All arrangements had been made and everyone was in place as Takashi disguised as Mr. Makoto's son walked up to meet Mr. Makoto.
"Thanks for meeting me son." Makoto said.
"I always have time for you dad. What did you want to talk about?"
"How about the fact that you're not my son!" Makoto accused.
Kiba took the cue and stepped out transformed as Makoto's son. Just as Asuka had expected there was no surprise on his face but disgust and anger.
"So you finally, stopped looking at your company long enough to realize your son wasn't the same person eh?" Takashi said.
"I ought to kill you where you stand Takashi." Makoto growled.
"So you figured that out too did ya? Well I got news for ya. You couldn't take me on even if you wanted to."
Asuka lept from her hiding place and landed a good solid punch.
"He might not be able to but I guarantee we will." Asuka protested.
"And who the hell are you?" Takashi said getting back up.
"I'm Katsumi Nakamura's daughter."
"Oh you mean that bitch that thought she could take me out five years ago?"
Just then Hinata jumped out of hiding and landed so that Takashi was in range of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms attack. However Asuka's mouth dropped when she saw that Takashi had block every single blow.
"I'm twice your age sweet heart, do you really think I wouldn't know how to defend a gentle fist fighter?"
Hinata jumped back so that she wouldn't be vulnerable to attack.
"Kiba get Mr. Makoto out of here."
"Right, I'll be right back." Kiba said after undoing his transformation jutsu and headed off.
"Lets see how you like this." Asuka said as she weaved the appropriate hand signs. "Ice jutsu: Hailing Kunai!" Hundreds of kunai made of ice came hailing down upon Takashi. Takashi blocked with a rock dome.
"Ice style huh? Just like your mother. Well just like your mother you are going to die by my hands."
"We'll see about that."
Hinata lept in again with her Twin Lion Fists and managed to get a good punch and sent him flying. He of coarse still managed to land on his feet.
"You're going to have to do better than that." Takashi taunted as he took off.
"Where do you think you're going?" Asuka said as she ran after him.
As per discussion before hand, if Asuka was lead off by Takashi then Hinata was to go get Kiba.
Sure enough Asuka's suspicions had been correct.
"Do you know what this place is?" Takashi asked as he stopped at the top of the cliff.
"It's the place you killed my mother."
"Oh look who's done their homework." Takashi said condescendingly.
Takashi came at Asuka full force with taijutsu. Asuka had managed to duck just in time to avoid the punch but then wasn't quick enough to avoid the kick. Asuka slid along the ground causing her right side to get scratched up and landing her close to the edge of the cliff.
Then in perfect timing, just as Takashi was about to throw another punch Akamaru and Kiba jumped in with Fang over Fang. Asuka took the chance to stand up and get away from the edge.
"Perfect timing guys." Asuka praised.
"Are you alright?" Hinata asked.
"I'll be fine, but thanks for asking."
Asuka took up an offensive stance.
"Lets all attack at once. I think that's the only way we'll beat this guy."
"Alright lets do it." Kiba said jumping back to get some distance.
Asuka attacked with Hailing Kunai. Then Hinata attacked with a series of gentle fist strikes and finally Kiba launched another Fang over Fang. All of which Takashi dodged but now he was the one on the edge of the cliff.
"Now Hinata."
Hinata did an air palm straight into the ground causing the edge of the cliff to fall off taking Takashi with it.
Asuka took a deep breath. It's done. "Good job guys."
Suddenly, three kunai came flying through the air and knock Kiba, Akamaru, and Hinata to the ground. Asuka spun around and sure enough there was Takashi standing on the new edge of the cliff.
"Not bad kid, almost as good as your mother, but like your mother you underestimated me."
Takashi came running at Asuka.
Crap! I don't have the strength I need to dodge this in time!
Then out of nowhere a man with dark hair wielding a kusanagi sword wearing a black pants, a purple tie around his waist and white shirt with a symbol she recognized from the Leaf Village. When he appeared he sliced Takashi across the throat stopping him dead in a matter of seconds.
"Thank you Sasuke."
"You don't need to thank me. You were simply taking too long." he responded coolly.
"Why were you after him?"
"He stole information from Orochimaru."
"That explains a lot."
Sasuke began to leave.
"Wait Sasuke! Please come back to the Village. Naruto and Sakura want you back home."
"I can't. There is still something I have to do."
Then he left as quickly as he had arrived.
Asuka got up and kicked the body off the cliff. I think it's fitting your body fall where my mother's did. Asuka then tended to her teammates who had been knocked unconscious from hitting their heads when they fell. Asuka preformed the little first aid she knew and waited for help which showed up about an hour later.
Once they were back in the room that Makoto had for them Kiba and Hinata finally awoke. Asuka filled them in on everything that happened and that included Sasuke.
"I tried to get him to come back but he said there was something he had to do." Asuka said.
"If he wasn't going to come back with Naruto its not surprising that he didn't come back with us." Kiba said.
"Are you going to tell Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"Assuming Lady Tsunade says its okay then yes. Naruto has been a true friend for me, kind of like a brother, so I want to repay him the kindness he's shown me."
"I see your friends have awakened." Mr. Makoto said.
Asuka stood up and gave a respectful bow.
"I should be bowing to you. You are the one who brought down Takashi. Please rest here as long as you like."
"We'll stay tonight but then we should head back so these two can check into the hospital and make sure there are no other problems."
"I see. Well in that case I will let you get your rest."
The next day they thanked Mr. Makoto for his hospitality, Mr. Makoto said that Asuka was free to visit any time she liked.
"Oh before I forget, did anyone named Amaya come by?" Asuka asked.
"No I don't think so."
"Well if she does show up here, she is looking for information on my father. If you have anything please don't hesitate to share with her all you know."
"Consider it done." Mr. Makoto agreed.
Then Asuka and her team headed off. They took it a little easier but still made it back to the village in one day's time. Asuka insisted that they head straight to the hospital and she would make the report to Lady Tsunade before joining them.
Asuka gave the Hokage her full report.
"I see..."
"Lady Tsunade I would like to tell Naruto about my encounter with Sasuke. I think it would do Naruto good to know that Sasuke is still himself. Plus the skill I saw in Sasuke might spur him to continue training hard."
"Permission granted. You can tell him as soon as he gets back from his mission."
"Thank you Lady Tsunade."
"Also make sure you make it to the hospital to get check out."
"I will. I already sent the others there."
"You're free to go."
Asuka gave a respectful bow and went straight to the hospital.
Everyone only had surface injuries with no sign of poison so they were allowed to go home. Asuka went straight home and just slept.
When the sun woke Asuka the next morning her whole body ached. So she dressed and headed straight to the bath house. She felt much better as she sank into the water and let her body soak. I can't believe that Takashi is finally dead. I know it wasn't me that dealt the final blow but I can say that you have been avenged mom. It finally feels like you can rest in peace now.
"Asuka," Tenten called out as she entered the bath to soak.
"Oh hi Tenten, I didn't realize anyone else would actually be here this early." Asuka greeted.
"I just thought I would get an early morning soak before training."
"How are things with you and Lee?" Asuka asked.
"They're good. I couldn't be happier. Thanks again for all your help with that by the way."
"No problem."
"Does Neji know you're back yet? I bet he's eager to see you."
"Not yet. Are you training with him today?"
"Yupp you should join us." Tenten offered.
"I think I'll do that."
The two continued to talk about Lee and Neji, and Asuka told Tenten about her mission leaving out the part with Sasuke. Asuka wanted Naruto to be the first one to hear about that and she wanted him to hear it from her. Before too long the girls finished up their bath and headed out to meet Guy Sensei, Lee and Neji.
As they walked up, Asuka could see a bit of a smile on Neji's face so she smiled back.
Lee and Tenten trained together and Asuka and Neji trained together. Asuka poured her everything into training trying to improve her taijutsu so that if she ever met another Takashi that she would be able to match him move for move. The best part is that it was working.
"Lee I want you too train with Asuka now. She looks like she has the fire of youth burning brighter then I have ever seen it in her." Guy Sensei directed.
Once Asuka switched and was sparing with Lee she noticed that she was able to read his moves a little easier thanks to the fight she had on her mission. If only I had been stronger! I could have defeated him instead of Sasuke stepping in. New feelings of rage came out that Asuka didn't even know were there. Wasn't she just feeling like her mother could rest earlier this morning? If Sasuke hadn't stepped in I would have been dead. I need to push myself! I need to be better! I Need to be better! Tears were streaming down her face.
"I Need To Be Better!" Asuka shouted landing a punch on Lee's face sending him spinning.
Asuka fell to her knees and let the tears flow freely.
"Asuka, Are you alright?" Lee asked.
"What's wrong?" Neji asked as he came over.
All Asuka could do was cry. Her heart and mind just became overwhelmed with emotions.
Guy Sensei knelt down in front of her. "I may not know why you are crying but I can tell you this the only way to get better is by following our team motto. That is to 'be better than you were yesterday'. You do that and fight with the full power of youth then there is nothing that can stand in your way!" Guy Sensei encouraged.
Tears continued to fall but for some reason unknown to her Guy Sensei's words actually helped. After only a few more moments Asuka was able to wipe away her tears and stand back up in an offensive position at Lee.
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Guy Sensei enthused.
Asuka continued the half day long training despite her tears and body aches. Once they were finished, Asuka started heading to Ichiraku's.
"Asuka, wait!" Neji called out.
She waited till he caught up then they continued walking together.
"I'm worried about you. What was that all about?" Neji asked.
"The man that we were hired to kill on my last mission was the same man that killed my mother." Asuka explained simply.
"I see. So were you the one to kill him then?"
"No, someone else stepped in."
"Who stepped..."
"Someone I didn't even know was going to be there and if it wasn't for him I would be dead right now!" Asuka sped out.
Neji stayed quite and let Asuka work through her thoughts.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you, but I cant tell you yet who it was because there is someone else I need to tell first."
"I understand."
Finally, they reached Ichiraku Ramen and sat down.
"One bowl of the house ramen please." Asuka ordered.
"Going all out today Asuka?" came Naruto's voice.
Once Naruto sat down Asuka saw that one of his arms was bandaged up.
"Shouldn't you be in the hospital?" Neji scolded.
"Yeah but I was dying for some Ichiraku Ramen so I snuck out for some."
"Well in that case let me pick this one up Naruto." Asuka offered.
"For real?"
"Yeah," Asuka reaffirmed.
After they had been served their food and eaten about half, Asuka decided now was the best time.
"Naruto I need to tell you something."
"Hmm?" Naruto sounded with a mouthful of noodles.
"When I was on my mission... I ran into Sasuke."
Naruto almost died from choking on his noodles.
"I get now why you didn't want to tell me who saved your life earlier." Neji interjected.
"For Real? Was he okay? What was he doing there?"
Asuka retold the whole story to Naruto and Neji.
"As far as I could tell he was still himself. I did try to get him to come back with me but he said he still had something he had to do."
"Well I think its safe to say that you can be thankful he saved your life." Neji said.
"Absolutely! Sasuke must have known you were from the Leaf Village and lent you a hand!" Naruto said optimistically.
"I am grateful but I'm also mad at myself for not being stronger." Asuka admitted.
"Well then you'll just have to train hard till you are stronger!" Naruto said with a smile.
"Alright then Naruto, as soon as your out of the hospital you and I are going to train." Asuka said.
"Sounds like a plan to me." Naruto said.
"In the mean time why don't we do some more taijutsu training?" Neji asked Asuka.
"I would love that."
Naruto and Asuka finished up their noodles, Asuka paid the bill and Naruto went back to the hospital.
Asuka and Neji went back to the training grounds, Asuka set up her winter training and they trained till it was dark.
Asuka could barely walk by the time they got to her door. Neji helped her in to bed but Asuka had a death grip on him which was surprising given how tired she was. So Neji got pulled into the bed too and was stuck. The last thing Asuka remembered clearly before passing out was Neji's gentle lips kissing her forehead.