We have about one more post before the split in characters. Everyone who has followed and liked our story now is the time that if you prefer Shizuko and Naruto as a couple and want to read more of their stuff to hit up my co-writer Tsukiange's page and for more Sasuke and Lie keep reading on mine. As always for pictures please visit Tsukiange on Pinterest she has pictures of both of our girls. Enjoy!
Chapter 17
Shizuko POV
This is thinking
I stared at Lie, and her fiance's back sadly for a moment before shaking my head and walking past the boys who were staring at Lie still and walked up the stairs with a shake of my head.
"Hey Shizuko, wait up!" Naruto yelled as he ran after me. I could hear Sasuke's footsteps following us.
"I think we have to open the scrolls together…," I explained as we read the riddle on the wall. Sasuke nods as he holds the heaven scroll in his hand as we begin to open it. I stared down in confusion at the figures on the scroll. With a small shriek, I throw down the earth scroll as it begins to smoke.
Through the smoke, we see a figure, "Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto yelled happily.
"Hey, guys, congratulations on passing the second exam!" He began to explain the rules of the second exam. With a sigh I listened faintly as I landed on my butt staring dead-eyed up at Iruka, still exhausted from depleting my chakra to heal the boys.
I was shaken out of my stupor as a hand in front of my face, following the hand I smiled at Naruto and accepted his hand. We were led into a bigger room with other genin there.
"Congratulations on finishing the second exam." The Hokage started talking as we lined up in rows with Naruto and Sasuke on both of my sides. I was distracted away from the Hokage's message of the true meaning of the exam. I wasn't surprised by the actual reason as I felt Nation's always want to show their arrogance and who has the most powerful ninja. Speaking of pride, I spied Lie and Akumu diagonally to us as they looked bored.
Turning her head our eyes locked onto each other, soft brown eyes meeting demonic red eyes. What happened to Lie?!
"We do have to have a preliminary round before the third exam, the first two exams must have been too easy; there are too many of you guys. It will be a one on one battle to the death." Hayate the new proctor explained.
"Seriously… I'm still tired from the last fight." I rolled my eyes and heard similar mutterings around me.
"Anyone is free to forfeit and leave on their own." Naruto and I looked at one another and shook our heads as he gave me a thumbs up and a grin.
Looking over at Sasuke I saw he was gripping his shoulder where he was bit, his teeth gritted. Stepping closer to him I laid a hand over his, as I remembered the evil that came from it.
"Sasuke, there is no shame in ending this now." Tightening my grip, we stared at each other not blinking. "Who knows if you come back if that thing activates, I'm worried about you…." I could sense eyes on us as we muttered to each other, Sasuke saying he's okay, and he has a path to walk.
"What's going on guys?" Blinking over at Naruto I remembered he didn't see any of it in the forest. But, Naruto's narrowed eyes were locked onto our overlapping hands, I could hear a growling undertone in his voice.
"Alright, I give up." Team 7 looked over at the glasses ninja we met in the first exam, as he walked away, in shock.
Sasuke squeezed my hand on his shoulder with a small smile and a nod as his name was drawn to fight a ninja from Kabuto's team.
"Be careful please," I whispered as we walked up to the second level giving him a determined nod.
Naruto and I watched anxiously as Sasuke fought the leaf ninja, holding my breath as the mark started taking over in the air. But, Naruto's taunts to him seemed to give him more control as the mark receded. Looking across from us I saw Lie with her brows furrowed and a step in front of Akumu gripping the railing tightly her knuckles white. How interesting.
We watched as Sasuke was escorted off the field by Kakashi. "Hey, Shizuko did you see marks appear on Sasuke during the match?" Looking back at Naruto I bit my lip as I remembered the conversation Sasuke and I had in the forest of death.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^Flashback^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Shizuko…." Turning around to face Sasuke after watching Lie and Naruto leave for the river with pursed lips, not trusting her with Naruto.
"Sasuke, how are you feeling?" I asked as I kneeled down next to him as he gripped his shoulder.
" 'm fine," He waved off my hands as I tried to look over his bruises and cuts. "You have to promise not to tell Naruto about the mark. There's no need to worry him since there is nothing he can do about it." I shook my head and stared at him a frown gracing my face.
"We shouldn't keep something like this from him, it will come out eventually. You're asking me to lie to him!"
"Yeah, that's rich coming from you considering we don't know much about you either…" I avert my eyes to stare at the trees away from his piercing gaze. "You tell us not to trust Lie, but I know more about her than my own teammate." I gripped tightly to my skort as I flinched from his accusatory voice.
"I haven't told you guys for your protection. I have to keep you guys safe, you are my only family."
"That's bullshit, and you know it. We don't need your protection" Sasuke shook his head with a scoff.
"I promise when the three of us are alone, and together I will explain everything." Staring into Sasuke's eyes, "But, do not trust Lie, the darkness is winning and who knows what she will do. I have seen the atrocities her people have committed. Please trust me on this..." Maintaining eye contact Sasuke gives a slow nod of his head.
"We're baaaack! With food!" Naruto's cheerfulness breaks through the seriousness.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^End Flashback^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Remembering my promise I made to Sasuke I tilted my head and looked at Naruto with a shake of my head. "No I didn't, what are you talking about?"
"Oh okay, must have been seeing things then!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head with a grin. Looking down at my feet a pit fell into my stomach as I lied to my best friend.
"Alright time for the next match; Lie vs. Zaku" Naruto and I shared a look before turning back to the arena.
Third person POV
Lie gazed happily at the screen. It was finally her turn to fight, and she smirked threateningly as recognized the name of her opponent. She moved Akumu's arm off her shoulder where it had been resting and stepped up onto the railing and jumped down to the arena. Looking up towards her opponent.
"Why are you so happy girl I've already beaten you once. Just can't get enough huh?" Zaku asked as he also jumped down into the arena.
"It's time for a little payback now that I have my balance back. You broke your arm of course which is going to put you at a deep handicap. Here I'll only use my right hand in our fight. Sound fair?"
"Hn you can use both hands girl this will end the same with or without my arms."
Her smirk grew as she held one arm behind her back and with the other one motioned for him to make the first move.
"You know what's funny girl, this one moves a little," Zaku said flexing his right hand slightly.
She shrugged, and he rushed her with that hand. Punching towards her head to which she dodged and went to knee him in the gut and he jumped back slightly but sped her again going for a mid punch. She caught his wrist before it connected with her belly and squeezed tight.
"Be careful boy, or I'll break your wrist too," She smirked tightening her grip causing his fist to open.
"You are pretty confident for someone who's lost once already," He said smiling. "Don't worry though I still have some tricks up my sleeve." He opened his hand, and a gust of wind burst sending Lie flying back into hard concrete.
Dust filled her half of the arena. When it cleared she was smiling, "Neat trick. Wanna see mine?"
She used her free hand to pull the sleeve up on her left arm and dig her nails into her exposed shoulder drawing a fair amount of blood and making a one-handed hand sign. Darkness began seeping from her wound and covered the walls behind her. She slowly stepped back. It looked like she was stepping right into the wall as she mixed with the shadows.
"I know a few magic tricks boy. Let's see who the better magician is."
Sickled chains flew from the left side of the wall and slashed his good shoulder. Then again on the south-east attacking his left leg. This went on several times all taking a bite out of the unsuspecting boy trying to indicate a pattern to the movements or to guess where the attack will be coming next until he was slightly bloodied up.
"Enough," he said taking both of his arms out of his sling and holding them out on either side of him.
He created a sonic bomb that shook the foundation of the walls causing Lie to fall out of her position in the darkness.
From there he threw several Kunai in her direction causing Lie to dodge to the right. He slammed his hands into the ground, and the floor caved in around her ankle keeping her in place.
"Looks like your trapped," He said cockily.
Lie looked down at her ankle and wiggled it slightly to test just how much room she had to play with.
She chuckled darkly, "You're not too bad. Are you ready for my great escape? Don't blink boy. This will be the closing act."
She dug her hand into her bleeding shoulder again and drew a circle around her and shouted, "Demonic offering."
Zaku flung several shurikens her way, and she let them hit her in her right arm blocking her vital organs as her jutsu finished. Darkness came seeping from below her as a giant red hand came up from a black void breaking the ground she was trapped in and went and slammed into Zaku. Flattening him against the ground. The nails of the hand dug into his clothing pulling him back towards the black void.
"No stop I give up, please. Please make it stop," He shouted, but all she did was laugh. Where was his cockiness? He sure didn't show mercy to her in their previous battle, and she was not about to show him any.
Right before the claw could pull him down a cloud of smoke appeared in front of Lie smearing her blood circle with a blue ninja sandal. She looked up to see Kakashi towering before her.
"He gave up Lie. My team is not full of heartless killers." Lie's smile slowly faded as she just sighed and shrugged. Walking up to Zaku.
"You're lucky this time. Never cross my path again because I can't promise you'll be as lucky the next."
Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder as if to remind her one more time that it was over. Her eyes connected with him as she looked back but it was as if her eyes saw straight through him. She then looked towards team 7. They stared down at her with surprised and disturbed eyes. She shrugged Kakashi away and slowly walked towards the stairs to go back to her position with her other clanmates. Afterall. There were plenty more battles to be fought.
Shizuko's POV
When Lie was back to Akumu and under his arm, we locked eyes, neither one of us wanting to be the first to look away.
"Shizuko vs. Shino!" Giving Lie a small smile I jump down from the second floor. Time to show you what I can do.
Shino followed suit, his emotions hidden by his outfit. "I'll give you one chance to forfeit and withdraw, you won't be able to beat me at your level." He cooly exclaimed.
"Don't underestimate me!" I snarled and jumped back a kunai in my hand ready for his first move.
For a few moments, it was just us staring at each other. Growing tired of waiting I rushed Shino as we exchanged blows equally, each blocking the others attack. I managed to land a blow to his stomach with a kick sending him flying back.
"Just forfeit, and I won't have to hurt you." Holding my kunai at the ready, I jumped back as he slowly got up. Hearing light tapping behind me I look behind to see an army of bugs crawling towards me. With a shriek, I leaped forward and looked toward Shino who has bugs crawling out of his skin.
You've got to be kidding me! I hate bugs! I can feel shivers up my spine as I think of the creepy crawly bugs. Feeling something on my arm I look down and immediately start hitting at the bugs on my arms. "Get them off!"
"It's eating away at your chakra, soon there will be nothing left to use if that doesn't work more bugs are approaching to encase you in their web." Looking around still rubbing my arms I am surrounded on all sides with bugs and Shino in front of me.
"It seems I have no choice…." Making the hand signs for Holy Fire, I do it close to me.
"Holy Fire Jutsu" My body alights in the Holy Fire destroying the bugs on me. Running through the bugs to attack Shino head on.
Shino and I clashed again, with Shino jumping back in fear whenever my fire got too close. My kunai hooked into his shoulder, and he erupted into a swarm of bugs. Getting over my surprise, I swing my foot around to land a kick to Shino who tried to attack from behind. A dent was impressed into the wall from his body.
"Holy Fire Cage!" I made hand signs to bring the Holy fire to surround his still body. Shino shakily got up and stared at the ring as a bug touched it, dying instantly. As we stared at each other, I made the sign smaller and smaller mimicking the circle around him.
"I will kill them all if I have to, you won't stop me from advancing towards my goal."
"I forfeit the match." Shino raised his hand, and I let the ring disappear.
"Yeah! Great job Shizuko!" I looked up at Naruto and gave him a weak thumbs up. I looked around the balcony and saw shock and fear on some of the genins faces. I ignored all their stares and stood next to Kakashi and Naruto.
"You'll have to teach me that Shizu-chan! It was so cool your body was completely covered in fire, and your eyes were golden! It was so cool!" Naruto hugged me as he yelled in my ear. They turned to gold? I felt someone staring at me hard and locked eyes with Shiori. She was staring at me with fear, but interest at the same time. She gave me a small smile before looking down at Ino and Sakura who were fighting next.
I glanced at the Hokage on the podium to see him looking at me and glancing at one of the hallways near me. Giving him a small nod I quietly slipped away from Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura.
Leaning against the wall in the darkened hallway with my arms crossed in front of me I don't have to wait long before a poof happens in front of me revealing the Hokage.
"So I'm sure by now everyone knows about Lie and yourself. You guys aren't very subtle." He chuckled as I fidgeted with my sleeves and blushed. Looking down I gasped. "Oh! My clan symbols are showing! Sorry!" I bowed deeply to the Hokage apologizing profusely.
"It's okay, I knew we couldn't keep you guys secret too long." He said in a grandfatherly tone. "I just wanted to warn you to be careful, I'm sure you know Orochimaru is here."
Crossing my arms again with a sigh I nod while looking down. "He's going to come after you to get the book. Is it hidden well?" I raised an eyebrow at him before slowly nodding again. "No one will find it unless I want them to."
"Good, you need to be vigilant we don't know who is on his side yet."
"The sound ninjas are followers of Orochimaru. He targeted Sasuke for some reason."
"We are aware of what occurred in the forest Shizuko, as well as the whole Lie situation." I looked away and stared down the hallway towards the battles, my teeth clenched tightly.
"Before I go, don't always trust in rumors that you hear. Believe what your heart tells you. Trust your gut. There's a reason you feel the way you do." With the last advice, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Leaving me in my thoughts once again. Though I wasn't alone very long.
"Wouldn't have expected you to be alone in a dark area….thought your kind was afraid of the dark." A voice rang out snidely. Looking over it was like Lie was a part of the darkness around us, probably was.
"Not afraid of the darkness, just what hides in the shadows." I gave a weak smile. "Never thought you were into hiding Lie or is that your new M.O.?"
"Nah just thought I would congratulate you on your match. I'm proud of you, you looked like you were ready to kill him, maybe I rubbed a little darkness off on you, or is it your true side showing. The fear on the other genin's face was amusing. Wasn't it a rush?!" She enthusiastically asked, her bloodlust coating her tone.
She stood across from me in the hallway, mimicking my posture, leaning against the wall except propping her foot up with her arms crossed a devious smirk on her face, eyes alight.
I could only stare at her in silence, wondering how we reached this point. "How did we end up like this? We were really friends weren't we?"
"Poor Angel, you are the last remaining of your village. I was just hoping you'd slip and tell me where you are keeping the Heaven book." I dug my fingers into my arm creating indents into them as her smirk widened.
"Why so you can cause more chaos in your wake like what you did to Zaku?!" My voice echoed in the hallway, but Lie just smiled and tilted her head, I felt like she was mocking me.
"You'll never find it demon." I spat out pushing off the wall I walked towards the yelling of the arena.
"Might want to keep an eye on that boyfriend of yours, the way he was cradling and talking to Hinata you may have some competition." I kept walking as her dark chuckle rang behind me.
I came into the arena to see the end of Choji's loss against the sound ninja from the forest. Naruto gave me a questioning look as I stood next to him.
"Where have you been? You missed my epic showdown with Kiba!" Naruto yelled as I smiled in apology as he pouted.
"How about when this is over, you can tell me everything over Ramen." I bargain as his eyes fill with tears and smile.
"Really?! You're the best Shizuko! It'll be awesome, just you and me!" He gripped my hand and grinned. Blushing I looked over and saw Lie smirking at me and mouth 'Hinata.'
The Hokage and examiner gestured down the winners of their battles. The Ten of us jumped down in front of the Hokage.
"In one month from now, we will hold the final exam. This is to let us prepare the battlefield, and for you guys to prepare against a known enemy." Looking at the arena behind me I know I missed something big in this arena.
"We will be telling you who you will be facing to prepare for it. Take one slip of paper that Anko is coming around with." Grabbing a paper slip, I immediately opened it to see a big number 6 on it. Looking at Naruto, he shifted the paper so I could see the 1 on his as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Ibiki show them how they are paired up. With that, we stare intently at the board. Looking for 6 I see that I am paired up with Lie in our bracket. Looking at her she just smirked at me.
"You will be judged by the leaders of the villages to determine if you are chunin battle ready. I would suggest you find a mentor and train hard in the month." With that, the Hokage and the examiners leave the arena.
Great, not only do I have a month to beat Lie, now I have to find a mentor. I let out a heavy sigh. I feel someone behind me, pausing my musings.
"I won't hold back against you Angel, be ready in a month." I could hear the darkness in her tone, and just as quickly her chakra disappeared.
I'm gonna die.