Another revision - plus, combined two shorter chapters back together. Let's see what happens when a certain Snake shows up in Konoha...

Chapter 4: An Old Enemy Returns

Kakashi didn't get a chance to talk to Kaiya again until the second exam had completed. Now's not the time to be interrogating Kaiya, he decided at he rushed to find the redhead.

He found her at their usual training ground, practicing her kunai aim. She was startled to see him when he landed in front of her, but he cut right to the chase: "What do you know about the Evil Sealing Method?"

She was taken aback. "Well, I've never used it before, but I've read about it -"

"Enough to perform it on someone?"

"I guess," she answered, confused. "Kakashi, what -"

"I'll explain on the way. Follow me." He ran off, and she rushed to follow him, abandoning her kunai.

As they ran, he spoke again. "What I'm about to tell you is top-secret. Understood?"

"Of course," she answered.

"A banished shinobi from this village, Orochimaru, has returned. Apparently, he's been body-hopping for years in search of the perfect vessel for attaining immortality, and he's set his sights on Sasuke."

"What?!"

Kakashi didn't slow his explanation down. "He's marked Sasuke with a Curse Seal. Now, Sasuke is physically okay for the moment, but the mark reacts to and absorbs chakra. Hokage-sama believes that the more Sasuke uses chakra-based jutsu, the more the mark will take from him, and the more it will influence his behavior."

He looked to Kaiya. "I believe you're aware of Sasuke's desire to take revenge for his clan's massacre?"

She met his eyes, surprised, but nodded and looked away from him. "He wants to kill…the person responsible." He noted her hesitation over saying the name, but added it to his mental file entitled "Ask Kaiya Later."

"He's obsessed with that goal," Kakashi continued, "and with becoming strong enough to achieve it."

"So sealing the mark is a priority, not just for the sake of his chakra," Kaiya concluded, "but also to prevent Orochimaru from influencing him further?"

"Precisely."

She frowned. "The Evil Sealing Method should be able to do the chakra bit, but it would take some tweaking to also have it keep the influence at bay. It will still be based on his own will."

Kakashi nodded. "My thoughts exactly - which is why I came to you." He slowed as they approached the entrance of a cavern that ran under the village. "I've cleared it with the Hokage already - I could perform the jutsu, but he agrees that you're the best person to implement this sort of seal."

Kaiya followed him through the pillars. "He…said that?" she asked.

Kakashi looked back at the redhead. "I saw how you combined Space-Time ninjutsu with Fuinjutsu in that barrier trap. You're an excellent Fuinjutsu user, Kaiya - and you're creative. The Hokage has faith in your abilities, and so do I." He stopped in a clearing. "Besides that, I've seen you around Sasuke these past few weeks. He seems to trust you. Seals like this carry a bit of their caster's intent, do they not?" She nodded. "And you care about Sasuke, like you do the other orphan kids - like you do Naruto." She nodded again, fire in her eyes. "Then you're probably the best person to perform this seal. I think your intent to protect Sasuke from harm might be able to counter, or at least slow down, the Curse Mark's influence."

Kakashi handed her a scroll. "Here's the diagram in case you need it. I have to go up to the fortress in the Forest of Death - the second exam is over, and they're about to hold preliminaries for the third. I'll bring Sasuke down once his match is over - you prepare the seal."

"Wait," Kaiya stopped him. "They're actually continuing with the exams? But Orochimaru -"

"-threatened the village if we tried to stop it, or keep Sasuke from participating," Kakashi interrupted. "I know I'm not giving you a lot to go on right now, and I promise I'll explain everything later. Right now, please prepare the seal. I'll be back with Sasuke as soon as possible."

Kaiya nodded, then winced. "My kunai-"

He handed her a few of his from his pack. "I'll be back soon," he said again, and disappeared.

Kaiya took a deep breath and got to work.

Kakashi reached the fortress when the first preliminary match was announced. He wouldn't be able to take Sasuke out of the preliminaries without risking Orochimaru's retaliation, so he simply warned his student not to use any chakra-based techniques.

As soon as Sasuke won the match, Kakashi knelt next to him, speaking low. "We have to seal that mark."

"What?" he glanced at his teacher. "Before the preliminaries are over?"

"No arguing." They left the building, Kakashi leading him underground to a cavern filled with pillars.

"We're going to need a very strong seal to bind that curse mark," Kakashi told him as they weaved through the pillars. "I've recruited someone who's an expert at sealing jutsu…I believe you two already know each other."

They stopped at a clearing. Kneeling on the floor, surrounded by kunai and intricate symbols drawn on the floor, was Kaiya. She looked back at them and stood. "Took you guys long enough. How'd the match go, Sasuke?"

"Kaiya?" Sasuke looked back at Kakashi for an explanation.

"Kaiya has been studying Fuinjutsu - sealing techniques - for quite some time now," Kakashi said. "Next to the Hokage, she's probably the most qualified person in the village to perform such a complex seal."

"Come to the center," Kaiya beckoned. He went to the middle of the symbol and sat down. "Shirt off." He went along with her order. He really does trust her, Kakashi noted. He would have protested more to anyone else.

Kaiya knelt behind Sasuke and he felt her fingers, covered in warm, sticky liquid - her blood - draw more symbols on his skin. "This won't take long, but it's going to hurt, Sasuke." She performed a complex series of hand signs. "Evil Sealing Method!"

Sasuke screamed as the sealing script on the floor was absorbed into his body, surrounding the curse mark. Kaiya strained as she directed the seal to the mark, shaping it into a spiritual barrier that would block its chakra-stealing power. There was resistance to the second part of the seal, meant to keep any ill-intent at bay; Kaiya pushed hard against it, forcing the new script she'd added to wind around the tendrils of dark influence. Her seal formed stubborn knots with the curse's tendrils, holding them in place.

When it was fully in place, she pulled away, swaying slightly. Kakashi steadied her, but she brushed him off, saying, "No, it's fine. Just a strain."

He took her arm anyway and guided her to a pillar so she could lean against it. He then turned to Sasuke. "This curse sealing jutsu is only as strong as you are," he told his student. "It derives its power from the strength of your will. If that will ever weakens…if you ever begin to doubt yourself…the curse will be unleashed."

Sasuke collapsed. "Hmm…too tired to even argue," Kakashi quipped. He knelt to check the newly applied seal. It was good - very good, in fact. But then, neither the Hokage nor he would have trusted Kaiya with it if they thought she'd botch it.

Kaiya gave a startled cry when she saw a stranger coming toward them. "Kakashi!"

He looked up. From the shadow of the pillars, a man with long black hair and snake-like eyes emerged.

"Well, well…to think you've become strong enough to perform the curse sealing jutsu…Kakashi-kun."

Kakashi's eyes widened in recognition. "Orochimaru!"

The snake-like man grinned. "Long time, no see, Kakashi-kun."

Kakashi's mind went into overdrive. So the Sannin thought he'd performed the seal…good. "Kaiya. Take Sasuke and get out of here. Now."

Kaiya couldn't move. His eyes…she was frozen in fear at the sight of the Sannin. As she struggled with herself, she heard the two ninja talk about the creation of the Sound Village and Orochimaru's purpose in returning to Konoha.

"And Sasuke is just another pawn in your game?" Kakashi demanded.

"No…" Orochimaru hissed. "Sasuke-kun is a very…important piece." He took a step closer.

Kakashi grasped his right arm, chakra crackling around his hand, making a sound like a huge flock of birds. He glared threateningly at the banished shinobi. "If you come any closer to Sasuke…even if you are one of the Sannin, I can at least hold you off!"

The Sannin laughed but stopped. "That seal you did is meaningless. Sasuke-kun is an avenger - he will eventually seek me out, to seek the power to achieve his goal." He turned and walked away. After a few meters, he glanced back over his shoulder at the trio. "Also…you were going to kill me? Why don't you try?"

But Kakashi was frozen as well. As the Sannin walked away laughing, he berated himself. Hold him off? Am I an idiot? He dissipated his partially-formed Chidori when he was certain the Sannin was gone.

Kaiya slid down the column she leaned against, shaking. Kakashi snapped out of his own fear-induced freeze and checked on her. "Are you all right?"

She took several deep breaths. "Yeah…but that guy…I mean, I knew the Sannin were a big deal, but…" she trailed off.

"I know," Kakashi said. He straightened, taking a deep breath of his own. "Truth be told, we're probably only alive right now because he didn't feel like killing us." He walked over to Kaiya and extended a hand.

She took it, letting him pull her up. "I hate it," she whispered. "Feeling so goddamn helpless."

"I'm just glad he didn't realize it was you who'd performed the seal."

"Huh?" she looked up at him. "I didn't even notice…"

"That Killing Intent of his is quite distracting. But it's good - if he thinks I did the seal, he'll assume it's just another technique I've learned over the years. But you…" He looked down at Kaiya. "You're not known widely for your Fuinjutsu right now, I have no doubt you soon will be. It's best that someone like Orochimaru doesn't know about your abilities." She was still shaking - his eyes showed concern. "Are you sure you're all right? It looked like the seal took a lot out of you."

"Yeah, I'm fine - I've always had a harder time manipulating other people's chakra. It's why I suck at genjutsu, I guess." She looked to Sasuke and her own posture straightened. "We need to get him to the infirmary."

Kakashi picked his student up and they left the cavern for the hospital.

Later that evening, Kaiya was in 'her' corner of the village library. After the encounter with Orochimaru, she was shaken - she'd completely frozen in the Sannin's presence. It had been a long time since she felt her weaknesses so accutely. She wasn't the most offensive fighter, and her genjutsu and sensing skills were still pretty lacking. Her strengths lay in her speed and ninjutsu skills.

There has to be a way to use those strengths better for next time, she thought as she poured over the scrolls in front of her. They were primarily on Fuinjutsu - the field of sealing had a lot of potential for both offense and defense, and she was determined to use that potential to supplement her weaknesses.

"You're working quite late," a polite male voice spoke from behind her. Kaiya looked around, startled – she hadn't heard anyone come in.

Standing a few feet behind her was a young man, perhaps her age or a bit older. He had ash-grey hair pulled back into a ponytail and wore round glasses. His hitai-ate showed him to be from Konoha. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him.

"Yes," she answered simply. She gave a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, I know we've met, but..."

The young man laughed a little. "That's okay – we haven't really seen each other in several years. I'm Yakushi Kabuto. I was just in the second round of the Chunin exam - eliminated again, I'm afraid."

"Ah, I know some others taking them too," she replied. When he made no move to leave, she turned around fully in her chair so as not to seem rude. "So what are you doing here so late, Kabuto-kun?"

"Just looking into some interesting subjects that came up in the second exam," he said. No books in his arms – must've just arrived. "I find the library much more relaxing at night when no one else is here. It seems I'm not alone in that preference - what are you working on?" He came a little closer, looking at the scrolls spread across her table. The hair on the back of her neck stood up.

"Just some research myself," she answered. She wished he would go to his own work and leave her in peace – polite as he was, something about him just seemed...off.

"On Fuinjutsu?" he asked, leaning next to her to see one of the open scrolls. "These are pretty advanced, aren't they? I mean, I'm no Chunin yet, but these look very intricate..." He was very close to her; their shoulders almost brushed.

"They are," she conceded, leaning away from him. "There are a lot of gaps in our knowledge of Fuinjutsu though – I want to try and close them."

"Oh!" he exclaimed, recognition coloring his pale features. "That's right, aren't you the one who perfected the chakra-masking seal? The one they nicknamed 'The Relentless Red Flash' during her Chunin exams?"

She gave another small smile, blushing at the mention of the old nickname. "Yes, that's me – sorry, I must've forgotten to tell you my name."

"I already know you - Fuumaki Kaiya. I'm surprised I didn't recognize you right away – I pride myself on knowing my fellow shinobi, and there aren't a lot of red-heads in the village. I think we might have been at the orphanage together…So, then you know Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun are taking the exams too?"

"Yes..."

"We met before the first exam," Kabuto explained. "They're both interesting kids. I look forward to seeing how they do in the third round."

"As do I," she replied.

Kabuto stood and pushed his glasses up his nose, finally seeming to sense her discomfort. "I guess I'll leave you to your studies then," he said. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Kaiya-san."

"You too!" she called automatically as he left. Only once he was gone did she realize how tense her shoulders had been during their conversation. Something is not right about that guy…

"Kaiya-nee-chan! Hey, Kaiya-nee-chan!"

Kaiya was nearly knocked over when Naruto jumped on her excitedly the next morning. "Did you hear? Did you?"

She laughed and gave him a hug. "You passed the first two rounds of the Chuunin exams - Kakashi told me!"

"AND I won my preliminary, dattebayo!" Naruto grinned widely at her.

She ruffled his hair. "Want to get some ramen? You'll need fuel for training, and you only have a month to prepare!"

"Eh? Really?" His eyes widened in excitement. "You're treating me to ramen?"

"Why not?" she smiled. He whooped and practically dragged her behind him as he ran to Ichiraku.

Once they'd both ordered, Kaiya asked, "So who are you sparring in the third round, do you know?"

He frowned, his face uncharacteristically serious. "Hyuuga Neji - the guy's got a real stick up his-"

"Naruto…"

"Sorry, Kaiya-nee-chan," he said. "But seriously - he makes me so mad! You should have seen how horribly he treated Hinata-chan during their match - all that talk about fate and how she was worthless, when she's worked so hard to get where she is!"

"Is Hinata-chan okay?" She'd heard of the Hyuuga heiress, and seen her a couple of times on the school yard - often watching Naruto. She was a sweet girl.

"That guy got her bad," Naruto answered, his voice low and shaking with anger. "The medics say she'll be okay…" He pounded his fist on the counter. "Still, I can't wait to teach that Neji a lesson! He's so hung up on fate and stuff - but I'll show him! It's like you say, Kaiya-nee-chan - we can make the unexpected happen!"

"You actually listen to me sometimes…?"

They were interrupted when the chef, Teuchi, came out with two steaming bowls. "One miso with pork chashu -" he set it in front of Naruto - "and one shiyo-base with an ajitsuke egg! It's good to see you again, Kaiya-chan!"

Kaiya thanked him as Naruto excitedly broke apart his chopsticks. "Itadakimasu!" He dug into his ramen.

Kaiya watched Naruto slurp his noodles. He's grown so much, she thought. It seems like just yesterday he was just a little kid getting bullied on the playground…and look at you now, Naruto! Ready to give a bully a piece of your mind!

"Hey, runt! Get back here!"

Six-year-old Naruto ran from the older, bigger boys. They'd caught him trying to steal one of their lunches. He couldn't help it - he had his own, but theirs, made by their moms that morning, just looked and smelled so much more appetizing! He hadn't realized the one he reached for belonged to Toru, a big kid two years ahead of him.

Now said bully was chasing him down an alley with his two cronies. Naruto skidded to a halt when he reached a wall - damn! He forgot that this alley was a dead end…he slowly turned around.

"Got you!" Toru and his gang started backing him up to the wall. "Didn't your mother ever teach you not to steal? Or does she just suck at cooking?" His friends snickered. "Oh, that's right - you have no parents! You're just a freak!"

"Just a runt and a freak!" One of the cronies chimed in.

"Hey, Toru, let's show him what runts and freaks get when they try to steal!" the other added.

Toru cracked his knuckled and grinned. Naruto shut his eyes tight, waiting to feel a fist in his face.

"HEY!" The three turned around and Naruto opened an eye. A girl, about ten or eleven, stood at the entrance to the alleyway, hands on her hips. "What's going on here?"

Toru and his cronies glared at her. "Stay outta this, lady!"

"Or what?" the girl sauntered forward, smirking. "Cuz, really, I'm dying to know what a couple of spoiled, Academy brats who can't throw a shuriken straight - yes, I've seen you try - are going to do to poor, little ol' me."

Toru growled. "Why, you-!" He swung his fist at the girl, who ducked easily. Overbalanced, Toru nearly fell over. Naruto snickered.

"You think something's funny, runt?!" One of the other boys started toward Naruto, fists clenched. He went to grab Naruto's collar -

But was stopped by a fair-skinned hand on his wrist. The girl had seemed to appear out of thin air. She turned so that he was behind her and flipped him over her shoulder. Toru had regained his footing and came running at her, yelling. She sidestepped him and used his own momentum to push him into the alley wall.

"Dude-" the third one called to his now-injured friends. "She's a Genin!" He'd noticed the Konohagakure hitai-ate tied to her belt and knew better than to try his luck.

Toru pushed away from the wall, grasping his nose, which was bleeding from the impact. "Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" The boy on the ground groaned and rolled over onto his side.

"Go, Kaiya-nee-chan, dattebayo!" Naruto cheered, fist in the air.

Toru's eyes widened. "What - I thought the runt was an orphan!" he said through his hands.

"He is," the girl, Kaiya, said. "And so am I. Guess what that means?" She leaned toward the boys, who flinched away from her. "It means that there's no one to punish me for beating the shit out of snot-nosed brats like you. Listen up!" She straightened. "I may not be at the Academy anymore, and Naruto's not the type to ask for my help, but if I even think you've been bothering him, you'll be answering to me! Understood?"

The boys nodded quickly.

She smiled. "Good. Now get outta here!" They ran from the alley. Once they were gone, she knelt in front of Naruto, checking him for injuries.

"Ne, ne, I'm fine!" Naruto pushed her hands away.

Kaiya sighed and settled back on her heels. "Not that kids like that usually need a reason, but why were they chasing you this time?"

"Well…" Naruto looked to the side and scuffed his toe on the ground. "I kinda tried to steal the big one's lunch…"

Kaiya slapped her forehead. "Seriously?! Why - didn't you bring yours?"

"Yeah," he said. "But…well…"

She looked at him. "What's the matter?"

Naruto frowned. "I wanted to know what it was like - a bento made by someone's mom…"

Kaiya's eyes softened. "I can make you one, if you want."

"That's not the point!" the boy protested. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Maybe they're right about me…maybe I am just a nobody freak…that's all anyone ever says, it must be true…"

Kaiya turned his face to look at hers. "Then prove them wrong. A person's life can change in an instant. Sometimes because the unexpected happens…" Then she grinned, a spark in her eyes. "But we can make the unexpected happen, too!"

Naruto looked at the older girl. His own face broke out into a grin. "Right!" he nodded.

Kaiya stood and held her hand out to the boy. "Want to go get some ramen? My treat."

"Can we go to Ichiraku?"

"Where else?"

"All right, dattebayo!"

Back in the present, Kaiya smiled at the memory. She broke her own chopsticks. Itadakimasu, she thought, and started slurping her own noodles.

Orochimaru looked out over the village as he leaned against the pillar of a pagoda. Kabuto had finished his report on the preliminaries. The conversation inevitably turned to Sasuke.

"It seems that the Curse Mark I implanted on him was sealed up by Kakashi-kun," Orochimaru said. "Well, not that it will have any effect, of course, as long as the darkness in his heart does not disappear…"

Kabuto frowned slightly. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something - something that's bothered me about that seal…you're certain Kakashi-san was the one who sealed the Curse Mark?"

"Yes…"

"Was there anyone else there?"

Orochimaru thought back to the cavern. "Why, yes - I believe there was a girl."

"With red hair?"

The Sannin grew impatient. "What about her?"

Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "I saw her at the library last night - actually, I've been watching her for a while…" He pulled a data card from his pocket and handed it to his master. "Fuumaki Kaiya. I remember her Chunin exam; it was the last time there had to be preliminaries for the Third round. I was actually pitted against her for that, but I forfeited before we had the chance to fight."

Orochimaru studied the card. Orphaned at age 4, parents unknown; above-average intelligence, extremely high speed… Fuumaki, eh? Who are they fooling with that? "And?"

"She's been studying Fuinjutsu for a long time now - apparently, she's getting pretty good." He looked to his master. "If she was there when the Curse Mark was sealed, I'm willing to bet she had some part in it."

"Hmmm…" Orochimaru twirled the card in his fingers, then tossed it back to Kabuto. "Keep an eye on her. And Kabuto…I want you to kidnap Sasuke-kun now."