11

Enjoy reading my lovelies! <3

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I woke up with a jolt. I heard some noise from downstairs as I looked at the clock and froze. All this training, only to be put to waste as I overslept?!!

Hurrying downstairs I saw Inari and Tsunami being held hostage by a couple of men. 

Idiots I scowled.

Taking out two kunais I threw them with accuracy. It hit their foreheads as they fell down dead. They didn't even get time to take out their weapons.

How useless 

Inari and Tsunami came rushing up to me, thanking me numerous times.

"Naruto was right! You really are brave. Now I'm going to be brave too and gather all the villagers to kick Gato's ass." Inari exclaimed.

I smiled. Talk no jutsu was one thing I could never learn. He must've talked to him yesterday.

"Then hurry up, Inari and avenge your dad. I'll be going now." I jumped through the trees, increasing my speed gradually. 

I reached the battle field. It was going exactly like it was in the manga except Sasuke and Naruto didn't look injured much. Sakura had a fierce expression on her face, daring anyone to come closer to them.

Sasuke had his sharingan activated and I stilled. 

Haku and Zabuza.. How will I save them?

I dived into the water. No one noticed me, too busy in the battles going on around them. I swam till I was underneath the bridge as I merged with it's wood. Using my chakra, I heightened my senses. As Sasuke and Naruto got ready for another round of attacks with senbon, I made a wooden sphere around them as I materialized inside right in front of them.

"You are late." Sasuke said but I could tell he was relieved that I was here.

"Akina chan! Help us fight him." Naruto's eyes were glazing with determination.

"Sasuke, you have your sharingan. Track his movements. Naruto, keep on using your kage bunshins. I believe you both. I'll be helping you, so don't panic." 

The makeshift wooden dome around us converted into ice and with a kick it shattered into pieces. Haku went back inside his mirror. He began talking.

"Akina san. You are finally here. You missed my childhood story but I presume you know that already. I was wondering what you meant by what you said earlier. Zabuza san knows your parents."

I stilled as Naruto and Sasuke shot me questioning glances.

"Why don't you tell me once you stop working with Gato? Join us." I pleaded with him.

"I am a mere tool. Whatever Zabuza says, I will do."

"Yeah well Zabuza will die and so will you if you don't listen to me you idiot!" I snapped. My original plan had gone into shambles and now I was angry. 

It's true that being a shinobi the battle doesn't go according to your plans and you have to adapt yourself to the situation but what's the point in knowing what's gonna happen next then??

Haku ignored me as he sent another round of senbon at us. Due to the intense training I was able to protect myself from them hitting my vital points. 

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto shouted as various clones popped up.

Sasuke's sharingan was gleaming as he eyed the movements of Haku. He let out a small smirk. He had found out the pattern.

But a question was lingering in the back of my mind. Should I save them or let them save themselves? Technically they needed the experience but I wanted to save them. And I knew they'd be alive.

What should I do?

The answer was immediate. My heart told me to help but my mind told me not to. Its confusing me.

"Wood Style: Partial Buddha Transformation!" 

All around us, gigantic wooden structures began forming as they joined each other and made a dome around us. Around twenty hands shot out with amazing power and accuracy destroying the ice crystals in a single punch. Sasuke looked around his eyes widened and Naruto had a triumphant grin on his face. The ice mirrors were breaking down one by one. I got down on one knee panting heavily. It had been a long time since I used such a chakra absorbing jutsu and it left me weak. The hands and dome around us fell out. I was about to collapse soon due to chakra exhaustion.

Haku was standing in front of us. "Your mokuton is impressive Akina san. I would've died if I hadn't gotten out."

I smiled. "That was the purpose. Now will you listen to me?"

"Akina, he's the enemy. What are you doing?" Sasuke said. He was glaring at Haku coldly. The other boy gave him a smile filled with mirth. 

"Sasuke san, I know what you are thinking and I find it very amusing. Anyways, I'll see what I can do to convince Zabuza to join you guys." Naruto went over and clapped his shoulders.

"That's good dattebayo! I didn't want to defeat you guys. You seem nice." 

Just then I heard the sound of a thousand birds. "Chidori!" 

WHAT THE HELL KAKASHI! JUST WHEN EVERYTHING WAS GOING PERFECTLY!!!

Haku ran forward and I shouted. "Wood binding technique!"

Wood branches formed around the three battling shinobi, binding them and not letting them move forward.

"Akina san/Akina/Brat let us go!" The three turned to glare at me and I slightly flinched.

"You idiots! Zabuza and Haku stop fighting and join us. Gato will betray you." I screamed at them as a last resort.    

"How would you know brat?! We didn't hear them say anything." Zabuza thundered.

Any minute now.. 

"I know what's gonna happen! You both will die if you don't listen to me!" I heard Kakashi's chidori die out. Haku stopped struggling.

"How do you-"

"Well well.. Looks like Zabuza couldn't complete the job. Not that I cared anyways. Zabuza, you are too expensive. My men and I will kill you all and Tazuna anyways." Gato said as he and his extras laughed. I shook my head.

Thank Kami he's a fool.

I let my wood restrains recede as I fell to the side, dizzy and weak due to over usage of chakra. But I didn't hit the hard ground like I thought I would. I felt Sasuke catch me. He gently lied me on the ground as he called for Sakura. Using a cloth he removed the sweat on my forehead and the slight stains of blood on my arms.

"You overdid yourself, loser." 

I gave him a smile. "You care."

He gave me a look that said don't push it but I could've sworn I saw a light shade of pink dust his features. 

"Hn. I don't want your weak ass to slow us down." 

I giggled as my eyes slowly started to close. "I knew you liked my ass."

I heard him groan and mutter something under his breath as I finally blacked out.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

I black out way too often. 

I woke up from a dreamless sleep as I looked around. Sakura was sleeping next to me in her night suit. 

What happened?

I slowly got up and went to the mirror. I was still wearing my clothes. Good.

I opened the window and walked out of the stuffy room to go up to the roof of the house. 

"Sasuke..." I spoke softly making him turn his head towards me, his red eyes gleaming in the dark.

"Akina... You should be sleeping."

"I already slept enough. Tell me what happened." I went and sat next to him, my head resting on his shoulder. He gave me no indication of discomfort so I let myself rest there.

He sighed. "You are a bigger idiot than Naruto."

I pouted. "How rude. I was expecting a thank you. I saved your life ya know."

He chuckled. "Dramatic as ever." My eyes widened.

"Did the great Uchiha Sasuke just chuckle?" I asked incredulously. 

Am I in a genjutsu? How did he chuckle? He can't laugh. Him laughing is equivalent to Jiraiya not being a perverted old man.

He scowled. "Don't make me regret talking to you. As for laughing, I think I'm allowed to do that." He turned away. 

I let out a small smile and stayed silent. He was slowly loosening up for the better. Maybe things will go differently if that means he can stay in Konoha. 

Somewhere along the way of hanging out with all of them, I started seeing them more and more as my friends and real people rather than anime characters. It was the same with my parents. I'm growing attached to them which is fueling my determination to protect them further.

I spoke up. "So tell me what happened once I blacked out."

"Well the dobe was freaking out and crying thinking you died. Kakashi sensei had to console him. Sakura was healing you. That Zabuza guy and Haku fought of Gato and ended him. Tazuna and his villagers thanked us and convinced us to stay until the bridge is completed. Those two and Kakashi sensei later had a serious discussion about you. They want to ask you a few questions. Sakura said you'd wake up in the morning but here you are now."  

I nodded. "It's good. I like the outcome over all."

Sasuke turned to me curiously. "What did you see happening?" 

I looked at him analyzing the situation. I saw no reason to keep this hidden so I told him.

"Well Haku and Zabuza pretty much kick Team 7's ass badly. You are on the verge of dying as you sacrificed yourself for Naru chan. Naru gets really angry and sad thinking you died and he.... gets a lot of power in forms of raw chakra breaking Haku's ice mirrors. Later Haku sacrifices himself for Zabuza by getting hit with Sensei's chidori. Naru uses his Talk no jutsu and talks some sense into Zabuza who feels guilty and kills Gato. The end."

Sasuke looked at me wide eyed. "I gave my life for that dobe?!"

I laughed. "Sasuke, you and I both know you like this team. If I hadn't done anything, it would've been the same outcome. Naruto and you have a sense of rivalry with each other and you both care for each other, no matter how much you both deny it. And you don't die."

He scoffed. "He's not worth being my rival." 

I smiled. "Sasuke... When Naru chan starts advancing in his skills, you shouldn't think you aren't advancing. That's because you have learnt everything being taught in the Academy to perfection. Naru did not. He will just be catching up with you in terms of basic skills and jutsu. And then, there will be no weak link on the team. He is weak right now, but he progresses at an alarming rate. You can too. You just need Kakashi sensei to help you."

He nodded slightly confused. "Hn."

He stared up at the sky, his hair and clothes were swaying with the light breeze blowing.

He really does look good. I turned pink at the thought. 

Did I possibly like him?

He turned to me. "When will you stop staring? It's creeping me out."

"Hmm.. I was just thinking why you were so angry at me during training." I quickly told my excuse and internally breathed in relief. 

Thank Kami for my lying skills.

"You were overworking yourself. I didn't like it." He glared at me.

Whaaaaaat???

I gave him a blank stare. "You were angry because I was training?"

His glare further deepened. "You were getting hurt every time. What if you got a wound that Sakura couldn't heal?"

I smiled. "I trust her."

"You trust way too easily."

"It doesn't matter if I get hurt if it means I can protect you all when the time comes." 

He was taken aback and then he scowled as he muttered something under his breath.

"What?"

".... Not saying it."

I growled at him. "You can't do that! You know how irritating it is not to know what you are muttering under your breath?"

He smirked. "It is irritating hm?"

"Tell me."

"No."

"Please!"

"No. Consider it payback for training."

I pouted. "I'm sorry Sasuke. Now tell me."

"No."

"I'll harass you if you don't tell me." 

"....No."

"What can I do to make you tell me?"

He smirked. "Nothing. I would never tell you my personal information."

"Don't you trust me?" 

"I do but not with this."

"Give me a hint."

"No. I'll tell you once the time comes." His dark eyes bored into mine.

"How mean. I'll crack perverted jokes all day now!" I threatened him.

He smirked. "I'll wear ear plugs."

"Ugghhh! I hate you Uchiha Sasuke!" I was so so angry. 

Call me childish but he was irritating me to no end.

"I hate you, Senju Akina."

"I'm half Uchiha! Its Senju Uchiha Akina baka."

"You can't take the name of two prestigious clans and use them for yourself!"

"I sure as hell can! Both the clans are almost extinct. I sound more terrifying that way."

He gave me a deadpan stare. "You are far from terrifying."

I snickered. "You were scared when I tied you and Naru to the tree. Hell, you even wanted to kiss him!"

He gave me a horrified expression. "No way did I ever want to kiss him!" 

"You kiss him twice as far as I know." 

He paled and grabbed my shoulders as he shook me. "Tell me how to prevent it."

I smiled. "Unless you tell me what you muttered, no!"

He gave me a glare as he activated his sharingan. "I will hurt you."

"You won't."

"You trust way too easily."

"I know that already but I trust you."

He deactivated his sharingan as he sat back. I lied down happily.

He has to tell me now!

"I won't tell you..." 

I looked away with a fake pout. He put his fingers under my chin and forced me to look at him as he hovered over me, his knees on either side of my waist. My breathing hitched and my heart started beating faster. His face was mere centimeters away from mine. He's way too close for my liking. Can he hear my heart beating faster? Oh Kami I'm going to meet Death after only 12 years and he's not gonna be happy. 

"... I'll show you." 

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to mine and my eyes widened. His soft lips were moving on mine. Closing my eyes, I kissed him back and I lost myself in the sweet moment. Our mouths were moving against each other in perfect sync and my hands snaked their way to the back of his neck as I played with his hair. His one hand was slightly caressing the side of my face as the other was kept on the roof for some support. I pulled him closer towards me as the kiss got slightly more heated. I pulled on his hair and he let out a small moan. His hand made way to my waist where he held me tightly and I slightly gasped at the sensation. Slowing down we pulled away from each other to take in some air. 

His forehead was resting on mine, our eyes clashing against each other with mixed emotions. He got up and sat next to me as I did the same. We made eye contact as I took him in. His face was flushed with pink and his hair was messed up. He was blushing badly and I'm pretty sure I was too. 

"W-what was that for?" I asked.

My mind couldn't catch up with what just happened. My body had reacted to him naturally, as if it had a mind of its own. 

What just happened?

He kissed you, and you kissed him back!

Oh... Okay then.

My mind was relatively calm and wasn't freaking out which was a good thing, for now. But it also meant I was blanking out.

There was a small smile on his lips. "You kissed me back."

"I-I did.."

"I like you Akina. Do you like me?" 

"What?"

He smirked. "You aren't able to process what happened right now. It was that good huh."

I nodded mutely and he snickered. 

"For now I have to knock you out okay? Because I know you won't sleep, not after what just happened. I expect an answer once you wake up."

Answer to what?

I nodded again. Sleep sounded good.

"Good night." I felt a light pressure on my neck.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

I black out way too often.

I woke up with a start. I saw Sakura staring at me.

"Akina chan! You had all of us so worried! Baka next time tell us what you are going to do." She scolded me.

"Stop nagging. I just woke up. You are definitely the mom of Team 7."

She scowled. "Get up. Kakashi sensei, Zabuza, Haku and surprisingly Sasuke want to talk to you."

I smiled. "My feminine charms are working. I'll have my own harem soon." 

She stared at me. "What the hell.. You don't have a concussion as far as I know. What happened?"

"I am just really happy. I don't know why yet." 

She suddenly beamed. "You saved their lives, Haku san and Zabuza san. They are deciding what to do now. Should I tell you what happened yesterday?"

"I know already. Sasu-" I froze. 

He kissed me. I kissed him back.

And that's when my mind decided to remember last night's conversation. I sat perfectly still as Sakura moved her hand in front of my face.

"Hellloooo! Akina chan. Stop daydreaming!"

My mind was going crazy. It was like someone decided to throw a party in there. What should I tell him? What answer? What the fuck how should I act? Why'd he kiss me? Was it in the moment?

How could I freeze up like that?! 

He's never gonna let that go now!

I covered my face with my hands and smiled into them. 

Wow.. I'm acting like a love struck fan girl. Ooof stop this horror.

"Stop pinching me, Sakura. I'll be down in 10 minutes once I'm done taking a bath."

She sent me a worried glance as she walked out of the room and shut the door. 

I sighed. Time to die.

Borrowing Sakura's strawberry scented shampoo I lathered it all over my dirty hair. It took way more than 10 minutes to get me ready.

Wearing a normal set of clothes Sakura had kept out for me, I walked out of the room I was resting in and walked downstairs. My stomach grumbled as I smelt breakfast being made.

"Akina Chan!!!" Naruto ran towards me at full speed as he hugged me. I stumbled a few steps back.

"I thought you died dattebayo! You aren't allowed to die."

Oh my Kami he's too precious. He's the cutest and sweetest guy ever. I internally squealed.

I gave him a big smile as I saluted. "Hai I won't die I promise!"

He took my hand and dragged me to the table where everyone had assembled. Zabuza and Haku were giving me small smiles. Kakashi looked furious.

I'm sorry to die such an early death Naru. Forgive me.

"Just what were you thinking fraternizing with the enemy in a friendly conversation? You withheld information from us. If we knew all this before then we wouldn't have battled them and risked everyone's lives."

I looked down in shame.

"Akina.. I'm furious with you. What if something had gone wrong? Any one of us could be dead right now."

I winced at the mere thought of my team mates dying. The pain was unbearable.

"I-Im sorry.. But if we hadn't battled then Sasuke wouldn't have received his sharingan. And that could be bad in the future." I looked down at my toes as I spoke, not daring to look up even once.

I felt someone keep their hand on my shoulder. It was Kakashi.

He sighed. "Knowing the future is a difficult experience, one I will never understand. But you must understand that you can't save everyone. If you want to help, at least give us a heads up. We can help you."

"But then it wouldn't work! It will change. I'm the only one who can stop all this. If I hadn't interfered then Zabuza and Haku would be dead right now. Now that they are alive a lot of stuff changes which I'm unaware about. And sensei none of you will understand my problem. So please let me go through this my own way." I spoke angrily, shrugging his hand off my shoulder.

Haku took my hands and kept it in his. "Akina san, we are merely worried for you. Please try and understand."

"Why don't you understand what predicament I'm in?" I snapped back.

"You told me the other day that you couldn't do all this alone and that's why you told us. Now you say that you are the only one who can stop this? What's going on?" Kakashi gave me a glare.

"Yeah, well its confusing okay? For me to protect you guys, I need to do it alone. I will require your help but not always."

I might even go rogue.. 

I'm pretty sure I will have to become a rogue nin to do all the things I had planned to do. But I probably won't. I mean Shikaku and Hiruzen will help me out with that part after I tell them, right? Mostly I'll stay in Konoha, protect Sasuke from Orochimaru and grow stronger.

I did not wake up for this drama to happen. I saved them but why are they angry at me?

"Remove your hands off of Akina, Haku." Sasuke's voice rang clearly in the silence if the room. Haku complied and I ignored them.

"We'll talk in Konoha. Right now I don't want to talk to any of you. Zabuza san and Haku san, if you wish you can come with us to Konoha and lead an amazing life. You'll have us as comrades and won't have to be on the run continuously. Hokage sama will allow you to become citizens of Konohagakure. Just... think about it okay?" With that I grabbed a slice of toast and walked out of the house, not looking back. 

Damn I should've taken more food..

For the rest of the day, I walked around the village helping the elderly and young kids with their work. 

"Arigatou Akina nee chan!" All the kids bowed their heads in gratitude. I smiled as I ruffled one of the boys hair. 

"Your welcome. Now, you all are brave kids aren't you? So you have to protect this village from bad men like Gato. If anyone picks on any of you, the others have to stand up against the bad guy. You guys are the new generation. Keep fighting, yeah?" 

"Hai!" The kids cheered loudly, determination in their eyes. The will of fire burned strongly in them. 

It was refreshing to see these kid. They were like a breath of fresh air. Poverty and hardships had made them grow instead of breaking them down. The children scattered away but a girl remained.

"I want to be a kunoichi like you, Akina nee chan." said a blue eyed brown haired girl. Riko was her name. She was the toughest girl I'd met so far and she was Konohamaru's age. I once saw her beat up a bunch of guys her age because they picked on her for being short and small. They messed with the wrong girl for sure. I liked her a lot.

"Well.. You'd have to go to Konohagakure or another ninja village to learn the basics and become a kunoichi. This is a civilian village you know. I don't know if your parents will allow you to become one." I explained.

She looked down sadly. "I lost my parents during Gato's raid." I winced. No one deserves such a life without a parents love.

"That's why I'll come with you shinobi to Konoha!"

"Yea- WHAT?!" I stilled in shock. 

Hey! How was this chapter?

They finally kissed omggg. I was dying while writing the scene. I didn't know how to express it. I'll be updating as soon as I can since my holidays are going on. I might update every two days or so. 

This chapter is freaking 4000 words. Y'all better show me some love by voting and commenting.

This chapter was kinda important. It shows her confusion and indecisiveness which will play a major role. I just realized that I don't show her thoughts of how she's struggling as well and so a few heartbreaking scenes might come up in the next few chapters or so. 

Q: If you were in the Narutoverse as Sasuke, would you kill Itachi, provided that you didn't know the truth?

A: I don't think I would kill him. I'd just drag him back to Konoha and lock him up lol.

Have a nice day/night!