Sasuke's POV

I kicked a stone along the path, my hands jammed into me all black suit pockets. Tomorrow was the funeral. Tomorrow was the day they were going to put Lea into the earth and seal her away forever. I couldn't bear to think about it.

I jumped up on a branch in a nearby tree and rested my head on the bark. The days were boring without her. Not only was her moody, annoying presence gone but the whole entire Leaf village was mourning. Those who didn't even know her personally was walking around somberly as if they did. Damn hypocrites.

Lea was gone and he was still here. That damn bastard that killed my whole clan was still walking around alive on two feet while Lea was being prepared to be put in a hole! Anger surged in me and I clenched my hands tightly. I wasn't going to stay for the funeral. My bag was already packed and I was going to leave. It was time to put aside my grief and set out on the mission that had fueled me all these years: killing my brother.

Something glinted in the light. What was that?

My answer came soon enough when wires wrapped around my body, holding me to the trunk. What was happening? I struggled against the wires but it was held tight. Then Kakashi appeared before me. There were bags under his eye, from crying over Lea I was sure. He had been devastated when he heard what had happened.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked him, feeling the anger radiating off my body.

"If I didn't do this," Kakashi said, looking at me with the end of the wire in his hands. "You would have ran away. You don't listen well."

I just glared at him.

"Sasuke, stop seeking revenge. In this line of work, I've seen what revenge does to people. Those who've tasted it aren't satisfied and you'll only hurt and suffer more. Even if you succeed, you'll just feel empty inside."

"What the hell do you know?! Don't talk to me like you understand!!"

"Hey ... calm down..."

"What if I were to kill the one you loved the most? How far would you stray from what you just said? I can make you feel true pain!"

Kakashi merely looked at me.

"That would work," he said. "But unfortunately, no such person like that exists." Then he smiled. "Those persons have already have been killed."

I stopped, my eyes wide. Really?

"I've lived in a long, hard era too. I know how terrible true pain and loss can be. We aren't the lucky ones, for sure, but we aren't the worse off either. We both found precious companions."

My eyes fell. I knew who he was talking about. Naruto, Sakura, Lea...

"Chidori is a power given to you because you found something important to you," he continued, just as I felt the wire loosen. "That power should not be used against friends and for revenge. You should know what it's used for."

Kakashi allowed the wire to fall. "Think hard on if you can or cannot hold true to what I said."

Then, with one last lingering look, he walked away. My eyes fell again. Kakashi went through the same thing I did...? And he turned out fine...

But Itachi! He killed my whole clan! He can't go unpunished!

But Naruto, and Sakura ... who's been there with me since we became teammates. I can't just...

My thoughts ran like that till night fell. Itachi ... my teammates ... Itachi ... my teammates ... I didn't know which to choose.

I watched the shadows lengthen on the ground, my mind still a jumble. Then out of nowhere, four shadows blocked the moonlight then four bodies landed before me. I scrambled to my feet.

"Who are you?" I asked, warily. They looked ... weird.

"The four sounds," the first one said. He had six arms! Three on each side! "East Gate's Kidomaru."

"The same. South Gate's Jiroubou," another said. He was normal looking but really fat.

"The same. West Gate's Sakon." This one had two heads, one speaking to me and the other bent behind him.

"The same. North Gate's Tayuya." This one was a girl and she looked pretty normal, except for the mean look on her face. It reminded me of Lea. They all wore purple ropes around their waist.

Then, before I even got a chance to reply and ask what they were doing here, they sprang at me. I blocked a punch from Kidomaru and jumped up, with both hands on his back, sending a kick into Sakon's neck. He went flying into the girl, knocking them both into the trunk of the tree.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the big one advancing with his fist raised. I landed back on the branch, my back turned to Sakon and Tayuya, pushed my hand through Kidomaru's purple rope, then dodged the punch, grabbing on to the arm as I did. Then, with all the strength I had, I flung them both over my shoulder.

They flew into the trunk and there was a loud crash, a dust cloud rising to obscure my vision. I watched as the cloud disappeared and revealed four wooden blocks.

They were behind me, standing on the roof of a building.

I stood straight and turned my head to the side. I was so not in the mood for a fight right now. "You caught me at a bad time. If you want more, I won't hold back."

"Heh," Sakon smirked. "Stop yappy like a wimpy dog."

That only made me angrier and I turned and looked at him. Rage was beginning to consume me.

"Come on," he taunted with his finger. "I'll make a nice melody out of your broken ribs. Do ... re ... mi ... fa ... so ... la ... ti ... do..."

What the hell was wrong with his guy? I wrapped the fallen wire around my hands then sprang after him. He sprang too and I ducked under a kick he had aiming for me. I dodged another kick and saw my opportunity. Then I pulled the strings.

"What ...?" Sakon stopped. "My legs ... they can't move!"

Damn right they can't. I had wrapped the wires around them when he kept trying to kick me. Serves him right. Smirking I kicked at his head.

He caught it.

I aimed a punch at his face.

He caught that one too.

I flipped over and sent him another kick.

He blocked it.

I was just about to jump up and use my remaining hand to punch him but he smirked, throwing me off.

"Let me hear your melody," he said. "Do! Re!"

Then I was blasted back against the tree trunk.

"Wow, your bones have a low tune. Let's make a more high pitched sound, shall we?"

Dammit where had that attack come from? My body was aching all over.

I saw Kidomaru coming at me with full speed. Ignoring the pain, I jumped up just as he tried to kick me, and turned around to see whichever attack he was planning. His cheeks became full, as if he was vomiting, then spider web shot out of his mouth.

Spider web?

I held my arms up before me to block it but it stuck to my arms. Then he swung his head, bringing me with him, and threw me straight into a punch from Jiroubou. It felt as if a boulder had just tried to run me over.

I felt myself falling.

"Let's go with a combo of 'mi', 'fa', 'so'!" I head Sakon say, but no way was I going to let him shoot me with another weird attack, so I gripped the edge of the roof and sent a kick into his chin, infusing it with all my anger and frustrations.

Then I sprang up from behind him and rammed my elbow into his stomach, sending him into the ground. I rammed my fist into his body.

"Finally! Lion Combo!" I raised my leg and slammed it down, breaking apart the roof as his body went through.

One second I was landing my finishing blow, the next I was upside down with this weird two headed man holding me by my ankle. What happened? I landed every blow, yet he seemed to be unhurt.

"Look at this weakling," Sakon said. "If you stay in this village you'll always be weak like the rest of the people here. Playing family games with your comrades will make you rot."

"Come with us," Tayuya said. "Orochimaru will give you strength."

My ears perked. Strength?

At the sound of his name, my cursed mark flared up. Pain exploded on my neck just as Sakon threw me aside. I gripped my neck, coming to rest against the wall on the roof.

"Say it clearly and don't waste time," Sakon said. "Are you coming with us or not?? If we force you to come then there's no meaning in that. Such a weakling. I want to kill you already."

The pain spread over my arms and legs. Pain, anger and everything else inside me surged with the new power I felt. "Just come and do it!" I shouted at him, daring him.

"You've ... the curse seal..." Sakon muttered.

I sprang after them with a loud cry but I was knocked down. When I looked up I saw that half of his face, his right arm and leg were covered in black spots.

"You're not the only one Orochimaru has his eyes set on," he said with a grin. "Looks like you have no control over the curse seal yet. If you release it for an extended period of time then, bit by bit, it will begin to consume your body. Once it consumes you, you lose your sense of self forever."

"In exchange for power, we have become Orochimaru's servants," Tayuya said. "We've already lost our freedom. In order to gain something, you must sacrifice something in return. What is your purpose? Will you forget you goals and spend your life with you friends in this cozy village, licking your wounds?"

"I will tell you about Itachi," Sakon said. My eyes grew wide. What did he know about Itachi? "Never forget your purpose. This village is just a hindrance and in order for you to get stronger you must cut all ties with it."

"Don't forget your purpose!" they all shouted. Then they were off.

//1 hour later//

With my bag packed, I walked towards the exit of the village, hands in my pocket. They were right. I had to get stronger. This village is just going to hold me back. Kakashi wants me to choose between a life here, and revenge?

I choose revenge.

"Sasuke-kun."

I looked up to see Sakura looking at me sadly. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" I asked her.

"Everyone who leaves the village has to take this road."

"Go back home, Sakura."

I walked by her and she didn't move. After I was a few steps away, she spoke again.

"I was ... always getting Sasuke angry. You remember?"

I stopped.

"The day we became genins and it was only the three of us. I tried talking to you but you got mad at me."

"I don't remember that."

"Hehe ... I thought so ... It was so long ago. But ever since that day, you, me Naruto, Kaka-sensei and Lea completed many missions. It was tiring and difficult but more than anything it was fun. I know what happened to Sasuke's family but something like revenge can never bring anyone any happiness."

"Like I thought," I said. "We are nothing alike. When the five of us were completing missions, I thought that was my life but it's not. I am an avenger. I will never be like you or Naruto."

"Lea doesn't want revenge either Sasuke!"

I didn't answer. I knew better.

"Sasuke do you really plan to be alone again? You were the one who told me how awful that was. I may have friends and family but Sasuke, without you in my life ..." she sobbed, "I'll be so lonely!"

"This is just the steps we should take on our new paths."

"I like you Sasuke! I like you so much I can't stand it! We'll be happy together, I'll make sure you're happy! I'm willing to do anything for you Sasuke! Please, I'm begging you! Don't go! I'd kill for you, please, anything you want me to do ... I'll do for you ... please, stay with me ... i-if you can't then take me with you."

Finally I turned. "You really are very annoying."

I turned my face away from Sakura's crying one.

"Don't go!" she bellowed. "If you take one more step, I'll start screaming!"

I was behind her in a second. "Sakura ... Thank you."

Then I knocked her out.

I placed her on a nearby bench and turned by back to her, the village and everyone in it.

"We've been waiting, Sasuke-sama." Sakon's double heads appeared.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked.

"Ever since we left the village, we decided to let you lead us. Forgive our earlier actions."

I looked at the four then back at Sakura. My thoughts ran on Lea, but I quickly pushed her out of my mind. I had to forget everything now.

"Whatever. Let's go."

//

Kiba's POV

I spotted Kakashi, standing in front of the door. I approached him.

"Kakashi-sensei," I said as I walked up. "What are you doing here?" Akamaru barked the same question.

His eye shifted over to me. "Hey Kiba. Just thought I'd get one last look at my pupil before she's put in the ground tomorrow."

"You're here to see Lea?"

"I'm assuming you here for the same thing." When I didn't answer, he nodded and opened the door. "After you."

Akamaru and I went inside. I spotted her immediately. With Kakashi-sensei behind me, I walked over to the table covered with a large white cloth.

Akamaru whimpered as I pulled the cloth back, revealing her face.

"I can't believe she's gone," I whispered.

"She was a strong one," Kakashi-sensei said. "She had so much potential. I didn't think her time would have come so soon."

"She died saving our lives practically." I felt anger rear its familiar head. "Damn it, why is always her?!"

"Kiba, calm down..."

"No! It's always her, Kakashi-sensei. She's always the one getting hurt, getting poisoned, getting ambushed, almost dying, getting kidnapped!! Why is it always her?!"

Kakashi-sensei placed a hand on my shoulder. "What are you talking about?"

"During the trip to Kumogakure, she was practicing in the woods late at night when someone ambushed her and left her half dead. Then that same person kidnapped her afterwards."

"Do you know who it was?"

"We thought it was the same persons who had attacked the village sending a warning. But then we ruled that out when she got kidnapped."

"That's weird."

"You want to know what's weird? After we found her half dead in the woods, we brought her back. But when Sakura and Hinata cleaned her off she was completely wound free. It was as if nothing had happened yet she was still unconscious."

"How is that even possible?"

"We thought it was the poison but ... I'm not too sure."

"Show me where she was hurt."

I looked up at Kakashi-sensei. "What does it matter now? She's dead."

"Just show me."

I pulled the white cloth off, revealing Lea's entire body. I stepped back and allowed Kakashi-sensei to step forward.

He leaned over, inspecting her. "How did you heal her from the poison?"

"Horo-sama mixed some herbs."

"Hmm. Must have been Death Fingers."

"Yeah, yeah. That's what he called it. Um, what are you doing?"

"Checking something." Kakashi-sensei picked up her limp wrist, looking closely.

Then her finger moved. Kakashi-sensei dropped her hand.

"Did you do that?" I asked.

"Nope, I did not."

"Did she just ...?"

"Yep, I think she did."

Then we both came closer, watching her finger intently. It jerked again.

"Woah! What's happening?!" I exclaimed.

Kakashi-sensei's eye grew wide. As gently as he could he placed his fingers at the pulse in her wrists.

With a wide eye, he turned to me.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling tense.

"I can't believe this. This isn't possible!"

"What? What isn't possible??"

Kakashi-sensei moved his hand and turned to me. He looked both awed and confused. It was making me even tenser.

"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"

His eye shifted to me.

"She has a pulse."