36 Chapter 36 Ai's Journey!

The clouds were heavy above in the sky, lightning flashed, illuminating the water below as two figures faced each other. The two rushed toward one another and clashed right as thunder sounded in the distance, blade against blade as sparks flew between them. The first man grabbed the wrist of the second and twisted it, making him drop his kunai. He then pulled his arm over his shoulder and threw him over it. The first man grinned as he brought his kunai above his head and swung his arm down, intending to stab the man as he held his arm in his hand. The second man brought his hands together, crossing his fingers together and created a clone. The clone grabbed the first man's arm before he could fully bring it down. Then the second man brought his legs up and wrapped them around the neck of the first man while the clone dispersed, then he twisted his body as he swung it around his neck, causing the first man to lose his grip on the second man's wrist.

He then grabbed the first man's shoulders and twisted his core as he used all of his strength to throw him.

The first man who was thrown landed on the surface of the water and rolled. While rolling he stabilized himself and slowly got up onto his feet.

"You've improved a lot ******" The first man said with a grin.

The second man remained silent with a conflicted expression on his face.

"No words? Fine, we can settle this with our fists then." The first man remarked.

"But you had to have known this was coming! There was only one way this could end!" The first man laughed as he launched himself forward to face his opponent.

The second man remained motionless, and right as the two were about to clash once again, lightning flashed once again darkening their figures casting their shadows far upon the surface of the water. The first man grinned while the second one wore a conflicted expression upon his face. The first man threw a punch toward the second man's face, which was deflected to the side and a counter punch was thrown toward his face. He leaned backwards as he dodged the blow, then he leaned to the side bringing his right leg up into an arch as he swung it toward the second man's periphery and kicked him in the side of his head. Then he brought his foot back down, rotating his body while the second man was sent flying into the distance.

"Why didn't you counter? That should have been easy to dodge." The first man asked with a perplexed expression.

The second man grunted in pain as he was spinning in air. He brought his hands together and created two clones that grabbed his arms and threw him back toward the first man before dispersing. The first man grinned as he prepared himself to fight again as the second man approached him.

"That's more like it!" The first man grinned.

The second man skipped across the water's surface as he flew before sliding to a stop. He grinned as blood seeped out of his mouth, dripping onto the surface of the water, dying it the color red as his blood mixed with it. He looked over at the second man.

"You don't look like you're enjoying this fight?! I wonder why that is…. Is it because ****** **** ** ** *******?" The first man asked.

The second man remained silent as he stared at the first man.

"Well, **** *** ** ***** **** *** *** **** **** ***** **** ***!!" The first man shouted.

"I ****** *** ** ***** *** **** **** *** ** *****"

"You're lucky, *** *** ** **** * ***** ******…..." The first man said after calming down.

"So, this is it, huh.... Then give me a proper sendoff…..." The first man said with a tired expression.

Thunder was heard overhead as lightning flashed all around them, then the two once again rushed toward each other to clash again. They both brought up another kunai and swung the blades toward each other.

...…

Ai woke up gasping for breath, her eyes opened wide, her heart racing as it pounded within her chest. She clutched at it, trying to calm herself down. She sat up in her bed as she held her head that was throbbing. Just what was that dream? She wondered. But no matter how much she tried to remember the dream, the more she tried, the more she realized she couldn't remember anything about it. She could only recall the feelings she got from the dream.

Once she had calmed down, she slowly got out of the bed she was sleeping in. Despite the questions and the warning in heart that she felt, there was nothing she could do about that strange dream she felt she had. So, with a slight feeling of regret, she decided to focus on the things at hand. This was the third inn she had stayed at since she parted ways from Naruto and the others. She wondered what he was up to from time to time, if he was still training hard, if he had gotten involved in someone's problem. She didn't know why, but she felt like he would do that a lot. The thought of it made her smile as she passed the time on her journey.

Ai walked down the stairs after getting dressed where she was greeted by the inn keeper.

"Good morning dear." The inn keeper said.

"Good morning! Thank you for your hospitality!" Ai replied while smiling.

"After you helped me deal with those bandits, it was the least I could do!" The old inn keeper replied while waving her hand.

Ai smiled as she bowed toward the inn keeper and said goodbye. She then walked out of the inn and continued down the road and away from the town.

By now she had mostly gotten over the death of her sister, she never blamed Naruto for it, because she knew he had done everything he could. She just wished that things hadn't come to that. Luckily, she hadn't had to worry about the curse mark she had and was able to focus more on other things. She'd met all kinds of people on her travels, she assisted a few elderly people and kids whenever she had the time as well.

While she had never received any formal training in ninjutsu, she still knew a few techniques, so she was also able to fend for herself fairly easily against the likes of bandits that appeared from time to time. Ever since she parted ways with Naruto and the others, life had been relatively simple for her. She was no longer living under someone else's control, and she could finally do what she wanted to do. The only problem she had, was that she didn't know what it was that she wanted to do now.

She had always believed that she would never be free and that she would have died back in that horrible place. But then like the breaking of the dawn, chasing the night away, Naruto appeared, and brought her out of that place. She hoped with all her heart that one day, she would meet with Naruto again, she didn't know what the two of them would do if her wish came true. But that didn't matter to her, after she was done with her journey of self-discovery, she would go to the hidden leaf village to find Naruto.

She grinned to herself at the thought of surprising Naruto, the look of shock he might have followed by his bright cheerful smile when he greeted her. She clenched her fist as she continued travelling down the road.

"UUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

Ai stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the woods on her right wondering what had happened. She wasn't sure about the situation and she debated with herself about going or not for a second. There wasn't any real need or obligation for her to go, but thinking about what Naruto would do, she dropped her bag and made her way toward the source.

As she got closer, she began to see a river in the distance, then she noticed a man sitting down on the ground in terror with a large bear standing in front of him. With a sharp look appearing in her eyes she rushed toward the man and got in front of him, brandishing a kunai toward the bear.

"Everything's alright now! You'll be safe!" Ai said with confidence toward the man behind her.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!! S-s-s-save m-m-meeee!!!!!" The man cried out in terror.

Ai glanced over toward the man. He looked like he was middle aged, he had a scruffy beard and a scar going down his chin, he wore a bamboo hat and a loose fitting hakama, his frame appeared thin and he carried a large bag on his back with an assortment of trinkets spilling out of it. Based on his appearance, she guessed that he must be some kind of traveling merchant of some kind.

She focused on the bear in front of her as it reared up as it roared at her, then right before it attacked, a large blade cleaved through the bear straight down the middle.

"Eh?" Ai blinked her eyes in surprise.

Is someone here to help? She wondered. As soon as the bear fell down into two parts the figure that had done the deed appeared. It was a man with bandages wrapped around his lower face, covering his mouth, and his neck. He wore a large black cloak over a sleeveless shirt and striped patterned mimetic wrist-warmers extending up to his elbows, with matching leg-warmers around black pants.

Behind the man appeared a smaller figure, wearing a mask upon his face donning a similar large black cloak. The two figures were none other than Momochi Zabuza and Haku.

"Haku, why'd you ask me to save these two?" Zabuza asked.

"Because I felt like it was something that Naruto would have done." Haku replied.

"Heh, why should we do the what that kid would have done?" Zabuza smirked as he placed the Kubikiribōchō upon his shoulder after he had wrapped the blade in bandages.

"You're not entirely against the idea either, besides, what are we going to do to repay Naruto?" Haku asked.

"Don't remind me, I'm already regretting making that stupid promise to the brat." Zabuza groaned.

"Well, you two are fine now, So, we'll be going." Zabuza offhandedly spoke as he turned around.

Ai had been caught off guard by the two, but as soon as they mentioned Naruto, she was shocked. These two know Naruto as well! She thought, maybe they met him recently!

"W-Wait! You guys know Naruto, right?" Ai called out after them.

Hearing Ai call out to the two of them like that caused the two of them to halt in their steps.

"Zabuza, looks like she's met Naruto as well." Haku smiled.

Zabuza sighed. "Damn it, how the hell did we run into someone that knows that brat all the way out here?"

The two of them turned around to face Ai.

"Yes, we know Naruto." Haku replied to Ai's earlier question.

"R-really? Do…. Do you know what he's been up to?" Ai asked hesitantly.

Haku examined Ai carefully before finally answering her. "I'm afraid not, we parted ways with Naruto quite some time ago. We don't know what he's up to, why do you wish to know?"

"O-oh…. No reason really, he helped me awhile ago…. So, I was just wondering what he's been up to now…. I'm sorry for bothering the two of you with something so silly." Ai bowed as she apologized.

Haku laughed gently in response to Ai's behavior. Looks like Naruto's got an admirer now.

"It's no problem, I'm sorry we couldn't give you any new information on him." Haku replied.

Then the two turned around once again as they started leaving.

"U-ummm, if you don't mind… could I join you?" Ai asked.

"Eh? Why is that?" Haku asked.

"Well…. I wanted to hear about how you two met Naruto…" Ai replied quietly.

Before Haku could reply, Zabuza stepped forward.

"No." He said flatly as he turned around to leave.

"Eh, but why?" Ai exclaimed in surprise.

"Because I don't want to." Zabuza replied.

Then he and Haku left Ai and the old man who was on the ground, and took off into the woods. Ai stood there with a blank expression for a moment, as she was shocked. While she knew it was weird for her to make such a request, she still found it annoying at how she was refused. The way the tall man spoke just irritated her. Then she made up her mind and began chasing after the two as they left. Completely forgetting about her journey of self-discovery as well as leaving the old man all by himself.

The man looked around in a daze.

"Ummm, T-Thank you!!" He called out to empty air.

...

...

...

Ai chased after Zabuza and Haku as they traveled through the trees.

"Zabuza, why'd you say that? Was there really any reason to reject her request?" Haku asked.

"I'd just heard enough about that kid, you already convinced me to head over to check out the chunin exams in the leaf to say check up on him, I don't need to reminisce about him as well." Zabuza explained.

"My, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're embarrassed Zabuza." Haku teased.

"Quiet Haku, you know why, I just don't care to drag around some love-struck brat with us." Zabuza retorted.

"Well, it looks like she's not willing to drop the issue that easily." Haku suddenly spoke aloud as he looked back to see Ai following after them.

"Hoh, so she's a shinobi?" Zabuza disinterestedly replied.

He picked up his pace causing the distance between them and Ai to further lengthen.

Noticing this, Ai grit her teeth as she picked up her pace as well. I'm not letting those two get away from me! She thought.

Unfortunately for her, she found that she wouldn't be able to keep up with the two of them. She bit her thumb and then began forming hand seals.

Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram

<Summoning Jutsu>

She summoned a large snake that she jumped onto the head of and commanded the snake to chase after Zabuza and Haku.

Seeing this scene take place before his eyes, Haku couldn't help but be slightly surprised. Looks like this girl isn't your average shinobi, he thought.

"Zabuza, looks like it won't be that easy to lose her. Maybe it'd be best if we just let her join us. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't." Haku spoke.

Zabuza sighed before stopping in his tracks, letting Ai catch up to them. Seeing that the two shinobis stopped running, caused Ai to feel fairly pleased with herself. As soon as she caught up to them, she dispersed the summoning and walked toward the two.

"So, does this mean that you'll let me join you guys?" Ai asked.

Zabuza remained silent as he looked away.

Haku smiled at Zabuza's reaction before replying. "Yes, you can join us. We're actually on our way to the hidden leaf, we heard that they are hosting the chunin exams there for genin. A certain blonde ninja is taking part in it as well."

"Really?!" Ai exclaimed in pleasant surprise.

"Could I come with you guys there? I'd like to hear about how you guys met Naruto too."

Haku smiled. "Of course, I don't mind telling you, but let's keep some distance from Zabuza, he's too shy to talk about Naruto."

Just as Ai was about to walk toward them, she stopped. "Oh wait, I need to grab my bag, I dropped it before rushing over here. I'll go get it!"

Zabuza glared at Ai then at Haku for a moment before he looked away. The two waited until Ai had returned, then Zabuza turned and started walking without waiting for Ai to join them. Haku shook his head and waited for Ai to catch up with him and the two followed behind Zabuza at a distance as they each talked about how they met Naruto.

Hearing Haku's story, Ai was surprised to find out that at first, they were enemies against each other, but at the end of all the fighting, Naruto had convinced them to change sides while also saving them from a mysterious being that appeared out of nowhere.

"Wow, I can't imagine what that must have been like..." Ai spoke in amazement.

She imagined Naruto acting in a confidant manor, being heroic and saving the day, the thought causing her to smile.

Seeing this, Haku smiled. "What are you thinking about?"

Ai looked up from her daze as she waved her hand and laughed. "O-oh, it's nothing, hahah."

"If you say so." Haku smiled in response.

The trio made their way closer toward The Hidden Leaf, along the way, Ai learned more about Zabuza and Haku, how the two met each other, the things they've done. She wondered at the crazy life the two had led, and then compared it with her own life. Sure, she didn't have a decent life before meeting Naruto, but it wasn't as bad as Haku had described his life with Zabuza.

Then she thought about Naruto again, I wonder what kind of life he's led? She wondered, did he grow up in a normal life, or did he experience hardships as well. She had all kinds of questions which she wanted to ask him.

Days passed by like this, uneventful, and soon, they had reached the gates of The Hidden Leaf. Both Zabuza and Haku had put up the hoods on their cloaks to make sure no one noticed who they were, knowing that the two of them were wanted ninjas.

Ai felt herself bubbling over with anticipation, she wanted to see Naruto's performance in the chunin exams. The trio were able to pass through the gates without any difficulties, and just as they were looking around, trying to figure out where to go, Ai saw a familiar face.

"Eh, isn't that Naruto's sensei? What was his name again? K-Ka- " Ai started.

"Hatake Kakashi…." Zabuza murmured as he gazed at the jonin.

"That's right! Kakashi!!" Ai called out.

Kakashi looked over to see who was calling him and his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing who it was. More so when he saw who the voice was with.

"…Zabuza…." Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

He made his way toward the trio while still maintaining his guard.

"What brings you here?" Kakashi asked warily.

"The chunin exams…... We heard it was being held here, and knowing you and that brat, I figured you'd have them try it. Haku… and this girl wanted to see Naruto participating in it." Zabuza answered.

"I see…. Well, you guys made a wasted journey then." Kakashi sighed.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Ai asked surprised.

"The chunin exams have been put on hold until further notice…. And Naruto won't be participating within the chunin exams this time." Kakashi answered.

The trio stared at Kakashi in surprise.

"B-but why?" Ai asked, worried that something had happened to Naruto.

"It's complicated…. But Naruto has left the village to train." Kakashi replied.

Ai breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Naruto was fine, she was disappointed that she had missed him, but as long as he was fine, it was alright to her. However, Zabuza and Haku noticed there was more to the story than what Kakashi had led on to them.

"What happened Kakashi?" Zabuza asked.

Kakashi stared at Zabuza for a moment, he wondered if he should tell Zabuza, but then he thought about Zabuza's promise toward Naruto back in The Land of Waves.

"I can't tell you here, we'll discuss this somewhere private." Kakashi replied.

Zabuza nodded his head, and Kakashi lead them to somewhere secluded.

Kakashi looked over at Ai who had tagged along with them.

"Sorry, but this is important information, could you please wait over there?" Kakashi asked.

Ai looked disappointed, but she still nodded her head as she walked away from the group.

"The chunin exams had been interrupted, by Orochimaru, and the thing we faced on that bridge appeared as well." Kakashi said.

Zabuza and Haku looked at Kakashi in surprise after hearing his words.

"I see, that does complicate matters." Zabuza replied.

"But there's still more to the story, you're still holding something back."

Kakashi however still seemed to be withholding information from them.

"Well, the one Naruto went to train with was Lord Jiraiya The Toad Sage of The Legendary Sannin." Kakashi answered.

Surprising both Zabuza and Haku.