If I own anything...Do you honestly think I would be here? Looking back at m y first two stories. I have come a long was. Sure I still have errors, but they can either be over looked or fixed. Plus it doesn't take long to go back and edit. Unlike my first two-three fic's. Funny huh…?

Well, with that I just want to thank you guys for following and what not with my stories! Thank you!

Zabuza x female Haku: 5

Sasuke x Female Haku: 3

The end result is not here yet guys as you will find out in next- later chapters. However, the choices are still there for the chosing so don't stop voting!

I have no BETA; I'm currently doing things on my own. In plus with my schedule I don't think a BETA will stick around. So, with that I hope you lovely readers don't mind in helping me out!

Cage Bird after some debate has been deleted. Sorry to those who've patiently read and stayed/follwoed that story, etc.

Last time: "..."

Now on to chapter …11!

The fight has yet to start as both opponents stand ready. No one in the audience made a sound. Zabuza and Haku sat far away from the rookie nine as they waited for one to make a move. It seems that Naruto was ready to charge as he crouched slightly only to throw out several kunai knives aiming right for Neji.

As the kunai headed straight forward the Uzumaki charged.

Neji caught the kunai with his right hand clutching it slightly all the while stopping Naruto's assaulted punch with ease; throwing the blonde who flipped just in time only to twist and land on his feet.

Naruto attacked again, but the Hyūga prodigy just dodged effortlessly.

XXXX….

Zabuza snorted and to think that, that was the brat who'd up and yelled at him some days ago.

"He has come a long way," Haku commented softly.

"Hn," was the simple reply.

'Naruto-kun,' a pale-lavender eyed girl thought.

XXX…

Naruto fully assaulted with fast punches, but yet, Neji dodged mercilessly. Not, letting the orange-clad Uzumaki get a point. He as gently as his technique was named; outstretched a palm and hits the boy sending him soaring a few feet back.

However, Naruto had other plans and attacked with all his might despite his injury.

"Give up."

Naruto stood back and smirked. "Humph. That was just a warm-up. Let's get started," and with that he prepared to perform his famous jutsu.

"Shadow clone Jutsu!"

XXX…

"Fool."

"Don't be so judgmental, Zabuza-san. It is unwise to underestimate him. Especially with his shadow clones."

Damn it. Zabuza couldn't refute to what Haku said because it was true.

XXX…

Naruto including his clones prepared kunai. "Don't… you ever count me out!"

Neji's features hardened slightly as his byakugan pulsed taking in the information that was Naruto's chakra.

Naruto charged once again.

Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't able to even make an assault as Neji flipped over two of his clones and the upper kick that was aimed for his chin.

XXX...

"Amazing," Haku commented as she watched along with thousands as Neji Hyūga rotated in the air swiftly taking out Naruto's clones.

Hmph. Zabuza snorted. "That's nothing, Haku. You should know that."

"Ay, but sparring with him would be nice."

Zabuza didn't ask who, but it didn't matter.

XX…

Apparently Naruto just didn't give up. Neji whipped out his clones once again, but this time with a small rotation leaving a crater underneath his feet.

"What- What the hell?" Naruto breathed.

"Did you really think you've won?" Neji asked with a smirk plastid on his features.

Once again Naruto performed the shadow clone.

XX…

"Well, I be damned," Zabuza breathed out airily. "Should have known he was fighting a, Hyūga."

"You mean …That boy has the douju eye kekkei genkai."

"Yeah," her companion replied; "Similar, but not the same to the eyes of the brat."

Haku nodded. She didn't need an explanation on whom, Zabuza-san was talking about, but at the mention of the Uchiha she didn't know what to feel. After all, the teen boy confused her to no end.

XXX…

Naruto fell to the ground most likely unconscious. The proctor walked over to check on the fallen fighter, but Naruto was slowly, but surely getting up.

Naruto had a shaky smile as he prepared for one final hope. The only hope he had left to finishing the fight.

"I hate when people look down on others just so they can please themselves. "His blue eyes looked serious as they gaze at Neji with determination and resolve. "People don't deserve that, and failures….Heh, "his smile was crooked before his features changed and he looked like a predator about to charge at his prey. " I'm always called that and today..." He declared." I'm going to prove them wrong."

Neji's byakugan flared to live as he blanched a little. "What the hell is that? Chakra…? Or is it even chakra?"

XX...

'That's not chakra!' Haku thought seeing it for the first time. 'What- What is that?'

XX...

Neji could barely keep up with Naruto's enhancement. They were matched kunai for kunai. Chakra with demonic chakra clashed.

XX...

The audience was amazed. To stunned to rebuke a comment of disbelief. Holy shite! What in the hell happened?! When did the dead last, Uzumaki become…

'He has indeed gotten stronger. I wonder if...' Haku shrugged the person out of her mind and glanced at Zabuza-san with a fond smile. He was shocked as well it seems.

With bated breath and anticipation the audience looked on.

XXX...

Neji was pushing himself out of the huge burial – crater. However, as instantly as he stood Naruto's fist slowly emerged from the ground and gut him straight on the chin; sending Neji flying up swiftly the n just as swiftly landing on the ground with a thud.

"How…?"

"Because..." Naruto panted. "I was always called a failure. I failed the graduation test three times," Naruto continue to pant. "And, there was always one that I couldn't master. The shadow clone."

Neji's eyes widen.

"That's right. So, don't tell me about fates can't be changed."

The proctor closed his eyes with a smirk. "Winner! Uzumaki, Naruto!"

England...

"One may seem far away, but it is closer than you think."

Harry turned on his back and looked at the blank wall that greeted him. He couldn't sleep. The conversation he had with Snape was one that he wished he had answers to because the man didn't tell him a single thing.

"Potter, stay away and wait. That's all you can do."

"Why..? Why must I wait? I've waited long enough!" he remembers shouting. "Fifteen years. Fifteen long years..."

He could have sworn he saw an emotion flicker in those black depths. "Another wait will not hinder you. You are a lion are you not?"

Harry gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, looking away he didn't answer. Of course he was a Gryffindor. But, he hated not knowing anything once again, he hated that Voldemort could be moving while he was sitting here back at the Dursley's, he hated that he had to wait longer to know of his sister, he hated-

"The vision that you speak of," Snape spoke breaking him out of his thoughts. "That was your sister."

The realization shocked him. That suspicion creped in his mind on occasion, but... "I don't understand, professor."

Snape remained silent pursing his lips. "Potter, don't ask any questions that I cannot answer. You just need to know that yes that is what you have witnessed."

So... No, wait how did Snape know this? Did he witness..?..." How is she? Please, professor at least let me know something!" Harry begged. "Something other than that's she …

When Snape answered he thought he was speaking to a robot or a soulless being that had no commands. "I can't answer questions that I'm not permitted."

"Why?!" Harry was losing his temper. He already knew that he-

Snape didn't answer and Harry sighed running a hand roughly through his hair. "Then can you at least tell me something. I don't understand, professor."

"There's nothing to understand Potter. Tell me," Snape drawled with a demanding tone." Why are you so insistent on knowing? "He didn't give Harry enough time to answer asking another - more like demanded to know of his life with the Dursley's.

Harry thought farther. He had to agree to some extent that people just didn't come back to life, but then...No, the Hogwarts ghost were just ghost not really alive. Unfortunately, the ghost thing was far from his mind now and he was thinking of the how and why.

Why did Snape want to know of his life with his relatives? Did he want to make truce?

How did his sister come back? Surely where she was living there wasn't someone like Fawkes there, right? What kind of killing curse was performed, or was it even such?

He didn't know anything. Was his sister living in a wizarding world that was more advanced than wizarding-Britain? Was it so hard for them to realize that all he wanted was to meet his sister? Why couldn't he go to Japan just once and see for himself?

Harry turned his back now facing the wall. Angst-ing about his current situation wasn't going to help him and he knew it.

Harry sighed tiredly and took off his glasses placing them on the nightstand; closing his bright emerald eyes. Maybe some sleep would make him feel belter.

After all; he only had a few more weeks to endure.

It was indeed Dumbledore. His eyes twinkled with a gleam that shown that he gleaming.

Snape didn't like it; it was to perfect. Too much like he found a breach in a security ward of the most top secret organization and the pitying part was that he knew that, Dumbledore wouldn't care for the consequences whether they were good or not.

No one said a word and Snape wondered if the man was silently using legimens on him, but quickly put that thought away as he still held up his barriers.

"Severus," Dumbledore finally spoke with a smile that wasn't' at all like his usual self. It showed that he was manipulative, slick, and... "You've been a very bad, boy."

Could he have phrased that differently...? Snape felt as if he wanted to throw up right there; "I beg to differ. "

"Oh…?" Dumbledore said his mood sounding more amused now more than anything. "You disagree with me. " Dumbledore's smile never wavered and he held one finger pointedly. He will get the information that he's been wanting and...

Snape mind went blank as the real reason why Dumbledore came sunk in. He watched as the headmaster lifted up a single finger pointing it at him. So, he wanted to use sick methods, huh? So, be it. He wasn't going to get the information from him!

Five minutes later and Dumbledore was ready to try again, but he knew a futile attempt when he saw one. "Very well, then I see you're being a stubborn mule. Well, then since you refuse to tell no matter what methods I use farther…. Then, why?"

Snape didn't answer.

"You cannot keep the girl out of her birth right. She is the Girl-Who-Lived and Harry's only relative that will welcome him."

"So," Snape sneered venomously after a moment. "Is that it? Surely his friends would surface?"

Dumbledore fledged innocence. "Come now, you know what I have done. Surely –

"Lily and James," Snape restrained himself from sneering the man's name. "Of course," Dumbledore waved it off interrupting Snape. "They wouldn't, but we need them both in order to fulfill the prophecy."

Snape clenched his fist. So, they were nothing more than sacrifices? He knew it, but hearing it was a whole other story.

"Get out," Snape was now seething. "Get out."

"Well, of course. See you at the meeting in two weeks." Dumbledore said with an elderly smile, but his eyes held that twinkle that Snape loathed.

KONOHA….

Obsidian eyes widen like saucers. First jade eyes that belonged to Sakura closed and her head hung with the impact of the sand. Then because Haku wanted to help the girl (Haku sees no evil in anyone, but if it is orders she will have to forgo that belief) managed to dodge the sand, but she only managed to keep that monster away from him for so long.

Sasuke didn't know what to do and his curse seal was cursing at him painfully like being struck with cold needles from the inside out. Where was that damn Zabuza Momoichi? Why wasn't he here? Why did Haku just come and fight that monster on her own?

Sasuke didn't know the answers, but it didn't matter at the moment what mattered was that he wasn't strong enough. Wasn't strong enough to help, neither Haku nor his teammate and most importantly he was weak.

Weak. He hated that feeling, that word. It made him angry, made him want to destroy and hate with untenable passion.

WHAT? NARUTO THAT IDIOT!

"Save…them," he found himself whispering in pain.

Naruto nodded seriously and fled towards the monster known as, Sabaku no Garra.

How..? It wasn't right. Sasuke watched in disbelief as Naruto summoned a gigantic toad. This just confirmed it. He was weak.

The two insane genin charged one final time and Sasuke recoiled in rage.

Sakura Haruno sat in a chair cutting up apples as she smiled sadly, looking at the raven that was sleeping. Sasuke stirred and Sakura jumped up. "Sasuke-Kun I...

Sakura turned around seeing their blonde teammate.

"Fight me," was the cold demand.

Sakura tried to protest, but Sasuke ignored her completely stepping on the apples that he knocked down with no remorse what so ever. "Fight me."

Next thing Sakura knew they were on the roof and her two teammates were clashing violently. Horror stricken she ran forward only to be blocked by ice mirrors.

"Don't interfere, Sakura-Chan. Not with those two," it was Haku, Sakura noted.

"How could you?!" Sakura shrieked. "They're going to kill each other! Sasuke-kun," she muttered looking away, tears beginning to fall from her jade orbs.

Haku didn't even look at the girl who was going into hysterics.

Two screams of slight pain later and Haku dropped her mirrors and the two were met with the sight of both boys being held by their collars.

Kakashi and Zabuza held the Uchiha while a white haired man by the name of Jiraiya held Naruto. Sasuke eyes were on Haku and he wretched himself from the two men and waltz over towards the emerald eyed girl.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear something that only she could hear. Haku's eyes widen and she blanched only for a second, before her color returned.

Zabuza narrowed his eyes, before muttering "Let's go," Haku mutely nodded and followed Zabuza not looking back at team seven.

The next morning the funeral was held in honor of the third Hokage. Many, so many were saddened, but the inauguration for the fifth hokage was held after the funeral and many rejoiced, but it will still take some time to get used to.

"Zabuza-san," Haku called leaning on his shoulders.

Zabuza squeezed Haku a little tighter as he gritted his teeth. Yesterday that damn Uchiha said something to her and she hasn't been her carefree self. In fact every time she saw the brat it was of a fear and grief along with a hope that it wouldn't happen lingered in her emerald orbs.

Zabuza glanced down at hearing even breathing. Haku was asleep and holding him tightly as if he was going to vanish when she woke.

Dream…

Haku walked with a smile down a corridor, but a frown soon marred her features. Last time she checked she was in a wooden home that Zabuza and she lived in together. And she was in the small flower gardens.

"Zabuza-san," she called tentatively.

As she neared the light she could only see emerald eyes as clear as her own, but no figure. Another figure to her left, but all she saw was ruby red eyes. On first Haku looked on in fear as she thought it was the Uchiha, but the eyes were to ruby, too normal to be such and then she heard a hiss.

A snake? Haku frowned she didn't summon the snake, so why?

She couldn't understand, but then everything seemed to brighten and the ruby eyes although gleamed maliciously began to vanish then suddenly the emerald eyed figure screamed.

A boy, Haku muttered to herself. Who was that boy?

She ran forward once she saw Zabuza-san, but then stopped looking horror stricken. He was fading away too fast, and too soon for her liking.

Haku reached out a hand to grab her precious person, but then black coal eyes that showed no emotion what so ever looked at her.

"Sasuke..." she breathed out. "Zabuza-

His lips moved words uttering from them coldly.

Zabuza jolt when Haku bolted like lighting, panting. She was looking around frantically, searching.

"Haku," Zabuza called gently. Haku turned her eyes taking in his face uncertain.

That's it! Zabuza growled and grabbed Haku by the hand. The latter yelped slightly, but it was enough for him to loosen his hold into a more gently coxing one.

Tsunade, Kakashi and the second member of team seven, Sasuke Uchiha sighed inwardly. There goes a new door.

"As much as I am glad to see you both," Tsunade started, but then rubbed her temples at seeing an infuriated Zabuza. It was bad enough that Kakashi kept on sending his student disappointing looks and now the other Jōnin was sending him murderous looks.

Just what in the hell did the Uchiha do?

Tsunade roughly ran a hand through her blond-golden locks. "Alright then Sasuke Uchiha since you refuse to give in... handover your mission folder. I will give it once I deemed it necessary, but till then your cut from the mission."

Sasuke didn't say a word and inside the deepest pits of his mind Orochimaru was pleased. Why? Because it was thanks to his influence that the boy said such a thing to the girl he liked, but Orochimaru couldn't have the boy thinking of such at the moment after all, time was running out.

"Zabuza Momoichi and Haku," Tsunade spoke carefully her amber eyes watching the raven teen carefully. "You may leave for the mission immediately. Guards," she stated firmly; "Perimeters pronto!"

The two guards that always accompanied Snape nodded and vanished with as swirl of smoke.

Tsunade rubbed her temples felling a headache coming, "Shizune bring me sake!"

Shizune who was just about to enter the office scurried down the halls.

"The rest of you dismissed."

XXX21…

Snape didn't care and he visited Harry once more with or without Dumbledore's permission. He was glad that the boy was going back tomorrow because he was sure the boy was entering a phase. Honesty one minute he was glad to see the positions master and the next he wanted to punch the wall. Snape dryly called it hormones, but unfortunately just as he was about to walked over towards the home his seal tinged.

Why were they here now? It wasn't time for him to report back just yet. Snape left the small neighborhood and walked down the streets – no the alley ways till he reached a dead end.

He bowed, "Enough," the masked man spoke; his mask was that of a panther. "We're not going to send you there. Just come with us the fifth wishes your immediate presence."

Snape frowned he didn't know what was going on, but something must have happened. He nodded and went along with the two guards.

Before he knew it he was in Konoha's tower. "Wish that I didn't have to see you again," Snape groaned. It was that mad –woman. The woman that beated him, before she healed his wounds.

"Tell them to come here pronto," the woman Tsunade ordered. "Their client is here."

A guard nodded and headed off and was only gone for a few second, before the guard and two others appeared in the room.

Snape eyes widen. He didn't think they would actually take his offered mission. His mind twisted and turned for possible reasons, but none came to mind. What changed?

"Well then, let's go."

O-MAKE!

It's been a few weeks and the news that Harry was coming back tomorrow eluded their suspicions of Dumbledore's decision. The gang was sitting crowed inside the barrow.

"Can't believe it!" Ron blurted happily." He's coming back."

"I know it just seem so overwhelming," Hermione stated absent-mindedly. "It's been weeks and we haven't heard a word from him."

"Yeah... It felt as though he never came," Ginny whispered.

"True it did," George supplied.

"But, it'd be," Fred chirped in.

"Worth the postponement we went through," they said in unison with matching grins.

A shout, "Come on CHILDERN hurry it up! We're leaving in thirty minutes!" Mrs. Weasley hollered.

The twins grinned, Ginny perked up, and Harry's two best friends suppress their happiness, but all in all they all ran down the stairs ten minutes after Mrs. Weasley shouted.

Meanwhile in Konoha certain silver haired Jōnin was hoping for the best for two certain individuals. While a raven haired teen brooded because Haku was gone earlier than planned.

N'cut! Oh, my, did Sasuke jeopardize his portion of the mission completely? What exactly did he say to Haku to have her so shaken? What will happen next? But, one thing is clear though; the mission has become active and has started. Again, what will happen next? Review, do whatever!

'I Trust Only You', will be up-dated when I get to that story.

Well, until next chapter…I'm out!