HunterX097: Alright! As I promised, the new chapter is released today! Finally, we go on to the Preliminary xD. After this, I'm not sure how long it will take for next chapters, but I won't abandon my stories easily. Anyways, I hope you guys still support and read my stories.

Please enjoy the new chapter and don't forget to leave your reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. All rights go to Masashi Kishimoto

A few of the remaining genins who passed the Second Stage gathered in the middle of a large arena. There were suspended platforms on the side, probably to allow spectators to watch the battles ongoing. In the front of the room was the huge statue of two hands that formed the ram seal. Standing with his teammate, Naruto just shook his head. This was not yet the final stage he knew. Just looking at the number of teams that passed the Second Stage.

"Tch, it's not only an exam." Kurama said mockingly, "You're also the entertainment of the countries' feudal lords' entertainment and political games."

'I know, but we don't need to care about it too much. It just gets more headaches for us.'

Ashura beamed at him, "Well said Naruto!" He gave the blond boy a thumb up.

"How the hell you two are too carefree?" The fox huffed in annoyance.

It wasn't long before the Hokage made himself appear in the arena, so Naruto got out of his conversation and focused on them. Hiruzen stood in the middle of the room, in front of those crossed fingers, flanked by the most important examiners. Anko was on his left, Ibiki on his right, Iruka-sensei was there as well. Behind him were his ANBU and the jounin sensei of the teams were lined.

All genin simultaneously looked at him. They patiently waited for whatever was going to happen to start.

"First thing off..." Anko said at that moment, "...congratulation on passing the Second Stage."

"Your team is pretty good." Might Gai said from his place near Kakashi. "But as long as my team is here, they have no hope to continue. This exam tests individual abilities... ah, youth is sweet but sometimes strict, Kakashi."

"Mmm?" The masked man said. "Did you say something, Gai?"

Gai looked shocked and frustrated. "You and your hip attitude...it was good, rival Kakashi, but it also pissed me off."

Iruka who stood near them sweatdropped, 'I hope Naruto won't earn his lateness habit...' He thought as he recalled what had already happened as he had met team 7 in the tower.

Hiruzen was attentively studying the genins as well. 'So many of them remained... and most of them new. Looks like the jounin sensei did make a good bet by nominating them.' He then took a look at team 7, especially the raven head 'Sasuki looks fine. I hope nothing bad will happen. No problem with Shino, And...' He then looked over at Naruto, which caught the boy's attention as he looked back. The boy smiled midly and bowed slightly as like a way to greet him.

"Hokage-sama will now explain to you the Third Exam." Anko said, before turning and bowing at the old leader. "Please listen closely."

Hiruzen made a step forward, his hands crossed behind his back, "For the coming third test...before that, there is something I'd like you all to know." The God of Shinobi declared.

At this statement, everyone was confused or was startled by it.

"It concerns the true reason for this exam..." The Sandaime continued.

'Could it be...?' Naruto thought to himself as he had a vague idea of what it could mean.

The elderly Hokage tilted his head as his hat covered his face. "Why do we have all the alliance countries taking the exam together?" Hiruzen suddenly asked.

This only confused the genin even more.

"To promote friendship among the countries, to raise the level of shinobi. This made what most of you may think, but I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning." Hiruzen stated. "That is what this exam is..." He began.

'Is...?' Sasuki mentally asked.

Hiruzen didn't say anything for a few moments before he raised his head. "A replacement for war among the allied countries." He finally declared with absolute seriousness.

Most genins were startled by this declaration, the Hokage continued, "If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage that these countries chose for battle..." He explained in a lecture-like manner. "That is the origins of the Chuunin Selection Exam."

"Why the hell do we have to do that crap!? Isn't this thing for deciding who's a chuunin or not!?" Kiba declared with annoyance, mostly because he didn't want to hear yet another lecture.

"This exam does indeed select those who have the abilities and skills to be promoted." Hiruzen conceded. "But most importantly, the Exam is a moment where shinobis fight and carry their country's dignity. Potential clients, feudal lords, and famous people are invited to witness the Third Exam. If they see a significant difference in power, the stronger country will be flooded with jobs, while the weaker one will lose missions. At the same time, countries are able to show how much they have grown and how strong their military is, thus putting foreign pressure on other nations. You are only genin, the weakest of your village, but you are the future: one day you may become chuunin and even powerful jounin. This is why the first two exams cuff off your numbers so much, only the best arrive here."

"So what are we going to do?" Tenten asked as she was still looking up at the Hokage

"You are going to fight to the death." Hiruzen's face became harder. "A country's power is a village's power. And a ninja true power only emerges in life-death battles. I repeat to you, this Exam is an excuse to show off a country's power. It only has a meaning if your life is on the line."

"...Why did you say it is a way to promote good relationships if we are going to kill each other?" Naruto glanced at the person next to him, who just voice his question, Shino.

"Don't get confused with the façade: fight to maintain the balance...this is a good relationship in a ninja world. And in any case, not many are actually killed in the Exam: usually, genin prefers to spare their opponent's life." When Hiruzen said that, he gazed at the blond genin of team 7.

"I don't care. Just hurry up and tell us what this life or death battle entails." Saara suddenly demanded, wanting blood as soon as possible.

Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly, 'That girl...' He thought as he observed the redhead kunoichi.

"Very well, then I will explain the Third Exam..." The Hokage was interrupted by the arrival of a ninja via Shunshin.

"Excuse me, Hokage-sama." The ninja said, bowing. "Allow me... cough, cough, to explain the rules to them."

'Hayate-san.' Naruto immediately realized the boyfriend of Uzuki Yugao who was one of Izumi's close friends.

Gekkou Hayate wore the standard Konoha uniform, with a bandana on his head. He had dark short eyes and was pale, sick-looking.

"Very well, do so." Hiruzen replied.

Hayate nodded and then turned to look at genin, "It's nice to meet you, everyone. Cough, cough. My name is Gekkou Hayate and I have the honor to be the proctor for this Third Exam. Before we start, though, there is something I need you to do..." The genins looked at him, expectantly. "Fight in some preliminary matches to see who advances in the main battle."

"What?" was the general protest, the loudest coming from Sakura, "What do you mean preliminary?"

"Troublesome, we just got out of the forest..." Shikamaru complained as he and his teammates were tired.

Naruto sweatdropped, 'It's obvious because there's a lot of genin passing the Second Round.'

"Excuse me, sensei." Ino spoke out, "Can't we just start the Third Exam with the remaining examinees?"

"No." Hayate replied. "I don't know if it is because the First and Second Exams were too easy, or if you are extremely talented, but there are still too many of you. Cough, cough. According to the Chuunin regulations, we must decrease the number of participants..."

"No!" was another general shout.

"...because as Hokage-sama mentioned, cough, cough, there are going to be a lot of guests in the Third Exam and we can't just have too many matches" Hayate replied calmly. "We have also a limited time, so if any of you isn't okay..." and he broke down in an uncontrollable fit of coughs, making many genins wonder if he was really fine.

Naruto, however, just mentally chuckled as he saw that scene, 'Let that appearance fool you and you will have a big surprise as you see his swordsmanship then.'

"Another interesting example for looking underneath the underneath eh?" Ashura commented with a chuckle.

"It's never easy to woo an ANBU girlfriend after all." Kurama said with a smirk as both Naruto and Ashura deadpanned at his words. Yeah, a powerful and crooked but perverted old fox.

"Please excuse me, as I was saying, if anyone wants to quit after hearing the explanation, raise your hand now, cough, cough. The preliminary will begin immediately"

"Oh come on, we just got through the second Exam!" Ino shouted in protest

"How troublesome."

"What about my meal?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention, from now on the exam we'll be individual-based, so don't be afraid to drag your team with you if you wish to withdraw." Then, Kabuto raised his arm. "You are Konoha's Yakushi Kabuto-kun, right?" Hayate asked, receiving in answer a nod. "Then you may leave."

Naruto looked sharply at him and wasn't the only one. Ibiki and Hiruzen also had their eyes on him, especially after what the blond boy warned them. Izumi who was standing behind the Hokage as his guard was also carefully observing the glass boy with alert.

"Why, Kabuto-san?" Sakura asked, "Why are you quitting?"

"Sorry, but my body is completely worn out... I can't fight, especially since it's a life or death battle." They watched Kabuto leave.

"I'll have ANBU shadow him." Izumi whispered to the Hokage who nodded curtly.

"Be careful. He may have downplayed his abilities a lot. He stole right under our noses." Izumi nodded.

"Alright then, cough, any more questions?" Hayate then saw Saara raise her hand, "Yes, what is it?"

Saara looked at him with her regular expressionless face. "Are we allowed to kill our opponents?" She questioned with an emotionless tone. The cold and emotionless tone in her voice made everybody shiver at what she just asked.

"Yup, Shukaku really fucked her up." Kurama stated with narrowed eyes, a little disappointed at the fellow Biju.

"Not everyone is the same as Naruto I see." Ashura remarked.

"Yes, you are allowed to kill, but it is severely looked down on." Hayate answered with a commanding voice as a massive screen came out of the wall behind them. "If that is all, cough, we shall now begin the preliminaries." He announced as he turn towards the screen.

Then the huge screen started to randomize the competitor's names until it showed two names. They all looked towards the board and saw names started flashing until it stopped on two, the two opponents of the first match:

Uchiha Sasuki VS Akado Yoroi

"The rest of you can climb up one level to watch." Hayate told the genin and they all followed his advice.

Naruto stayed a moment longer, he stared at Sasuki who looked back at him. The blond smirked as he raised his fist in front of her.

"Kick his ass, hime." He said with a foxy grin, which made a red tinge on her cheeks in a moment and she smirked back.

"You don't need to tell me. I will remain here until I fight you." Sasuki replied, doing a fist bump with him, "And you better not lose too, idiot." Naruto nodded with a determined smile before he drew away and jumped up to where Shino and Shikamaru were standing, getting ready to watch. The Aburame was worried a little that Sasuki might go on rampage again, but Naruto said it would be fine as he or Kakashi would interfere in bad cases.

Down in the makeshift arena, Sasuki and her opponent, one of Kabuto's teammates with his face covered by a purple cloth and his eyes hidden by small black sunglasses were standing in front of each other in front of Hayate. The Uchiha was still scowling at Kakashi's words. She couldn't afford to lose control. She wouldn't allow that to happen.

Naruto quickly paid attention to Yoroi, his good sense of smell caught something familiar from him, 'This smell...another lapdog of that pedophile...' He thought in concern, 'Orochimaru wants to try her power again...maybe I should...'

"It's not wise to do that, kit." Kurama blurted out, "Stopping the match now just causes the snack face to doubt and be more on guard than ever."

'I know, but still, he is Orochimaru's subordinate after all. Who knows what he can do to her?' Naruto replied as he was looking at Sasuki.

"Trust Sasuki to handle this. By the way, if you do that, she will be hurt as she thinks you underestimate her abilities." Ashura indicated seriously.

Naruto though didn't want, but he had to admit his acestor was totally right.

Below the arena, Hayate looked between the two genins, "Ready?" Two firm nods answered his question, "Begin," The jounin made a small X motion and the fight began.

"Come here, runt." Yoroi mocked Sasuki, which made the young Uchiha twitch and she gritted her teeth, releasing a dark aura.

Naruto, meanwhile, realized the air around his best friend instantly changed after she was insulted by her opponent.

"She is quickly losing her temper." Shino said as he released a sigh.

"Well, she's Sasuki after all you know." The blond answered, scratching his cheek nervously.

Kakashi got his famous eye smile while shaking his head in amusement.

Yoroi immediately into a fighting stance "Let's go." He said.

Sasuki rushed towards her opponent, ready to fight him with everything she had. "No one calls me runt and gets away with it!" She exclaimed as she started delivering multiple blows at her opponents, only to have missed every time.

With each blow that Yoroi managed to dodge, he smirked with confidence. "Heh, what's the matter little girl, can't land a blow?" He taunted with arrogance in his tone.

This caused the desired reaction as the Uchiha got more and irritated, which caused her attacks to become a bit more disorganized and sloppy.

"Sasuki, calm down, you're just playing right into his plan. Focus!"

Sasuki's eyes widen at that as she jumped backward to gain some distance, much to the displeasure of her opponent, 'Indra?'

"Using your head. He, in fact, is nothing compared to you now. Don't waste your strength on him." Indra reprimanded her.

'...Understood.' Sasuki replied, mentally thanking Indra for reminding her.

"Troublesome. She finally calms down a little." Shikamaru commented lazily, though he was quite worried, 'Does she become whatever she did in the forest? There are jounins and ANBU agents here so I suppose it's okay.' He thought to himself.

"But still, Sasuki-chan is so good." Sakura said in awe.

"Heh, she has surely improved so much since the graduation." Ino remarked as she glanced at the blond young boy, 'Or rather, she has someone to inspire her. Nice job, Naruto.' She thought with a small smile.

"Munch, munch...it's a good match..." Chouji said as he was eating his snack.

Kiba, meanwhile, let out a smirk, "She deserves for a powerful alpha eh, Akamaru?" He stated while stroking his partner's furs. Akamaru expressed he didn't really agree to that as he gazed at team 7, much more at Naruto, which made Kiba growl.

"Look like your dog is smarter than his master." Ino scoffed with a mocking grin.

Both Sakura and Chouji were chuckling at that while Shikamaru looked away, but everyone could see his shoulders shaking slowly. Hinata, who was next to the Inuzuka, looked at him nervously.

"KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED, I WILL POP HIM ONE AND SHOW YOU GUYS WHO IS THE BOSS!" Kiba roared in anger.

"Ki...Kiba-kun." Hinata tried to ease the Inuzuka but it was pointless.

"Whatever makes you feel easy, Kiba." Ino replied with a shrug.

Sasuki, meanwhile, took a deep breath. "Looks like I got a bit short-tempered there..." She commented with a cocky smirk as she then got back into a fighting stance, "Where were we?" She taunted back with confidence.

Yoroi, however, scuffed as he to took his fighting stance and glared at the girl, "Just to where I will beat you to a pulp, that's all!" He declared as he immediately brought his hands together and made a short series of hand seals, molding his chakra and his right hand started glowing. His other hand went to his weapons pouch and drew out four shurikens, throwing them at Sasuki, who already had a kunai out and ready to hit them away, the stars sailing back towards the older genin. Yoroi dodged the shuriken and ran to Sasuki, making to hit her. Sasuki flung herself away with a strong burst of chakra into his palm and stopped her from skidding too far by burying the kunai into the cement ground. She twisted around it and hit Yoroi's ankles, sending the taller male to the ground. She twisted again, taking hold of Yoroi's arm and holding it close to her body while she trapped Yoroi's neck with her calves. He was pinned.

"She did it!" Sasuki heard someone cheer from above but she had a bad feeling this fight was far from over. Not only her but her two teammates as their expressions both were tense.

When a moment later, Yoroi turned his palm towards Sasuki's chest and gripped her shirt, she felt the unmistakable and painful sensation of her chakra being drained forcefully right out of him.

Naruto widened his eyes, 'Damn it! That's...'

"As expected. That guy seems more than his match." Kurama said grimly.

'My strength...' Sasuki thought as her body unwillingly let go of her opponent. The young man easily detangled himself from her limbs and sat up. He gleefully brought his arm down and punched the air out of the Uchiha's lungs before kneeling up. He got to his feet and jumped away from the twitching raven haired girl.

She was panting in exhaustion as she looked at her opponent. 'What happened? My strength suddenly...'

Yoroi saw the slight beads of sweat the was falling from the Uchiha's face making him smirk, "How's it feel? Getting tired?" He taunted with confidence as he then showed his chakra-covered hand. "Must be from me absorbing your chakra."

Sasuki's eyes widen as she realized what this meant. "So that's it, you're siphoning my chakra..." She growled in anger.

"Tch, what an annoying worm." Indra cursed angrily.

Yoroi just smirked in response before he lunged for the girl again. Sasuki could do nothing to stop him from grabbing her head. She was pushed back to the ground and she felt even more chakra leaving her body. She tried to push the hand holding her head away, but it was useless as her strength was leaving her.

The genin from the Leaf watched in stunned silence, the adults' eyes widened. Izumi instinctively rushed to the railing, gripping so hard that the metal bent slightly. The Hokage, Shino, and Naruto forced themself not to look away, the Sand shinobi were uncaring, Anko flinched from the sight and the Sound ninja just watched. Orochimaru grinned and licked his lips in anticipation.

Looking at the helplessness of the Uchiha, Yoroi chuckled evilly, "It will be better if you give up now. I don't want to harm a fellow shinobi." He said arrogantly.

'Never! No way I will surrender as I just take the first step!' Sasuki barely managed to hold on but she really had not enough strength to do that. She tried to flex his fingers, to gather some strength, anything but just lie there and wait for the end!

In that situation, Sasuki thought of the bruise on her neck.

Given the present state, it was her best and maybe the only choice. That mark would buff her power and the victory was entirely possible, no matter how tired was she now. In addition, she didn't need to be concerned about Orochimaru...

"Don't even think about that." Indra warned in a serious tone, "Using that thing will get unexpected attention, don't forget you're in front of many people, including your leader and teacher.

Sasuki immediately snapped out of her intention for getting the strength of the cursed mark once she heard that from Indra. Damn! She almost forgot what Kakashi had told her before, and no one knew that Indra got rid of that disgusting man away from her.

"Cool your head off, Sasuki. I know you don't want to lose, but don't rush straight to that step as it's completely unnecessary." Indra reminded with displeasure, "As I said, he's just another underdog, don't exhaust yourself for a little shit as him."

'Easier said than done.' Sasuki grumbled in irritation while inspecting her opponent, trying to find any openings she could get before the realization hit as her eyes somehow slid over Lee.

'That's it!' The youngest daughter of the Uchiha clan head exclaimed in thought and got down to business, preparing for a way to end this.

Hayate slightly widened his eyes, recognizing the stance. Yoroi simply ignored it and allowed his hand to glow again. He made a rush at the girl but Sasuki was ready. He started trying to grab or hit her, Sasuki was dodging with ease but this time it was different and everyone could see that. The raven hair girl smirked at one miss and she suddenly disappeared. Yoroi stared in dumbfound just before the Uchiha suddenly reappeared underneath him as she hit up with her leg from below, hitting Yoroi in the jaw and launching him in the air. She quickly turned on all fours and launched herself into the air, earning gasps from Lee and Tenten while Neji and Gai looked on with interest as she flew underneath Yoroi.

"That's...!" Tenten started with wide eyes.

"My move!" Lee exclaimed in shock at the display.

"There's another copy shinobi now." Gai thought with amusement.

Team 7 was watching the match with different expressions.

"Oh, look likes our dear Uchiha is imitating my imitating tactic." Kakashi joked in a fatherly tone.

Naruto and Shino both had a big drop of sweat behind their heads.

"Lame..." Kurama commented with a deadpan tone while rolling his eyes. "While it's good that she learned that for a predicament like this, it's typical for an Uchiha to copy another with their Sharingan."

"You can't really blame it on her." Ashura said with a slight smile, "She is now shinobi, a kunoichi. When she is on the battlefield, she needs to do everything to save herself and her comrades." He reminded seriously, only for the tailed beast to roll his eyes once more.

"To save Naruto and herself, yes. To save others, I'm not sure." The fox replied with a mocking voice, which made Naruto and Ashura both sigh at that. He could be more tolerant of Sasuki and the present Uchiha clan, but that didn't make him less on guard.

The Sandaime Hokage had a delighted expression on his face, he still kept his serious look on the Uchiha though as he was still worried about the cursed mark. Behind her mask, Uchiha Izumi smirked proudly as she watched her little sister stun everyone else speechless and gawking.

Yoroi was startled when Sasuki once again reappeared behind him like a shadow, "From here on out, it's all original, though." The raven hair girl said, a smirk stretching across her face, "Dancing Leaf Shadow." She began kicking her opponent in the side, then quickly switching their positions to kick the other side with the full swing of the kicks, which double the impact of each kick.

The defenseless Yoroi began to feel Sasuki's barrage of deadly strong kicks to the sides as he could feel some rips breaking with each hit.

Naruto, of course, didn't miss that, 'If this continues...' He thought with a concerned look.

Ashura had the same expression as he could see what did Naruto was implying, 'It may be lethal.' He added firmly.

After delivering the devastating kicks on her opponent's side, the Uchiha girl decided to finish this as their momentum began to end. With one mighty swing of one to gain even more impulse and delivered a brutal kick onto Yoroi's chest just in time as the two had reached the floor, thus doubling the impact.

"LION'S BARRAGE!" Sasuki declared the name of her attack.

"GAAAAHHH!" Yoroi screamed in agony as his ribcage was completely shattered and the shards ricocheted into his heart and lungs, completely shredding them.

When the dust cleared, Sasuki was brushing herself off. "Whew..." She breathed out in relief.

However, the Uchiha then looked towards her unmoving opponent before going wide-eyed as she knew that he wasn't alive anymore.

"I...I..." Sasuki was left speechless at seeing the immobile body of her opponent.

Contrary to her, her face cracked into a sadistic smirk, "Not bad..." She mouthed satisfyingly, it would be better and easier for them to have one less an obstacle.

Hayate coughed as he went over. "Since Yoroi is..." He began before hesitating. "Anyway, the winner is Uchiha Sasuki!" He announced loudly.

Silence...

Nothing but silence had reigned through all of the arena to what occurred as most of them didn't expected such a brutal death like that, while others had expected or just didn't care for the lost of life.

"That was...extremely brutal." Shikamaru got out, his eyes widen with shock as he did not see that coming at all.

Kiba gulped as he looked as the medical-nins covered Yoroi's face and took his body. Although he really wanted to take Sasuki as her alpha, he supposed he should rethink now, 'It's better not to mess with that girl...' He thought to himself as he heard Akamaru was whimpering a little.

Chouji stopped eating while Ino was astonishment with Sakura. Hinata looked worried about the girl.

Kakashi and Shino looked away for a moment, giving off depressed looks on their faces. The jounin possibly knew what the girl was thinking at the moment for this development. The glassed boy looked down with concern.

'It's a good thing the mark didn't active but this is equally bad.' He then turned around, looking at his blond teammate who was observed the scene.

"Well, she killed him pretty well." Kurama said lamely.

'Don't talk as if it's a mundane thing of life, Kurama! She just did her first kill.' Naruto reprimanded in irritation.

"So? I don't think it will affect her so much and Ashura told you before: She's a kunoichi, a shinobi. She will have to kill one day, sooner or later." The fox replied in a serious tone, 'Not to mention she nearly did that to the ice girl if you didn't interfere in time.' He mentally added.

The Hokage looked at this with neutral eyes as he analyzed this. "It appears that the girl's newfound abilities weren't just chakra base, they also have enhanced physical strength as well." He analyzed as he looked at the Uchiha, "And unfortunately she had to find that out on her first kill as well..." He added with sadness.

Next to him, Izumi had a concerned expression behind her Weasel mask. The first time her sister had done the first kill was when she had just graduated from the academy and had participated in a mission with her father or, rather, the former Uchiha clan head forced her to go with him. The victim was a shinobi of the Hidden Rock Village, the fierce rivalry of the Hidden Leaf Village. Izumi was still young at that time but she was unable to forget the disgusting feeling as she took a life though that was the village's enemy. Not to mention, this was just a match of an exam. Maybe Sasuki just happened to kill her component, but it still would more or less affect her.

A certain green spandex jounin was just as shocked about this, he couldn't help but be amazed at the move the Uchiha created had in the heat of battle. 'To think at Uchiha Sasuki-san would've learned the initial move for Primary Lotus so easily, even making some improvement to adapt it for the fight.' Gai thought as he looked at the Uchiha girl. 'But...'

'She didn't expect to kill him...if we judge from her shocked face." Kurenai thought to herself.

'Uchiha Sasuki is surely one of the toughest genins. Look like the Uchiha clan has another genius.' Asuma mentally approved, but he then grimaced, 'I just hope otou-sama and Kakashi are getting ahead of themselves because she looks affected by her first kill...right?'

Below the arena, Sasuki was still in a state of shock at what happened, at what he did. '...What...what have I done?' She thought with rising panic.

Indra rolled her eyes to hear the fear and panic coming from the girl, "You were fighting, and you defeated your opponent. You should have rejoiced." She said as if it was nothing.

'I never meant to kill him!' Satsuki mentally yelled in protest.

The Ostustuki snorted at that, "And? It means you get the luck because there is less a cockroach for us now." She stated in a stoic tone. "Didn't I even get a tell you right from the beginning? He is the Snake man's spy. There's nothing wrong with getting rid of him."

Sasuki downtrodden her head to hearing that, 'But still, I killed someone with my own hands.' She replied with a shaky tone as she looked at her hands.

"Tch, stop caring about ridiculous things. After all, he was a kind of human being if they with that pale-skinned fucker, so think he didn't do anything bad?" Indra questioned with narrow eyes. "You're a shinobi now. You'll have to get used to killing if you want to support or even protect Naruto." Sasuki still didn't say anything, and Indra only breathed out a sigh of annoyance, "Whatever, you're just a rookie now so obviously, it can't help. Go somewhere and cool your head at first." And the Otsutsuki cut off the link.

Gritting her teeth tightly, Sasuki let her hair cover her face and headed back up to the stands, uncaring for the medic who wanted to check her wounds though they were just bruises and cuts. She looked at her teammates. "I need to cool off..." She muttered to them as she left the arena as quickly as possible.

Shino saw this interaction and easily understood it, "She is affected by what already happened..." He stated in a serious tone.

Kakashi nodded in agreement to that. "Indeed, this was her first kill..." He deducted while lowering his head. "It can be very hard on anyone's mind and heart..." He gazed at her blond student, who looked thoughtful before releasing a sigh.

"You should go after her."

'I'm going to do that even if you don't tell me, Ashura."

"I still don't see what the big deal is?" Kurama densely remarked, "All you humans die one way or another." He reminded with narrowed eyes.

Naruto and Ashura once again sighed at that as the blond created a clone and then started going off to find the Uchiha.

"You still have a lot to learn about humans Kurama.' The young blond mouthed as he headed out and his ancestor nodded in agreement with a firm look.

"..." Kurama said nothing to that, but he didn't deny it either.

Elsewhere in the tower

Sasuki was in the restroom and she was washing her face.

Looking at the glass through her fingers as her hands covered her face, Sasuki was thought of her match and Indra's words that were still plaguing her mind. An uneasy feeling twisted her stomach. She hated the fact that she couldn't find any words to deny what her ancestor said. She disliked killing but she fully knew she would have to do it again in the future and not just once she was totally sure.

'Damn that fucking stupid woman! She is indeed bad luck to me! Why do her ideas always mess with me!?' The Uchiha girl shook her head furiously and washed her face again before she left the restroom. She had to come back to the arena quickly as she didn't want to miss Naruto's match...

"You've been in there for a while you know. I'm thinking of entering to check you."

...or she might not need to be in hurry.

Letting out a huff, Sasuki turned around, "It's the ladies' room, so unless you want me to beat you into pulp..." She replied, giving her childhood friend, "You should have been in the arena now, maybe it's your turn now."

"Don't worry, I leave my clone behind." Standing against the wall, Naruto stated with a slight grin, "By the way, I want to make sure my best friend is okay or I won't focus on my match."

Sasuki couldn't help to blush at his words though she was quickly upset then.

"I'm fine." She answered, turning away from him.

"I don't think so." Naruto said seriously, "You don't need to hide me, hime. I nearly got my first kill in the Wave so it's not like I don't know your feeling." He stated in a sincere tone, "It's horrible for you to experience something like that I know, but it's just an accident."

To hear that, Sasuki lifted her head quickly, "But I still killed someone!" She shouted with dismay and fear as she couldn't bear the weight of taking a life, "You just simply injured your component and made him become harmless, but I...I...by my own hands..." She looked at her hands while her body shook violently.

"Hime..." Naruto looked at her with a soft look. He approached her and rubbed the girl's back in a gentle manner trying to calm her down from the state of mind she was in. The physical contact did the desired intention as the Uchiha's body finally began to relax, if only enough to stop shaking.

"...I fully know I'm a kunoichi now..." Sasuki whispered in her sniffle, "Someday I will do this, my father always told me about it when I was young." Naruto mildly frowned in displeasing, "But I...I still felt disgusted. I'm afraid I will hurt people around me...much like what...I did to you in the forest..." She whimpered quietly as she buried her head into his chest.

Naruto sighed at that, his hand rubbing her hair gently, "Calm down, hime. I'm here for you." He said softly, "I won't deny we have to kill one day, it's sadly...a part of the shinobi's life after all." Sasuki could clearly feel his discomfort while he was saying, "About that accident, how many times I have to tell you it was not your fault? You weren't yourself at that time because I know my best friend is too sweet to harm anybody, but if you're still worried you will hurt everyone... I will be there to stop you." He then looked at her eyes, "...I will surely protect you and the world around you. You have my word." He stated with confidence.

Sasuki, meanwhile, was just speechless, 'Again, he manages to relieve my anxiety easily.' A slight smile spread over her mouth 'You idiot, you always say without thinking.' She thought with the pink tinge of a blush on her cheeks, 'But that's one of the things I like best about you...' She then gently pushed him away.

"Thank you, Naruto." She said with a rarely cute and gentle tone.

Needless to say, Naruto got a red flush creeping across his face as he saw her smile. As an Uchiha, Sasuki was usually cold, stoic, and indifferent to everyone except her own family and him surprisingly. Not only that, she was very brusque and had a terrifying temper, she was ready to beat someone who got her bad side into pulp so when they were in the Academy, she had many fanboys but most of them didn't dare to get too close to her, even the mighty arrogant Inuzuka Kiba. Naruto was one of the few whom she tolerated and was luckily someone whom Sasuki called her best friend.

Naruto cheerfully beamed at her, "Alright, I suppose we should come back now. Luckily, my match is yet to come."

"You're better not to lose. It will be boring if you lose so soon and I can't see you then." Sasuki said with a grin.

"Aww, I'm touching. Hime is worrying about me~" Naruto sing-sang, "It's fine, this poor genin will try to win his match and meet you sooner or later. I just hope you're not a cry baby when I kick your ass~" He said with a glid grin.

Sasuki got a tick mark on her forehead, "...I will beat you dobe to an inch of your life until you have to beg my mercy." She growled under her breath, and Naruto only gave her a little chuckle back.

Behind the door, Uchiha Mikoto got a pleasant smile on her face while she was observing two genins. She was concerned as she heard about Sasuki's match, so she found her youngest daughter to check out her daughter, but it seemed to be unnecessary now when a certain blond troublemaker did it for her.

"The scene looks familiar eh?" Mikoto turned around and she smirked slightly as she saw the owner of the voice.

"A little." The Uchiha matriarch replied with a smile, "It was in a different situation anyways."

"Back then, I would think he got the personality from his mother but now..."

"Kinda like him, right?" Her expression softened as she looked at the blond boy, "That dolt is surely very proud of his son now." She spoke in a low mumble.

"You still call him that? I'm not really surprised though."

Mikoto let out a sigh in annoyance, "Because that idiot is indeed a silly dolt." She stated with a huff.

"And you mostly lost the one who was called dolt by you whenever you two sparred before," Mikoto shot a warning glare at the speaker, "Alright, calm down. Just kidding a little."

"You better that." The Uchiha clan head growled playfully, "By the way, I won him several times since we had been chuunin." She added with a pout.

"Wow, it's not every day to see the clan head of the famous Uchiha clan is sulking. It's my luck to see it now."

"Shut up, Teuchi-baka." Mikoto grumbled in exasperation.

"Just tell the truth, Miko-chin." Teuchi replied amusingly.