Chapter 18

She woke up in a building, being carried in someone's arms bridal style. She opened her eyes slowly to see it was Naruto, and she didn't have the strength to hide her blush. Naruto noticed she was awake, and said, "Ayumi-chan! You're finally awake! Thank God!" She saw them opening both of the scrolls, and Iruka appeared. "Hi, Iruka-sensei." Ayumi said, smiling. "Whoa! What happened to you?" Ayumi stood, still smiling, " I'm fine…really…" She saw Sakura carrying Hara, and took her, gently, into her own arms. Sasuke looked at her, concerned, but she smiled, saying, "I'm fine. I just need some rest." Iruka explained the meaning of the scrolls, and said they could rest until the rest of the teams made it.

Ayumi was grateful when she was lead into a room, and immediately lay on the bed. Her breathing regulated itself as she drifted into sleep, with Hara beside her. Kakashi was told to check up on her, and went inside when he was sure she was sound asleep. He had heard about what had happened, and checked her shoulder. He sighed, recognizing Orochimaru's mark. It usually meant that he had marked his property, his territory. 'Not this time! He's not messing her life up more than Itachi already has!' Kakashi thought determinedly. He left to tell the Hokage, looking back at her, sympathetically, one last time before leaving.

When she woke up, she felt completely rejuvenated, and smiled, getting up. It must have been the same with Hara, because she was playing with the covers. Ayumi smiled, stretching, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She grabbed her headband, tying it around her neck, and put her blades on her belt. She looked around, and someone knocked on the door. "Come in." she called, and Kakashi stepped in. "Hi, Kakashi-san. What is it?" "The third part of the exam is going to start soon…" he seemed to want to say something else, so she asked, "What else?" "About that mark on your shoulder…I need to seal it as soon as possible…" "And…"

"I'll do it after your fight. But be careful. If you use too much chakra, you'll use the curse mark, and I'll have to stop the fight and take you out of the exam." "WHAT?!" "I'm sorry, but I'll have no choice if that mark takes over." Ayumi pouted childishly, saying, "Fine…I suppose it's not your fault…" Hara went up to Kakashi, giving him the puppy-dog eyes, and he sighed, having a weak spot for canines, and scratched her behind the ears. Ayumi stood, putting on her shuriken holster and weapons pouch before saying, "Well…I guess we should go." Kakashi nodded, and led her to the arena, with Hara in Ayumi's arms.

The Genin stood in rows, and Ayumi stood in front of Naruto, with Sasuke behind him and Sakura in the back. Ayumi looked at all of the Jounin standing behind the Third Hokage, and smiled at Kakashi. The Third started explaining that it would be a fighting tournament, and Ayumi listened intently until she faintly heard Hara growling. The growl was almost too soft to hear, but she felt it through her fingertips. She looked, inconspicuously, in the direction Hara was, and felt that familiar fear freeze her throat and send a jolt down her spine. She shied her eyes away, and saw the names being picked randomly on the screen.

She held Hara tight, waiting eagerly for the names to be picked, and, when it finally did, it almost made her heart stop. "The first match is Ayumi Uchiha vs. Kabuto. Everyone else should go to the viewing platforms." Ayumi watched as her teammates went onto the viewing platform, but Naruto was cheering her on. She smiled, putting Hara down, and turned to face her opponent. "Who would have thought we'd have to fight each other?" She didn't answer, but took out six kunai. The proctor said, "Begin!"

Ayumi seemed to disappear for a moment, and appeared behind Kabuto. She tried to stab him, but he blocked, jumping back. She threw the kunai, and some hit him. She grabbed the ninja wire, smashing him into the ground. She pulled the kunai back, dragging Kabuto from the crater, and ran in low, punching him in the stomach. He flew across the arena, and she put the kunai away. Kabuto stood, saying, "Well…you're pretty strong." She didn't say anything, and he smirked, saying, "Giving me the silent treatment, ne?" She didn't answer as she got her blades. He stood, and she slid into a fighting stance. Kakashi prayed she wouldn't use the Ayaka Sharingan, but that's exactly what happened, though she did it on accident.

"Stop acting so high and mighty. You were unconscious for most of the exam, so how strong are you?" The Ayaka Sharingan activated, and her chakra swirled around her in her anger. "I'm stronger than you'll EVER be!!" She did some hand signs, saying, "Wind Release: Wind Blade jutsu!" she ran at him, slashing at him with her blades, making him smash into the wall. She felt a strange sensation in her shoulder, and she noticed her anger had activated the curse mark. She felt the marks, glowing with power, spread across her skin, and she tried to fight the bloodlust it brought with it. She couldn't, and dropped her blades.

She ran at Kabuto faster than before, holding him up to the wall by his neck. Before she could kill him, Naruto yelled, "Don't do it, Ayumi-chan! This isn't you! Stop it!" Ayumi's eyes widened as the marks went back to her cursed seal, and she released Kabuto. He was defeated, but she shook with fright. She was scared of herself. She looked up at Kakashi, her eyes saying 'I'm so sorry.' Before the proctor announced her the winner.

She felt weaker, and Kakashi went down to get her. "I'm…so sorry…I didn't mean to…" the Ayaka Sharingan deactivated, and Kakashi said, "It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself." Her eyes were downcast, and she said, "But…I want to see…nii-san's fight…" Kakashi thought for a moment before nodding. He had her on his back, so she could see the fights over his shoulder, and Ayumi looked intently at the screen. The next fight was Sasuke's, and she smiled at him, saying, "Good luck! And be careful…" "I will." With that, he jumped down, and the fight started. She looked closely, and saw the enemy start draining his chakra.

'Oh God…if he loses all of his chakra…the cursed seal will activate…' Ayumi thought, and saw Hara tuck her tail between her legs. Sasuke used a new move, but, while in midair, the curse mark started taking over. "Nii-san…don't lose yourself…" She saw the marks recede, and he finished the enemy off with one move. He collapsed, and Kakashi jumped down with Ayumi on his back, and lifted Sasuke into his arms. They left, and Kakashi took them to a special chamber. He put them down, and put Ayumi in the center of the room. After he was done with the preparations, he sealed the mark. It was as painful as getting the mark, but she gritted her teeth in pain, closing her eyes.

When it was done, her breathing was labored and heavy. "Ayumi, this seal is only as strong as your will. As long as you want to keep it in check, it won't take over." Ayumi nodded, and he moved her to Sasuke, and put Sasuke in the center. Once both curse marks were sealed, Ayumi sat up, a hand to her head. Kakashi gave her a sympathetic look as he leaned Sasuke against a column, and the Ayaka Sharingan flashed. "Kakashi-san…he's coming…" Kakashi gave her a confused look…until he heard a voice say, "Well, it's been a while, Kakashi." Kakashi started before looking up at Orochimaru, and Hara snarled.

"What do you want here?" Kakashi demanded, uncovering the Sharingan. "I've come for the girl. Now step aside." "I won't." Ayumi looked at Kakashi, worry in her eyes, as he said, "I'm not letting you add any more grief to her life…she doesn't deserve it…she never did!" Ayumi's eyes became downcast, and she whispered, "But it was my fault…" "This is too troublesome. I'll be back for one of them later." He was gone the next moment, but Hara growled for hours afterward. Kakashi covered the Sharingan, asking, "Are you okay, Ayumi." Ayumi nodded, saying, "Yeah…" Kakashi sighed, picking them both up, and got them hospital rooms.

"Kakashi-san…tell Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan…I'll be rooting for them…" Kakashi nodded before leaving. She lay there for a moment, happy that Hara had refused to leave, and soon drifted into sleep. She woke up to see Sasuke across the room, still unconscious, and noticed ANBU were watching over them. Suddenly, Kabuto appeared, swiftly defeating the ANBU. Hara jumped at him, sinking her fangs into his leg. He kicked her hard against a wall, and Ayumi shot up, yelling, "HARA!!" She glared at Kabuto, saying, "Don't make me beat you again!" She was about to get up when Kabuto put a knife to her throat, saying, "Don't say a word, or I'll cut your throat."

She glared hostilely, but she didn't say a word. "Good. Now you're coming with me to Orochimaru…" Her eyes widened, and she moved back, backing up against the wall. "No! I won't!" He put a hand to her mouth, and said, "I thought I said not to talk?" She tried to rip his hand off, but she hadn't regained any strength. "Your lucky you have the Ayaka Sharingan, or you'd be dead by now." She bit his hand, and said, "I'd rather be dead!" "Unfortunately, Orochimaru won't allow that. Now come on…" "GET AWAY FROM ME!!" She yelled, stabbing his hand with a kunai. He gritted his teeth in pain before hitting her hard across the face, making her fall off the bed and hit the floor.

When she looked back up, she almost thought she saw her father instead of Kabuto. When he raised his foot to kick her, Hara, snarling, bit his foot. He threw her off, and Ayumi threw a kunai at him. He dodged, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. "You're coming whether you want to or not." "LET ME GO!!" She yelled, stabbing him in the back with a kunai.

Before he could retaliate, a familiar voice said, "Put her DOWN, Kabuto!" Ayumi looked up gratefully at Kakashi, but Kabuto didn't obey. "Why should I?" Ayumi pulled the kunai in his back upwards, cutting him deeply, and he grimaced. "I said put her DOWN, Kabuto!" Kabuto held her out of the open window, saying, "NOW do you want me to put her down?" When Kakashi didn't answer, Kabuto brought her back inside, and she bit his hand so hard she drew blood. He dropped her, and she, luckily, dodged his foot. "Why you little-" At that moment, Ayumi did a sweeping kick, knocking him backwards out of the window.

She lay on the ground, exhausted, and Kakashi went up, picking her up gently. "…Why me? …Why do all of these bad things happen to me?!" She buried her face in his vest, successfully holding back her tears. Kakashi gave her a sympathetic look, saying, "I'll get someone to train you for the finals, okay? Just rest and you'll get better." She nodded as he put her back in the bed, and tenderly put Hara beside her. Ayumi looked worriedly after him when he moved to leave, and he said, "It's okay. I'll post good ANBU this time…" Ayumi was doubtful, but she had to trust Kakashi. She then went into a fitful slumber, with nightmares haunting her for hours on end.

When she was finally well enough to get out of the hospital, she had no one to train her! But Naruto did…