Hello everyone! We're back at it again with another chapter! No new news besides the lack of feedback makes me sad. :'( I currently have thirty-seven followers for this story which is a lot more than I expected because I didn't know Shika was that popular! I don't need every single one of you to review just five reviews a chapter. I take all criticism: good, bad, and even suggestions. I read them all! CHUNIN EXAMS START THIS CHAAAPTERR! Well...the intro to the chunin exams and uhmmm... some smut. (;

Thank for the favorite and/or new follower: Jigokunooujo, Young-Ugly, Rivainimermaid

Crazy Devil Girl: Thank you sooo much! You're really boosting my self esteem for this story! I also really appreciate your review. That man is going to make you hate him even more soon. Stay tuned!

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*Tsuyoi POV*

I shifted my wrists for the first time today. I already knew too much fidgeting would end with raw wrists. The cuffs were also chakra suppressors, taking almost all of my chakra and only leaving me enough to barely sit up.

No one had been down here since Jun had taken over watching over me...except for the crow staring me in the face from the tiny hole across from me. It turned away from me and flew away without so much as a sound. I bowed my head waiting for Jun to come in and collect me since today was my execution day. I was to die at sixteen years old without so much as a word to my siblings.

A shadow casted over me, but I didn't have to look up to know who was standing over me. The only person to stealthily see me once a month for the past seven years.

"Come Tsuyoi...we are leaving." The door swung open without a squeak, my cuffs broke open just as quietly. I looked up into red eyes with a sad smile...

*One year later*

*Kabocha POV*

"AGAIN!" Father roared for us to attack him again. Shosha dashed forward in nothing but pure frustration. "Shosha, wait!" Kina yelled after him, running to back him up. I stood still not wanting to get hit with whatever high level jutsu father was about to unleash again. My charred flesh was still trying to heal from the dragon breath jutsu he had used not even ten minutes ago.

"Ninja art: Lava wave jutsu!" The hand signs were too fast for any of us to see, but the words were clear. Kina stopped, using her staff to dig into the ground and propel herself more than twenty feet backwards to escape...death? Father was being extremely harsh today, coming at us with the intent to kill. We had to show the same ferocity or he would end up killing one of us...more than likely Shosha.

"Ninja art: Dragon scales!" I slapped my forehead at Shosha's choice of defense. There was no way he would escape unscathed. The lava came in thick, hot waves. I jumped back to Kina's position to make sure I didn't get hit as well.

Green scales tinted with yellow began to cover his entire body. The scales didn't come fast enough. Lava splashed over his right shoulder down to his elbow. He let out an ear piercing cry, but all father did looked down on him apathetically.

"Shosha!" Kina screamed running to him, however, I did not move from my place. Kina began to heal him as soon as she dropped to her knees. "Why did you not aid your teammate?" Father somewhat bellowed at me, but his tone of voice was nothing new to me. Kina was the only one to flinch at his tone.

"I am no fool. I lead shinobi everyday and as a result I am not one to follow rash decisions." I said airly, twirling Aisuru Kaze with ease. Aisuru Kaze is a scythe that I had made last year after my mother's death, it is literally made out of the very same metal as her sword as Chi no Kaze. I had her sword melted down and turned into my own weapon, even though I had finally mastered using a sword after five years of training with it. I just couldn't use her blade any longer.

I watched his eyes travel to the all black, tinted with red scythe. He scoffed and turned away from me. He began making his way back towards the castle at a leisure pace. He stopped before entering through the main gate. "You three need to make your way to the village hidden in the leaves. You three will be taking part in the chunin exams. If you fail...the consequences will be severe." He said and continued on his way.

"Fuck him." I heard Shosha grumble as Kina helped him up. There was no way I wanted to walk the two days it took to get to Konoha. I was going to have to transport all three of us. Especially since I already had plans to train with Sasuke later today. "Don't say that and he's so close." Kina said slapping his uninjured arm.

I pulled out my scythe's summoning scroll, putting it away for training later. "I don't give a fuck, Ki. I fucking hate him." Shosha snarled, Kina flinched violently making me glare at Shosha. Shosha looked instantly remorseful for hurting his girlfriend of two years.

"Look I'm sorry-"

"No, it's fine Sho. I know how you feel about him after what he did to Bocha...and what happened with Tsuyoi." Kina said and now it was his turn to flinch. I simply rolled my eyes.

"Can we be done with this conversation?" I asked annoyed with my hands on my hips. "Be done with this conversation!" Shosha screamed now angry again. "He almost kill-"

"ENOUGH!" I screamed back at him. "I'm leaving with or without you two." I hissed with a damn near permanent scowl painted on my face. They both stood silent next to each other.

"Ugh, fine!" I threw my hands into the air and put my hands in front of my body with uncle Gorudo's signature hand sign. I disappeared in a swirl of flames hearing Shosha's indignant cry of, "oh come on!"

*Normal POV*

Kabocha arrived at the third training ground to wait for Sasuke. She didn't have to wait long for him since he showed up right after she did.

"Hey," came his simple response accompanied by a smirk. "Hey...Sasu…" Kabocha said with a growing grin at his new scowl.

"You and that kami forsaken nickname." Sasuke rolled his eyes at me, the smirk returned to his face. Her grin turned into a smile at how relaxed he was with her. Their relationship had changed so much since the death of her mother. They were almost as good of friends as her and Naruto. He understood her on a level none of the rest of her friends did. He had lost so much...including his mother. He knew her pain.

"Alright no more teasing...for now. Are you ready to train?" Kabocha said pulling out her summoning scroll. She was ready to fight someone and not get her ass kicked for once. Her father was constantly beating them; quite literally.

"We'll get to that in a bit. I need you to come with me right now." Sasuke's playful expression fell into a serious one as he grabbed her hand, dragging her away from the training ground.

"W-wait!" She stuttered, slightly embarrassed that he was grabbing her hand so casually. A twinge of annoyance overcame her because she didn't want to hold his hand in the manner that he wanted to hold hands. He led her into a tree and put his hand up for them to be quiet. He motioned down towards Naruto, three little kids, Sakura, and two sand shinobi. Kabocha's eyes widened at the sight of the sand male collaring the little boy.

She stood up from her crouching position. She began to shed her breast, wrist, and shin armor plates. "Kabocha…" Sasuke said in a warning voice. "Here, hold this." She said dropping the pieces into his arms. He practically went tumbling out of the tree. She ignored him in favor of dropping down in front of the painted teenager.

"What the he-" Kabocha brought her leg straight up in the air, catching him under the chin and making him fall back into the blonde woman. The little boy fell into her arms without fail. She glared daggers at both Suna shinobi.

"That's it! I don't care if you're hot, I'm going to kick your ass!" The purple faced ninja screamed at her and she clicked her tongue. "Kabo-chan!" Naruto yelled from behind Kabocha. She briefly looked over her shoulder to respond, the distraction he caused gave the cat suit wearing ninja to lunge for her.

"Ow!" He stopped in his pursuit when a pebble struck his hand. "Well, well Sasu. Nice of you to join in. I'm afraid I owe you one." Kabocha said with a giggle as she looked at him sitting on her armor. She didn't need to squint to see the branch cracking quickly from the weight.

"Must you use that nickname? I'll also be collecting on my favor some other time." He sighed rolling his dark eyes, but perked up at the thought of me owing him a favor. "You, get lost." Sasuke said letting his gaze travel to the foreign ninja.

"What! Great more brats." He growled at Sasuke. "Looks like I'm taking you out, kid." He grabbed the wrapped weapon from his back preparing for a fight.

"W-wait Kankuro! You can't use the crow for this!" The blonde tried to warn her comrade, a scared expression on her face.

"Kankuro." A deep, raspy voice sounded from the tree next to Sasuke. Kabocha looked up at red head on the branch with everyone else. "You're an embarrassment to our village. Knock it off or I'll kill you."

A dark shudder shook Kabocha to the core as she met the red head's gaze. She proceeded to return Konohamaru to his friends, never taking her eyes off of him. She had smelt him before he even made himself known to them. There was also a second scent attached to him just like Naruto. A dark, musky scent that wasn't like his own.

The red haired teenager disappeared and reappeared next to Kankuro. "Let's go." He said after taking one last look at Kabocha.

*Kabocha POV*

"Wait, stop! You, with the gourd on your back, who are you?" Sasuke asked landing next to me. The branch broke sending her armor crashing into the ground. A crater and dust cloud left in its wake. I rolled my eyes and looked at Sasuke with a glare.

"I am Gaara of the Desert. I am curious as to who you are as well." Gaara said furthering the quivering of my very soul. "I am Sasuke Uchiha. Why are you in our village? You don't have permission to be here." Sasuke said with a tense stance in case of a fight.

"We do have permission." The blonde scoffed and all of them held up their papers. "They are here for the chunin exams, Sasuke." I rolled my eyes at all of their ignorance.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but are you not the Dragon of the West." Gaara asked meeting my eyes again. I felt my heart beat harder against my chest. "You are right...Gaara of the Desert. I am familiar with you as well. I just never got a proper description of you." He grunted and turned away from me, his comrades glaring holes through my head.

"I'm sorry for any trouble they might have caused you." He turned away from us getting ready to leave.

"Hold on! Don't you want to know who I am!" Naruto screamed after him. "I don't really care." Gaara said without even turning around to look at Naruto. He disappeared with Kankuro and the blonde.

"Dragon of the West, huh?" Sasuke said looking at me from the corner of his eye. "Oh, shut it." I said pursing my lips and putting my armor back on.

"Big sister Kabocha!" I looked down at the three kids that ran up to me with confusion. "Can I...help you three?"

"No, no! I'm Konohamaru and this is Moegi and Udon. I just wanted to thank you for saving me! Big brother Naruto talks about you all the time. You're so pretty and strong!" I smiled gently at all three of them.

"You're welcome. I couldn't let him hurt you now could I?" I asked and their expressions were ones of amazement and admiration. I absolutely loved kids and their innocence.

"Yeah, yeah enough of that. I'm just as cool as you and Sasuke!" Naruto yelled shaking his fist at me. I stuck my tongue out at him as Konohamaru and Moegi led me back over to everyone by my hands, Udon right on my heels.

"Be quiet, you idiot. I'm more concerned with that scar you've got on you, Kabocha." Sasuke said joining their circle. "What...what scar?" Naruto asked concerned.

Of course I knew what he was talking about, but I really just wanted to ignore him. I forgot my scar that started at my heart and ended right at my navel. It could only be seen when I took off my armor which I rarely did. I wore skin tight black pants and a mesh, long sleeve crop top under my armor. The top of the scar could be seen between my breast and the bottom could be seen at my navel. I didn't think twice about taking the armor off, I just did it this time so that I could be fast enough to save the little boy.

"I got it last year…" I trailed off. "On a mission, big sis!?" Moegi asked excitedly. I shook my head with a sad smile.

"Did you get it from training? I guess the great Dragon of the West isn't so great!" Sakura was mocking me, but I wasn't concerned about her. I just shook my head. "No, I would have noticed it. Is that why you never took off your armor when we trained?" Sasuke was definitely not letting up.

"Right. My father gave it to me." I said with a flat voice. All of them but Sasuke gasped. "Why would he-" Naruto started to scream but I shot him a look.

"Look, don't worry about me." I sighed out not in the mood for all of their concerned, pitied looks. Their questions were also getting on my last nerve. I escaped Shosha and Kina earlier so I wouldn't have to deal with this.

"How can we not worry when you have a scar that bad on you! It looks like he was trying to kill you! Especially since you keep it hidden from me!" I could definitely tell Sasuke was getting fed up with my 'drop it' attitude.

"Not your problem." I said turning away from all of them. "Kabocha it is our problem! We're your friends!" Naruto screamed making my sensitive ears ring.

"Just stop guys she doesn't want your help." Sakura said rolling her eyes. "For once you're right, Sakura. I don't need or want any help." I looked at her over my shoulder and began walking away.

"We're not finished! Wait until I see you later!" Naruto shouted after me in rage. "If you want to see me later than we are finished!" I shouted back, but didn't turn around to look at him. I knew my way to uncle Gorudo's apartment, I just wanted to let him know that I was in the village.

"Hey, haven't seen ya in a while" I stopped walking to turn to look at my favorite brunette. I didn't even have to turn to know it was him. My heart definitely let me know it was him. "Yeah, training has been brutal since the chunin exams are next week." I told him with a shy grin.

"Dedicated as always, troublesome woman." He said with a shake of his head. "Come on let me take you to lunch." He held out his hand to me, with a confidence that was making me weak in the knees.

"Lead the way, Maru-kun." I took his hand and we walked side by side to the barbecue place that his team loved so much. He let me sit first and then sat across from me. He ordered what he usually got and also ordered for me.

I leaned my cheek against my hand, letting a lazy smile cross my features at how relaxed he was. We had been on several dates, but something seemed different about him this go round.

"How is everything with Ino, Choji, and your sensei?" I asked as our food arrived. "Everything is such a drag." He sighed and I outright laughed.

"How so?" I asked putting all of the meat, including his, onto the grill. "Our training has also be rigorous the last two weeks. How're you holding up?" He asked the same question he always did when we have our alone time.

"Maru..I promise I'm fine." I told him. He really needed to tone down how sweet he was being; my heart could barely take the hand holding. "Just checking." He held his hands up in surrender, a slight smile on his face.

"You know the next time you take me out you'll have to let me know ahead of time. You haven't seen me in civilian clothes since we were little." I told him with a wink, feeling bold. His face instantly turned red, but his slight smile turned into a smirk.

"How about after the chunin exams I take you dinner. We've never been out to dinner." He was more telling me than asking me. I was definitely fine with his assertion and commanding attitude right now. He was usually so docile. I was loud and domineering, but he did not yield in our relationship. My hormones were definitely flaring up.

"I'd love to go to dinner with you...Shikamaru." I was definitely goading him on. I loved flirtatious Shikamaru. His whole body went rigid as he raised his hand up for our server.

"Check, please." He called out with a straight face. I already knew where this was going.

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"W-what time d-do you... h-h-have to m-meet your team h-here?" I could barely finish my sentence with all of the attention Shikamaru was giving my neck.

"Relax. We have almost a whole hour. They're always late anyways." He murmured against my neck making me giggle. The one thing I loved more than a flirtatious Shikamaru is making out with Shikamaru.

"You should be able to smell and hear them before they get here, right?" His teeth sank into my neck drawing a gasp from me. "I-I can't focus like this!" I said resting my hands on his shoulders since I was sitting in his lap facing him.

"Then don't," was the last thing spoken between us as his lips crashed against my own. I tasted the barbecue and dango he ate earlier. I also tasted something that could only be described as being purely Shikamaru.

I pulled away and let my teeth graze his throat, careful of my canines so I wouldn't nick him. My tongue slid out to lick the column of his throat. A grunt came from him, his hands squeezed my hips. I made it down to the junction of where his neck met his shoulder and something primal inside of me wanted so badly to bite him. His natural scent was so strong there, I wanted my scent to mingle with his.

"H-hey, you okay?" He asked noticing me lack of movement. I nodded, not wanting this to end. I decided to ask uncle Gorduo about the feeling I had later. I kissed his pulse point, sucking the skin into my mouth and nibbling lightly. I actually got a moan from him this time. I smirked and pulled away at my success, I licked the bruise lightly before kissing my way back down to my fascination.

His moaning went straight to my vagina. I didn't even realize that I was grinding my hips against him to create friction. His hands moved from my hips to my ass to assist me. Something hard poked right against a bundle of nerves between my legs. The feelings were so foreign, we had never gone this far intimately.

"Kabocha…" Shikamaru moaned out and I moaned at the sound of my name. "Kabocha...we h-have to stop…" I couldn't even comprehend what he was saying to me. The throbbing between my legs was borderline painful.

"Seriously...Kabo-fuuuck." I yanked my hips up and ground them back down...hard. I slowed down to a gentle rock instead of the furious pace I previously had. "Do you really want me to stop." I whispered in his ear, a shiver rocked his body.

This was also the first time I was feeling his erection, every other time he would put an end to our activities before I could feel it. I pushed him down into the grass. I hovered above him with a sultry smile...or what I hoped was sultry. Seduction should be natural to a kunoichi, but it was definitely new to me. "I'll ask again...do you want me to stop?" I asked more serious, not wanting to force him. I wasn't ready for sex, but I did want to do other things.

"I-I want you to keep g-going. I-it's just that s-someone is-" I shushed him quietly hearing all I wanted to hear. "Good because there was no way I was stopping right n-"

"Woah, I hope you bought her dinner first!" I heard an older male voice tease with a loud, boisterous laugh. Shikamaru froze under me, I jumped to my feet to turn and face his entire team. Choji had a nose bleed while Ino wore a lecherous grin. The man in between them confused me greatly.

"Asuma Sarutobi is your sensei, Maru-kun?" I asked looking back at him as he sat up quickly to hide his erection. "I forgot you two never met.." Shikamaru said out loud more to himself than to me.

"I've met him before. I just didn't know he was your sensei, huh, small world." I shook my head with an embarrassed smile. "Anyway, good to see you again. Hey, Choji. Inoooo…" I dragged out her name as she practically tackled me.

"Oh my Kami! You two were going to have sex! I didn't know you two were that serious! Hell, I didn't even know you two were even boyfriend and girlfriend!" Ino...was now shaking me.

"We're not official yet, Ino. We'll be official after my party in two months, and before you even say that I'm fifteen already. Father wanted to wait until after the chunin exams." I explained loosening her grip.

"Don't you think you should make an honest woman out of her before you go having sex, Shikamaru?" Asuma asked with the most teasing expression I had ever seen on a person. "Give me a break. We weren't doing anything that serious-"

"Sure could have fooled me." Choji joined in on the teasing making Shikamaru's scowl deepen. "Not you too, Choji. Man, what a drag. We're never going to live this down." Shikamaru flopped back onto his back with a huge huff of air.

"Could have been worse." I said with a shrug. "Nothing could have been worse than them catching us. Especially since Ino is the biggest gossip in all the great nations." Shikamaru said closing his eyes.

"Hey, I resent that!" She shouted, waving her fist at him. "Well, they could have caught you naked because that's what I was trying to do to you." I said with a shrug. Everyone besides Asuma turned crimson.

"Alright, enough of that!" He said clearing his throat. "We've got things to discuss." He was subtly telling me to beat it. I held my hands up in surrender.

"I'll see you tomorrow...or next week during the chunin exams. Depending on how much training I'm going to be put through." I frowned slightly thinking about Shosha and Kina. I leaned down and kissed Shikamaru's cheek. I waved to the rest of them. I left them to it and finally made my way to Gorudo's apartment.

I stepped into the dark apartment, flicking on the light switch I went straight to the room at the end of the hall. "Uncle?" I knocked and just went inside. He was sitting on his bed in a plain shirt and pants. It didn't look like he had even left the house today. He had been slightly different since mother's death...everyone has been...besides father. Shosha had become permanently frustrated and volatile, Kina was even more quiet at times, uncle Gorudo had become a borderline recluse, uncle Hikari had become overprotective and a training freak, and I had become...

"Did you need something, Ko?" He asked me gently. Startling me from my thoughts, motioning for me to sit beside him. I did just that. I kicked off my ninja shoes, climbing into bed and resting my back against the headboard. My head fell onto his shoulder to look at the picture of momma he was holding. "I can tell something is bothering you, little pumpkin." His voice was so soft.

"Yeah.." I answered back just as soft. "I...Shikamaru and I...we have become slightly more intimate…" He hummed knowingly. He always knew important things regarding my siblings and I.

"I..almost...bit him. He just smelled so good. I almost couldn't control myself. Does this have anything to do with him being my tamer?" He shook his head with a true smile.

"No, you were trying to make him your mate. Every Nagaraku has a mate that can be separate from their tamer. It just shows how much you love each other." He stroked the picture lovingly.

"Should I tell him about it?" This was the answer I was dreading. "Tell him when you think he's ready. Remember, tamers and half dragons are secrets of our village. If you think he can handle our secrets then tell him. Also, please try and wait until marriage. Both of you are only fifteen. He isn't even courting you officially yet, and I'm too young to have a heart attack." Uncle chuckled slightly bringing me great joy.

"Okay uncle I will." I grinned sleepily at him. I was tired from all the running around, the transportation jutsu and the early morning training.

"Get some rest…" He whispered to me, but all I did was close my eyes. I would ask him about the feeling I got from Gaara of the Desert another day.

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Nothing to say but...see you guys in three reviews! (;