AN:/ I am sooooooo sorry for making you all wait for updates, I know I'm a terrible person and there is no excuse for leaving you hanging for this long...

Recap:

"Suigetsu…. Is it really you?" Suigetsu took a deep breath. "That depends… is that you… Sasuke?" the raven slowly nodded and stared at the white-haired teen. They stood still for a few silent moments before Sasuke ran into Suigetsu's open arms.

Hard Life to live

Chapter 10

-With Kakashi-

Kakashi walked back into the ramen stand with a smile behind his mask. As he sat down Sakura looked up. "Did you find out where Sasuke went?" Kakashi nodded and patted her head.

"Yep and she is going to be busy for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow." Naruto frowned but sighed.

"Well we do have tomorrow off." Kakashi nodded.

"yes and I suggest you only do light training tomorrow or you won't perform well during the exam." Naruto surprised Kakashi when he stood up from his seat, Sakura following him.

"Sorry we didn't wait for you we'll see you around." Naruto walked out of the stand; before Sakura follow she gave Kakashi an apologetic smile.

Once they were far enough away Naruto turned to Sakura. "Let's go find Sasuke." Sakura sighed

"Didn't Kakashi say she was busy?" Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on aren't you just a little bit curious?" Sakura hesitated before finally giving in. The blond smiled and grabbed Sakura's hand, pulling her down the street.

-2 hours later-

Naruto was about to give up when Sakura smiled. "There she is… and who is that with her?" Naruto quickly turned round and saw Sasuke walking down the street with a boy who had white hair and looked about a year or two older than them.

"I don't know. I've never seen him before." Sakura frowned.

"That's because he's from the rain village." Naruto tilted his head in confusion.

"Well why don't we find out what they're talking about." Sakura was about to object when Naruto grabbed her hand and pulled her down the street in the direction Sasuke and the mystery guy went. They slowed down a little ways away from the stopped pair and quietly listened in on their conversation.

"I still can't believe you're alive. I didn't think you made it out of that hell hole." Sasuke actually smiled back.

"I thought the same thing. When it fell I thought you got caught in it." Suigetsu laughed and took Sasuke's hand in his.

"I'm just glad you're here, because of you I'm free." Sasuke squeezed Suigetsu's hand.

"I couldn't leave you there." Suigetsu softened his gaze and looked Sasuke in the eye.

"Do you remember what you said the last time we saw each other?" Sasuke blushed and nodded before looking around them. There wasn't anyone outside to see so she leaned closer. Suigetsu smiled and met her halfway in a simple kiss.

Naruto peeked around the building they were hiding behind and gasped. Sakura's eyes sparkled with curiosity and she looked around the building too. She couldn't help the squeal that bubbled out when she saw the two kissing and holding hands. But she immediately regretted it when Sasuke spun around her eyes blazing red.

Sakura and Naruto huddled together behind the building and silently prayed that Sasuke wouldn't find them. They were overly thankful when Suigetsu's voice reached their ears.

"Don't worry about them… how about we go catch up." Sasuke sighed and let her eyes return to black. "Didn't you say you wanted to show me something if we ever came here?" Sasuke looked back up at Suigetsu completely forgetting about Naruto and Sakura. She took Suigetsu's hand and led him away.

Naruto sighed in relief once they were gone and stepped out from behind the building. He was about to smiled toward Sakura when he was slammed into the building. He actually squealed when he saw Sasuke holding him against the wall while glaring at him.

"If I see you again before the exam I won't hesitated to put you in the hospital." Sakura tried to pull Sasuke off but the raven turned her glare on the pinkette. "And I thought you would have a little decency. Now leave." Without another word Sasuke disappeared. Naruto slid down the wall.

"Wow that was just a clone." Sakura shakily helped Naruto up. "I think we should leave her alone."

-8 o'clock that night-

Sasuke respectfully bowed toward the Hokage who was sitting at his desk. "You wanted to see me Hokage-san?" the older shinobi nodded and folded his hands in front of him.

"Yes, I've been watching your performances… normally you would have to pass an exam to raise to jounin rank but with your actions on your last mission and your assistance in training a genin squad we have decided to promote you to the rank of jounin." Sasuke's eyes widened.

"Are you serious?" Sabatori nodded and smiled.

"I had to pull some strings but there is a reason I'm giving you this rank now." Sasuke's raised an eyebrow and let him continue. "You are going to be one of the jounin ninja who watch the exams. There will be a meeting tomorrow where you will be briefed on everything you will need to know and do." Sasuke couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Are you sure the other jounin will be alright with me being a jounin?" Sabatori chuckled.

"Probably not. But there are some who will look at your skill not your age. Besides we need your eyes. Even without the sharingan your eye sight is amazing." Sasuke gave him a small smile and looked him in the eye.

"I am ready to do anything you need me to do… as long as my age isn't a problem." The Hokage nodded.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now this meeting will be at noon tomorrow at the academy, make sure you're there on time and be ready for anything." Sasuke gave him a suspicious look but bowed and made to leave when the Hokage stopped her.

"And one more thing…" Sasuke paused and looked over her shoulder at the older shinobi. "We're counting on you being a… secret weapon. So let's keep this between us." Sasuke nodded and bowed once more.

"Hia." Sabatori smiled and gestured her out.

"Excellent now go on home and get some sleep." Sasuke gave him another small smile before leaving the office.

-11:30 am-

Sasuke was making sure she had everything while Kakashi watched her with a curious look. "So where are you going?" Sasuke sighed and didn't bother looking up as she replied.

"I have to go see the Hokage, he said he needed to speak with me." Kakashi smirked under his mask.

"You know if you wanted to go and meet up with Suigetsu you just have to tell me." Sasuke sighed and left the apartment before Kakashi could say anything else.

Once outside Sasuke turned and headed toward the Academy. As she walked through the village she noticed that even more shinobi from other villages were wondering the village. 'this exam is going to be more trouble than it's worth. And what did the Hokage mean by be ready for anything… they wouldn't' she snapped from her thoughts when she came to a stop outside the academy.

It was strangely quiet and Sasuke slowly scanned her surroundings. 'it looks like I was right. They're going to test me to see if I'm jounin material.' As if hearing her thoughts the wind suddenly picked up and multiple shuriken came flying toward her. the raven ducked and placed her hands together and silently whispered "release" before disappearing and then reappearing behind the jounin who had placed the genjutsu on her and roughly slammed him into the ground. The look of surprise on the jounin's face made Sasuke smile on the inside. She leaned closer and whispered to the older ninja.

"For future reference… genjutsu don't work on me." She let him go and continued into the academy. When she walked into a classroom the jounin already gathered there grow quiet and looked up at her. Sasuke quickly looked over the jounin in the room, the silence starting to bother her. but the silence was finally broken when the Hokage walked into the room and cleared his throat.

"Now I hope that has stopped any doubt about Sasuke's skill. She may be young but she has both strength and strategy." The gathered ninja gave Sasuke one more look before settling down and looking at the Hokage. Sabatori smiled and walked to the front of the room. "Great, now we can get on with the instructions for tomorrows exam."

TBC

Important AN: I want to be completely honest with you all... there is more to this story but it isn't written yet... I have been seriously lacking in motivation and distracted by the great middle finger known as life. I know that is no excuse but I want to let you know it will most likely be another long wait for the next chapter and I will not blame you for hating me but I can't force the story out... I sorry to disappoint you