Author's Note: I got some relatively good feedback from my Shino/Sakura fanfic so I decided to try my hand at making another Naruto based fanfic. I don't own anyone or anything associated with the Naruto anime. This story takes place right after the second part of the Chunin examination begins.

"We have only one target." Dosu Kinuta instructed firmly as the squad ambled through the forest. "Stay focused on it." Upon finishing his instructions Dosu and his team took off higher into the forest of death to get a better view of those inside the forest and how they could most efficiently apprehend the Uchiha.

"No problem!" Zaku Abumi retorted smugly to his leader's reminder. "I doubt we'll have any significant obstacles in capturing a little kid like him. Heh, I doubt his squad will be able to entertain us even if I fought them all myself, right Kin?" Kin Tsuchi, rather than responding to her teammate's constant boasting, merely nodded grimly to the question.

Dosu couldn't help but snicker at his comrade's less than eager answer. Zaku was made a little worried by her lack of an egocentric remark, as was her trademark, but tried to play it off by making fun of her, "Heh, hey Dosu, do you think maybe Kin is afraid of the big bad Uchiha?" Zaku inquired seemingly enjoying the weakness that slipped by through her reaction. Dosu merely shook his head to indicate that Zaku should knock it off and focus on the task at hand before Kin got fed up with him and left him wounded on the forest ground. Zaku, picking up on his sign, decided to let up. The time it took him to interpret this nearly caused him to be unable to avoid the kunai Kin had thrown at him.

"Look we're all clearly getting on each other's nerves so why don't we rest for a minute to cool off. Besides, that time will allow Sasuke to be worn down more making it even easier to apprehend him." Dosu suggested level headedly not wanting Orochimaru angry with them for not following his orders due to their bickering. They all agreed to this proposition readily understanding the necessity for such action to be taken and landed in a clearing large enough for the three to rest for a moment before continuing the hunt. Shortly after sitting down to clear their heads the trio noticed that their stomachs were growling…rather loudly.

Dosu volunteered to go fetch some food while he sent Zaku and Kin off to go get some firewood and water respectively. They all set off on their tasks promptly albeit rather frustrated at having to take so much time away from their plans. Zaku decided that he'd tag along with Kin as he thought where there was water, some decent firewood probably wouldn't be far off. He also believed this to be the perfect opportunity to apologize to Kin so that they could focus on getting the Uchiha rather than their agitations. Kin was less than pleased to have him coming with her.

"You know I really don't need you babysitting me Zaku." Kin growled with malice hating being supervised by her own teammate. "I'm not a little kid, I can handle getting some water just fine." Zaku, though still walking alongside her backed off a little realizing that there'd be some trouble unless he gave her some much needed room.

"Look, I'm not here to baby-sit you or anything like that. I just figured that you and I might be able to help each other out to finish our tasks more quickly." Zaku stated hesitantly not wanting to make her any more anxious than she already was.

"Do you mind if I just ask you one thing Kin?" Zaku questioned softly worried that, even if he got permission to ask her, he might find himself in a world of hurt afterwards.

"Fine, if it'll get you to allow me to continue with my task uninterrupted then ask away." Kin replied clearly getting rather annoyed with Zaku getting in her way and just generally being a nuisance.

"Why aren't you wearing your headband? I just noticed it a moment ago but found it rather odd. I can't remember ever seeing you without it." Zaku asked rather curious as to what her answer would be.

"I just didn't feel like wearing it today! Now will you just back off already! God, you're like a five year old on a sugar high!" Kin answered barely able to hold back the entirety of her rage. Zaku muttered a barely audible apology for bothering her and was about to take off to look for firewood elsewhere when he noticed Kin wincing as she was filling the container she had retrieved from her satchel with water. Just as Kin was putting the container back in her satchel Zaku grabbed her by her right arm determined to get some answers out of her.

"Would you care to explain why you were wincing from putting your hands in a gently flowing streaming?" Zaku questioned with great concern for her safety. Kin glared at him as she told him that he was being a pest. Much as she tried to hide it Zaku could see great pain hiding behind the anger she was trying to cover it with. "Kin…please…just tell me what's happening to you…" Zaku pleaded desperately. Kin couldn't help but break down into tears upon hearing his genuinely concerned plea. Her mind, clouded by her sorrow, forgot what she was trying to keep from him and began trying to escape from his grasp. only to have her armband come off revealing several slashes lining her flesh.

"Kin…why…?" Zaku questioned weakly quite scared at what his friend had clearly been doing to herself.

"It's nothing…just…some injuries from the last time I sparred…" Kin offered up hoping that by some miracle he might buy into her pathetic excuse.

"That's a load of bullshit and you know it Kin! I want some real answers! I'm not going to allow those I care about to be in harm's way. Either you tell me what I want to know or we're not moving from this spot!" Zaku threatened unwilling to allow her abuse to continue any longer. Dosu shortly arrived at their location ready to tell Zaku off for being so recklessly loud thereby telling just about everyone in the forest where they were before he saw the scars on Kin's wrist.

"Fine," Kin responded dejectedly knowing that she was cornered and had no choice but to tell them everything "it all started about a week before the Chunin exams were to begin…"

-Flashback to a week before the Chunin exams-

"You…uh…wanted to see me Orochimaru-sensei?" Kin asked as she entered Orochimaru's apartment. He had ordered her to his residence earlier that day for a reason that hadn't been disclosed.

"Yes…it seems you've been developing rather quickly with your training in this village." Orochimaru began making Kin blush with pride for receiving praise from the her sensei "You've been growing into quite the young kunoichi…especially your body. I've grown rather lustful for you Kin. You should be honored by the feelings I've developed for you. Now let's proceed to my chambers so I can strip you of that pesky virginity of yours." Kin became quite fearful and tried to flee but couldn't escape. Just as she was about to leave Orochimaru grabbed her by the arms and forcefully brought her into his chambers.

-Present-

"I can't remember much of the details from what happened next and, those which I can, I really don't want to share with you. The short of it is that he…he raped me…he stole my innocence by violating me. I asked him about it later in private but he denied any part of the incident ever taking place. He did however say that if I told anyone he would kill me. I haven't been wearing my village headband ever since because it reminds me too much of Orochimaru. Recently, I've been cutting myself to try and forget how he desecrated me and the pain he made me feel…the pain that doesn't seem like it will ever go away…"

Dosu and Zaku were in shock from what they had just heard. They both couldn't believe that this was true yet didn't doubt Kin's word for a moment and yet didn't respond whatsoever at first, as they both had no idea what to do. Kin broke down completely seeing that they didn't seem to care and might even turn her in to Orochimaru for telling them about what she told them. Dosu punched a nearby tree cursing Orochimaru for his sick twisted act of pedophilia. Zaku, not knowing what else to do, embraced Kin to make her feel as safe as possible. Kin buried her head into Zaku right shoulder not wanting her friend to see her like this. "I swear on my life Kin." Zaku vowed trying to be strong for his friend "As long as I draw breath that sick son of a bitch won't touch so much as a single hair on your head ever again." Kin felt proud to have friends like Zaku and Dosu who would trust and stand by her despite the fact that doing so meant going against the mighty Orochimaru. Kin felt so defended from the support her friends were giving her that she knew that there wasn't anything to fear from Orochimaru ever again...or so she thought.

Author's Note: I hope you're enjoying my fanfic. Thanks for reading and please leave a review.