FYI: I do not own 'Naruto', all rights go to the owner. I only own my character 'Valerie'.

Chapter 2

I walked in the direction of the town. From where I am currently standing it would take me exactly... 57mins and 43seconds to reach town, then another 4mins and 7seconds from the gate to the arena. Well, only if I sprint the entire way to the village gate.

Did I mention that I'm also super smart and excellant at making guesses and predicting things. And that my bad mood from yestaerday has floated away and for the first time in years, I am actually excited about getting to watch the exam. Even if it is only the last part. Thats another thing I didn't tell you, my father and brother rescued me before the scientists had a chance to erase my feelings and my conscience.

I was already running to the village, hopping from branch to branch to get a clear view of my surroundings. I had been going for 32mins and 19seconds when the middle of my back started to hurt. Not like a pin prick pain, but more like a throbbing pain. At first I tryed to ignore it in hopes that it would go away, but it didn't. I decided to stop and take a look. I reached one hand up my back to see if it hurt when it was touched. It did, but it stopped throbbing and started burning. Had I been bitten by some sort of poisonous bug? Or was I just randomly breaking out into a rash? I removed my hand brought it to my side. I made my eyes quickly turn into leaves and fly to my back for a better look. They flew up the back of my green dress, and what I saw shocked me.

I had never had any kind of birth mark or blemish on my back before, but now I do. In the centre of my back sat a little red tree. It's approximatly 4inches tall and 3inches wide. Wait! It could just be mud or dirt! I tried rubbing it of, but it stayed. When did that get there? I made my eyes return to me and decided to carry on going.

I finally arrived at the village gates. I could see loads of people swarming around trying to get to the arena before the fights started. I walked through the gates with no problems. Looks like acting calm and casual won't get me noticed, I doubt that people even know what I look like now. Nobody knows who I am anyone, only a select few...

My train of thought was suddenly interupted as I felt a pair of eyes on me. I turned around to be met by a boys gaze. He looks about the same age as me and has blood red hair, immense dark circles around his eyes and a giant gourd on his back. He was staring at me, no, he was glaring at me. Do I know this kid? Or does he know me? My eyes quickly widened at the thought, I don't want him going around telling people stuff about me. Like I'm a weapon of massive destruction, or that I'm not human and I am a monster, beacuse what esle can I be classed as?

I turned quickly to continue on with my journey, with my head down. I took a step forwards, but my face was met with something hard. I looked up to see a man infront of me.

"Sorry!" I squeaked, a little embarrassed.

I quickly took a step to the left to get past him, but he moved infront of me. I took a step to the right, but he copied again. I looked up at the mans face, but I could not see it because he was wearing an animal mask.

My eyes grew wide at my sudden realization. He was a anbu ninja. His arm came out to grab me but I leapt backwards just in time to avoid his touch. Everyone in the once busy street stopped and looked at the man and me. I watched him intensively, waiting for something to happen.

"What do you want?" I shouted slightly frustrated at the fact that I had fallen into a trap.

I should have known that being invited back here was a trick. He didn't say anything only held his hand out for me to take. I laughed to myself. Everyone looked at me as if I were crazy, well of course I was crazy. If you had been in a forest for most of your live you would be a little insane to.

"My orders say not to use force unless necessary" He finaly spoke, letting his arm drop silently to

his side.

"Well I guess your gonna have to then" I smirked, turning away from him to go back home.

I started to walk away from him and towards the gate. The next thing I know, there is a giant shuriken in the ground before me, the villagers were grasping and whispering, and leafs were flying in the air around me. I looked down at my body and smirked to myself again. The man had thrown the giant weapon and it had left a gaping hole in my stomach. The leafs that lay on the floor around me quickly got up and flew to the hole. Making my body one peice again. I turned back to him.

"Just leave me alone, I don't think you wanna have this fight" I offered to end it there. I waited a few moments for a replie, but I got none.

I took several steps closer to him then stopped about a foot away, he didn't move. I looked up at him and smiled my cutest smile.

"Grown men shouldn't pick fights with little girls" I said, still looking straight up at him.

"From what I've heard your not a little girl. I'm not even sure if your human" Excuse Me! I bet this man has no idea what I have been through! My eyes narrowed and I clenched my fists into balls, trying to vent my anger by stabbing my nails into my plams.

I took a deep breath and relaxed my hands, then let my face return to it's natural bored looking state.

"Your not worth my time" I said smugly. I turned and once again, started my journey home. I walked in the direction of the gate. Which unfortunately took me past the red head whose pass time was staring daggers at me. I walked past him, but as I did the throbbing pain came back, but it was a hundred times worse than before.

Now I can tolerate a high level of pain, but this pain is overwhelming. I swung my hands round to my back in an awkward manner, which gained me even more crazy and weird stares from the public. I tried to take a step forward, thinking the same words over and over again.

'Every pain passes, every pain passes!'

But I couldn't take it anymore. I dropped to my knee's, using every fibre in my being not to scream. I lay on my stomach for about a minute, focusing on my breathing to lesson the pain. My head began to spin and I felt like passing out. My eyes were fuzzy for an unknown reason. I closed them, seeing if it would take the pain away, and it did.

I felt fine. I tryed to pry my eyes open, but to no avil. I began to panic. I tryed to speak, but nothing came out. Whats hppened to me?

So, what do you think? I tryed to make this chapter longer than the last coz it was pretty short :S Please review and have a nice day :) :)