"It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up. And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark, and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down, through the air, and there is a sickly moment of dark surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things."

― Lemony Snicket, Horseradish

"Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like."
―Lemony Snicket

"Alright so everyone has their forms?" I asked the kids on our way to the Academy. I wore my long red skirt but I had a black tube top on today and left my jacket at home. I had my tattoos out fully and my hair pulled up slightly to show my ANBU tattoo at my neck. Soubi was flanking me while I had Arawn out in weapon mode at my back.

"Yes, mother," they all chanted except for Sai. I told him that he didn't have to come, but he insisted. I think it's some type of curiosity since he never took the exams. I was excited to see what it was like too.

We all entered the Academy, all my kids surprisingly silent. When we got to the second floor, I felt a genjutsu fall upon us. Sai went to disable it, but I put my fingers to my lips. We had to let these guys figure out for themselves. We headed to where the room said 301 and saw two guys rattling off their gums. I recognized them as younger versions Izumo and Kotetsu, without even having known they were in a henge.

"So go home and play with your dolls," I heard Izumo tell a young kunoichi with buns in her hair. Playing the little kunoichi card are we? I went to take Arawn off my back when Sai put his finger to his mouth. Right this is their exams, and we're just following. I sighed and dropped my hand. My team went up to them.

"Nice speech. I know a couple of girls who would beg to differ. But that's going to have to happen another time. Let us through. We want to go to the third floor," Sasuke told them. People whispered how this was the third floor. I grinned at their stupidity.

"Yah, and release the genjutsu. It's pathetically weak," Sakura added. Naruto nodded his head in agreement. He probably didn't even know there was a genjutsu, only going along with his teammates. Kotetsu was a little hot headed and went to kick Sasuke. Sasuke in turn went to counter but both were stopped by a boy in a green suit. He was the one the girl with the buns was with. All three quickly disengaged and went to their respective places.

"What happened to the plan? I thought we were supposed to keep a low profile," said a Hyuga boy to the green suited ninja.

"I know but," greenie said to his teammates before turning to Sakura. His eyes got ever wider and I realized he liked Sakura. He came up to her and said, "My name is Rock Lee. And you are Sakura correct?"

"Uh, yah," Sakura said nervously looking towards me. I laughed at the look she had on her face. It was one of pure fear. As much as Sakura is my best friend she is extremely vain and probably thought this kid was super weird.

"Will you please be my girlfriend? I vow to always keep you from harm," Lee asked Sakura. Sakura looked to me one more time and I mouthed the word, 'polite'. I looked to Sasuke to see him slightly irked by the whole situation. Sai and I were merely grinning like fools watching the whole thing play out.

"Um. No thank you," she replied. Naruto chuckled as Lee looked at her and then bowed his head. He came up with a smile once again before I decided to intervene.

"Don't force her. If you want anyone to be your girlfriend get to know them first and then ask them. Besides we're in the middle of something right now," I told him. My team looked at me and then we proceeded to go to the third floor.

"Who are you people?" said the Hyuga. I let Sasuke and Sai handle this and Sai turned to the boy and glared slightly.

"It is social custom to introduce one's self before asking the name of another." I laughed at his textbook answer. The girl with the buns, I noticed was staring at my neck and then would turn to Sai's hitai-ate.

"We're people on our way to the exam room. Now if you would leave us alone, we can get there," Sasuke said. I was glad for Sasuke's comment. The girl's glaring was making me slightly moody. It reminded me when I went out in World C and everyone stared at my hair, eyes, and scar.

"Yah, we don't have to tell you anything. Believe it," Naruto yelled at them. I turned and led the way to the exam room. Before the doors I stopped and turned to them.

"Now remember don't lose your heads. This whole exam is going to be a mindfuck and nothing is as it seems. When you get in there don't embarrass yourself. Be wary of the Sand Nin you met the other day, especially the red-head named Gaara. If you can, try to stick with the other rookies. You guys were nominated for a reason and you are probably better ninja than half of the people in there. You fucking understand?" I asked them. I had given them each a pep talk before we left the house but felt like one more warning might help.

"Yes," they all responded in unison. I smiled at them and then moved aside to let them in, but the door opened before they touched it. From the door came Kakashi.

"Ah, I see that you guys have all come. I truly didn't have a doubt and have already submitted all your applications," Kakashi told them. I knew that they had to be in a three man squad to continue, but hadn't told them.

"But I thought you submitted them earlier?" Sakura asked.

"You can only take the Chunin Exam as part of a three man squad this year. I said it was your individual choice so you wouldn't be pressured. I had no doubt all of you would come today, so I submitted them before I saw you guys. I am very proud that you all came."

Kakashi could probably see his own team in these guys. I had read the report on him when I went to Mist. I knew his teammate Rin was the one Mist sealed the three tailed beast in. I also knew that Kakashi killed her, though it was more like her suicide. In addition to that Kakashi lost his other teammate earlier during the war. I felt bad for him. The kids all smiled and Kakashi moved aside to let them in. Sai and I lagged behind to talk to Kakashi.

"They remind you of your team huh?" I asked Kakashi.

"Hn," he replied. This would always be a touchy subject for him.

"They will do well. From my observations their teamwork is in sync as well as their individual skills. They have been training hard," Sai said looking at Kakashi. I told him that this would be hard for Kakashi, and this was Sai's attempt at being reassuring. I smiled at Sai, thankful for his presence, and he smiled back at me.

"Yes," I agreed with Sai before turning to Kakashi, "besides Sakura can always call me if they get into something they can't handle." Kakashi nodded and walked away from us. I sighed thinking how I shouldn't have mentioned his team.

"Let's go in Sai. It wouldn't hurt if we were there before the exam. Besides I wanna bug Ibiki when he gets in," I said. Sai nodded and we entered the room. I saw my team surrounded by two other Genin teams and went to them. Sai and Soubi flanked my sides while everyone in the room turned to me. All the competitors glared at me and Sai. I put on my psychotic smile and turned to all of them.

"Morrigan, Sai, come over here," Naruto yelled. After making my smile a little more psychotic, I turned to my team and their little friends. Recognizing some, I felt the look fall off my face into something more appropriate.

"Hey, guys. How you fucking doing?" I said to the group. I noticed Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji were smiling at me happily. Hinata smiled and waved from her spot behind Kiba. There were two people I didn't know. One was a girl with long blond hair dressed in a purple cowl neck dress with bandages on her legs like shorts. She had blue eyes and I figured she was part of that legendary Ino-Shika-Cho combo. That must make her the Yamanaka. Then the next I could tell was an Aburame, covered to the nose with a jacket and sunglasses. He had spiky hair and wore blue shinobi pants. Must be Hinata's other teammate.

"Morrigan, I haven't seen you in a long time. What are you doing here, I thought you were an ANBU," Kiba asked. Choji looked like he wanted to ask the same thing, but was too busy chomping on chips.

"I have to keep these guys in line," I said gesturing to my team. The Yamanaka froze from her place hanging on Sasuke. I looked at her and asked, "What don't think these guys have some powerful friends?"

"What is your relationship to Sasuke?" she asked narrowing her eyes. Ah, that was it. She wanted to know if the strong girl was Sasuke's girlfriend. I highly doubt that I would ever look like anything more than a mother to Sasuke.

"He's my roommate, along with Sai and Naruto," I said. Sai who had been quiet this entire time turned and saw a boy coming towards us. He grabbed my arm to get my attention then looked at the boy with glasses.

"Hey, you guys might want to keep your voices down. You're the nine rookies right?" he asked. I didn't like this boy with glasses. He smelled funny, almost like he was always in the hospital. He seemed like he had ulterior motives. I pushed my way so I was in front of him and stared.

"And what if they are? You going to give them advice like a doting older brother?" I asked cheekily. The boy got an angry look and I felt Soubi and Sai come up on both of my sides.

"Look around you. You guys have been causing a spectacle. Just calm down," he told me. Trying to go for the high and mighty routine are we?

"Oh, is that so? Well I can assure you that they will calm down, thank you for your concern," I told him. There was an obvious tension in the air and I could feel the nine kids were anxious. Sai and Soubi were ready to pounce.

"What is your name? You and your friend don't seem like Genins."

"Morrigan, no honorifics. And you are correct, we aren't Genin. Who are you? And why haven't you passed yet? You're pretty old." The boy scowled at me, he then pulled out a deck of cards.

"Kabuto Yakushi, and this is my seventh time taking the exam. When did you take the exam? I bet you're pretty useless about knowing information that could help them," he said haughtily. I did not like him one bit. I tilted my nose upward and moved past him with Sai and Soubi.

"I'll find you guys later. I have to go do something right now," I told the kids with a wave of my hand. I couldn't stand that guy. Going through the crowds of people, I found the Sand Nin.

"Gaara, Temari, Kankuro. How are you doing today?" I asked with a smirk. Temari and Kankuro tensed at my arrival while Gaara looked at me murderously.

"We are fine," Gaara replied. He didn't seem like one to talk, but he talked to me.

"Are you taking the exam?" Kankuro asked. Sai seemed to not like the fact I was talking to these guys. Probably heard from Sasuke and Naruto how they were bad news. That I told the kids to stay away from them.

"No. I'm proctoring it," I replied. Some teams that were eavesdropping quickly tensed and eyed me warily. Yes be afraid of the small girl who was your proctor. Be very afraid.

"You're proctoring this part?" Temari asked stunned. I grinned and shook my head.

"Not this one, but the third one. I just came here to see Ibiki," I replied going to make my way to the front of the room. I was done with them. I just wanted to let them know that I was going to be watching them very closely. I spotted a team from Mist in the corner of the room. They were a little scared, seeing that they were the odd ones out.

"Hey, how you guys doing?" I asked them after I teleported in front of them with Sai and Soubi. There were just too many people around here for my taste and I wouldn't have been able to get to them.

"You're the-the," the young girl stuttered. She was pretty with black hair gathered into a ponytail at her neck. Her eyes were a beautiful deep blue color which went well with her all blue shinobi outfit. On top of the blue shirt she wore a camouflage scarf which hid a tanto at her back.

"Shhhh," I put my finger to my lips. Her teammates looked at me in awe. One was a boy with blue hair and dark-rimmed glasses. He wore a lighter blue striped sweater with camouflaged patterned pants. He carried a large bandaged sword with two handles. The next boy was much larger than the other boy and had his face bandaged to his eyes. He wore what seemed to look like a Hunter Nin uniform but of a blue color instead of green. His black eyes were opened in wonder.

"What are you doing here?" the girl asked quietly. Mei sent one of her younger teams, and I was slightly worried for them. They all were my kids' age with the baby fat clinging to their cheeks.

"I'm proctor here. I'm sure Mei told you that you would see me if you were here," I replied. They all nodded their heads. "If you have any trouble, go tell my team that I sent you. They're one of the rookies over there making noise."

"Thank you. You are very kind, despite what your reputation holds," the bandaged boy replied. I could see no malice or ill-intent in their eyes. They were actually just scared little kids. I smiled at them before heading to the front of the room with Sai and Soubi.

"Do you think it wise to help them? They are from another village," Sai asked me. I looked to him and gave him a reassuring smile.

"They were scared. I hate seeing scared little kids."

Just then I saw some movement. Looks like they were heading towards my team. Quickly teleporting in front of them, I took Arawn off my back. Two Nin from what looked like Sound were going at that loud mouth Kabuto. One was in the air and threw two kunai at him. Quickly teleporting to the kunai I grabbed them and redirected them back at the Nin who threw them. They went at him and stuck him to the ceiling by his sleeves. The other Nin was going towards Kabuto with a fist, but his arm had a type of armor with holes in it. Teleporting to his side, I kicked him into the wall fifteen feet away.

"I do not tolerate fighting before the exams. You will have plenty of time to maim later," I hissed, Sai and Soubi coming to my side. There was a large puff of smoke in the front of the room.

"Shut up you baby faced degenerates. The exam is to begin. My name is Ibiki Morino and from now on, your worst nightmare," Ibiki screamed. I quickly grabbing Sai, we teleported to his side and stared at the scared kids. "You from the Sound Village. What do you think you are doing? There is to be no fighting, do you want to be failed before we even start?"

"Don't worry Ibiki, I took care of it," I said as the Sound Nin got themselves together. The one I kicked into the wall was now glaring at me, while his teammate fell to the ground.

"Morrigan. What are you doing here? This is my stage of the exam," he said slightly angry, more amused.

"I just wanted to see the squirts. And let me tell you, these kids don't look like any of them will make it to my round." Everyone in the room looked shocked at me except for my team, Mist, and Gaara's team. I put on a psychotic grin and yelled to them, "My name is Morrigan. I have the pleasure of being the proctor of the third part of the exams. Of course I don't see any of you actually passing this round."

"Listen up because I'm only going to tell you once. There will be no fighting between contestants without the permission of your proctor. Even at that, the use of fatal force is prohibited. If you cross any of us, you will be disqualified immediately," Ibiki yelled, with a scary look. I laughed a terrifying laugh and nodded to him. Grabbing Sai, we teleported home.

"Well that was really fun, don't you think?"

"I think you just like scaring people."

"Yep, I sure do."

It was probably three hours into the second stage for my team and the sun was still high in the sky. I was in the kitchen making onigiri with Sai. Maybe later I could go and play my violin. Sai had said earlier that he wanted to sketch the moon tonight. Looking out the window I had to admit that tonight would definitely be a beautiful night.

"Soubi! Arawn!" I yelled mentally. The wolves had wanted to accompany the kids to the second part of the exam. Really they just wanted to see who would pass or fail. They had been hanging with Anko since the start of the exam.

"Morrigan, something is wrong," Arawn replied. I froze, my hands dropping the ball I was forming.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There are three Nin from Grass that were found killed. Their faces were burned off. Anko is checking them right now," Soubi told me. I got a mental picture of three Nin all with their faces melted off. I shuddered and put the rice in the refrigerator.

"I'll be there right now," I said. Grabbing Sai who was quietly putting salmon in some onigiri, I looked at him with worried eyes.

"Something's wrong. We need to head to the forest of death. This is really bad, I can feel it," I told him. He raised his eyebrows and stopped his making of rice balls. I put the stuff into the fridge and grabbed Sai to teleport to the wolves. They sent me a mental picture of where they were and in a second we were in front of a Buddha statue next to Anko.

"What happened Anko?" I asked her.

"I need you three to go tell what happened to Hokage-sama. Then get some squads of ANBU in the forest and look for the deceased Grass Nin. I'm going in," she ordered. The three Nin who were with us disappeared and she turned to me, "It's Orochimaru."

"Sai and I are coming with you Anko," I told her. She opened her mouth to tell me no, but with a low growl from my wolves' throats she closed it. Then I felt it, the pull of my ring.

"Sai, you are I are going to the kids now," I said grabbing his right arm. I made Arawn into weapon mode and held him in my right hand, gripping Sai with my left. Then I pulled on the seal and we were in the forest of death. In front of us was a Grass Nin standing on a large snake summon. Naruto plunged to the forest ground. Sai went over to go help Naruto, but was stopped by the three Sound Nin.

"I told the old man I should kill you before you got here," I told the Grass Nin riding the snake. It was a girl with long black hair and plain gray garbs with black shinobi pants. They had a purple obi and their smell resembled that of the scent patch the old man gave me, but not enough for my nose to catch it earlier.

"Who are you?" the woman asked. I looked at her and Soubi began to growl. I turned quickly to find Sasuke and Sakura behind me. Sasuke looked like his hand and lower arm was burned by the Chidori. They had been fighting for a long time before I showed up. Smiling slightly at Sakura, I caught a glimpse of Sai and Naruto taking on the Sound Nin.

"I am Konoha's huntress and I am here to exterminate you," I said turning to him then grinning psychotically. I teleported to his side swinging Arawn and whispered, "Orochimaru."

I left Soubi to guard Sasuke and Sakura. Hoping Sai could take care of the Sound Nin quickly, I dodged as the Snake bastard raised his arms and snakes flew out. Coating myself with blue fire just in case, I teleported behind him. I swung my scythe once again only to make contact. I clenched my jaw as the Snake man crumbled to the ground as snakes.

The large snake, no longer feeling its master on it, started to flail. Quickly moving chakra to my feet I held onto the large snake. Pulling Arawn back in I made handsigns and called my blue fire blade. With the sudden switch in chakra, I lost my footing and was sailing in the air. Looking behind, I quickly catapulted off the tree I came into contact with, and flew towards the snake. I put my arm out and when I hit the snake, sunk the limb completely into its skull.

The snake disappeared and so did where I was standing. Falling to the forest ground, kunai rained down on me from the right. Looking I found Orochimaru high and to the right of me. He finished handsigns and then spit a wave of boiling water at me. Quickly teleporting to a safe distance from him, I called Arawn out. Orochimaru met me with a kunai and I noticed he let his face change to the one in the picture I had received from the old man. His hitai-ate now showed that of Sound and I realized the Sound Nin were his subordinates. His yellow slit eyes were glaring at me, but he had a sadistic grin on his face. Growling at him I kicked his side. The clone immediately burst into snakes.

Standing on the branch I waited for him to come at me, just to feel Soubi go down. I called him into me and saw Sasuke battling another Orochimaru. Giving a battle cry I teleported to them and put Sasuke behind me. I went to work deflecting his attacks, but some got through and I was bleeding. Trying to think of what I should do I coated my body in blue fire and swung Arawn viciously. Orochimaru faltered, but I was soon left with a log. Damn that Snake man was good.

I looked down for a second to see that Sai was carrying Naruto, but both were okay. When I turned back, Orochimaru had his hands together and my body was paralyzed.

"Temporary Paralysis Jutsu?" I asked. With Orochimaru's smirk I knew it was true. "That's real fucking cheap, you know."

"Ah, but I want you to watch as I mark your precious little Sasuke. You seem to be quite protective of these kids," he said. I was already working to release my bonds, but I found I couldn't teleport. When he got close enough, I would let Soubi out to get him away. But at the same time I had to make it the right moment or else he would counter and Soubi would be paralyzed. When Orochimaru was ten feet away from Sasuke, he bared his snaky fangs. I struggled even more and let Soubi out. But Orochimaru's head detached from his body, quickly went to Sasuke and I knew it was too late. Just as his fangs were about to touch Sasuke's neck, Sakura pushed him out of the way.

"Noooo," I screamed as the fangs dug into Sakura. In a second, a seal appeared at Sakura's neck. She collapsed and Sasuke tried to kick Orochimaru away. Soubi went at him with Sasuke and he jumped from the branch we were on. The paralysis wore off and I went at the Snake Nin with Arawn. Calling blue fire to his blade, I swung and blue fire erupted from him. The Snake Nin once again substituted but I caught the smell to my right. Going to him, I saw he was flames and disappearing fast. I went at him with a closed fist and hit his face as he disappeared. I let out a frustrated sound and banged Arawn on the branch.

"Morrigan! Help there's something wrong with Sakura!" yelled Naruto. I quickly jumped to my team and saw Naruto was cradling Sakura. Sai was holding up Sasuke whose arm was completely burned and had a wound in his stomach. Naruto's chakra smelled off, and I looked to Sakura. She was sweating heavily and her eyes fluttered as she lost consciousness. She let out whimpers and face grimaced in pain.

"Let me see the seal," I told Naruto. He quickly flipped her to the side and I saw the three tomoe. We need to get her to Jiraiya or someone else, like Kakashi. "I don't know how to seal this one. I have to find Kakashi or Jiraiya. Naruto help Sasuke get to the hospital. Sai get Sakura, you'll go to the hospital too while I go and find someone to seal her."

I need to get them out of here quick, just in case Orochimaru comes back. We'll have to use teleportation for this trip. Soubi quickly went to Naruto and Sasuke and teleported them to the hospital. I let Arawn out and smelled around for Jiraiya or Kakashi. I found Kakashi, and let Arawn take Sai and Sakura to the hospital. I teleported out of the forest and found Kakashi not far from the training ground's gate.

"Sakura got hit with a seal. I don't know how to stop it," I told him quickly. He looked determined and I added, "It was Orochimaru."

"Take me to her," he replied. Knowing he probably couldn't teleport with me, I ran quickly to the hospital. We got there three minutes later and I ran through the white hallways. Smelling the way, I found Sakura in a private room with all the boys around her. She was laying on her back, but I couldn't see her face. Sasuke was in the way and looked like he was shaking with pain.

"I found him. So move and we can get started," I told them. When I noticed they didn't move I felt my anger rise up. "Guys move so we can save her!"

"Morrigan," Kakashi said gently. Why was his voice so soft and sad? He should be jumping to save Sakura. I looked at his face to see sadness and wondered why he was sad. Going to Sakura, I saw that Naruto was crying. Sasuke was crying also and his body was wracked with sobs.

"What?" I asked aloud. Looking at Sakura's face I noticed it was peaceful, but still. Her body wasn't moving. No. no, she isn't dead. I just saw her and she was still alive. She was in pain and moving, but she was alive.

Naruto started to cry louder and buried his face into Sakura's stomach. Sasuke was sobbing while he gently stroked her hair with a shaking hand. I took a step back. She can't be dead. She couldn't die. Death wasn't supposed to take her. She was supposed to be alright. I promised her she would be alright.

Kakashi went to the foot of the bed and looked at his student with a blank face. I looked to Sakura's face and took another step back. Suddenly a hand clutched my right arm. I looked at the hand for many seconds, detached. She can't be dead. I told her that if she tried everything would work out. She was going to be fine.

"This isn't supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen. I told her that if she called me I would keep her safe. I told her she would be okay. This isn't okay. This isn't alright!" I yelled. Backing up, and shaking the pale hand away, I felt the wolves come up to me.

"Shhhh, it's okay," Soubi chanted to me.

"Calm down," Arawn ordered a little concerned.

"I can't! Everything is not okay!" I yelled mentally and physically. Kakashi looked to me with a blank face and I could see he wanted to escape. He probably couldn't stand the pain. Everyone around him died, and he wanted to plunge himself into emotionlessness.

"Morrigan," a voice said. I looked and saw Sai reach for my arm again. I took a step back, and looked to Kakashi who was leaving.

"You can't leave them. Even though some have died, you have to stay here for the boys. I-I-I can't right now, so you have to Kakashi. They are alive and need you," I ordered. He looked at me blankly, but his eyes got ever so slightly clearer. He nodded and I turned to Sai, "Protect them. I didn't do a good job, maybe you can for a while. I'll be back in a-in a little bit."

"Morrigan, they need you also. We need you," Sai said in a voice I recognized as pleading. I looked to Sakura's body and shook my head. I can't stay here. I have to leave. This is all wrong. This can't be happening. Calling Arawn into me, I left Soubi with them. Teleporting to the world between worlds I was welcomed with white nothingness. Going to the white couch, I turned it red with blood flowing from my wounds.

I took off my mask and stared at the white walls, waiting. I waited in the white room, until I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness. But I fought it and I waited some more. I waited for answers. I waited for answers which would never come, because there were none.

So I kinda killed Sakura. That's what I get for listening to sad songs. Bad me, bad bad me. Remember to Follow, Fave, Review, Obsess. Loves yous guys. (I do not own Naruto but I do own Morrigan)