09. What I'm Fighting For

"You were right, this was his last-"

"I'm a member of the elite…"

"Zabuza is alive…"

"Aaaahhh!"

I shot up, gasping for air. Cold sweat ran down the side of my face and down my back as the screams echoed in my head. My mind was racing alongside my heart. I tried to suck in deeper breaths of the cool air in attempt to slow my rapid breathing and calm my panicked mind. It was just a dream, Nakao. Get your shit together.

Finally, after a long moment, I managed to get my breathing under control. I listened to the birds chirping overhead as I hugged myself against the cool morning air. I glanced about myself, first at the trees that completely surrounded me, then up to the sky. I could see the sun shining through the canopies, attempting to dry the dew on the grass that I sat in. It was still early in the morning, as my fatigue and weary muscles could already guess.

It'd been so dark outside last night that it was impossible to navigate my way back to the clearing we'd been training in. I'd tried but ended up quite lost. In the morning light, I found myself regretting my impulsiveness. My surroundings didn't look familiar at all, but how was one to discern one patch of forestry from another?

I turned my gaze to the substitute tree I'd practiced on. Without my original tree to compare it to, I couldn't be certain, but I thought I'd manage to climb higher. At least there were no dents in the bark. That was an improvement at least. I noted a scratch near the base of the tree where I must have fallen from exhaustion. I hadn't planned to pass out, out here in the woods, but then I often had a habit of losing track of time while training.

A yawn escaped my lips as I stretched. My stomach was rumbling, but I'd probably have to skip breakfast. The boys were probably out here by now and I had no intentions on being even later to the party.

I was just peering around, contemplating on the direction to head through when a flash of color caught my eye. I strained my ears to hear the sound of footsteps as a figure moved through the brush before me. They were wearing pink.

"Sakura?" I called out.

The figure stopped for a moment before passing through the brush. I scrambled to my feet when I realized the new arrival was not Sakura. The slim figure wore a pink kimono, delicately decorated with flowers. Their long brown hair fell down their back in a sheet, shining in the sunlight. Deep brown eyes found mine, greeting me warmly. A basket filled with flowers hung at their side.

"I'm afraid not," they chuckled easily. "Are you looking for her?"

I watched the girl move over to me as I shook my head. "Oh, n-no; I'm sorry. I saw the pink and thought you might be my teammate."

The girl tilted her head. "I haven't seen a girl in the woods yet this morning; aside from you of course. Although I am seeing quite a few people out here today. Usually these woods are desolate."

"Ah, must have been the boys," I muttered to myself more than to her.

"Naruto?" She asked.

"Bright orange jacket? Blonde hair?" I asked, tugging at my clothes as if to accentuate the point.

She nodded with a smile.

"That's him," I sighed with a slight smile. "He must be out training."

Another nod. "Yes, he did say that's what he was doing. I think the other boy I passed was looking for him."

"Sasuke. I should go find them," I said just as my stomach rumbled again.

The girl giggled and dug into her woven basket. "You should eat something before you go."

I eyed the baked pastry she pulled from the basket. "Oh no, that's okay!"

"Please, I insist," she smiled, settling herself into the grass.

I was about to decline again but she patted the grass next to her and I found myself relenting as I sat down beside her. She handed me the baked good and I thanked her as she pulled one out for herself.

"This is delicious!" I said, blushing a little as I felt crumbs dribble down my front.

That warm smile again. We ate in silence for a minute before I felt her eyes on me and I peeked over.

"Are you out here training too?" The girl finally asked me.

I swallowed before responding this time. "Yes, I am. What are you doing out here so early?"

I took a glance at the basket she carried. What had first appeared to be flowers were, upon closer inspection, herbs.

"I'm collecting medicinal herbs for my friend…he's hurt badly," the girl replied, noticing my gaze.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I said sympathetically, glancing back up to the girl's face.

"Naruto, is he a friend of yours?" the girl suddenly asked.

Her change of subject caught me off guard. "Oh, um…I guess you could say that. We're teammates."

"Teammates."

I nodded.

The girl smiled again. "I spoke with him. The both of you seem very nice. The other boy…"

She trailed off and I found myself chuckling. "Sasuke's always in a foul mood. Don't take it personally."

"So you're all out here training?"

"Yes," I glanced subconsciously back at my tree. "I came out here last night to get some training in…but now it appears that I'm lost…"

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.

"Are you all training for the same reason?" She asked, cocking her head curiously.

I blinked at the strange question. But then, I reasoned, it might seem curious as to why we were so obsessed with our training. "What reason did he give you?"

"He said that he wanted to become stronger and stronger, so that one day he could be the number one ninja in his village."

I could hear Naruto's voice say the words in my head. I let out a slight laugh. "Yeah…he's a dreamer."

"I told him…" the girl's eyes seemed to lose their focus, as though she was remembering a distant memory. "That to become truly strong…you must do so because you want to protect someone important to you."

I watched the girl blankly. I wasn't sure what to make of her. Did people normally talk like that? Maybe just in this village...?

She turned her big, brown eyes back to me. "Do you have someone to become strong for?"

Images flashed in my mind. My brother laughing, covered in the flour I'd tossed at him. Kiba lounging in the sun as Akamaru ran around him, nipping at the butterflies. I saw Naruto and Sakura bickering and Kakashi-sensei trying to keep the piece. An imagine of a younger Sasuke tossing me a ball.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, attempting to dislodge the last image that floated through my mind. But when I reopened my eyes, I noticed the girl was still watching me, waiting for an answering. Slowly, I gave her the slightest of smiles. "Yes…I do."

The girl smiled before glancing down at her lap. Realizing I'd long since finished my pastry and the day threatened to tick on, I wiped my hands against my pants.

"Thank you so much for breakfast," I told the girl. "I must be going. But it's been a pleasure, Ms….?"

A chuckle. "Your friend made the same mistake. I'm actually a boy."

Realizing my jaw had dropped, I snapped my mouth shut. My face felt hot and I felt all the more embarrassed knowing it was probably shining beet red.

"I'm so sorry!" I sputtered out, flustered. "You pull off 'pretty' very well!"

Why are you so awkward!?

But the boy didn't seem bothered, he smiled at me. "I think you pull it off better."

I had to glance away. What shade was darker than crimson?

"Well I-uh, I should really find…my uh, teammates," I stuttered, wincing as I did so.

The boy pointed over my shoulder. "Your friends are that way; just head straight through."

"R-Right," I braved showing him my face so he could see the sincere smile I gave him. "Thank you."

"I hope you grow stronger."

And with that, the boy gave me one last, small smile, nodded in farewell and took his leave. I watched his back retreat before realizing I never did get his name. Well, too late now. I turned in the direction he'd directed me, ran my fingers through my hair and moved forward.

—

"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Sasuke snapped.

I stood behind a tree, not daring to breathe. I'd been just about to emerge into the clearing where my teammates stood, when I heard Sasuke scolding Naruto. I'd been far to surprised, and curious, to interrupt the conversation

"Why would I know where she is?" Naruto countered, annoyed. "She must have snuck out after me."

"Well we need to go find her," Sasuke said impatiently.

"She's probably just out in the woods; I'm sure she'll find us," Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Unless she passed out from training and cracked her skull open, you moron," Sasuke glared at the blonde.

Naruto gasped, grabbing at his head. "You're right! We need to go find her right now!"

"Calm down," Sasuke bopped Naruto in the back of the head.

My mind was reeling but I decided it would be a good time to reveal myself. I stepped out from behind the tree and into the clearing. Sasuke's back was to me as he stood in front of a grumbling Naruto, blocking his view

"I'm so touched with your concern, Sasuke," I smiled, stopping behind the boy.

"Nakao!" Naruto grinned, peering around Sasuke.

Sasuke merely turned around, watching me with his usual lethargic expression. "I wasn't concerned."

"That's not what it sounded like to me," I teased.

Sasuke crossed his arms, rolling his eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

I rolled my eyes too before whispering in Naruto's ear. "He SO was."

Naruto let out a snarky laugh and I felt Sasuke glare at me. I ignored him the same way I ignored years of pent-up turmoil and walked over to my tree.

—

"Naruto! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura's voice rang through the clearing. She and Kakashi-sensei stopped in front of the marred trees, glancing around. "Naruto still hasn't shown up and Sasuke never came back from his walk…"

Suddenly, a kunai came hurtling towards the pair, digging itself into the ground at their feet. Surprised, Sakura and Kakashi-sensei glanced from the kunai, up into Naruto's tree. He was in a very high branch, lying atop it with his legs and arms hanging on either side.

"Woah…someone like Naruto can climb that high?" Sakura whispered in surprise.

"How do you like that!? Look how high I can climb!" Naruto grinned. He hopped to his feet, hands on his hips. However, just as he stood, he lost his footing and started to fall.

"Ah, idiot!" Sakura cried as she and Kakashi-sensei watched with wide eyes.

Just as Naruto fell beneath the branch, however, he reattached his feet, now hanging upside down on his branch. "Haha, you guys totally fell for it!"

"Naruto, you moron!" Sakura yelled, a vein pulsating in her forehead.

Naruto grinned, chuckling to himself for a moment until pop. With a sound like a large bubble popping, Naruto's feet detached from the tree branch. Sakura screamed while Kakashi-sensei's eye widened. In a flash, I darted up a tree nearby, jumping over to Naruto's. Attaching my feet to the bottom of the branch like Naruto had done several moments earlier, I managed to catch him by the ankle.

"Naruto, you moron," I rolled my eyes, hair falling around my like a curtain.

"Woah, Nakao can get that high too now?" Sakura breathed.

"I think you owe me ramen now," I smirked slyly.

"What!? Never!" Naruto tried to twist his body to yell at me.

"Ah, Naruto, stop!" I cried out, but it was too late. The velocity that Naruto was exerting pulled against my body and with another pop, my feet also detached from the tree branch.

"Ah, Naruto I'm going to kill you!" I screamed, squeezing my eyes shut. Naruto had already started yelling, flailing his arms out.

Just when I thought I'd die in the most un-noble of ways, I was jarred to a stop. Surprised,I glanced up to find that Sasuke had caught me by my ankle.

"You both are complete idiots," Sasuke said.

"Hey, don't make me pull you off this branch too!" I threatened.

"I'll just drop you."

"No, don't drop me!" I cried.

On the ground, Sakura and Kakashi-sensei sweatdropped.

—

The night was warm with a gentle breeze, enough to make the leaves on the trees sway. The moon was just a crescent, still shining and illuminating my body. Sasuke, Naruto and I were perched on the very tops of our trees, looking down at the canopies below. I breathed deeply in through my nose, letting it flow through me.

Sasuke was standing on the top of his tree, his head bent down and his arms crossed. Naruto was clutching onto the top of his, looking much like a koala bear. I had stuck my kunai into the very top of the tree to rest my foot on, while the other helped me grip the tree.

I felt free up here, high above the world. High above the troubles and the worries. They were still there, but from up here, they suddenly seemed beatable. Conquerable.

Grinning, I shook damp bangs out of my face and turned to Naruto. "Naruto, you totally owe me and Sasuke ramen!"

"What!? I beat you guys by a mile!"

"Keep dreaming! I stuck my kunai into the tip of the tree first!"

"Awwww," Naruto threw his head back in disappointment. I stuck my tongue out at him, smiling playfully.

"Let's head back," Sasuke said from the other side, glancing up and smirking.

I looked over to him, smiling. "Roger that."

—

"Why do we have to carry you, Naruto?" I complained, huffing we effort. Sasuke and I supported him between us and hauled him all the way back to Tazuna's. "I'm tired too."

Naruto mumbled something in reply. Reaching the front door to Tazuna's home, our little group stopped.

"Nyeh, Sasuke, get the door," I said over Naruto's head.

"You get the door," Sasuke countered.

"Don't be such a baby."

Sasuke glanced over to me. Our eyes locked for a moment as the breeze blew past us, blowing my tangled hair gently around my shoulders. Finally, Sasuke looked away, grabbed the door handle and pushed it inwards. The three of us stumbled inside awkwardly, due to the fact the door was not wide enough to fit the three of us horizontally at once.

When we entered, everyone was sitting at the dining table, Tsunami placing food on the table. Everyone looked up as we wandered in. Tazuna spoke up. "You three are filthy."

"I could use a bath," I mumbled tiredly.

"We made it to the top…all three of us," Naruto smirked, struggling to raise his head to look at everyone in the room.

Kakashi-sensei nodded. "Good. Then Sasuke, Naruto, Nakao; the three of you will begin guarding Tazuna tomorrow as well."

Naruto grinned, his eyes widening happily. He jumped up into the air. "Yes!"

"Ah, no!" I cried as Naruto couldn't keep his balance and he fell backwards, bringing me and Sasuke with him.

"You idiot!" Sasuke scoffed.

I landed hard on my back, but I couldn't help the elated laugh that escaped my lungs. Everyone else in the room followed suit.

—

Sitting beside Sasuke, I had scoffed my food down in the least feminine way possible. In fact, Sasuke had even turned a raised eyebrow in my direction several times for my lack of etiquette. Now that the food was all eaten and Tsunami was clearing away the plates, we all sat around the table, content.

"The bridge is almost complete," Tazuna announced. "And it's all thanks to you."

"But don't push yourself too hard," Tsunami warned from the kitchen sink.

"I've been wanting to ask you," Tazuna glanced at Kakashi-sensei. "Why did you continue with the mission even when I had hidden details from you?"

"Not doing right when you know it is right is a coward's way. There are no weak soldiers under a valiant commander," Kakashi recited. "Those are the words of the first Hokage."

I listened, watching my sensei with my head resting on my arms that lay crossed on the table top. Both Tazuna and Tsunami seemed impressed by the words. I had heard them a million times before between Keitaro and the Academy.

"Why…" I heard Inari whisper from my right.

I glanced over. His head was bowed and tears were dropping from his face and onto the table. Everyone else looked over as well. I lifted my head, frowning, wandering if I should comfort the boy. If I could comfort the boy.

"Why what?" Naruto asked, across the table. He too had been resting his head on the table and glanced up when Inari had spoken.

Inari got to his feet, slamming a small hand down on the table. He glared at me and my teammates. "Why are you trying so hard that you wind up like that!? You can't beat Gatoh's men even if you train! No matter how hard you try to say those good-looking words, weak people are going to lose against strong people!"

His outburst had stunned me and I couldn't help my chin dropping open. My other teammates, save Naruto, were equally surprised.

"Shut up, I'm different from you," Naruto responded, putting his head back down on the table.

"Shut up!" Inari screamed, causing me to jump, startled. "Seeing you pisses me off! You don't know anything about this country and yet you butt in! I'm different from you; someone who doesn't know any real pain and laughs all the time!"

I cringed. Naruto didn't even lift his head when he responded. He kept his face shadowed. "Is that why you pretend to be the main character of a tragic play and cry all the time? An idiot like you can just keep crying, you crybaby!"

"Naruto! That was too much!" Sakura scolded.

I said nothing as Naruto got to his feet and walked out of the room. Slowly, I looked back to Inari. His head was bowed and he was crying even harder now, tears streaming down his face. His shoulders rising up and down in rapid succession as he hiccuped through his cries.

I glanced down to my lap. The words fell quietly from my lips before I could stop them. "My mother always said: There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast."

I glanced up just in time to see that Inari had turned his dark, watery eyes on me. And there was so much pain to be found there. So raw and unstoppable that it took my breath away. For a minute I forgot they were Inari's eyes and I saw my own eyes there, the way they'd looked in the mirror for so many years…

I was jarred to reality when Inari shoved back his chair and fled from the room. Looking concerned, Tsunami quickly ran after him.

A ringing silence followed, where none of us spoke. Tazuna refused to look up from the tabletop.

Finally, Kakashi-sensei sighed and looked to his three remaining students. "You should probably get some sleep. We have to be up early tomorrow."

"Ummm…" I started, awkwardly.

"What is it, Nakao?" Kakashi-sensei asked, focusing his beady eye on me. Sakura and Sasuke looked to me as well.

I glanced away from all of them, adverting my gaze to the side. Embarrassed, I spoke hardly loud enough to hear. "I…um…I can't get up…"

As mortifying as it was, I was exhausted. My body had finally had enough. I felt like a ragdoll.

"You're such an idiot," Sasuke sighed.

I turned my head to glare at him but came up short when I realized he was on his feet and making his way towards me. My pride tried to bubble to the surface as Sasuke slung my left arm over his shoulder. My body, however, seemed to go even limper. I could hate myself later. I could see Sakura bristle over Sasuke's shoulder.

"Thanks…" I mumbled, eyes adverted in any direction that Sasuke was not. Sasuke helped me through the house.

"Whatever," was all he said.

Sasuke pushed the door open to the room I shared with Tsunami and Sakura. Tsunami had laid out my bed for me, and I'd never seen a lovelier sight.

"Um…I can't take it from here," I said, pulling away from Sasuke.

It's not like I meant to lie. I tried to get down there, I really did. But the moment I let go of Sasuke, I immediately began to fall to the ground. Actually, since my bed was so close to the wall, I was probably going to smack my head on the wall first, then crumple to the ground. As I prepared for impact, Sasuke grabbed me around the waist.

"You're an idiot," Sasuke sighed quietly as he tugged me away from the wall.

My breathing shallowed as I became acutely aware that my back was almost touching his chest. My nerve endings were on hyperdrive, remind me again and again how close I was to Sasuke. I could feel my cheeks warming and I was horrified, albeit confused, by the thought. Sasuke removed his hands from my waist and repositioned them to my shoulders, assisting me safely to the ground.

As soon as I was sitting in bed and Sasuke had released me, my awareness switched to the rest of the room again. It suddenly felt oddly cold and I rubbed at my arms. The sudden change in the air capacity of my lungs was embarrassingly noticeable. But hopefully just to me. I could barely bring myself to look up at Sasuke and only managed an awkward peek.

"Thanks," I said, coughing when I noticed a change in the normal tone of my voice. I shifted uncomfortably atop my sheets.

"Don't hurt yourself trying to sleep," was all Sasuke said before turning his back on me and leaving the room.

I watched his back disappear through the doorway, my chest rising up and down at an abnormal rate. It took me several moments to even realize I'd been insulted.

"Hey!" I yelled to the empty doorway.

—

"Please take care of Naruto," Kakashi-sensei asked of Tsunami. "He used his body to the max so I don't think he'll be able to move far today."

It was early morning now and our team, Tazuna and Tsunami were gathered outside. Tsunami was seeing us off, for we were leaving to head to the bridge. Birds chirped above as the two conversed.

"Are you sure your body is feeling well enough?" Tsunami asked of Kakashi.

"Yes," Kakashi-sensei assured.

"Bye!" Tazuna said, turning his back to his daughter and leading my team towards the bridge. This was going to be my first time actually seeing it up close. As sore as my body was, I was humming with the energy that came with finally performing my duties.

—

"Wh-What is this!?" Tazuna exclaimed.

I could feel something was wrong the moment we stepped foot on the bridge. Our wide eyes took in the carnage; the bodies strewn against the ground, the crimson stains on the freshly constructed concrete. I could smell the death. Even those whose bodies still shuddered and gasp, clawing at fatal wounds, reeked of death. Their faces twisted in the same agony permanently etched on those who'd been lucky to parish in a single strike.

As the horror surrounded me, so did heavy mist. It came in tendrils, rolling in from some unseen force. As it encased us I took a sharp intake of air as the distinct feel of the thick mist sent off warning bells in my brain.

"Sasuke, Sakura, Nakao, he's coming!" Kakashi-sensei whispered urgently.

The four of us surrounded Tazuna, shielding him on all sides with our bodies. Sasuke and Sakura both pulled out a kunai as their eyes scanned the mist. I unsheathed my daggers.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi," Zabuza's voice rang out, surrounding us just as his mist had. "And you're still carrying around those brats I see. And that one's still shaking, how pitiful."

I gasped as Zabuza clones appeared all around us. I pressed my back tightly against Tazuna's and gripped my daggers tighter still, holding them out in front of me.

"I'm shaking…with excitement," I heard Sasuke smirk.

"Have at it Sasuke," Kakashi said.

In a flash, Sasuke had driven his kunai through every water clone that had surrounded us. As he landed back in his original spot, the clones dissolved to water and splashed onto the concrete ground.

"Flawless," I found myself smirking as the confidence spread through me.

"So, he can defeat the water clones. The brat's improved."

I glanced over my shoulder to see Zabuza standing several yards in front of us. He had changed his outfit and was now wearing a black tank top and purple leg-warmers and arm guards. He was still wearing the bandages wrapped around his face. The tracker ninja boy was standing beside him, still wearing that mask over his face.

"Looks like you have a rival, Haku," Zabuza commented, never taking his eyes off of our group.

"It appears so," Haku said. His voice was as soft as before but there was something in his tone that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. My grip tightened on my daggers and ignored the dread his words wrought.

Author's Note: Quote credit Charles Dickons. A love-filled thank you for everyone following Nakao's tale. Bonus points for your thoughts and opinions.