Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of the Naruto characters used in this fic. They all belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I only own any original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.

Chapter 8: Left Behind

A/N: I'm actually surprised that I'm updating again. Maybe it's because it's so close to the weekend? Ah, well. I guess it doesn't matter. The point is, I'm updating, and having fun writing.

Now that my mission is over for the day, I have nothing to do, Rock Lee thought as he trudged through the streets of Konoha. Guy Sensei has just been called out on another mission, and Tenten and Neji are busy as well. And that leaves me with no one to train with. Lee sighed kicking a pebble, staring up at the clouds as he walked. The clouds look so peaceful. It is no wonder Shikamaru finds them to be so fascinating. They are a beautiful part of nature, indeed.

"Yeah, yeah! Keep it coming, old man!" a familiar voice cried from the ramen shack down the street. "Oh, yeah! That's the stuff! Miso ramen, here I come!"

Lee jumped up to see over the heads of the citizens of Konoha, trying to see if he'd heard the person he'd thought he'd heard. "Oh! Naruto!" Lee called, catching sight of his friend's orange jumpsuit. "It has been a long time!" he shouted, weaving in and out of the people on the streets of Konoha as he neared the ramen shack. "Where have you been?"

Naruto grinned, ramen noodles hanging out of his mouth. "Nnnph mmh mm pff mshn!" the blond said with a grin. "Mmph nndph dmmf hmmph bffl!"

Lee took a seat beside Naruto, one massive eyebrow raised in confusion at Naruto's inaudible explanation. "Umm.... I am sorry, Naruto," Lee said. "I did not understand a word you just said. Perhaps I should wait until you have finished with your ramen?"

The blond shinobi nodded, scarfing the noodles down as if he were taking place in an eating contest of sorts. Once the bowl had been drained of its contents, Naruto let loose a loud burp and sighed, leaning happily on the counter top. "Man, that sure was good!" he said, grinning at the owner of the bar.

"Now then," Lee said, trying to get Naruto's attention. "What were you saying before?"

Naruto shot up straight, leaning on the bar with his elbow as he grinned at his friend. "Oh, yeah! Well, Granny Tsunade sent us on this awesome mission! I mean, you wouldn't believe where I got to go, Bushy Brow! Straight to the Land of Water! I'll tell ya, it's amazing there! Well, at least when you can actually see through the mist and all. Anyway, we were called out to protect the Mizukage!"

Lee's eyes widened. "You are serious? You were sent to protect the Mizukage? Naruto, that is amazing! And quite an honor, of course!"

"Oh, yeah!" Naruto said, pumping a fist in the air. "But when we got there, we ran into some big trouble. Remember that Zabuza guy I told you about a while back? Well, it turns out... he's still around! And he was the one trying to kill the Mizukage! So, when he showed up, I blasted him with my Rasengan, and he flew right through the wall! It was amazing, Bushy Brow! I wish you could have been there!"

The Blue Beast nodded. "Yes. I would have liked to see you in action, Naruto. You are truly a splendid ninja!" Lee grinned, giving Naruto a thumbs-up. "By the way, Naruto... What happened to the Mizukage? Did he survive?"

Naruto hug his head. "Nah... This girl, who was working with Zabuza, took him out... At least, that's what Kakashi Sensei told me... And Sakura got hurt, too! Gah!" Naruto smacked himself in the head. "I'm such a loser!"

Lee sighed, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "That is not true, Naruto," he said. "I have heard from Ino that Sakura is awake now. We should go see her together! What do you say, Naruto? Are you up for it?"

The spunky blond shot out of his seat, tossed his money to the ramen shop owner, and dragged Lee down the street. "Wa-hoo! Right on!" He shouted, earning several weird looks from passersby. "Maybe, if I get her some flowers, Sakura will finally go on a date with me when she gets out of the hospital! Oh, yeah! Let's do it!"

Tears ran down Lee's face as Naruto dragged him to the flower shop. "If Sakura does not accept my gift, then she will make fun of my hair and eyebrows... forever!"

0 -- 0 0 -- 0 0 -- 0

Sasuke glowered at the demon, a smirk on his face. "Hmph. You're a fool," he scoffed. "I take orders from no one."

"Not so, Sasuke," Madara said as he entered the room. "From this moment onward, you're to do whatever Zabuza tells you to. Do I make myself clear?"

The young Uchiha's eyes flared with rage, once again. He darted across the room, grabbing Madara by his Akatsuki cloak. "Never," he hissed, eyes wide. "Never again will I sit back and take orders! I'm here now because I made that mistake before! It's because of Konoha and their damned regulations that my parents and brother are dead! Don't you ever ask me to take orders like a pawn! I won't do it!"

Madara chuckled, drawing Sasuke closer, staring into the boy's eyes. "Forgive me, Sasuke," he replied. "But I don't think I asked you to do anything... I gave you an order. And no, Sasuke... It is not because of Konoha that Itachi is dead... It's all because of you. It was you, the genius of the Uchiha, who chose to live a life of hatred and revenge. And because of that, you are here today. Do you understand? It is nobody's fault but your own."

Zabuza sneered, grabbing Sasuke by the shirt and throwing him to the floor. "Enough of the idle chatter," he barked, glancing at Madara. "We have work to do." He turned back to Sasuke. "And you, boy, are going to do exactly as I tell you... Unless you'd like for your precious ego to be cut down to size."

"I'd like to see you try," Sasuke snapped, kicking the Demon in the gut as he flipped him over into the wall. Sasuke jumped to his feet, katana at the ready, as his Sharingan began to take hold once again. "You can't defeat me," he laughed. "I'm the savior who shall redeem the Uchiha clan... with the blood of Konoha!"

The Demon cringed as he got to his feet. He hadn't expected one of Kakashi's brats to have become so powerful. But the boy wouldn't have gotten this far had he foolishly remained in Konoha, playing ninja with his little friends. The Uchiha brat had only grown stronger while wrapped within Orochimaru's twisted coils. But regardless of who had trained him, the boy would be unable to bring the Demon to his knees.

Even in death.

"You've no idea how long I've waited for this," Sasuke sneered as blood flowed from his eyes. "From the moment we realized you'd made your escape, I knew, deep in my gut, that I'd have the pleasure of cutting you down one day. And it seems..." The Uchiha lunged with his katana, extending the range of his attack with his Chidori Spear, catching the Demon in the shoulder."...Today is that day."

Zabuza smirked at the boy. "You still don't get it, do you? I'm still out of your league, boy!" Zabuza, who had been a water clone the whole time, vanished, spreading water around Sasuke as the boy initiated his Chidori Current. The current ran through the water, sending sparks of blue lightning flying through the air.

Just you wait, you bastard, Sasuke mused, placing the sparks under control. I'll have you soon enough. And when I do, your head will--

"What the hell is going on?" Kisame demanded, knocking down the door with his Samehada. Despite having been in his lodgings on the opposite side of the hideout, Kisame had still managed to hear all the ruckus. The wooden door fell into a large puddle, sending the water up into Kisame's face. "Shit!"

Kaoru laughed, rolling on the floor as she pointed at Kisame. "What a loser!"

The older shinobi scowled, wiping the water away with the sleeve of his Akatsuki cloak. "Watch it, pipsqueak," he warned, flashing his teeth as he slammed Samehada into the floor.

"Th-That's weird..." Kaoru muttered to herself, crouching down with her back to Kisame as Midori and Yuta, having sensed danger, steadily backed away. "I thought that that walking tray of sushi over there called me a 'pipsqueak....'"

Kisame flinched. Who the hell was this brat calling sushi? He'd turn her into fucking sushi if she said that again. "I'm not your lunch, you stupid little brat," Kisame growled, pulling his blade from the floorboards and swinging it over his shoulder. "You're a fool if you're trying to pick a fight with me. I'll shred your pathetic little body until it's reduced to nothing more than a puddle of blood!"

Yuta and Midori, who had decided to take shelter behind Jugo, stared with wide eyes as Kaoru jump-kicked Kisame in the chest, screaming wildly. "I'm not short, so shut your pie hole, ya stupid sardine! I'll kick your ass, cut you up, stuff you in a tuna can, and feed you to the cats for lunch!"

"Calm down, brat!" Zabuza growled, cutting in before Kaoru to launch a full-out assault. The Demon rolled his eyes as Kaoru continued to ignore him, thrashing about as he held her by the back of her shirt. "So help me, I'll throw cut you up, throw you in a ditch and bury you if you don't cut it out!"

Suigetsu laughed, "And everyone tells me I'm the freak."

"Shut up," Karin chimed, kicking Suigetsu in the shin. "You are a freak, so don't get a big head, stupid."

"Well," Madara said, approaching Zabuza, "Now that everyone's here, I might as well hand out the assignments. Sasuke's team will go after the Eight-Tails, as planned, and you'll be assisting in the capture of the Nine-Tails. Once we have Naruto Uzumaki in our hands, our invasion of Konoha should be a bit simpler." He turned to Kisame, who was still shaking with rage. "Kisame, show our guests to their chambers, and supply them with whatever they may need."

Kisame nodded and headed back through the damaged doorway. "Let's just get this over with."

0 -- 0 0 -- 0 0 -- 0

"Sakura!" Naruto shouted, running down the hallways of the hospital to reach his friend's room. "Sakura! Sakura, I'm here!"

The blond shinobi flung open the door to Sakura's room, bouquet of flowers in hand as Lee, surprisingly, stumbled into the room in exhaustion. Naruto had dragged him to the flower shop, only to leave him behind in his hurry to visit Sakura. The dark-haired shinobi gasped, collapsing on the floor, trying to avoid damaging the flowers and fruit basket he had brought for his dear Sakura to enjoy. He hoped, with all his heart, that she would appreciate his devotion to her.

"Lee! Naruto!" Sakura said, her face lighting up as her friends arrived.

Approaching her bedside, Naruto placed the flowers on the bed, grabbing Sakura in a tight hug. "Sakura! I'm sorry! Please, please, forgive me! I never meant to let that monster hurt you!"

"I-It's okay, Naruto. Really, it is," Sakura laughed, trying to get her excited friend to release her so she could breathe. "It was my own fault to begin with. So... um... Naruto, could you let go... Please? You're kind of choking me."

The blond laughed, relinquishing his stranglehold on Sakura. He grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh heh! Sorry, 'bout that, Sakura," he laughed, picking up the flowers. "Here," he said, handing them to her. "I know how much you like flowers and all, so I stopped by the flower shop and bought you these. I figured they might make your stay here a little better."

Sakura smiled, graciously accepting the bouquet from Naruto. "Thank you, Naruto," she said, blushing slightly. "That's really... sweet."

Maybe Naruto really was growing up. At least, it certainly seemed that way. Although he still had the nasty habit of competing with Konohamaru over whose "Sexy Jutsus" were "better," Naruto had really made some improvements that Sakura had noticed since he'd returned from his training with Jiraya. She grinned, glancing at the mass of colorful flowers she held in her hands. Such a gesture of kindness would have been unthinkable from the Naruto she had known during their Academy days. But, as of late, her teammate had been showing genuine signs of maturity.

She giggled to herself, remembering all the times when Naruto had bragged about being "the most skilled genin" on their team, and claiming he was going to be the next Hokage. Maybe e didn't try to act superior anymore because... Sasuke was gone.

That's right, she thought, glancing at Naruto as he helped Lee to his feet. You and Sasuke couldn't agree on anything when they first put the three of us together. You guys would fight over the stupidest things... and you'd always be the one to start those fights, Naruto. But... you've really changed these past three years, haven't you? You've gotten stronger, taller... and you've even grown up a little bit. And now you're risking life and limb to bring Sasuke home. At this rate, Naruto, I'm sure you'll become Hokage one day. You'll make a great Hokage.

"Hey, Sakura... Is something wrong?" Naruto asked, having noticed she was staring at him.

Sakura simply grinned. "Not really. I was just thinking... Remember when you came back to Konoha, Naruto? How you wanted to take me out for ramen? Well, as soon as I get out of here.... we'll go on that date. Okay?"

Lee's face dropped as Naruto began cheering and bouncing around the room with shouts of excitement.

Naruto turned to Sakura, giving her a thumbs- up. "All right!" he proclaimed with a grin. "It's a date!"

"What about me, Sakura?" Lee said hurriedly, bumping Naruto out of the way as he handed Sakura the fruit basket and flowers he had brought. "Would you like to see a movie with me, or perhaps have some lunch beneath the cherry blossom trees? I would be very happy to treat you to anything your heart desires!"

Please, please, say "yes!" Lee pleaded in silence. If Sakura does not accept my invitation, I shall do 500 laps around the village on my hands... at midnight!

Lee's heart pounded like a jackhammer within his chest, and he began to sweat slightly. From the very moment he had set eyes upon Sakura, he had been madly in love with her. And seeing how she had accepted Naruto's invitation to go out on a date, he found now as good a time as any to ask the same. He only hoped that she would accept his invitation as well. And if she didn't, he wouldn't give up. He would wait for her until the end of time.

"I'd... Like that very much, Lee," she said. "Thank you."

Naruto scowled as Lee felt his spirits soar above the clouds. "Yeah, well... My date comes first, Bushy Brow," the blond said, his arms crossed over his chest. He glanced at Sakura. "And when I bring Sasuke home, Team 7 can hang out again. Just like old times. You, me, Sasuke, and Kakashi Sensei. Right, Sakura?"

Sakura nodded. "Yeah."

Thank you... Naruto...

0 -- 0 0 -- 0 0 -- 0

"Ooh! This is nice," Kaoru said with a grin as she entered her designated chamber. "I think I can manage staying in here." Kaoru estimated the room to be about the size of one of the classrooms back at the Ninja Academy. The walls of the room, like the rest of the hideout, had been firmly constructed of wood, and a large tree branch came up through the center of the floor. A large bed and nightstand sat opposite the closet that sat to the right of the door.

The tomboy ninja grinned wider, sensing Kisame's bitter glare on the back of her head. "May I help you?" she said mockingly as she turned to face him.

Kisame snorted, tossing her an Akatsuki cloak. "Don't get too cozy, brat. You still have me to deal with."

"Oh, of course!" Kaoru replied, pulling the cloak over her clothes. "I wouldn't ever dream of fighting someone like you! I mean, who knows what kind of fishy jutsu you have up your sleeve."

Zabuza, who stood behind Kisame, rolled his eyes, glancing at the Kaoru, who was happily inspecting the cloak. "You've got to be fucking kidding," he said. "There's no way in hell I'm wearing something as ridiculous as that."

Kisame turned with a grin. "So sorry," he said, throwing a cloak at the Demon as he walked out the door to stand in the hallway. "Standard procedure, I'm afraid."

"Hmph. 'Standard procedure' my ass," the Demon muttered, following Kisame down the hall. "I really don't see how anyone can consider flamboyant idiots like you to be a threat. If you're going to wear something as stupid as this, you might as well paint a fucking target on yourself."

The older shinobi glanced over his shoulder at Zabuza. "Well, this is a surprise," he said, stopping in front of a room at the end of the hallway. "I never thought I'd see the day when my endearing little follower would refuse to do something I asked. Tell me... what happened to the eager little boy that used to follow me around the village, hmm? Surely he's still around?"

Zabuza gave Kisame a shove. "Shut up," he sneered. "As far as I'm concerned, that child died years ago. The boy you remember is one who forever stained the mists of our village with fear, loathing, and blood. The child you speak of never truly existed, so keep your mouth shut."

"Talk all you want, Zabuza," Kisame laughed, opening the door. "But nothing you say can change who and what you were before you became a demon."

The Demon shrugged, pushing past Kisame to get into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. From outside the room, Zabuza could hear Kisame laughing as he headed for his own lodgings. He scowled, trembling with anger, slamming a fist against the door.

He's a fool, he thought, crossing the room and sitting on the bed. He leaned his blade against the wall, allowing himself to fall backwards onto the mattress. The Demon scowled, staring up at the ceiling, bitterly replaying Kisame's words in his mind. No such child ever lived. And even if he had, he would have died when the rest of them did... the night I stained the mist with blood...

A loud knock on the door snapped him out of his reverie. Zabuza groaned, turning his back on the door. "What now?" he barked as the door opened.

"Hey," Suigetsu said, closing the door behind him. "Well, you're certainly not the man you were ten years ago, are you?" The young shinobi's eyes lit up as they caught sight of the Demon's blade. He swiftly crossed the room, running a hand down the sharp edge of the massive weapon. "And how could I ever forget this?"

Zabuza shot to his feet, grabbing Suigetsu by the throat. "Paws off, brat," he said curtly. "Now, if you've something to say, then say it. I'm not feeling too cheery at the moment, so make it fast." Almost as quickly as he had grabbed the boy, Zabuza let him drop to the floor with a thud.

Suigetsu grimaced, rubbing his throat. "Relax," he said. "I only came to talk to you."

"Lucky me," Zabuza said sarcastically, sitting back on the bed. "Don't you have someone else to bother? Like Kisame, for instance?"

The teen shook his head. "Nah. You know as well as I do that Kisame won't listen to a damn thing I have to say. Besides, he's busy with Mysterio," he said, referring to Madara. "You know, that masked guy's a real mystery. Wearing that damned mask all the time... Makes ya wonder what the hell he's hiding."

"I couldn't care less about Madara's secrets. Unlike you, he knows when to keep his mouth shut. He's far from being open about things... And you," Zabuza said, pushing Suigetsu to the floor, "could learn a thing or two from him about keeping quiet. You ought to look into that."

Suigetsu grimaced, making the same face he used to when Zabuza would leave him and his brother, Mangetsu, behind. The two boys had been obsessed with the Demon from the moment they'd laid eyes on him. And nothing he'd ever said to them could satisfy their obsession. They'd follow him throughout the village and, on occasion, even when he was deployed.

"You two always were a pain in the ass," Zabuza said. "Always following me around like a couple of starving dogs waiting for the kill... You never did know when to take 'no' for an answer. Following me on missions and the like... forcing me to turn back and dump your sorry hides back in the village... never giving me a moment's peace."

The white-haired shinobi smirked, showing off his teeth. "What can I say? You were our idol, after all. And to be honest, I don't even remember how we got started... following you around the way we did. It just kind of... happened. We really didn't have anyone else but each other after our folks died."

At least you remember, Zabuza thought. And for the first time in a long time, he caught himself struggling to remember his parents' faces for a moment before giving in. He decided that they didn't really matter at this point. He'd barely been old enough to talk when they'd died, anyway.

"From the looks of it, everyone here has that in common, at least," Suigetsu said. "I mean, each of us has been left alone at one point or another. Maybe that's why we're all here now."

The Demon smirked. "Shut up... you stupid boy."

Ta-dah! Chapter 8 is completed. For the record, chapter 9 will have a lot more humor in it. XD I'm gonna get started right away! Thanks for the read, guys. Please don't forget to review. ;)