Akanishi-san: Woot! Yeah, again, kinda late. School is like...stupid. Lol. Homework...EVIL!

Ch7

Days passed by, with nothing unusual happening, going onto some missions, but nothing else. Sasuke and Minami went on couple more dates, and they went fairly well. Nothing else, only something unusual was the fact that Gaara was still in Konoha.

Yes Gaara stayed till now. He and Naruto thought it was for the best, Minami's birthday was nearing, and it was almost the time. Naruto, Gaara and Tsunade made a decision of having him to stay, to watch Minami, and to stay till the time, so he could help out. This was supposed to be a secret from Minami, but she had the idea. She seemed frustrated at first, telling Gaara to go back, for he is after all the Kazekage, but he would not. Sasuke had found this odd as well, but he didn't know anything about the demon. What he knew that she did not like Gaara in a way she liked him, so he really didn't care.

One morning however, Sasuke found the situation even more suspicious. He had woken up like usual, got dressed like usual, and as usual went to the Anbu head quarters to see if he had missions. He had found out that he had none, but that was not the unusual thing that he ran into. It happened when he walked to Minami's apartment, thinking of asking her out maybe to lunch or dinner possibly.

He knocked on the door, but no one answered him. He frowned. It was pretty early, he wondered if she had a mission. But he could have sworn her name was not in the list of assigned missions. Well, he would go and check Gaara's room. Maybe she was there?

He walked to the hotel, not really thinking deep into the situation. When he got there however, the cloud appeared. The people in the front desk informed him that Gaara had left early, around 6 AM. He left the hotel with a frown. Maybe he'll go ask Naruto?

He then entered into the Hokage's building, and knocked on the door. He got an answer and he entered, but…Naruto wasn't there. If Naruto had ditched again, Tsunade would have looked angry, but she just looked worried.

"Yes?" She asked, turning to him.

Sasuke looked around, and looking back at her, his frown had deepened. "Where's Naruto?" He asked her. He was getting very suspicious now. Now that he thought of this, everywhere Minami was either Gaara or Naruto was with her. Did something happen?

Tsunade opened her mouth and closed it. When she opened it, it didn't make Sasuke feel better at all. It only made his thoughts cloudier. "Naruto was assigned to a mission with Gaara."

"I see…" He replied. "Is Minami with them?" He eyed her carefully.

Tsunade nodded. "Er. No." She said hastily, bringing her nod to a shake. "She's assigned to another mission."

The tone of her voice. Sasuke could just feel the lie. "Uh-huh…" He muttered.

Silence followed, until Tsunade broke it with a sigh. "I guess I'm not good of a liar, am I?" She said, looking defeated. "Yes. Minami is with Naruto and Gaara. They went for a very important mission."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at her. "And why hide it?" He crossed his arms.

"Because, I had a feeling you were going to go after them."

Sasuke frowned at that comment. Yes, he was curious, but it's a mission, right? But…a mission with the Kazekage and future Hokage? He opened his mouth to reply, but Shizune came in, panting heavily.

"Tsunade-sama!" She yelled, leaning onto the door for support. "Anbu squad A has returned, and they are heavily wounded. They said they had encountered him!"

"Who?" Sasuke asked, but it was gracefully ignored, with Tsunade running out with Shizune. "O…k?" He muttered, walking out of the room, suspicious. Very suspicious.

His thoughts swirled around his head. Minami is gone. Gaara is gone. Naruto is gone. They are all in the same mission, the future Hokage, Kazekage, and Minami. Anbu squad A had returned, meeting him? Who's him? And Tsunade really seemed to not like the idea of having his knowing what this mission was.

He shrugged. She did say she didn't want him to go see, but she didn't tell him...well, she didn't say exactly. Besides, he had the day off. Let's just he went for a walk? Out side.

He ran as fast as he could back to his house, and he quickly got dressed to his anbu outfit, grabbing his backpack he usually took for trips for unknown days. He exited his house, and ran quite fast to the gates. Quickly nodding a greeting to his fellow anbus, he left Konoha.

During these years, Sasuke had "perfected" his sharingan. He had trained it well to the extent of seeing chakra trails, and manipulating chakra attacking at him. And as soon as he had it activated, sure enough, he saw the trails of chakra made by Minami, Gaara and Naruto. They looked old. He muttered a curse, and followed the trail.

He followed it for a quite a long time, and he was getting tired. It felt like days to him, following the trail. He ran on however, without a rest. He was too curious to sit still. He did sometimes sit and take a sip of water or something, but no more than 1 minute he wasted.

He had to smile triumphantly to himself as he saw that the track was getting fresher every step he took. Well, progress was seen. His grin became wider as he saw that he was very near. He started to slow, concentrating more on hiding himself rather than speed.

Sasuke kept on running, until he saw the track starting to get even fresher, to the point of recent. They were near by. He stopped to concentrate fully on hiding himself, and started to walk towards where he saw the trails.

"Is that right?" Someone's voice spoke over to Sasuke's right. It sounded very familiar. "Gaara!" The voice whined. Its owner was a male. Naruto.

"Yes." Was the grumpy reply. Gaara.

"Guys!" This time, a female voice sounding nervous. "Don't fight now, all right?" Minami.

Sasuke crept over to a near by bush, looking at them carefully. He frowned at the scene. Minami was sitting in a circle of what seemed to be a seal, Naruto writing a part of the seal, Gaara as well. Minami was simply sitting in the circle, looking troubled.

"It's almost time." Gaara said, getting up as he finished the last part of the seal. "Are you almost done?" He asked Naruto.

"Mmm…" Naruto replied, writing a bit more, and getting up. "Yeah."

Gaara looked at his work. "Good, that's right." He made couple of hand symbols, and slamming his hand onto the ground, a small half circle shield covered Minami in the circle. He then walked around the circle, and was now facing Minami. "Listen, Minami." He started with a serious face, talking to her through the shield. "Orochimaru tried last time, he will probably try again."

Orochimaru? Sasuke frowned. What's he got to do with it? He tried what? Yeah, he tried to kill Minami before…is he going to try again? Wait…did he actually want to kill Minami earlier? Could he have wanted her for power? What's going on!

As if Naruto heard him, he opened his mouth and nodded as he talked. "Yeah, Orochimaru might come and try to take your powers, but we will cover you during what ever you have to do." He gave her a thumb up.

Minami nodded, smiling gratefully. "Thank you." She said, and stood in the middle of the circle, looking quite determined. "Well, is it almost time?" She asked Gaara, who was looking at a watch.

He nodded. "Almost. 1.5 more minutes."

Sasuke really was getting frustrated. Orochimaru wanted her, for her fire ability maybe? And almost time for what?

"1 more minute." Gaara said to her. She nodded in reply, saying nothing else but to look around anxiously. Moments passed without any talking, but…"10…9…8…7…6…5…4…" Minami closed her eyes. "3…2…"

Silence passed for a moment, maybe half a second. But it was disturbed by a wisp of fire which circled Minami, and when the small ring of fire connected, it erupted. It rocketed high into the air breaking the shield, the fire roared, ripping through the air. To that, the 3 ninjas' mouth dropped.

"MINAMI-CHAN!" Naruto yelled, horror-struck. Gaara was too surprised to say anything, and Sasuke was way too horrified to say anything either. They all thought she had been engulfed by those flames, burning her into nothing. Naruto and Gaara thought that she had failed the "test" and that meant….death.

The fire however changed shape, turning into a gigantic bird shape, with gleaming green eyes, flaming red feathers, and a long red tail with green ornaments. It then shot high into the air, revealing Minami, sitting on the groud, looking very afraid.

The bird disappeared into the clouds, completely from view as it shot high into the air, but with a loud screech from it, it shot back down. It swooped gracefully right before it hit the ground, and was now, hovering above Minami, its eyes glinting at her.

"Suzaku Minami." He said, its beak moved, but oddly, it didn't sound like it came form it. Its voice echoed in the forest, and at that moment, it moved its massive head, and looked at Naruto and Gaara, then a quick glance at Sasuke, they were unmovable. They were glued to the ground! "I do not want anyone to interfere." It said, turning back to Minami now, who looked at the bird with horror on her face.

"Suzaku…" She muttered under her breath. She didn't know what feelings were bigger: awe of its beauty, fear of its power, or horror of what might become of her if she fails.

The bird stared at her, studying her from corner to corner, as if scanning her with x-ray vision. "Hmph." It finally muttered, after to what everyone thought as a century. "No special body structure, flimsy arms, long legs, but not fast. Eyes that show fear easily, nose and ears that you don't use in combat." It seemed to have fun annoying her, and she was getting VERY annoyed, and so was Sasuke. He didn't like this bird, annoying her. Its eyes moved to her chest, "Well at least you seem to have good…" But Minami wisely cut it off, looking frustrated.

"Well excuse me," She said, now her eyes showing anger. "I am going to draw the line here. There are other people here, you know!"

Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke found themselves blushing, avoiding her eyes, looking anywhere but her. The bird turned its majestic head at them, and sighed. "Humans." It muttered, and turned back to Minami, who was staring right back at it. "Are you ready?" It asked her, now sounding bored.

"Yes." She said, determined. She was going to get out of this alive. She was determined to do so. "I am ready."

"Good." The bird said, "The test will determine your skill and heart, to see if you are worthy. I will not tell you what to show me, or what to tell me. That will be pointless. You will fight with me, no hold backs. Also, you will not use ninjutsu or genjutsu. You are only allowed to use your taijutsu against me. This means, no using your blood line as well."

"What!" She yelled out loud, before she could stop herself. But who wouldn't? The bird, the HUGE bird, about oh, I don't know, 100 times lager than her size wanted her to fight with only taijutsu? Plus, that thing had a massive beak, and deadly talons! What does she have? Nails and teeth? Ha! Like those will help. "That's unfair!"

"The world is unfair. Do you wish for me to cry for you?" It said in a mocking tone of voice. "Human, whether you like it or not, you will fight only with taijutsu. Do you accept or not?"

Minami growled, glaring at it. And the people of her clan told her that Suzaku was understanding, kind, beautiful, and most of all, polite to all, even to small creatures. "I wish they saw what their clan bird was really like." She muttered quietly, but nodded to it, still glaring. "Fine. I accept."

The bird, Minami could have sworn smiled at her, but she could not confirm it since the bird slashed at her with those talons of it, lashing at her dangerously.

"HEY!" She yelled, jumping back into a tree. "I didn't say I was ready!"

"Well you are now!" It said, and lashed at her once more.

As Minami dodged, the other 3 ninjas hopelessly watched. Gaara could not use his sand, he was completely bound, the sand with him. He felt so weak! So useless! He didn't have the power to protect her! Naruto felt the same, he tried unleashing some Kyuubi powers, but the bindings held him on the ground. He was devastated. He was useless, when his friend was in danger.

Sasuke…He never felt so…out of place. Gaara and Naruto seemed surprised, yet not as much as he. They seemed to have known that it was coming, and he didn't, and what's with the test? What is it? Why did she accept when she knows that she might die? What was going on? How come she never told him anything about this?

He snapped out of his thoughts as a screech was heard, the golden hawk diving at Suzaku, trying its best at helping his master. "Stupid bird!" Suzaku growled angrily as it tried to swat it away. "Get away from me!"

"You forgot, you are a bird as well!" Minami yelled, using this as a chance, she dived under its stomach, and jumped onto its talons, to its massive wings, then to the same height as its neck. "Take this!" She yelled, and kicked as hard as she could at it, only to see that it had no affect what so ever on it.

"Is that all you got? You will not defeat me with those puny taijutsu!" It laughed devilishly, and using its wings, it tried to swat her away.

Minami closed her eyes getting ready for pain, and it came. She bit back a cry of pain as the wing ran into her hard. She was pretty high in the air, and she felt her body aching, falling to the ground head first. She knew if she did not try to at least land properly, she would hit head first into something, but…she was just so hurt! Minami closed her eyes once more, getting ready for another shock of pain as she lands, but this time, no pain came, even though she felt herself land. Instead, she heard a grunt of pain, and strong arms around her.

Opening her eyes, she saw red eyes, with dots in them, staring right back at her worriedly. "Are you hurt?" He grunted, trying to sit up, but failed, due to the pain on his back when he ran into a tree protecting her fall.

"Sasuke!" She gasped, and jumped off of him, wincing, taking a note that it was very stupid of her to jump off. Her back hurt a lot, even thought Sasuke had cushioned her fall, and felt even more worried by it. If she felt that much of pain, Sasuke probably had worse. But why was he here anyway?

The bird's wing beats came closer, and it stopped as it gracefully landed onto the ground, its eyes peering curiously at them. "You, how did you get out of my bounds?" It asked. "Chakra manipulation?"

Sasuke nodded as he was helped to sit up by Minami, who was half looking over his wound, half looking at Suzaku for any movement of attack. "I used my Sharingan to manipulate your chakra a bit."

"Ah, I see." It muttered, looking at him still, curious. 'So this was the survivor of Uchiha clan. Interesting.'. It thought.

"Taka!" Minami whistled, and the golden hawk was right next to her, glaring at Suzaku warningly. "Watch Sasuke for me." She said, and got up, ready to fight once again.

"Minami!" Sasuke said his voice hoarse. "I'll help." He offered. "Let me help."

Minami looked surprised at his offer, but with a smile and shake of her head, she declined. "I'm sorry Sasuke-san, I thank you for your offer, but…" She turned to the bird, determined look on her face. "This is my fight."

"But the human interfered. It shall take that prince!" The bird growled, glaring daggers at Sasuke, and suddenly, arrows of fire was around it. With a wing beat, the arrows were released, all targeting at the Uchiha.

Both Gaara and Naruto tried their best at manipulating chakra as well, but unlike Sasuke, they did not have the sharingan. They were useless at that moment, when two of their friends were in danger.

"SASUKE!" Minami cried, as she jumped in front of him, and sending one glare at Suzaku, she sent her own fire to her palms, and made a shield of fire. She winced as she felt the power of the attack pushing her back, but gritting her teeth, she held her ground, determined to protect Sasuke.

The bird called off its attack when the shield broke to pieces, the fire turning to air. In response, the fire arrows had ran into her, but not as hard as she thought it would have. "You have used your blood line." It said to her as if it was a simple matter.

Minami gasped in air, trying to breathe. Whether the bird held back on it and called it off, it still hurt. One had run right to her stomach, taking the air out of her. Another had cut her right shoulder, which was now bleeding. One had gotten her left leg, and it too was bleeding. With only 1 leg to support her fully, she fell onto her knees, one hand now trying to cover her shoulder wound, another to the leg.

Sasuke watched her fall, even more horrified. Look at what he did now! He had gotten her hurt! He could not say anything, there was something preventing him, and no muscles of his body would let him move.

"I know I did." She replied, her voice quivering. She had done it now. She was going to die. "I have failed."

With in a moment, Gaara and Naruto were next to her, standing protectively in front of her. "She only did it so she could save him!" Naruto growled at it. The bindings were removed, and they were free to move, and feelings were let out as well. "Besides, what you asked was stupid! Only taijutsu against you?"

Gaara said nothing, but his sand dangerously waved around him, his eyes piercing Suzaku. He was angry. He was not going to have his friend die. Especially not in front of him, not if he could help it.

The bird tossed its head, its feathers softly waving in the air. "She has indeed used her power. Her blood line power. I have clearly stated that she was not supposed to use it." It looked at Gaara and Naruto thoughtfully. "Seems as you two know the truth of this, what would happen to her if she fails."

Gaara and Naruto growled, glaring at it. "She's not going to die!" Naruto yelled furiously.

Sasuke's heart stopped. Die? Minami was going to die? Because she had protected him…This can not be happening. No…Way…

"It's all right, you guys. Like it said, I have failed the test." Minami said her voice in a whisper. She was going to die. Those words swirled in her head. Death.

"However…" It started, bringing Naruto, Gaara and Minami to look surprised and to silence. "The test was: To determine your skill and heart." It looked at Minami with thoughtful eyes. "You have first shown me your heart was strong, by accepting the fight, even thought you perfectly knew you will die with a single mistake. You have then shown me your skills, single fighting, and the perfect synchronize with the bird." It nodded acknowledgement to Taka. "You have then shown me again your heart, by protecting that Uchiha, and the skill of your blood line by using one of the complicated fire shields. Lastly you have shown me your strong heart by taking in the fact of death."

Gaara and Naruto's mouth was hanging open. Minami's was as well, Sasuke was practically gaping at the bird, jaws open. Could this mean…no…was it?

"You are…" The bird stopped, and with one more look at the humans in front of it, it chuckled. "One Shukaku, one Kyuubi, one survivor. You have some interesting friends." It mused.

"Get on with it!" Naruto yelled, frustrated. He wanted to know what the bird was getting to. It couldn't be…?

The bird looked at Naruto. "My, my, hasty aren't we?" But it chuckled, looking at them warmly now. "You pass." It said, looking at Minami now, her eyes bulging as well, matching Sasuke. All of their mouths were now hanging open, looking very surprised. "Those who do not follow their heart are fools. Those who are not skilled are not meant to use my power, they are bound to use it and kill themselves. Those who do not cherish and protect their friends are fools, especially those who let their loved ones get hurt or die in front of them. If you let the Uchiha die, I would have simply sent the fire arrows at you, painfully." It added.

Minami blushed, and so did Sasuke. Loved ones. "Err…" Minami muttered, she didn't know what to say. "Thanks?" She smiled crookedly at it.

"It seems I will be stuck with you for a long time." It sighed. "You have passed congratulations." The bird changed into a massive burning fire ball. "Call me when you need me." The voice was a whisper in the air, and the fire sped to Minami, and hitting her squarely onto her neck joint, where her seal was.

"Minami!" Sasuke gasped, thinking that it was an attack.

Minami pulled down her neck part of her shirt, and looked at her seal. It was burning red, and the burn mark changed shape, to a small shape of a bird, with long tail, its wing part stretching around her neck, looking now like a necklace engraved onto her.

She then felt a strong, yet gentle wind circle her and Sasuke, and when she checked her wounds, they were healed. So her people were right. The bird was kind, gentle, and considerate. It had watched her every move, carefully, and it did not hurt her that much. The only reason it gave the person these test was to make sure the bearer would not end up killing him or herself.

It was doing all of these things for them. For her.

Akanishi-san: ARRGGG This was SOOOOO long! I'm going to go to bed now…arg…tired…bye…

BTW READERS:

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE LAST!

Kyoskittn885: Hehe, thanks for the compliment! Ill try to keep it up!

Sariyu-chan: Thank you so much! Im so glad to hear that! I hope this chapter also gave you happiness Lol. I donno what to say...THANK YOU!

YamiKitsuneKami: Arg...i almost wrote YamiKitsuneKame. Lol. Anyway, thanks for the reviewI appreciate it! And when you do write a yondaime fic, please tell me! I would love to read it!

keiya mizuki: Thanks! I was hoping he wasnt, because well...okay, well he is, but I try not to have him so. Thanks for tthe review

Slifer X: Hey a new face! Thanks for the review! Hope you enjoyed this!