Hello all.

Here is the next chapter.

R&R&R

Enjoy!
xoxo

I looked around. More teams then i thought had passed the test. I was thankful to see Ino's team was alive and well. They even had almost a full day to recover. I was surprised to see the sound nin. How they got two more scroll after giving up theirs to us was a mystery. Even more so his team mates were pretty messed up, I would be sure never to underestimate them. Not after everything they had done.

I sighed. So much competition. The room they had us all in was large with view up top and a big statue ahead of us. It seemed ever Chunin was there. Even the Hokage was there. I had been three days but I still can believe that we had did it. I was still living off the high of the test. Trying not to think about Orochimaru and what sick plans he might be hatching.

We were all lined up according to our teams, one behind the other. It was strange because since I was a fourth there was no one next to me. I just lingered behind like an extra. I stared at the raven hair of the boy in front of me. He was behind Sakura and Naruto was at the lead. The Hokage spoke and congratulated us on passing and making it this far. "Do you all know why we hold the Chunin exams in conjunction with our allies?" My nose twitched a bit. A man stepped forward, "Please Hokage allow me." With a slight nod from him he looked at us.

Standing in front of us he coughed a few times. He seemed slightly sick and I wondered what his story was. "My name is Hayate Gekko and I will be your proctor-" There was another two coughs. "for the third exam. Due to the large number of candidates who passed the last test it is in the bi laws of the Chunin exams to have a preliminary right here and now." My breath caught in my throat. Some of the teams had just arrived not to long ago and weren't even fully healed. To throw us in right now was mad. "What, a preliminary? That's not fair." Usually Ino's voice annoyed me but I was sort of on the same page as her. We had all past. Did we not all deserve to move forward.

"We really never expected so many of you to pass." I could see the slight glances to Ibiki and Anko. It wasn't there fault at all. These test were hard as hell and we all scrapped and crawled to get here. "There will be a lot of important people watching and they only came here to see the very best." So we were to put on a show. It was as though the villages were getting together to show off their genin while we sit here risking our lives for the title. Risking our lives for these villages to show us off. The idea was sour in my mouth and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I guess part of it made sense because if a village does not show strength at these exams then there is a chance it could get invaded by sheer temptation thus starting an all out war.

I could here the murmurs of the group and my eyes focused on the back of Sasuke's neck. I reached up and held the spot where my bite had been. I remember what he looked like when he let it take control of him. I would be stupid not to be worried. What if he got paired right now with someone that brought out the worst in him. The thought made me tremble.

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at every one. I wondered who I would be paired with but most of all I wondered who my team would be paired with. I was nervous. There was so many ninja here who I didn't want to see fighting my team and I silently prayed that they would all be okay. I was brought back to reality when Kabuto raised his hand to leave.

"Wait what are you doing you already came this far!?" The blonde was always so vocal about his thoughts. To be honest I was glad the kid was leaving he rubbed me the wrong way to. "I'm sorry Naruto but I just cant go on. Truth be told I haven't been able to hear out of my left ear since before the first exam." He shrugged his shoulders and smiled before waving and leaving. I counted again and it seemed there was an odd number of participants.

"If there is anyone else who does not feel they are fit to continue please take this opportunity to leave before we get started. These will be one on one matches till one either admits defeat or is killed. I reserve the right to step in at any time I see fit and declare a winner." Thump. Killed, the word stung my brain. There were plenty of people here who would kill in a heart beat if they were given the chance. I watched one more ninja from Kabuto's team raise his hand and leave as well brining the numbers back down to even ones. It was suspicious that two from the same team would leave. I wasn't sure how I felt about it really but there wasn't much I could do about it now.

"How's the mark?" I leaned forward and whispered in the kids ear. I was starting to get antsy. I was getting that feeling again. That feeling something was going to be very wrong. He glanced at me and for a moment I thought he wasn't going to answer me but he did, "Fine." I knew he was a liar. I could see the last few days he was in pain. Sometimes it was only a small flinch or a twitch of his eye but I could tell it was bothering him. "It's okay to stop here." I tugged on his shirt. My voice almost pleading.

He stiffened up at my touch and his jaw clenched at my words. I knew stopping was far from his mind. "No." He said sternly. A lump in my throat rose quickly. I rested my forehead on his shoulder, in the crook of his neck. Right on the mark. I could almost feel it pulsating through his shirt. I fought the urge to put my hand up, to tell someone, anyone about what happened in the forest. To get him help but against my better judgment I choked it down.

"Don't die on me you idiot." My lips brushed against his shirt as I spoke, muffled and soft. The clothes itched my face but I didn't dare move. His heartbeat quickened. I could feel it. I knew he heard me and even though he didn't reply I knew he would try. I let the moment pass. I didn't raise my hand and the proctor went on when no one else did either. I pulled away and stood back nibbling my lip. "The screen behind us will display two names of who will be up. Names are chosen at random and will continue to go until every one has fought." I looked up at the ledge above. "You can view each battle from up top." At least I would be close. Just in case. The screen started to twirl and I held my breath waiting for who would be first. Of course fate was bitter sweet.

Sasuke Uchiha v. Yoroi Akado.

It wasn't anyone I was particularly worried about and even thought he was first I guess it was a decent out come for now. "Everyone else please clear the floor." Sakura and Naruto turned around to look at Sasuke. "Make sure you don't lose now teme. I want to beat you myself." This was the best Naruto would give Sasuke as a good luck. He also gave him and thumbs up as well, classic. "Be safe, Good luck." Sakura smiled hesitantly before looking at me.

I gulped a bit and he glared at me. Silently telling me not to worry. I nodded my head a bit and glanced up as Kakashi-sensei walked over to us. "Better get up there now." Sakura and Naruto turned to head toward the stairs. I lingered for a moment longer. "I wouldn't use your Sharingan much if I where you." We both eye balled him. "If that mark gets out of hand I will have to step in." I felt a small weight lift off my shoulders.

"You know?" I said in a hurried hush tone. He eye smiled and nodded. It was like he was all knowing, it was scary and comforting at the same time. Sasuke nodded clenching his jaw. He knew that if Kakashi had to step in that he would automatically lose. Sasuke wasn't a loser, far from it. I took a moment longer before turning and walking with Kakashi toward the stairs. " You did very well out there Suiren." I shook my head. If he knew he had the mark he knew I failed. I didn't do well at all. We started walking up the stairs when he put a hand on my shoulder. "You kept your team alive. Even against an opponent stronger then myself. You did a good job." My heart quickened.

I didn't keep my team alive. Sakura kept them more alive then I did. "We all almost died a few times. Two of my teammates and myself were knocked out and Sakura was almost killed trying to protect us. . Sasuke has the weird mark that turns him in a killing machine and I -" I stopped talking and wondered if he knew that the snake caught me too. " I don't feel like I did a good job." I mumbled. "Your team is alive and you completed the mission in 46 hrs. Don't be so hard on yourself. Sometimes that's all a Chunin squad leader can be thankful for."

I sighed. "Kakashi-sensei lets agree to disagree. You weren't out here. A lot has changed." I knew he understood what I was saying to a certain extent. "The snake knows that there are two mice in the field left not only one." I glanced at him and his eye held worried, I wasn't sure the ears that could be listening so I used code that I hoped he would understand. I glanced around the room at all the other team and their senseis. "I was worried about that when I heard about Sasuke." It was his turn to sigh. He knew how bad this situation was and that eased me a bit more. At least we weren't alone.

"There is something else." I mumbled stopping again before we reached the top. I gulped, heat racing to my ears. I knew I didn't want to say anything but I had to. Just incase in the future it could save my teams life. Or if I ended up being a threat to this village someone had to know. His eye traced my face, "The snake poisoned both the mice. One on purpose but one by mistake." My voice got soft and I looked to the floor. I felt as thought I had made a bad situation worse. I caught him off guard but only for a moment before his face softened. There wasn't much we could do about me what wait. I survived this far with it thought, I hadn't died yet.

"We will figure this out, I promise." I took one more glance at my sensei and nodded. We joined my team on the ledge. I got a glare from Ino but I ignored it and made a b line for Shikamaru. "I'm glad to see you guys here." He was leaning against the wall next to Choji. His hands shoved in his pockets. "Glad to see you're still in one piece." He smiled faintly. "Thanks to you guys we are. Like I said I owe you one." He rolled his eyes a bit. "It would've been more of a drag to let you guys get killed." I smiled softly and hoped that I didn't end up fight him either. "Still if anything come up just let me know." I owned him a life debt, his team really cause of what they did and I would pay it back. I had to.

"Well for one you can back off my man." I glanced at Ino. I didn't have the effort to fight with her, not now and maybe not ever. I didn't want to. "If you want him take him." I said shrugging my shoulders and I got a glare from the girl. " You don't think I see you trying to make your move. Hugging him in the forest, tugging on his shirt and whispering to him. You're poisoning my Sasuke and tricking him into loving you." I snorted a laugh. I was this way with all my teammates. We were close Sasuke and I but it was hard not to be. That didn't mean anything though. I wasn't trying to trick anyone. " I have no idea what you're talking about." I was sure steam would erupt from her ears. "I'm watching you Suiren. I wont lose to you." I sighed a bit. It was hard to lose to someone who wasn't even playing a game with you.

"Leave her alone Ino-pig."

"What did you say billboard brow." Sakura grabbed my hand and pulled me between her and Naruto. "Don't be jealous because our team has a stronger bond then yours and that Sasuke forgets your name all the time." She pulled her bottom eye lid and stuck her tongue out at the girl. I couldn't help but laugh. A totally different Sakura would pop out now and then, especially when Ino instigated it. Crossing her arms over her chest, Ino put her attention to the fight below.

"Don't mind her. She is just jealous that you're prettier." I glanced at Sakura and wondered if deep down she thought the same thing as Ino. I knew her feelings for Sasuke and I know how to the outside world him and I would look but it wasn't that at all. We were just close. I squeezed the girls hand and she smiled before letting it go. We turned to watch the match. I kept my face clean of emotion when he started. He seemed at first to be doing alright. Till it turned out his opponent could absorb chakra. I held my ground. He struggled for a bit and I noticed his mark. I took a step toward the ledge, my breath caught in my throat. Kakashi put a hand on my head.

I tapped my finger on railing and inhaled deeply when the mark started to receded. He pulled out a move I had never seen before. Lion's barrage and I couldn't help but smile. He was growing every day. "The winner is Sasuke Uchiha!" Our team cheered when he won and in a moment Kakashi-Sensei was behind him, keeping him from falling over when he landed on his butt. The boy glanced at me and looked like he wanted to say something. I jumped down and walked over to him as the board started to turn again getting ready for another match. I bent down and eyed him with a small smile. He looked exhausted that mark must have took a lot out of him. He leaned forward slightly and I turned my head to hear what he had to say, "Be careful." He mumbled.

"Don't worry Suiren ill take it from here." I glanced up at Kakashi-Sensei and nodded. I wanted to go with them but I still had to wait for my own fight. I glanced at the raven when he put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing where the bite had been, "I want to watch her match first." Kakashi looked down, "I don't think that's a good idea. I need to seal that as soon as possible." Seal the mark. Like they had down to my kekkei genkai. Was it really that easy. Before Sasuke could protest Kakashi looked back up at the screen, "I guess we can wait." Thump. I looked over at the board was it my turn already?

Dosu Kinuta v Suiren Uchiha

My eyes ran across the ledge of all the ninja and stopped on his one exposed eye. His face unknown to me but I remembered his words clear enough. I could feel heat growing in my chest. If we are to meet again I promise you we will not run or hide. I stood up and kept a growl deep in my throat. Feeling a tug on my braid I looked over at Sasuke who was back on his two feet. "Stay in control and don't die on me." He hit me with my own words and I nodded, watching the two walk off to watch the match from the side. When I turned Dosu was a few feet in front of me. "This is just perfect, I've been meaning to settle the score with you." Out of habit I cracked my neck, the more I looked at him the more anger I felt. I tried to swallow it. Stay in control.

There was a deep rooted need in my soul that scared me. I was ready to kill him. Part of me wanted to.

So I moved some of the matches around.

Not to much will be different.

Choji will vs. Kankuro in place of Misumi who left with Kabuto

Easier to keep the numbers even. Trust me

Disclaimer: I don not own Naruto ™ only my own Oc's thrown into the mix.