Sorry this chapter took so long, it got deleted (my bad) and I had to re-type the whole thing. I am also sorry it's not very long. I don't own Naruto.

CHAPTER 16

Naruto could feel the presence of several chakras just outside the cave, and calm feeling washed over him. Naruto closed his eyes, he was in blissful peace. The chakras seemed to mesh together he felt like he was floating on a river. He took deep breaths before he drifted off his deep breaths turning in to small ones.

Itachi sensed Naruto falling asleep which wasn't good. He couldn't escape quickly while carrying the teen. Naruto wouldn't wake up until they met again this was what he thought would happen. He would just have to get Naruto back somehow. Itachi looked from Haku to the group this slightly entertained him. He could see the tension from Haku who was already in a fighting stance ready to take anyone on. What was Haku's relationship with this group of gruff looking ninjas? They didn't look very strong but Itachi knew better not to judge them by their looks, it had gotten him in dangerous situations before. Never underestimate your opponents if you do you automatically lose or win by luck. He would leave soon but he stood silent not wanting to draw attention.

"Making friends are we Haku?" the man in the middle spoke. His name was Jotu, he was tall and looked like he needed to gain a few pounds. His hair was a dark teal color and hung down to his shoulders. There was a girl to the right of Jotu she had brown hair and a scarf around her neck. Haku couldn't remember her name he had only met her once. The other two were twins big in size and they could smash things effortlessly Yuudai and Yumma. Both of them seemed bored with what was going on.

"You betrayed me..." Haku let the words slip out of his mouth.

"Why yes I- we did Haku" the girl beside Jotu gave a smirk.

Haku heard a caw of a crow then several more. His head whipped to where Itachi had started to disappear in sections of crows. Haku grabbed a kunai and threw it but he was already gone. It was obvious that the group didn't care about Itachi. Itachi took this as a time to win.

"Now that he's gone focus your attention on me Haku" Haku looked towards Jotu, something wasn't right. It was almost like the air had shifted as if it was irritated.

"I'm not gone yet…" a voice said. Jotu felt sharp metal against his skin and swallowed feeling his Adam's apple under the blade. Haku only caught a glimpse of Itachi from behind Jotu. Itachi quickly pulls the blade across Jotu's neck he screams out and grasps his neck. Itachi quickly disappeared, the kunai dropped from his hand letting specks of blood follow it. The girl looked down at Jotu with wide eyes. She whipped around to face Haku she narrowed her eyes.

"You did this!" she screamed gripping the kuni that was left from Itachi. "You got Jotu killed!"

She lunged forward at Haku who blocked it with his arms as they slid to a stop. Haku shoved his arms outward and jumped back she darted forward catching a part of haku's arm. He jumped back again her rage seemed to grow. The twins were watching them fight with blank stares. Haku dodged a few more kunai that were thrown his way. Haku made hand signs and mist and fog began to roll in cover him. This was his chance to grab Naruto he darted toward the cave. He didn't have time to fight with her he just needed to get back to Konoha to pay his debt. Naruto saved him now it was his time to save the brave ninja, to repay him. Haku's heart sank as more chakra signatures were at the tree line. His eyes widened as he heard a blood curdling scream of the girl. Haku eyes adjusted to the dim lit cave he soon saw the outline of a body.

"Naruto?" Haku knelt down and gave Naruto's chest a shake. He didn't move when Haku tried again. There was no clean get away with Naruo like this. He felt the chakra behind him and a figure stepped in front of the caves mouth. Haku shot upward ready for a fight.

"Haku?" a familiar voice asked. It was Kakashi!

"Yeah! Naruto's over here he won't wake up."

Kakashi felt Naruto's head for injuries along with the rest of his body. Once he made sure everything was ok he picked Naruto up and brought him outside. The silver haired ninja lied Naruto down on the grass. Haku followed behind Kakashi and noticed the girl's body on the ground a few feet away. The twins hadn't given a fight and were tied up together still looking bored as ever. Standing on the other side of Kakashi was Sakura, Sasuke, and a guy their age with marks on his face and a dog at his side. Sasuke walked closer and knelt down like Haku had and called Naruto's name.

"I think this is Itachi's doing," Kakashi put a hand on his chin in thought. Sasuke looked at Naruto's face it was so peaceful. He bit his cheek to calm himself down by his rising emotions his brother did this. Sasuke looked up at Haku who had said nothing, what had Haku been trying to accomplish?

"Is Naruto going to be ok?" Sakura also looked down at the blonde.

"Naruto's going to be fine he always comes around!" Kiba gave a grin.

"I'm sure he'll find consciousness but we can't be too sure Kiba," he paused "I've never seen her before." Kakashi pointed at the girl on the ground. The two twins didn't speak they didn't like her maybe? He gave Haku a glance, Haku got the message,

"Those two only fight when they are angry and getting them angry is a hard thing to do. Jotu wasn't on their favorite list of people but he got them by. I've only met her twice never got her name…" Haku could feel the negative energy from Sasuke along with the teen and his dog. Sakura looked too worried to be angry at Haku. Kakashi established who was going to watch the two big men on the way back to Konoha.

Kakashi picked Naruto up Sakura and Sasuke were keeping a close eye on the two men from both sides and Kiba taking the rear with Akamaru. Sasuke glimpsed at Naruto who was now on Kakashi's back he wondered what it was like to almost always been in danger. Haku walked silently he held back a smile of triumph. He saved Naruto from whatever Itachi was going to do, but he had no clue he was so wrong.