11!
This chappie has diverse emotional themes.
Its battle time, then celebration time, then romance time, then emo?
I love this chapter though!

You know the drill... Read, Review, and Enjoy.

Chapter 11

For the next few days all they did was train during the day and talk during the nights, with the exception of Kihaku's nightly feedings. Other teams slowly started filling up the tower. Including Seiichi's team. When he poked Kihaku on the shoulder on the 3rd day she practically jumped for joy but, traded it in for a kiss instead. They were quite content until one morning when a woman, who seemed to be pregnant, came in.

"All right kids, I'm your next proctor, Hinata Hyuga. Usually we'd go to the third task but seeing as we have some many teams left we need to hold some preliminaries."

"Preliminaries?" asked a ninja.

"Yes, to eliminate some of you."

"That's so cruel!" said another one.

"Well the whole wide world is cruel. We can't shelter you forever, now go through that door and wait please." She said pointing at a door to her left.

"Aunt Hinata, I didn't know you would be our next proctor. I thought you'd be taking it easy." Said Seiichi walking up to her.

"Neither did I. Things just got a little screwed up and I was available so they told me to do it. I guess I can bear it." She said smiling. The rest of the teams filed out of the room into a much larger room. "Okay, now before we start the preliminaries are there any teams that want to quit?" she looked around the room. "No hands? Okay then lets start. As I said I'll be your proctor for this part, I will declare when the fight is over and will intervene if necessary, got that? Good, now if you're not fighting please go up there." She said pointing to a stair case. "Look up at that screen to see if you're the first fighter." Kihaku looked up there and sadly didn't see her name, it was instead Seiichi and some other guy from another village. Just before he went down there she grabbed his hand.

"Be careful okay? I want you to pass." She said hugging him.

"Don't worry, what was all that training for?" he said smiling as her ruffled her hair. Seiichi easily beat his opponent, as with Tentou, Tsuchi, Nadeshiko, Shuhan, and Bitto.

I'm the last one to battle. I hate that!!! Its not fair!

She checked the screen to see who she would be battling. Someone named Mitsuki Yoshida. She stepped down onto the worn out battle arena. It was splattered with blood, singed, blown up, you name it. Her opponent also stepped down. Her hair was as white and as pure as snow. She was also equally creepy.

"On my mark, START!" yelled Hinata. Mitsuki jumped in the air and threw a few kunais at her. They missed. Kihaku shot her down with her Mizuken and captured her with her thirsty serpent jutsu. It slowly started to drain the liquid out of her.

"Ok, this is where I'm stopping it, the winner is Kihaku Kusemono!" said Hinata as Kihaku released her thirsty serpent jutsu leaving the girl looking like a grandma. When she got back to her spot Tentou tackled her with a huge hug.

"You did it! With ease! I'm so happy!" she said jumping.

"Yeah, that was cool." Said Tsuchi.

"Uh-huh, we should all celebrate later." Said Seiichi grabbing Kihaku's shoulder.

"YAY SAKE!" yelled Tentou.

"Uhhh, no." said Tsuchi.

"Yeah, it's a good idea but I plan on spending tonight either resting or training." Said Kihaku.

"Ok, for those of you that have passed you have 1 month to get ready for the last stage of the exams, for those of you who didn't, well, see you next exam." Said Hinata. They all left and went to Ichiraku ramen. They ate and talked celebrating their 1 month break. Later Kihaku and Seiichi strayed from the group on an evening walk. They sat down in a grassy spot and relaxed.

"I can't stay long, you know I have too-

"Feed, I get it." He said looking sick.

"I don't want to do it, really," She said grabbing his hand, "I'd rather die."

"No, I don't want you to die, I love you."

"No I should, I've taken more lives than all the great ninja wars put together. 365 days, thirteen years, think of how many people that is." She said.

"But think of how many people you're saving by consuming just a couple of souls."

"Have you ever killed any one?" she asked.

"No." he said.

"It's a horrible guilt. I have to live with it every day. Its almost to much to bear."

"Then how do you get by with that beautiful smile?" he said lifting up her chin.

"Its just a mask. I put one on every day. I'm afraid. I try to hide it but sometimes it leaks out. I'm afraid I'll die. Not only because of Fukurou but because of all the lives I'll have to pay for when I do."

"That's a lot to be thinking about right now. We are young, we should be having fun. Why do you think so seriously all the time? Just let your hair down every once in a while." He said stroking her long brown hair.

"Its not that easy, if I let my hair down, people could get hurt. Remember our first night out?"

"Yes but there has to be some way to get around this whole soul thing." He said puzzled.

"I believe there is but I'm not sure how to do it."

"Do what?"

"Bring people back to life. It's a very complicated jutsu, and also forbidden." She said falling back onto the grass.

"After we all pass the exams we can go look for this person who may know it. But for right now we have to focus on passing." He said falling back next to her.

"Ok then lets train!" she said sitting up.

"Right now? Its getting late. But all right." They both got up and took their stances.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready." She confirmed. Almost an hour later they were both collapsed on the ground worn out.

"Wow, you put up a good fight this time. Are you sure you didn't let me win last time?" she asked wheezing.

"Well maybe a little." He said looking over at her.

"Augh! How dare you!" she said pouncing at him smiling. They both sat up and Seiichi wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I won't be able to see you again until the Chuunin Exams are over. Did you know?" he whispered in her ear."Uh-uh. What're you doing?""I'm training."

"Oh, then I guess I will too." She said looking disappointed.

"Whats wrong?" he asked.

"I was hoping we could train together." She said looking into his eyes.

"Don't worry, in a month you'll have me all to yourself." He said smiling.

"Hm, I wonder what I'll do with you." She said as she kissed him. He broke off.

"I just want you to know, that if I'm ever dying I want you to let me look into your eyes. I'd rather be locked inside your heart then roaming the world aimlessly." With that last word he got up and left leaving her alone as the moon was steadily rising. She unwrapped her bandages and started to cry. Her life was a mess. The only thing she had to live for was Seiichi, and Seiichi only.