I watched as Kakashi-sensei was captured by the enemy, my eyes wide with disbelief and fear. I couldn't avert my eyes from the deadly shinobi that had captured our sensei and now would surely come after us. Zabuza lowered his head to look at Kakashi-sensei before speaking.

"Kukukuku, this prison is made of water but it's stronger than steel... it's hard to fight when you can't move. So much for the great Kakashi... I'll finish you off later. But first, your little friends are going to have to be eliminated."

He turned to us and made a hand sign with only one hand, before clearly saying "Water clone jutsu!"

Seconds later, water started rising up from the lake, forming an identical version of Zabuza. My whole body was shaking as the jounin raised his head and spoke.

"You think wearing a headband makes you a ninja? When you've been between life and death so many times it doesn't faze you, then, you may be called a ninja. When you've become so deadly your profile is entered in my bingo book, then, you may have earned the title ninja. But to call upstarts like you ninja, is a joke!"

The mist was growing denser as he spoke, before completely obscuring him. My heart was beating a million miles per hour as fear ate at it. He'd disappeared!

But his voice sounded as clearly as ever.

"You're just brats."

I was shaking, unable to think due to the fear when a familiar voice cut through to me. Kakashi-sensei!

"Listen, get the bridge builder and run!"

I froze.

What is he saying?

"You can't win this fight! He's using all his power to keep me in this prison, so he can only fight you with his water-clone! But the clone can't go far from his real body, so if you get away from him, he can't follow! Now run!"

I was staring wide-eyed at Kakashi. I didn't understand. Turning my head to the side, I caught a glimpse of Sasuke's face. There was no fear visible on his face, only determination. I was really jealous of him at that moment. I wanted to be fearless too. Steeling myself to be worthy of my rival, I walked towards him on shaky legs. He just glanced at me before turning back to look at the enemy. When I finally reached Sasuke's side, I saw his eyes widen and instantly whipped my head to the side.

I stared, frozen, as the clone sped towards us, leg lifted for a roundhouse kick. He was too fast. There's no way I'll be able to dodge that. My eyes widened in fear.

But then a cold breeze caressed my face, and when my eyes focused I caught a dazzling figure. Soft white locks gently flowing in the breeze. Her presence alone brought a kind of elation forth from deep within me. And not just that, but also power. I could feel it, seeping into my libs. I felt so much stronger now, like I could do anything.

Ceiren's snow white hand was gently wrapped around the clones foot, that was still in the air. She had stopped him from kicking me. She stopped him with ONE HAND!

I peeked at her side profile, trying to catch a glimpse of the expression on her face. I saw her smile gently before she turned to face the original Zabuza, and her twinkling laughter sounded through the clearing.

"Heh, capturing Rokudaime-sama and daring attempting to kick Nanadaime-sama as well as my comfy cushion, do you have a death wish or something, oh mighty cow?"

I stared with wide eyes as Cei let go of the clones foot and before I could even blink, her hand was already gripping his head. I could hear another chuckle. Her voice was so soothing...

"Know your opponent, demon cow of the mist. I don't need to be in your bingo book to be able to slash you to ribbons. And I honestly don't care for becoming a ninja, but just so you know a true ninja does not underestimate their opponent. A true ninja sees through deception. You failed in both. Know thy enemy. If you charge in just like that, you're just rash. Or stupid."

I winced and looked down at the ground. That's what I always do...

"I want to make this clear though, I have nothing against cows. They make milk. Which is used for chocolate. I love chocolate. Cows are cool. Like lizards. But you in particular, I don't like. Not just anybody, scratch that, nobody has the right to hurt my teammates. So sorry, but you'll just have to scram."

I looked up at her with sparkling eyes. I just couldn't believe it. She called me her teammate. She's protecting us. And she's right. It's what Kakashi tried so hard to bash into our heads; We're a team! And teammates stick together no matter what!

A new determination flooded me, followed quickly by excitement. I glanced to the side and saw Sasuke making a similarly excited expression while smirking. Sakura still seemed scared but determined. YOSH, we were in this together!

Cei-chan then put some pressure on her grip and squished the clones head. The clone burst apart like some fragile thing, and she didn't even look fazed. Cei then turned back to the original and smiled. Then, she vanished.

I froze for a moment before frantically looking around for her. While looking for her, my eyes clashed with a pair of black orbs. For a mere second, I locked eyes with Sasuke and my heart calmed. I saw the worry and fear in his eyes as well.

I'm not the only one who's worried.

It felt good not being alone.

I'm always alone.

-No you're not.-

I jumped and frowned. What was that?! But then I finally spotted Cei and everything else just flew from my mind, as panic filled it. She was standing in front of the original Zabuza and Kakashi, who was desperately telling us to run. My eyes narrowed. I didn't know what to do.

I didn't want to run. I didn't want to be weak. But Cei... She's in trouble!

My eyes flooded with determination as I decided to help my only friend, but before I could even take a step towards her, I stopped in my racks. My jaw fell to the floor.

Cei was standing in mid-air, compensating for their height difference, and her slender fingers were wrapped around Zabuza's throat. I saw her grip tightening before lifting him from the waters surface, and now neither of their feet were touching the ground.

Zabuza was taken by surprise and didn't counter in time. With Cei leaving him no choice, he had to let go of the water prison jutsu just to be able to pry the fingers from his neck.

I watched as Kakashi fell into the water before quickly resurfacing. I saw him cast a quick glance at Cei before his eyes widened and he looked away, running towards us. When he reached shore, he quickly ushered Sasuke, Sakura and me behind him before standing in front of us and Tazuna for protection. But I saw Sauke frowning, and I myself was spitting with rage.

"Kakashi-sensei! Why aren't you helping Cei-chan! She's right there with that monster... You were so close to her, why did you run?!"

I was mad. Really mad. But when Kakashi turned to look at me is eyes held no emotion. He sighed quietly before pointing somewhere.

"Look over there, Naruto. She really, genuinely, does not need my help."

I was confused and looked in the direction he was pointing. Cei was still choking Zabuza. He was desperately clawing at her, kicking at her and even tried swinging his sword at her. But she was gracefully dodging everything, her fingers never once easing the pressure. Actually, judging by Zabuza's increasingly red face and the bruises you could see forming under Cei's fingers, she was actually continuously tightening her grip. Painfully.

Then she suddenly tilted her head cutely to the side, pouting. (I thought I saw Sasuke get a nosebleed out of the corner of my eye. Suspicious...)

"I'm sorry legendary demonic cowy, but you really never stood a chance. After all, you were up against the best team in the hidden leaf village; Kakashi whose almighty hair defies gravity itself; Sakura, someone who managed to brainwash everyone and make them think she's a bright kunoichi; Sasuke, the best student of the academy and such a comfortable cushion that nobody can resist him and Naruto, the ninja who will become Hokage of the Village hidden in the Leaves, the knucklehead ninja that never gives up. You were kind of doomed from the start, sorryyy. Nee~"

She then turned to look at us, and winked. I stood frozen for a while before my face broke out in a full out grin. It even hurt the edges of my mouth, with how wide I was grinning. I could see Sakura deadpanning and Sasuke smirking at my side.

"That's right, Cei-chan! And don't forget, the last member of our team, the kindest and prettiest Cei that has an inborn talent to take advantage of the teme! GO CEI!"

Her face instantly fell and she stared at me with blank eyes. Then, she dramatically lifted her hand to her forehead and swooned backwards, as if falling from shock while still choking Zabuza with her other hand.

I watched her, eyes narrowed in confusion.

Did I say something wrong?

But it's a great talent! I really respect her for it! That teme really needs someone who can literally sit on him. It's good for his overinflated ego. (Poor Naruto is not aware that the true egoist, no wait, narcissist with a god complex-in-development is Cei...)

Cei stood back up and deadpanned at me, before turning back to the cow. Her grip on him lightened. She still held him up in the air, but he started wheezing so I could tell she had loosened her grip and allowed him to breathe properly.

"...well, appreciate me. Naruto just called me the kindest and prettiest, so I can't disappoint him... Well, anything you have to say? Don't try to fool me, you're a ninja and I know your ways... You ALWAYS have something hella dramatic to impart onto others... so out with it cowey dear!"

We all deadpanned at her, even Zabuza. I heard Kakashi's voice sound from my left.

"Cei..."

But before he could say anything else, Cei-chan huffed and shook Zabuza like some rag doll.

"Okayyy~ I don't need to hear it. You were gonna tell us how you became genin, right? By killing all the other genin... Bohooo must've been so fun I'm sure you miss it. Good times, good times... But I don't like listening to people who think being a cold blooded killer at the age of twelve makes them cool. And just so you know, even if it did, you most definitely don't want to brag about it in front of me. My own story will just make you feel worthless...oh good times good times..."

She suddenly whipped her head to face Zabuza, their faces inches apart. I could see his face turning red, meaning she was increasing the pressure again and at an alarming rate.

"But no matter how good company you are cowey, you still attempted to harm the future Hokages and my cushion... nobody dares lay a finger on my cushion... it's holy. Do you know what the punishments for you actions are...?"

I gulped. I mean I really loved Cei... but she was sounding really, really scary. Almost like that one time I tried to eat some of her ramen...*shiver*. She rarely eats but when she does...

Suddenly I saw two small blurs flying towards Cei and Zabuza at a lightning speed. Before I could even shout, the needles hit their target. My eyes widened as I saw the blood. My knees weakened and I collapsed to the floor. I was looking down at the ground, shock running through me. Denial.

No way.

But then a hand on my shoulder made me look up. The teme rolled his eyes at me before pointing back at Cei's direction. I was afraid to look, but at the same time curious why Sasuke was so unfazed. Looking back up, I tried to see what he meant. And I noticed something.

Cei hadn't fallen down. She was still standing, an aloof expression on her face. I was confused until I noticed the needles, sticking out of Zabuza's neck right above Cei's fingers. His blood was slowly trickling down her hand. Shocked, I looked back up at her face and then noticed she was looking at something. I followed her gaze.

A ninja was standing on a tree branch. Their long hair was softly swaying in the wind, and they had a weird mask on. I made my I-don't-get-sh*t expression.

Then I heard Cei-chan voice.

"Hmmmmm, hunter nin, huh? Well, no need to tell us why you're here, we get it."

She tossed Zabuza straight at the ninja who seemed temporarily shocked at her actions. And he wasn't the only one. I could see the incredulous rise of eyebrows the rest of your teammates were doing. The "hunter nin", as Cei called it, hesitantly picked Zabuza's unconscious body up and started saying something before Cei cut him off.

"Please, don't talk, just go. I'm so tired I'm going to drop. Save your stories for later, 'kay Haku?"

She then ignored everyone and walked straight to Sasuke before collapsing onto him. Sasuke's arm immediately wrapped around her and lifter her up. Cei hugged his neck, eyes closed and stared murmuring some strange things in a sleepy voice. If I hadn't known better, I'd suspect her of being drunk...

My eyes shifted to Tazuna in suspicion.

The hunter nin just stood frozen for a good while before finally getting something out of his throat.

"...okay then. I'll leave now."

And with that he vanished in a cluster of leaves, leaving us behind with a stunned and tired Kakashi, a confused me and Sakura as well as a half-asleep Cei and a smirking teme.

I wish I could wipe that smirk off his annoying face.