Encounter with an Uchiha, Sarafu's Deepest Secret!

What else was I to do? That Jerk, Jin(Did I ever mention that I hate the guy?) found out about "him". I had to do what he said. I couldn't risk everybody knowing. So I did as Jin asked. "Call me Young Master Jin," he said, "and give me all your sweets. I'm hungry."

I protested, telling him that eating candy, so early, wasn't a good idea, but he wouldn't have it. So I did. He "allowed" me to go to sleep after that, but I only got to sleep for 3 hours. He woke me up again, and early in the morning, too. "Go get me some berries. I want a fruit crepe for breakfast, today."

"But I don't even know how to make one of those!" I said.

"I don't care! Now, go, or I'll wake everyone up right now and tell them about y-"

"Fine! Fine! I'll get your stupid berries!"

I trudged off through the forest. There didn't seem to be any berries growing around here. I knelt down, and examined the ground. No, it was impossible for berries to grow here. The ground was to hard, and unfertile. Only sturdy trees and brush could grow here. Oh, well. At least I could get sometime away from that annoying brat. I walked into a clearing near a cliff. I heard something. I flicked around and saw a giant dragon heading my way! Just before it was about to hit the ground, the dragon swooped up and a person dropped down from the dragon. But before their feet barely touched the ground they were next to me in a second.

"So you are the Sarafu that forced my team to leave without me. Well, I will show just how big of a mistake you made even if it costs you your life," she said with an evil grin. She grabbed the collar of my shirt with her left hand and held me up above the ground.

Woah! She's strong! She threw me against the cliff edge and then rushed up to me with her scythe. It was an odd scythe. It looked entirely out of ice and had a weird shape to it. She put the blade close to my neck. "So, what do you have to say in your defense?" she sneered at me, just as Lee, TenTen, and Neji were running up.

"Hinako! Stop!" they all yelled at her, but all she did was move her posture into an even deadlier position. However, just when she was about to kill me, Neji jumped in the way and her sycthe stopped just an inch from his neck.

"Neji get out of the way. I do not wish to hurt you. It is Sarafu who I wish to hurt!" She said through clenched teeth.

"Hinako, it is our mission to guide her safely to her village, and see if it is in peril, and to help it if it is. I will not allow you to harm her untill after the mission, however when the mission is over I could care less what happens to her."

I glared at him for that last comment. Jerk! He was a bit nicer by the waterfall. Now, he was so cold. If I die, I swear he would be one of the first people I would haunt. But I think this Hinako saw my glare at him, and gave me an even nastier glare, which seemed to say, "Keep looking at him like that and I'll cut your head off, right here, right now." I smiled nervously, and she pulled her scythe away. She turned to Neji and said, "I promise that as long as the mission is going, I shall not harm Kichino Sarafu, however I also promise that when the mission is over I will fight her and win." My hand twitched. ALRIGHT! BRING IT ON! DAMMIT!

After that his eyes softened and he explained to her that they had tried to wake her, but she would not wake, so they had to leave her and carry out the mission. When she heard the explanation, she calmed down. After that, Neji began to talk to me and assuring me that my safety was assured, for the time being. I wasn't paying any attention. I was staring at Hinako, who had been staring at Neji the whole time. She began to blush. She then realized this, and quickly turned away. Then she said, "Well, shall we go? Daylight is being wasted".

We thus, proceeded on our journey. While walking, I heard some whispers. I looked over my shoulder a little. Jin was talking to Hinako in very hushed tones. I heard the words, "turtle" and "secret" and I realized that he was telling my secret. My anger rose. Apparantly, Jin had found a new partner in torturing me with. Then he said, "See, I'll show you." He looked at me and yelled, "Hey, Sarafu!"

I turned on him with rage. "DON'T TALK TO ME SO FAMILIARLY!"

He glared. "I think you forget who you're speaking to." Everyone else began to look our direction to see what the commotion was. I began to get nervous. "Ok, fine. What do you want?"

"I want you to walk the rest of the way on your hands."

"WHAT!"

"You heard me. Do it, or else I'll-"

"Fine! Fine! Sheesh!"

Now everyone must have guessed that Jin had control over me. I wanted them to help me, but it wasn't worth the risk of exposing my secret. I got on my hands and lifted my feet into the air. I balanced myself, and began to take the first step with my hand, when suddenly, Lee was next to me, on his hands as well. "Wow! This is a great idea! We can train, while we walk." Thank you, Lee! I'll remember this!

"Alright!" Gai exclaimed. "I'll do it as well." He got on his hands and began walking ahead of us. Then, he stopped and turned his head back. "Why don't you join us?" he asked the other while smiling a sparkling smile.

"Uh, no," was all they said, and Neji added, "I don't need to train this much." So we all continued on.

After a while, we were in Rock Country and were making good progress. We'd be to Mt. Hokkaido by the morrow, but it seems Jin and Hinako would have their fun along the way. They made me do all kinds of things for them: wash their clothes, buy them food, carry them on my back, fire their baths, and carry their packs, all while on my hands. Lee tried to help, but Hinako kept making him go away. I already could tell that everyone had realized that Jin was black-mailing me, but only Lee was nice enough to do anything about it. Jerks! I could only rely on Lee. Once we got into my territory, the tables would turn.

Next morning, we reached the base of Mt. Hokkaido. We would have made great progress, if it weren't for the fact that a terrible blizzard had struck the mountain. We were forced to find shelter in a cave, but before I could get settled, Jin came up to me with, yet, another task, "Go find some sticks to light a fire, and don't return till you've brought some."

I was tired, and didn't feel like fighting with him. "Fine, Young Master Jin."

He smirked.

I walked out of the cave and into the blizzard. No one realized I had left, except for Jin, because they were too busy setting up camp, and trying to find some food for dinner. The winds were strong. I barely made any progress at all. The snow began to pile up to my knees. I was so cold! Of course, I knew there was no way to find any sticks around here. Very few trees ever grew in the Rock Country, let alone Mt. Hokkaido. But what else was I to do? I wish I was strong enough to talk back. I gave a bitter chuckle. Man, was I pathetic. I was being controlled by a little 8 year old kid. What kind of Chuunin was I? I am such a weakling. I wish I could be like Lee. Heck, maybe even Hinako was better than me. I'm so weak. If it wasn't for the dragon, I wouldn't be able to do any of this on my own.

As I was walking the ground under me suddenly gave way, and I fell down the side of the mountain. "AAAAAAAHH!" Hurry! Use your Chakra, to stop your fall! I screamed at myself. I concentrated my chakra towards my feet and I began to slow down, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I hit the ground hard. But the 2 feet of snow help to soften the blow. Never the less, I had broken my arm. The blizzard blew on relentlessly. A tear trickled from my eyes. Now I felt like crap. I was worn out, mentally and physically. I wished Gaara was here. He would make me get up (more than likely, by force.) When I was with Gaara, I seemed to be more energetic and felt like I was at the peak of life. I smiled. I really do hope to see him again. Next time I see him, I would give him a hug so tight, his ribs would crack. I laughed at the thought, but then stopped for the pain in my arm wasn't slackening. I could feel it and the ice around me wasn't numbing it. But the rest of my body was numb.

"Sarafu!"

What? Who's that calling my name? I got up into a sitting postition with some difficulties. My arm really hurt. I looked around, but the blizzard was so thick I couldn't see anything. Suddenly, Lee appeared through the snow! "Lee! What are you doing out here!" I gasped.

"I could ask you the same question. Why in the world did you do what Jin said?"

I looked away in shame. I had always tried to act tough in front of everyone, but now Lee saw me in such a weakened state.

"Come on," he said, "We need to get back to the cave."

I tried to stand up, but the numbness of my legs and the pain in my arm kept me down. I began to cry. "Lee, could you please not look at me, right now?" I asked, turning away my head.

"Why not?" he asked back.

I sniffled. "Because...I don't want you to see me cry."

His face softened into an expression of pity. "Okay." Without looking at my face, he lifted my unbroken arm around his shoulder, and helped me up. He carried me. After a period of silence he asked me what Jin was using to blackmail me. I didn't answer. He would hear soon enough.

Why was I taking orders from some snot-nosed punk anyway? I'm better than this! How could I let myself become so degraded like this?

I was beginning to get pumped up. Yeah! I'm a Kichino! I'm made of better stuff than this. I pulled my arm away from Lee and stood up on my own. Why was I letting Lee carry me like this? My legs were perfectly fine. It was only my arm that was broken. I began to walk by myself, and at a faster rate than Lee. I don't need his pity. How dare I let our clan be pitied! I'm going to show everyone that I'm not someone to push around. I'm not weak! I don't care if I use the dragon's power. I have acheived power of my own. I am myself. I will make everyone acknowledge that.

I had reached our cave and stormed in. Everyone looked up at me. "Sarafu?" I ignored everyone else, and went straight to Jin. I picked him up by the neck with my good arm. He began to yell at me in protest, but I screamed, "SHUT UP!"

He quieted down and stared at me with fear in his eyes.

"IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU REALIZED WHO THE REAL BOSS AROUND HERE IS! YOU ARE A YOUNG BRAT WHO NO ONE WANTED AND I TOOK YOU IN. IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU SHOWED SOME RESPECT! I'M TIRED OF YOU ORDERING ME ABOUT LIKE YOU OWN ANYTHING! I'M GONNA MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE, YOU LITTLE PUNK!" I felt steam rush out of my nostrils. I threw him down on the ground hard.

"Sarafu!" everyone stared at me in astonishment.

Jin got back up. "But-t," he stuttered. "I-I'll tell-"

"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" I yelled. I went to my pack and brought out a stuffed turtle. I held it out for everyone to see. "This is Puchii, my stuffed turtle. I've had him since I was about 3. He was given to me by a very special friend, and I'm not ashamed of him. There!"

There was an awkward silence after that. Everyone stared at me, and I stood there with my blood still rushing. "Ooookkaaaay." Hinako broke the silence. "That was a weird confession."

I turned on her feircly. "I'm not finished with you either! I never even met you, and you were already trying to chop my head off. I didn't do anything to you. It's your own damn fault if you slept in."

A vein popped out of her head. "What!" she growled.

I opened the breast pocket to my jacket and took out a scroll. "I will show you," I bit my thumb and unraveled the scroll, while wiping my blood on it, "NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE THE KICHINO CLAN!"

...to be continued.

A/N: I feel a fight coming on.