A/N: Yo, here's the new chapter :0

Chapter 8: Cursed

The bright sun forced Neji's eyes to open. Sleeping on the floor of the forest wasn't one of his best moments but he didn't have a lot of great moments anyway. He couldn't remember how or why he ended up there, but the excruciating pain was hard to forget. He stood up with a quiet groan. His body was still sore from whatever happened last night.

He staggered around the forest for a while until he made it to his team's training ground. He didn't look over as he passed the three wooden posts. He stumbled over to the stream that stayed on the edge of the clearing.

He stared at his reflection. His hair was messy and his eyes were bloodshot. Granted, he did just wake up in the middle of the forest, so he gave himself a pass from looking elegant.

A sharp pain ran through his shoulder. He looked at where the pain was coming from. A black marking of three tomoe was visible underneath his shirt.

The marking made the memories of the night before become more familiar. He could practically hear Orochimaru's voice urging him to join his side.

"Hey, you're here early."

Neji flinched at the sudden noise. He turned around to see Gai standing behind him. "Hello Sensei," he greeted.

"Is everything alright?" Gai asked. "You're all shaken up."

"Well actually, I'm not feeling too well this morning," Neji lied. "I think I'm going to stay home for today." He needed to process the whole situation he got in last night; taking the day off would be good for him.

"That's unlike you," Gai commented. "Is there something going on?"

"No, I'm just not feeling well," Neji repeated. "That's all."

"Okay okay, I just want to make sure that everything's okay," Gai explained. "Everything's alright at home, right?"

Neji hated how Gai spoke to him. It was so different from how he spoke to his other students. His tone was quiet and soft as opposed to the passionate yelling he did with Lee. It was apparent that he chose his words carefully, as he took pauses before he spoke. It always sounded like he was talking to a child, despite him speaking to a full fledged jonin.

"Yes, it's fine." Neji didn't have time to get mad at his sensei. He wanted to leave as soon as possible. He stepped away from the training grounds, and started his walk back home.

Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead. He relaxed his muscles as his training session came to an end. He hadn't been training with his new teammates for long, and he certainly hadn't made any progress in becoming closer to them. It didn't help that his mind was swirling with thoughts about Itachi. Realizing that he couldn't share his thoughts with anyone made him feel even worse.

"Hey, are you guys doing anything after this?" Emi asked. "I really don't feel like being home today."

"I have plans," Tenten answered. "Sorry."

"I'm not doing anything," Naruto announced.

Emi didn't respond, but had a look of uncertainty plastered on her face.

Naruto knew that Emi was nervous around him from the day they met, but he was hoping that the nervousness would go away when she realized what a great guy he was. "How about we walk around town?" Naruto suggested. "That would be fun,"

"Uh well..." Emi paused before continuing. "Okay," she sighed.

"See ya, Tenten." Naruto said before

She nodded in acknowledgment. Naruto wasn't sure how she felt about him. She didn't seem afraid of him like Emi was, but he could tell that she constantly had her guard up.

Naruto walked out of the training ground and made his way into the village with Emi traveling close behind. He was curious why Emi didn't want to be home. Maybe she had family issues. He didn't want to question her about it, especially since she was so uncomfortable.

Being sick of the awkward silence, Naruto slowed his pace and began walking with her side by side. "You don't have to be so nervous around me, you know?"

"I'm not nervous," Emi said, clearly nervous.

"Look, I get it. People have been saying bad things about me, some true, some not. I think we should just start over. Pretend you know nothing about me."

"Uh okay. Who are you?"

"Wait, no don't go that far," Naruto replied. "Just pretend you know me as a teammate and not as anything other people have said."

"Okay, I think I can try that."

A loud bark made the two stop in their tracks. A ver large white dog was running up to them with his tail racing. Running behind him was a very excited Kiba.

"I knew I smelled him!" Kiba walked up to Naruto and sniffed. "Yeah there's no mistaking that stink."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto shouted. "AND HOW IS YOUR DOG SO BIG?"

"He's not even that much bigger."

"Naruto, it's been a long time." Another man walked up. His eyes were completely covered with goggles. He covered his entire body with baggy green clothes. Naruto had never seen the man in his entire life.

"Uh, hey-" Naruto struggled to continue, "-pal?"

"You don't remember my name, do you?"

"No no no, I didn't say that."

"Shino, who remembers your name besides, like, me and Hinata?" Kiba interrupted.

"That hurts Kiba," Shino said, in a monotone voice. "That hurts my heart."

"N-Naruto," a girl with long purple hair stepped out from behind Shino.

"Hinata?" Naruto couldn't mistake the brilliant white eyes and shy demeanor for anyone else. He never got to know Hinata very well when they were in the academy, but she always seemed nice. "Long time no see."

"Yeah." Hinata was trying to cover her red face in her jacket. Shino gave her a small nudge. "Uh Naruto, we should catch up."

"Yeah sure!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'd love to hear about all the new jutsu you must've learned since I left."

"Not all of us are great at getting new jutsu." Shino shot a sassy glance at Kiba, aka Mr. Fang Over Fang.

"G-Great," Hinata replied. "I guess I'll see you soon then."

"Yeah, I'll see you!" Naruto watched the trio as they walked away. Akamaru let out a friendly bark as a goodbye greeting.

"Well, they seemed nice," Emi commented.

Naruto jumped at her voice. "I completely forgot that you were there."

"I didn't know you were such a lady killer, Uzumaki."

"What?" Naruto said, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"That girl had the most obvious crush on you," Emi smirked. "You didn't notice?"

"What? No, that's just Hinata, she's always like that," Naruto explained. "She's just a friend."

"Mhm, she seemed like just a friend," Emi said, her voice flooded with sarcasm.

"Oh shut up, she doesn't like me like that." Seeing Emi more comfortable around him was a relieving feeling, even if it was only a little bit. Curiosity about her home life flooded his mind again. "Hey, do you mind if I ask why you didn't want to be home? Unless that's too personal."

"Oh, not at all!" Emi reassured him. "It's nothing serious, it's just that my family is coming home today and I really don't want to be there when they do."

"Why not?"

"They're going to give me a hard time for not coming with them."

"Where did they go?" Naruto asked. "Why didn't you want to go with them?"

"They had work...stuff. They're always trying to get me to do their jobs with them but I'm not interested in it."

"Are you being non-specific on purpose, or do you just not remember what they do?" Naruto chuckled.

"Um, I feel like that's a conversation for another day," Emi laughed nervously.

"We're not that tight yet," Naruto said, making two finger guns and shooting them in her direction. "Got it."

Neji's entire body was shaking as an unfamiliar feeling swept over him. The mark on his shoulder had spread to the entire right side of his body. His breathing turned frantic as the pain overwhelmed him.

"Why is this happening to me?" he groaned.

I'm sorry it's not pleasant, a familiar voice replied.

"Who is that?" Neji demanded. "Who's there?"

You don't remember me?

"...Orochimaru?" Neji recognized that sinister voice. "Show yourself."

There's nothing to show, he explained. The Orochimaru you met is not here with you. I am merely a consciousness of Orochimaru that resides inside of the curse mark on your shoulder. You're the only one who can hear me.

"Why won't you just leave me alone," Neji snapped. The black markings on his body spread even farther.

Careful, it becomes difficult to suppress when feeling strong emotions, Orochimaru explained. Your chakra is being pushed to its limit, so you're bound to feel some pain towards the beginning.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

I need a job done, and I think you can handle it.

"I already told you, I'm not interested." Neji growled.

My offer still stands from before, Orochimaru hissed. If you want me to change your fate, you just have to follow my orders.

"Shut up!" Neji yelled, putting his hands over his face. "Get out of my head!"

I can't even fathom being stuck in a life of serving those who did nothing to earn it. Especially if you came from the same clan.

"Stop talking!"

You don't want to end up like your father, do you?

Steaming with anger, Neji grabbed a kunai from the side of his bed. "I said get out of my head!" he yelled, stabbing the kunai into his shoulder. Blood oozed out from the wound, dying Neji's white clothes red in the process. The jonin sighed at the comforting silence he was left with.

That's not going to work.

Neji yelled in frustration. The black markings spread further.

I know you want my help, Orochimaru said. You're just afraid of working with me.

Neji didn't respond. He was on his knees on the bedroom floor, panting. Blood was still oozing out of his wound. He put his hand over it to slow the bleeding.

I got it on the nose, didn't I? Orochimaru continued. There's no reason to fear, boy.

Neji closed his eyes. "What do you want?" he finally asked, wiping the blood from his hand. "I know there's a catch. Say that I hypothetically say yes, what would you want in return?"

Something simple, Orochimaru snickered. Do you know someone by the name of Naruto Uzumaki?

Hope everyone had a nice holiday! See y'all soon and thanks for reading!