Happy 4th of July everyone!
xoxo
I sense your fear and desperation. It's only natural. The prey must never let down its guard. Not even for a moment. In the presence of its predator.My heart, it was beating so fast, too fast. It was almost starting to sound like a hum. I sense your fear and desperation. It was heard to breathe, like a weight resided on my chest holding me down. Drowning me in panic, I couldn't get away I couldn't hide.
His laugh, he was mocking me and my efforts, at my weakness. I was useless, not nearly strong enough to kill that monster to save my friends. That snake. He was to strong and he was determined to get Sasuke and Sasuke … he was determined for power.
"No!" My eyes snapped open but everything was blurry. I fought whatever was holding me down; the weight on my chest was unbearable. "Suiren breathe. Breathe!" I felt hands on mine and I pushed them off, "Let me go!" I pushed back trying to focus on something, anything. "Sakura help me." At her name I froze and everything from the fight with the sound ninja came back to me. I saw a pink blur and felt a hand on my cheek, "Focus on my voice, you're okay. Everything is okay. Everyone is okay."
Her sea foam eyes, her pink hair. I took two more deep breaths and I could see. My eyes darted back and forth. "What happened? How long have I been out? Where's Sasuke?" My voice came out soft and rushed as my orbs danced around. I saw Naruto, his blue eyes looking at me, checking my body for any injuries. "You're awake." I reached out and hugged the Knucklehead. He had been out for quite sometimes before I blacked out.
He tensed beneath me before hugging me back. "Im so glad you're awake. I was so worried. I woke up and everything was just a mess." I glanced around but didn't see Sasuke. I saw that team Ino was still there. That had to have meant I wasn't out long. "Here, take one." Choji handed me a food pill and I looked at it intently. "You've been out for less than an hour." That explained why I still felt like shit and why I was still practically on empty with my chakra.
I swallowed the pill. "We need to finish this in less than ten hours or ill black out again." The four glared at me. "I took a pill when we were fighting the sound." I sweat dropped a bit and pushed myself off the floor. "Troublesome women." I rolled my eyes at the comment. I noticed that Ino and Sasuke were missing. It seemed that Sakura noticed my quizzical eyes. "They went to go fill up our water canteens. "
Right when she said this I saw the two emerge from the trees. I locked eyes with the raven mess and he ran over to me. His hands grabbed my face and his onyx orbs desperately search to see if anything was out of place. I grabbed his wrists, "I'm fine." I muttered, but it took him a second longer before he released me.
"What happened to you guys and that Grass ninja? You were both wrecked when Suiren found me." I glanced at the boy. I didn't want to tell her everything. I didn't want to tell her about the mark. They were our teammates but I didn't want to worry them. Team Ino seemed just as interested. "He was strong. Way stronger than any genin, stronger than those sound ninja put together. He wanted to mess up the exams so that's why he came after us. That's all I really know, I think he had something against the Uchiha clan to be honest." Sasuke glanced at me but didn't say anything. Sakura didn't look convinced.
"Since we are all sharing I really need to ask." I looked over at Shikamaru. I was anxious; he was too smart for his was good. "During the fight with the sound. Your eyes." He stopped talking. I knew what he was asking. It was sort of too late to hide it, especially since Orochimaru already knew and he was way worse than these three that risked their lives for us. I sighed.
"I guess it's only fair." Mumbling my eyes flickered red for a moment before I turned it back off. I was scared what would happen right now, especially because of the crazy chakra and the unstable mark on my neck. Ino and Choji had their mouths open slightly. Shikamaru hide his expression well. "So wait that means?" My team was defiantly uncomfortable. It was something we hid for a while and it was now coming out. Soon everyone would know. "They aren't related." Naruto pipped up with his arms crossed, "Thank god." He added and I shook my head. Had his ass beat and still with the sass.
"That's so unfair, why couldn't you just be related." I ignored Ino's comment. "I think we need to get going. You said we had ten hours right?" Sakura was quick to change the subject as well; I knew it was something she didn't like talking about. "It's a drag but we still have to find a heaven scroll so we should probably get going." I sighed.
"I mean we should help you. After everything you guys did." It was silent for a moment. "She's right. We would be dead right now." Sakura went to grab her hair but her hand fell to her side when she realized it was short. I felt a twinge in my heart. "But we need a heaven scroll to since that grass ninja took our other heaven scroll." I nibbled my lip a bit, the girl thought we lost our original scroll.
"We already have both scrolls. I never gave it up." Naruto and Sakura look wide eyed. Before Ino could talk Shikamaru put his hand up, "No. Just go to the tower. We still have 3 days to find another scroll. You don't have that much time. When you pass out your team won't be able to get in, no matter how many scrolls you have." I eyed the shadow boy before bowing my head. "I am in your debt Shika. Ino, Choji. Thank you."
It was only a moment later before they were gone. I looked at my team, "We should probably get going." They nodded and I looked over at Sasuke. He was oddly quiet. More than usually if that was possible. We made sure to get a good distance between us and that area. We were silent, too silent.
We stopped when Naruto's stomach growled. Probable loud enough to let any ninja know we were in the area. I sighed but smiled, I bet we were all hungry. "This should be good." I looked around, we were right by a stream and there was open space so no one could sneak up on us. But just to be safe. "Naruto, Clones please." He hesitated but made seven. "Fan out and check the area for enemies while we rest." They saluted me and were off. When they were out of sight I sat on my butt and pulled my bag in front of me.
"What are we going to eat?" He looked like he was dying and I laughed. "I've got it." I pulled out a summoning scroll that I had packed some food in before we left. "You're gonna have us eat a scroll." I sweat dropped and Sakura punch him in his head, "It's a summoning scroll you idiot." He still looked confused and I rolled my eyes.
His eyes were wide when 4 bento boxes appeared. I was pretty sure he was drooling. I packed each one with three rice balls, three dumplings. Something sweet for Naruto and Sakura and some chopped tomatoes in Sasuke's. Mine had fruit. I need it for the sugar and the energy. "I can't believe you did all this." I smiled at the girl as I handed out their food.
"Well I knew there was a survival portion and I didn't know how long it was going to be so I just wanted to be safe." Sasuke took his but still said nothing. "You're the best Suiren. The best!" The boy took his orange top off and popped open the food. "I need water." We all looked at Sasuke get up and walk away from us. I knew his water was still full from before. "He hasn't said anything since you blacked out." I could tell the girl was worried. She fiddled with her fingers.
"I'll go talk to him." I put my food down and got up. Naruto was already half way done with his food. "Please Suiren. He likes you. More than the rest of us. Please help him." Her voice was soft and it pained me to see her this way. "That's not true." I walked in the direction he had walked in and it wasn't long till I found him sitting on the bank of the water. I took the spot next to him.
"Hey." I said and he glanced at me, shoulders relaxed at the sight of me. "Sakura is really worried about you." I said flicking him in the temple. He closed his eyes and I expected a glare but nothing happened. "She shouldn't im fine." I sighed, at least he was talking. I'd feel better with a glare though. "You aren't fine. Im not fine but it's okay to not be fine." I pulled my legs to my chest. I could see a little of the mark sticking out from under his high collar and it was making me sick.
He turned to me, "You spoke while you were blacked out. Cried out for me." I closed my eyes tight for a moment before opening it again. "Im sorry." I was confused, why was he apologizing to me. "For what I did to those sound Ninja." He looked down at his open hands that lay on his lap. "I hurt you." I shook my head quickly and turned to the boy, "You didn't hurt me Sasuke. That snake hurt me. There is a difference." He looked up at me and his hand pulled on the sleeve of my shirt exposing my neck and shoulder.
"I wasn't strong enough and I hurt you." His voice was soft and sounded like it would crack with pressure. This was a different Sasuke. One that scared me almost as much as the power hungry one. I shivered when his fingers touched where the bite had been. I put my hand over his hand, his palm open faced on my neck. "Orochimaru was going to hurt you. I got this protecting you and I would get ten more if I had to, to keep you safe. It's not your fault."
The second lasted an eternity before he wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled me to him. I let him haul me on his lap and hold me tight. Like he was afraid if he let go I would disappear. There was a nagging part in the back of my head that thought I would to and I spoke before I filtered my words, "Please don't leave me. Pease don't abandon me. I don't want to be alone again." I muffled my words with his shoulder and part of me hoped he didn't even hear me. Those nightmares, that snake. He wanted to get his fangs into Sasuke and take him into the dark. I wouldn't let him. I had to fight him.
He squeezed me for a moment before answering me, "I won't. I promise." His breath against my hair cause a quiver to encase my spine, I felt something tug at my heart and I felt a flutter in my stomach I didn't understand. The moment went awkward for the both of us. I got up and rubbed the back of my neck before putting a hand out for him to grab. "Let's get back and eat before the garbage disposal eats everything."
"Hn." I cracked a smile. He was back to himself again, at least enough to clear some of the worry from my mind. When we got back to our team, I started to chuckle at the site of a shirtless Naruto with a huge bump on his head. Sakura healing him and taking out little pebbles from his back. "The idiot was jumping off those rocks into the water and slipped down them the last time." She shook her head and Sasuke and I joined them to finish eating.
I was feeling better but my muscles were buzzing, I knew we needed to get to the tower and fast and if we could not run into anymore enemies that would be a plus. For now though it was nice to rest and I know my team needed to refuel so we enjoyed the weather and the peace for a few more moments.
Naruto gave that look and I know his shadow clones had given us information. We waited for him to tell us the news, "We have a team about three miles that way." He pointed behind me and I sighed, "Sasuke that map you looked at, which way to the tower?" He thought about it for a moment looking around us, "That way." He pointed behind Naruto and I smiled, perfect. "Alright let's go."
We packed everything away and got ourselves together. The two scrolls were in my bag, I thought it was a bad idea to put them both together but the three insisted I were to carry them. "Sasuke out front, you have the map in your head. I'll be behind him to back up for a frontal attack. Sakura behind me and Naruto in the rear. Have five of your clones about half a mile surrounding us just in case." They all nodded to me and we were off in the trees. Every so often one a shadow close would give Naruto some information but nothing that we needed to stop for.
"We are getting close to the tower." I nodded and looked back to make sure everyone heard. "Stop!" We all landed side by side by side at Naruto's command. "An enemy team of three of them about a mile up ahead." I sighed and wracked my brain. "We need to go that way to get to the tower. We can go around but it will cost us some time." I shook my head. We didn't have time. "Okay Naruto can you make a fake team seven?" He looked at me confused and I smiled.
We watched carefully as the fake team seven approached an enemy leaf team. Naruto told us that they had an earth scroll and maybe we should take it just in case. I shook my head, "Being greedy will get us killed. Let's put distance between this fight, just let me know when they realize they are just clones. "He hesitated but nodded. "We are close." Sasuke said and Sakura let out a content sigh. I knew she just wanted this part to be over.
We took off full speed. We didn't care how much chakra we were using because we were close. The sun was starting to set on the second day. We were about 42 hours into the exam. Longer then I would have liked but better than nothing. It would give us some time to safely heal before the end of the exam. Who knows how soon the next one would start.
We stopped in a tree about twenty feet from the tower. "You guys ready?" Sakura's eyes darted around and Naruto just held up a thumbs up. "I hope there are no traps here." She was right. There might be. "You still have some smoke bombs" I looked over to see the boy had his eyes on. I nodded. I had two left. "Throw one right between us and the tower and we will run for it. You are about to collapse. We don't have time for a fight." I was about to open my mouth before Sakura grabbed my hand. I hadn't even known it was trembling.
"Fine Fine." I wasn't going to argue with them. I was well past my limit. The lunch we had didn't really even help me the only thing that had me going was that food pill Choji gave me. Naruto put his fingers go up one at a time. I fiddled with the smoke ball in my hand. One. .
It was quick. I wasn't even sure anyone had seen us or if it was just one big entrance but we did it. We got into the tower and I was ready to sleep. "What's that?" I glanced up at the wall with the writing Sakura was talking about. We read it but there was a word missing. "So what are we supposed to do now?" Naruto looked around and Sasuke did the same, his eyes still blood red just to be safe. I took the scroll out of my pocket and tossed one to the knucklehead and one to Sakura.
"I think we open these." I ignored the crazy looks I was getting and back up at the writing on the wall. "If the qualities of heaven are what you desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. When heaven and earth are opened together, the pair less path will become righteous forever. This something is the secret way that guides us from this place today."
"What's something?" I rolled my eyes. "Dobe the word is missing." Sasuke was always so mean to the kid. "Listen when heaven and earth are opened together. So we have to open the scrolls to finish the exam." They looked at me and nodded, "I think." They sweat dropped. "What do you mean you think!?"
"Don't yell at me Naruto I don't know everything!" I crossed my hands over my chest. My head hurt and I was trying my best to figure this all out. "Fine we open the scrolls together so the path will become righteous forever right?" I nodded at Sasuke; it's the only thing that made sense. "Alright don't mess this up Naruto." Sakura looked up at his and he sighed. "One. Two – Three." The two opened them and we looked down.
"Person? Guy. What is this?" We were all stumped for a moment when the scrolls started to smoke. "Summoning Justu!" Sasuke yelled and the two threw their scroll on the floor. Naruto stood in front of Sakura in a fighting possession next to Sasuke and I next to Sasuke a hairline behind to fight any rear attacks.
Once the smoke cleared a man stood in front of us. "It's you? It's really you!" Naruto jumped up and down in his place. "Iruka-Sensei what are you doing here?" Sakura looked at ease and even though I didn't know this Ninja I felt at ease to. "At the end of the exam we are supposed to welcome test takers back and as Luck would have it I got to great you guys and give you a message."
"A message?" I said tugging at Sasuke's shirt softly. He glanced at me for a moment, "This is our sensei from back at the academy." I nodded understanding now and stepped out in front, my hands crossed over my chest. He pulled a watched from his pocket and smiled. "Wow done in 46 hours. Not bad guys." I stomped my foot on the ground. "Damn it. So much for 32." I grabbed Naruto's hand, "Come on we are doing it again." He looked at me wide eyes and I chuckled. "Joking." He let out a breath of air, "Don't scare me like that Suiren."
Iruka-sensei laughed, "Congratulations on passing the second exam."
"Alright we did it! Believe it!" This kid had too much energy. "Still as hyperactive as always huh Naruto?" Sakura found her way next to me and squeezed my hand with a smile which I returned gratefully. I would've been dead without her.
"I would love to take you all out for ramen to celebrate but-." He was cut off by the knucklehead wrapping his arms around his waist, "Alright ramen! Iruka-sensei you're the BEST!" I could help but smiled. We were all safe, for now.
"Naruto stop let me finish." He smiled sheepishly at him. "After the five days are up and the third exam is explained to you we will see about that ramen." The poor boy looked so defeated. "Before I let you guys go relax I have to explain this." He moved a bit and pointed to the writing. "We get it already no need to explain." He eye balled me and I smiled. The smiled slipped from my face when I realized my team looked at me with misunderstanding, I guess they didn't get it yet.
"Well Heaven is the mind and Earth is the body. If the qualities of heaven are what you desire then you work on your mind, right Naruto? If earthly qualities are what you lack then you train your body. Only when both heaven and earth are opened together the path will become righteous forever. So only when you master both your body and mind do you truly become an exceptional shinobi." Sakura nodded in understanding and Sasuke cracked a small smirk.
"I think." I mumbled looking up at Iruka-Sensei and he smiled at me with reassurance. "Yes that's correct, Suiren. Im very proud of you four."