Chapter 8

Sadako's POV

It's been a day since we entered the forest and we haven't had an encounter with any of the other teams. None at all.

What happened to them all, did they all die or something? How on earth have we not encountered a single one of them? We aren't under any genjutsu,we've already checked. Kazue-kun didn't sense any team nearby too. What are other teams avoiding us for? We don't even look like that much of a challenge. Wait! We did enter the forest right? What if we ended up going the wrong way? It will be my fault if we end up failing the second exam.

"Stop over thinking Sadako, I sense a team nearby" Kazue kun said.

"Oh, okay. I hope they have the scroll we want"

"Hmm, I hope they do"

"How far are they from us now?" Itsuki kun asked

"Not too far. Keep your eyes in front of you idiot, this exam is no piece of cake. Stop being so careless" Kazue kun scolded Itsuki kun.

"Fine~. It's not like I'm always careless you know, this is just so boring be in here. We have had no chance to face off with other teams" Itsuki replied in a bored manner.

I have to agree this is getting kind of boring but Kazue kun is right though. Itsuki kun is a bit too careless at times he shouldn't be. It's dangerous. We are in an unfamiliar terrain and in danger of not only getting ambushed by other teams but also the wild animals.

"Alright then Itsuki, let's make it interesting for you. The three of us will separate to search for nearby teams and meet here again in an hour―"

"Yeah, that's more like it!" Itsuki kun said cheerfully

"Let me finish. We only have to search for nearby teams and not engage them in a battle by ourselves, Remember that. Is that fine by you, Sadako?"

"Yup, I don't have any problems."

"Alright, we meet here in an hour."

"Hai"

Gotta look for a team with the earth scroll now. I wonder how Kanna is doing though. She was pretty sad when we were leaving. Oh! There's a team.

I activated my sharingan to check their movements. The one carrying the scroll will be a little more careful than the others, even if subconsciously.

I know that we three have split up only to search for a team and not engage in any battle with them and I don't plan to do anything out of ordinary too. I'm just gonna make the task easier for us all.

'I gotta hurry. I'll be so doomed if I get any late'

I hurried back to where the three of us were supposed to meet. I could already hear Kazue kun shouting at me for being late again.

I halted as I saw something or rather some people. It was Ryu chan and his team. Let's see how they are doing. I went towards them.

"Hey! Ryuu!"

"Oh hey Sadako, what are you doing here?"

"Was returning back to the team but found you guys"

"Returning? Weren't you with them?" Nanami chan asked

"We decided to split up to search the nearby areas. What about you guys? How are you all doing?"

"We're doing good, found the scroll we needed and now we're gonna go to that tower" said Nanami

"Oh cool" I replied

"We still have 4 days though. We can stick around with you guys and help" said Ryu

"But wouldn't that be risky? You already have the scrolls and what if you end up losing wit" I said, doubtfully. I honestly wouldn't mind them sticking with us but still I don't want them to end up failing because of me. Akira sensei would skin me alive if I let that happen.

"Come on Sadako, we won't lose them. Don't you have faith in me?" Ryu whined

"I wouldn't have said that if I had faith in you" I said. I don't want them failing the exam.

"Ouch" Ryu said, with false sadness.

"Alright lovebirds, want us to stick with you or should we go our way?" Kamitani said, before I could say anything.

"Your choice, and Ryu and I aren't lovebirds. Use your brains, lovers don't act like this towards each other"

"Even if you both don't act like lovers Sadako, it doesn't change the fact that you both like each other" Nanami teased.

"Oh come on, we are in the middle of an exam. It's no time to be talking about stuff like this" I said, rolling my eyes "And let's go, I'm already late and if you all are delaying us more, I will leave you all here and then you can go your merry way"

"Ookay Mama–chan. Honestly Sadako, you act as if you are our mother or something"

"Whatever, let's go"

We went back but I started having this burning feeling in the pit of my stomach. Is Sasuke okay? I hope he is.

"You're late Sadako" Kazue kun said. He was very angry, it was visibly clear.

"Sorry, I bumped into a team and I waited to see if they had the scroll we needed and they didn't and, you know who I met?"

"Who?"

"Ryu chan and team. They've got the scroll they needed and they want to help us out to get ours. Don't look at me like that, I told them to go to the tower but they want to help" I added hastily when Kazue kun glared at me.

"Oh cool then we will be able to get our scroll in no time" Itsuki kun said.

"Don't get careless just because others are helping us. They technically shouldn't be helping us but even if they are Itsuki kun, you have to be cautious at all times. We won't be able to do much if we are ambushed by other teams." I said seriously.

"It's our last day to get the scroll. How come all the teams we encounter have the same scroll as us!? It's like even god wants us to fail this exam." Kazue kun said, the frustration evident in his voice.

"We're gonna fail this and Sensei is gonna skin us alive" said Itsuki kun in horror "We're gonna die"

"Ryu kun, I think you all should go to the tower. We'll be sure to follow" I said, looking at Ryu and his team all of who were quite tired.

"Alright. Don't fail Sadako, okay? I'll be waiting at the tower"

"Yeah, don't worry. We'll manage somehow"

They left. I turned towards my teammates.

"Let's eat something and then go to the tower too"

"What do you mean by 'go to the tower'? We don't have the earth scroll Sadako. We can't go to the tower with just the heaven scroll" Itsuki kun yelled.

"Oh well there you go" I said and tossed a scroll in their direction.

"You had the earth scroll already? Since when?" They asked in shock

"The first day of the second exam. I have two sets of scrolls actually―"

"Why didn't you tell us then?" Itsuki asked

"Because you were the one who wanted to get the earth scroll. You said you were bored and wanted to battle with the other teams. That's why I didn't tell you about the scrolls mister"

"You could have told me" Kazue kun said, looking very disappointed

"I could have but I decided not to because then you would have made Itsuki kun give up by the second day and no way would he have gotten serious about the exams. That's why I didn't tell you"

"Oh, well yeah you're right. What about the other set of scrolls? How did you get those?"

"It was pretty easy. Remember when we spilt up to search for teams, I got the scrolls at that time―"

"But we agreed on not engaging the enemy in combat" Kazue kun interjected

"Who said I fought with the enemy? I simply took it from them" I said sticking my tongue out

"Yeah of course, they saw you and simply said 'Oh miss Sadako, here have this scroll' right" Itsuki replied sarcastically

"If that's what you want to believe then ok" I said

"Spill it out already"

"It's a secret" I said and ran away

"HEY! WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?" Itsuki yelled

"FORGET ABOUT IT. COME QUICK OR WE'LL MISS THE DEADLINE"

"This girl is honestly a pain" Itsuki muttered and they both followed.

"Sensei! We made it till here" I said and hugged Akira sensei tightly

"Sadako, I knew you all could do it. I'm so proud" she said beaming. I smiled.

"So you were able to get the earth scroll, ne?" Ryu said giving me a high five

"Yup, that's why we are here"

"Hey you guys made it till here too" I heard Naruto's voice next to us. I looked and saw Naruto coming towards us, grinning widely. This guy honestly has one of the most precious smiles.

"Hai, Naruto kun. I'm glad to see you made it here just fine too"

"Yeah, the second exam was pretty easy. Well I am gonna become hokage, so of course this was easy for me"

"Hai" I smiled. Talking to Naruto is therapy on it's own, not that I need any at the moment.

"The first match is between Sasuke and another konoha shinobi. Sasuke, you better not lose"

"Sasuke? You mean Uchiha Sasuke?" Nanami chan asked Naruto eagerly.

"Hmm yeah, Uchiha Sasuke. Why do ya ask?"

"Oh nothing" Nanami replied, giggling " He looks smart though" She winked at me

"No way, The Uchiha Sasuke" Itsuki kun said teasingly, looking at me

"You've got to be kidding me, it can't be Uchiha Sasuke" Kazue kun said. Honestly, if they speak another word, I'm gonna kill them

"What's with everyone going on about Sasuke like that?" Naruto said hotly.

"Oh well Naruto kun you see, Sadako here just admires people with a kekkei genkai. When she read about the sharingan and the uchiha clan in a book she just wouldn't stop talking about it" Ryu explained

"Shut up and let me focus on the fight" I said. Sasuke's moves were a little off and them talking was really distracting. Did something happen to him in the forest? I hope not.

I noticed Sakura's hair. Something has definitely happened, I just hope he's okay.

Sasuke ended the fight with a splendid taijutsu move he called 'Lion's Barrage'. He then went somewhere with his sensei for some reason.

'Was it just my imagination or there was a black pattern at Sasuke's neck?'

"Hey Sakura, did you see something on Sasuke's neck during the fight?" Naruto asked

"Huh? No I didn't see anything" Sakura replied.

Something was definitely wrong. The way Sakura chan hesitated before replying, I just know something is.

'I hope it's not anything serious'

Author's Note: Haha, I know, late again, sorry. I started watching gakuen babysitters (again) and forgot to write the next chapter. I have not pre written the chapters. I write them on the spot and post. I'll try my best to post the next chapter quickly too. Also I read every review no matter if it's short or long, critic or any other. I love reading your reviews so please do review cause reviews are loved here. Till next time, bye!

Edit: I think I'm going to be away till June first week, because I have very important exams coming up in a month, but I'll try my best to update, No promises though.