"It ends here!" Sasuke yelled, charging his Chidori. He ran at Itachi to attack, but he was able to block it like it was nothing.

Before Sasuke could charge his Chidori again, Itachi bent his wrist, causing Sasuke to scream in pain. "Sasuke!" Naruto and I said at the same time. "That does it!" Naruto quickly bit his thumb and performed a few hand signs.

"Summoning-!"

"Too slow!"

The blue skinned man, who I later learned his name is Kisame, wielded his sword, but it didn't hit Naruto. 'His chakra... It's suddenly gone.' I thought. "Figured it out?" Kisame smirked, noticing my curiosity about Naruto's chakra disappearance.

"My blade cuts and absorbs chakra," He explained. "You're both done for." He swung his blade again, this time, really aiming to hurt us.

"I don't think so." I replied. I quickly grabbed Kisame in attempt to restrain him. "Naruto, run!" I called. "But what about you?" He called back. "I'll be fine! Now go!"

"Get out of the way!" Kisame grabbed me and threw me to a wall. I fell on the ground, landing on my side. "Mom!" Naruto called. I sat up slightly as Kisame stood over me. "Since you'll be the most troublesome, I think I'll take you out first." He said.

He swung his blade, and I closed my eyes in fear, waiting to get struck, but I didn't. I opened my eyes to find a toad in front of me, protecting me from the blade. "There's nothing to fear, my dear lady Haru! Your handsome Toad Sage, Jiraiya, is here!" Jiraiya announced.

I sweat dropped because he didn't look so cool with the pose he was making and with the woman over his shoulder. "Nobody cares who you are! We've got bigger problems here! Get with it, Pervy Sage!" Naruto yelled.

"Hey, quit calling me that!" Jiraiya yelled back. "This isn't the time to be fighting, you two!" I chimed in. The toad helped me to my feet as Jiraiya set the woman down. "Who are these guys? What do they want with Naruto?" I asked Jiraiya.

"The two men are with the Akatsuki, and the came here for the Nine-Tails, which Naruto has within him." He explained. "I see. So, that's why." I said, looking at the two members of the Akatsuki.

"All right, Haru. Here's the plan. I'll take the guy with the sword. You okay with taking Itachi?" Jiraiya asked. "Yes." I answered with a nod. "No..." Sasuke slowly rose to his feet. "I've been waiting for this day. The one who's going to destroy him... is me!" He said.

"Go away. You don't interest me at the moment." Itachi said, coldly. "Then, get interested!" Sasuke yelled as he ran at him. Itachi kicked him the stomach, sending him towards a wall. But Sasuke didn't stay down that easily as he got back up and ran at Itachi again.

Like last time, Sasuke was thrown to a wall by an attack delivered by Itachi. Sasuke weakly panted as he slowly sat up while using the wall for support. "I'm... not... finished... This fight... is mine..." He said.

"So be it." Itachi replied, and began to walk towards the weakened Sasuke. He began beating Sasuke to the point where I couldn't stand there and just watch it all happen. I quickly ran toward them until Kisame grabbed me from behind.

"Let go of me!" I yelled as I thrashed around. Kisame was stronger than I thought as he held me in against him with his blade against my throat. "Haru/Mom!" Jiraiya and Naruto yelled at the same time.

"Take another step, and the girl gets her neck snapped." Kisame informed with a smirk. "As if." I said. I smashed the back of my head into Kisame's face, causing him to let go of me. I quickly made a run towards Sasuke when I heard him screaming in agony.

"You brat! I'll get you for that!" Kisame yelled, running after me. "Mom, watch out!" Naruto called. I stopped in my tracks when the room suddenly began to shake as the walls started turning pink and squishy.

"Jiraiya, are you sure you wanna use jutsu?" I asked him. "It's okay. As long as you don't move, you won't be eaten." Jiraiya informed. "What?! Eaten?! What's he talking about?!" Naruto yelled. Before I could explain, Kisame and Itachi took off.

"They're getting away!" I said. "Not for long!" Jiraiya made the pink stuff go after them, and the next thing we heard was a crash. "What was that?" Naruto asked. Jiraiya took off to find out what it was and to see if Itachi and Kisame were still there.

"Hey, wait up!" Naruto called, running after him. I watched them go, then walked over to Sasuke. His eyes were open, but he looked like he was in a daze. I put my fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse.

"You're still alive, but what did Itachi do to you?" I mumbled. I took Sasuke's chin and lifted his head so I had a better look at him. "As I thought. He's trapped in a genjutsu." I said. "Mom, how is he?" Naruto asked from behind me.

"He's stable. But we need to get him back to the Leaf Village." I answered, rising to my feet. I quickly grabbed Naruto and held him in front of me in a protective way as Guy came out of nowhere and kicked Jiraiya.

"What the hell?!" Naruto yelled. "Guy, what are you doing here?" I asked, sweat dropping. "You idiot!" Jiraiya yelled at him.

Guy explained how he thought Jiraiya was an enemy from the reflection of his headband. But the way he told the story, it almost sounded like he was paying more attention to the silhouette than the appearance.

"I will take Sasuke back to the village." I offered. "But what about the mission?" Naruto asked. "I'm sure you guys can make it there without me. I'll catch up with you after I've put Sasuke in the hospital. I pray for the two of you to be safe." I said.

"We will. Don't worry, Mom." Naruto smiled. I smiled back and kissed his forehead, then picked up Sasuke. "I'll escort you to the village, Haru." Guy offered. "Thank you very much, Guy." I replied. We walked away, but I stopped to look at Naruto and Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya," I called. "Take care of my son."

"Don't worry, Haru. You can count on me." He called back. I smiled at him and continued to walk with Guy to the Leaf Village.

When we got there, I took Sasuke to the hospital and had him checked out. The doctor said that he's stable, but he's gonna be in this state for a while. The even more reason to go back to Jiraiya and Naruto, and find Tsunade so she can heal him and restore order to the Leaf Village.

I thanked the doctor and left the hospital, going back to Naruto and Jiraiya. As I exited the Leaf Village, I heard my name being called. "Haru."

I stopped in my tracks and looked around, trying to find the person who called to me. "Hello?" I called. I looked down as I saw an adorable puppy staring up at me with its tongue hanging out of its mouth.

"Aww... Well, aren't you adorable?" I kneeled down and gently petted its head. "Are you lost, little guy? Where's your owner?" I asked.

The dog suddenly began to growl, then transformed.

"It's you, Setzoku," I said, unamused. "What do you want? Have you finally come to tell me that my time is up?"

"No." He answered. "Then, why are you here?" I asked. "I wanted to see if you were doing your job and not just fooling around." Setzoku stated.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I've noticed you've been getting too attached to this so-called life you're living."

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, but he grabbed my arm to prevent me from going any further. "Are you forgetting the reason why I gave you a second chance? With the sin you committed, I should've sent both you and your parents to Hell." He said, sternly.

'So, why didn't he?' I thought. "No, I haven't forgotten what happened." I replied. "Haru, I've been observing your progress, and you need to stay focused." Setzoku said. "I am focused." I insisted.

"Are you? You're growing too attached to this place. To this life. To that boy."

"You mean, my son?"

"He's not your son, Haru."

"He is."

"No, he isn't. You don't love him. You only think you do."

"I do love Naruto."

I yanked my arm out of his grasp and walked forward. "Where are you going?" Setzoku asked. "To help my son." I answered.

"I already told you, he's not your son. You didn't give birth to him," I stopped walking when he said that. "All you did was pick him up from the streets and claim him as your own," My hair covered my eyes as he walked over to me and placed his gloved hands on my shoulders.

"I bet he doesn't even love you back. You may be able to shower him with love and affection, but what does he give you back in return? Nothing but trouble. He's using you because he knows he'll be able to get away with anything when you're by his side. Like I said, he doesn't really love you." Setzoku said with a smirk.

"Shut up!" I snapped as I went to punch him. But he anticipated my attack and caught my wrist with his hand. "Just stop talking, Setzoku! Naruto doesn't think that at all!"

Setzoku stared at me emotionlessly as he still had hold of my wrist. "Even if I didn't give birth to him, I'm still his mother. And I'm not gonna stand here and let you make lies about him." I scolded him.

"Have you forgotten about your parents?" Setzoku asked, his face still emotionless.

"Never."

"Need I remind you that they'll suffer the consequences for your actions?"

"I think about it everyday. That's why I'm trying my best to make up for my sin. The least you can do is give me a break and let me do my job the way I want to do it."

Setzoku took a hold of his chin with his other hand and closed his eyes while humming to himself. "Fine, then how about this?" He said, opening his eyes.

"Huh?" I looked at him with curiosity as he let go of my wrist.

"You have until the boy turns sixteen. Once that time comes, depending on your progress, your debt will be repaid, your parents will be free, and all three of you will be sent to Heaven. However, if you fail, you and your parents will both suffer the consequences." He explained.

"I understand. Thank you very much, Setzoku." I said. "It's the least I can do." He said, shrugging. A flame surrounded him and he disappeared. "Until he's sixteen..." I repeated, quietly. 'No time to think about it now. You need to get back to Jiraiya and Naruto.' I thought.

I nodded to myself and proceeded to where I was going.