Once again I must inform my loyal readers out there, hopefully you're STILL out there... I haven't received any reviews in awhile (T_T) please review I really lonely over here (-_-) that sadly, I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does – lucky duck!

If I did own Naruto – he and Sasuke would be my best friends. I don't own Hikari Aino either.

Constructive criticism is warmly welcomed and appreciated. (^_~)

UNEXPECTED FIGHTS

"Against all odds and despite all the obstacles, we are going to make it."
~anonymous

~HIKARI P.O.V~

I was the first one to make it back to the Tower where other successful Genin teams that had made it to the next stage. I could see mixed emotions every where I looked. Some looked excited and exhilarated by everything we had just experienced – which meant that they were either confident that they could pass this exam without any trouble... or they were incredibly reckless and probably arrogant as hell.

Whereas others looked traumatised by the horrors they had most likely seen while fighting their way through the Forest of Death seeking and retrieving the scrolls they needed from rival teams in order to get where we are. Some teams seemed indifferent and looking like they would rather prefer to pass out and sleep for days.

I scanned the crowd looking for Sakura who I knew would be here since she hadn't come along with Naruto and Sasuke to find me. Finally spotted her standing amongst the indifferent Genins who had managed to get this far. This included Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji. She was looking upset and I frowned and walked over to find out what was troubling her.

When I got close enough to hear what was going on, I sighed in both amusement and exasperation when I realised that Ino was talking at top speed again and probably boring everyone there shitless with pointless gossip.

"Didn't think you'd make it."

A deep, familiar and sneering voice caused me to freeze in my tracks and I grit my teeth in annoyance. I looked tiredly over my shoulder and groaned when I confirmed that Kiba had just addressed me and was acting like an arrogant, obnoxious brat rather than acting like the respectful and professional shinobi he should be.

Great, what else is gonna go wrong today? Hinata smiled shyly at me and waved before looking away. I smiled back at her and nodded towards Shino who nodded back stiffly before ignoring everything around him completely.

"Is there something you need, Inuzuka?" I asked in a polite but clipped tone and stood staring at him in a relaxed position, waiting for him to blow his hot air and then go away.

"Nothing. Just sorry I didn't see you and your team back there. Don't think you would've been much of challenge though." he smirked.

I rolled my eyes at his arrogant bragging. Inwardly, I bristled angrily like a threatened dog with its heckles raised, and wished I could find a loophole that would allow me to beat him within an inch of his life without any lingering consequences hovering over my head, but instead I smiled condescendingly at him, not at all threatened by his cocky, self-absorbed attitude.

"Really? Is that so? All well, better luck next time." I replied in a mocking voice and smirked before walking away leaving Kiba gaping at me obviously expecting that I'd react differently. I sighed wearily before nearly getting bowled over when Naruto suddenly glomped me from behind and I staggered underneath the added weight.

"Hey Hikari-chan!"

Naruto burst out cheerily and I smiled and hugged my friend back as I watched Sasuke simply roll his eyes and walked passed us towards where Sakura and Team Asuma were standing. I deflated like a balloon that had been blown up and then set free without being tied up.

"He's never going to forgive me, is he?" I muttered glancing at Sasuke who had retreated to the wall and was ignoring Sakura and the others completely as he lent up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and had his head lowered broodingly.

Naruto looked over at Sasuke and frowned slightly before shaking his head and hooking an arm around my shoulders.

"Nah, he's just being a bastard as usual. Just give him time."

Naruto reassured me, and grinned evilly before trapping me in a headlock and grinding his knuckles into my scalp slightly. He giggled when I started fighting him to free myself. Eventually he let me go and then started dragging me over to where the others were standing, holding onto my hand tightly and comfortingly. I smiled at the caring gesture and squeezed his hand gratefully as I politely nodded when the others acknowledged us. Otherwise they either ignored me completely or greeted excitedly and tried to pile-drive me into the ground.

"MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!" a loud voice demanded and attracted the attention of everybody in the room when instantly the chatter and laughter in the room died down and all eyes clapped onto a Jounin who had strode in at that very moment.

"Congratulations for making it this far-"

The Jounin applauded us and everyone except for the obvious few started cheering and clapping excitedly.

"EEEEEEE! I can't believe we made it this far!" Ino squealed excitedly in my ear and grabbed both my hands in hers and forced me jump up and down with her in her excitement.

"Calm down, Ino-pig!" snapped Sakura who looked at the Jounin seriously.

Ino glared at Sakura for interrupting 'our' excitement and rounded on her. I winced sensing a fight beginning to break out and I retreated over to Naruto's side to take cover. I didn't trust that Sasuke wouldn't immediately shove me away because he hadn't fully accepted my apology for my immature outburst earlier in the Hokage's office.

"However, because of the number of Genin that have made it through, it is still too many. So there will be a third part of this exam to determine who will be up for promotion to the rank of Chunnin."

The celebrations came to a screeching halt.

"EH? More exams?" Naruto blurted out loudly so that everyone looked over at him in curiosity causing a wave of sniggers all around the room, as well as exasperated groans and annoyed scowls.

I instantly shrank back from Naruto out of embarrassment and sidled up to Shikamaru who appeared to be dozing against the wall he was leaning against. When he sensed me, he cracked open an eye and looked at me before realising why and he muttered 'troublesome' under his breath and went back to ignoring the world around him.

"Yes, Naruto. More exams." The Jounin confirmed dryly before moving on with his instructions for us while Naruto flushed darker than a tomato and scowled at him resentfully.

"The third part of this exam will be harder than the last two, it will be a matter of 'life or death'."

Audible gulps were heard all around the room and I heard Sasuke scoff and mutter 'cowards' underneath his breath before focusing on the Jounin again.

"Genin who wish to continue in this exam will be randomly chosen for a one-on-one match. Now is the time for any of you to withdraw from the exam if you wish." said the Jounin looking around at each of us, searching for the select few who wished to stop where they were.

"I quit."

Heads snapped towards the source of the voice and we quickly recognised the silky smooth, slightly arrogant voice of Kabuto who had a superior smirk on his face as he quickly bowed and left the room, but not before casting me and Sasuke another quick glance. I shuddered, but was relieved that he had backed out. I really didn't trust him – there was something very off about him.

"Anyone else?"

He had no other takers.

The Jounin nodded approvingly, but looked somewhat bored before turning towards a giant electronic noticeboard which was currently blank at the moment.

"Alright, the first round will be..."

The board remained blank for several seconds as two names were being randomly selected. Two names appeared on either side of a versus symbol:

SASUKE UCHIHA
(Konoha)
vs.
ARASHI TANAKA
(Sound)

Sasuke was going up against a member of the Sound Village.

I glanced over towards where the group of Sound Ninja were currently standing and saw one of them smirking maliciously over at Sasuke who was ignoring the attention he was receiving from practically everyone. I frowned when Sasuke absently rubbed at the curse mark on his shoulder. Clearly, it was still sore from the last time.

The Jounin gives us our final instructions about the exam before strongly advising us to head for the Balcony of the tower. We all moved to follow what he said and that was when I noticed Kakashi-sensei waiting idly in the wings looking concerned about something. I elbowed Naruto in the ribs causing him to grunt in pain and scowl at me before tugging on Sakura's sleeve when he realised what I was staring at.

"What, Naruto?" Sakura snapped at him before realising what Naruto and I were staring at. Kakashi-sensei had pulled Sasuke aside and both were currently speaking in harsh whispers.

"What's Kakashi-sensei doing here?" Sakura whispered curiously.

Naruto and I shrugged. Both of us started when Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei looked over at us – obviously sensing that we were looking at them. Sasuke glared while Kakashi-sensei made the moon shape with his lone eye and waved at us briefly before taking up Sasuke's attention again.

"C'mon." Sakura muttered loud enough for both Naruto and I to hear before sighing unhappily and tugging insistently on Naruto's arm when he failed to cooperate and walk away with the other Genin.

I paused briefly still looking over at Sasuke, wishing that he'd somehow understand why I had that outburst and hoping that he forgave me somehow. I wasn't tempted to eavesdrop on their conversation, no matter how tense the conversation looked at that moment. But just as I started sending my legs the message to get going before I got into trouble, Sasuke looked over again.

I blushed and smiled sadly before I moved to catch up with Sakura and Naruto.

~SASUKE P.O.V~

Hn...

Guess I'm the first to do this so-called qualifying match against some shifty looking Genin from the Sound Village. I grunted in acknowledgment, at the same time ignoring unnecessary words of encouragement from annoying fangirls before I shoved my hands into my pockets and sauntered off towards the balcony the Jounin exam instructor had told us to go – hell if I know why we needed to.

I glanced over at Hikari who was smiling and chatting quietly to the Dobe who was his usual loud, idiotic self, and both were pointedly ignoring Sakura who was still 'licking her wounds' so to speak after she was put back into her place by the Sandaime, Kakashi, Naruto and myself.

Good, bitch needs to learn that lesson the hard way – nobody deserves the treatment she had been dishing out, particularly if it was unprovoked. Hikari still looked sad and for a second I felt guilty, particularly when I recalled that she did apologise for her actions. Inwardly, I smiled sincerely as I realised that Hikari was genuinely sorry what what she had said and her actions proved that she wasn't just lying to make us – and me – feel better and to get off the hook.

But I just wasn't ready to forgive her just yet. I'll let her sweat about it for awhile and give her a couple of days or so before I talk to her again.

Privately of course - away from prying eyes, idiotic best friends, whinging fangirls and perverted masked teachers who have nothing better to do with their time than to barge in on private moments.

Instead, I grunted and choice to simply ignore them for now.

"Sasuke."

I paused midstep and looked behind me to see Kakashi standing at the doorway. A sobering expression on his masked face. I frowned at him before walking to investigate what he wanted.

"What do you want?" I demanded.

Kakashi ignored my question and instead gave me a cryptic warning that I frowned deeper at.

"I've spoken to the Third about your curse mark." he stated.

"And...?" Kakashi's mask shifted slightly indicating he was smiling. Why I had no clue.

"You'll find out soon enough. But don't be too disappointed when you do." he said cryptically.

I frowned at him – I hated when people got cryptic. Immediately, I felt three chakra sources nearby and sighed in annoyance as I glanced over at the same time as Kakashi. As expected, we saw the rest of our team looking over at us curiously. I glared at them – hoping to translate that whatever Kakashi and I were discussing between us were none of their business and that they should keep walking. Kakashi merely 'smiled' at them and waved and I cleared my throat impatiently, drawing Kakashi's attention back to me.

"I need a moment of your time, Sasuke. If you could please..."

However, before Kakashi could say anything else, I could still feel familiar eyes burrowing into my skull. I grit my teeth and turned to see Hikari still standing there. I glared at her, but she merely blushed and smiled before walking after Naruto and Sakura. Kakashi chuckled in amusement before I turned my glare on him – daring him to comment, but he seemed to ignore me to finish telling me what he needed to say.

"Try not to use your sharingan. Have you noticed anything different when you've been using it lately?"

Kakashi frowns at me with concern as I tried to remember if anything seemed out of sorts recently. Then I cringed when I remembered how much it hurt when I tried to mold my chakra and when I was using it during the search I underwent with the Dobe.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, it does hurt when I try to mold my chakra." I admitted and flinched slightly when the curse mark on my neck burned. I reached up and started rubbing my neck to soothe the pain.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"May I take a look at that, please." he asked politely.

I tilted my head to the side and flinched when Kakashi's cold fingers started examining that stupid mark on my neck that was causing me all kinds of grief.

Oh great, now my skins become all sensitized to even the slightest touch...

Why wasn't I fast enough to avoid that bastard from biting me in the first place?

"I can tell already that's going to become a hinderance." Kakashi said, stating the obvious and I rolled my eyes.

"Is that all you need to talk to me about?" I asked feeling angry all of a sudden. Kakashi 'smiled' slightly before nodding.

"Of course. Let me know if anything else changes with that." he requested.

"Hn."

I strode away from him and followed the few Genin who were dawdling behind the more eager ones who wanted to know what was going to happen next. The moment I realised how much it hurt to mold my chakra, I knew that the fight I was about to compete in was going to be tougher than I thought.

I followed the other Genin to the balcony where instantly we could see a large stadium like room that had stone bleachers high above and circled around the actual battle area so observers could see the action up close and personal. I groaned unhappily, I hated being treated like a sideshow attraction – and it was just my luck that I had to be up first to fight in this stupid exam.

I just wanted this all to be over and done with as fast as possible so I could focus on more important goals. Such as how to become strong and gain more power to defeat my brother and avenge my clan.

"ATTENTION PLEASE!"

A loud voice grabs my attention and I glance down tiredly at the same Jounin from before who looked just as excited as I felt about this entire situation. All chatter ceased as every eye looked down at him.

"The first battle is about to begin. Could Sasuke Uchiha and Arashi Tanaka make their way down to main arena please." he bellowed.

I sighed, then almost jumped when a hand gently grabbed my wrist. I turned to glower at the person who dared touch me but mellowed when I saw that it was Hikari with Naruto who had a grin that was so wide it took up almost his entire face, and Sakura who was smiling shyly at me.

"Knock 'em down a peg, Sasuke!" Hikari encouraged me and gave my hand a little squeeze before releasing. I nodded and vaulted over the banister and landed soundlessly on the dirt ground below.

"GO SASUKE-KUN!"

"YOU CAN DO IT!"

"WE BELIEVE IN YOU!"

I rolled my eyes in disgust. All those pathetic fangirls were treating me like some sort of reknowned hero heading off for war. I walked over to the far side of the arena and stood there with my legs at akimbo and my arms crossed waiting for my opponent to appear and for this match to begin.

~HIKARI P.O.V~

"GO SASUKE-KUN!"

"YOU CAN DO IT!"

"WE BELIEVE IN YOU!"

Ah great, Sasuke's group of adoring fans had arrived – some of which were amongst the group of Genins about to fight.

"Will you shut up? It's bad enough that we have to fight against each other in this qualifying exam. I think the last thing Sasuke needs is a bunch of idiots pissing him off before he has to fight for his life." I growled, causing several of Sasuke's fangirls to turn and glare at me, but thankfully they didn't retort back.

I glanced around to see how many I could find and was surprised when I realised that almost the entire village had congregated in here, including the Kages of each respective village participating in this exam and our teachers.

"Wow. The Hokage's here." I muttered loud enough for Naruto and Sakura to hear. Both craned their necks to check for themselves. Naruto grinned.

"That's so cool! Jii-chan's gonna watch me fight!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sakura frowned at him and I felt slightly defensive.

"He's not just here to see you, Naruto. He's here to support all the other Konoha Genins participating here too." I reminded him. Naruto balanced his chin on his arms as he glanced down excitedly at Sasuke who was waiting patiently (or as patiently as an Uchiha can get) for the match to begin.

"I'm not stupid, Hikari-chan. I know that." Naruto said, pouting and scowling half-heartedly as he focused on Sasuke and the sound Genin, Arashi – who was stretching his limbs and casting what he probably assumed to be intimidating looks at Sasuke, who certainly wasn't impressed.

I smiled warmly at my 'little brother' and lent over to wrap him up in an affectionate hug.

"I know you're not stupid, Naruto. You gotta stop being so thin-skinned when people correct you. Unless they're rude about it – then by all means give 'em hell." I said, tickling Naruto under the ribs and ended up being caught in a playful headlock... again.

I heard Sakura scoffing disapprovingly behind us but we both ignored her, too focused on having fun.

"Aww how sweet."

A voice that I was beginning to get really sick of hearing piped up again and all three of us glanced up to see Kiba, who had sat down next to Sakura and who was now frowning disapprovingly at the dog ninja who smirked at Naruto and I.

My best friend frowned instantaneously the moment Kiba had spoken, obviously realising he was poking fun at him and me, and immediately moved to shield me in case Kiba was stupid enough to cause a fight (which wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.) Hinata and Shino took their seats next to him, both looking uncomfortable and like they wanted to be anywhere but here at this moment.

"Yes, yes it is. Glad we have this understanding" I answered sweetly before glancing down at Sasuke.

"You know there's a strong chance we'll probably be fighting against each other you know." Kiba said in a casual sounding voice that made me glare at him – daring him to piss me off even further.

"Your point?" Sakura asked curiously.

Kiba shrugged arrogantly and sat back crossing his sandaled feet at the ankles and relaxing. His puppy pulled free from his fur-lined grey jacket and jumped into his lap, curling up and getting ready to watch the match for himself, seemingly oblivious or disinterested in the childish behavior Kiba was exhibiting.

"No reason. Just thought I'd let you know." he said lightly and grinned excitedly when the Jounin referee finally graced us with his presence. I sighed and glanced down once again at Sasuke, frowning whenever he started rubbing his shoulder.

"His curse mark must be bugging him." Sakura commented quietly, obviously trying to keep the information between Naruto and I.

We nodded. Suddenly, the Jounin raised a hand to silence the crowd, grabbing Sasuke's attention because he immediately stood upright and fixed the ref with a determined stare as he waited for him to start speaking.

"ATTENTION! THE MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!" he said.

"He said that ten minutes ago!" Naruto grumbled.

Sakura glared at him and whacked him over the head.

"Quiet you baka. This time it's for real!" she yelled at him.

"You need to learn some patience, Naruto." I sighed as Naruto pouted and rubbed at his head where Sakura had thumped him.

"Rules are as follows for all matches: the match is over if one or other of you is killed, seriously injured or rendered unconscious." He paused to let the information sink in.

"The match is also over if you forfeit or if the umpire deems the match to be over. Umpire's word is final, NO EXCEPTIONS!" Sasuke and Arashi nodded as the Jounin directed his attention towards them.

"Fighters. Get ready!"

Sasuke and Arashi immediately moved into their fighting stances. Sasuke's eyes were completely serious and all business as he stared down his opponent who had a cocky, overly confident smirk on his face.

Sasuke frowned.

"C'mon Sasuke you can beat this creep." I muttered.

"BEGIN!"

The fighting began.

Arashi immediately started gathering his energy into his hands before trying to smash it down over Sasuke's head, as Sasuke raised an unimpressed eyebrow and dodged several times. When the blow finally connected with Sasuke, who was caught off guard. Sasuke instantly started faltering.

"That's so unfair!" bellowed Ino who had somehow come out of nowhere and planted herself next to me during the long wait.

I must've jumped ten feet into the air.

"What are you talking about, Ino-pig?" Sakura demanded loudly in my ear. I forced myself not to roll my eyes already knowing that Sakura would demand what was going on particularly if it had anything to do with Sasuke.

"Can't you tell that that sound ninja is clearly cheating?" she shrieked back.

Naruto frowned in confusion and I glanced at Ino questioningly.

"How can you tell?" Naruto asked.

"His chakra is being drained." came a lazy drawl that could only belong to Shikamaru. Immediately, all eyes snapped back towards Sasuke who seemed to be dazed slightly.

"Troublesome."

Sasuke then grinned. That was when we all realised that Arashi's attack barely had any effect on him, I sighed with relief.

"I wouldn't worry about that." I reassured the almost hysterical fangirls sitting either side of me, eyes threatening to let loose the flood gates.

"What?" shrieked Sakura.

"Why?" asked a slightly more composed Ino, glancing curiously down at Sasuke.

I pointed towards Sasuke with a smirk on my face and winced as I recognised the move Sasuke was now performing. The Uchiha kicked Arashi who at first, before Sasuke raised his leg to kick him high into the air, was completely astonished that his first move had bombed. Then he looked horrified when he realised his two feet weren't planted on the ground any more and he was currently defying gravity.

The expression on his face was priceless and I fought the urge to laugh.

Sasuke's move caused everyone to gasp in surprise, then wince in empathic pain when he beat the living hell out of the luckless sound nin by pile driving him back to the ground using a powerful, well-aimed hook kick. Arashi landed with a sickening crunch and created a giant dust cloud that made it hard to determine whether or Sasuke had won or not.

It was clear that Sasuke had somehow copied Lee's Lion Combo attack – which was weird because he had been out cold the entire time Lee had demonstrated that highly effective, but ultimately painful looking technique to both Sakura and I back in the Forest of Death.

"Oh." was all Sakura and Ino had to say as they sat back in their seats.

The dust cleared and everyone hissed with sympathy when they saw that Sasuke had practically tried to cut Arashi in half with that rolling hook kick he delivered before. Suddenly I felt a very cold shiver shot down my spine and I could feel cruel, calculating eyes watching me.

I frowned suspiciously and looked around the arena trying to find the person watching me. I scanned the cheering crowd bucking for Sasuke who straightened up and stared indifferently at his obviously seriously injured opponent before he suddenly looked to the side too as though sensing somebody looking at him. I frowned – growing wary by the minute. I knew that if even Sasuke could feel foreign eyes staring at him that had nothing to do with the audience of Genin above him cheering, then something bad was going to happen very soon.

"Uchiha wins." The umpire declared in a bored tone and the crowd went wild again. Sasuke rolled his eyes and sauntered away – clearly not caring that he had actually won.

"I-I wonder w-who's up n-next?" Hinata stuttered curiously, scanning the same electronic board from before.

Before our eyes it started randomly choosing the next contestant, causing each Genin to sit on the edge of their seats. Not really caring at the moment, I shrugged absently and got up from my seat lying to both Sakura and Naruto when they questioned where I was going and headed for the nearest exit.

~KAKASHI P.O.V~

After watching Sasuke's match against that kid from the Hidden Sound Village, I frowned and stepped from my place in the crowd to catch his eye, trying to translate to him that we needed to talk privately. He frowned curiously, but nodded and moved to follow me from the arena.

As I was moving I noticed Hikari getting up and moving for the exit after making an excuse to Sakura and Naruto the former scowling suspiciously at her and Naruto, naturally oblivious to Hikari's unusual demeanor. She had a determined, almost disturbed expression on her face. Clearly she was going to try and follow us to see what was going on, and I allowed it – I saw the obvious concern on the girl's face and I found it endearing.

However, I also couldn't help but sense that Sasuke and Hikari's romantic relationship – it was obvious to even the most dim-witted person – is going to be doomed from the start, and I also fear that it would be their undoing if that bastard Orochimaru had anything to do or say about it. I sighed sadly and followed the same route Sasuke had taken and managed to make it outside where I found Sasuke leaning against the wall with his arms clamped firmly across his chest and fixing me with a bored glare.

"What do you want, Kakashi?" he demanded getting straight to the point.

I narrowed my eyes in concern.

He was getting irritable, a sign that that curse mark on his neck was starting to affect his mannerisms, not that they hadn't been just as cold and unfriendly before. I also would be lying if I said that watching Sasuke's match against that Sound kid didn't shock and unnerve me either. The technique Sasuke used to take out his opponent was almost brutal and unforgiving and I know that that match was technically 'kill or be killed' in order to advance to the next round, but it definitely seemed that Sasuke was taking the rules a little too seriously.

Another indication that curse mark was getting stronger.

"I found a solution to help you take a bit more control over that curse mark on your shoulder." I explained pleasantly, choosing my words carefully. My brooding student 'hn'ed' before nodding and waiting for me to make the next move.

"What is it then?" he asked pushing off the wall and giving me his full attention. I directed us towards a nearby room – growing slightly worried when I couldn't sense Hikari anywhere.

"I'm going to place a special seal around the curse mark which will prevent you from activating it unintentionally." I explained and smiling when Sasuke frowned for a second, obviously contemplating if he should let me do this.

"And what happens if I deliberately activate it?" he asked smirking defiantly.

I rolled my eyes realising the curse mark was influencing this answer.

"Well, let's not find out shall we?" I retorted firmly with a forced smile on my face. Sasuke scowled at my words before nodding his consent.

"Good. Hold still for second." I instructed and moved Sasuke so he was sitting down in front of me and I placed my hands over Orochimaru's curse mark.

Sasuke hissed as I placed my hand on his sensitive looking shoulder and I hummed in sympathy.

"This might hurt a little..." I warned him.

Sasuke scoffed and I chuckled remembering when Obito in one of his rare moments when he wasn't so hyperactive (a lot like Naruto come to think of it...) doing that 'stiff upper lip' thing.

"Shut up and get on with it." said Sasuke.

I smiled. "Alright, you asked for it."

I summoned my chakra and pressed down. Instantly, Sasuke yelled out in pain and I winced in sympathy knowing there was little I could do about it. Only thing I could do was complete the task and try and lessen the pain as much as I possibly could. After a few minutes the seal was completed and Sasuke started panting like he had run fast and far without stopping once for relief. Sweat dripped down from his forehead as he glared at me for causing him pain.

I ignored him feeling slightly weak because of the amount of chakra I had just used for the seal.

"The strength of the seal I just placed on you will last depending on your own will, Sasuke." I told him seriously.

"Oh please, do go on..." a voice soft as silk interrupted and floated into the room as both Sasuke and I stood at attention. A shadowy figure had just stepped into the room.

"I find this information extremely fascinating." The voice drawled with amusement.

My eyes narrowed dangerously. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Sasuke reaching for his kunai but I didn't dare take my eyes off of the stranger who gave off a very dark, very dangerous vibes.

"Who are you, show yourself!" I demanded.

The stranger gave a throaty chuckle.

"Certainly." and he stepped into the light...