A/N: Again thank you for the reviews :D it really made my day to see the last chapter had the most reviews so far!

Disclaimer: Sadly, Naruto belongs to Matashi Kishimoto-sama. The only one brilliant enough to create it.

Claimer: Kari and Kita as well as the Oinin in this chapter are MINE!

Hope

One must never give up hope, for those who perish with hope; they die with a smile.

Those who die without hope; die with a broken heart.

"Sasuke-kun where're you going!?" Sakura cried, as Sasuke slowly trudged forward.

"I need to see her… I need to see Kari" Sasuke said softly. Immediately, Sakura rushed forward and pulled Sasuke's arm round her shoulders to help him walk. On the way they passed Naruto and Kakashi. Their sensei's visible eye narrowed and he put his arm in front of them to stop them. Before they could question him, two tracker-nin appeared in a swirl of mist.

One wore a mask similar to Haku's, white with a red swirl; however it swirled in a different direction. The other wore a mask that resembled a tiger, a silver strike on each cheek. Both wore thick black clothes and looked around the same age as Haku judging by their height and the structure of the body. The only characteristics noticeable was that one, who appeared to be female, had a long light silver hair like Kakashi's, worn up in a high ponytail. While the other, who appeared to be a boy, had untidy light brown hair.

"That really them?" the female's voice was harsh and cold, sending chills down the genin's spine. With a gloved hand she placed her fingers to Zabuza's and then Haku's neck. With a soft sigh she stood straight and turned back to her partner. With a curt nod he quickly strode to her side. While the boy supported Zabuza's body, the girl lifted Haku's arm round her neck.

"Forgive us for our rudeness, but these shinobi have been avoiding us for a long time. It is essential they are taken back to Kirigakure for examination. Please excuse us." The boy said, his voice lightly honeyed, warmer and softer than the girls.

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks squirts" the girl mumbled, before the four mist ninja disappeared in a puff of smoke. Left behind was only Zabuza's treasured sword lying on the freshly fallen, crimson tinted snow.

With no clear reason to stay behind any longer, Naruto ran back to Kari's side. The rest of the team followed at a slower pace, listening to Naruto start to talk to her as he held her to him again.

"Why'd they take them away Kari-chan? And that lady called me a squirt; we're not squirts are we. Sasuke's ok y'know, you see I told you so, you worry too much. Sakura-chan cried too so it's nothing to be ashamed of. I didn't… well I didn't cry that much. But you gave me a hell of a scare; don't do that again 'kay? It was scary."

"Naruto listen to me" Kakashi said sternly. Naruto looked up questioningly. "You need to let Kari-chan go, she needs to go to heaven now." Naruto's eyes widened as he clutched onto her for dear life. Kita let out a yelp as she stared up at Kakashi like he was insane. Her Momma wasn't dead! Not her Okaa-san! "She wants to go back home and see her friends."

"She can! But she's got to promise to come back! Besides she won't want to go alone! I know her! I'll go with her and make sure she's ok, after all she might get lost and might not be able to come back and—"

"Naruto" Sakura said softly, she hiccoughed as a sob got caught in her chest. Her face was soaked from tears as she bent sown to his level. "Kari-chan wants to go home; she must be missing her Okaa-san and Otou-san…" Sakura said, trying to soothe him.

"No, no Sakura-chan! She wants to stay here! She wants to go see Hinata-chan when she gets back and I promised we'd explore Konoha together and I said I'd teach her how to do a kage bunshin no jutsu! I promised her, and I stick to my word and—"

"Baka" Sasuke hissed. "Just accept the fact she's dead!"

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura cried. Naruto was really upset he didn't have to be so cold, Naruto needed time to adjust and let it sink in. He didn't understand Kari was gone.

"That's a lie! Kari-chan's just tired and a little hurt! She just needs some rest and she'll be fine, don't be so stupid Sasuke!" Naruto shouted, clutching her to him even more. Kita was curled up on Kari's stomach and was whimpering trying to block everything out. What's death? Why's everyone upset? Why won't Momma wake up? Why are they saying she's gone when she's right here? Why is Sasuke angry? Why is Naruto crying? Why won't anyone explain?! Why won't Momma say anything?! Why's she so cold?! Momma?! Okaa-san?! Momma?!

"Naruto, she died protecting someone she cared for. You should be proud of her, not ignoring her bravery." Kakashi said, placing his hand on Naruto's head. Naruto's face crumpled as he started to wail, shaking his head with cries of 'it's not true, it can't be'. Sasuke felt an awful sense of guilt at snapping at the knucklehead ninja. But he had to accept it. He was exactly the same, convinced his Okaa-san and Otou-san were just sleeping and would be fine when the doctors had healed them. But it wasn't. He was forced to face reality and now so did Naruto. He could cry all he wanted she wouldn't come back. Sasuke looked at her surprised noticing her ears were dog-like and she had a long furry tail. Bloodied feathers were here and there making him wonder. Had he seen—

"Grandpa!" Inari cried rushing over. "Grandpa we did it! We did it! Where's Onee-chan? Did she see me?" Inari cried happily. Tazuna glanced over to where the mourning shinobi stood. Bending down he placed a hand on Inari's shoulder.

"She went to go see Kaiza Inari, the angels missed her and came to take her back home" Tazuna said as kindly as he could. Inari's eyes widened, tears pooling out. With a cry he grabbed onto his grandfather, sobbing his heart out. Tazuna held him close, a few tears of his own escaping him.

"I let my team mate die..." Sasuke said quietly. He was struggling to hold in all the pain he felt. His eyes stung and itch, his hands were numb from being clenched into such tight fists. Ever since the day he lost his clan he hardly ever showed emotion, it had been a long time since he had cried. Since he'd felt so… lost.

"Team mate?! Is that all she was to you! She was my best friend! When you died she fell apart, she cared about you and you… you just don't give a shit about her! You're worse than Zabuza was!" Naruto screamed at his rival.

"Calm down Naruto, I'm sure Sasuke's just as upset as you are…" Kakashi said softly, placing his other hand on a sobbing Sakura's head. "Kari was precious to us all, she wouldn't be happy if you fought over her. Sasuke knelt down and took her hand, hating how cold it felt. He glared at the ground.

"No living being feels this cold…" Sasuke said blankly, his eyes closing as moisture hit the ground beneath him.

"Baka… I told you I have cold hands…"

"K-Kari-chan?!"

"If you lot don't stop crying, you'll make me cry..." Kari said softly, her eyes half opening.

"KARI-CHAN!!" Naruto screamed dragging the tired girl into the most tightest, most painful hug she'd ever felt. Kita got squished between but she didn't care. Her Okaa-san was fine!

"Naruto… that attack didn't quite kill me… but your hug will!" Kari whined. She winced and gingerly put a hand on her chest. Naruto began to apologise frantically and try to put the blame on Sasuke, who just shook his head, glad to see Naruto was back to his old self, even if his eyes were puffy as hell. "Kakashi you are so evil" Kari said glaring with all she had left at the accused sensei.

"I guess you can use that as blackmail against me now" Kakashi said. It must have been the Torai-kenshi's power. Those demons really were amazing, Kakashi could see the wound had already almost closed and the bleeding had pretty much stopped. She smiled.

"You can start with carrying me… I'm tired… and we'll go to the beach… and you can buy me ice-cream… Give Kita a bath while you're at it… I don't want…. Her fur to… go pink… No… offence… Sa…kura…" with that, her eyes closed and she fell into a well deserved sleep. Kakashi carefully lifted her up. Kita sitting on her stomach.

"Let's get you five cleaned up then; we'll wait until you've healed a bit before heading back. Come on you lot, well done on your first A-rank." Naruto grinned; pulling Sasuke's other arm over his shoulder. "Tazuna-san, is it alright if we go to rest at your house?" Kakashi called. Tazuna nodded, Inari still crying into his chest. "Why are you crying? Kari's alive" Kakashi said, smiling behind his mask. Inari looked up hopefully. Kari grunted waving her up to smack Kakashi on the side of the head.

"I'm try'n to sleep…" Both Tazuna's and Inari's faces brightened and Tazuna nodded, the both of them going to lead the way.

"How can one girl sleep so much?" Sasuke mumbled, looking round at his sleeping team-mate. She'd been like this three days straight, he'd slept for one whole day and got restless, but then again she was more hurt than him. The whole team had been bedridden on Tsunami's orders, even Kakashi wasn't allowed up. But Sasuke was getting rather annoyed at being Kari's personal pillow. What's more, Kita had refused to leave the bed as well. She smelt of baby shampoo and was a bright white once more.

"Uhn… How long have I been asleep?" Kari mumbled sitting up holding her head.

"Three days" Sasuke grumbled. Kari looked at him sleepily. Shrugging she swung her feet over the side of the bed. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Tsunami's forbidden us from leaving our beds." Kari sniggered slightly as she thought of Sakura and Naruto, Sakura would be hugely sleep-deprived, Naruto's snoring at night and complaining during the day would drive the most patient people into insanity. And Naruto would be hugely restless by now. Oh what fun! Without warning the door opened and Tsunami came in with some food.

"Kari you're awake" Tsunami said blinking. Sasuke smirked waiting for the explosion. He'd heard Tsunami shouting at Naruto to get back into bed fourteen times yesterday. Sasuke himself had only gotten scolded twice. But to Sasuke's disappointment, Kari got fussed over and not told off. "Are you sure you're all right to be walking already? Do you feel light-headed? Can I get you anything? Are you hungry or thirsty at all? I washed Kita for you, her coat didn't stain. She was very good and didn't squirm about. Inari's very worried about you, you know. Come along, you need your bandages changed" and with that Kari was marched out the room. Kita looked at Sasuke confused hoping for some answers.

"What are you looking at" Sasuke mumbled, giving the cub a slight glare. She blinked and tilted her head to the side. Anyone else would have screamed how adorable she was and pulled her into a suffocating hug, but Sasuke wasn't at all affected by the fluffy cuteness. Besides, Uchiha Sasuke does not squeal.

Kari returned freshly bandaged around an hour later. She informed the Uchiha that they were going on an outing with Kakashi and demanded that Sasuke came and supported her before she fell over. It was perfectly understandable she was still a little wobbly.

"Is that really the way of the ninja to be used as tools?" Sakura asked as they looked at the memorial made by the villagers. Haku's senbon and Zabuza's sword had been collected and were arranged on top of the stone. Kari was very upset that they had been taken away without her knowledge by some tracker-nin. She hadn't got to give them a speech on what they were not under any circumstances to do to Haku, or anything. Kari truly hated missing things or being left out.

"Shinobi are all merely tools in the hands of destiny no point in wondering whether it's right or wrong it just is. It's the same in the Konohagakure no sato" Kakashi replied, shifting Kari's weight. Using her blackmail to good use, the kunoichi demanded that Kakashi carry her. Seeing as her sensei had planned to do it anyway he didn't complain. Besides, she was still rather grumpy at everything, especially the fact they had thought she had died so easily. Also the fact she suddenly had a tail, looking in the mirror this morning and seeing herself with triangular wolfish ears had shocked her into fainting, in which she smacked the back of her head on the sink.

"One of the great mysteries in the world" Kari nodded, agreeing with her donkey. Yes, she had decided she had the right to kindly insult Kakashi too. He had after all impaled her and that would probably leave a humungous scar. And he still hadn't given a satisfactory apology. She wanted grovelling then, amused, she would finally forgive him. But she would never give up on nicknames. Kaka-sensei was really growing on her.

"You're one hell of a mystery" Sasuke said with a smirk. "You're turning into a dog" Kakashi sighed as he felt Kari swell indignantly.

"AT LEAST MY HAIR DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A FRIGGEN CHICKEN BUTT SASGAY!" she screeched slowly falling off of Kakashi's back.

"AAH! KARI-CHAN!" Naruto cried rushing to her rescue, misjudged his timing and completely missed his target to rescue the kunoichi but succeeded in head butting Sasuke which Kari found much more amusing. Kakashi had grabbed her arm saving her from more concussion (curse sinks!!) giving her an upside down view of Naruto and Sasuke bickering like old ladies. She sighed at her male team-mates. B.A.K.A.S.

"Well if you ask me if that what being a ninja's all about something's out of whack. Is that why we go through all that training? Just to end up dead?" Naruto asked. Kari senses say Naru-speech is coming!

"What is the reason for that?" Sasuke agreed.

"Well it's a question without an answer. That is something we ninja have to deal with every moment of our lives" Kakashi said. Kari sighed again. Don't you just hate rhetorical questions? The whole point of a question is that it should have an answer.

"OK!" Naruto cried suddenly, punching his fist into the air.

"Huh?"

"I've just come to a decision! From now on I'm finding my own ninja way a way that's straight and true without any regrets! From now on I'm following the way of Naruto!" Naruto cried. Aren't you creative with names Naru-kun…

"And I'm following him!" Kari announced, causing Naruto to positively beam at her. "KAKASHI-ROBA! TO THE BEACH!"

The beach was a pleasurable experience. Tazuna decided to be a photographer for a change and captured as many moments as he could, wanting to remember us and remember Inari's smile. The genin were able to unwind and be the kids they truly were, working together to soak Kakashi (complete with book) and quickly ran away to avoid the jonin's wrath. Kari was learning to live with her ears and tail, enjoying in particular having her ears rubbed (which caused her tail to wag and Sasuke to make remarks to her canine-like characteristics which he received just punishments for).

"Yo Kari" Sasuke said suddenly. Kari glared at him out the corner of her eye, ready if necessary to beat the living daylights out of him. One more doggy comment… Just one more and I'll— "Did you have wings?"

"Nani?" she asked puzzled. She looked round at her back, lifting her hair out the way.

"After I lost consciousness, did you have wings?"

"If you weren't conscious you must've been dreaming" Kari said simply, splashing the unexpecting Uchiha in the face.

"Na I saw them too Kari-chan! Big, big, feathery white ones! Like… like a bird" Naruto said, waving his arms in a flying motion, splashing Sakura to death. Unimpressed, Sakura shoved his head underwater, shouting vulgar language that is far from lady-like and should not be said in Kita's presence.

"Kaka-chan can I fly?" Kari asked, conveniently missing the twitch in Kakashi's visible eye when she called him that.

"Possibly, ickle Kari-chan, I said I'd talk to you about it later. I need to talk to Naruto as well. But that can wait until I've finished this chapter…" Kakashi said turning the page and promising in the future he would;

1. Not hit anyone he saw on a regular basis with his Raikiri

2. When he DID hit an enemy with Raikiri it would kill them FIRST time.

Of course he's glad that Kari survived but if anyone else gives him nicknames he will throttle them. Kari is the ONE and ONLY exception. He is not a damn donkey.

"AIYEE!!"

The sudden loud noise startled the jonin into dropping his book. He gawped wide eyed and pointed an accusing finger in Kari's direction.

"Oi! Kari I told you not to push it! Your worst injury is in-between your shoulder blades, pushing wings out either side of it could reopen your wound and you could bleed to death" Kakashi scolded.

"But, but Kaka-san! They're so COOL!" Kari squealed, spinning round trying to look at them. She stretched them marvelling at the wingspan, every feather perfectly shaped and a bright snowy white. They were the same weight as her arms and though it ached to push them out, causing a throbbing in her shoulders it was still amazing.

Without further ado she ran forward jumped and flapped her wings. With a slight cry she fell face first into the water with a splash. She quickly surfaced to spit out a mouthful of water in Sakura's face.

"Kaka-saaaan! It's hard!" she complained. "Ah, gomen Sakura-chan! Didn't see you there! Did I fall on you?" Sakura then began to laugh, Kari's ears were dripping and the blonde kunoichi's eyes were wide and confused. A shudder suddenly shot through Kari's spine. "Ughhh! Yuck! Soggy feathers!!" Kari struggled trying to fly out of the water, but only ended up causing huge splashes, half drowning Naruto and Sakura and successfully soaking Sasuke and Kakashi.

Kakashi stood up and folded his arms giving me a scolding look.

"Seeing as you're all so much better we should start heading back to Konoha" Kakashi said. "I'm going to have a mountain of paperwork and a lot of explaining to do, the sooner it's done the better. Come on." Kakashi said.

"You're going today?" Inari cried having successfully avoided Kari's splashing frenzy. Kakashi nodded.

"Come on team, let's go pack."

We stood on the Wave country side of the finished bridge, the villagers around us. They had come to say goodbye and give their thanks.

"We could never have finished the bridge without you, I can't tell you how much I'm going to miss you" Tazuna said, looking at us fondly.

"Do be careful!" Tsunami said worriedly.

"Thank you for everything" Kakashi said bowing.

"Here Kari, I think you've earned this" Tazuna said giving me... his SAKE BOTTLE! Kakashi raised an eye brow while Tazuna grinned, Kari hugging the old man round the middle saying how she would treasure it always and whenever she was drunk she would always think of the wave country. Waves and waves of sake and— she stopped there seeing Kakashi's and Tsunami's scolding looks.

"Now, now, don't get all chocked up we'll come back and visit real soon!" Naruto cried smiling at Inari. Sasuke scoffed, Naruto was the one who was trying not to cry for Kami's sake.

"You swear you will?" Inari asked hopefully.

"Of course! Ya know Inari it's ok, you can cry if you want there's nothing wrong with that go for it!" Naruto said teary eyed. Inari mirrored his expression perfectly.

"Who says I wanna cry?! Anyway if there's nothing wrong with it you go on and cry!" Inari said sniffling as his eyes became even shinier.

"No you first!" Naruto cried indignantly as his bottom lip trembled.

"Piggy back ride on the way back says Inari wins."

"A sensei must support his team Kari-chan. Kakashi-sama or Kakashi-danna for a month says Naruto wins" Kakashi said, fingers crossed that he'd finally be respected by his favourite kunoichi. Not that he thought more of her than Sakura of course. Sakura just didn't have as much personality.

"You're on Kaka-Roba"

"Forget it!" Naruto turned round and threw himself on kari positively bawling. Kakashi grumbled about cry-babies before nodding to the victorious Kari sulkily.

"Aww Naru-kun, it shows you're in tune with your feelings! Unlike some people, eh Sasuke?" Kari said glaring at the exasperated Sasuke beside her. How dare he roll his eyes at her beloved Naru-kun!

"ONEE-CHAN!" Inari cried running up to me and hugging me quickly after I'd shoved Naruto onto Sakura. The cherry-kunoichi was far from impressed and thwacked poor Naruto on the head telling him to get a hold of himself.

"You look after everyone ok? You're the hero now" Kari said softly to her Inari-otouto. She really would miss him and his hat. She had a slight obsession with stealing his hat and ruffling the boy's hair.

"You take care Kari dear" Tsunami said softly, giving her a quick hug. Kari nodded, feeling her own eyes go watery.

"I'm going to miss you all!"

"Please don't tell me you're going to start blubbing too Kari…" Sasuke said with an irritated look.

"You know the bridge still needs a name" Tazuna said smiling.

"I've got it!" Kari cried in delight. "The NARUTO bridge!" Tazuna laughed and nodded in agreement while Naruto squealed in sheer delight glomping poor Kari for all he was worth. Kakashi chuckled, Sakura giggled and Sasuke once again rolled his eyes but with an ever-so-slight smirk on his face.

Kari ran back to her team and they walked along the bridge, they were the first people to ever do so and felt rather proud. She and Naruto linked arms and marched along happily. Naruto talking animatedly as he went.

"HAHA! As soon as we get back I'm gonna let Iruka-sensei fix me up a whole load of ramen to celebrate a mission well done! Oh and wait until I tell Konohamaru about all my adventures the kids gonna worship me! Oh Kari you should meet Konohamaru he's a pesky little kid that follows me about and looks up to me. Ooh! And you can come with me to get my ramen and meet Iruka-sensei properly and we can like hang out or something!" Naruto cried excitedly.

"Sure!" Kari replied, glad she was still her to be able to do these things.

"Hey..." Sakura said softly, inching closer to Sasuke as they walked.

"What?" Naruto asked.

"Not you Naruto! Sasuke-kun when we get back do you wanna go out and do something together?" Sakura asked blushing hopefully.

"I don't think so, thanks" Sasuke said smoothly.

"Oh... okay" Sakura said sadly, looking down at the ground in depression.

"HEY! Sakura look on the bright side! You got a thanks not just a plain no!" Kari said as the idea struck her. Sasuke shot the wolf-girl a disgusted grimace while Sakura immediately brightened up, a huge smile on her face, convinced she was getting somewhere.

"Hey Sakura-chan I'll do something with you if you want!" Naruto cried, also trying to cheer up the cherry-kunoichi.

"WHAT!? NO! THAT WAS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION! BEAT IT!" Sakura cried whacking him on the head then throwing him off the bridge.

"NARUTO!" Kari cried horrified immediately diving after him." NARUTO-KUN I'LL SAVE YOU!"

"KARI GET BACK HERE I TOLD YOU TO TAKE IT EASY!" Kakashi shouted. She returned with Naruto who looked rather sad. Ah the pain of rejection… I wonder what it's like…

"Don't worry Naruto-kun I'll do something with you!" Kari cried, already missing the dumb grin that usually stuck to Naruto's face.

"ARIGATOU!"

"Ow! OW! WATCH THE RIBS!" Sasuke shot a glare at his two loud, blonde team mates. Seeing this Naruto shot a glare straight back at him.

"STOP PICKING ON KARI-CHAN SASUKE!" Naruto hollered. Kari jumped on Naruto's back almost making him fall over.

"WALK NOW, FIGHT LATER! I WANNA SEE HINATA AND THE OTHERS!"
"AYE AYE! Ramen here I come!" Naruto replied. He took three steps forward and tripped over his own feet landing flat on his face. Kari of course, landed comfortably on his back unharmed. Suddenly remembering her deal with Kakashi she looked round and grinned at him. With a sigh, their sensei grudgingly put away his book and heaved her onto his back. Never do gambling Kakashi, may this be a lesson well learned…

"SEE YA NARUTO! YOU'RE RAMENS GETTING COLD!" Kari shouted back at the orange blob being left behind on the middle of the bridge. Kita looked back, deciding not to wait and stay walking beside Sasuke. Her Okaa-san said that they would be living with him so Kita should get used to him. She thought he was rather miserable, but at least he wasn't as clumsy as Naruto. The wolf cub could rest assured there's a good chance she wont be stood on.

With a high pitched scream Naruto jumped up and shot ahead running past us at inhuman speeds.

"After him Kakashi-Roba!"

Hehe! Kakashi-roba means Kakshi-donkey if you didn't know.

Seeing as the reviewers seemed a little depressed over Kari's death I decided to bring her back (I was going to anyway :P)

How was it in third person, did you prefer it?

Story status at Chapter 20!

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