Water filled my lungs and all the pain of drowning appeared, but only for a moment before I couldn't feel the suffocating sensation anymore. My eyes grew heavy. Before my eyes closed, I saw three figures swim towards us.

A small smile made its way onto my face before I blacked out.

~

"Miyu! Miyu! Miyu!" I sat up quickly and began coughing up sea water. I was coughing violently as someone patted my back. Finishing my fit, I stared at my teammates.

We're on land. Oh thank god. I stood, coughing some more to get rid of any of the excess water. "We-need to go to Idate." I coughed out. "Hold up there, you swallowed a lot of water." Sakura said worriedly. Sasuke and Naruto stood, staring at me, worried.

I smiled at them. "I'm fine. But we need to go." Sasuke stared at me a little while longer before nodding and leading us away.

Naruto was by my side. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. I nodded. "I'm fine. Just lost my cool." I murmured. Sasuke glanced back at me and slowed down so he was on my other side. Gently, he slid his hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze.

I smiled at him and focused on finding Idate. Chills went down my spine. "Shit! Idate's in trouble!" I shouted, running ahead of them. They followed me as I followed Idate's scent.

It began raining, but lucky me it's not affecting his trial. Up ahead, Idate lay on the ground. A green headed ninja with an umbrella stood, staring down at him. "IDATE!" Naruto shouted.

The ninja turned his attention to us. Sakura and I ran around him and to Idate. Naruto asked if he was with those other rain ninja. Ignoring their conversation, I gently touched Idate's neck. He's still breathing, his pulse is still there, but he's wounded.

Sakura immediately began first aid as I checked his other vitals. Although I can't do medical Ninjutsu for shit, checking on someone is simple.

Naruto and Sasuke lunged at the ninja. He evaded their strikes and jumped high in the air. Gripping his umbrella, he swung down, and incredible pressure slammed us into the ground. I grit my teeth. I can't move.

The weight vanished soon, thank god. The ninja landed. "Hm. About what I expected. No more of a challenge then Idate really. I'll just give you what I gave him." He put his umbrella on his back and grabbed senbon needles.

He threw them at us. I let my chakra chains out and created a barrier around us. The needles bounced off my shield.

The ninja studied me before the sounds of cheering erupted. The ninja smirked and left us, before telling us that all our plans are going up in smoke.

Stupid ninja. I let my barrier down. I need to preserve as much chakra as I can. He's on a different level then me. Not saying I can't beat him, but it'll be a bit much. "We need to get going. But . . ." I picked up a needle and glanced at Idate. "There's poison on them. Not a lot to kill, but enough to do some damage to people who aren't used to it."

Sakura's eyes widened and she dug in her backpack before pulling out a familiar bottle. "Grandma Tsunade." She smiled and grabbed a pill and put it in Idate's mouth. That should help.

I leaned down and picked up the unconscious boy. "We need to get him out of the rain and warm him up or he'll get sick." The other stood and we searched for a place. Sasuke found a cave and the boys made a fire.

I stripped Idate of his clothes, leaving his underwear. Reaching in my bag, I pulled out an emergency blanket and wrapped it around him and hung his clothes to dry.

"He's not going to be happy you stripped him." Naruto spoke as we gathered around the fire. I snorted. "The brat should be grateful." I grumbled, sitting next to Sasuke. Now, we're probably far behind. I don't see how Idate can win. But surely the man isn't running in this rain. He seemed kind of spoiled.

I glanced at Idate. "I doubt his opponent is running now. Once he wakes and rests a little we need to go again. Let's hope the rain doesn't stop so soon. That's our only advantage." I spoke. Sakura frowned a bit. "Yes, I agree. But the rain could also be a disadvantage to us."

I nodded and glanced at the entrance of the cave. "Yeah. It's going to be a gamble." I murmured before turning to her and smirking. "Lucky us, I never lose."

She smiled lightly but Idate stirred. We glanced to see him waking up. "What do you know, he's waking up." Naruto smiled as Idate sat up. Well, attempted to. Sakura grabbed his shoulders, trying to examine him.

"Hey, so how are you feeling she asked?" Idate was struggling to sit up. "Where is he? What happened to Aoi?" So he knows the ninja.

Interesting. "He's gone. So you're telling me that's that characters name, Aoi?" Sasuke questioned, his usual cold gaze on the injured runner.

I turned my eyes on him as well, curiosity bubbling in me. Idate averted his gaze from us. "Who is he? Do you know each other from somewhere?" Sakura asked. "He was . . ."

We waited as he debated on answering us. "A sensei I knew back in my LeafVillage days." I wasn't surprised based on his last name. "What? You're from the LeafVillage?" Naruto asked is surprise.

"After he betrayed the LeafVillage he became a Jonin of the Village Hidden in the Rain." He answered, looking off. "Hang on, back up, what are you talking about?" Naruto was full on curious.

I was too. I have no memory of ever seeing Idate or even Aoi. Idate sat up and winced. "Whoa there. Take it easy now. You're still very weak. What is that you're holding?" Sakura's gaze flickered to his clutched hand.

He held his hand clutched around what seems to be a pocket knife. "You've been clutching that all this time." He slowly uncurled his finger and his hand shook. It's injured as well.

Sakura went to work in wrapping his wounded hand. "Damn. All that work, all the training, all for nothing." He grumbled angrily.

"You're giving up kind of easy aren't ya?! That's not any way for a Leaf Village Ninja to talk!" Naruto spoke, already riled up. Naruto doesn't take quitters well. "You've got the wrong guy. I haven't even thought of the LeafVillage since the day I walked away from it."

I studied him, a bit confused. "What do you mean by walked away from it?" I asked. Idate turned his tired eyes to us. "It hit me hard when I failed the first Chunin Exam. I didn't know what to do."

He began to tell us his tale. Apparently Aoi was his sensei and he managed to convince him he'd become a Chunin if he stole the scroll of sealing and the legendary blade of the thunder spirit. Instant déjà vu hit me. An image of Mizuki flashed through my mind and I frowned in distaste.

Aoi had told him he could become a Chunin in the Village Hidden in the Rain, but Idate didn't want that. He managed to convince him that he's a rogue ninja. He used fear against imprisonment against him.

"I never saw the LeafVillage again after that day. Nothing I do goes right. I've never been of use to anyone. But even so; Boss Jirocho . . . even though he knew I was no good he still trusted me. He put his faith in me. And now, look what I've done."

He tightened his hand around the pocket knife and shut his eyes tightly.

I glanced at Naruto, knowing this hit a little too close to home. "I've never been of use to anyone." Tears escaped him. I closed my eyes and the memory of Mizuki and that day replayed through my mind.

How he so easily shook my mind. I truly did believe that no one would care for us. I believed his words so easily. The same for Naruto.

If Iruka wasn't there . . . we may have fled the village as well. But Idate, the sensei he trusted wasn't like Iruka. No, his sensei was just like Mizuki.

"Look at me I'm worthless. Everything I do goes wrong. Aoi said it and he was right. I'd be better off dead." Naruto stood fast. "Stop it! You idiot! You just said it yourself! You still got one person who believes in you right?!" He grabbed Idate's shoulders.

Sakura went to pull him off when I thrust my arm out and stopped her. She looked at me incredulously but I just shook my head.

He needs to hear this. Because Naruto has been through the same situation. "One person is enough, that's all anyone needs. Don't even think of quitting. Who says this race is over? You have no way of knowing how things are gonna turn out!"

"Yeah but . . ." Idate looked so defeated. Naruto grabbed his arms and pulled him up. "Come on, on your feet." Sakura sat up some more. "Stop it Naruto! He's still far too weak to move." Sakura reasoned.

I nodded. "I understand your feelings, but he needs to rest, just a bit more." I reasoned. Naruto turned to us, glaring. "If he can't run then I'll carry him on my back the whole way if I have to!" He dropped Idate who glared at Naruto.

"The other runner has already reached Motoroki." He told him. Naruto snatched the front of his shirt. You're not quitting understand?" Sakura stood. "No stop it!" Sasuke and I shot our hands out, snatching hers.

She looked back at us, confused as Naruto kept talking. "Leave them. This task right now can only be done by Naruto." I spoke. Sasuke nodded. He may not know what happened with Mizuki exactly, but he knows well what's Naruto's specialty is.

"Jirocho's counting on you and you don't want to keep him waiting. Pull yourself together." Naruto demanded. I stood and walked over to them.

Looking down on him, I spoke. "Jirocho means a lot to you. He gave you that, right?" I indicated to the knife in his hand. "When you have someone that means that much to you, you're willing to do anything for them. If he really is the only one who believes in you, then you need to do this. Don't betray his faith. Never hurt those you love."

Idate bit his lip.

"Snap out of it!" I shouted, making him jump slightly. "This race isn't for you. It's not about you. It's about doing something for those you care about. If you stop now, then you're just saying you don't care about them."

"This is the chance you've been waiting for your whole life. To show someone they were right to depend on you, to believe on you. Come on. Show them what you got!" Naruto encourage.

Idate's eyes flickered and determination could be seen. Smiling lightly I nodded to the entrance. "Wipe the smug look off their faces." He nodded and stared at my brother.

"I'll do it. But I'll need your help Naruto." My brother grinned widely. Grabbing Idate, I placed him on my brothers back. Naruto glanced at me and we stared at each other for a bit.

"You really have grown." I whispered. He merely grinned before running out of the cave. Sighing I glanced at the two. "We should follow. We need to protect them from that stupid traitor ninja."

Sasuke smirked and they both stood. "Let's go." Sasuke then led us out as we ran after the flash of orange.

No matter what, we'll do this. This isn't about pay anymore.