But what happens when everything from Kagome's past returns for her…? AU

Pairing: Sasuke/Kagome


Chapter 5

"I leave Naruto and Kagome in your hands." Kakashi said as he, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna were outside the house talking to Tsunami.

"Are you sure?" Tsunami asked with uncertainty.

"Yes. Naruto needs a break and Kagome hasn't slept since we first got here and she deserves a long rest; she trains too much." Kakashi replied with a smile.

"Come on." Tazuna said and they walked away from the house. Tsunami's only concern was that they would all come back, alive. She stood there a few minutes after they left and went back inside.


Somewhere else, Gato sat on his couch with a nearly broken arm supported by a wrap around his shoulders. He shouted in the phone he held in the other hand. "Quit wasting time and get to it already! I hired you to do a job! Are you even listening?"

From the other side of the line, someone stepped on the speaker and broke it, no longer hearing Gato's enraged voice.

The person who had stepped on it was none other than Zabuza, alive. He looked at the person in front of him. "Haku, are you ready?"

Haku, who happened to be, the 'tracker nin' team 7 had met before, nodded and they got on a boat towards the bridge that some men were working on…


Naruto opened his eyes warily and looked around, noticing that it was morning.

He wiped the drool down the side of his mouth and shot up, realizing something. He was supposed to go to the bridge today! "WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WAKE ME UP?" he shouted. He ran out of his room, with his pajamas and hat still on.

Tsunami was in the kitchen cleaning some dishes, and turned her head when she heard someone burst in the room from behind. She was relieved seeing the blonde boy looking well.

"Where is everybody?"

Tsunami smiled. "Your sensei wanted you to rest…"

He was just about ready to get his clothes on and go after them, but she stopped him somehow by continuing, "Don't worry, you're not alone. Kagome is here as well."

Naruto blinked a few times. He scratched the back of his neck confusingly. "Why didn't she go?"

He expected Kagome to be with them, since she wasn't the person who slows the team down.

Tsunami replied, "Same reason why you're here. He told me she hasn't slept since you all came, but only trained the whole time. He wanted her to rest so she wouldn't fall over while on the mission."

She turned her head back to the dishes with a smile. "You know, I never knew a beginner ninja like her would be so obsessed with training so much. She must really want to become stronger, you know…"

'Yeah…" Naruto mentally agreed. Since he and Kagome were the only two of the team here, he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to get to know her better. He left the kitchen and went to his room, dressing into his usual clothes.

"Maybe Kagome will actually talk with me today. I haven't gotten to know her that much since we became a team…" he said to himself as he put his jacket on.

He walked out of his room and went towards Kagome's.

He slid the door open, only to see the bed made and no one in the room. "Huh? Where'd she go?" Naruto looked around the house, trying to figure out where she went. Minutes passed, and he became aggravated.

Naruto went outside around the platform; in luck when he found her.

Kagome was sitting at the end of it with her back facing him and he walked over. "Huh?" Naruto stuttered when he saw Inari with her.

Kagome was watching Inari as he played with Kilala. Kilala mewed and ran up one of his shoulders, then to his other shoulder, then jumped on his head. Inari laughed as Kilala cuddled his hair on his head, which tickled him. Kilala then jumped off his head and into Kagome's lap, mewing a few times happily.

"Kagome, you're pet is so cute!" Inari said as he petted Kilala. Kagome replied with a small smile. "Thanks." she said before staring at the water.

Inari stared at her face, and then heard a creak behind him. Kagome must've heard as well, because they both turned their heads at the same time and saw Naruto standing there, with a dumbfounded expression.

"Kagome!" Naruto asked with a shout. Kagome nodded. Naruto looked back and forth between them two, which made her raise an eyebrow.

"Is there something wrong?" Kagome asked. Naruto shook his head and pointed at Inari, "Why are you with him! I thought you were still mad at him!"

Inari frowned slightly and Kagome shook her head, "I'm not mad at him. Besides, he got bored and he wanted to play with Kilala. He wanted me to come."

"Yeah." Inari said. Naruto shook his head and held it, trying to see past the awkwardness in his head.

"Inari!" Tsunami's voice called out. Inari stood up and said, "See you, Kagome!" and ran in the house.

Naruto stared at Inari's retreating form. He looked at Kagome and asked, "Wait, do you know that the others are gone?"

Kagome nodded.

"So why didn't you go after them?"

Kagome turned her head. Kagome stared at the sky. "I couldn't leave him or Tsunami alone. Even though it's our job to protect Tazuna, their lives are in danger as well since they're his family. Gato can send minions after them, and they can be killed without our protection from at least one of us."

Naruto realized something. She was right. If they had been gone, who would keep them safe? He felt stupid afterwards.

"Man…and I was just about to leave them…"

Kagome chuckled slightly. "You can go."

Naruto gazed out into the forest, longingly. He looked back at Kagome and said, "Nah. I just want to spend the day with you."

Unknown to him, her mood dropped about 10 degrees.

Naruto sat next to her. "Kagome, I know we haven't exactly gotten on a good start, but I want to get to know you right now."

Kagome lowered her head. She was unresponsive at first but then she said quietly, "What do you want to know about me…?"

Naruto was shocked. He brushed it off and started, "Kagome, I wanted to ask you something…."

He paused, unsure to say it. Kagome stared at the water, waiting for him to ask.

"Who's exactly... the person you want to kill?"

Kagome lifted her head slightly. Naruto thought of something. "You said it was 'none of our business' when Tazuna mentioned Gato. Is he…" he didn't continue, not sure how she'll respond. He was nervous that she might yell at him and storm away.

Kagome stared at her reflection in the water. Naruto stared at her troubled expression, patiently waiting for her answer.

"Yes…"

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. Kagome repeated quietly, "Yes, Naruto…he is the person I'm trying to kill."

Kagome looked at him with a slightly saddened expression. "Gato murdered my family…a long time ago."

Naruto felt sad for her after she said that. He knew she was suffering.

"Kagome...have you ever cried since then?"

Kagome stared at him and lowered her gaze. "No, I haven't….but the thing is…."

There was a pregnant pause. She said with her eyes hidden. "After I had found out my family died...my friends died not too long after….and I had cried then."

Naruto mouth was agape. She stared at the sky thoughtfully. "After that had happened, I didn't know what to do. My friends and family were dead. I then came to the dreaded truth: I was alone. There was...no one left with me, and I had to rely on myself to pull through...I had wanted to die right then and there, but something told me I should keep on going in life, even if I was alone."

Kagome hid the fact that she had died. Naruto wouldn't have understood if she had told him that.

Kagome really is a strong person, Naruto realized. She had been through so much, much more than he did, and yet…she stood so strong, with her head held high. She didn't let anything put her down, whether she was treated like she was unworthy or was insulted by Sakura or other people. Kagome only wanted to become stronger so she wouldn't have to rely on other people for protection.

"Crying won't help solve any problems...it just makes you feel like you're too scared to do anything on your own. I stopped crying since then and decided to make the best that I can by myself…"

She was more of a potential Hokage than he was.

Naruto was silent. So was Kagome. He stared at the water, at his own reflection.

"Kagome…you don't have to be alone."

Kagome didn't say anything. Naruto continued, "I'm just as alone as you are. Heck, my parents died and I didn't even know them. Even though the village treated me the same way as you…I had friends. That made me feel like I wasn't alone...that I had some people who accepted me."

Naruto looked back at her. "Kagome…all I want is to be your friend..."

Kagome's eyes widened slightly.

"You shouldn't keep yourself alone like this; it just won't make you feel complete. You know…we all care about you, even though you may not know it. Why do you think Sasuke-teme hangs around you? I mean, he's not exactly the type to be 'social'."

Kagome slowly turned her head at Naruto, who gave her a sad expression. She knew what he was saying was the truth, but she just wasn't so sure about herself anymore. Losing friends isn't something she can just forget, especially when they had died. She remembered how much it hurt...and she didn't want to go through that again. But yet...

She didn't know what to do. It was just too confusing for her.

She didn't respond but just got up and left towards the forest, leaving Naruto there.

Naruto looked sadly where she took off. 'Kagome-chan…'

He knew she needed a friend. He tried to be the one. But yet deep down, he knew that she was confused. She needed time.

Inari had listened from behind the door where he went in. He was going to help his mother, but when Naruto had asked her questions, he wanted to listen. 'Kagome really is strong…' Inari sadly thought to himself and he walked away.

Only time will heal all wounds…


"What happened here?" Tazuna cried as he and the rest of the team arrived, looking just as horrified. The men who were working on the bridge were lying on the ground, looking nearly dead.

Kakashi looked around, his eyes narrowed, 'Could it be…?'

Two people were at the other side of where they stood. Kakashi's eyes widened as he was able to make out the images as the mist surrounded them all.

'I knew he was still alive!' Kakashi thought to himself. He held a kunai in front of him, ready for battle. They all surrounded Tazuna and lowered their stances, ready for anything that might come.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi…" an all-too-familiar voice spoke in the mist.


"Inari! Can you help me out here!" Tsunami's voice called though the house.

What they all didn't know was that two men were outside the door, with strange tattoos and clothing. They both unsheathed the swords in their sheaths with their thumb, making a small 'click' sound.

Inari was washing his hands in the bathroom quickly so he could help his mother with whatever.

Then, he heard glass shattering and his mother's shrill cry outside. Inari's eyes widened and he quickly ran out; having a feeling that something bad was out there.

Tsunami was sitting against the wall with her hands over her head, trembling as she whimpered. The two men snickered.

Inari came in the room and gasped in fear. The men had heard and they looked back at him, their smirks widening.

"MOTHER!"

Tsunami gasped and yelled out, "INARI, RUN AWAY! NOW!"

"Should we bring him as well?" one of them asked. The other shook his head. "Gato asked for one hostage."

'No…' Inari thought, looking at his mother. Another part of his family was going to be taken away from him.

"Let's kill him, then!" the man who had asked said as he unsheathed his sword completely, with a maniacal smile on his face. Inari took a step back in fear.

"WAIT!" Tsunami's voice broke out. They all looked at her. Tsunami had a defiant look on her face as she rasped out, "Don't hurt my son."

Inari's eyes widened. He knew what she was doing.

"I'll do anything! Just don't hurt him." Tsunami said. They sheathed their swords and chuckled. "Looks like your mom came through for you." They walked over to Tsunami and tied her hands behind her back, then dragged her out of the room.

"I'm sorry, mom…" Inari choked out between hiccups. Inari slumped against the door frame in defeat, tears streaming down his face. He felt himself starting to cry. "I'm too weak! I can't even protect my mom…I'm scared…I don't want to die…" he whimpered out.

'Coward…' a voice called out in his mind. He shot his head up.

He heard Naruto's voice, 'Listen to yourself whining and complaining! You can cry all you want, but you're nothing but a coward!'

Another voice came in, this time Kakashi's. 'He just got so tired of crying and he wanted to do something instead of sit around and do nothing.

What Naruto said about being a coward…he's probably told himself that a thousand times.

Putting your life on the line is a choice you have to take for yourself…and Kagome was willing to accept that.'

Kagome's voice came after. 'Crying won't help solve any problems...it just makes you feel like you're too scared to do anything on your own. I stopped crying since then and decided to make the best that I can by myself…'

'Can…I be that strong too?' Inari thought to himself, lifting his tear-stained face up. He shot up and clenched his fists. "Father…" he said to himself. He wasn't scared to die anymore.

The two men dragged Tsunami and one of them said, "Keep walking!" Tsunami gritted her teeth but said nothing. She didn't want them to go after Inari.

"STOP!" a voice rang out.

Tsunami gasped and they all looked behind. "INARI!" Tsunami cried, seeing her son there.

"How cute, you came to save your mom!" One of them chuckled.

"GET AWAY FROM MY MOM!" Inari shouted and ran towards them.

"NO, INARI! DON'T HURT HIM!" Tsunami cried desperately. One of them slammed the hilt of their sword behind her neck. "Inari…" she mumbled before she passed out.

The two men unsheathed their swords and sliced them through the air.


Clones of Zabuza surrounded Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, and Tazuna.

One of them looked at Sasuke. "How pitiful…I see that one is still trembling…" he chuckled darkly. Sasuke tightened the grip on his kunai. Sasuke smirked and said, "I'm trembling….with excitement."

The clone in front of him swung his sword at Sasuke. In a flash, all the clones were sliced in half and they all turned to puddles of water, surrounding the team. Sasuke regained his landing.

"So you can see they were all water clones. Impressive. Looks like you have a rival, Haku." Zabuza's voice echoed. Zabuza and another person stepped from the mist in front of him.

"So it seems…" the boy next to him replied. They all recognized him to be the tracker nin they had met before.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. 'I suspected he couldn't have been a real tracker nin. He's just like Zabuza; a missing nin!'


The two men sheathed their swords.

Their eyes widened when they saw three pieces of a log instead of hitting the boy. "Substitution jutsu! And the woman! She's gone!"

The looked behind and saw Inari and Tsunami, but with another person laying the woman down. "Sorry to keep you waiting." The person said.

Inari gasped and cried in happiness, "Naruto! You're here!"

Naruto gave him a big grin. "Inari, you were awesome! I was able to get your mom away because you distracted them."

"It's one of those brats Tazuna hired. Let's get him!" One of the men said and they both unsheathed their swords and charged at Naruto.

They were stopped immediately and felt their swords held back. Naruto and Inari gasped as they saw the savior behind them. The two men also looked at their swords. Their swords were being held together by a greenish wire, which came from behind as they followed their eyes towards the person.

It was Kagome.

"Don't you dare hurt them…" Kagome spoke lowly.

Inari smiled, "Kagome!"

Kagome retracted her whip back from the swords, making them turn around and face in her direction. What Kagome shouted at them next surprised Naruto the most:

"Stay away from my friends!"

Naruto gave an emotional smile after getting past his shock. 'Kagome…you really?' Naruto thought to himself.

The men's eyes widened. "That's the Higurashi girl! Gato told us to kill her! Get her!" they charged at Kagome with their swords ready.

Kagome said calmly as she drew her arm back, "Naruto, cover Inari's eyes and don't look. You both don't need to see this."

Naruto knew where this was going and quickly grabbed Inari's head and turned the young boy's face towards his chest, closing his own eyes as well.

All Naruto heard was the sound of splattering and something being ripped. He opened an eye and nearly felt sick when he saw the bodies of the men sliced in chunks with blood everywhere. Then, the bodies' remains disintegrated with an acidic substance. He let go of Inari and stood up.

Kagome looked at Inari. "Inari…I can't tell you how proud I am of you." She said calmly.

Inari smiled and Naruto patted his head. "Looks like you're not a coward after all!" he said jokingly. Inari playfully punched his arm and they were both laughed.

Kagome called out, ignoring their laughter, "KILALA!"

Kilala came from between the boys and ran towards her. She transformed into her larger form and Kagome jumped on her back. Kagome looked at Naruto, "Let's go! We have to go help the others!"

Naruto nodded and said to Inari, "I can leave you in charge of things now. So good luck!" he said and gave a thumbs up, running to Kagome.

Naruto sat behind Kagome on Kilala. Kagome nodded at Inari as he waved goodbye and she shouted, "Let's go, Kilala!" Kilala roared and flew in the air, nearly making Naruto fall off in shock.

Inari heard Naruto's voice echo as they flew away, "KAGOME, HOW COME YOU DIDN'T TELL ME KILALA CAN FLY?"


"I was right…it was an act all along." Kakashi stated.

Zabuza smirked from behind the bandages wrapped around his face.

"So all of that was just a bunch of bull…" Tazuna commented.

Kakashi shook his head disappointingly, towards the boy. "Who does he think he's fooling with that mask?"

Sakura nodded in agreement. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I'm taking him out. Who does he think he's fooling, hiding behind that stupid mask?"

Sakura turned bubbly and exclaimed, "Sasuke, you're so cool!"

Kakashi sweatdropped. 'Wait…didn't I just say that?…she's hopeless…'

Zabuza grunted and Haku sighed from behind his mask. "It seems that boy has gotten stronger than the clones. He took them all out."

Zabuza said, "But it still gave us the first advantage…" he eyed the water surrounding them. "Use it."

Haku nodded and wind surrounded him as he twirled quickly in their direction.

A kunai and senbon needle clashed. Haku stood in front of Sasuke as they pressed against their weapons. They swung them at each other and they all avoided their opposing attacks.

Haku said, his voice smooth and sleek, as Sasuke and he clashed their weapons together again, "We just want the bridge builder. If you back down, I won't kill you."

Sasuke smirked. Haku continued calmly, "You won't be able to keep up with my speed. I've gained two key advantages."

"Yeah? What are they?" Sasuke challenged.

Sasuke's eyes widened when Haku started performing rapid hand signs with one hand.

"Secret jutsu! A thousand needles of death!" Haku said and water surrounded both of them. The water then turned to needles. Sasuke had fallen into a trap.

Sasuke raised one hand and closed his eyes. 'Focus the chakra…into my feet!'

An explosion erupted as the needles shot on target. Haku was more than surprised when Sasuke landed behind him. Haku dodged all the kunai's Sasuke threw at him.

They engaged in a weapon-to-weapon battle once again. Sasuke had an opening and was able to kick Haku in the face, sending him reeling away at Zabuza's feet.

'That can't be possible! No one is faster than Haku!" Zabuza thought with wide eyes.

"You made a mistake insulting these ninjas." Kakashi stated. "Don't underestimate them, especially the greatest ninja of us all: Kagome!"

Sakura's face turned to disbelief and Inner Sakura screamed out, 'THAT HIGURASHI BITCH? I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!'

Sasuke smirked. 'He's right. Kagome is the best. Even better than me. That's why I like her…'


Kagome sneezed and rubbed her nose. Naruto leaned to the side where he sat and said, "Inari told me that if you sneeze, it means someone is either thinking or talking about you."

Kagome turned her head towards him with an 'are-you-insane' look. "You actually believe that?"

Naruto's face turned comically dull and he looked away. "Maybe…"

Kagome rolled her eyes at his childish antics and focused ahead. 'I hope we're not too late…'


Zabuza chuckled. "Haku, we might be the ones that might die if we keep going like this. Don't hold back anymore." Haku stood up in front of him. "Right…" he said. A blue aura surrounded Haku.

Sasuke noticed something. 'The air…it's getting colder…' he thought, feeling his skin crawl as it started to chill.

Haku brought both his hands together with his index middle finger pointed out and crossing. Suddenly, the water behind and around Sasuke turned to tall mirrors of ice. Haku walked and absorbed into one of the mirrors. Haku's reflection showed up on all the mirrors.

Kakashi growled under his breath and rushed to help him, but Zabuza phased in front of him. "You're fighting against me, if that's the case."

From inside the ice dome, Haku's voice rang out, "I'll show you what speed really is."

Something sliced through Sasuke's sleeve, and another through the other sleeve. Then, a barrage of needles came at him from around, as he was unable to dodge them. One of them knocked the kunai from his hand.

"SASUKE!" Sakura cried out.

Haku was suddenly knocked out of his ice by an unsuspecting force and fell to the ground, the ice broken. Then, the barrage of needles stopped. Sasuke looked up.

A giant boomerang retreated and someone caught it from above with one hand.

"We hope we didn't miss out on anything!"

Kakashi smiled. Kagome and Naruto were both in the air on Kilala as Naruto waved at them with a smile.

"Naruto! Kagome, you're here!" Sakura cried happily, though not too thrilled about Kagome.

Naruto chuckled. Kagome stood up on Kilala's back in the air and dove down into the ice dome, landing in front of Sasuke. Kilala landed near the others with Naruto on her back and he jumped off, petting the oversized neko's head.

'It's that Kagome girl…' Zabuza and Haku thought at the same time.

"Zabuza…let me eliminate the girl my own way." Haku said. Zabuza gave Haku his consent with a nod.

Kagome drew her arm back. "HIRAKOTSU!" she yelled and threw the boomerang at Haku. Haku dodged the boomerang, which gave a chance for Sasuke to get up.

Haku landed in the dome and said calmly, "I know when others are defeated, and you're one of them. It's useless for you." He absorbed himself in the mirror behind him again, surprising Naruto and Kagome this time.

Kagome put her boomerang down and drew her bow and arrows from her bracelet, and readied an arrow. She looked at Haku's reflection in front of her. 'That must be the real one.'

"I'm behind you." Haku's voice rang out. Kagome and Sasuke's eyes widened as they looked behind to see Haku. 'Damn…he can teleport…'Kagome thought to herself.

Many reflections of Haku appeared in all the mirrors and they all held senbon needles. Kagome grunted and jumped into the air.

Because of this, all the needles shot at her and she was cut by every single one. Kagome was covered in some blood from her small cuts and she fell to the ground, dropping her bow and arrows next to her.

Sasuke cursed and ran to her side. Kagome gritted her teeth as she lifted her head up. 'These clones can actually hurt me…'

"Hey you two, I snuck in here to save you!" Naruto said as he appeared out of nowhere.

Kagome and Sasuke's expressions turned to comically stupid and Sasuke shouted, "You loser! What the hell are you doing! You're supposed to think before you move!"

Naruto shouted back at him, "What's your problem? You should be thanking me for coming here!"

"MORON! THINK! IF YOU'RE IN HERE AS WELL—" "I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR ATTITUDE—" They both started yelling at the same time and started bickering, ignoring the face that Haku was watching. Kagome sweatdropped at the stupidity of the situation.

Noticing Haku's attention had been averted, she reached for her bow and arrow. 'The only chance I've got is to destroy the mirrors. That will slow Haku down.'

Haku hadn't been paying attention and let his guard down for a moment. An arrow pierced into one of the mirrors, a pink light making it shatter into pieces. Naruto and Sasuke were snapped out of their bickering at that moment.

'What kind of chakra was that?' Everyone, even Haku, thought at the same time.

Kagome readied another arrow.

Haku said through the mirrors, "I don't want to kill you…" Kagome blinked. "If you continue…I won't have a choice…I fight for only who is precious to me."

His voice sounded desperate, underneath it sounding so simple. Kagome gritted her teeth and lowered her eyes, her hands shaking.

"What's the point in doing that?" she said. Haku looked at her from behind his mask. Kagome hissed out, "Fighting for someone who is important to you...it's not worth it. They won't appreciate what you've done, they'll only just leave and toss you away like trash once they're finished with you! It's pointless!"

Sasuke was speechless, listening to Kagome sound so emotional. Naruto sadly stared at her from behind.

"Dedicating yourself to someone is a waste of time!" Kagome shouted and released another arrow, it shattering another mirror.

Sasuke said to Naruto, "Naruto! Attack from behind the glass!" Naruto nodded and ran towards the opening Kagome had made by shattering the mirrors. Haku shot out of the glass in Naruto's direction.

Seeing an opportunity, Sasuke performed hand signs immediately, "Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" a ball of fire came from his mouth and towards Haku. Haku nearly got hit as he dodged it and he phased back into a mirror.

They tried it again, but Haku drew senbons this time and threw it at Sasuke, all of them piercing him. "Sasuke!" Naruto cried, and screamed in pain when he was pierced with senbons as well.

Kagome whipped her head behind her, gasping. 'Naruto! Sasuke!'

"You've exhausted my patience. No more games." Haku said and threw more senbons at Naruto and he fell. Sasuke and Kagome looked in his direction, horrified.

Sasuke crouched down next to him. "Can you get up?" he asked.

His only response was him sitting up slowly. Kagome called from the side. "Naruto, stay down! You're too exhausted! You're only giving him the advantage now!"

Naruto slumped to the ground in exhaustion. Sasuke yelled, "Get up! We have to work together!" Kagome gritted her teeth in frustration at Sasuke's stupidity. Naruto was too weak to move! Naruto nodded and got back up, despite his pain.

Kagome looked around. 'Naruto can't go on like this! I have to do something!' she thought as they all dodged the senbons. They were all pierced with senbons, which made Naruto and Sasuke slow down.

Kagome was loosing too much blood...

Kagome's body pulsed slightly, and she slightly gasped. Her demon self was threatening to break through. She tried holding it back, because she didn't know what might happen if it was let loose.

Then, Haku vanished and was not seen in any mirror. Sasuke and Naruto's eyes widened and Sasuke picked up one of the senbons. Then, suddenly, Naruto fell back on the ground, unconscious. Sasuke ran to his side and shook his shoulder, trying to wake him up.

Kagome cursed and thought. 'Naruto won't make it if this goes on! And I don't know what's going to happen if I-'

Kagome noticed Haku phasing through every mirror. Then, he drew a senbon in the mirror in front of Sasuke as he still tried waking Naruto up, not noticing.

Kagome knew what Haku was going to do.

Haku threw a hundred senbons in his direction and Kagome's eyes widened. She felt something deep in her chest.

The same feeling she felt before with Sasuke…

Now that all their lives were in danger, she understood what it was. She finally knew why she felt this way.

Kagome refrained the demon side in an instant, seeing the danger. She sped towards Sasuke using her chakra, coming to her final conclusion in mind,

'I care about Sasuke!'

A second later...

Blood splattered everywhere.

Someone was going to die...


Kakashi held his side painfully as blood oozed through his hand and onto the ground. He had gotten the wound from Zabuza's sword in protecting Tazuna and Sakura.

"You were late, Kakashi. Concerned for their punk's safety clouded your mind." Zabuza said with a smirk. He looked at the ice dome to the side. He felt a chakra and he chuckled. "It seems one of them will be breathing their last breath…"

Kakashi's eyes widened. 'WHAT?' he thought, horrified. He looked at the dome, then back at Zabuza, eyes narrowing.

"You'll be able to apologize to them when you see them in the next life! It's time to end this!" Zabuza yelled as he disappeared in the mist. Kakashi drew his kunai and charged in the direction of where he went. 'It is time to end this! Only he will fall!'


Sasuke was aware that something covered his face. It felt warm…and sticky. He realized it felt like…

'Blood…' he thought to himself. He looked at his arms and legs, but he saw no fatal wound, making him confused.

"Sasuke…you're so reckless…and I thought you never let your guard down…" someone said.

He saw Haku on the ground looking motionless from afar, another mirror shattered. He felt relieved but when he stared at what he saw in front in front of him….he nearly felt his heart stop.

(Naruto soundtrack: Sadness and Sorrow, plays right now.)

Kagome was a few feet in front of him, hunched over while pierced with senbons all over her body. Pierced on her arms…legs…chest,everywhere. Blood was sliding through each senbon and dripped onto the ground below her, a large puddle forming around her feet. Her bow was still held in one of her bloody hands.

'Why….?' Sasuke thought, as his body shook.

Kagome smirked even though Sasuke didn't see it. "I-I thought…the great Uchiha…was able to handle his own…but I was w-wrong…"

Kagome coughed blood and it stained her shirt and the ground, making Sasuke's heart clench at the sight. Kagome's breathings came out heavily as blood dripped down her wounds.

Unfortunately for them, Haku had gotten up. His face was turned to shock from behind his mask. Haku asked quietly, "Why?…Why did you take the blow that was meant for him…when you could've just countered and not had done that..?"

Kagome had put herself in front of Sasuke as she shot an arrow at Haku, which had made him get knocked out of the mirror as it shattered, but in the process…she had taken the fatal blow intended for Sasuke.

Kagome chuckled. Kagome gazed over her shoulder at Sasuke, and he felt himself shiver. Her eyes looked so lifeless and glazed over, as they had turned from her usual chocolate brown to grey. "It's your entire fault Sasuke..."

Kagome gazed back at Haku. "It's his f-fault…..I had…promised myself n-never to g-get close to a-anyone…ever again….but...h-he softened me...and...I-I started feeling so many e-emotions I hadn't felt…for a long time…"

Sasuke felt his body shake more and he gritted his teeth. He shot up and yelled, "You didn't have to do that! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING SO STUPID LIKE THAT?" he felt his eyes grow moist in frustration.

Kagome closed her eyes and smiled warmly to herself. 'He sounds….so much like…Inuyasha…'

"My body…j-just reacted out of….i-i-instinct…after all…I did promise myself…t-to protect anyone…with my l-life…" she said quietly.

Kagome's closed eyes shut tightly as an overwhelming pain shot through her and she fell backwards, feeling her legs give out and all her energy drained from her demeanor. "You're...so reckless…" she rasped as she fell.

Sasuke's eyes widened and he gasped. He didn't think about it, only reacted as he ran towards her falling form. He caught her from behind. He kneeled down and laid her across his lap, her head resting in the crook of his arm as it held her head, the other around her waist to hold her up. The bow had fallen from her grasp onto the ground next to her, and it had made a clattering sound.

So much of her blood stained his clothes already…

Kagome looked at him, her eyes starting to cloud over. She smiled. "You….made me do….something I-I haven't done for…..s-s-so…long…." Her eyes became half-lidded. Sasuke was panicking. She was dying in his arms, and he could do nothing but watch as she poured her heart out to him.

"You…made me…c-care...about others….e..even you…"

Sasuke would've blushed if not for this situation. She had just confessed she cared about him...while she was dying.

Kagome coughed a few times, more blood coming out, which nearly broke his heart. It was his fault…that she was like this. If only he had paid ATTENTION, she wouldn't be like this...

Kagome's smile faded. He felt her body shake in his arms. She choked out as she shook violently , "I….I can't believe...i-it …."

Her body racked when she shuddered as another wave of pain washed over. "G-Gato…was so c-close…so…close…and I c-couldn't e-even live…long enough….to t-take my revenge…on him…for my family…before I...got to s-s-see them…again …"

Sasuke felt his heart skip a beat. He knew what she meant was that she was going to die, and she knew it. Kagome gasped and shuddered once again and she looked at Sasuke. She shakily clutched his shirt in one of her small hands, and he couldn't help but notice how small she was in his arms like this…now that he was holding her for the first time…

Tears of blood streamed down her cheeks and onto the ground. "S-Sa..suke...p-please d-don't l-lose yourself…when you k-kill Itachi…" she pleaded. Sasuke had never heard her beg for anything, before.

"P..lease…don't…g-give...up…"

Sasuke's eyes widened. Kagome let out a shaky breath and she closed her eyes for her last time, her head sinking in his arm and her body slumping in his hold. Her hand released his shirt and it went limp.

Sasuke prayed this wasn't happening. Kagome can't be dead….she can't be dead! Kagome was the strongest person he knew!

Sasuke stared intently at her face, hoping she would move or respond and he wouldn't miss it. She was unresponsive and her chest didn't rise or fall, which made his heart drop.

Sasuke felt something wet on his cheeks.

Tears. He was crying.

The tears he had been holding back fully streamed down his face and he didn't even try to stop it. The only person he ever cared about after his parents died….was gone. Another one, taken away from him, yet again. This time…it felt much more painful than being pierced by thosedamned senbons.

Sasuke slowly pressed her face to the crook of his neck, and placed his chin on top of her head, the dam finally broken in his eyes. The tears fell down more rapidly and they dripped onto Kagome's face. He buried his face in her hair as he clutched her body tighter to him, shaking violently. He wouldn't care if Naruto woke up from behind and saw him in this state.

The one he loved, yes loved...not just a mere crush...had died in his arms.

Haku watched the display from where he stood. 'She had found a strength she didn't know she had…..it pushed herself to put herself in front of him and counter attack me….because of a certain person she cared about. She threw her life away….even though she knew it was a trap…just for him….she was a true ninja…'

Haku turned away and he said, "Is this the first time you've seen a friend die in battle? This...is part of what it means to be a ninja." He never considered the feelings Sasuke had for her as he said it, making it sound like it was something that ordinarily happens and should be forgotten. He absorbed himself back into a mirror, ready for attack.

Sasuke's back was turned toward Haku, unresponsive for a moment.

"Shut up..."

Haku stared at Sasuke's back, noticing then that his body was visibly shaking. "Shut...the hell up..." Sasuke growled quietly, his voice filled with pure malice. He did nothing, but only stared at Kagome's lifeless face. She looked so peaceful...

That's when he felt something snap and a new overwhelming power coursed through him, specifically, in his eyes.

'What?' Haku asked to himself, feeling the chakra coming from Sasuke grow abruptly.

At that moment Naruto had woken up, groggily, but was alive. He sat up supporting his hands behind him and he said, "Sasuke? What happened and wha-" his voice was broken when he saw Kagome's bloody body pierced with senbons in Sasuke's arms. Naruto's body shook. "I-is she..?." he croaked out, unable to finish his sentence.

Sasuke didn't respond to his question. Naruto could not see his eyes since his face was pressed against Kagome's head. Naruto noticed Sasuke was shaking.

Slowly, Sasuke raised his head and Naruto's eyes widened with a gasp at what he saw.

Sasuke's eyes were bloody red with two tomoes surrounding his pupils.

'The sharingan!' Naruto stared at his eyes, seeing the rage beneath the color of death. Sasuke also had tears down his cheeks, which shocked Naruto even more.

Sasuke bared his teeth in fury as he growled to Haku, "You...did this..."

His facial expression darkened and he snarled out with fury while still cradling Kagome's head as her body laid on the ground in front of him.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"


O_O DUN DUN DUN! Suspense!

Sasuke's real mad...watch out...

Thank you everyone who reviewed! I love you all and hope you all will continue to do so! I love your reviews, they make me happy! :3

Until then...

Sayonara!

NEW RULE:

Each Chapter less than 15 reviews = will not think about updating.