Akumi POV__________

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Sasuke and Naruto. Lately Kakashi sensei had made us practice the tree walking technique which I already knew and Sakura quickly mastered. 

I had gone to practicing my stamina and hand sign speed while going over strategies and medicinal herbs with Sakura. The two chakra powerhouses were barely standing as they limped into the room.

"Naruto-nii I've told you it's dangerous to exhaust your chakra reserves like that." I sighed as I stood up crossing my arms. He gave me a cheesy smile as sasuke set him down. "Oh c'mon Akumi it isn't that bad besides I promise i'll eat, take a bath and head straight to bed." He stated sheepishly as Sasuke rolled his eyes and took a seat.

I glanced at Sensei and cocked a brow signaling him to at least scold them for their reckless behavior. Kakashi-sensei sighed slightly lowering his chopsticks. "You two shouldn't lower your chakra too much or you'll end up straining yourselves." He deadpanned and they both scoffed.

I couldn't help but sigh as well knowing they were probably thinking Sensei had no right to get on to them as well considering he too had strained his chakra coils and even worse than they just had in his last battle. 'You're one to talk sensei."Naru-nii quickly voiced and confirmed my train of thought.

"Anyways how high did you two make it this time?" Sakura asked and Naru-nii gave her a cheesy smile. "The teme and I finally made it to the top this time, That Moomoo Rogue ninja guy won't know what hit him." he cheered and Sasuke solemnly nodded with a smirk plastered on his face.

"That's good to know, considering how large both of your chakra reserves are, you can finally start using all that chakra correctly." I say shrugging and Kakashi-sensei nodded. "You four hurry up and eat we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." He added. "Hai Sensei!"

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It took me a while to finally be able to fall asleep but obviously I ended up waking up several times. Kakashi sensei had talked to me telling me to try and sleep by myself and if I woke up with flashbacks again that I could go to Naruto's room and sleep there. He also gave me a small lecture about bottling up all of my concerns and worries. Although he was right he understood the situation and was quite lenient.

We all woke up early, well except for Naru-nii who seemed to still be recovering from the chakra loss of the previous night and fore night. "Sensei are we just going to let him sleep in?" Sakura asked as we stood at Naruto and Sasuke's bedroom door. 

"I guess we will have to, it seems he won't be waking up anytime soon besides he'll be safe here."Kakashi-sensei sighed and I nodded in agreement. "Better here and resting than out there and in danger."I hummed out.

I wasn't too concerned with leaving him in the house where I was certain that Zabuza wouldn't attack. I checked my ninja pouch one last time before following Tazuna out. 

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Arriving at the bridge we instantly  noticed something off. There was a thick mist and bodies were littered everywhere. I instantly grabbed a kunai, all three of us got in a defensive position. "Get ready, he's here somewhere."Kakashi-sensei hissed as he to got in a defensive position as well.

"Would you look at that it's the little demon and her copy cat sensei. I see your genin are still as weak as ever, look at them they're already shaking." Zabuza smirked as the mist cleared around him and the hunter nin. I couldn't help but hiss at the nickname . "Trembling of excitement."Sasuke smirked as he held up two kunai.

"tch is that right?"Zabuza chuckled as he made a water clones who instantly ran towards Sasuke. He moved swiftly and was able to impaled the clone forcing it to dispel.

"Haku would you look at that you got a bit of competition going on." Zabuza cackled. "Sasuke you take care of the hunter nin. Normally I'd send Akumi but we need her close to the client in case he manages to injure him."Kakashi commanded and we both nodded. "Sakura you're Akumi's back up, I expect you to protect Tazuna in case Akumi has to go into battle." He added and sakura nodded. "Hai, sensei!"

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We had split into three small fights. Sasuke and Haku who were off to the side in a Ice dome, Kakashi-sensei who was stalling Zabuza and me. 

Flashback~~~~

"Tch lets  do this."Sasuke smirked as he started his battle with Haku. Both had went off to the side and were clashing. I couldn't help but feel impatient. In my opinion Sasuke could do well to stop teasing and showing off his speed and actually try to take Haku down. It was really getting annoying but it isn't like Kakashi would call him out. It could make Haku try to use it in his advantage. 

"That little genin of yours is dead Hatake. You won't be making it past this point."Zabuza smirked as he gripped his sword having a stand off with sensei. There was a tense silence as we all paid attention to Haku and Sasuke's battle. That is until haku suddenly used one hand  handsigns. I gritted my teeth as I saw a giant Ice- dome appear around them.

"The hell?!" I gasped, what kind of jutsu is that?! "Hehehe Now you understand. Your brat is no match from Haku, you can consider him dead since he'll never escape Haku's kekkei Genkai!" he cackled. I Glanced at Kakashi sensei and he gave a curt nod. I instantly dashed off after them.

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I ducked and took a deep breath as I used my chakra chains again. 'C'mon little demon is that the best you have?" Zabuza's clone laughed as he slashed his sword towards me nearly cutting my chest in half.

I tried to use my Kunai to counter attack and weave past his defenses but his damn sword kept getting in the damn way. I couldn't get close to him, His sword kept me at a fair distance close enough and i'd have a free range of attack but if I didn't get close enough quick enough I'd be sliced in two pieces. 'dammit!' I howled internally.

I had light cuts littered on my body from the nearly missed cuts and bruises forming from his punches but I could easily ignore the pain. I had learned to deal with the stinging aches of cuts and the pondering pulses of bruises ever since I'd been a child.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 "Nee-chan, I'm sorry." Sniffled Naruto as he shuffled slightly. I couldn't help but cock my head slightly, why was he sorry. "Ne Nii-chan why are you sorry?" I asked as he started tearing up again. 

"B-because nee-chan keeps getting hurt. You always push me behind you when mama is coming and she makes your face purple and sometimes y-you have red water coming out." He spoke softly and trembled as he twiddled his hands. 

" It's okay, besides it doesn't hurt ." I say smiling widely and he shook his head. "Then why do you cry nee-chan, I see you!" he cried out tears spilling out of his eyes. 

I looked down fiddling with my dress, "It's okay, I'm okay. Don't worry about it. I'm your nee-chan and besides mama's punishments don't hurt because I'm a girl and uh girls are very different than boys." I say nodding. Nii-chan's eyes widen. "Really Nee-chan. I didn't know." He mumbled. 

"Yup that's why you never hear me cry when mama punishes me for being a bad girl , because girls don't hurt so stop being silly and hurry because mama is coming and you know that she said you were being bad." I say as I began to push big brother in the cabinet. 

"B-but." he stuttered but I didn't listen as I put the food containers in front of him. I took a deep breath. I want to cry , it always hurts and I'm scared. "Shhhh be quiet okay. Your big sister has everything covered." I smile and close the door.

I shakily fold my fingers the way the big kids did. "h-henge." I squeak out and I felt something warm inside of me swirl in my belly and I looked down at my tanner hands and the blonde short hair that framed my face. It's okay because nii-chan will be okay so the pain will be okay. I took a deep breath and stared at the door. I could hear her coming. Mommy is mad, mommy told us not to run and we ran. I felt something cold dripping down the side of my face. My body shook as the door handle twisted and was thrown open.

"You, Insolent brat! I take you in and all you do is cause problems!" Mommy yelled as she reached for me. I tried to cover my face but she grasped my arm yanking me up and balled her fist up. I bit my lip as I felt my face sting. I can't cry Nii-chan will worry and open the door . My body clashed against the cabinet and I couldn't breath. "Scream, cry, do something! You mock me with your silence don't you!" she growled as I tried to crawl away when I felt her stomp my leg and grab my hair yanking me back. 

My mouth hung open as I tried to hold back a yelp. "Stupid stupid monster ! All you do is cause unhappiness. That's why your mother and father dumped you here. They hated you, Your lucky I found you otherwise you'd be dead!" she hit me with each word. I coughed out blood and tried to hit her back. "You should've died had it not been for you I'd still have my leg." she screeched. 

My body hurt everything hurt. Why was mommy so mean, why did our real parents hate us?  I didn't know we took her leg. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. "AKUMA AKUMA THATS WHAT YOU ARE A DEMON YOU HEAR ! NOBODY LOVES YOU, BECAUSE NOBODY LIKES DEMONS!" She yelled as she threw me on the ground. 

I have to get away, mommy is still mad. She's very mad, why is mommy so mad today? I took a deep breath and gritted my teeth. I have to get away, she might find big brother. "Look at you crawling like the little monster you are." I heard mommy say but I didn't look back when I felt her metal leg hit me. "Get out of my sight you devil child." she sneered. "I'm a horrible child, I'm sorry. Gomen mommy."  I coughed out as I looked down my voice was hoarse and trembling. "I'm a monster.." I felt my arms collapsed beneath me. I heard mommy laugh. "beg you little mongrel." 

I  crawled to mommy and lowered my head. "mommy I'm sorry, f-forgive me.." I coughed out and felt a kick on my sides. It hurt to breath, It hurt to move, at least nii-chan isn't hurting this time. "Your such an annoyance. A waste of space." I heard her sneer, I didn't have the strength to look up at her. I heard the door slam shut and laid there. 

All I could do is stare at the door as I took in sharp short breaths. The room got silent and all I could hear were big brothers muffled whimpers. I slowly got up ignoring the pain around me."release."  mumble out feeling a warm sensation in my belly once more. I could once again see my long strands of red hair covering my face as I got up and limped to the cabinet.

I slowly open it and smile. "She's gone now Nii-chan. Your safe." I croak out, big fat tears streamed down his face and he hiccupped. "Nee-chan your hurt again. Your eye is turning purple and there's red water coming out your mouth again." he cried out as he quickly threw himself at me wrapping his arms around my waist I slightly hissed at the pain coming from my sides. 

Naruto began to cry his body shaking as he sobbed. "Mommy hurt you again and its all my fault." he sobbed. "Its okay Nii-chan." I say patting his head "its always okay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

I concentrated my chakra into limbs, dammit he knew of my chakra chains and kept blocking them! "We aren't gunna let you get in haku's way little Akuma." The water clone hissed and I jumped back. "Earth style: Spikes!" I hissed as I finished the handsigns. He managed to jump out of the way of my attack. 

"Naruto Uzumaki is here to save the day!" I heard big brother yell and see a blob of orange jump straight into the ice dome. I couldn't help but  sigh. Did my brother ever think anything through?

I tried to concentrate but now I knew Naruto was in there with that Hunter nin. Dammit why can't he just stay back where he's safe?! I could also hear the sound of his shadow clones popping and weapons clashing against each other. 

The mist thickened and Zabuza clones were moving fast. The visibility wasn't making the fight easier for me considering that I was used to trying to predict my opponets next move by their body language. 

I don't have the stamina to keep this up, I hissed internally when I felt a familair chakra being released. My body froze and the clone managed to cut my leg deeply making me collapse. I hissed but took the chance I used my chakra chain to hold the sword.

"Damn brat." A clone hissed as he kicked my face making my head slam on the ground "Fuck.." I gasped as I used another chain to pierce them. Slowly I turned to look at  the direction from the chakra. I had felt it before but when? The amount of malice and hatred that emitted from it made my body stiffen and my breathing labor. Nii-chan's over there... what the hell happened. 

I forgot all about my injuries as I slowly stood up. "How dare you Bastard!" I heard Nii-chan yell but my vision was becoming blurry. I kept walking, my body felt heavy and I was limping The mist was still thick and I heard the sounds dogs barking behind me followed by the sound of birds chirping. 

Everything sounded distant but I kept walking towards where naruto was. The mist seemed to start to clear as he came to clear view. He was looking towards the direction where kakashi sensei was and his eyes landed straight on me. 

He wasn't injured. I couldn't help but smile. "Nee-chan." He spoke his voice sounding upset I noticed the big fat tears swell in his eyes. "I was worried, but you're okay." I smile as he ran towards me, I felt his arms wrap around me and hold me up. "You're bleeding! Hurry use your medical ninjutsu!"  he cried out as I noticed he was setting me down. 

"I'm fine." I reply my voice felt hoarse and he frowned. "But enough about me, are you okay?" I asked my hands glowed green as I tried to check him for injuries. "Nee-chan you Baka!" he glared at me as he pulled some bandages from his pouch and began wrapping my leg. "W-what do you mean..." I didn't even get to finish as he placed my hands on my leg. 

"Stop worrying about me, can't you see your bleeding out?!" he yelled angrily, I was taken back and looked down to see my hands coated in blood and the bandages quickly becoming soaked.

Thats when I noticed that the same warm liquid was running down the side of my face. Did my head hit the concrete that hard when he kicked me? "I-I" I stammer out noticing how badly I was hurt. "Heal this one first and then your head injury, hurry." naruto spoke quickly I gave a curt nod as I began healing my leg. 

That's when I realized how much my body hurt. My head felt as if it had been split in two and there was that familiar stinging and pulsing pain. I finished healing my leg and began working on my head. "Better?" he asked and I nodded. "Rest for now." He spoke as he looked up and was starring at kakashi sensei Haku and Zabuza. "You'll be alright Nee-chan" and with that everything else faded. 

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I woke up in a soft warm bed. "What happend?" I asked as I tried to get up. My body was aching and the light hurt my eyes. "Easy there, you lost quite a bit of blood Akumi." I heard sensei's voice.

"I did?" I asked as my vision became clear. Sasuke was covered in bandages and standing off to the back with kakashi sensei beside him. I turned my head to see Naruto kneeled down beside me and sakura standing behind him. "What happened?" I asked drowsily. "Gato came and cut his deal with Zabuza but not before Haku was killed. Zabuza killed gato and we drove away the thugs." Naruto quickly filled me in. 

"Zabuza did quite a number on you Akumi. You over exerted your chakra and lost a bit of blood. You passed out after healing yourself due to exhaustion.But you're back to normal now, well plus the bruises." Kakashi sensei sighed.

"Nee-chan stop pushing you're limits you always say I worry you but when it comes down to it it's the other way around,dattebayo." naruto sniffled and I frowned, I really hate making him worry and cry."Gomen Nii-chan." I say as he hugged me tightly and I softly patted his head.

"I'm okay, I'm always okay ....... Nii-Chan"

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