Mieko stood before Zabuza, panting heavily as she clutched the deep wound that the demon caused, her blood dribbled between her pale fingers and down onto the floor "So the brat can hear me huh? You must be the tiger girl I've heard so much about."

"Mieko!" both Kakashi and Sakura yelled in fear for their injured team member and daughter.

"You were late Kakashi, you let your concern for those little punks cloud your mind, you let your pet get injured tsk tsk" Zabuza shook his head "you allowed me to increase the fog that already hinders your Sharingan eye, your eyes are sharp Kakashi but not sharp enough to read my moves, not anymore" the demon laughed "come on Kakashi I want this to be fun, don't let this little girl be my play toy, I want to enjoy myself as I exact my revenge" Mieko hissed as she touched her wound a little too hard "As for those brats, don't worry, their at Haku's mercy and their breathing their last breaths right now" Zabuza raised his sword, ready to fight "relax, you'll have plenty of time to weep out an apology for failing those brats when you see them in the next life" he laughed crazily as the mist thickened though he was still visible, Mieko closed her eyes in concentration as she used her hearing to locate Zabuza's whereabouts just in case he disappeared again, it was difficult seeing as the pain she was feeling from the kunai's and needles Haku and Zabuza threw was increased by the sword that sliced through her already pre-existing wound she had gotten from that rouge tiger summons.

'This week has not been kind to me, the spirits must be angry at me for some reason-focus Mieko, I need to take down Zabuza so I can help Sasuke and Naruto, I can feel their chakra decreasing'

"Are you ok Mieko?" Kakashi asked, racing up beside the small girl to look at her wound, there wasn't anything he could do until Zabuza was defeated.

"Yes I'm fine, focus on the battle papa and deal with me later"

"You know I can't do that."

"If you focus on me than Tazuna and Sakura will die, I'm a ninja so I can handle myself to some degree against him, we need to fight together so we can help Naruto and Sasuke" Kakashi nodded though he was still hesitant to leave her, they both turned to Sakura.

"He said Sasuke would die!"

"He also said Naruto too Sakura" Mieko snapped, hating that her predictions where right, Sakura only cares about Sasuke and that will cause everyone else to get hurt as well.

"No I won't believe that! I have faith in him" Mieko sighed, giving up on the Sasuke obsessed pink haired girl.

'Heh, to bad he's mine now' she would let that possessive thought slide for now, she was focused on more important things.

"I won't let him take Sasuke…or Naruto either."

"Exactly" Sakura stopped her inner cheering to turn to her sensei "I…I believe in their abilities, I have faith in them, Naruto, the number one hyperactive knuckleheaded ninja…and Sasuke, heir to the most powerful clan in the hidden leaf village" Zabuza's eyes widened.

"You mean-"

"Yes, his name is Sasuke Uchiha, the unique powers of the Uchiha bloodline runs through his veins, the Kekkei Genkai is his birth right"

"Ahh I heard that a young ninja survived the massacre of the Uchiha clan, no wonder he advanced so quickly…but, Haku advanced quickly too, no one can match him" the three ninja got ready to attack "No one has ever stopped his secret Jutsu, even the most skilled Jounin fall before him just like you will fall before me right now!"

"Sakura, stay with Tazuna, Mieko you're with me" Sakura nodded as Kakashi and Mieko ran into the mist.

"He's right this needs to end but he will be the one who will fall!"

Mieko suddenly stopped when she felt Sasuke's chakra slow down to a dangerous level "Sasuke!" without caring that she should be fighting she disappeared from Kakashi's side and reappeared next to Naruto's who was holding Sasuke "Oh no…Sasuke."

"Mieko…you shouldn't be in here…you could get hurt" Sasuke muttered to Mieko softly, he was too weak to speak any louder.

"I'm more worried about you silly" she said softly caressing his short black hair.

"Naruto…my brother, he's still out there" Mieko stiffened "I…stay alive…until I…killed him" Sasuke's eyes closed slightly as he reached a hand out to the blonde haired kid "Naruto don't let your dream die…Mieko I lo…" Mieko's and Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke's hand went limp, telling him that his life had left his body.

"N-no Sasuke you can't leave me alone, Sasuke? SASUKE!" Mieko screamed in pure anger, her body slumping over, the one person who kept her sane had died.

"Has this been the first time you have seen a friend die in battle? This is part of what it means to be a ninja" Haku spoke as he sunk back into the ice.

"Shut up" Naruto growled out angrily "I…I hated you too Sasuke and yet…" steam began rising from Naruto, a dark and evil chakra surrounded the two young Shinobi; the chakra flowing from Naruto seemed to awaken a deep and hidden chakra from within Mieko as well.

"You'll pay for this" Mieko hissed out darkly, large spiral flames came shooting out of Naruto as dark shadows began to intertwine with them from Mieko.

"I'm gonna kill you!"Naruto roared out angrily, his eyes were slitted and shined like the fire that surrounded him, a giant fox with black stripes appeared above the two beings, the wounds on both their bodies disappeared as steam rose from them, fingernails grew into claws and teeth grew into fangs, the two children looked like beasts in human form, Mieko's eyes turned complete black with gold in the centre, they glowed ominously, showing the malicious intent they harboured for Haku. Both Naruto and Mieko turned to face Haku, almost like they were of one mind, they souls merging together to form one of pure hate and rage.

Kakashi and Zabuza froze in mid attack, they felt the dark power emanating from the ice prison, both of them were unsure of what lay within though they were not eager to find out "ROAAAAAAR!" the beast roared loudly.

"Zabuza isn't creating this, I know this chakra! There's no way! But… that other chakra, it shouldn't be real!" Kakashi's feeling of foreboding increased as memories resurfaced "Naruto…this puts everyone in danger, now of all times their seals are broken! I have to stop it" the two beings launched towards Haku, intending to rip him to shreds, they ran on four legs like wild beasts, Haku threw several Senbon needles but the raw power flicked them away like weak little leaves. The two beasts like kids charged towards Haku, swiping at him at every chance they got, no matter how many times Haku dodged them and moved to another piece of ice they would destroy it and attack him again. Naruto grabbed onto Haku and punched him straight in the face, sending him high into the end where he plummeted into the ground soon after, the force of the punch caused all the ice to crack and shatter. Naruto once again charged forth, a beast roar escaping his mouth; he pounced forth and brought his clawed fist within an inch of Haku's face before he suddenly regained his senses.

"So you were the one in the forest?" he asked.

"Why do you not strike?" Haku asked.

"Huh?"

"Did you not just vow to avenge your comrade's death by killing me?" Naruto turned around to look at Sasuke's body, he noticed Mieko form crouching over him in a protective/predatory like stance, her raw power still emanating darkness and rage, she seemed to forget her rage towards Haku, he would help her calm down later, for now he needed to focus on Haku "Or was that vow just empty words?" Naruto yelled and punched Haku in the face, he did not dodge the attack, he allowed it to connect to his face and force him to the ground "No, that won't do" he got to onto his knees and looked at Naruto "you're still holding back, if that is all the strength you can put into a punch then you will never keep your vow…I guess he didn't mean as much to you as you pretend" he struggled to his feet "to show mercy to those who hurt the one you serve, to allow his enemies to live when you can strike them down, this is not compassion it is a betrayal of your life's very purpose, for what reason do you exist then? You're of use to no one, your life has no meaning, it is mere existence, day after day of pain and struggle signifying nothing."

"Yeah well speak for yourself!"

"Are you really that blind little one, I am speaking for myself" he closed his eyes and smiled "today has shown me that I am no longer of use to Zabuza."

"Zabuza…why that guy anyway!? To devote your life to a rotten scum who doesn't know the meaning of the word honour, if he's really the one person that matters to you man that is the sorriest thing I've ever heard!"

"There were others that once mattered to me, long ago" Haku continued, ignoring Naruto's insult "My father and my mother, I was born in the land of water in a small village where snow lies deep in the winter, my parents were farmers and very poor, our life was hard but we were content, my parents were good to each other and kind to me, yes…we were happy once, but then everything changed…because of something that happened long before I was even born, everything changed" Naruto looked confused.

"What do you mean, what was it, what happened?"

"It wasn't my doing…it is in the blood."

"The blood?"

"So what was it? You said something happened that changed everything"

"It was my father who changed, he killed my mother and he almost killed me" Naruto looked at Haku in shock "after years of suffering the waring of civil war, the people of my land came to hate and fear anyone that carried a Kekkei Genkai in their blood."

"Kekkei Genkai?"

"The advance blood trait of a clan, its Jutsu and abilities, passed down through generation to generation, because of their unique abilities the clans were used as mercenaries, they fought many battles and where much feared but when the wars were over they were despised and shunned by the people who feared their presence would only bring more war and misfortune, so it was that after the war these clans went into hiding, denying the bloodline trait that flowed in their veins, concealing their unique abilities, knowing that being discovered would mean certain death, if you had search that boys memories I'm sure you would have found it there too" they both looked at the Uchiha boy "the cruelty of people, there fear of things they don't understand…for years my mother was successful in hiding her bloodline trait, she met and fell in love with a simple farmer, they were married and after that my mother thought she would live an ordinary peaceful life till the end of her days…my father had seen me use my power and he knew of the secret my mother had kept hidden, my father killed my mother and was too kill me too but… I killed him first, when at last I was myself again, I was no longer myself (that's really what Haku said…not kidding) my father and mother were gone but I knew something else was taken from me, something even more important…and that is when I truly despaired."

"More important than your mother and father, what?"

"My purpose, in all the world there was no one who needed me, I was…unnecessary" Once again Haku's words startled the young ninja, whose views on existence where vastly different to the ice maker "Why is it that you are so determined to be Hokage, because you want all eyes to look on you and recognise you as a great ninja, you see through the eyes of other what significance your life is, when there is no one that sees you or even looks at you as though you do not exist…then Zabuza came along and looked at me, his eyes were not full of hate and fear, he did not shun me for my strangeness, indeed my special powers were just what he needed…he made me necessary again" a reminiscing smile graced Haku's face, though his eyes betrayed sadness that Naruto could not understand "I was happy…I failed you Zabuza, I am like a weapon that has been broken and is of no further use" he began to walk towards Naruto, step by step Naruto tensed his muscles in preparation for a fight "Naruto…kill me" Naruto shook his head and stumbled back.

"That is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard! I mean, he treats you like a slave, you're a human being not a weapon or a tool, how can you care about someone like that!?"

"For that very reason" Haku replied.

"Huh?"

"Does that seem so strange to you?"

"Well, yeah a little."

"When he found me, I was without a reason or purpose for living, Zabuza gave me both…but now my usefulness is over, the only thing that gave my life meaning, is gone, I am a tool a broken weapon, I am no use to anyone…go on Naruto, do it, for both of our sakes…do it, quickly" Naruto shook his head vehemently, showing his disagreement to Haku's order "Why do you hesitate? I thought you wanted to be a mighty warrior,"

"Grrrrr that's not what it's about, do think that's all there is to it, just killing and fighting until one man is left standing!? There's a lot more to being a Shinobi then that, and there are other ways to showing your strength by beating someone in battle."

"I've had a feeling all along, from the first moment we met in the woods, we're a lot alike" Naruto's eyes widened at Haku's words "I'm sure you know what I mean, I'm only sorry that is your hand that must be tainted with my unworthy blood."

"Sure about this? And you're positive that it's the only way?"

"Yes" was Haku's simple answer, Naruto closed his eyes in frustration.

"The weird thing is, if we met another time and place we could have been friends" the leaf ninja snapped his eyes open and ran forth, he reached into his side pouch and pulled out a kunai "This is for Sasuke because he also had a dream! And no one hurts Mieko without getting punished!" Naruto brought his hand forward only for it to be grabbed by Haku.

"Sorry Naruto change of plans" he performed his one handed sign "I'm not ready to die quite yet" he jumped into the air and ran towards Zabuza and in front of Kakashi's chidori, its attack hitting directly into his chest, blood dripped from the wound and pooled at his feet "Arg….Zab…uz…a" he gripped Kakashi's wrist.

"So my future is all used up huh? Ahhahahaha wrong again Kakashi."

Naruto noticed the fog lifting and ran to where he saw three figures, he stopped when he saw his sensei's hand in Haku's chest "What? I don't get it what the hecks going on here?"

"Isn't that…the young man in that mask?" Tazuna asked Sakura, who was clutching her chest tightly.

"The boy threw himself in front of my attack" Kakashi began "He saved your worthless life at the cost of his own" Zabuza chuckled lightly.

"Well done Haku, RAAAAAAAA!"

"Kakashi sensei watch out!" Sakura yelled, seeing Zabuza raise his arm to grab his sword.

"I knew I'd found a treasure when I found you boy!" he pulled his sword out of its sheath "You have not only given me my life but Kakashi's as well!" he swing his sword down towards Haku and Kakashi's with a mighty swing, intending to finish them both off. Kakashi grabbed Haku's body and jumped away from the oncoming strike, landing at the other side of the bridge "not bad for having a corpse in your arms" Zabuza cackled madly.

"You'll pay for that!"

"Naruto! Stay out of this" Kakashi warned, he gently placed Haku's lifeless body on the ground, closing his dead open eyes in respect "this is my battle, Zabuza's mine."

"Naruto?" Sakura asked, only just seeing the blonde boy "Naruto over here!" the blondes shoulders slumped "Naruto! So you, Mieko and Sasuke are alright!"

"Ahh…umm."

"What's wrong, where is Sasuke anyway!" Naruto scrunched his eyes up and clenched his teeth, realisation crossed the pinkette's face "N-no"

"Sakura…"

"Kakashi! I'd stay focused if I was you" the silver haired man snapped his head up to look at the charging demon, without hesitation he brought his feet up and kicked the man in the jaw, sending him back.

"Let me take you to him Sakura" Tazuna offered that shocked girl "as long as we stay together you won't be disobeying your sensei's orders."

"Thank you" she grabbed Tazuna's hand and raced forward.

"Wa-wait you can't go near him!" Naruto shouted.

"Huh why not!" Sakura practically screamed.

"Because there's something wrong with Mieko, if you get close she will kill you!" he shouted back.

"No she won't she's my teammate!" Sakura ignored Naruto's shouts, she wanted to go to the love of her life and no one was going to stop her. She stopped right at Sasuke's body but was pushed back by an angered Mieko "M-Mieko it's me Sakura, let me see Sasuke" all she got was an angered roar, the female Hatake crouched her body over Sasuke in a defensive position, even with her rage expression tears where streaming down her face.

"Don't get to close Sakura, Mieko is obviously so angered by Sasuke's death that she won't listen to reason…let her grieve for him and perhaps she will calm down."

"M-Mieko please, Sasuke wouldn't want you to be like this" Mieko snapped her blackened eyes up to Sakura, humanity seeped back into her mind and the beastly thoughts disappeared.

"S-Sakura? I-I'm…." without another thought Sakura ran forth and pulled Mieko into her arms, she was scared of Mieko due to the beastly chakra she had emanated but she was more concerned with comforting the girl "he's gone….no…" her cries suddenly exploded from within her.

"Don't worry about it Sakura let it all out, you both need it" Tazuna consoled, noticing how the pink haired girl was forcing back her cries.

"C-come back to me Sasuke please…I need you" Mieko keep pleaded into Sakura's chest, the boy she cared about was gone, lying dead on the floor, she had not saved him "SASUKE!" the two girls cried loudly, not caring that they were breaking the rules of a Shinobi…all they wanted was for Sasuke to open his eyes, though no matter how much they wished they knew it was not to be so, and that made their hearts break even more. They may not be the best of friends but they both had one thing In common, they both loved Sasuke, and that can bring even enemies together to grieve.

"Sasuke!" Sakura threw herself onto Sasuke's chest, unable to comfort Mieko as she too was heartbroken.

"Sakura…It's hard to breathe with you on top of me" the pinkette gasped and jerked herself up.

"Sasuke…" she said in relief, her cries dying down as she looked into the raven haired boys eyes "Mieko…he's alive!" she cried out and hugged him tightly.

"Sakura that hurts."

"Sasuke!" Mieko looked up from the floor and saw Sasuke's raven eyes that she thought she would never see again, she sat still, staring at him through tears, thinking that if she looked away the illusion would disappear and he would be dead once more.

"…alive…he's alive" she whispered to herself, trying to make sure that these words were true.

"No you shouldn't move" Sakura cried out, trying to get Sasuke to lay back down.

"What happened to Naruto…and that guy in the mask" he gasped "what about Mieko!?"

"I'm right here…Sasuke" he jerked his head around and looked at his greatest friend and girlfriend, she sat there beside him, her eyes red from crying, a tear that looked like a sword wound was slashed through Sakura's shirt she let her borrow.

"Are you ok Mieko?" he asked frantically.

"I'm fine Sasuke, it was you I was worried about…I thought you were dead."

Sakura continued on for Mieko "And Naruto is just fine but the one in the mask…he's dead."

"Dead! But how!?" he asked "did Naruto do it?"

"Oh, I came in late I don't know what happened…he was protecting Zabuza" a smile suddenly graced her face "I had faith in you Sasuke, I knew you'd pull through, you're too cool a guy to stay down for too long" she stood from the floor and waved at Naruto whilst Mieko helped him stand, she did not relinquish her hold on him once he was standing be he didn't mind, he knew that she was trying to reassure herself that he was alive and honestly…he was doing the same.

"Naruto! Over here!" the blonde haired kid turned around and looked at Sasuke in surprise "Its Sasuke he's alive! And Mieko's ok too!"

"Well, well, will wonders never cease" Kakashi said calmly, though he too was happy that his student survived "Amazing."

"Hey! Yoooo whooo!" everyone jerked their heads over to look at Gato's men "Don't get too comfortable."

"This party ain't over yet, whose gonna pay us now that Gato's gone?"

"No way we're gonna leave here empty handed, so we'll just have to hit the village and see what they've got for us."

"Come on Kakashi sensei you must have a Jutsu that can take on this bunch of losers!" Naruto turned to his kneeling sensei.

"Naruto, right now I used up too much of my chakra."

"Get em boys!" the leader pointed to the group and the others charged.

"I guess it's my turn" Mieko muttered.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sasuke asked.

"Sakura take Sasuke" she waited for the pinkette to grab Sasuke before stretching her muscles.

"What are you going to do?" Sakura asked.

"I'm going to put my skills to good use" with those words she charged forth, a kunai was in each hand "the villagers are coming, I'm going to take out as many as I can until they arrive."

"Mieko stop!" Naruto yelled.

"Don't worry about it Naruto" Kakashi spoke "she'll be fine, she has used barely any of her chakra, these men will be killed easily by her" Mieko charged in and took out as many as she could until she heard the roaring of the townspeople "Mieko you can stop now."

"Yes papa" she quickly finished off the man she was attacking before and jumped away, she landed beside Naruto and turned towards the villagers who ran up to the mercenaries with weapons in all their hands, Gato's men looked at them in shock.

"Before you set one foot in our village, you'll have to go through all of us!"

"YEAHHH!" the villagers roared in agreement.

"Inari!" Naruto cheered happily.

"Heroes usually show up at the last minute you know" Inari replied back.

"They've all come, the whole village" tears sprung in Tazuna's eyes as he looked at his family proudly.

"Shadow clone Jutsu!" five clones of Naruto appeared suddenly.

"Think you have enough chakra to help out, papa?" Mieko asked.

"Only if you do too" they nodded to each other and did the hand sign for the clone technique "Shadow clone Jutsu! Kakashi style" over a hundred Kakashi's appeared

"My turn" Mieko smirked and did the same "Shadow clone Jutsu!" a hundred Mieko burst into life and stood in front of all the Kakashi's, further scaring all of Gato's men as it meant 100 beastly girls with claws and fangs "still wanna fight?" all the Mieko's asked in unison.

"NO THANKS!" Gato's men screamed and raced away as fast as their cowardly legs could take them "AHH!" they ran into their boat and swam away.

"Victory!" Inari yelled, earning him a cheer from his entire village.

"Sasuke!" all the Mieko's screamed and ran towards the Uchiha male.

"Ah no don't do it!" he screamed, thinking he was going to be squashed, just before they all trampled him the clones disappeared and it was the real Mieko that jumped on him, he managed to stay on his feet as both their arms wrapped around each other.

"I thought you were dead" Mieko whispered desperately into his neck, she purred in content and happiness that she was able to feel his arms around her.

"I'm not going anywhere" he tightened his hug before letting her go so she could watch Kakashi carry Zabuza's dying body over to Haku, snow began to fall from the sky.

"Haku…" Mieko muttered, she looked on with saddened eyes as her sensei placed Zabuza beside his pupil.

"You were always at my side…" Zabuza whispered to the lifeless Haku "the least I could do is to be beside you at the end" the forced his hand up to touch Haku's hair "I know I cannot be…I wish I could go to where you have gone" he touched the side of Haku's cheek softly "how I wish I could join you there…Haku" his took one last breath before the light left his body, Naruto sniffed before speaking.

"He told me…where he came from, it was always snowing…all the time…"

"Of course" Kakashi began "his spirit was as pure as snow…you never know Zabuza…maybe you will join him there."

The leaf Ninja carried Haku's and Zabuza's bodies to the edge of a cliff that overlooked the village where they buried their bodies side by side "Is that really it Kakashi sensei" Sakura broke the silence.

"Hmm?"

"Is that really the ninja way" she turned away from the graves to look at her sensei "to use and be used by people like tools?"

"Shinobi are all merely tools in the hand of destiny" he replied softly "No point wondering whether it's right or wrong…it just is, it's the same in the village hidden in the leaves."

"Well if you ask me if that is all a ninja really is then something is out of whack" Naruto said angrily "Is that why we go through all this training? Just to end up like them" he pointed to the two graves.

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

"Huu well…it's a question without an answer, and that is something we ninja have to deal with every day of our lives…like Zabuza…and the kid."

"It is a choice that is made for us by others…we have no choice which way our blade is pointed so long as it is pointed where our destinies tell it to point, that is the ninja way" Mieko spoke calmly, her hand never leaving Sasuke's.

"Ok then!"

"Huh?" everyone looked at Naruto who turned back to face them, a look of determination showing on his face.

"I've just come to a decision…from now on, I'm finding my own ninja way, a way that is straight and true and without any regrets…from now on I'm following the way of Naruto!" Kakashi smiled and laughed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"We could never have finished the bridge without you" Tazuna spoke as they all stood before the finished bridge "I can't tell you how we're going to miss you."

"You be careful" Tsunami said sweetly to the five ninja who were all packed and ready to go, Mieko was wearing one of Sakura's dresses that was too large for the pinkette to wear. She had no idea why Sakura brought dresses on the mission when she knew she didn't fit them, maybe she was going to stuff her bra with socks so it looked like her breasts were bigger.

"Thank you for everything" Kakashi replied back.

"Now now don't get all chocked up, we'll come back real soon" Naruto said happily to Inari.

"You swear you will?" the little boy asked hopefully.

"Of course, you know Inari its ok to cry if you want there nothing wrong with that, go for it" Naruto replied back, trying not to cry himself.

"Who said I'm going to cry and if there's nothing wrong with it why don't you cry?"

"Ya, you first!" it was silent for a moment before both of them began crying.

"Idiots" Mieko mumbled with a small smile, she followed the rest of her team back to their home as they walked on The Great Naruto Bridge.

Naruto laughed to his team mates as he said, "as soon as we get back I'm going to get Iruka sensei to get me a whole lot of ramen to celebrate a mission accomplished-ooh and wait until I tell Konohamaru about all my adventures, the kids gonna worship me."

"Hey" Sakura called out.

"Yeah?"

"Not you Naruto" the boy pouted "Sasuke, when we get back you wanna go out and do something together?" she asked hopefully, her heart was beating widely in the hopes of being alone with the love of her life.

"I don't think so, I just wanna stay home and get Mieko to cook me something."

"Who said I was going to cook you anything?"

"You're a better cook than me."

"So?"

"I'd rather have a good meal than a slightly less than good meal."

"That's a terrible reason" she muttered but she still agreed to cook.

"I'll go do something with you Sakura?"

"Hey that was a private conversation! Beat it!" Sakura yelled and threw Naruto off the bridge.

"Sakura don't throw him off the bridge!"Mieko ordered.

"Ah sorry Mieko!"

Kakashi smiled and laughed at his student's conversation "I have a great team."