Chapter 9

Akari sat with her head in her hands. A few moments ago a medic walked out to inform her that Hinata would make it. That meant she wouldn't have to keep her promise to Neji. But that didn't mean she couldn't be angry with him. It was going to be a couple of days before she would speak to him again. At least Hinata was doing well. The Hyuuga girl had really impressed Akari. To think she stood up to Neji like that. Plus she managed to get Narutos attention as well. Akari smiled to herself.

She lifted her head and leaned it agianst the wall. She glanced around her and noticed there was another room down the hall. It was marked as occupied. She stared at it for a moment before it dawned on her. Sasuke! Kakashi had said he was resting in the infirmary. Akari stood and made her way to the door. She lifted her fist to knock but hesitated. Would he want to see her? She didn't see why not. Akari knocked twice before opening the door and peeking in.

Sasuke lay staring out the window. There wasn't much of a view, just the trees of the Forest of Death. He was startled when he heard a knock on his door. Akari Yoshida was watching him. She was halfway into the room but looked unsure about entering. Sasuke had wanted to be alone but he felt slightly better at seeing his old friend.

"Um, hi Sasuke. I just wanted…to see if you were doing okay." She asked.

"Im doing fine thank you." He replied.

She didn't move from the door but smiled as if relieved. Sasuke didn't know what more to say. It had been so long since they've actually spoken. Not counting the small conversations they managed to have. Akari lifted a hand and gave a slight wave before slowly backing out of the room.

"Wait! You…can come in if you want." Sasuke muttered.

Akari glanced behind her at the room Hinata was in. The medic said it would be a while so there was no harm in accepting Sasuke's offer. Besides, she had meant to go inside but seeing him staring out the window made her believe he wanted to be alone. She looked back at the boy who was staring at her expectantly. She smiled and made her way into the room. He smiled back and watched her as she reached him.

"I'm glad you're okay. I was worried when you didn't show up with Kakashi."

She was now standing at his side. She glanced around her but she didn't see a chair. He didn't seem too hurt so she sat on the bed which seemed to startle him. She almost got back up but he smiled again.

"Sorry to worry you. He thought it was best if I regained my energy here." He said.

"Did the fight wear you out or were you hurt in the forest?" She asked.

He frowned.

"That's okay. You don't have to tell me." She said quickly.

"No. It's fine. I had an incident in the forest. Because of it I wasn't at my best during my match." He answered.

"Oh. Well I'm sorry I missed it. I…had an incident myself." She explained.

"It's okay. By the way, how have the matches been?" He asked.

"Well so far Shino, Kankuro of the sand, my sister, Temari of the sand, Shikamaru, Naruto and Neji have advanced."

"So Naruto did it? That's good. I would like a chance to go up against him. Who's left?"

"My brother, Rock Lee, Choji, Kabuto, The creepy guy from the sound, and the boy with the gourd."

He nodded and stayed silent. Akari didn't say anything either. The silence wasn't awkward. It was comfortable, nice even . He looked out the window again and she joined him. They were like this for a few minutes. Then she glanced back at him. She noticed a loose strand of hair on his face that would normally be held back by his headband. Without thinking she reached over and brushed it back in place. He was startled again and she pulled back. Then he cringed and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?" She said in worry.

"No…no it wasn't you. My um…injury is causing my sharingan to act up."

"Your…sharingan."

He opened his eyes and she saw the red. The red she always thought beautiful. The red Itachi used to have. She thought seeing it again would cause her pain but on Sasuke it still looked beautiful. She leaned in for a closer look. Sasuke blushed but she didn't notice.

"Your eyes. They're amazing." She whispered.

He smiled slightly but still seemed a bit uncomfortable. Finally she understood why. Akari was practically on top of him! She had a hand on each side of him and her face was inches from his. She blushed and quickly pulled back.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Again they were silent. She watched him and then realized something. He had squeezed his eyes shut just as she had earlier. It caught her off guard at how similar it was. She looked at his eyes again but the sharingan was gone.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"What? Oh…no I'm fine. I um need to go check on Hinata but I'll see you later okay?" She muttered.

She stood from the bed and was about to go. Then she stopped and hesitated before looking back at Sasuke. She smiled at him and leaned down to kiss his cheek lightly. When she pulled away he was blushing and staring at her in shock.

"Bye Sasuke."

This time she did go. She walked back to her seat and waited again. This time she had other things to think about. Why had she reacted that way to Sasuke squeezing his eyes? Plenty of people do it to clear their heads or when they're in pain. Still, why did Itachi tell her to close her eyes? Is it to hide them? He did say to lie and say her head hurt when it didn't. In fact there wasn't any pain. It was just disorienting to see the world differently.

She groaned and leaned her head back to stare at the ceiling. She watched the light bulb above her until her vision blurred. Then she heard the wheeling of a gurney. She turned her head in its direction and waited for her eyes to adjust. Medics were running in her way pulling along a boy dressed in green. Rock Lee!

Quickly she stood as they passed her. He was in bad shape. Really bad shape! His arms and legs looked mangled. The bandages that he wore were splattered in his blood. What had happened!

"Lee! How did this happen." She cried.

"We need to get him treated immediately. Please move aside." A medic lightly nudged her away.

She obliged and watched as they pushed her friend away. They took him in the room Hinata had been taken to. Wasn't she still in there? She looked around her but there was no one to ask. She sat back down until a medic walked out.

"Rock Lee! Is he alright? And Hinata, where is she?" She asked him.

"The boy has sustained serious injuries. We're trying our best." He said.

"Is your best good enough!" She cried.

These exams were beginning to wear her down. Twice now she had to see her friends go through those doors unsure of the outcome. The medic stared at her in pity.

"Sorry" She whispered.

"The girl has been moved into the village's hospital. I'm to take the Uchiha boy there now." He continued.

She nodded and watched him enter Sasuke's room. She decided to head back. She had been here long enough and her friends were gone anyways. Only Lee was left and it was obvious that she wouldn't be seeing him for quite a while. She was ready to go home. She wanted to lay in bed and wake up to a better day.

"Akari! There you are! Hayama sensei sent me to get you since it's the last match." Riko was running towards her.

"The last? Have you gone?"

"Yes and no." He said with a scowl. "I was to go up against that guy Kabuto, but he forfeit because he said he had been injured in the forest! Can you believe that?"

"Sorry Riko. At least you advanced right?" She said.

"I guess. Let's go. We need to talk to you." He turned to go.

She followed him to the arena where Choji was fighting Dosu from the Sound. They made their way up the steps. She was stopped by Sakura.

"How is she?" She asked in worry.

"She'll be okay. I saw Sasuke too. They're both being moved to the hospital in the village." She answered.

"Good. And…Lee?"

"I…I don't know. I only saw him getting wheeled inside." She whispered.

Sakura nodded and let her pass. Once she reached her squad the match ended. Dosu had won. All who advanced met in the center of the arena. The twelve of them were given opponents.

Naruto-Neji

Sasuke-Gaara

Shino-Kankuro

Temari-Shikamaru

Dosu-Riko

Akari-Mizuko

Akari was saddened to find that she was paired with Mizuko. She looked to her sister who gave her an encouraging smile. She gave her a small smile and nodded. The Proctor's dismissed them before giving them a month of training before the finals. A whole month for her to train to beat her sister. She was going to have to get used to the idea.

The four of them made their way back to the village. They were silent until Hayama dropped them off at their house.

"Akari. I need you to give up on befriending the boy from the sand." Hayama said.

"What? Why? What changed…Rock Lee?" She looked up at him. He nodded.

"Akari, he nearly killed Lee! And he would've enjoying doing it! Don't go near him understood!" Riko begged her.

"They're right. All I could sense from him was blood-lust. He's dangerous and we'd be happier if you removed all thought of him." Mizuko added.

"Okay. I'll…I'll stay away. I saw what he did to Lee." She muttered.

Hayama sensei led them inside and greeted their parents. Their parents congratulated them on advancing and said they'd have a celebratory dinner. Hayama sensei politely declined their offer to stay and excused himself. The twins went to their room to rest but Akari stood in the living room. Her parents went to her but she answered before they could ask.

"Yes. It happened. I managed to leave the room until it passed."

"So no one saw you? Are you positive?" Her dad asked. Her mom had her hand pressed over her mouth on the verge of tears.

"Yes! Guys what's wrong with me! Why won't you tell me?"

She was beyond frustrated! She had already dealt with enough today and now her parents! Whatever secret they were keeping was beginning to weigh on her. She sat down and placed her face in her hands. Tears ran down her face.

"Please tell me. I can't take it anymore. Every time you look at me it's as if you're scared of losing me! Am I dying? Is that it? Just tell me!"

"Oh sweetie! Of course not! Kin we need to tell her!" Her mother was at her side holding her.

"I…I don't think we can. She should hear it from someone else." Her father looked down at them sadly.

"Who better to tell her than her own parents?" Her mother said.

"Him. She needs to speak to the Third." He replied.

"The Third? What does he know?" Akari looked up.

"Enough. But it's not him who will explain. He'll send word to someone who will." He answered her.

"Why are you being so vague? Can't the two of you tell me?"

"Your fathers' right. It's best to hear it from someone like you." Her mother squeezed her tightly.

"Like her? Mom, dad what's going on?" Mizuko asked from the hall. Riko stood beside her.

"She'll tell you when she gets back. Right now she needs to go before it gets to dark."

Her mother helped her to her feet and led her to the door. Her father left the room and came back with a note. She was to give it to the Hokage. Her hands shook as she took. She placed it in her pouch and walked outside. Akari glanced at her family before leaving to the see the Hokage.

Once she stood outside his office she wasn't sure she wanted to know the truth. It was going to change things. She knew that much. But she had made her choice so she walked in.

"Akari? How may I help you?" The old man said.

Without a word she went up to him and handed him the note. She watched anxiously as he read it. His expression changed from curiosity to understanding. Then he caught the page on fire and let it burn. Once done he motioned for Akari to take a seat before taking his own. The Hokage clasped his hands in front of him and watched her for what seemed like ages. Finally he spoke.

"Akari, you know you are not originally from the Yoshida family." He said

She nodded.

"My girl. You are an Uchiha."