We'd already been in the Land of Waves for a week now. Kakashi trained us to use chakra control during his recovery and we'd all guarded the bridge with him nearby for Tazuna. We we were only staying an extra few days just to make sure the bridge was finished without any problems and then we were heading back to the Leaf. It was kinda sad, thinking about it, we'd all gotten so friendly with the family, especially Naruto and Inari. Tsunami and I had gotten to know eachother quite a lot too, hopefully Kakashi will consider visiting with just me next time, maybe Naruto too so he can see Inari again.

"Hey! Watch what you're doing with that wood!" Tazuna yelled as everybody slaved away at the last hurdle. The mist was thick today, making it hard for the workers, so I was helping carry the wood from the entrance of the bridge to the end. There was no way in Hell Gatō could get in the way. The Land of Waves is a poor country that deserves so much better. Thugs like Gatō should rot. My grip on the wood tightened with anger as I stomped across the bridge. I saw Sasuke handle the last few planks and catch up behind me.

"Why so hostile?" He teased, racing ahead of me.

"Oh no, I don't think so Uchiha." I hissed, running past him using my chakra control to make my steps bounce a little more than usual. He smirked and sped up, his pace drawing nearer and nearer to mine.

Needless to say within five seconds we were flat out sprinting towards the end of the bridge.

"Give up," I gasped, "you'll never win!"

"Hn!" Sasuke grunted.

Tazuna's eyes widened as he saw a blur of silver and black run past him, both drop the brown planks into the pile and turn.

"I WIN!"

Kakashi sweatdropped, looking at Tazuna sheepishly.

"I thought it was you and the short one who were competative." Tazuna said to Sasuke, loud enough for Naruto to hear.

I sat down, crossing my legs and leaning against the pile of planks behind me. Even though it seemed like a normal day, something was off. It was almost as though something bad was going to happen. Cliche I know, but it felt like it. The way the mist was thickening as each hour passed, making the air around us thick and difficult to breath in, especially the workers. I felt eyes boaring into the side of my head, Sasuke, of course.

"Do you feel that?" I asked, glancing sideways at him.

He looked down and started to fidget.

"The mist is thickening as the hours pass," I continued, "I have a feeling something is wrong."

My brow furrowed, what if something was wrong back at the house? Nobody was protecting Tsunami and Ikari after all, we were all too focused on the mission. I pushed my weight up onto my feet from my hands and ran towards Kakashi.

"Otou-san!"

Kakashi turned to me and held up his hand.

Stop? Why stop?

I nodded and took my fighting stance, glancing behind me at Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. I held my finger to my lips, silencing them from questioning my actions and signalled they do the same. The bridge had become eerily quiet, as if it had been abandoned for years. A chilling breeze drifted past me, sending shivers down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on alert.

"We meet again, Kakashi Hatake." A chilling voice breathed through the thickening fog.

Zabuza.

I growled, looking around frantically.

"Mitsu, pull yourself together." Kakashi's voice trailed sternly and confidently.

"Your mission is to protect the bridge builder, get into formation."

Fists clenched, I walked back until I came in contact with the others.

"Haku," Zabuza's voice ordered, "it looks like you've got some competition."

Sasuke growled, gripping the kunai tighter.

"So it would seem."

The bridge became deathly silent for a few seconds. We were all in stance around Tazuna, Kakashi up ahead trying to take care of Zabuza. It was obvious Kakashi would have to use his Sharingan and it was obvious that Sasuke was going to get a little off about it.

"Do not let your guard down." Sasuke hissed at us.

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto growled, raising his kunai defensively.

The house. Tsunami and Inari!

"You have no reason to worry, Tazuna," I whispered, "we'll protect you even if it costs us our lives."

I smiled reassuringly at him before turning my gaze towards Naruto.

"Naruto, you go back to the house and check on Inari and Tsunami," I ordered, "and be quiet about it!"

Naruto nodded before bouncing off through the mist. Exchange of metal could be heard between Kakashi and Zabuza up ahead, but where was Haku?

"Sasuke, Sakura," I started, "the kid, Haku, he's around, keep your guard up."

Just as I heard their grunts of approval, a group of kubotan flew past our heads, missing narrowly. Sakura gasped and dropped her stance along with her guard. Haku appeared in a flash behind her, hitting her in the back of her head, unconcious. Sasuke lunged towards Haku and fell over Sakura's limp body.

"Man, this kid's fast." I sighed, blocking out anything other than protecting Tazuna.

I could just see Haku as he whizzed around us, throwing dozens upon dozens of kubotan at us.

"Tazuna," Sasuke huffed, using his kunai to deflect any incoming weapons, "take Sakura and run West." He ordered.

He was right, there was no way we would be able to protect Sakura and Tazuna when they're right in the line of fire. I nodded towards Sasuke, understanding his plan. Haku by this point, had already used his gen-jutsu, Crystal Ice Mirrors. His body and reflection whizzed around, trying to confuse us.

Nothing's gonna confuse Sasuke more than this...

Forming handsigns, I again blocked everything out. This was gonna take all of my chakra, if not more of that.

"Sharingan!" I shouted, opening my piercing red eyes.

Sasuke was dumbfounded. He just stared at me, wide-eyed, mouth gaping.

"If you keep looking at me like that you'll end up dead." I growled.

He snapped back to reality.

"I can track his movements with my Sharingan," I explained, obviously annoying him, wouldn't you be annoyed if somebody was explaining your own family's personal jutsu?

"You use your..."

He grinned, "fire release jutsu."

I grinned back nodding.

"Ready?!"

I bound towards Haku as he transferred mirrors, grabbing his trouser leg and pulling him down. Just as Sasuke released his fire technique, I lunged out of the way of the wave of heat. Haku retreated back into the crystal ice which had barely melted.

"Well that didn't work." Sasuke huffed, low on chakra.

"Look, his sleeve is burned. If we can just give it one more try, Sasuke..."

I looked at him with my red orbs, everything was so much clearer with the Sharingan.

"Hn." He nodded, ready for the next and final blow.

Haku was cautious, but getting sloppy. He too would seem to be running out of chakra. I lunged at him, grabbing him by the arm this time, tightening my grip on him to make sure he didn't move as quickly as before. Sasuke's giant wave of Hell blew upon us, burning the flesh on my hands and arms, I didn't let Haku go until I was sure. After Sasuke's wave stopped, Haku fell to the fall, his clothes singed and mask burned.

"You were very much a competition..." He muttered, breathing heavily.

He was a goner. Sasuke looked at me, his eyes were hurt, I knew deep down he didn't like to see others suffer, but if we hadn't had done it then we would have jeopardized the mission. I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and dropped my Sharingan, my eyes turning back to their normal emerald green. The mist had thinned a lot since we started battle, Zabuza was probably down to 10% if not 0% of his chakra. I bent down and checked Haku's pulse. Nothing.

"He's gone, Sasuke. Let's go check Sakura and Tazuna." I said emotionless.

He nodded, understanding the guilt. The need for such a highly-built wall to our feelings as shinobi. As we limped towards Tazuna, we saw Sakura's limp body on the floor still. She was so weak. A pathetic excuse of a kunoichi. She disgusted me.

"Is it over?" Tazuna asked, looking worriedly at Sakura.

I just nodded, I didn't feel like talking to anybody. We sat and awaited our next orders from Kakashi. As we sat in tension, Tazuna told us what had happened outside the ice mirrors. Apparently Gatō had shown up with his thugs but Zabuza charged at them with both arms broken, helpless. He managed to strike Gatō and the rest ran away.

Eventually, Kakashi showed up. Zabuza's body was lifeless in his arms. He lay him down next to Haku, bowing his head in respect and prayer. I did the same, he was a troubled shinobi, but at least at the end of his life, he did what he knew was right. He did what Haku would've wanted, no mount of hate or crime can match up to what Zabuza had done for Haku, and the same with Haku for Zabuza.

"It's over." Kakashi said.

Tazuna carried Sakura back to the house where Naruto was guarding Inari and Tsunami, Sasuke helped both Kakashi and I. Our chakra had been completely devoured by the Sharingan. I was grateful to see the number one hyper-active knuckle-headed ninja and his little sidekick waiting for us outside. It looked like they'd put up a fight too, Gatō and his thugs must've thought they could be clever. Idiots.

"NAAARRUUUTOOO!" I yelled with glee, grinning from ear to ear. He waved frantically and ran over to help Sasuke with me and Kakashi. We entered the house to see it'd been trashed and Tsunami trying to clean it up a little. I growled, looking around at the damage.

"Gatō." Naruto answered grimly, setting us down on the sitting mats by the table.

Turning towards Tsunami, I put the last of my energy into giving her a massive reassuring smile.

"Don't worry about it Tsunami-chan! We'll help get the house back into shape before we leave, right Otou-san?" I spun around, shooting a warning-glare.

He sighed, "I've told you you can't call me that when we're on a mission!" He scolded, then smiling from under his mask.

"Of course we will."

Tsunami hugged us all, grateful for the help we'd given them. Once in the warm arms of Tsunami, everything faded to black and my body fell limp at last, needed it's much needed rest.