Blood of a Lost Girl (Book 1, Naruto)

Chapter 24

My body jerked and I woke up, gasping. Nightmares. I hunched over, grabbing my head and squeezing my eyes shut. Why do I keep getting these nightmares!? I hit the tree behind me, hard, and the tree vibrated slightly with the force of my hit. I leaned back again, taking deep breaths to calm myself. If this went on much longer then I won't go to sleep again. The more I slept the more nightmares I got. I won't be able to handle them much longer. I sighed and stood up. I had to get back to my team. I've been gone for much too long. I jumped into the tree and looked down, a slight chill passing over me. It was very high up. I was almost afraid of the height, but not quite there yet. If I went any higher then I'd start to panic, but for now I was fine. I turned and went the way I thought my team was. I kept my eyes alert for any disturbances. My body was still not at full strength and I wasn't sure I'd be able to fight if someone ambushed me. That probably meant I should rest another while, but I couldn't. I wasn't a runner so if someone were to fight me right now I'd fight them until I couldn't hold my own anymore. I sighed. I just hope that doesn't happen. I looked around and cursed myself. I had no idea where I was. I was lost. This forest was so big, and quite confusing. It's no wonder I got lost. But then... my sense of direction always was rotten. I stopped on the branch and crouched, putting my hand against the tree's bark. I felt the vibrations in it, listening carefully. I felt one of the trees this one was connected to being punched. The punches were quick and hard. Hisoka? Or was it Lee? Maybe someone else? I had no way of telling, but I had to be sure. The punches came from North-west, somewhere behind me. I turned that direction and made my way to the punches. I moved swiftly through the trees. Even though I was moving quickly, my energy was slowly restoring itself. I should be able to fight better now than 10 minutes ago.

I was nearing a chakra now. I frowned. This particular chakra seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Who was this mysterious person? I came to a stop when I heard the sounds of fists hitting bark. I was getting closer now. I slowly moved through the trees, trying to stay as silent as I could. Fist hit tree again and again. It was closer. The tree I stood on shuddered as knuckles connected with its base. I grabbed a hold of a branch above my head to keep from falling or getting caught. "I know you're there. Show yourself." An amused smile crossed over my pink lips. Looks like I was caught before I even knew I was. I should've probably suppressed my chakra before coming closer. I crouched on the branch, let my feet fall off of it and swung off of the branch. I landed behind the person, facing the opposite direction. This person was definitely familiar to me, but he was not from this village. He wasn't a rookie or in Tenten's team, at least. I turned around and gasped. "Zuko...!" The familiar chakra signature turned out to be my first friend and teacher. I stared at his wolf-tail hairstyle, his burn mark and two scars on his cheeks. It was definitely him. I gaped at him.

"Hello." Was all he said. "I knew that next time we met we'd be on opposite teams. I just didn't think it'd be so soon." He continued.

I frowned, confused at his words. "Opposite teams? What do you mean?" My eyes widened and my eyes moved to my left where a hand was holding a kunai to my throat. He's fast! I didn't even see him move! I smiled wryly. "I knew you were holding out on me."

The blade was pressed more firmly to my throat and Zuko grabbed hold of my arm with his other hand. Damn. Now I can't teleport. How did he know!? "You're not that naïve, are you?" Zuko asked, rhetorically, ignoring my observation. No, he probably only grabbed my arm so that I wouldn't move. "You didn't think we could team up and beat up teams to get the scrolls we needed, did you?" I blinked. His voice had a cold tone to it. This wasn't the Zuko I got to know. But then... he was distant at the time, so I probably didn't even know him. I dropped my eyes to the ground. "I know you have a heaven scroll. I'd like to know where it is. I don't fancy hurting you." How did he know I had a Heaven scroll? I couldn't give him the scroll. I wasn't going to drop out of this exam. That wasn't how I was. But what else could I do? There was one thing. I jerked my head back hard, but it hit nothing. I was pulled back against Zuko's chest and his breath hit my ear, making me shiver. "I'm not that stupid. Don't make this harder on yourself. I told you, I don't want to hurt you but if you force my hand then I will. It was stupid of you to come here alone."