Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Chapter II

I could hear the rain pour down on the roof far above me. It was late and though I've had a tiring day, I could not find sleep. My eyes were wide open and my mind was going around in circles.

I had once more tried to track down the boy I had met earlier this week, Haku, just to see if he was alright. But not one person in the village had seen or heard about him which had gotten me worried.
I bit the inside of my lip. I had seen the look in his eyes, this boy hardly trusted anyone.
I had probably been an exception because he had little to no choice.

I sigh while cursing this war again. Young children should be running around freely and without worry.
As of lately, the atmosphere in the village had become even more grim. It was becoming dangerous to trust anyone, ever since the rumor of Kiragakure joining forces with Otogakure people were becoming more and more suspicious and skeptical of one another. Especially strangers.
And the security that had come with our latest high-visitor wasn't helping either. They pretty much roughened anyone up who dared to behave too friendly or acted out. Just having fun was a crime now.

I can't help but think of my dear patient. The old man was healing up nicely but behaving like spoiled child. His rotten personality got under my skin even when he was not in the room. I scream into my pillow and then turn around and face the window. I left the curtains slightly open.
Tonight was a cloudy grey night but the moon did appear so often. I stare at it, wondering if the silence of the night would linger until the morning. I've been having an eerie feeling all day, something was going to happen soon. The councilor's visit was a hazard to the village's safety.

As if one had been waiting on my thoughts, I hear an explosion. It lights up the sky and I immediately hear screams erupt. I jump up and see a building on fire. I open the window and see that it is the mansion in the middle of the village preserved for guest of high class. I suddenly note how happy I am that the councilor declined my offer to stay there.

I hope they leave the hospital in one peace…

Without wasting another thought, I turn around and decide to get dressed and go help. I grab the doorknob and as I am about to go to the bathroom I see an ANBU-agent standing in the middle of the stairs.

I hadn't even heard him come in!

I slightly gape at him before questioning his presence in my home. 'W-what are you doing here? Why are you here?'
I curse at myself for not having any sort of weapon on me but then again I've never been assaulted nor have I been confronted by anyone in my own home. I hesitantly wait for him to answer while planning one using the escape ladder I had outside the window of my spare room should he try to harm me.

'Were under attack, you need to come with us. Now.'

His cold voice sounded oddly familiar and I remember now that it was him who had spoken up against me for being rude towards his superior. He behaves like a ANBU cliché, using harsh tones and only showing a cold personality that matched with his white, apathic mask.
'I was going—'He has been hurt, your attendance is required immediately.'
'Is anyone else hurt—'That doesn't concern us, you are to come with me, now!'
Without wasting another word he grabbed me by my wrist and dragged me down stairs. I complain and utter that I'm not appropriately dressed but he ignores everything I say to him.
'H-hey!'
'None of those things matter, the councilor's life is at stake! Don't you understand that?' he angrily shouts into my ear. Having the upper hand by simply having more strength then me, I can tell this guy is quite exceptional even for ANBU, he grabs me by the waist and before I know it my feet are swiftly touching the high grass of the lands surrounding my house. His speed is incredible and I can hardly register where we are at times.

Before I know it, I'm at gate of the village where people are running around in chaos. The fire is huge and firemen are doing their best to extinguish the fire with the help of some of the villagers.
'Several fires had taken place as a distraction before the explosion,' the ANBU-agent informs me.

'Is everyone alright?' I ask one of the women of the village, knowing she's always informed about everything. She slightly nods. She has a strange look in her eyes that I can't quite decipher.
I turn my head slightly, knowing the man behind me might be the reason why she was looking so fearsome. I can't help but start to get angry, getting annoyed that these people had no conscious or feeling inside of their bones.

'What did you do?' I simply ask him, this time facing him. His passive brown eyes have a hint of boredom. He shrugs before grabbing me up again and jumping up to one of the lower rooftops. We are headed towards the hospital now and I see smoke coming out of the windows and the front door.
'Oh, no…' I mutter horrified, thinking of the absolute worst scenario.
'Just smoke bombs to keep the enemy guessing.'
'Do you have any idea what that means for patients with breathing-problems? This includes your councilor, you know!'
I'm starting to get aggravated with how he ignores everything I throw at him, including my punches. I get dragged right into the smoke and he covers my mouth up to keep me quiet. I almost want to purposely scream out, just to spite him but I decided to stay smart…and quiet.

He can move around with ease in the mist of darkness. For a moment I feel stupid for not knowing where exactly we are and that this man, this complete stranger, knows his way better around then I do. This hospital is my home.

I note we are on the second floor, more specifically heading towards the maternity corner. For the moment we had no patients there, so we had decided to give that free space to young children who had been injured during the first explosion earlier this week.
'We moved those kids out,' he says when noticing my confusion at seeing the three rooms empty. The fourth room is closed and I hear him knock a specific amount of time and using a certain pacing when doing so.
'You put him here? Where did those kids go?' I ask him with pure revulsion.
'They're fine,' he snaps at me, getting annoyed. He let out a hiss.
'What is it?' I ask him, letting my anger dwell on to the pit of my stomach so I could keep my head clear. It wasn't the time to act rebellious, this guy wasn't going to let me go as long as I didn't take care of the Councilor.
'Someone should be answering…' he mutters. I can tell he's thinking of something and in a blur I get thrown onto the floor. 'Hide.' His command is loud and clear and he kicks in the door.
'I'm not some harmless girl!' I scream at him but I get ignored. I gape at the sight I see in the room.
Blood.
So much blood.
Everywhere.

The floor has a red liquid carpet. The walls have splatters of red on them and I see lifeless bodies on the floor. The entire squad has been taken out.
I hear a noise at my left, scared out of my mind, I turn around and note I have little to nothing on me to protect myself. Not even a scalpel.
To my surprise it is not a killer or another agent, it's a young boy. His eyes are wide and I can tell he is petrified.

'Haku,' I whisper, crawling towards him. I push him back into the room he had come out of and told him to stay there until it was completely silence. 'Hide in that closet if you must but please stay here,' I whisper to him. I had been wanting to see him again but to imagine our next meeting would be here, out of all places! Thankfully, he nods and shakily obeys my orders by staying put.

'Get in here!'

I get surprised by the command but I jump up and even close the door behind me, hoping Haku would stay out of harm. I run into the room and the only remaining agent throws me a small medic bag ANBU has on them at all times. I try not to overthink what I am seeing and go straight towards my patient, the sole person whose life matters the most.

I hate myself for just thinking that.

I rush next to him and see how his throat is half slit. I rush to stop the bleeding. For moment it is just me alone in this once pure white room and this old man, who is so close to dying. I never thought I'd see any type of emotion in his eyes but I can tell he feels that death is near. If I fail, he will die.
Somehow, with the little supplies that I have, I manage to keep him breathing. Unfortunately I cannot do anything for the rest of the squad. I look around and see not shred of feeling is shown by the man who had been leading this squad. He simply stands tall before me, waiting for back-up to show up. Or worse, the assassin.
I realize I've never been so close to danger before and I worriedly look at the door where I had hidden Haku in. I hoped he stayed quiet like I had told him. I look up at the man before me and think of the fact he would show no mercy, not even towards young child like Haku.

Three more men suddenly appear. I hold on to the old man as if he was a weak harmless child, fearful that they are a part of this controlled attack but when the ANBU-agent coolly addresses them I realize they are on our side. They decide to move the councilor and halt the chase after the assassin.
'He got injured pretty badly, knowing Kirigakure he is one his own. He'll collapse eventually.'
'He'll bleed to death just like our comrades.'
'None of that matters, I want you to proceed looking for him until you find his cold body,' the man simply reacts. They look a bit stunned by his command but then obey his orders.
'Rabbit,' he called out. Of course the one with the rabbit-mask reacted to the codename.
'You move them,' pointing at myself and the councilor. 'To a safe place.'
'You'll be joining us?' the other one asks. He nods, saying he wouldn't let the bastard get away. Two of them move out while "Rabbit" and, well let's call him "Raccoon", help me get the councilor up.
'Careful,' I instruct them. 'We really can't move too far…'
'In the middle of this hallway there is a nurse post, we'll settle there,' Raccoon suggests. I nod and so does Rabbit.

'I,' I hesitantly start when moving out of the room. I just can't ignore those poor men on the floor.
'I'm afraid you can't do anything for them,' Raccoon says coolly before I can speak my mind. 'It's too late.'
I nod, though disapprovingly. This doesn't feel right. Being locked up with this old man while the rest of the village is in chaos does not feel right. I try explaining it to them several times but they ignore my pleas and my arguments. Only he matters.

His condition has been stable for a few hours now and I want to leave so badly.
It must be early morning by now and I have yet to get out of this hellhole and help people who are in true need. I stare at the old rumpled face of the man who now looks weak and pitiful. Though my distain for him should've crumbled by now I hate him with just as much passion as I did before. He was the cause of the chaos this small, insignificant as he called it, village.
A part of me was hoping his condition would give in and I could pronounce him dead. After all I had two witnesses with me to clarify I had nothing to do with it.
I stare at the men's back, wondering if they had any idea of what I was thinking. I then shake my head, clearing myself of these delusional thoughts I was having. I was tired, angry and frustrated, I told myself.

I didn't want him to die, I just wanted to leave.

'Is there any possible way I can leave? People are in need of medical attention! He's been stable for three hours now!' I speak up with a shaken voice, tired of saying the same things over and over again.
'Our commander has yet to return, we can't give you permission without his consent.'
'Listen, your guy might've ended up dead in battle and I could be just sitting here wasting time!' I yell back finally unleashing my frustration. 'Maybe to you these people's lives don't matter, but they matter to me!'
Rabbit turned around the second I had spoken up but only now Raccoon too acknowledges my plea by turning around. They both stare at each other for a minute, making me ponder if they had telepathic powers of some sorts.

'We can't take risks…' Rabbit mutters to me while shaking his head.
'He's fine!' I yell at them again, pointing at the weak miserable old man.
'Because you are here to aid him when needed,' Raccoon answers. 'I know you don't see it that way but if he dies a lot more lives will end then the ones ending tonight. I don't think there will be as much wounded as you think there will be. The fire was just to frazzle this place up and to get us running from our posts. If we let you leave, or if even we leave for that matter, we are giving into a vital point of the assassin's plan.'
I gape at him for a moment.
'You are aware of this, are you not? Did you not graduate from the same academy as we? Then you should know this.'
I feel a blush creep onto my cheeks, I don't know if I'm embarrassed of getting more angry. I feel a weird combination of both, which sparks my temper up even more. I jump out of my chair and take deep breath. I stare at my reflection in glass door for a moment. I don't look like the respectable doctor people make me out to be. This man and his men have downgraded not only my status but myself as a person.
'I am aware,' I coolly answer him. 'But you can't expect me to think like a shinobi when I've made the decisions to become a doctor a long time ago. It's my duty to save people's lives. Seemingly unimportant ones included.' I walk up to him. 'Now get out of my way, I've had it with you people!'

'Doctor Haruno—'You dragged me in here in a matter of minutes earlier this evening, so if something happens you are capable of doing that again, are you not?' I ask him coldly. 'Or did they not teach you emergency procedures during your training?'

He tilted his head, obviously a little offended but at the same time intrigued at how well I had thrown that right back into his face. I push him out of the way and tell him that at the end of the day, neither of them nor their commander had a say over my doing, perhaps the Councilor did but he was sound asleep.
'If he wakes, you can come for me and I'll check up on him again,' I mumble as I walk out.
'Where are you going?' Rabbit asks me when he sees me going back towards the room we had found the near-death Councilor.

'I'm not exactly dresses appropriately, I know my colleague keeps a spare coat in her personal area at the end of this hall. I'm going to go and get it before anyone else sees me like this.' Referring to my nightgown of which they had seen plenty of. I feel myself blush out of embarrassment again.

It was a flat out lie, I could've just gotten to my own room and grab the one there but this way I could go and check if Haku was alright. I had hoped he gotten out during the fight earlier but I deemed it to be almost impossible since these guys were so well trained. Not even cat could get pass them unnoticed.

'Shouldn't one of us go with her?' Rabbit spoke up. 'Just to make sure she doesn't get hurt?'
'I can get a lab coat on my own!' I yell out angrily.
'I meant in the village!' he retorted, obviously getting annoyed with me. 'If you get killed—'people actually don't kill doctors as quickly as you think!' I answer with a huff.

I hear them talk but ignore what is being said and make my way to the room where I had hid Haku. I quietly open the door, not wanting to alarm him.

'Haku?' I whisper quietly. I turn the switch on but nothing happens. I note that our electricity is off. Probably due one of the fires.
It had been hours and I didn't even know if everyone got out safely, if people got hurt, if the children on this floor where now somewhere safe. Sure this floor was always occupied by other cases because of the small amount of room we had but still… I was aware of a case with severe asthma-problems being on this floor. Did the little girl get out safely?

I let out a sigh, feeling extremely tired. I grab the coat and button it up. 'Haku?' I speak up louder and search through the room.
'That boy…' I mutter to myself. 'Is a lot quicker and braver then I give him credit for.' I smirk, feeling proud of him.

He got out just fine without my help!

As I walk back towards the nurse-post I see multiple shadows in the emergency light of the room. I feel my heartbeat rise up. To my surprise I see familiar face I hadn't expected.
'Lord Inui,' I say when seeing the young man. He was the Councilor's right hand. A bit less brass and a lot more polite then his superior.

I always got kind of insecure and clumsily when I was around him. I blamed his bright blue eyes for that.

The moment our eyes meet, I feel stupid for thinking that. He looked saddened and worried.
'He's alright,' I immediately say when seeing him, knowing he was one of the few who truly cared for the old man. I recall him calling the Councilor his mentor. Though he didn't always agree with everything he stood for, Inui had told me his hard work had inspired him.

I'm sure the Counselor had achieved some things no other man had but I couldn't help but feel spite for him. As a doctor I was a good actor, meaning I could hide my feelings quite well. Especially towards someone like Inui who is emotionally invested. I knew the ANBU didn't care as much as they claimed, should the Councilor fall from his position, the man following his footsteps would be their next greatest care. Not the old man.

'I know, they told me about you wanting to see how the village is doing,' Inui said. 'I understand how you feel, you should go outside but I just wanted to inform you that we were aware of the threat, so most of the villagers did stay out of harm's way. We evacuated them just in time.'
'I just want to go and see few people…' I mutter, his words have a calming effect on me. I just hoped there were no unexpected causalities.
'I will stay here for now,' he said while gesturing to the men behind him. If his team was staying here too, the two men would no longer be on their own and the chance of another attack would be slim.
'It's been hours now,' I speak my thoughts out loud. 'I'm pretty sure the assassin is long gone…'
'Let's hope so,' Inui nods. 'Or rather let's hope our commander got him.'
I nod, not sure how I should feel about that thought.

I let it pass me and walked out the room feeling relieved. I felt peace entering my body the further I walk away from them. I take the stairs and I had thought I'd be in a much greater hurry but I can't make me feet move any faster than they are. I'm starting to hope this attack will make them leave.

I already hate this era we live in but they had just made it unbearable. I could never unseen what I had just witnessed. As I walk in the main room of our hospital I see how fire has caused great damage and I can't help but sigh. I want to cry. When will this tragedy ever end?

The main doors are still wide open and smoke is still lingering in the air. As I walk out I hear glass crack underneath my feet. At least I had been able to put my shoes on. As I walk out the room I notice that smoke is no longer surrounding me but mist is.

I quirk up an eyebrow. What a night, not even a clear morning to ease us into the day.

As I move into the streets I see silhouettes of people I know. Inui had not lied, most people had been evacuated in time. I double-check some of the injured and I try to calm some people down. No matter what procedures had been passed, innocent people did get hurt in the midst of things. It hurt my soul when I saw irreversible scars on their bodies, immobile body parts that would never restore.
Sometimes I wondered if surviving was worth it…

I wished the moon would leave us now and the sun would come and warm us up but it stay cold and dead silent.

At least that is how it was for a brief matter of minutes.

I then hear a ruckus from within the hospital and people around me start to scream in terror, afraid that the attack was far from over. I turn around and without thinking I run back inside, not knowing what I would be finding this time. Unlike last time my feet are moving so fast my head hardly can keep up. I'm thinking a thousand thoughts. I had promised Inui he wouldn't get harmed!

That old man… I bite my lip. Damn it, it will be all on me if he dies today!

As I'm about to run in the hall I get pulled into a corridor. 'Stay here,' a heavy breath whispers in my ear.
It's the commander. I stare at him with wide eyes and then notice he is bleeding. I try to reach out but he snaps my wrist before my hand can touch the wound.
'He's here but he's wounded,' he explains to me. 'If he sees you, you will be his next target.'
I freeze up when realizing he is talking about the bloodthirsty assassin. I hear screams at the end of the hall. Screams men should not make. Pleas for mercy.

'Stay here and don't move until I call out for you.'
I want to speak up but he hushes me, while limping away. I stay put not because I want to but because I can't find the strength to move.

The longest few minutes pass by. I hear myself breath and feel my heart pulse through my entire body.

'Haruno!' I hear Inui's voice and get startled. Without a thought this time, I dare to move. As I'm about to move I see large figure appear from behind the corridor of where I was hiding. I gape at him and realize too late who this person is. I press my back to the wall. He's wearing a typical mask and has an ominous aura surrounding him. I try to swallow my fear but get locked into place.

His dark eyes bore into mine for a split second before he crashes through a window and escapes.
The commander arrives but is a little too late to follow. I see him contemplate for moment as if he should follow him or not. He's holding his hand on a new wound on his leg. He's bleeding heavily. I walk towards him to aid him, finally recovering from the strange encounter I had just experience.

'No,' he hisses in pain. For once, he sounded a lot less harsher than usual. 'The Councilor… Lord Inui,' he huffed. He then fell down on his knees. 'They need you.'
I nod and turn around rushing my way towards them. As I pass the wounded agents I note how the incredible tall man must have a great amount of power to take them out all so easily. To my horror I see that both Inui and the Councilor are severely wounded.

Everything becomes blur from that point out. I rush and rush but eventually cease actions to save the Councilor, having to accept that I'm too late. I remember having an argument with the wounded commander over whose life to save. Reluctantly he agreed with me that there was little I could do for the Councilor, who would never fully recover and be able to properly exert his function. So I save Inui, who has been stabbed in the back and stomach.

I eventually get aided by my fellow doctors and we rush to save as many lives as we can. I keep my eye on Inui. And the commander, who has been remarkable quiet throughout the medical chaos. I glance at the sheet of the Councilor, finding it a bit unethical that he was in the same room as the wounded agents. But apparently it was protocol for them to bring his body home safely.

'I'm sorry,' I tell the commander. 'I should've stayed…' I mutter.
The commander looks up from my hands meeting my eyes. I avert them, feeling foolish. I was so taking in by the fact that I disliked the councilor that I had overthrown protocols. If I had stayed…
'He would've killed you,' he quietly tells me. 'And then we would've lost two great men of value.' He nods at Inui who could be seen through a window in the door. 'Just don't let him die.'
I nod while sealing his wounds up. I let out a another sigh while trying to fight the urge to cry.
'Take some rest, go home…' He whispers to me. I look up startled.
'I trust your colleagues and so does Lord Inui,' he states giving me a firm nod in approval. 'It's well pass the afternoon. Everything is stable, you can go home for now.'
I nod gratefully and feel as if the experience has somewhat changed us. I don't hate him half as much as I did earlier this day.

There had been one thing bothering me all this time and I have yet to word it. I had to say it now or else…
'Commander,' I start, not knowing what else to call him. 'The Councilor's wound…'
'Looks like the work of a scalpel…' he says harshly. I widen my eyes fearing he'd assume the worst, which would be countering everything he had just said. I could feel my heart race with anxiety.
'I swear no one in this hospital or myself for that matter—'it was an inside job,' he says halting me.
'I know you couldn't have possible done so,' he continues on. 'The truth is you leaving was something they had not counted on. Rabbit has mysteriously disappeared and Raccoon is still out so I can't question him. It seems everything is pointing in Rabbit's direction as being the co-accomplisher of this highly ranked assignment…'
'That doesn't make any sense! Then why would he wait for me to leave?' I ask him with a frown, not understanding what he was thinking.
'It doesn't add up,' he agrees making a clicking noise with his tongue. 'I don't think I was supposed live or you were supposed to get back so quickly…'

It stayed quiet between us for a while, letting our thoughts and these new discovered facts sink in.

'Either way, I don't think he'll get far,' he then states, talking about the assassin. 'Keep your eye out for seemingly innocent people asking for your help, they might be working for the wounded assassin. I can't imagine him getting very far with his legs like that.'

I can only nod while thinking back at our brief meeting, I only now note how he too was indeed limping. He had several stab wounds on his back… Was he a superhuman? Most people would've collapsed with such wounds. He was so tall and his eyes… I felt a shiver run down my spine.

'They call him the Demon of the Hidden Mist,' the commander informs me, as if knowing I had been pulled back into my memory of the man. 'He's a very dangerous man.'

I nod, already aware of the threat he was still forming. As long as he wasn't dead, I wouldn't be sleeping well.
And that was a thought I never thought I would think.

'Rabbit,' I start hesitantly, not sure how I was supposed to put this. What is was about to say, was such a delicate matter.
'How does he look?' I eventually flat out ask.
'Average looking guy,' he snickers when hearing my question. 'He's ANBU, he knows better than to walk around without a mask. I doubt Rabbit is actually a part of this inside job. I doubt he's even still alive.'
'I don't understand…' I mutter, not understanding how it could turn out the way it did. 'Lord Inui… When I left the Councilor was in a stable good condition—'Hence why we know it is was an inside job, there is no way the tables could've turned around so quickly… That demon of the mist has a partner… a lousy rat,' he spat, balling his fists in anger.

'Stay on your guard,' he then added. I feel the tension rise between us and I'm suddenly wary of the fact that this ordeal is long from over. 'They might come for you.'
'The assassins?' I ask confused. He shakes his head, his eyes go from mine to the white sheet next to us, hiding the figure of the Councilor. My breath staggers. I then look up to meet his dark eyes and ponder who's face is hidden underneath this mask. I can't imagine him being handsome or kind-looking.
Yet for some reason I know that from here on out, he was my sole companion.

Our superior's superiors… Without this guy backing me up, I'm going to get the blame.

When I hear some people talk I look behind me, noticing Inui is awake.

'Should I go talk to him?' I ask the commander. He simply nods. 'Ask him what happened.'

Inui tells me after I left he and his team had been outside the nurse-post simply because the room was too small for all of them to fit in comfortable. The tall demon-man had returned and fought his team. He had run inside to aid the councilor and alarm the two remaining agent but when he entered the room one of them was severely wounded and the other one had disappeared.
The Councilor had already bled to dead long before his entrance.
I didn't pressure the poor man into talking too much, it was obvious he was traumatized. I did however tell everything I had just heard to the commander, who seemed upset by the news.

This meant Rabbit was indeed a traitor.

I felt strange.

Did this mean he had wanted to spare my life? Or was I a pawn on the chessboard that had yet to be played?

It send worry and fear deeper into my heart.

Feeling overly tired, I decide to finally go home. My feet hurt and the sun was already going back under as I was taking the long walk home. Every step ached but I needed the fresh air. I took in the grey sky and the cold breeze. I tried to settle all my thoughts and keep calm listening to the movements of the wind hitting the trees.

This morning everything had changed, which was nothing new under the horizon of war. It just had never hit so close to me. I sigh when realizing my position, that I had firmly planted on neutral ground, had been jeopardize.

What if they decided to place the blame on me?

I shouldn't have left…

I drop my shoulders and let out a strangled cry. I need to clean up and get some rest or else I'll drive myself crazy. I grab the key hidden underneath one of the garden ornaments at my front door and unlock it. It's quiet. Except for my leaky faucet, happily splashing into the sink. For some reason the sun decided to show up for the last hour of the day and lighten up the room. I let the rays of sun warm me up and decided I needed a nice cup of hot steaming tea before anything else.

As I enjoy slurping from the hot cup I suddenly hear a creaking noise coming from upstairs. I lift an eyebrow. Oh!
 I probably left a window open!
I curse at myself, I was going to have mosquitoes and other unwelcoming bugs in my bedroom now!

Hurryingly getting out of my seat, I rush upstairs. I open my bedroom door but find that the window is closed and everything is just how I left it. Yet for some reason I now have an eerie feeling come over me.
The sun disappears behind the dark clouds again and I warily move around in my ow house.

I hear someone on the attic.

I quickly grab the first thing I can find, which is nothing more than a copper lamp I don't use anymore.

'R-Rabbit?' I stutter, feeling stupid for using the agents codename.

Please don't let it be him…

'Doctor Haruno?'

His light sweet voice makes me lower my weapon and let out a heavy sigh. 'Haku!'

I need a moment to let my heart rest and calm down. I place my hand on my heart and throw the lamp on the ground. The young boy gives me small smile, understanding that he had scared me.

'I'm sorry,' he apologizes.

'What are you doing here?' I ask when I can talk again. 'Are you alright?' I then ask worriedly.

He nods, giving me a reassuring smile. He does look alright, not mark on him this time.

'I need your help,' he then says using a more serious tone.

My heart falters a little, hoping for the best. Please don't let his friend be dead… I make a small prayer, I've witnessed this scene far too many times. And for the moment my hands were tied, I could do so little for him!

'My friend… he's wounded,' he instead says.
I'm relieved to hear that but… 'He hasn't healed up yet?' I then ask confused.
He shakes his head and then grabs me by the hand and drags me upstairs on to the shamble ladder that leads to the attic.
'I don't understand,' I start. 'Did he get hurt again?'
'Yes…' he answers lightly.
'How?' I ask confused watching him climb up beyond the ledge of the wooden planks.

'A man hurt him.'

I climb up behind him and as I straighten myself my eyes widen by the sight before me.

He's holding on to a wound on his ribs while bleeding all over the old mattress I had stacked up here in case I would ever have more than one a visitor who wanted stay for the night. I gape at the man. He gives me a lazy, arrogant smirk.

I see a white mask lying on the ground.

I've seen it before.

Only in a flash though but I would never forget it.

'This is my friend Zabuza Momochi,' Haku says.
I stare at the young boy for a brief moment before looking back at the man. Not believing what my eyes were seeing.

This man was the Demon of the Hidden Mist. He was the one passing me by and jumping through the window as if it was made out of thin air. I could see glass shreds sticking in his forearms.

'You said you would help,' Haku says to me with pleading eyes.

I can't find the words to speak.

I'm sorry for the wait, I hope this long chapter makes up for it! I unfortunately will not be able to update as frequently as I'd like but you can expect long chapters in return. I hope you liked this chapter :)

Don't forget to leave a comment/review!

Thanks for reading!