"Take her by the fire," Yuki sounded exasperated. Not only was Mizuumi out cold, but this new development was bound to put them behind schedule. The new Hokage didn't appreciate off schedule appointments.

"Lady Yuki!" Relena called

"Yes, Relena?"

"If she doesn't recover soon, do we leave her?"

"We may have to," Yuki sighed. As much as the idea repulsed her, she couldn't let anything interfere with the mission. This time, Waterfall had to succeed.

Itachi and Kisame migrated to a clearing a little farther away for the night, aware their target wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey, Itachi?" Kisame asked in a perfectly level voice, all humor from earlier gone.

"Yes, Kisame?"

"What made you space out earlier? Usually you-"

"It's none of your concern." Itachi stood silently and walked away. He let himself wander and was soon at the edge of the clearing. The whole squad was asleep with the girl from earlier dangerously close to the fire.

'Taken and interest have we?' The voice asked

'No, I was merely testing a theory.'

'You were correct. In a sense.'

'What do you mean?'

'You noticed that when you were around the girl, I began to speak to you. It is true I have only spoken to you when she is near, but she isn't the reason I speak.'

'Then what is the reason?'

'I was sleep, now I'm not.'

'What made you wake up?'

'Why ask so many questions, you know I won't answer you.'

'Just answer me." Anger was rising up in Itachi's chest, and had he not been so disciplined he would have screamed.

'They become less and less patient by the day,' the voice mused

'You can't hide forever,'

'Hiding? I'm adding suspense to your repetitive life!' Itachi felt his world spinning. He hit the ground, and then everything went black.

Suddenly, Itachi's vision returned and he was flying! At least, he felt that he was. When Itachi looked down, he saw himself still lying on the ground behind the bushes. Was he dead? One of the Waterfall shinobi, a kunoichi with night black hair and snakelike sapphire eyes, raked her gaze across him. He prepared to flee, but then the realization hit him. No one could see him.

Mizuumi awoke after time immeasurable to her and nearly screamed at the sight before her eyes. Flaming tongues licked at the space in front of her face. Another second of observation subsided her fears. She was merely before a campfire.

"Enjoy your nap, Mizuumi?" Relena asked scathingly

"What happened?" Mizuumi asked groggily

"You passed out," Kaiba responded flatly, eyes on the fire.

"Sorry…"

"Sorry doesn't cut it!" Relena seethed

"Enough!" Yuki's voice echoed from the other side of the campfire," Relena, you are acting like a child. Need I remind you of your first jonin mission?"

"No, my lady,"

"Good, what's done is done. Mizuumi, you take first watch, everyone else go back to sleep." Mizuumi centered herself a good six feet from the fire. She didn't understand what Relena had against her; it wasn't like she'd intended to fall on her face! The forest was strangely peaceful that night, Mizuumi observed. The sky was a clear inky black, and a crescent moon illuminated the air. It was beautiful, Mizuumi thought, but it didn't last long.

The wind began whispering through the trees behind her.

"Mizuumi," it seemed to say. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck.

"Mizuumi," it repeated," help me."

"W-w-who are you?" she stammered

"Someone who needs your help"

"Show yourself!" she demanded

"I…can't." it sighed. Mizuumi's heart was racing. Fearfully, she groped around in her pocket for her weapon, until she finally felt its smooth metal surface in her grasp. In a flash, Mizuumi had her weapon, a retractable six foot staff, elongated to half its normal length. She twirled it around in her fingers, a sense of calm beginning to sweep over her.

"Show yourself!" she repeated, slightly calmer. No response was forthcoming. Mizuumi continued to twirl the staff as her eyes darted about the tree line. The forest was painfully silent. Suddenly, the wind gusted as if there was a gale. The air was supercharged with energy, swirling faster and faster; Mizuumi's heart pounded; lightning split the air. A hand clamped down over her mouth, silencing the scream rising in her throat.

"Don't move," Kaiba ordered. Mizuumi silently obeyed, and soon realized why. A wolf slipped majestically away from the tree line, its silvery white coat glistening in the moonlight. It stared into Mizuumi's petrified eyes with its own unwavering luminescent green gaze. The wolf's eyes traveled to the rod in Mizuumi's hands, its gaze becoming suddenly interested.

"Mizuumi," Kaiba's calm voice surprised her, "when I say now, drop your staff and run, got it?"

"No way!" Mizuumi whispered back harshly," This staff was my father's! Besides, it's my only weapon and-"

"Do you feel like joining him?" He fired back.

"Maybe I do!" The wolf crept forward stealthily.

"Mizuumi," Kaiba warned

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"Mizuumi," the wolf inched ever closer. Kaiba reached for Mizuumi's arm.

"Back off!" Mizuumi, to Kaiba's dismay, fully extended her staff and launched herself at the wolf.

Kisame paced the clearing. Itachi had been gone awhile now, he observed, nearly an hour actually. The two had been partners for years, and although Itachi was strange, he had never acted this strangely before. Kisame sincerely hoped he hadn't offended the younger man; he always took the first watch.

"Where is he?" Kisame wondered aloud. Itachi wasn't one to wander off, nor was he one to readily engage in needless violence. The bushes behind him began to rustle. Kisame sore t himself, reached for his sword, and prepared for a fight. The creature emerged, and Kisame nearly laughed in relief.

"Where've you been Itachi?"

Blood gushed thickly down her arms. A deep gash in her throat prevented her from lamenting her anguish, but it was over, Mizuumi had killed the wolf.

He watched from the shadows, unaware of his growing predicament. The girl had killed the wolf, highly unnecessary in his opinion, as all it wanted was to see the staff.

"Mizuumi," the man with her was exasperated;" do you ever consider your actions?" She ignored him, instead forming several hand seals. He observed the girl was a medic, and a brash one at that.

Mizuumi's mother had forbidden her from joining the medical corps, but that didn't mean she wouldn't learn a thing or two anyway. The wounds healed easily, and by the time Yuki and Relena joined them Mizuumi looked normal again.

"What happened?" Yuki demanded.

"She was proving herself brash," Kaiba grumbled. Mizuumi didn't respond, for she was staring into two eyes the color of spilt blood.