The next day Kakashi made the most unexpected announcement, he recommended them for the Chunnin exams. The young ones thought long and hard, each one questioning the skills necessary for the oncoming challenges. Team Seven had a hard decision in their hands, three and ONLY a three squad can sign for it. Just five days to decide, Naruto was so excited and worried at the same time. His friends will be released soon, but it slightly eased his mind. Again, he felt left in the dark, too many things were happening.

Annoyed with the idea of being split up because of that rule Naruto took time from his training to search for some kind of answer. Walking in deep thought until his feet made their way to the most unexpected place the following afternoon. It had been a long time since he had passed to the Uchiha district. He stood there, hesitant to put a foot or turn around like many times before.

Technically he could pass and look, right? Yet, he lingered there, because he wasn't even sure of WHERE to look. So many attempts in the past to just sneak here until it left a bad memory, before Naruto had a chance to made a decision a cheerful shout interrupted his musing.

"Naruto-kun! What are you ahhhh!" He was almost tackled to the ground, the mass of raven long hair make him sneeze.

"I told you…TAKE IT EASY! Are you deaf?!" Hikaru annoyance clear in his tone, a few steps behind. At his side Shikamaru with an eyebrow raised just watching.

"It was an accident, just relax" Kaoru finally released him and turned to scoff at the insult.

"Just don't make me return your clumsy head to the hospital" Hikaru admonished.

"They let you out already?" Naruto asked a bit surprised.

"No, we just decided to escape and have lunch" Shikamaru answered with sarcasm and a little smirk. Naruto tried to get him but Kaoru playful push to the Estate finished the oncoming argument.

"Good idea, we can have lunch as well Shika. Come with us, Naruto-kun"

Naruto made sure to remember were they were going for the next time. He was happy to see her friend up and smiling. Their chat was enjoyable, sharing short tales of their previous missions. Her house was bigger than his apartment, soon Hikaru disappeared to made snacks for them, when Kaoru took both to the backyard that displayed a modest, yet big garden with strange plants.

"What is all this?" Naruto walked around slowly while Kaoru gave a basket to Shikamaru.

"My secret garden, do you like it?" Kaoru replied, taking another set of tools and surveying the herbs.

"You have a lot of plants here… but no flowers. That's weird, you like them" Kaoru continued to cut at some herbs, not missing a bit to reply.

"I have ones, but here I just have what I need."

"For what? Naruto asked.

"Well, it can be a lot of things. I sell some of them for medical purpose" Kaoru had by now a box with herbs. Naruto sat there curious as her teammate separated them, Shikamaru gave his basket to her and took a sit next to Naruto.

"You owe me one, that was tedious" Shikamaru said to her, making himself comfortable.

"You barely did anything!" Naruto countered, slightly impressed that even now he remained being the same lazy boy.

"It's fine Naruto, the truth is he is doing me a favor." She glanced at his blue eyes, pausing a moment in her job to explain properly. "I…I asked him for a special salve for Sasuke."

"He wasn't released with you?" Naruto asked with genuine curiosity.

Unable to withhold his blue eyes, Kaoru continued with the previous task, labeling the bags.

"No, when Kakashi told us of the Chunnin exams, Sasuke was…." She paused, the herbs ready in place to be taken. "I just… don't want any of us to miss this chance. I'm sure he wants to participate so I had to ask for Shika help. I just came here to give these and then I will get back to the hospital"

"We are not having lunch?" asked Naruto, disappointment evident in his whine.

"You just sounded like Chouji. And here I thought you have some sense in that big head" Shikamaru made a nonchalant comment. Kaoru laughed at them, Hikaru call made them retreat to the house.

He was looking at the window of the small room of the hospital, the orange and read tint in the sky almost consumed by the dark blue. A knock at his door, a voice he recognized, and he turned to look at her. Black eyes tracking her neck, where her mark should have been. All that was left was a crescent moon. Besides that, almost everything seemed in place for him, her long hair, her sun necklace, her legs bandaged to hide the few scars left and her green eyes. Dancing around the room, she was nervous, he knew why, but Kaoru had to talk first. He was not willing to let his thoughts out just yet.

A huge bottle was presented to his face, a greenish substance that had him look at her.

"Sasuke…." She paused, her hands held a bit too tightly the bottle before her eyes hold his stare.

"Just apologizing is not enough for what I get you involved. It's my fault. I don't know how much Hikaru tell you already. If you are not mad, would you mind letting me heal you?"

He had thought about the issue, even more with Kakashi surprise and her speech again put his mind upside down. For someone he considered intelligent and perceptive… she was totally oblivious to common sense. He was the one supposed to be apologizing to her, not the other way around. SHE was still strange, a contradiction, a fool in a sense. Not sure why that thought was comforting for him, he was tempted to just follow her lead to see what she would do. Noticing the slight tremble of her arms, he took the bottle and replied the first thing in his mind.

"Even if I'm, you are too stubborn to leave me"

That made her blink surprised. Maybe that didn't sound like I expected Sasuke thought quickly. Kaoru slowly but surely relaxed and smiled at him. Her voice more cheerful this time when she asked for his arms and started explaining.

"You won't regret it. A few massages of this will get you out of here in no time!"

Did she just said massage? Sasuke thought a bit nervous. He was not too sure if he wanted her help now. Kaoru opened the bottle and put a bit of the content in her palm, the smell was not the dreadful concoction he was prepared to endure. Her fingers glowed faintly in a purplish glow and she mixed it with the content in her palms. She paused a moment looking at his hands. Sasuke took the opportunity to find a way out.

"Why- don't you let a nurse to do it?" Did he just stuttered? He was disturbed, but he had never allowed anyone too close. He was uncomfortable with someone touching him with affection, or the kind of contact some girls imposed to him. But she remained again oblivious of his response because she answered with the same tone.

"He says it works faster with Reishi than chakra. The hole bottle will cover up for three sessions, by tomorrow night you can be back. But you have to take it easy because the outer skin will remain tender another 2 or 3 days."

His surprise was subsided by curiosity. "He?" Not sure of who relayed that kind of information or why she was now taking long breaths and looking from her hands to his arms.

"Isamu, you know. The silver haired kid from that night. Oh and he apologizes as well." She then scowled, grunted, closed her eyes and replied "Yeah he deserves it, so stop whining and do your thing"

"Do what?" Sasuke now was more nervous, not sure if she was talking with him or this was what Hikaru mentioned before as "possible odd behavior"

"Sorry, my new conscience is quite vocal sometimes. Just don't ask right now and let me your arm." Kaoru requested gently, a light blush in her cheeks.

Reluctantly Sasuke let her teammate work in his right arm, at first tense with the sudden contact, but her slow and tender movements relaxed his muscles. The initial fresh sensation of the ointment felt warm with the constant fingers trailing his arms as if she were painting a path up to his shoulders. He had to distract himself with something, so he asked.

"You do this often?" She was too focused to look at him, now taking his other arm to repeat the process. Considering the idea that she didn't hear him, Sasuke examined closely her actions. The glow make it easy to notice when Kaoru touched tentatively certain spots, pressed or changed location in times. Not doing enough pressure to hurt, just the right amount to be reminded she was close… too close.

Not sure if he was uncomfortable or not with that. His teammate wasn't like his annoying fangirls, instead he was intrigued by the things he didn't understand of her. After that night he spend hours at her side watching how her scars healed in a suspicious speed even the nurses could not explain. Hearing her soft snores and his name in the dark made Sasuke tense, unsure of what to think.

Suddenly he was shaken out of his mind by a soft smack in his cheeks. Retreating a bit far from Kaoru by reflex.

"Sorry, but you spaced out." She justified her actions, a hesitant grin in place.

"Are you finished?"

"No, I was asking you to lay down. I can't take properly your bandages like this"

Sasuke didn't wanted to let her now how disturbed he was of the next step. Yet he complied in silence, grateful she was not paying attention to his stiff posture. Again, he was feeling annoyed with himself. Opening himself was not easy, he was trying, but she was doing something again. Feeling in debt, innocently trapping him in a long guilt trip. Watching as she discarded carefully his bandages and prepared to assault his legs to the same treatment. Sasuke hoped the next sessions would be less… disturbing.

Truth to her words by the following night he was up, and his burns completely vanished. Now with no boundaries and questions in mind Sasuke were to look out for Kaoru. Hikaru pointed the direction of the training grounds, what he was not expecting was a bunch of kinds and Naruto to be there as well. She noticed his presence easily, not giving him time to turn around now that she was occupied.

"We have to talk?" Straight to the point, as always Naruto was adamant to just annoy him answering for her.

"You can't just come and ruin our fun. I liked it much better with you in the hospital" He ignored him and directly looked at the green eyes of Kaoru. Then turned around expecting her to follow. Not long she catched up and asked.

"Do you mind if we pass for something to eat?"

He didn't answer but changed direction to a nearby tea establishment. Taking a sit in near the door, a waitress came and took their orders. She was fidgeting with her hair, a sort of nervous tick she had.

"Does Naruto or Sakura know?" He didn't elaborate more, she knew what he mean. She sighed and held his gaze, denying with a short tilt. As he suspected, Sasuke held his attention in the implications. His guardian, Hikaru, didn't give much details just enough to appease him that time in the hospital. Maybe she was getting better at reading emotions because Kaoru interrupted his thoughts.

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea to tell them yet. Because even I don't know what I had to do now. Seriously just imagine it." Then she changed her tone in a sing song mock and said "Hey guys, guess what? I had a weird man king in my head that says he will be stuck with me forever. Cheated me to accept being a pawn and I don't have idea what to do about him because he appears out of nowhere"

If she put it like that, it really sounds crazy. She laughed, out of exasperation, and let her face fall in the table.

"Is he here?" Sasuke was curious, now that he discovered that she talked alone because of that spirit.

Kaoru lifted from the table to touch her necklace. "No, sometimes my sun feels warm when he is in my head. I'm just worried I could lay behind in the exams because of him"

"I don't trust him" He replied, remembering those red bloody eyes and that taunt. He was still pissed off. "Why didn't you ran?" He was wondering that for some time.

"And leave you?" Kaoru tilted her head "That wasn't an option. I was sure he would not hurt me but with you… I didn't wanted to take that chance"

"So you did know him" Sasuke accused, putting aside the concern she had for him.

"No, I had just seen him a few times. Being honest I was thinking that maybe I was imagining those as well" The orders finally came, he gave her time to eat and relax. Slightly appeased that she wasn't intentionally trying to do a mess with his life. No, he was just looking for some answers before the exams, he had to know what to expect for the team. He won't fail, he was determined to prove his strength.

Tomorrow was the big day and after some strange encounters with unknown ninja they met up in the academy. Whatever it happened they will fight back. With a new set mind they searched for the room 301 with excitement. Kaoru did notice Sakura silence, what surprised her was Sasuke indirect compliment in her abilities. Sometimes she was reminded he cared with small things like that. When out of nowhere a green blur came between Sasuke and another kid. His green body suit and big eyebrows were the first things she could see when he approached with confidence.

"You are Sakura, right?" I looked at Sakura, but by the face she made it was possible she didn't know him.

"Please be my girlfriend. I will protect you with my life" His strong voice, the light in his eyes, such passion and emotion in such an unexpected declaration. It was so honest Kaoru was speechless looking at him in amazement. His energy was so bright it was hard not to believe in his oath, that was the thing she found admirable.

It was a shame just few words of Sakura could tear his spirit. That was kind of romantic. Suddenly their gazes pinned her in an uncomfortable position. "Wait, did I say that out loud?"

"How could you say that Kao-chan?" Naruto asked clearly disturbed with the face he made.

"You're nuts. How can that be romantic? He is a total weirdo" Sakura said rudely, Kaoru watched as the taller boy got depressed aside. She stiffened when a pale teen with long brown hair approached, recognizing his eyes and the serious expression, Neji Hyuga, Hinata cousin.

"Hey you, what is your name?" He asked with an air of superiority. Not found to be near him Kaoru step aside near Sakura.

"It's common courtesy to give your name before asking someone else" Sasuke answered, blocking his path.

"You're a rookie, right? How old are you?"

"I'm not obliged to answer" Kaoru made a quick glance to see his scowl, pissed of by Sasuke.

She was happy to comply Sakura request to go and find the classroom. The chills she felt by the Hyuga stare made her speed up a bit. She made a mental list of the things to be glad. Hikaru's surprise hug, he didn't give them too frequently. The dango she get this morning, a cute cat in a tree that didn't jump to scratch her face. Naruto promise of an ice cream. Kaoru craved candy!

A shout interrupted her thought. The green boy from before jumped and challenged Sasuke, again she was surprised by the politeness of the inquiry until…

"Oh Sakura, I love you" Sakura shouted, Kaoru covered her ears a second. Her cherry friend was mumbling in distress.

"Those eyebrows. That horrible hairstyle. You're such a weirdo"

"You're an angel send from the heaven" The boy, whose name was Rock Lee said and it was so funny watching Sakura dancing like noodles in a ramen bow Kaoru laughed so hard.

"Stop it Kaoru! You're pissing me off!" Sakura shouted angry, Kaoru had to calm down. Naruto interrupted challenging Rock Lee. He didn't listened when he denied such proposal, in a blink ended up beaten in the wall. Kaoru ran up to him, checking for any injury but he seemed just unconscious. Now she was impressed, scared yet fascinated. How could he do that?

Not long did Sasuke engaged him in a fight, he ended up in the ground. Lee was freakingly fast or had a mastery in jutsu unknown to them. Excited Sasuke used his Sharingan, even so he was kicked off in the chin then in the stomach. Finally, he revealed he was fighting solely on taijutsu. The confidence in his abilities made it clear the power behind his training. What he pointed as talent. Before the fight ended a turtle appeared and stopped the fight.

Kaoru was so excited. She didn't noticed when Naruto ran to Sakura and Sasuke asking if the turtle was Rock Lee sensei. I laughed, maybe to loud but it was hilarious. I approached them, clutching my belly.

"That- That is not his- his sensei" It was hard to contain her laugh. It appeared in the smoke a tall man with a similar green outfit, it was like looking at a carbon copy of Lee. I could not answer to Naruto it was too much. Their interaction, the freaking sunset, her tummy hurt and she was crying by the time the man named Gai approached.

It was a wonder if it was true his statement. Kakashi didn't seemed like the type to go around fighting for sport. Now alone Sasuke fury was palpable.

"It seems the Uchiha aren't as great as everybody tells" Naruto commented nonchalantly, Sakura admonished him.

"Well too much ego can be dangerous for anybody" Kaoru voiced her opinion, Sakura hit the back of her head. That leaved Kaoru stupefied, she never tried to do that before.

"Next time I'll beat him" Sasuke replied coldly

"Yeah right" Naruto sarcasm was so evident even Kaoru could distinguish. "Did you see his hand? Bushy eyebrows must have been training like cray every day. He trains more than you. That's all."

"Could you imagine then, his strength? Admirable… I want to fight him as well" Kaoru thought out loud, watching in the direction Lee disappeared. She really had to fight later with him, that kind of speed was incredible. Sasuke was trembling slightly but then he answered with more confidence.

"Good, things are getting exciting. I can't wait to see what will happen."

Relief accompanied with such encouragement made it hard to not be optimistic. Kaoru hoped against all odds their success.