Miyako bit her lip as she sat on a tree outside of the Academy. Today was the day where the Chunin Exams begin, and Miyako was both excited and nervous for her cousin Sasuke. She was told by the Hokage not to interfere and she had no intentions of doing so. She just wanted to watch the duo try their best.
Miyako watched as the trio of genins finally entered the room, wide-eyed at the sight of all the shinobi around them from different villages. Even Sasuke's eyes widened a little bit at the sight. Miyako watched, from a distance and amused, as the trio met up with the other Rookies.
She couldn't help but frown at the thought, not understanding why the Hokage had allowed the rookie genin – not even six months out of the Academy – participate in the Chunin Exams. Then again, she should be blaming their Jōnin instructors.
Don't they know that people die in these exams? She wondered briefly.
"Miyako-san, I see you're here observing Sasuke and Sasuke," Kakashi stated as he appeared next to the girl.
"Yeah. I'm worried about them. All of them. every single rookie is drawing attention to themselves," Miyako stated, watching as a silver haired man with glassed walked up to the group of nine genin. Miyako frowned in thought. "That's the one that quits every exam's, right? When he reaches the second exam he always claims to be exhausted or injured."
"Hmm?" Kakashi hummed, looking over his book to the person Miyako spoke about, a frown underneath his navy-blue mask. "You're right. That's not normal."
"Is that...? Are those...? Information cards?" Miyako stuttered out as the silver haired teen pulled out a stack of cards. Kakashi nodded, frowning as he realised the threat that this particular genin held to those around him.
"Miyako-san, Hokage-sama told me about your predicament and relation to the Haruno's when I took Sakura on as my genin. Tell me, can you hear anything?" Kakashi questioned and Miyako – not even surprised by what he said – nodded and activated her kekkei genkai.
"Sure, Kakashi-san," Miyako replied, concentration on sensing the thoughts surrounding her.
It took her a minute to differentiate whose voice where whose. The more familiar the voice, the easier it is to pick it up. She didn't know the silver haired teens voice, and it took her a full minute to find his thoughts. When she did, she sat up straighter and frowned.
'The Uchiha seems interested in the one-tailed Jinchūriki. He probably senses the strength coming from the boy and wants a fight. I should inform Orochimaru-sama off this. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage.'
"What did you hear?" Kakashi questioned, noticing the frown on the female teens face.
"From what I can gathers, he's interested in Sasuke. And it seems he is working with Orochimaru," Miyako stated, just as another thought flooded the girls mind. She could sense the bloodlust and want radiating off it but couldn't locate the person it belonged too.
'There he is. Good job, Kabuto. Make him trust you. My new vessel.'
Miyako stiffened, eyeing everyone in the room wearily. "I think... Orochimaru may be here," Miyako stated and Kakashi stood up straight, putting his book away.
"You stay and watch the exams. I'll inform Hokage-sama on what you heard. Keep an eye on the silver-haired genin, and an ear out for Orochimaru," Kakashi ordered before disappearing in a poof.
Miyako turned back to the classroom, grinning when she saw the silver-haired teen on the ground, coughing up blood. At that moment, a large, deeply tanned man walked into the room. She recognised him immediately as Morino Ibiki, head of the Interrogation and Torture Division. She smirked as she quickly realised the point of the test and sat back against the tree, getting comfortable to watch the event unfold.
...
She was impressed, to say the least. Miyako was impressed with the group of genin in this year's exam. She hadn't seen so many skilled shinobi in a while. She watched as Sakura wrote down the answers with no problem – only to get her mind invaded by a member of the Yamanaka Clan who was also a rookie. Sasuke used his Sharingan to copy the movements of another's hand, and a Hyūga from last years rookies used his Byakugan to see the answers sheets a few rows in front of him. Of course, she was also impressed as an Inuzuka rookie used his dog to gain the answers, an Aburame rookie from the same teams used his bug, and a female from one of last years rookie teams used mirrors on the ceiling to find her answers. How she got them up there, Miyako wasn't sure, but it sure was impressive.
She was amazed with the level of skill that the Konohagakure genins showed. Of course, she didn't miss when a female Hyūga rookie offered to give the answers to Naruto. Miyako knew the Chūnin's in the room noticed, and everyone waited with bated breath to see if Naruto would take the opportunity. Everyone sighed when he refused, and he actually lost a point because he didn't the opportunity to use an enemy's weakness against her.
Miyako's gaze flitted around the room to see what other tactics the genins used. She had to stop herself from laughing when she saw this year Nara rookie sleeping, already having finished his test. Miyako noticed that one of the Chūnin's wasn't real, and followed the chakra string to a Sunagakure genin, who had yet to write anything on his piece of paper. She also noticed a red-haired Sunagakure genin using an eye made out of sand to gather intel. She admired the skills of the Sunagakure genins, knowing that they will go far in the exams.
She kept watching and soon Ibiki announced the final question. She watched as there was outrage at the question, and then watched as teams gave up one by one. She suspected that more would've given up if Naruto hadn't made a speech that seemed to inspire them more.
Miyako quickly jumped from her tree as a ball shot passed her and into the window. She umped back into the tree and saw a purple haired Jōnin wearing very little standing there. Thanks to the hole in the window, she could hear what was being said and laughed when she realised that the Jōnin was the proctor of the next exams. And that she was a day early.
...
"You know, Sasuke, the next exam won't be so easy," Miyako stated as she sat across from Sasuke, eating some gyozas and rice.
"Hn," Sasuke grunted in response as he picked up a gyoza and dipped it into some dipping sauce before putting it into his mouth.
"I'm serious, you need to get your sleep. I'll pack you a bag for tomorrow, that way you'll have some food and emergency supplies with you," Miyako stated as she took a sip of her water.
"I don't need it," Sasuke replied and Miyako frowned in annoyance.
"Fine then. But don't come crying to me when you almost die out there. Remember, the next exams is about survival, and just surviving attacks from other shinobi. Just... be careful, ok? I can't lose you too."
Sasuke got up from the table as he swallowed his last bite, thanking Miyako for the food before going to his room. He couldn't help but feel an ache in his heart. The ache appeared whenever Miyako acted like an older sister or parent to him. Even though he wouldn't admit to anyone else, he loved Miyako. Maybe not as anything more than a sister, but he did, and the pain she felt also drove him to seek revenge against the one who caused her the pain. His brother.
Even at a young age, Sasuke knew about the purple-haired girl his brother was infatuated with. In fact, he remembers his mother teasing his brother about it. When Miyako came over to the house, which was few and far between, she often talked with Sasuke and Sasuke couldn't help but to develop a small crush on her. Back then, anyway.
Now, it was a different story. He wanted to become stronger, to avenge his clan, avenge her, and to protect her from his brother. As much as Sasuke hated to admit it to himself, he knew brother had had deep feelings for the girl, and Sasuke often found himself worried that his brother would return and either kill Miyako or take her with him. At this point, Sasuke wasn't sure what was worse.
Grunting, Sasuke grabbed his nigh clothes and went into the bathroom to have a scalding hot shower. He wanted a break from his thoughts, and the pain of the hot water gave it to him. If only for a few minutes.
...
While Sasuke was having a shower, Miyako was called to the Hokage's office. She walked in head held high, noting Kakashi, who was standing in a corner, leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.
"Kakashi informed me on what you had heard earlier today during the first exam," the Third stated simply as the girl shut the door to his office.
"What are we going to do about it?" Miyako questioned and the Hokage sighed, placing his chin on his hands in thought. Miyako frowned, as a snippet of his thought flitted through her mind.
'Is what she claim true?'
Miyako glared at the Hokage. "I'm not lying. I know what I heard, and it sounded like Orochimaru is up to something. And it has to do with Sasuke. I propose we have someone watching him at all times. Even during the next exam," Miyako stated and the Third sighed, leaning back into his chair as he took a puff of his pipe.
"You shouldn't be listening in on my thoughts, Miyako-san," the Third chastised before holding his hand up to stop her retort, "however, I trust your judgement and I will put someone to watch Sasuke at all time. In fact, during the next exam, I want you to follow Team Seven to make sure they don't run into Orochimaru. The next exam is the perfect time for Orochimaru to come into contact with Sasuke after all."
Miyako nodded in agreement, happy with what the Hokage had suggested.
"Now then, if that's all, meeting adjourned."