Kind of late, but here it is!

To all the lovely people that reviewed: Thank you and I love you :* Your reviews mean the world to me, guys. Thank you.

So, I got all your suggestions for her elements. And counted the votes. So yes, here it is. Read on to find out.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Really, I don't.

Those-carrots: I received your latest review telling me to update, just I was getting ready to post this chapter! MAGIC. Hahaha.

Chapter 19- The Haruno Lake And It's Residents

"This place is kinda creepy."

"Admit it. Bugs freak you out, dobe."

"They do not. This place is weird, okay?" Naruto snapped at his best friend. "I haven't even seen some of these plants and insects before." They were walking through a thick forest at the moment, slowly but surely heading towards the lake, according to Yui. Naruto gaped as a large insect that looked like a cross between a dragon fly and a frog flew by. Sasuke was carrying a big picnic basket, while Naruto carried a soft, pale blue and big picnic blanket.

Sakura sighed, and Kakashi chuckled embarrassedly. Yui smirked somewhat evilly and turned to comment. "Oh, of course you haven't. Since these particular species have been bred around the lake, they're a lot more dangerous than your average plants and animals."

Naruto and Sasuke froze and looked at each other. Kenji smiled and shook his head, directing his green eyes towards Yui reproachfully. "Don't scare the young lads, Lady Yui. They're new to the Haruno Clan grounds after all," he said softly, before turning to reassure the frozen blond and wary looking Uchiha. "Don't worry, they're harmless. They won't do anything to harm you."

"We're not scared," Sasuke said at once, even as his shoulders relaxed and Naruto gave a relieved sigh. He skipped ahead to join Sakura, and threw an arm around her shoulders cheerfully.

"So, are you excited Sakura-chan? We're going to find out which element you can control!" Naruto babbled excitedly. Sakura laughed and nodded.

'I swear, he's more excited about it than I am.'

'Word.'

'…Right.'

Sasuke joined Kakashi's side and observed Sakura quietly. Kakashi noticed and smirked. "Don't stare at her, Sasuke. You're making it too obvious."

Sasuke reddened slightly and sputtered angrily. "I was just observing."

"Sure." At that moment, Yui turned to Kakashi and raised an eyebrow.

"So, Hatake Kakashi. Are you single?"

There was a long moment of silence, which was broken by Naruto choking on his own spit. Kakashi gaped at the old lady silently, while Sakura tried to muffle her snickers. Kenji looked highly amused.

It was Sasuke who replied. "Kakashi? Single? Of course he is. He's always single," he said a bit too smoothly.

"Yeah, he's like, the Eternal Bachelor of Konoha," Naruto said, adding his two cents.

"Exactly. He's just never found the right woman. That, or he's gay or asexual," Sakura mused out loud. Yui nodded and turned back to face ahead. Kakashi glared at his former minions sulkily.

"Why'd you ask, though?" Sakura asked Yui curiously.

"Kikyo wanted to know," Yui replied curtly.

"Did she, now?" Kenji murmured lowly.

'That was the one with light blue hair and green eyes, right?'

'Yeah. She's pretty.'

Naruto whistled and looked at Kakashi slyly. "Kikyo, huh? She's really cute, sensei."

Kakashi, ignoring Naruto's lecherous grin and Sasuke's knowing smirk, nodded towards the front. "Looks like we're here."

Naruto's head swiveled towards the lake and he stopped walking at once. "Whoa." Sasuke agreed silently, and Sakura murmured a soft 'what the hell?' The forest had ended, and they stepped onto soft sand

"Kiddies, welcome to the Haruno Lake," Yui declared, smirking silently at their shocked expressions, as Kenji laughed at them. The lake was huge, divided by a long bridge in the middle. The bridge had a square platform in the middle. But the part that shocked Team 7 was the color of the lake. Or rather, the colors of the lake. The water on the left of the bridge was a bright and clear blue, and just looking at it made Sakura want to jump in. The water on the right side of the bridge was red, like someone had mixed in a lot of blood.

A/N: The blue part-imagine the water looks like what you see in Maldives. As for the red, it's like of like a diluted blood mixture, but it's very clear.

"Lady Yui, what is that?" Sakura whispered. Yui, interpreting her expression correctly, patted her shoulder comfortingly.

"No, it's not blood. Now, are you ready?" Yui asked firmly. Sakura looked at her and nodded. Yui shook her head.

"Clear you mind and heart child. Leave all your thoughts and worries here, on the land." Sakura hesitated and looked at her teammates.

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan. We'll be right here, waiting," Naruto announced with a thumbs up. He spread the pale blue blanket and flopped down, and started going through the picnic basket they had brought along. Sasuke, for once, smiled at her and sat down next to Naruto. Kakashi ruffled her hair, his eye crinkling as he smiled. "You can do it. We'll be proud of you, no matter which element you get."

"Thanks guys," Sakura said, smiling warmly. She turned to face the lake and inhaled slowly.

'Ready?'

'Totally.'

She exhaled and looked at Yui, who grinned at her. "You see the platform in the middle of the bridge? You have to sit on that. Here take this," she handed a folded tatami mat to Sakura. "You have to meditate until it happens."

"Until what happens?"

"Until you're ready to know which element favors you," Kenji said simply. "Now, shoo. Go meditate." Sakura straightened up and nodded. She started walking towards the platform with her head held high.

"Ne, old lady. How much time will this thing take?" Naruto asked as he munched on potato chips. Sasuke took out a ham and tomato sandwich, and took a bite while he waited for Yui to answer. Yui and Kenji sat down as well. Kakashi continued to stand as he watched Sakura walk towards the platform.

"It depends on Sakura. It could be done within an hour, or it could take the whole day." Kakashi sat down at that.

"WHAT?"

Sakura stepped onto the bamboo platform and spread the tatami mat. As soon as she sat down and got into the meditating posture, she stared at the clear sky.

'How exactly do I go about this? Should I meditate like usual or what?'

'That won't do. Close your eyes first. Clear your mind.'

Sakura blinked at inner's voice and closed her eyes, and inhaled softly, before exhaling. She worked on clearing her mind for another minute or so.

'Focus on the energy around you. The energy of the lake. You should be able to hear it.'

'Hear what?'

'Shh.' Listen.'

Sakura breathed in the fresh air and focused on her surroundings. She focused and focused for what seemed like hours before she heard it.

'Voices.'

Her eyes snapped open and she looked around to see small, twinkling lights around her. She could hear voices coming from within the blobs of light. She tried to touch one but it evaded her hand.

'I swear I just heard a giggle.'

She looked back at her teammates and Yui but couldn't see the land anymore. All she could see was the double-colored lake divided by the bridge, which seemed to go on endlessly.

She stood up at once, and started running towards the supposed land. She ran for almost ten minutes before she stopped and looked around with wide eyes. Forget reaching the land, she still couldn't even see it. She turned back and gasped sharply. The platform was right in front of her.

"What's going on?" she shrieked.

'Don't panic. I'm here, Sakura.'

'Inner? What's happening? Wait-genjutsu?"

'No-'

Sakura formed the standard seal and shouted, "Kai!" Nothing happened, and she tried again with the same result. She balled her fists in frustration. She stepped onto the platform and closed her eyes, when the air shifted around her.

"My, my. You're an impatient one, aren't you?" A feminine, silky voice murmured and Sakura opened her eyes to see a mermaid.

'That's not a mermaid, idiot. She has legs.'

The beautiful lady- if she could be called that, somehow the woman seemed less human than most- had big, gray eyes framed by long blue and luscious eyelashes. She had waist-length blue hair, which seemed to be decorated with small pearls. She wore a simple navy blue kimono, but Sakura was pretty sure the lady could outshine women wearing the most expensive kimonos.

"Who are you?" Sakura blurted out and cursed inwardly. 'It's like I'm Naruto.'

The lady chuckled and actually replied, to Sakura's surprise. "You may call me Mizuchi."

'I thought Mizuchi was male.'

"Child, I am not the Mizuchi from your Japanese myths. I am Mizuchi of the Haruno Clan," she clarified. Sakura instinctively bowed and smiled when she straightened up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Um, what's going on?" she asked right away. Mizuchi chuckled before turning to one of the blobs of light, which dived into the water.

"Before we get to that, you have to meet someone else."

"Who?"

"Me." Sakura turned to find a man standing right behind her. The man had piercing blue eyes with spiky…pink hair?

'Wow. Never knew the guy had pink hair.'

"You may call me Kōjin. I am from your clan as well."

"Wait, you're…? Are you both Gods?"

They glanced at each other and Kōjin smirked. "Well…"

"Hush, Kōjin. No, Sakura. We're not Gods. We're the founders of the clan, and your ancestors."

"Ancestors with God-like abilities," Kōjin cut in smoothly. Sakura giggled and looked at them in awe. 'I'm actually related to these two.'

"So, you're the ones who will tell me about my element? Which elements did you have?"

"Smart girl. And to answer your question, we both had control over both elements," Mizuchi answered.

"Just like you," Kōjin said casually. Sakura nodded before stiffening.

"What?"

"Kōjin, we agreed not to tell her like that! That was cruel," Mizuchi snapped, left eye twitching with irritation.

"Both elements. Why? How?" Sakura sputtered bewilderedly.

Kōjin shrugged. "I'm not too sure, actually. We're the only ones that have this ability. Perhaps it's because you're our direct descendent."

Mizuchi nodded and continued. "And you'll need it. Because the one that caused the conflict between our clan members is still out there. And actually, we do know why it's like this with you."

"Why?"

"Are you sure we should tell her?" Kōjin asked softly.

Mizuchi nodded and said," Yes, we can tell her that much. Sakura, as you know, you're Kiyoshi and Kimiko's only direct cousin. They adored you, and took your safety very seriously. You were the heir to the clan, actually. Though, all plans of your abduction were thwarted, the fact remains that they were there," Mizuchi paused at that, seeing Sakura's expression.

"Heir? I thought Kiyoshi and Kimiko-"

"Yeah, they were the most powerful members at the time, but they weren't the heirs," Kōjin explained. "And the reason why they took your safety so seriously, was because that was the first mission they got when they were still kids. To protect you for as long as possible. And it was their duty to protect the heir."

"They received this mission when you were still in your mother's womb," Mizuchi stated. "Your abilities were a result of a ritual they performed as kids."

"A ritual?" Sakura murmured.

"Yes. The ritual was forbidden, and I still don't know what the girls were thinking, because people have died because of it. But the elements were strong in both of them, and so was their motive behind it. Most don't even try to perform it because of selfishness. Only two people are needed, and one of them should be influenced by water, while the other by fire. No one wants to share the essence of the element inside them with another. But the sisters wanted the ultimate defense and offense for their unborn sister. They snuck out to the Haruno temple, and called upon us. They shared the essence and formed a short connection with us, which was dangerous."

"Why was it dangerous?" Sakura asked, dreading the answer.

Mizuchi and Kōjin glanced at each and Kōjin answered. "Look, the two of us…we're not exactly dead, but we're not completely alive either. When we had grown old, and weren't exactly needed, we chose to give in to the elements completely. We live in this lake. No one would find is if they dove into the lake, but once you form a mental connection with it, you can see us, and talk to us."

"Therefore, forming a direct connection with beings like us can't be good for any human. The sisters weren't the same after it. Kimiko suppressed the effects for the most part, but Kiyoshi became too unstable."

"So the conflict was indirectly my fault," Sakura stated stoically.

"Of course not. Don't ever think that way. You needed this. And, as for the conflict, that was caused by someone else. That very person took advantage of Kiyoshi's mental state, and influenced her negatively. He knew what they had done, and he wanted you under his control."

"Who was it?" Sakura gulped.

"His name is Jin. That is all we can tell you for now," Mizuchi said with an apologetic look.

"That's it? Where is he?" 'My parents are dead because of him.'

"Your parents aren't just dead because of him, kid. He killed them himself," Kōjin told her bluntly.

"Kōjin, shut up," Mizuchi snapped.

"He WHAT?"

That's all for now! Read and Review, people. Thanks :)