---12---

‘All right! Yeah, ROAD TRIP!’ Naruto yelled excitedly. I smiled at my crazy big brother.

‘What are you babbling about now?’ Tazuna demanded. Naruto grinned excitedly.

‘This’ll be the first ever time I’ve been outside the village!’ he grinned. Come to think of it, it was my first time outside the village too. Wow, I really need to get out more.

‘Am I really expected to place my life in the hands of this baka?!’ Tazuna groaned. Kakashi gave him an awkward one-eyed smile.

‘There’s no need for concern! I’m an Elite ninja, so I’ll always be tagging along too...’

‘I’m the best of the best of the best, an Elite ninja too! One day I’m gonna be Hokage, so remember my name...it’s NARUTO UZUMAKI!’ Naruto grinned pointing at himself. I smiled weakly as Sasuke appeared at my side.

‘Hokage, huh? That’s the ruler of your village right? The best of the best? Well, I don’t think someone like you has it in him,’ Tazuna snorted, taking another swig of sake. Naruto clenched his fists in anger.

‘WELL YOU’RE OLD AND STUPID! I’M DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND I’M DOING THEM FAST. SO WHEN I BECOME HOKAGE, YOU’RE REALLY GONNA WISH THAT YOU WERE A LOT MORE RESPECTFUL TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!’ Naruto argued shaking his fists.

Tazuna chuckled and hiccupped.

‘Respect you?! I don’t think so, not even if you did become Hokage!’ Tazuna spat.  I stepped forward, clenching my fists too. I didn’t care who they were or how important they were, no one speaks to my big brother like that! Sasuke read my body language and quickly grabbed my shoulder.

‘Kasumi...’ he warned. I tensed slightly but then gave in.

‘YOU’RE DEAD OLD MAN!’ Naruto yelled running at Tazuna again. Kakashi Sensei grabbed Naruto again.

‘I said NO, Naruto!’ he sighed. We started walking and within a few minutes of awkward silence and a thick tension in the air, we had already covered a bit of ground. Sakura decided to break the silence.

‘Um...Mr. Tazuna?’ she asked. Tazuna grunted.

‘What now?’ he spat. Sakura hesitated but carried on.

‘You come from the Land of Waves, right?’

‘Yeah, what about it?’

‘Well umm, Kakashi Sensei, are there ninja in that country too?’ Sakura finished.

‘No but most other lands have their own hidden villages where ninja clans reside...’ Kakashi began. Oh boy, I feel a long explanation coming on. I closed my eyes and kept on walking forward. I opened my left eye when I heard the sound of paper being pulled out. My eyes widened and I sweat dropped when Kakashi Sensei pulled out this giant scroll from nowhere. It had all the Shinobi hidden villages in each country and he was giving us a long explanation. I sighed and stopped walking. I closed my eyes again and listened to the wind blowing the trees, I smiled to myself.

----Flash-Back----

We all sat out in the field, me, Mom and Dad. It had been a long day and Dad was really tired but Mom had suggested having a picnic outside, she’d already made it and there was no point Dad disagreeing with her because he’d always lose his fights to Mom.

Mom had made my favourite ramen, pork, hehehe and we’d all had some, then she’d made this really wobbly jelly for afterwards. I giggled as I played about with it, moving it around so it looked like a disco-dancing jelly.

‘Kasumi, that’s enough now dear,’ Mom sighed. I pouted but finished my jelly. Mom leant back into Dad’s arms and smiled.

‘Kasumi,’ Dad said pulling me into their hug. I lay against them, watching the sunset and I felt my eyes go heavy on me. I fought the urge to yawn and go to sleep, but in the end I gave up and closed my eyes...

----End of Flash-Back----

‘Kasumi, are you coming?’ Sasuke asked. I opened my eyes, shocked to see the others a few meters ahead of me, Sasuke had waited back a bit but the others were still walking onwards. Clearly only Sasuke had noticed my absence. I nodded and tried running to catch up with them, only to remember my ankle. I huffed but plastered on a smile when Sasuke came and put his arm around my waist and helped me catch up. My left arm was around his neck for support and my hand was dangling down. I nearly fainted when he took my free hand in his. I looked at him and he gave me a sweet smile that made me go all gooey and floppy all over. He steadied me up and chuckled to himself.

‘What’s up with you? You’re a wobbly as jelly,’ he teased. I thought of the jelly again and began giggling quietly, trying not to draw attention to us. Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes, still smiling.

When we caught up with the others, Sasuke’s smile disappeared and he whispered into my ear.

‘I’m going to let go now, but only if you can walk without collapsing,’ I nodded at him and he gave me an unsure look.

‘Remember you suck at lying, Kasumi,’ he reminded me. I blushed and shrugged him off me. I took a daring step forward, praying that I didn’t fall or stumble. I gave him a cocky grin as I continued to walk normally, occasionally limping. He sighed and followed me.

‘No need to get cocky about it,’ he chuckled in my ear. I blushed and poked my tongue out at him. We carried on walking and I noticed a puddle. It’d barley rained since I’d been here, in fact it was about three days ago and it didn’t even last long! That should’ve dried up by now.

I closed my eyes as I passed the puddle and a shiver went down my spine. Someone was watching us, someone was following us. I cleared my throat, hoping that Kakashi Sensei would see the puddle. As he walked past it, he glanced down. I gave myself an imaginary pat on the back and reached my hand down towards my kunai strap. I slid my index finger through the slim ring of the handle on my kunai, ready for what might come. I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. I blocked every other noise out, listening for only one sound; rippling water...

My eyes shot open and I turned, horrified to see spiked chains snaking themselves around my Sensei. Damn! I wasn’t quick enough. I watched in my phase of shock as Kakashi Sensei ripped apart by the vicious chains.

‘Kakashi Sensei!’ Sakura screamed. I turned my head, my eyes narrowed at the two ninja who’d just taken my teacher’s life. I drew my ready kunai and pulled out some shiruken. I flung them at the two freaky-looking clowns but they just rebounded off of the chunky metal claws on both their right arms.

My eyes widened as the two freaky ninja raced towards my brother, closing in for the kill. I ran towards him but time seemed to slow down as I felt I was running in slow motion. Naruto froze, unable to move. I growled and cursed under my breath as my right foot stepped in some pot hole in the ground. Kuso! Thankfully, I stayed on my feet but it slowed me right down, which meant my brother was screwed.

‘Naruto, get out of there!’ I yelled at him. My words drifted straight through him as he remained frozen. Thankfully, Sasuke was on the ball and ready. He leapt into the air and flung shirukens at the chains of the two freaky ninja. The shirukens successfully pinned the chains to the tree and to top it off, Sasuke drew his kunai and flung it at his shiruken. It neatly landed through the centre of the shiruken hole, securing the chains to the tree. I watched in admiration as my boyfriend beat the crap out of the freaky ninja. He landed smoothly on both of the claw arms and kicked both freaky ninja in the face.

Naruto’s jaw dropped and I snapped myself out of my trance. Who am I, Sakura? I have to get up and do something. I drew another kunai and ran to where Sakura and Tazuna were standing.

‘It’s okay guys, Kasumi is here!’ I said winking. Tazuna grunted.

‘Oh great, the Tomato’s here to save us!’ he said sarcastically. I turned and glared at him, fire in my eyes.

‘I AM NOT A TOMATO!’ I yelled. Despite our situation that we were currently in, Mr. Drunk Guy still found a way to insult me. Ooohhhh, I was itching to kill him. I heard the sounds of the chains breaking and I turned my head to see the two freaky ninja split up. One headed back towards Naruto and the more freakish looking one headed straight for us.

‘Sakura! Tazuna! Get behind me!’ I ordered, my arms in a crossed block across my face, holding up my two kunai’s and shiruken between my index and middle fingers. They obeyed and Sakura drew her kunai too. My eyes met the eyes of the psycho that was about to kill me, my friend and the drunk guy. His claw arm was aimed directly at my chest. I guess this was it.

‘KASUMI!’ Sasuke yelled. He appeared in front of me, ready to block me from this guy. Sasuke...

Blehhh!

That...was the sound made by the freaky ninja’s, when they were being strangled in a tight head-lock...

Kakashi Sensei magically appeared in front of us and had both of the freaky ninja guys by the neck in a head lock.

‘Sorry about that Naruto, I should have moved in to help, before you were injured...’ Kakashi Sensei said calmly. I glance over at Naruto and see a huge gash on his left hand.

‘I would never have thought you’d freeze up like that. Good job Sasuke,’ Kakashi praised Sasuke. Naruto’s face darkened as he lost himself in thought.

‘Hey, are you alright...scaredy cat?’ Sasuke smirked, teasing Naruto. Naruto growled and clenched his un-injured fist.

‘That’s enough, there’s no time for fighting. Those claws are poisoned, we have to clean that wound right away. If we cut it open, deeper, the blood flow will wash out the poison but for now, stay still. It’ll stop the poison from spreading as quickly.

‘Mr. Tazuna,’

‘Wha-What is it?’

‘I need to speak with you...’

-------

I turned to Sasuke while Kakashi finished tying the bad guys to the tree.

‘Sasuke...arigato for saving Naruto, for everything...back then,’ I whispered. Sasuke looked at me and smiled.

‘I was more worried about you than him,’ Sasuke whispered. I blinked.

‘You were worried about me?’ I asked him. Sasuke looked at me as if I were crazy. He turned to face me and looked straight into my eyes.

‘Kasumi, the second I realised that creep was going for you, I nearly died. Of course I was worried! I’d never have forgiven myself if he’d even placed a scratch on you, let alone kill you. I’ll destroy anyone that ever hurts you Kasumi,’ he said seriously. I blushed and stared at the ground.

‘Kasumi, you’re my girlfriend, I’d put my life on the line any day for you,’ he whispered.

I thought back to that moment when Sasuke had yelled my name. Only now did I realise the true fear, anger and worry in his voice when he’d called out. He really did care. My eyes began to water.

‘Hey, don’t cry. I hate seeing you upset, Kasumi,’ he said taking my hand in his. I nodded and blinked the tears away, sniffling a bit.

‘Kasumi?’

‘Hai?’

‘I love you,’

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So here it is! A longer chapter as promised! I was thinking of entering Beyond Konoha in the Naruto Watty Awards but I think it's closed now :( anyway I hope u enjoy this chapter, sorry for the long updates, its been a crazy half term. My latest fanfic will be put on hold hehe didnt last that long and ninja of the lost souls 2 is gonna be put up so yaay if you've been waiting for that. anyway arigato!

A/N: Pic of Sasuke telling kasumi he loves her...