Keira's POV

I stepped onto the bridge with my team. Each heart racing at the mist expanding around us. My breath shook and I clenched my hands together to keep from them shaking.

I am afraid, fear rattles my bones and dilates my eyes. My adrenaline pumps through me like gasoline through the engine, igniting my nerves into SuperDrive.

"So I see you did betray us then, little brat. " Zabuza growled in the mist.

Twelve Zabuza water clones appeared around us in a flash, Sasuke tearing them down just as fast.

"No Sensei. " I tried to make my voice strong but I was anxious for what might happen and it clearly showed in my voice. "I just want to stop this useless fighting! Gatou is planning on killing you, and if you would just listen.."

"No" Haku cut me off. "I won't allow Zabuza to be tarnished by your lies."

Oh god, they won't listen.

"It looks like a rival had appeared eh Haku?"

"It does indeed. " Haku stood primly by Zabuza's side.

"Guys! Just listen, this fighting will just hurt all of us! We can stop this before.." Sensei cut me off, I looked at him, pleading him to trust me more than he should.

"Stop, Keira. What do they mean 'betray them'? What did you do while you were gone?" Kakashi said sharply, an accusatory glance sent in my direction.

"No it's not like that! I have to stop this fight, if not the consequences will be..."

"Enough, insolent child. Your mother had much more pride than you, even in death. Haku, kill them. Save the bridge builder for me. " I gasped and Haku replied to the command swiftly, wasting no time on pleasantries.

He twirled and Sasuke spun, stopping his needle from impaling my throat. They launched at each other, both keeping pace with the other, a dance beteween two artisans, spinning and coinciding in the others path.

"Sakura!! Step in front of Tazuna-San and don't leave my side, we will let Sasuke handle him. Keira, don't move." Kakashi threatened me with his eyes, a flash of hurt and betrayed sparking behind them.

"I don't want to have to kill you. " Haku stated to his enemy in battle. "But you won't stand down will you?"

Sasuke scoffed "Don't be foolish"

Haku sighed, making hand signs with only one hand rapidly.

"Special Jutsu, flying water needles!" water condensed around Sasuke, and I saw a flash of blue as he shot straight up and away. To everyone else though it looked like he just vanished.

Haku was way too slow though! Usually when we trained he was flicked in and out of my view. He must really not want to kill him.

"Demon Ice mirror Jutsu!" my interference in all this accelerated and edited the whole battle! This doesn't happen yet! Where is the dialogue! I have to stop this.

I pulled my Kunai out and prepared to shatter the ice but Sensei stopped me.

"I said don't move, I don't want to hurt you. " I stiffened at his voice knowing full well that he would.

Haku walked into the mirrors and I was about to burst, Sasuke could get hurt! Don't except me to sit around!

Sensei leapt up and I was about to follow him but I saw the look of fright on Sakura's face. Poor girl, I will stay here and defend Tazuna for now.

Haku started his needle onslaught, making me wince and Sakura cry out. Oh Kami, that's brutal.

"Don't do anything. Just hold on." I steadied her hands by laying mine on top.

"Excuse me for a moment." I winked then dashed forward, throwing my kunai, jumping back with a flip as Haku caught it. I smirked, nice throw, me.

A shuriken flew right under Haku's chin, startling him out of his ice reflector.

"Naruto Uzumaki has finally arrived!" he announced loudly, popping in to the battle foolishly. Jeez, and he calls himself a ninja. I smiled shakily at him and gulped, thank Kami he is here.

"Now that I am here everything will be fine! This is the part where the hero usually shows up and saves the day!" He arrogantly stated, sure that he was the hero.

"Naruto! How was training!" I waved, loudly hollering back to him and he winked, giving me a thumbs up.

"It was great! I am way stronger than you now! Believe it!!"

I smiled huge at him and laughed. "I am better so you believe it! After this I declare that we will have a huge fight I am gonna wipe the floor with you!"

He prepared to deny it but noticed the shuriken and needles cancel each others weapons out. I hushed and returned to my former stance seriously.

"Haku, what is this!?" Zabuza hollered, infuriated at his apprentices' weakness.

"These kids.. Please let me fight them in my own way. " He said clearly. I was happy he didn't want to kill us, but, there is a hefty price to pay for his kindness.

"Soft as always Haku. " Zabuza scoffed, letting his friend take reign.

I turned and saw Naruto in the ice trap crouching and getting hollered at rightfully by his teammate. I sweat dropped, that Naruto, he comes to help but ended up making it worse. I smiled, he has a heart of gold though, and is always there for his comrades.

I turned to the intense checkmated glares beteween my Sensei's, heat peeking at my senses and bright light shining in the corner of my eye.

I gasped, such tremendous power in one blow! It's useless though, the ice didn't budge, melt, or soften in any sense.

Needles tore at their skin and clothes from every angle and I seethed. I gave up on protecting Tazuna and pulled my knife in front of my body.

I stabbed the back of the mirrors viciously, trying to consummate my friends freedom.

I put my knife against one, but something pulled my wrist. It tugged me through, in one motion, to the inside of this arena.

I plopped, hearing my elbow pop painfully as I tucked and rolled beside my team.

"Damn, I attacked from the outside, but I ended up getting pulled in too!" I looked at my arm and winced. My elbow looked swollen and disfigured. Ugh, I turned away, not able to look at it.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!!!!" fifteen or so knuckle heads appirated, attacking the shiny ice, each one torn down and evaporated with ease.

"This Jutsu uses the mirror's reflection to transport me. From my point of view, you seem to be moving in slow motion." He stated a bit arrogantly.

I was so frustrated at the outcome, all this prep only to fall back on a first draft, honestly I was terrified but I wasn't gonna be weak to it like I was 'that night', I was ready this time. Even though it was a drafting of my original plan, I had to make it work somehow. I swallowed, I feel like crying. The lump in my throat solidifies and I force it down, this is no time to breakdown.

The kekkiah genkai explination was relatively short compared to the longer ones we have had in battle, but still I felt the urge to tap my foot and hurry them along, we won't be needing any of this! You are just giving away secrets. It was making me anxious, ugh, I feel sick.

"I can't die here.. I have a dream to fulfill." Naruto struggled to stand and I ran to his side to help him, whimpering when I had to move my injured arm. Sasuke noticed my slight noise of pain and he looked back at Haku with a hate filled glare.

"If possible, I don't want to have to kill you, nor want you to have to kill me. But if you come at me.. I can destroy my kind heart with a blade and become a true shinobi. " I pitied Haku for his misguided life, the way his monotone words struck me hurt.

"Please don't hate me. I want to protect someone precious to me. To make that persons dreams come true. That is my dream. " He put an iron sound to his voice. "For that, I can become a real ninja. I can kill you. "

At his words, my boys smirked but I was frowning. I just wanted the hate and conflict to stop.

Words were exchanged and explained on the outer field I could not hear, but I did catch Kakashi grab his mask. No, I have to stop this, once it starts their is almost no possibility of stopping the death bound to come.

TIME SKIP:

My hand pressed flat against Sasuke's chest, sealing my fate with one step.

I closed my eyes, to slow to avoid this but quick enough to save another. A triumphant grin lit my face as sharpened death picked at me.

The needles were sharp and many, placed strategically to ensure my death, or temporary death, I don't know how this is gonna work out yet.

The pain was awful, it hurt much worse than I had ever felt with my fathers punishments.

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth and I fell to my knees heavily. I looked at my limp, heavy arms, looks like I can't protect the whole team anymore. I tumbled, caught by Naruto halfway, my legs straight and stiff stretched below me.

Shock and fear masked his face. I smiled small. Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes and he sniffed. "Keira"

"Don't be scared, you are safe now. I did ..it " I struggled to smile through the pain. Excruciating blasts of it filled my brain.

I felt Sasuke over to my right, sitting and staring at us, my hole ridden figure coming as a nightmare.

"Sasuke.." I whispered, my weak voice trembling ever so slightly.

"Naruto" I looked at the jinchuriki and winked, knowing this was not the time for jokes. Tears were rushing down his face and he was trying not to sob, for my sake in my last moments.

"Keep a smile ok? A true shinobi can smile through pain. A true ninja smiles into death." I finally drew a smile, it hurt so bad but it was worth it. He sobbed loudly but did it with a pained grimace on his face.

Sasuke kneeled on the other side of me. He just stared at the weapons syphoning my life away. His body shook, and anguish and defeat etched into his visage.

"A thanks would be n.ice.." I spat blood

I laughed blood, coughing a smile, trying to force oxygen into my lungs.

"Please" I gasped "take the needles.." I tried to spit it out "take out.. I can't " my mouth huffed a breath... I am dying. I can't bre