Naruto was on the ground his mouth wide open and pointing at me and Sasuke, we pulled away far enough that we weren't touching anymore, I felt bad for Naruto I knew he liked me and really wanted to go on a date with me. I thought Naruto was going to start a big fight with Sasuke over this but he just stared at us back and forth looking into my eyes then into Sasuke's. Naruto was able to close his mouth and got up; I guess he saw something because he smiled at us.
"You know if you hurt her I'll kick your ass." He looked straight into Sasuke's eyes I looked to Sasuke and saw something I thought would never see in his eyes pointed to Naruto... respect, it was very odd but Naruto approved of us so I was happy, but I still could see some sadness in Naruto's eyes.
"Naruto," he looked at me when I called his name, I smiled at him "thank you Naruto." He just waved us off and came up to sit down beside me. It was quite for a couple of minutes when Sasuke got up.
"I'm going to get some water." He looked over at me one last time and walked away, I stared after him. I can't believe I'm falling for him all over again, what is wrong with me! I'm crazy and I know it but maybe this will be different he is opening up to me and maybe I can change his fate I smile to myself and totally forgot Naruto was there till he spoke up.
"How long?" he asked I just look at him dumb folded "how long have you and Sasuke been this close?"
"Oh umm well... the day before the chunin exam started."
"Wow that hasn't been long... and you guys are already kissing." He blushed, I did to.
"Naruto for now you have to keep this a secret, people could use it against us and it could get really bad." He nodded kind of happy he didn't have to tell anyone that Sasuke and I were together. "Hey you know you should ask Hinata out on a date, she would say yes." He looked at me in the weirdest way I laughed at him and rubbed his head.
It got quite again after a while when Sasuke returned with the water and we began our journey again we started to head to the tower because that's where we can get the heaven scroll.
"Wait!" I said stopping lucky the bandage on y leg was actually I really big help and I could walk on it but I still need a little help from Sasuke just so there isn't too much weight on it.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked both of them looking at me weird.
"Naruto let me barrow your sweater so Sasuke can have his back." I said holding out my hand for it they both looked at me weird but Naruto obeyed and gave it to me. "Turn around." I said so I could change Naruto did but Sasuke still started at me, "both of you!" I pointed at him, he glared but did has I asked and changed quicky giving Sasuke back his shirt I zipped up the sweater. "Alright let's get going!"
Luckily Kabuto didn't show up this time, he knew that I wouldn't trust him this time so I explained to the guys how the collectors work. It was night time when we reached the point where we could see the tower and the giant centipede what was totally gross! But no matter how far we walked we just couldn't get to it.
"Guys I'm starting to think we are in a Genjutsu." I said.
"What makes you say that?" Naruto asked turning towards me. I pointed over my shoulder
"That is what makes me say it." Naruto and Sasuke look behind me and gasped when they saw the centipede pined to the tree buy Naruto's kunai
"They're watching us." Sasuke said as he started to look around in every direction.
"We need a plan." I told them and was about to say it when the enemy came crawling down the trees above us,
"You're trapped rats." One of them said I knew it was the same guys from the rain country that we encountered our first day in the arena
"Shut up!" Naruto said punching him in the stomach that slathered all over then reformed in a matter of seconds. I turned to Sasuke I knew what he was about t o do.
"Don't use your sharingan! It won't help!" too late he already used it and I knew that in doing to the curse marking would activate. He used three shuriken to hit the guys arm but only to have a kunai thrown back at him. I grabbed Sasuke's arm and threw him to my side away from the weapon. "Listen we are in their Genjutsu but the weapons are real, be careful they just wanna tire us out so they can finish us off in person." I tell Naruto but like he will listen. I wait for him to use his Kaga-Bunshin-no-jutsu so I could get me and Sasuke into the bushes and hide out till sun rise. We both stay very quite not to give away the plan but I can't stop myself to reaching for Sasuke's hand. I feel him squeeze I hand letting me know that everything will be alright. But I knew that after this the third test would start and Sasuke is going to get hurt again and I couldn't do anything about it. Damn it I hate this I wish I could have stopped and killed Orochimaru when I had the chance and now Sasuke is paying for it. Not just him. My inner said to me I look down to the bandage on my arm the hide the marking that snake bastard had given me. I wonder just what it is I knew it wasn't like the curse mark that he gave Sasuke but I knew it was something evil I could feel it trying to get into my chakra like a disease. Time passed by and the sun started to come up and Naruto looked beat. It was time for the enemy to come out. The three ninja from the rain came out and one of them did not look happy to see me.
"You bitch! I'll kill you for what you did to me back there!" I smirked at that and came out of hiding right behind them.
I whispered in his ear "I'd like to see you try." I laughed has they all jumped away from me.
"How the hell did you get there!?" one of them asked
"The kage bunshin was just a trick! It was a diversion while I became the whole team." Naruto said explaining what happened.
"The moment Naruto released the jutsu the two of us hid, you Genjutsu users got a taste of your own medicine." Meanwhile Naruto fell to him knees using too much chakra. "Naruto you've used to much chakra, I'll take over from here." But just as Sasuke finished his sentence Naruto already punch the ninja in the face.
"I'm damn sick of letting you always steal the juicy part!" he smirked at Sasuke who looked a little taken aback. I just smiled.
"You did great Naruto!" I said but knew it wasn't over they were still up and ready to fight.
"You are pretty good but we aren't 'unlucky' just yet" they made a hand seal "now we show you our ninjutsu!" damn "ninpou oboro bunshin no jutsu!"
"What are these? Shadow clones?" Naruto asked not taking his eyes off of them.
"No it's just a normal clone, but there must be some trick, watch out" Sasuke replied
"In the case then that means there is only one real enemy. I'll just blast them all till I hit the real one."Naruto said then charged at the clone closet to him.
"Naruto none of these guys are the real one, the real one is underground" I said as I saw a hand come up behind him and I moved in for the attack grabbing the wrist I pulled him up and punched him in the face while Naruto and Sasuke got the other two and beat them up.
While Naruto searched for the scroll I went to Sasuke. "Sasuke you shouldn't use your sharingan anymore, it's going to hurt you." I move to touch his shoulder but he moved away.
"I'll be fine" he said and walked away from me. Why is he so mad! It's because the curse markings, it is affecting his mind right now and he is in pain and he is taking it out on you. Inner explained to me. I sighed and walked up to him and put his arm over my shoulder. He looked at me (more liked glared) but I smiled.
"It's my turn to help you." I gripped his hand so he couldn't pull away Naruto came back with the heaven scroll and we made our way to the tower. We approached the tower and went through the doors to find no one there.
"Nobody's here" Naruto said. I let go of Sasuke and pulled out the scrolls.
"I bet the missing word on the scroll up there is in here." I said pointing to the sentence above us. I hand Naruto one and I take the other. "On 3 we open." He gulped and nodded "okay, 1...2...3!" we open them raveling the summoning jutsu "throw it!" I throw the earth and Naruto the heaven as they fall on top of each other the summoning jutsu relives Iruka -sensei
"Hey, long time no see." He smiles at us.
"What's going on? Why is Iruka sensei summoned?" Naruto asked
"At the end of this second test its set up so we chuunins meet up with the exam takers, and I was allowed to be the one to greet you, and looks like you guys made it just in time. The second test all three of you pass congratulations! To celebrate your successful completion of the second test I'd like to buy you a round of ramen but... huh?" Iruka was knocked over by Naruto's hug.
"WE DID IT!" man I can't believe he still has so much energy Naruto was still jumping around in his victory dance when Iruka notice something.
"Sakura why are you wearing Naruto's sweater?"
"Oh mine got ripped and couldn't wear it anymore." Trying to put it off Naruto and Sasuke looked at me weird but knew not to bring it up we all wanted to finish this test. Iruka looked at us weird but put it off.
"Okay then, I'm also here to explain the motto on the wall." He went on explaining what the heaven and earth meant and that the missing word was person and went on about what we are missing and want we need to do to become better ninjas once he finished we went through the next doors and assembled in a line in between Kiba's and Lee's group and waited for the hokage to speak.
"for the coming of the third test... but before I explain that there is something I'd like you to know, it concerns the true reason for this exam." Everyone stayed silent waiting for him to finish "why do we have all the alliance countries taking the exam together? 'To promote friendship among the countries' 'to raise the level of shinobi.' I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning. This exam is... a replacement for war among the allied countries. If you go back in time the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting the stage that these countries chose for battle... that is the origins of this chuunin selection exam" he was about to continue but Naruto opened his big mouth and then got a whole other lecture from the hokage about how we have to protect out countries and about risking our lives in battle. And after everyone got what he was saying and about to explain the third test some other ninja interrupted.
"Hello everyone I'm Hayate, before the third test there's something I'd like you to do... it's a preliminary for the third test to decide who gets to participate in the main event. As hokage-sama indicated earlier there will be many guests at the third test, so the fights could take too long, we are limited in time. Those who feel like quitting after these explanations please come forward now since we will be starting the preliminary immediately."
I looked over to Kabuto to see if he was going to quit but as I turned I made eye contact with him, he smirked at me I knew he wasn't going to quit this time.
"No one else?" Hayate asked and looked at all of us. "Well then let's begin the preliminary."
We looked up at the board that will give two names I was for sure that it would have been Sasuke and that guy on Kabuto's team but it wasn't. It was my name! And I'm battling Kabuto!
"Yakushi Kabuto and Haruno Sakura please come up." We did well everyone else went up to the balcony to watch from above.
"Go Sakura!" Naruto yelled I looked up at them and smiled. Then turned back to Kabuto
"You ready?" I asked it's about time I can fight him without getting in trouble for it inner had made sure all my injuries were healed and my chakra is still climbing as I stand here.
"Only if you are sweetheart." Grr I really hate it when they use that name! I got into my battle stance ready for the fight when I felt the tickling on my arm where the mark was I looked over and saw that Orochimaru was here disguised as a ninja from the sound country my rage was so distracting that I didn't hear Hayate say start and I was open for attack that Kabuto was able to come up and punch me right in the stomach and sent me to the other side of the arena.
"SAKURA!" Naruto yelled somewhere over me and I heard Kankurou laugh as well. I got up and shock off the dust.
"I thought you were ready Sakura? Come on where's that fire in you? I want a proper fight!" Kabuto said
"Oh don't worry Kabuto you'll get a proper fight." I whispered to myself as I walked back in front of him looking him in the eye and said straight to him "time to fight!"