---20---

'Haku, make it quick, if you're not done by the time I've finished here, I'll have no choice but to step in,' Zabuza grumbled. I felt Naruto nudge me.

'Stay here, I'll make a move to help Sasuke while they're distracted, don't get involved, sis!' he whispered.

'Naru-' I began but he'd already gone. I sighed and stepped back, feeling around for a place to take cover.

'MORON! Why didn't you stay and attack from the mirrors from the outside!? ARGH! You are so stupid, Naruto!' I heard Sasuke criticise. Naruto began to argue but they were cut off when Sasuke announced that he was using his fire ball jutsu. I heard slashes of a thousand blades and Naruto and Sasuke cry out in agony. My eyes widened and my heart stopped, the two boys that I love and cared for most in the whole world, were both getting cut to ribbons, and I couldn't do anything to help. Or could I?

I placed my hand on the ground and listened. Hmmm, Zabuza and Kakashi were about to go head to head in a battle to my left, Sakura protecting Tazuna just a few metres away from them. And just ahead of me, were Naruto and Sasuke. But this Haku kid, I couldn't feel his presence through the earth. I closed my eyes and listened carefully. I didn't need to be careful, I could smell the thick mist around me. I heard this Haku's voice, this time I noticed that it seemed to echo around the area where Naruto and Sasuke were. Then I remembered what Sasuke had said when he'd been yelling at Naruto just a few minutes ago. Why didn't you stay and attack the mirrors from the outside?! That's it! Now I could feel, there were giant ice mirrors surrounding the boys, thats what had made that Haku's voice echo. I could tell by the way that I couldn't feel the mirrors vibrations in the earth, that they were floating, sort of hovering a few inches off the ground. I knew what to do now, I performed some hand signs and concentrated.

'Earth style! Minor earthquake, ripple effect jutsu!' I yelled. I placed both palms on the ground and felt the powerful vibrations shake the earth, beneath my feet. I gasped as I felt too much shaking. Oh kuso! We were on Tazuna's bridge! I performed another set of hand signs and tried to decrease the effects of my minor earthquake, barely succeeding as the bridge grinded to a slow halt.

'Sorry!' I yelled out to Tazuna. I heard no reply, I tensed as I heard Naruto and Sasuke cry out again. My eyes began to water and I felt the tears coming on, they were going to be killed if I didn't do anything! A single tear rolled down my cheek and I clenched my fists in rage.

'Narutooo! Sasukeee! HOLD ON!' I yelled. I stared ahead of me, waiting desperately for an answer, or a cry, just anything that would let me know that they were okay. Nothing though. I heard laughter and I felt the air thicken around me, Zabuza, you creepy butcher! What are you gonna do to Sakura, Tazuna and Kakashi Sensei!? I felt myself getting angrier and I knew soon, I would snap.

'SASUKEE!' I heard my brother scream at the top of his lungs. My heart stopped, I heard Naruto's sobs, his curses and his vow to kill Haku. What had just happened? Then it hit me, Sasuke, my Sasuke, had been...no, no, NO! I felt the anger burning all around my body. I felt my chakra limits hit the roof. That was the final straw. I closed my eyes hard and let the tears fall for a short second. Sasuke, I wish I could've saved you, I wish I could've helped you and Naruto, I wish I wasn't so helpless. I wish I wasn't blind anymore! Maybe then I could've at least protected you! Hold on Sasuke, I won't let you go that easily! Hang on Naruto, I'm coming to help you rid of Haku!

I began to feel a new kind of feeling. A feeling of anger, pain and determination, beyond anything I'd ever felt before. It made me stronger, and I knew what to do. I opened my eyes and smirked, I felt my chakra increase dramatically, as if I had no limit at all. I unclenched one fist and with my other fist, I punched the air above me.

'BLIND STATE!' I yelled at the top of my lungs...

-----------------------------------

Kakashi Sensei's POV

-----

I started to panic when I heard Naruto, I could see the chakra flowing off of his body, through those damn ice mirrors. The first thing that appeared in my mind was that the Nine Tails' seal had been destroyed, and that we were all doomed. But the seal was only weakening, and when I thoguht that Naruto was the least of our problems, I caught a glimpse of white chakra from the corner of my eye.

My eyes widened and I was caught off guard for a second. Was that K-Kasumi? I was too far away to see her but I noticed there was something different about her. But I could tell that there was something different about her eyes. They looked as if there was white fire in them, making them stand out but the scars around them seemed to glow a bit too, making her eyes stand out more.

'BLIND STATE!' she yelled at the top of her voice. My eyes widened. Blind state? What on earth was Blind State? Then she did something that surprised us all...

--------------------

Kasumi's POV

---

I quickly kicked off my shinobi sandals and stomped my foot on the cold, hard, ground. I smirked as a slab of earth flew up out of no where. I forced my palm onto the slab's surface and it shot forward. I stuck up my index finger and pointed ahead of me, signaling for the slab of rock to turn into a giant pointy needle. I heard it smash against the ice mirrors. If I wanted to smash down those damn mirrors, I'd have to keep that up. I jumped up and landed, sending more slabs of rock up. This time, I did some different movements with my hands and fingers, creating all different kinds of shapes to smash against the mirrors. I smirked as I heard a faint crack above all the commotion.

I was about to drive another few rocks into the mirrors when I heard a roar that stopped me in my tracks. I soon became aware of an incredible source of chakra just ahead of me. My heart began racing.

---Flashback---

'But how will I know it's the Nine Tails?!' I asked desperately. The masked man chuckled and shot me a nasty glare through that freaky mask of his.

'You're a smart girl, you'll know when you feel it...' he chuckled.

---End of FlashBack---

Now, I finally knew what that masked jerk was talking about, and I was feeling it. I didn't want to believe it but I had no choice but to accept reality. Reality was staring me in the face, my brother was the Nine Tails...

Everything was a blurr after that. I heard the mirrors shatter, Naruto and Haku get lost in argument, Kakashi and Zabuza fighting, Haku dying, poor Naruto bursting into tears, as he declared he didn't want to become a Shinobi if he were to turn out like Zabuza, Sakura crying over my poor Sasuke...Wait, SASUKE! I snapped out of my trance and followed the sounds of Sakura's cries.

'I-I know the rules. A S-Shinobi, must k-keep their e-emotions on the i-inside! T-The mission is the t-top p-priority, a-and you must posses a heart t-that shows n-no e-emotion, but I can't! Oh Sasuke-kun!' she wept. I clenched my fists and dropped to my knees.

'Why you, Sasuke?' I whispered. 'Why?'

I felt an arm around me and I felt someone cry into my shoulder.

'Y-You're so lucky you can't see this, K-Kasumi,' Sakura cried. I bowed my head, if only she knew, I could see it just as well as she could. I gave Sakura a weak hug, and allowed my own tears to fall.

'Well, well, what have we here?' a blood curling voice sneered. My head shot up. Gato. I stood up and stepped forward.

'YOU!' I yelled. 'You caused all this! You're twisted! People have died here in your name and you don't even care, you BASTARD! You're the worst, the lowest of the low and the most worthless piece of trash I've ever come across!' I roared angrily.

'K-Kasumi?' Naruto started. I held my hand up to silence him. I wasn't finished yet.

'I'm not sure if your stupid brain can remember but not that long ago, you had a real good man put to death in front of his whole village, not only was that hard enough but who else was there to witness this man's death, but his own son! His five year old son! And you changed him for life, he's not the kid he used to be because you take away his reason to get up in the morning, his reason to try every day, you took away his purpose! How can you live with yourself knowing you've caused all of this despair!? You sick piece of trash!' I yelled shaking my fist, tears pouring down my cheeks.

'You know what, Gato? You took someone precious from me too,' I laughed sadly. 'Yeah, you took away someone pretty special...But don't worry, I'll make sure you pay!' I smirked.

'Kill the blind girl!' I heard Gato order. I smirked and stepped forward, go on then! Try and place a scratch me.

'You know Gato, you're the blindest person on this bridge!' I smirked, charging my chakra up secretly.

'BLIND STATE!' I yelled stepping into a fighting stance, I felt that awesome power again and I listened to the sounds of the assassins coming towards us. I clicked my fingers and I summoned cylindrical rocks out of the earth. I hurtled them at the assassins who drew nearer with every step. I knew some of them would easily dodge those rocks, so I punched both hands into the ground and wrapped my fingers around the rock. I pulled upwards with ease, creating a large wall to protect us all.

'Kasumi, put down the wall!' an unfamiliar voice ordered. I did as the voice instructed and I heard Naruto beside me.

'Zabuza will finish this,' he sniffled, placing his hand on my shoulder. I nodded and deactivated Blind State.  Blind State, hmm, funny, I'd never really thought about it, I'd just yelled it out for some reason when I felt that power, I'm not sure what it was exactly but I knew it would now be my own special jutsu, my way of seeing a battle, my way of fighting with my element, Earth style.

Naruto flinched beside me and Kakashi Sensei told him not to look away.

'That man lived to the full, and this was his end,' he said sadly. Zabuza...that crazy butcher must've fallen too, like my Sasuke. My heart did go out to that crazy butcher with the over-sized meat knife, he must've been a good guy despite it all, after all, that Haku guy did give his life for him, an no one gives their life for you if you weren't a good person, right? But by the sounds of things, that no good piece of trash Gato must've fallen too. I listened to the sounds of angry mobs, but they were soon interrupted by the roars and cheers of another mob, one lead by a familiar voice.

'Inari!' I whispered. I heard Gato's mob turn and run with their tails between their legs. Good, never come back! I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer for Haku and Zabuza, despite everything, I hope that they'd end up in a good place...

'NARUTO! HE'S ALIVE! HE'S ALIVE!' Sakura called. Naruto turned beside me and I turned too, not quite believing what I was hearing.

'Sasuke?' I asked.

'Yes Kasumi! Sasuke's alive, he's alright!' Sakura cried. Naruto grabbed my hand and we ran over to where Sasuke was. I knelt down and flung my arms around him, he didn't pause, he hugged me straight back.

'K-Kasumi? Is that really you?' he struggled.

'Yes, yes it's really me! Sasuke, you really had us worried! I was worried...' I sobbed, hugging him again.

'Kasumi, not breathing!' he struggled. I let go of him and I probably blushed furiously, turning as red as my hair.

'Sorry, hehe, forgot about that,' I laughed weakly. I felt a pair of hands on my face and someone pulled me towards them. Sasuke? His lips met mine and my eyes widened and I tensed for a second, but then I closed my eyes and shut everyone out. So what if Sakura found out, so what if Naruto and Sasuke didn't get on as well, Naruto wouldn't be that mad would he? And I think Kakashi Sensei was busy doing a favour for Zabuza when I last heard him...

This was our first proper kiss since we'd been together and to tell you the truth, it was amazing, almost as if fireworks were going off or about a thousand explosive kunais. And as for butterflies in my tummy, yeah that would've been an understatement, they were great swooping eagles, not butterflies. As we eventually pulled away, I slowly opened my eyes and all of a sudden, the colours and light came flooding back into my eyes. Everything was a little blurry but then in a matter of seconds, my sight had returned to me, and it was all thanks to that first kiss we shared.

I looked around in awe, everyone was staring at us, Sakura looked like she was about to explode and Narto's face was emotionless and blank. Kakashi blinked at us, not really knowing what to make of what was going on, in fact that's really what a lot of people must've felt. But I spotted who I thought must've been Inari, now I knew what he looked like, he had short dark hair and he wore this little hat.

He was standing by a woman with dark long hair, that must be Tsunami-san! She was smiling at us and she had her hands over her chest, almost as s=if she was about to go 'Awwww'.

'Kasumi....I don't care if you're blind! You are-' Sakura began. I jumped up grinning, looking her dead in the eye.

'I'm not blind anymore!' I squeaked. Everyone's eyes widened.

'I CAN SEE AGAIN!' I cheered, jumping up and down like a squirrel on crack. Sasuke was by my side and pulled me into a hug.

'You can see, really Kasumi-chan?!' he asked excitedly. I nodded and soon everyone was smiling and cheering. I looked up above me and saw the snow falling.

'Snow,' I whispered. Naruto's eyes were streaming besdie me.

'Brother?'

'Haku was born in a place where it snows,' he sobbed. I wrapped my arm around him and gave my big brother a hug. Everything was going to be okay now...

---------------------------------------

We said our final goodbyes and thank you's to everyone, poor Naruto and Inari both crying their eyes out at having to leave. I patted Naruto's back and gave Inari a hug.

'Way to go, Inari! You've done everyone proud, you're a true hero, just like your Dad!' I hugged him, he sobbed and hugged me back and thanked me for helping him. I gave Tsunami-san a hug, she was also crying.

'Now, if you need anythig, you know where we are, it was great to have you here and we owe you so much! Kasumi dear? Having you around was like having my own daughter, thank you so much for teaching me so much about everything! You know what, you keep the coat, okay?' she sobbed, planting a kiss on my forehead. I sniffled too and wiped my tears away.

'Thanks for being my second mom, I guess! And thanks for the coat!' I hugged her tightly. I turned to Tazuna and gave him a hug too.

'So long, Tomato,' he waved. I gritted my teeth and pulled a funny face.

'It was a p-pleasure to serve you, but I am NOT A TOMATO!' I ended up yelling that last part. He laughed and patted my head.

'You did well kid, blind or not,' he laughed. I sighed and turned to the others. We began walking back home, back to Konoha, back to the Leaf.

--------------------------------

very short 3rd Person POV

-----

Tazuna smiled at his family, he was still here, and had finally finished his bridge. Not only could he provide a better future for his daughter and grandson, but also for his village. He smiled as he watched the five Shinobi disappear into the mist.

'What are you going to name the bridge, Grandpa?' Inari asks. Tazuna chuckles and watches Naruto.

'I think I'll call it, the Great Naruto Bridge! But as for that Kasumi, well I think she could do with a bit of a mention too hm? I think that we should paint that giant gate at the end of the bridge, a brilliant red, and name it the Blind Red Gate. After all, she's the first blind ninja I've met,' he chuckled to himself.

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AHA! So finally, the Tazuna mission is over! Beyond Konoha fans, now we can begin with the real exciting shiz where the chuunin exams begin, but first, I want to give you all a late Christmas present. I'm publishing my first one-shot and it's a continuation from here but before the Chuunin exams and it's called............................................Kasumi's Chrsitmas One-shot! I'll update soon as possible so we can get on with the chuunin exams book but for now i hope you enjoyed this chapter and Kasumi's Christmas One-shot. Arigato minna! Merry Christmas, i wuv u all! ^^ >.<

----♥RIP NEJI HYUGA♥----

A/N - Pic of Kasumi in Blind State*

*Blind State (brief description) - is Kasumi's own kekkei genkai that she accidently creates when she learns of Sasuke's so called "death" it basicly allows her to shut off her senses and become a better fight and target her enemies more clearly, its also a more powerful form of earth style and was created out of anger and also love. so there's your brief description ^^