Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but the Gushikan family and a select few is mine.

Chapter 22~ Clock

Tick tock

I sat with my legs crossed.

Tick tock

Balance and my weapons pouch just out of reach.

Tick t-

Haku has a kunai pressed against my jugular.

Kakashi is glaring at me but with a hint of worry and Naruto just looks confused.

I can see Zabuza counting in his head.

Tick fuckity Tock.

I closed my eyes and screamed internally.

Conscience better not had messed up.

The wind whistled across the bridge and everyone was silent except Zabuza who was creepily humming.

I was stiff all over and had my arms crossed. My shoulders tightened with every passing second and I silently clenched my jaw.

I sat counting the seconds as they went by, my mind clustered with worry. After all, what if I made the wrong choice? This would be the end of me, the end of breakfast with dad and Usagi, the end of playing with Usagi and dad training me, the end of me and Naruto's ramen trips.

My conscience only laughed at me and reassured me that it probably wouldn't even take eight minutes, that we had some safely time. However, it didn't calm me. My stomach churned as I slowly realized that I could be minutes from death.

The time continued to tick and I began to sweat. We were at six minutes, my conscience was beginning to recount the amount of minutes it should have taken.

That only worries me more. Due to my family's weirdness it seems I can't feel fear... but I definitely feel unsettled.

I opened my eyes and gulped quietly. Where are they? Where is Gato?

Seven minutes 30 seconds

Seven minutes 40 seconds

Seven minutes 50 seconds

Haku's blade pressed harder against my throat and my eyes drifted to Zabuza. He is smiling madly.

I begin to prepare myself to fight back. It will be futile because of the kunai to my throat... but I can't die without taking someone with me.

My mind vaguely drifts to the bomb strapped to my chest.

5

4

3

2

1

Zabuza let out a frightening laugh and had a smile crack behind his mask. "I guess you were wrong little girl. Haku, finish-"

"Zabuza!"

Everyone froze and turned to look at one end of the bridge. They had all been so focused on me they didn't notice Gato and his men appear.

"There's been a change in plans. The new plan is that you'll die on this bridge, Zabuza." Gato smiled as he stomped his cane and stood tall, like an insane man.

Kakashi poofed the nin-dogs away and Zabuza stumbled slightly before turning to Gato. Haku took the kunai from my throat and went to stand next to Zabuza.

I fell back from my knees to my butt as I let out a sigh of relief. I caught the eye of Kakashi and he nodded at me approvingly. My body hurt from being so clenched and my jaw popped when I opened it from the strain.

"You're just too expensive, so I've decided to take you off the payroll. Of course even the scum I brought with me cost something. So if you could manage to slaughter a few of them before they take you down, I'd appreciate it. Do you think you could manage that? Haha,you're about as demonic as a wet kitten." Gato continued to tease Zabuza but that only made me smile, he's digging his own grave at this point.

I leaned over and grabbed my supplies back and then stood up to make eye contact with Zabuza.

"Looks like you were right, Gushikan Girl." He turned around to look at Kakashi. "It seems we are no longer on opposite sides. Since I am no longer employed, Tazuna is safe."

Man am I proud of myself.

Kakashi nodded at him. "I suppose you're right."

Zabuza looked back to Haku, "Let's finish them Haku."

Haku only smiled and nodded as they began to step towards Gato. Gato freaked and ran behind his wall of men. It didn't help any.

I crossed my arms once more and cracked my neck as I watched the two plow into the crowd of low quality ninjas. I couldn't help but be a little jealous. We traveled to a new nation but I didn't get any real fight except with Zabuza or a chance to kill anyone... Well that sounds bad but it is a right of passage.

My mind goes back to the day of moms death and the women who I scared into falling over the stair railing. Does that count as my first kill? Meh I don't know, probably not.

Zabuza and Haku pounded into the men, killing at a speed I had never seen before and protecting each other from harmful blows.

It only took a minute for them to reach Gato and carve him up like a turkey. I flinched at their harshness but couldn't help but be happy Gato was gone.

None of us needed to help at all, the entire enemy group was wiped out by the demon of the Mist and his assistant.

I heard grunting behind me and turned to see Sasuke twitch. I stumbled to his body and sat next to him.

I grabbed him by the shoulders and jostled him slightly. "Sasuke? You ok?" I whispered as he opened his eyes and began to look at me.

"Takara? I saw you go down." He grunted, trying to sit up.

"Stay down, you're pretty badly hurt, and ya but I'm fine though." I frowned a little as I imagined having to remove all of those senbons. However, it's not like I also don't have multiple senbons sticking out of me.

I heard a commotion behind us and it turned out to be the villagers, they came to help.

I couldn't help but grin, this is such a great community. Too bad it couldn't be like that when my mom lived here, oh well, if she had never left here then I wouldn't have been born.

Inari ran up to me frantically, "Where's Grandad?" He was grabbing at me with tears streaming down his face.

I patted his head, "He's safe hiding, I'll go see if he is back yet."

I got up and told Kakashi I'd be back with Tazuna before jogging to the pier, but he wasn't back yet so I sat to wait. The dock and the water was cold but refreshing as I splashed my feet in the water.

"This is where you hid him? Smart."

I spun around so fast my neck hurt and gripped Balance so hard my knuckles cracked. But, it was only Zabuza and Haku.

"What are you two doing here?"

"We are following our deal and leaving, we need a boat first though."

I nodded, and slid Balance back into place before asking, "So did you actually ever meet my mom?"

He quirked an eyebrow at me before nodding.

"I met her once, in the Mist. It was years ago, before you were born, she was probably 19 and was on a mission with your dad and that other guy. We fought briefly but just ended up going our separate ways."

I frowned, that sounds weird, why would they just let him go?

"Why do you hate her?"

He shrugged, "To be fair I hate all ninjas from the Leaf, but your mom and dad were strong and killed or captured a lot of my comrades. They helped make my coup d'état fail."

I nodded, "I understand." I glanced up and saw Tazunas boat docking.

"Goodbye Zabuza-san and Haku-san, I hope I get the privilege to fight you another day." I bowed slightly before walking to Tazunas boat and to help him get off.

"Gushikan!"

I paused and looked over my shoulder to Haku.

He waved and smiled at me kindly, "Thank you, thank you for stopping me and Kakashi. If you hadn't..." he looked up to Zabuza then lowered his eyes. "I think I'd be dead. So thank you for letting me live."

I turned more towards them and waved back. "Thanks to the both of you for going along with my bet. I'll see you guys again someday, let's have a real fight then!"

They both nodded at me before boarding a boat of their own, sailing away.

I breathed in deeply before walking up to Tazuna who watched the exchange very stressfully.

"We won, Gatos dead and you should have no more problems."

He let out a sigh of relief and thanked me before we began our walk back to his house.

We didn't stay much longer, only till the bridge was finished, and I have to admit I was very homesick by the end of it.

We packed up our stuff and then began to head out. I got a mildly sappy goodbye with Inari and then waved by to the Land of Waves as we trekked across the giant bridge we helped protect.

I wish I had learned more about my mom or my Akumugan but beggars can't be choosers. At least I know that Akumugan doesn't work on clones now.

"Hey Kakashi Sensei? Why did you let me do my bet?" I asked.

He laughed a little, "Takara you have proven to be extremely perceptive of your surroundings, it's like you're always one step ahead of all of us. I was simply putting my trust in you. Everyone puts their trust in you. Do you know what they named the bridge?"

I looked at him and tilted my head. "No I don't."

"The Great Takara Bridge. Has a nice ring doesn't it."

I stared before a smile broke across my face and my conscience screamed.

"I'm honored."

The rest of the journey was dull and slow. However, that moment of walking through the Konoha gate to see Usagi and dad waiting there I almost cried. Almost. Dad would hit me if I cried in public.

I picked Usagi up and swung him around happily and dad didn't even tell me to tone it down. He just smiled and then picked Usagi and I up in a giant bear hug.

Afterward I walked to the main building to give a mission report with everyone and pick up my pay for a B rank mission.

The long walk back to my house felt blissfully short when Usagi was riding on my shoulders and I told dad the story of what happened to us.

"I think you made quite a few good decisions and I'm glad to hear your chakra input has increased." He ruffled my curls. "I am extremely proud of you curly top."

My smile couldn't grow any larger.

"Why don't we stop by your mothers grave?"

Oh and there goes my smile.

"Ok."

We walked past the stadium to the grave site on the edge of town.

Inside the fence was my moms grave, it was well tended to and always has fresh lilacs on it. Courtesy of Dad.

We all bowed slightly and muttered some good words. Well not Usagi, he just always looks confused.

After we straightened up dad put a hand on my shoulder and stared fondly at her grave.

"She would be so proud of you too. She always said you'd do great things and... well you're on your way. I only wish she was here to see it in person."

I nodded solemnly and gently put a hand on Usagi's head so he'd look up at me.

"That's mama, Usagi." This wasn't our first time at the grave but it's been quite a few months since we've been here, at least me, I think dad comes at least three days a week. Plus we never stay long so dad worries Usagi won't remember.

"Mamas a star. You said so." He replied and furrowed his brow while I coughed on my spit while dad glared at me.

"Ugh well mamas a lot of things, she watches over us like a star but this is where we come to remember her. We also remember her at the KIA stone, remember?" Because apparently your memory is sharper than I thought it would be for a three year old.

He stared at me blankly then looked back to the grave, "Ok onee-chan" he stared at the grave for a moment, like waiting for something to happen, before turning back to me and tugging on my shirt. "I'm bored! Taka-onee we go home! Pwease!"

Dads hand tightened on my shoulder before letting go.

"Let's go home kids." He said quietly

Aw no Usagi made dad sad again.

I sighed before picking Usagi up and ruffling his wavy hair, making him giggle.

Let's go home.

Authors Note:

Sorry it's later than usual, schools just being mean. Also sorry it's a shorter one, I think the next one will be a good sized one because a lot happens in the anime next... Chunin exams!

Anyway! Please forgive me! I feel really bad that it took so long but I'm pretty pleased with how this chapter ended up. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I edited it.

Sorry one last time and thanks for all the support, old and new!

Thank you and have a nice day!

~ToL