Disclaimer: I own nothing


The wanted hero


(Suki's/Sakura's POV)

I found the large tree where I put the boys to rest and heal until they got better. I also decided to rest a bit myself, seeing how I knew I had a bit of time before the Sound ninjas got here. Sitting down in front of the opening, I placed my elbows on my knees, and rested my head in one hand. With the other I played with a kunai until the Sound ninjas got here.

They would still be coming after Sasuke-kun because they didn't know that Orochimaru's interest had changed to a different 'Uchiha'…me. But to Orochimaru they were just pawns and so he didn't bother with telling them his change in plans.

I put my finger through the loop and swung the kunai back and forth counting the times it would swing before the Sound ninjas got here. A chittering sound in the distance alerted me to their squirrel with the paper bomb. The cute critter started running towards me, and I stopped it with a kunai just like last time.

A moment past before they came out from hiding. Both groups assess each other from behind the foliage. Only I make sure to keep my eye gaze low so that it looks like I'm falling asleep. Apparently this weakness gives them just enough encouragement to come out from hiding.

"Some look-out you are, you did even notice us" Dosu says in way of greeting.

"What's the point of being a look out for danger after we've already found you?" Dosu continues to throw his insults my way. "Now wake Sasuke up, we want to fight him"

I just stared at them in silence. Another moment passes before anything else was said.

My face hardens and I slowly look up; revealing a menacing look. "You don't even know the dangerous situation you are in now, do you?" My voice is cold and stoic.

"If you want to talk about dangerous situations you should probably take a closer look at yourself" Kin said in her nasally voice; still completely oblivious of my waning self-control.

"Hmm." A small smirk forms on my mouth, as I calmly close my eyes and lowered my head. The nonchalant gesture left all the sound nin in complete irritation. I didn't care; I was focused on using a genjutsu on Lee and team 10. I had to make sure that they would not be able to come, as I wiped the floor with these clowns. Revealing my jutsu's, and in turn my identity is not something I wanted to do.

Dosu stepped up first prepared to kick off the fight. He was flanked by Kin and the other sound ninja with a wannabe Mohawk.

"My patience has run out little girl. Now you're done for." An angry Dosu focused all his attention to me. Without a second thought I acted. Taking out my whip and I stopped Dosu from even coming near me. Wrapping my whip around his ankle and forcefully tossing him to the nearest tree. The blow was so intense; Dosu immediately lost consciousness. Short hand fighters have a disadvantage against medium distant fighters.

"Burning Steel" with my expert whip skills I kept the other two members at a distance. Had I been an average genin three against one would hardly be fair; however it turns out I wasn't. Instead my ninja level could rival even the strongest of anbu shinobi. I would even give the hokage a run for his money.

Team Dosu recouperated as best they could and started to surround me from all sides. To an outsider it would seem over for me, but everything was going according to plan.

"It seems we underestimated you. No matter we will simply pull out our top jutsu's and end this in one blow." Dosu surprisingly held on to his courage (or stupidity), and positioned himself to launch another attack.

That was when I decided to let down the veil of the genjutsu the sound ninjas had been trapped in since the beginning of our fight. I was still seated in front of the Tree opening; revealing that I had never left. I could practically hear their thoughts of confusion; as to when my genjutsu began and ended.

"Doesn't matter now, she's all alone. Hit her with your air wave Zaku." Kin proclaimed. She hadn't done much attacking during the genjutsu, but Kin had done a lot of encouraging. To be honest she kind of reminded me of myself in the past. Reminiscing aside, she had caused for the Sound ninjas attention to be once again on me.

Suddenly out of nowhere a loud voice resonated loud and clear.

"You think your pretty tough for ganging up on one girl!"

"Wha?" Zaku said. "Who's there?"

Neji Hyuuga stood tall and proud on a thick tree limb just above their fight. His arms were crossed, and he had stuck up his nose to the Sound ninja's as he looked down on them.

"If you guys are so tough, why don't you try me out for size" he threated. Neji's nose had that crinkle effect every single time his violent side was about to come out.

Tenten jumped and landed on the tree limb next to Neji. She was the one who found a genjutsu'd Lee lying close by. Thankfully, it appeared as though Tenten though the genjutsu was the Sound nin's doing. She was sickened by how the sound ninja had treated her teammate.

"Oh Lee" Tenten mournfully said, concern for her teammate seeping through her words.

"Hmph, Looks like you decided to gang up on our teammate." Neji said with a quiet furry dancing behind his words. His eyes enlarged a bit and his Byakugan activated. "NO ONE DOES THAT AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!" He roared in furry!

I was wondering when he would get here. The ache in my heart won't let me deny that I had been longing to see him again. Unfortunately, the yearning was evident in my features as I looked up at Neji. Quickly I turned my attention back to the Sound nin, but I fear that Neji caught a glimpse of my reaction.

This time would be different, because I controls when Sasuke can wake up. This time I am not going to let Sasuke be the one who saves me. Instead I'm going to protect Sasuke; and guiltily let someone else save me. Someone like a certain Hyuuga standing just above me.

"Full power, Tenten" Neji told Tenten. Clearly he was not going to go easy on the sound ninja.

Both, Tenten and Neji, came down upon Team Dosu. Tenten going after Kin and Neji took out Dosu effortlessly. One touch was all it took and Dosu was down. Now Zaku was charging straight at me with the intent of taking out Sasuke. I could have easily stopped him at any time, but I had a part to play.

Just before Zaku got close to me, Neji appeared in front, and shielded me.

"Your finished," he viciously told Zaku.

One, two touch then Zaku was down. The entire sound ninja wiped out by Team Guy.

The aftermath of the fierce struggle was riddled with questions, but no one said a word.

I decided that I would let Team 10 and Lee wake up.

Neji's eyes also went back to normal as he deactivated the Byakugan. He went over to Zaku and took out the earth scroll the Sound ninja were given. "Hmph, Not so tough anymore" Neji told the unconscious Zaku while spinning the earth scroll in his hand.

Neji walked over to me and held out the scroll.

"Here," he said. His voice sending shivers of pleasure down my back.

"You're giving us the scroll? Why you're the one who defeated him?" I was confused, and couldn't understand why would Neji do something like this? It was my understanding that the Neji standing in front of me had not developed sufficiently to conduct such acts of kindness toward my team or me.

"They were attacking your team not ours, it's your scroll" was all he said. He reached out, grabbed my hand, and placed the scroll in it.

Upon the skin on skin contact, both Neji and I were hit with a tingling jolt. "Sorry," I said; chagrin clear on my features. "I didn't mean to shock you."

Neji let out an amused breath. I wasn't sure what he was thinking, but he sure was giving me the once over. Looking me up and down from head to toe, as if he just couldn't quite put his finger on me.

Before I knew it, Neji and I were staring intently into each other's eyes. Eventually Ino was to once to break our contact.

"Well Suki, it looks like you're in good hands." Ino said her voice may have possibly been implying that Neji and I had something going on. "We'll see you at the finish line Forehead." She spared a last smile at me before team 10 took off; disappearing into the woods.

Tenten also called out to Neji "Neji!, Lee looks like he's going to be ok, come on we got to go too!"

Neji looked in Tentens direction then back to me. "Are you going to be ok?" he asked.

"Um, yeah," I looked over at my unconscious teammates. "We'll manage."

"Not with two teammates down your not." Neji stated.

Lee and Tenten started walking in my direction.

"You guys should go, no need to waste any more time." I tell them. Already feeling completely embarrassed for looking like a total damsel in distress. I shouldn't have left Sasuke and Naruto asleep for so long in my genjutsu.

"No-" Neji started to say whatever firm statement he was going to say to me, but was then was interrupted by Lee.

Lee who was leaning on Tenten for support said. "Neji, we cannot leave Suki out here on her own. We should help her." For some reason Lee's demand seemed to irritate Neji. Almost as if Neji was thinking of saying something completely similar, but Lee beating him to the punch.

Neji turned back to me, and I almost yipped with an uncharacteristically induction of shyness. The only sign that Neji had noticed my strange reaction was the arching of one questioning eyebrow.

"Our team has already acquired both scrolls, and if I'm correct this earth scroll was all your team needed to head on over to the tower." Neji said his analytical eyes never lie to him "Therefore we have no need to fight. We'll help you continue on."

I looked up at Neji. My eyes softening and showing gratitude "Thank you, Neji," was all I could say, and bowed my head slightly.

Neji just nodded his head in response and carried Sasuke on his back. I carried Naruto on my back.

"We're going to be ok." I whispered to the unconscious Naruto.

We were off. Both teams headed to the chunin tower together.

Somewhere in the distance a black winged creature had been following, and now knew many secrets.


Hey guys, How do you like the new update. I forgot to tell you, but I think you've already guessed by now, there is going to be some NejiXSaku moments. Hope that's ok?

Itachilivesinmyheart: There will definately be more Itachi Sakura moments, just wait a little. It will be wierd If i make Itachi appear out of nowhere right now. But he's coming most likely in the next one chapter or the following. :HINT: if you got the last sentence then you know someone is in trouble.

Konnichiha yoshi-san: Don't worry Sakura will head on toward the Akatsuki, all I can say is within the next 3 or 5 ch she should be inducted between there.I also can't wait, she's going to be Baddas5

Cheetos: No Sakura does not have the curse mark she only made Orochimaru think he gave her the mark