I was knelt at the Hokage's feet. "Hokage-sama, I was unable to capture Orochimaru and he was able to give Sasuke a heaven curse mark like Anko's. I was able to make it accept him, but I did not heal them in anyway," I said to him as I looked up. He nodded deep in thought.
"You are dismissed. You will be notified if another team passes," he replied. I bowed in respect and left his chambers. I spent the rest of the day relaxing.
The next day, no one passed it so it was still the two teams. However on the third day both Team Gai and Team 10 passed. The same ANBU member came and got me. We both headed over.
"How are my youthful students?" I heard Gai shout to his team when I arrived. I sighed, but a mischievous grin spread its way onto my face. I looked down to see both teams standing next to each other. I placed a foot on the railing of the higher ledge. I threw myself over, landing straight on Neji's back. He staggered around before falling on his stomach.
"Bailey-san, that was most un-youthful!" Lee shouted at me. I stared at him innocently and I saw Asuma shiver from the corner of my eye.
"How is it not youthful to want to hug my Aniki?" I asked staring at him with my innocent eyes. Gai began to tell Lee that he mustn't jump to conclusions. I felt Neji squirm under me, trying to get out of my grasp. I smiled at him with an evil glint in my eyes that went unnoticed by the spandex fools.
"Imouto, can you get off me, now? You're crushing my back," he huffed. I smacked him playfully, but got off him anyway.
"Wait! You have a sister?" Ino shrieked behind us. I looked at her like she was dumb.
"What was your first hint, me calling him Aniki or him calling me Imouto?" I asked sarcastically. She scoffed and turned away embarrassed. I nudged my brother and motioned to Hinata and her team farther into the room. He grew angry, but I glared at him, succeeding in making him shut up.
"How come she doesn't look like you Neji? If I didn't know any better, I would think she was Sasuke's sister," Shikamaru stepped forward. I stared at him. He really is a genius.
"That is because I'm both their siblings, but the Uchiha blood is dominate. I was an accident, but at least I brought the two clans together at one point," I replied. I was suddenly being dragged away by a desperate looking Ino. I quickly slipped my wrist from her grip and walked away from her. "Thank Kami, I'm a Jounin! She's got a grip."
"You should've seen my first day with them," Asuma said. I started laughing just at the mere thought of it. "Although, I would have liked to see Kakashi's first day."
"That was so funny. He was hours late, he kicked the Genin's butts, and he left Naruto tied to a post," I said. "Funniest thing was he buried Sasu-nii head deep into the ground. Sakura saw that and went crazy. It was awesome!" I heard Neji snort at my nickname for Sasuke.
"You have got to show me that later!" Asuma said. At that moment Ibiki came up behind me again. He put me, yet again, in a headlock. I started calling out for help, gaining the attention of the other two teams. It was also at that moment, when I started squealing to get him off me to add humor; the Oto Genin came in with their Jounin-sensei.
"What the hell?" I heard an Oto Genin say. Ibiki let me go. I rubbed the back of my head to remove the feeling of me being in the headlock. I glared at him, but he just smiled at me. He's such a jerk!
"That was so not cool! Ibiki-san, you were out of line!" I pouted. He ruffled my hair making me glare again. He just laughed and walked away to find Anko. Now back on topic. "Neji-nii, why did you have to be in the same Chunin Exams as Sasuke? I've been getting bored at home!"
"Well, excuse me for succeeding in getting away from you," he said smirking playfully. I lightly hit his shoulder. Lee and Gai began to yell at him while the Oto team just kept staring at us like we were insane.
"Bailey?" I heard from higher up. I looked up to see Hiashi-sama. Neji and I bowed in synch before I jumped up to meet him. "I would like to talk to you in private. Good to see you passed nephew." I saw Neji scoff.
He led us back to the Hyuga manor and into his office. He sat behind his desk as I took a seat at one of the guest chairs. "You wished to see me Hyuga-sama?" I had to use formalities in his office.
"Keep an eye on your brother for me, will you? I can easily see hate for Hinata in his eyes along with the main family and I resent not telling him the truth sooner. I will tell him once the exams are over," Hiashi informed me. I nodded my head. It was about time he did. I was getting seriously angry with Neji and his talk of destiny.
"I would like to request you attend the preliminary round of the exam and watch from the viewing room with the other council members. I want you to see how well Hinata has improved. It would mean the world to her," I told him.
"I'd like to go if I didn't have to run the clan," he answered. Apparently we were on better terms now, but just barely.
"Get Hachi to run it while you're gone. Parenting always comes before the rest of the family," I yelled at him. I bowed respectively before leaving in rage. Hiashi was silent as I left so I have no idea what I thought.
I stood with the rest of the people watching the preliminaries. Before us stood, the Sand Siblings, which is what we have resorted to call them, Team 8, Team 10, Team Gai, Kabuto's team, the Oto team, and Team 7. I wasn't able to talk to my brother but I saw him clutching his neck. It must still be hurting him, but at least he was alive.
The Hokage explained the meaning of the exams along with the rules of the preliminaries. A couple of the Genin would interrupt but he was patient and made it through the speech. On the board where we would see who was to fight next, the names began to be scrambled. I heard the Jounin fighting over letting Sasuke stay or not.
"We should take him out of this exam for the ANBU to watch over and protect him…" Anko said. She was nervous and wanted him to be under surveillance.
"He's the type that won't easily agree to that since he's from the Uchiha clan after all," Kakashi defended. The Hokage let Sasuke stay. The names came to a stop. Uchiha Sasuke vs. Akado Yoroi was the first match. Just great, Sasuke was in the first fight.
The two stepped forward. The other man was from Kabuto's team, but it was at that point I noticed Kabuto had dropped out. My eyes narrowed. He was up to something. It's been 5 years already and he has yet to pass. Everyone was said to head up.
Both Kakashi and I confronted him. "Don't use the Sharingan. If it were to activate you could lose your life. If it does, I'll jump in and stop it," Kakashi said. Sasuke's eyes widened and he placed a light hand on the mark.
"It'll bend to your will, so make sure your desire not to activate it is stronger than your desire to win," I added. He nodded and I gave him a quick hug before jumping up to the watching area with Kakashi. "Go get him, Nii-san! Whoop his ass!" I yelled and I saw a light smirk spread its way onto his face.
The match began with Yoroi throwing three shuriken while Sasuke drew a kunai. Right after Sasuke rebound them back at him, he fell over in pain. Yoroi went over and slammed his palm down at Sasuke, barely missing. Sasuke used his legs and the kunai to swing the guy off him, but the arm remained on his shirt near his neck. The hand began to glow green as he brought his arm back and punched Sasuke. It looked as if his energy was being drained along with his chakra.
Yoroi grabbed Sasuke's head and he nearly went limp. He let out a pained yell. Suddenly bringing his leg up, Sasuke pushed Yoroi off him. "Sasuke, are you really Uchiha Sasuke? Is that the best you can do?" Naruto yelled at him.
Suddenly Yoroi charged but Sasuke kicked his jaw, launching him into the air. He jumped into the air making sure to kick him to keep him up. "That's my technique," I heard Lee mutter near me. I looked up to see all of Team Gai in shock. It was then the unthinkable happened.
The curse mark began to react to Sasuke's rage and began to take hold of him. I shot Kakashi a look with a foot on the railing. The mark began to recede. His will was gaining control again and I placed my foot back on the ground. He again began to kick his opponent. With one last kick, I was able to recognize the attack. It was Lee's Lion-Rendan taijutsu move.
Both were now down for the count. Sasuke was on his stomach while Yoroi was on his back. Sasuke began to struggle up onto his knees while Hayate checked Yoroi. He then announced Sasuke the winner.
"Well, good job," Kakashi said as he appeared behind Sasuke. I jumped over the railing and to over to Sasuke. He lurched forward in pain. Kakashi and I exchanged a glance, him asking if he could seal it. I nodded as the medical team came in.
"Uchiha Sasuke, let the medical team treat your injuries now," the head questioned more than demanded.
"You guys are not needed. We'll take care of him," Kakashi said. He kneeled down near Sasuke's ear. "I'm going to take you to the back and seal up the curse mark." I looked up at the screen as the next set of opponents came on.
"C'mon Sasuke, we have to go. I'll keep you posted on the battle and give you a bio on Shino since you've already fought Zaku," I told him. We walked into the back room with pillars around it.
Kakashi cut his palm and began to write signs around the area and on Sasuke while I placed kunai around. When I was done, I kept Sasuke posted on Shino and Zaku's fight until Kakashi preformed the jutsu. He placed the cut palm onto the mark and began the jutsu. Sasuke cried out a few times.
I noticed Orochimaru come up behind us as Sasuke passed out. It didn't look like Kakashi noticed him yet, but I could feel the blood lust in the air. "So, you can even use sealing jutsu now. You've grown Kakashi," the snake man said. Kakashi stiffened at the voice. He turned around to face us. "Ah, the idiot Uchiha is here, too, how fortunate for me."
"Orochimaru," I hissed in rage. Kakashi glanced over to see me take a defensive position over Sasuke. "Won't you give up? You'll never get the Uchiha blood. You'll never get him to Oto!" My Byakugan was still active as I glared.
"So, that's what your Byakugan looks like. Shame, I thought it would be better than that. All of my ninja in this exam are all just my pawns, so I'll just send them to kill you," he said with an evil smirk. I continued to glare as Kakashi took up a defensive position himself.
"Don't come any closer to Sasuke! I sealed the curse mark," Kakashi yelled at him. Orochimaru began to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"The seal you did was useless. He will eventually seek me for revenge. There is no stopping that," he turned his back to us. I growled as Kakashi charged up his Raikiri. He was about to charge when I stopped him. He looked up. Orochimaru was already gone. He cursed.
The medical team came in and took Sasuke to get further treatment while Kakashi and I appeared back in the arena. I looked around to see the match had ended. Shino won. The names began to scramble again. Tsurugi Misumi vs. Kankuro went up onto the screen. I didn't really pay attention to the match, but Kankuro won.
The next set of names appeared on the screen, two that shocked me, Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino. Oh, this would not end well. The two walked down the stairs and onto the field with determination. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Sakura, I never thought I'd be fighting you," Ino said. Sakura pulled her forehead protector out from in her hair. She stared at Ino with a blank look.
"Right now, I have no intention of fighting over Sasuke-kun with you," Sakura said holding her forehead protector tighter in frustration, but it didn't show on her face.
"What was that?"
"You and Sasuke-kun don't go together anyway and I'm completely stronger than you are right now. I don't even need to be concerned with you right now," she mocked, a smirk playing across her face. Ino grew mad at this.
"Sakura, who do you think you're talking to? Don't get ahead of yourself, cry-baby Sakura!" Ino yelled. I smirked at what Sakura was trying to do. She was trash talking Ino to get her to take her seriously. This match will definitely be entertaining.
Ino removed her forehead protector from her waist and tied onto her forehead. Sakura tied hers to her forehead as well. Sakura made three Bushin, charging at Ino. "This isn't the graduation exam. You think you can defeat me with textbook jutsu like that?" Ino yelled dodging. She didn't expect Sakura to get rid of them and throw a punch that connected with her jaw.
"If you think I'm still the same cry-baby Sakura then you will be hurting. Get serious Ino!" Sakura yelled. Ino wiped the place where she was punched as she stood. She smirked and nodded. Now here we go.
The two charged at each other, both throwing a punch with their right hand. Their left hands caught the punch as they squared off glaring. The two pushed off of the other, throwing shuriken that connected. They charged again, and again threw a punch. However, this time, both fists contacted with the other's face. Both girls went flying back. By now, they had been fighting for ten minutes straight.
"There's no way you could be even with me!" Ino yelled in frustration.
"Heh, of course! How could I be even with someone who only worries about her hair and looking pretty?" Sakura countered. Something inside Ino snapped. She grabbed her hair and with a kunai, she cut it and threw it out over the battleground. She then made the hand sign for Shintenshin.
I looked over to see Shikamaru freaking out. Aw, he does care! Okay, I'll shut up and tune back into the battle. Sakura began to run around to get around it, but when she did, she got caught in Ino's hair mixed with her chakra causing her to freeze. Ino than preformed the jutsu. I looked to see Shika relax.
Suddenly, Ino began to hold her head. She released the jutsu. It seems she met Sakura's inner. I had met her during training, and trust me it wasn't pretty. The girls lunged at each other again. Their fists connected with their faces and both girls flew back, knocked out.
The fifth match was between Temari and Tenten. The whole fight was of Tenten throwing weapons with Temari reflecting them back with her wind jutsu. You could easily tell that Temari was on a higher level than Tenten.
The sixth match was between Shikamaru and the sound-nin Kin. Using his Kage Mane no Jutsu, he was able to knock Kin out by ramming her head into the wall. It was quite boring really. Shikamaru used easy moves that with the correct planning would be easily to escape and counter.
The seventh match was Naruto vs. Kiba. I don't have much to say on this fight, except for Naruto's amazing timing of his Henge no Jutsu. I still can't believe Naruto beat him with a fart, too. That was just unpredictable and sad. Poor Kiba, though. He was forced to smell that!
The eighth match was about to begin. Then on the screen, the names Hyuga Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji appeared on the screen. I growled. "Neji! You better not hurt her badly or so help me, you will never be able to move again!" I yelled at him when he was facing Hinata. He rolled his eyes. "Neji!"
Hinata grew timid as Neji told her to forfeit. As he rambled about the different branches of the clan and how much superior he is to her. I growled again and I saw Kankuro give me a look. "Stop deciding things about people, idiot! Kick that bastard's ass, Hinata!" Her confidence sky-rocketed.
Both of their Byakugan were active as they got into the Hyuga taijutsu stance. I wonder what Hiashi is thinking if he came. They both ran forward at each other and began to throw Jyuken. Hinata got a tap to his side, but it didn't cause any damage. I activated my own Byakugan. Her opening points in her arms were burnt from chakra exiting them. That's why none of her attacks worked.
He threw a Jyuken that hit her heart. He was trying to kill her. "Neji!" I yelled in frustration. After a few more hits, Hinata was nearly down for the count. Everyone thought she was but after some encouraging words from Naruto, she stood.
"There is no need to suffer. Let it go," Neji said.
"That's not true Neji-nii-san because I can see; it's not me at all. The person lost and suffering within the main and branch houses is you," she said holding her side. My eyes widened. That had hit a nerve in Neji. I saw his eyes narrow and he lunged. He was going to kill her!
"Neji-kun, this match is over!" Hayate yelled kicking into action. Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai all came to stop him with me. Kurenai grabbed his arm while her leg was wrapped around his to trip him if he were to move. Gai had Neji in a headlock while Kakashi had his other arm. I nodded to everyone as they let him go and I pinned him to the ground.
"What did I tell you about hurting her?" I hissed into his ear. He growled. "Neji-nii-san, your superiority complex is your downfall." He growled again and tried to get me off him. I picked Neji up and let him confront Naruto.
"I swear I'll beat you," Naruto said. I let him go giving him a warning glance before running after the medics that took Hinata. Her breath was shallow and her heart rate was terribly slow.
She was rushed into an emergency room. I was allowed to enter as I was the only Hyuga there. I opened up the chakra networks near her heart first before slowing the chakra flow in her arm back to normal. The medics then let me leave.
I went to see Tenten, Kiba, and Sasuke. Tenten was awake. She would be able to leave in a few days. Kiba was in the same condition. Sasuke was unconscious still. I wasn't surprised by that.
I was about to leave when Lee was raced in with Gai-sensei at his side. "Gai-sensei, what happened to him?" I looked at Lee. His arm and leg seemed to be crushed, bits of sand were also near him, and he was unconscious. Gai looked to be crying. I led him away so the medics could work.
"Lee had to fight that Suna ninja. His sand was near impossible to evade, so Lee opened…" he trailed off. My eyes widened. Gai taught Lee the Eight Celestial Gates!
"How many gates did he open?" I asked. He didn't reply. "Gai! How many did he open?" He stayed silent as I stopped him and looked straight into his eyes.
"Five gates, he opened five gates," Gai said. My eyes widened. His muscles must be torn to shreds! Gai stopped his crying and sat on a nearby bench. I sat down in shock. Poor Lee, he is probably in so much pain right now. The gates are like a double-edged sword. While the technique is extremely powerful, it slowly tears you apart as you use them.
"I hope Lee gets better. He'll be glad you're here Gai, but I can't be here right now. After so long of being in a hospital, I start getting nervous," I said waving. "I'll be back to check Hina-chan's condition, later."
