DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does. I don't own Hikari Aino.

A/C: Constructive criticism is warmly welcomed and appreciated, as well as readers' suggestions/ideas (particularly when it comes to Lemons – I really suck at those! :S).

HIKARI'S NIGHTMARE

"And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.
You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over.
But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in.
That's what this storm's all about."
― Haruki Murakami

~SASUKE P.O.V~

Thank fuck that was over.

If I had to spend one more second in that forest with that idiotic dobe, whiny and clingy airhead - I might have to have done myself in or killed them.

But I can't help what wonder what's wrong with Hikari. Her personality has changed drastically. She used to be outgoing, friendly and adorably shy, now she's become cold and distant. What the hell happened when I passed out? The last thing I remembered was a searing pain in my neck as Orochimaru bit me, then feeling extremely dizzy and disoriented as I saw Hikari's worried face as she came to my aid, then feeling blind fury as she was almost instantaneously snatched and held back by that snake bastard who had been smirking maliciously at how pathetic and weak I probably looked hunched over and clutching onto my shoulder.

The moment I woke up, she had practically snubbed me.

Why won't you tell me what's going on? I know you're lying to me - you're not alright…

"Oi Teme!" Naruto's loud obnoxious voice violently jolts me out of my thoughts and I glared over at him for interrupting me.

However, I felt my glare mellow slightly when I saw the serious expression on his foolish face. I quickly return my attention back to Hikari, who was busy trying to decipher the message on the oversized billboard blocking our path with Sakura (Sakura was trying to engage Hikari in an unrequited argument because Hikari seemed to be ignoring her suggestions to what the message might translate as).

"You okay?" Naruto asked concerned.

"Hn"

"What the hell does 'Hn' mean?" Naruto demanded angrily before he realised that I wasn't listening to him and mostly focusing on Hikari. His angry face instantly softened and he came over to stand next to me while the girls figured out what we were supposed to do next.

"Hikari-chan's changed." he stated.

I looked at him in surprise, not expecting that he would correctly guess what was plaguing my thoughts right now.

"Well spotted. There's hope for you yet dobe." I replied sarcastically and smirked when I saw him bristle slightly before, thankfully, ignoring it and moving on. Naruto's too blue eyes filled up with worry as he also observed Hikari whose eyes were darting from left to right as she read the message over once again.

"Has she told you what's going on?" he asked quietly.

I frowned with frustration and looked away from Hikari, choosing to stare at the floor instead.

"No. She's being stubborn and refusing point blank to tell me anything." I responded. Naruto groaned in defeat.

"All I know is that whatever caused this drastic change occurred after Orochimaru put me down for the count." I added.

"What the? They can't be serious?" I heard Hikari comment and both Naruto and I looked up to see Hikari stepping backwards away from the billboard with her hands on her hips as she shook her head in disbelief.

"What?" asked Sakura.

"'Please open your scrolls.'" she translated the message.

Sakura frowned too. "Huh? Are you sure that's what it says?" she demanded as Hikari's frown deepened as she studied the message again. She sighed tiredly before nodding.

"Yep, that's what it says."

Naruto frowned in confusion (how unusual…) before taking his backpack off and pulling the Heaven and Earth scrolls from it.

So…we're supposed to open them?" he asked as Sakura came over and took the Earth scroll from him.

Hikari rolled her eyes which indicated to Naruto that that was exactly what we were supposed to do before both he and Sakura unrolled the scrolls and flung them across the room where they both landed together in an X as though afraid the scrolls would suddenly come alive and attack them at a moments notice. A couple of minutes passed, but nothing happened - and we looked like a group of complete fools. Hikari must've mistranslated the billboard message.

"Now what?" asked Naruto.

But before anyone could reply to his surprisingly valid question, a white bubble started forming from the middle of the unfurled scrolls and increased in size. I stepped away from the wall immediately.

"It's a summoning charm!" I explained "Get back!"

Naruto, Sakura and Hikari immediately back-pedalled to stand beside (or behind…in Sakura's case) me. The bubble continued to expand until it engulfed both scrolls and burst in a cloud of smoke. When the smoke disappeared it revealed a beaming Iruka-sensei.

"Congratulations, Team Kakashi, you've passed the second test!" he announced. We all breathed a sigh of relief.

"As a reward for getting this far, I'm going to treat all four of you to some Ramen." He promised much to my disgust, and I'm pleased to say both Sakura and Hikari's. Naruto on the other hand…

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!? YOU'RE THE BEST IRUKA-SENSEI!" he screamed even though the rest of us were only a foot away from where he was and jumping up and down hyperactively.

I cracked my knuckles threateningly which caused Naruto to gulp nervously. But I wasn't sure if it was because I had cracked my knuckles, or if it was the annoyed expressions on Sakura and Hikari's faces that promised death if he yelled like that a second time. Iruka sweat dropped but almost immediately chuckled in a fatherly way and ruffled up Naruto's messy blonde hair.

"You're just as hyper as ever, Naruto." he stated causing Naruto to blush sheepishly. Sakura, Hikari and I exchanged knowing glances with each other.

"Tell us about it…" we muttered unanimously. Iruka frowned slightly at us before shrugging it off and smiling proudly at us. I rolled my eyes and turned down Iruka's offer of Ramen.

"I'm…on a diet, and I'm not really hungry anyway." Sakura answered in this apologetic voice. Though, I could've sworn I heard her stomach rumbling loudly which completely contradicted her excuse.

"No thank you, Iruka-sensei." said Hikari. Iruka looked a little disappointed but nodded nevertheless.

"Iruka-sensei, what exactly was the point in retrieving those scrolls anyway?" Sakura asked politely, but with a little hint of annoyance in her tone. I was interested in his answer as well. There had to be a point to this part of the exam.

"It's quite simple actually. The Heaven scroll represented your brains, whereas the Earth scroll represented your bodies." he said pleasantly.

"As a ninja, if you have the brains you need to pick up your game to build up the strength in your body." He explained looking most especially at Sakura when he said this, causing her flush in embarrassment.

"Same thing goes for the strength, if you have the strength you need for your body then you need to work hard to possess any knowledge that may be given to you." He looked pointedly at Naruto who pouted resentfully, but amazingly held his tongue. Iruka then looked at me which made me feel a little wary.

"If you possess both, then dangerous assignments will come easily for you." I smirked before nodding curtly and looking away before realising that Hikari hadn't been addressed at all during the entire explanation.

"Then where does Hikari-chan fit into all this?" asked Naruto as he hooked an arm around her shoulders. Hikari flinched slightly before relaxing into the friendly embrace, as I frowned at her reaction - there was something definitely wrong.

"Hikari is like Sasuke, she fits both categories." Iruka answered smiling warmly at Hikari who yawned deeply and acknowledged him with a nod before bidding us goodnight and picking up her backpack striding away through a couple of doors that Iruka-sensei indicated upon request. All four of us watched her go in concern before our scarred former Academy teacher turned and stared at us with a serious expression on his face.

"What happened?" he demanded not unkindly. Naruto shrugged.

"Hn" I replied and looked away feigning disinterest, but I was pretty sure Iruka didn't buy it and the immense concern on my face betrayed what I was really thinking - or if not there in my attitude. But it was Sakura who stepped forward to answer his question with surprising sympathy in her voice that I couldn't believe was coming from a girl so obviously jealous of Hikari that it was becoming an issue.

"On our first day in the Forest we were ambushed by some Sound Ninja-" her explanation was cut off by the appearance of our perverted masked teacher who despite the mask had a troubled expression on his face. Kakashi looked pleasant enough, but his eyes told a different story because his eyes never left mine…

~HIKARI P.O.V~

Finally! I'm out of the limelight and can have a few moments to myself.

It's not that I don't appreciate my friends' concerns, but I need to deal with this first before I can let anyone know about my problems. I know for a fact that Sasuke would understand because he's been there, done that and would rather suppress the painful memories than relive them. Which is fine, but it can also be filled with consequences that could do more harm than good if you leave it hidden for too long. Which is why I'm trying hard to understand why this had to have happened to me, before I let anybody in to comfort me and bring me back into the light. I shifted the weight on my back a bit before sighing as I reached the room I was going to be sharing with Sakura once she had finished talking with Iruka-sensei and openly flirting with Sasuke.

The room was fairly simple - it had two single beds either side of a large window which was open and letting a pleasant breeze waft inside, and a door leading to an adjacent bathroom which Sakura and I would be sharing for the duration of our stay in this tower. I was so tired at this point that I was beyond caring when I tossed my backpack onto the closest bed and sprawled face down onto it. But I didn't fall asleep straight away as I thought I would. Instead, I curved myself into the foetal position and let my mind drift over what had happened to me over the past three days. What Orochimaru had told me was a lot to handle and I still couldn't believe that the man who had killed my family had his eye on Sasuke.

He was dangerous.

He was unpredictable.

And obviously not to be trusted under any circumstances. It was mystifying that he had spared our lives that day.

"Why did you kill my family?" I whispered out loud as hot tears of grief spilled down my cheeks and soaked into the pillow beneath my head.

"Why didn't you kill me when you had the chance?" I slurred as drowsiness suddenly overpowered me and I finally fell asleep.

~DREAM~

I knew it the minute I opened my eyes that I was in a very vivid dream.

It was night and I was standing in a forest which, as I cautiously investigated my surroundings, recognised it as the same forest I grew up playing in near my old village - The Hidden Snow Village. It was winter - judging by the amount of snow covering the landscape all around me and it was bitterly cold. Tiny white snowflakes floated gently from the sky and blanketed the ground with powdery white snow and decorated my hair with little white specks.

It was so cold that I literally saw my breath coming out in white wisps of steam which quickly dissolved into nothing. I felt a huge reminiscent smile creeps across my face as I walked through the village gates, only mildly concerned that I hadn't been immediately asked to stop and state my business by the Guard Ninjas. I could see businesses wrapping up for the night and villagers milling around doing their last minute shopping or casually meandering around either heading for a café to meet up with friends, having a family day out, or oblivious couples out on a date.

What the hell?

I thought in complete confusion before my gaze fell on a familiar couple and I gasped in awe. A young woman perhaps in her late 20s with her black hair tied back into a tight bun and dressed in a pale blue kimono was trying to herd her young daughter, who also had black hair which was in a cute little pixie cut and styled with little pale blue ribbons that matched the kimono (with oversized sleeves) she was also wearing, through the crowd.

"Baa-san! Baa-san!" the little girl suddenly exclaimed and charged straight towards me - her chubby, pale face alight with complete joy.

Baa-san?

I gasped in surprise when the little girl simply ran straight through me like I was nothing more than air, and I spun around in complete shock before my eyes widened when I saw an elderly woman with a careworn face and silver hair also tied back into a tight bun was laughing indulgently at her granddaughter when she had turned and opened her arms to welcome her granddaughter into a loving embrace.

I gulped.

Mum? Grandma?

Ignoring the crowd entirely, I followed the little family as they travelled back towards my childhood home and I watched as my younger self gave another excited cheer and rushed into the arms of a young man dressed in a light blue yukata which had been tied together with a white obi, and held up a pair black pants. The man picked up the little girl (me) up and planted an affectionate kiss onto her tiny cheek.

Daddy?

I felt a stray tear trickle down my cheek and it burned there like the tear was nothing more than acid instead of ordinary, salty tears.

I remembered this night - it was the very night that my father and my grandfather (who was seated at the living room table, watching the rest of us with a fond look on his face. He had been reading the newspaper which was now being pushed aside so he could catch me and engulf me in a welcome hug) had been brutally murdered in cold blood by Orochimaru of all people.

The happy little family -my family- continued on with their lives, unaware of the horror that would soon be happening. My dream-like memory flickered through like an old movie on a projector and soon it came to the dreaded moment, then my dream turned quickly into my worst nightmare. I saw a shadowy figure moving for the front door of my home and I knew without a doubt that it was Orochimaru.

I was visited by the urge to subdue him right there and then, but I knew that I couldn't because this was a shadow of an event that had already occurred and of which I could not change. All I could do now was watch as the traitor killed my family. I witnessed the horrified expression on my mother and grandmother's faces as they dashed towards my room, scooped me up into their arms and fled for my parent's bedroom where we hid underneath their bed. I fought back the urge to be sick as Orochimaru gutted my grandfather with his kunsuagi katana sword and moved away without a second glance to his corpse.

"You monster." I heard my father snarl as Orochimaru cackled maliciously before saluting my father with the sword in his hands.

My father's eyes flashed at the invitation and charged headlong at Orochimaru who paried effortlessly for several minutes before impaling him upon the sword. As I watched helplessly as my father's body crumpled to the carpeted floor, I felt my eyes nearly bug out when Orochimaru turned and looked at me directly in the eyes - like he had known I was there the entire time. He grinned wickedly at me showing me his white fanged teeth and his forked tongue which flicked in and out obscenely and turned my stomach.

He really was a human snake.

Impossible…

I thought foolishly before remembering that this was a dream, turned nightmare, and that anything was possible because you knew that you were going to wake up at any moment. Orochimaru walked towards me with slow measured steps as I backed away from him, already fearing for my life. Orochimaru's cruel smile broadened as he finally reached me and lent forward to whisper into my ear.

I froze where I stood not daring to breathe.

"Hope you enjoyed the show, Hikari-chan, because the best is yet to come." He promised… before running me through the blade that had killed my grandfather, my father and just resently, my mother like I was nothing but butter.

I screamed.

~END OF DREAM~

I woke up screaming so loudly, I could've woken up the entire tower. Out the corner of my eye I saw Sakura sit bolt upright in her sleeping bag and looked at me in annoyance before realising that I was in distress and came over to me.

"Hikari? What's wrong? Are you alright?" she tried to soothe me.

I ignored her immediately curling up into a ball just as the door to the room burst open and in charged Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi and Iruka who immediately searched for the danger. When they found none, they looked at us in irritation until they saw me wrapped up tightly in the foetal position and rocking in a traumatised state. I was shaking like a leaf, and barely comprehending what was happening all around me and nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt someone's comforting hands gently grabbing my shoulders. I focused on the face of the person belonging to those hands and saw Sasuke looking at me with extreme concern on his normally indifferent, stoic face. Another face appeared and I saw Naruto's worried face as well blinking down at me.

Immediately, I launched myself into Sasuke's arms and started weeping into his navy blue shirt, also holding Naruto's hand in a death grip.

"What happened?" I heard Kakashi demand Sakura sternly.

"I…I don't know, she just sat up in bed and started screaming her lungs out." she explained sounding helpless.

Sasuke whispered soothing words into my ear and wrapped his arms tighter around me, not seeming to care that I was creating a damp patch on it with my tears as I buried my face into his shirt. I sensed Iruka approaching us to offer his help while Naruto rubbed soothing circles into my hand with his thumb, which I squeezed gratefully. Kakashi came over to Sasuke's other side and I felt him touching my hair smoothing it back and trying to coax my attention. I looked up and saw his lone eye looking back at me. His grey eyes looked calm and friendly, but I could tell that he was completely alert and serious judging by the tone in his voice.

"What happened, Hikari?" He asked gently trying not to upset me further. I whimpered, feeling vulnerable before I answered my sensei's question.

"O-orochimaru-" I stuttered causing Kakashi's eye to widen in shock and Sasuke to stiffen instantly.

"What about him?" Kakashi pressed.

I shed more tears which Kakashi gently wiped away with his thumb - obviously sensing that I was about to say something worse.

"He…he killed my family."

~KAKASHI P.O.V~

Shit. This is definitely bad.

Anything to do with Orochimaru is never a good thing, it only leads to more unwanted trouble and headaches. First, it was Sasuke and his curse mark, now it was Hikari. What possessed that bastard to do something like this to an innocent girl and her family, and in cold blood no less?

"The Hokage needs to be informed." Iruka stated quietly from beside me.

The man had an extremely grave expression on his face that probably mirrored the one I had on mine. I nodded, listening to Hikari sobbing softly and cracked a small, proud smile when I heard the unusually gentle Uchiha prodigy murmuring words of comfort into her ear, and Konoha's most unpredictable ninja muttering questions to his rival concerning Hikari's wellbeing.

"Agreed. But someone else has to do that. I need to stay here and take care of my students." I pointed out, feeling somewhat frustrated.

"I'll do it. The others will need to know as well." said Iruka with an understanding tone in his teacher's voice as he rose to his feet and quickly disappeared from the room.

I sighed, knowing that this was going to be a long night, and I was just getting to the best part of my book too. I extended a hand towards Hikari who frowned suspiciously at me from where she was still clutching Sasuke to her like a lifeline. It appeared that he didn't mind this at all - in fact he seemed to be emitting a wave of possession into the room and apparently only tolerated Naruto being within two feet of both him and Hikari. Sakura on the other hand looked a cross between confused and horrified - mostly because Orochimaru had been mentioned, and considering what my students had just been through, she would be foolish not to be.

"I think we all need a hot drink. What do you think?" I suggested pleasantly, forcing a fake smile onto my face that didn't feel convincing. I noticed Sasuke frowning disapprovingly at me before all four of my students nodded and got to their feet, before heading for the door.

"Come with me, Hikari." I said reaching for her hand, but Hikari immediately pressed further into Sasuke who grunted slightly from the increased pressure.

"I'm fine here with Sasuke. But thanks anyway, Sensei." she declined my offer.

I smiled for real and withdrew my hand before rising from my squat beside my two students. I watched as both Sasuke and Hikari rose to their feet (Hikari holding Sasuke's hand in a death grip) as all five of us headed for the meeting room all the Genin had congregated at before when they first arrived at the Tower.

The moment we arrived at the meeting room, we were greeted by the Lord Hokage himself and Iruka, both looking weary, but sobered up immediately the moment we walked in with a still shaking Hikari clinging to Sasuke who was certainly not objecting to the close contact, to my amusement; an unusually quiet Naruto who was occasionally giving Hikari a worried glance and a sullen looking Sakura who looked like she had eaten a raw lemon and who was currently giving Hikari glares.

"Lord Hokage." I greeted bowing respectfully to him as he nodded acknowledging me before focusing on Hikari who also bowed alongside Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura before taking a seat at a nearby table.

"What is this I hear of Orochimaru?" asked the Third kindly as Hikari wiped her eyes and gave him her full attention.

"I had a dream about the night my father and grandfather were killed." Hikari explained.

The Third's eyes softened with sympathy as he nodded, "I see. And what does this have to do with Orochimaru?"

It was a little unnerving to see a young girl with so much hatred in her eyes the moment the traitorous snake Sannin had been mentioned and I shivered with displeasure - it almost put Sasuke's cold attitude to shame and even made Sasuke shudder in fear himself.

"When we were in the Forest of Death, we were ambushed by a bunch of Sound Ninjas. Only they weren't alone and they separated us. Orochimaru was among them. He was in disguise." she explained. Nobody spoke waiting for her to finish her explanation.

"It was clear that he was after Sasuke from the start and he and I fought against him. Unfortunately, Sasuke was restrained and he got bitten by Orochimaru."

The Hokage immediately zeroed in on Sasuke who narrowed his eyes questioningly. The third rose to his feet.

"Sasuke come here please." he requested pleasantly.

Reluctantly, Sasuke left Hikari's side for a moment so he could walk over to the Third and turned his back on him upon his request. Carefully, the third inspected Sasuke's body until he came upon his neck.

"Kakashi, take a look at this." he looked up at me with a stern expression on his face.

I nodded and came over to see what the Hokage was showing me. I swore underneath my breath when I saw Orochimaru's curse mark on Sasuke's alabaster white skin. Cool air from an open window blew in and causing Sasuke to shudder uncomfortably as the wind swept over his exposed neck which had apparently become even more sensitive because of the curse mark.

"Hmmm. We'll need to deal with this soon, Kakashi." the Third muttered into my ear as I nodded and the Third allowed Sasuke to go back to where he had been.

"Please continue Hikari." said the Third as he lit up his pipe and began puffing away on it. A sure sign that he was becoming agitated by all of this - particularly a former student of his.

"Orochimaru let go of Sasuke and I watched him fall to his knees clutching his shoulder and shaking uncontrollably. I went over to help him but Orochimaru came from out of nowhere and grabbed me in a bear hug." Hikari continued.

"I remember that he laughed before leaning down to whisper into my ear that he had killed my father, grandfather and my mother. When I asked him why he said it was because they were a thorn in his side and needed to be removed."

Hikari was looking uncomfortable with everyone staring so intently at her and clearly drinking in everything she said. I saw Sasuke's posture had gotten ramrod straight and I knew that he was fighting to restrain himself from wrapping Hikari into a tight hug and never letting go ever again or lashing out and causing bodily harm to the nearest person (which turned out to be an oblivious Naruto). Naruto also looked pissed and Sakura looked horrified.

"He also said that he would kill me the next chance he got." Hikari added. It was all the inspiration Sasuke needed before he immediately excused himself and left the room, Hikari staring after him with worry in her eyes. The third was silent for a moment, ignoring Sasuke's hasty departure before he too rose to his feet and smiled slightly at Hikari.

"Thank you, Hikari. Your information is greatly appreciated and will aid us in your protection, which shall be doubled as of tomorrow morning." he promised. Hikari nodded. However, Naruto stepped forward frowning in confusion.

"Hang on a sec. I don't get it - why couldn't he kill Hikari right then and there?" he asked bluntly, obviously not noticing the offended look Hikari had shot at him, but not before Sakura backhanded him over the head and pointed towards Hikari when he demanded to know why Sakura had hit him. He immediately flushed and apologised perfusely to Hikari who accepted the apology, but still looked slightly hurt by Naruto's thoughtless comment. The Third looked extremely grave as he answered Naruto's valid (if not slightly tactless) question.

"Probably, Naruto, because the body Orochimaru has inhabited is deteriorating and he needs to shift bodies soon so he'll be stronger and physically able to do his task." he answered. Naruto made an 'oh' expression before turning a horrible green colour and remaining silent.

"Now, I think it's all time we went back to bed. We'll discuss this further in the morning when we're a little more coherent."

Everyone agreed and I saw my three remaining students start to yawn and each looked relieved when they were allowed to leave. Sakura immediately started commenting that she hoped that Sasuke would be okay. Hikari looked a little guilty that she had been the cause of Sasuke's obvious anger and left the room with a troubled expression on her face.

"Kakashi…"

I turned to face the Third who was looking extremely grave.

"Keep a close eye on both Sasuke and Hikari, please. I fear that they might be reckless from now on." he ordered me.

I nodded respectfully.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." and quickly moved to follow my students.