A.N. If you haven't been reading my story and are just starting then go back to the beginning NOW!!!! there are multiple spoilers in this chapter! For those who have been faithfully following my story...this is the chapter you've been waiting for! Special thanks to BluEbErRy-ChAn for all the support! READ ON!

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After the Genin were dismissed Sakana went up to Baki and said, "Baki-sensei, Emiko-san wanted to see me immediately after this. May I go or do you want me to stay for a while?" It was only a partial lie...

Baki gave her a small smile and replied "It's fine, just meet us back at the hotel later so we can go over training tactics for the coming month." Sakana nodded and bowed to him before leaving the arena.

She re-entered the room where she had left Kakashi to find him reading a book. Sakana let out a small giggle when she recognized the title, Icha Icha Paradise. She knew what THOSE books were about, and had even caught Kankuro hiding some under his bed once. Kakashi looked up when he heard her.

"Oh, you're back. Sasuke's awake now if you're ready to talk to him." Kakashi said, gesturing to an open window. Sakana nodded and quickly followed the older man out the window and back through the forest.

Nothing was said as they traveled, and Sakana had to admit that it was definitely less scary having a Jounin with her. Of course she still didn't know how she and Sasuke had gotten the strange marks on their necks and she shivered at the thought that whatever had done it was still out there somewhere. Shaking her head to clear it of such foreboding thought, she focused instead on the question that most troubled her at the moment. Why did so many things having to do with Sasuke seem so familiar to her? Suddenly, a long forgotten memory began to form, drifting to the surface, something from her earliest days in Kiri, even before she'd met the Rakurais; Sakana unconsciously stopped in her tracks and let the memory wash over her.

*flashback*

She ran out of the academy, late as usual, and anxious to get home. Sakana had barely made it out the door when she ran headlong into someone; unable to avoid him, she tumbled to the ground.

"Are you alright?" a boy's voice asked as Sakana rubbed gingerly at a banged elbow.

Looking up, she saw a tall dark-haired boy wearing an unusual headband - he had a younger boy, probably about her age, on his shoulders. The two looked down at her concerned, as the older one offered Sakana a hand up.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry - I wasn't watching where I was going," she replied a little embarrassed as she accepting his hand.

"Don't worry," the older boy smirked playfully. "I get it all the time from my brother here." He gestured to the younger, who responded with a "Hey!"; Sakana giggled at his expression.

"You wouldn't happen to know where the Mizukage's office is, would you?" the older one asked.

Sakana nodded before pointing in its general direction. "Sure! I can take you there, if you want."

"Thanks! Hey Mom, Dad, I found someone who could show us the way!" the boy said, calling back to two adults who'd just finished talking to a nearby shopkeeper. The woman looked up and sighed before tapping the man on the shoulder and walking towards them.

"Thank goodness," she said, looking kindly down at Sakana. The woman had long black hair the same color as her sons' and friendly blue eyes. "And what's your name?" she asked, smiling.

Sakana smiled back and replied "My name's Mizuko Sakana, ma'am. What's yours?"

"What a beautiful name! I'm Mikoto; this is my husband Fugaku and my sons, Itachi and Sasuke," she replied, gesturing to each in turn.

Sakana nodded to each of them and then said, "The Mizukage's office is this way - let me show you." She started down the path as the family trailed closely behind her.

"Thank you for showing us the way; we're from Konoha, so we don't really know our way around Kiri," Mikoto said.

"No problem," Sakana replied, smiling.

Itachi, with Sasuke still on his shoulders, came up beside her. "So how old are you, Mizuko-san?"

"I just turned five," she replied happily.

"Hey! You and I are the same age!" Sasuke exclaimed. Sakana glanced back at the boys' parents just in time to see Mikoto and Fugaku give each other sidelong glances; she wondered what it meant, but her thoughts were interrupted by Itachi.

"So where were you going in such a hurry?" he asked.

"Home. I stayed late at the ninja academy and didn't want my parents to worry...but my house isn't too far from the Mizukage's office, so it should be fine," Sakana replied, shrugging.

"You're already in the academy?" an awed Sasuke asked.

"Yup! I joined three years ago!" Sakana told him proudly.

Itachi looked surprised. "At two? Really? You can't join ours until you're three...or maybe four."

"That's nothing!" Sakana exclaimed. "There's one person in my year who joined when they were one! The Mist academy can identify talent really early on."

"When are you going to become a Genin?" Sasuke asked.

She sighed, pouting slightly, "Not for five more years. That's the only bad thing about starting early - it's because most of the kids who pass the first time around have spent at least five years learning at the academy." She had actually gotten a compliment from her teacher just yesterday who said she was ready for the exam now!

"Itachi-nii is a Genin!" Sasuke said, proudly.

Itachi nodded, adding, "And I'm signed up for the Chuunin exams next month."

"Really? How old are you?" Sakana asked.

"Ten," he replied.

"Lucky. I have to be ten just to become a Genin and you're already going for Chuunin!" Sakana pouted once again as Itachi chuckled.

"So...why are all of you here anyway?" Sakana asked curiously.

"We're here to speak to your council about a matter between our villages," Fugaku explained, finally speaking up.

"I see. Well, we're here," Sakana said, stopping in front of the office. "If you need anything else feel free to come see me. I live just down that street, the third house on the left."

Mikoto smiled at her again, looking almost sad. "Thank you again for your help, Sakana."

"No problem! Goodbye!" She waved as the family slowly made their way into the building.

"Bye-bye, Sakana!" Sasuke called, returning her wave.

"Bye Sasuke-san! And good luck on the Chuunin exams, Itachi-san!" she called back as they disappeared inside.

*end flashback*

Sakana gasped and ran her fingers almost unconsciously through her hair. No wonder she recognized Sasuke! She had met him before!

"Are you alright, Sakana-san?" Kakashi asked returning to her side. She looked up at him and nodded slightly

"I...I think I just had a flashback..." she trailed off.

"Ah, I see. Are you alright to continue?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, let's get going."

As they reached the edge of the forest Kakashi slowed down, turning to face Sakana. "I know you have a lot of questions; is there anything else you'd like to ask me before you speak to Sasuke?"

She thought for a minute and then said, "I'd like to know why Sasuke and I have the same mark in the exact same place...and why they seem to react at the same time..."

Kakashi nodded, as if expecting her question. "Unfortunately, I don't know, but Emiko is working on an answer as we speak; she'll figure it out soon. What I can tell you is how Sasuke got his curse mark - he was bitten...by Orochimaru."

Sakana's eyes widened. Orochimaru?! Even the ninjas in Kiri feared him! These marks must be not only powerful, but extremely dangerous if they came from him!

"Is there anything else?" Kakashi asked.

Sakana didn't really have any other questions, but for some reason she found herself nervously wanting to delay her meeting with Sasuke. So, she asked the first thing that popped into her head. "Umm...how long have you and Emiko-san known each other?" She really was curious...there was an unusual vibe between the two of them - something that made Sakana suspect they might be more than just friends.

Kakashi chuckled at her question. "Too long," he replied, rolling his eye in mock exasperation.

Sakana giggled, and asked, "So...she doesn't mind that you read those...umm...books?"

His eyebrow shot up in surprise, but instead of getting angry at her question Kakashi grinned so widely that she could see it despite his mask. "Actually," he replied, laughter in his voice, "Emiko's the one who sells them to me."

This time is was Sakana's turn to be surprised, but she didn't get the chance to respond - they'd arrived at the hospital. Kakashi led her inside and made his way through the white winding hallways, stopping in front of a simple metal door.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked once again. To be honest, Sakana still couldn't calm her nerves. After all, she had barely met the boy inside...and when he found out they were related how would he react? Would he be happy to see her or lash out in anger? She took a deep breath and focused on one thing - the only thing - finding out who she was. Slowly, Sakana nodded and Kakashi opened the door.

Sasuke's POV

The young raven-haired man was looking out the window when he heard a familiar voice outside his door. He turned to see Kakashi showing in one of the female sand ninja he'd met at the start of the Chuunin exams - her name was Sakana, if he remembered correctly.

"Hello, Sasuke. How are you feeling?" Kakashi asked.

"Fine, ready to get out of here," he replied, eyeing Sakana curiously. Kakashi nodded in understanding and then gestured to the petite kunoichi next to him.

"I assume you've met Sakana?" Sasuke nodded and Kakashi continued. "Well, it seems you two have quite a bit in common. Sakana, could you show him your eyes, please?"

"Um..." She looked really nervous about something. "I don't really know how to..." Kakashi leaned down and whispered something in her ear. Nodding, she closed her eyes as Sasuke watched on in confusion. Slowly, Sakana seemed to be focusing on something; suddenly she opened her eyes and let out a held-in breath. Sasuke's face fell slack with shock - her eyes - this girl had the Sharingan!

Kakashi spoke, answering Sasuke's unvoiced question. "It would appear that Sakana is the missing Uchiha girl. We came to ask if you might know anything about her family..." Kakashi said trailing off.

Sakana gave Sasuke an odd look; both hopeful and fearful at the same time - obviously wanting him to respond, yet fearing what that response might be. Could it really be possible? Could this girl really be...? Sasuke thought back - once he'd asked his mother if she'd ever wanted a daughter. There were tears in her eyes as she responded, "I have one, but she doesn't live here; she lives in Kiri. Don't you remember Sasuke - when we all went there together? We went to try to get her back? She's your twin sister..." Sasuke came quickly back to the present, starring hard at Sakana...his sister. All this time he'd harbored the secret hope that she was still alive - that one day he would find her...protect her from Itachi's murderous hands - and here she was...

The girl was looking down at her feet nervously. "Sakana," he said to her to get her attention. When she looked cautiosly up at him, Sharingan deactivated, he continued. "You and I...we're twins."

Kakashi's eyebrow rose in shock, as he looked back and forth between the two of them. Sakana gasped and then suddenly began to cry. Unsure what he'd said to upset her, Sasuke quickly hopped off the bed and went to her side.

"Are you OK?" he asked.

"Y-yes. I'm just...so happy! I finally found my family, my real family," she sobbed, eyes dancing with joy. Seeing her tears, Sasuke felt something in his heart twinge, something he hadn't felt for a very long time. As if on impulse, he hugged the girl tightly, and she easily returned the embrace, sobbing quietly into his chest. It was then that Sasuke noticed Kakashi was no longer in the room, probably giving them some space.

"I...can't believe I finally found you," Sasuke said, breathless for some reason. "I'd hoped...when everyone was massacred...that Itachi hadn't gotten you, as well. Now I know..." he trailed off, unable to say anything else because he had suddenly begun to cry as well.

"Please, tell me this isn't a dream," he heard Sakana whisper into his shirt.

He shook his head and said, "It's not...not unless we're both having the same one - you should know...Sakana isn't your real name." She pulled out of his embrace, with a confused look, and Sasuke continued. "Your real name, the one my...our...parents intended to give you, is Satomi."

She whispered it, smiling. "Its beautiful, but a new name could take some getting used to." He nodded in understanding. At that moment Kakashi re-entered the room followed by an unexpected, but familiar face; it was Nagataki-san - the woman who ran the books store he and Itachi had frequented together as kids. She smiled warmly at both him and Sakana - Sasuke vaguely recalled hearing that she'd recently joined the medical corps...

Sakana's POV

Emiko was with Kakashi when he returned to the room, and this time Sakana was even more certain there was something going on between the two of them. The woman had a slightly pouty look on her face and kept eyeing the silver-haired jounin with a irritated stare - whereas Kakashi's eye kept twinkling at her, like the two older ninja were sharing some private joke.

Apparently deciding to ignore him, Emiko focused on Sakana and Sasuke and smiled, saying, "Well, according to Kakashi, the two of you just uncovered in only a few minutes what I've spent the the past few days trying to figure out - you're twins." She turned to look at Sakana. "I'm sure you've realized it by now, but this pretty much explains your duplicate curse mark...and everything else that's been happening since the incident in the Forest of Death, which means..." she continued, turning to look at Sasuke, "that you're going to have to be even more careful about keeping those powers in check - when that mark affects you, it affects Sakana, too." Sasuke merely nodded at Emiko's slight admonishment. The older kunoichi sighed; looking unsure, she started to say something but stopped. "...Anyway, according to the head nurse, you're free to leave. I know you've got to train for the next part of the Chuunin exams...but you've been through a lot, so try to take it easy at first, okay?"

Sasuke silently nodded again and Sakana took the opportunity to ask Kakashi, "Hatake-san...will I be able to tell my team about this?"

The ninja shook his head and replied, "Unfortunately, only your teacher can know for the moment. And the only reason he'll be learning the truth is because I need to give him a reason as to why I'm taking one of his students to train. I want to teach both you and Sasuke a new technique, one that will hopefully take the focus off of your Sharingan; it's called Chidori." Both Sasuke and Sakana gave him confused looks and she saw Emiko raise one eyebrow at Kakashi, an incredulous expression on her face - the Jounin didn't seem to notice...or was pretending not to. He continued, "Sasuke, the final part of the Chuunin exams are in a month; just like the prelims, it will be tournament-style battles. The sooner we start training, the better off we'll be."

"Who's fighting who?" Sasuke asked. Kakashi shrugged, but Sakana spoke up. "I was there for the drawing; your teammate Naruto will be fighting Hyuuga Neji. My battle is against my teammate, Gaara. Your's is right after mine, and you're fighting Dosu, from the Sound Village. After that, my teammate Kankuro is fighting Aburame Shino, and my other teammate, Temari, is paired against Nara Shikamaru."

"Naruto made it to the finals?" Sasuke asked, shocked. He looked to Kakashi, who nodded in confirmation. "Who was his prelim battle with?"

"Inuzuka Kiba," Kakashi replied. "It was a hard-fought battle, and a hard-won victory. Sakana here took on Sakura; she had the element of surprise on her side." Sakana looked away sheepishly.

Sasuke turned to her and asked, "What does he mean?"

Sakana shrugged. "Well...I think Sakura was expecting Wind-style jutsu, which isn't my forte; I'm much better with Water-style."

"Not to mention her Sharingan activated in the middle of her battle," Kakashi added cheerfully.

"Yeah, that too..." Sakana whispered, a little embarrassed.

Kakashi was about to say something else when, abruptly, Emiko stepped forward, moving in between the Jounin and the siblings. "Y'know, it's just so great that you two have finally found each other! I have an idea! Why don't you go out and celebrate - my treat!" Handing Sasuke several bills, Emiko began motioning them quickly towards the door as she continued to talk, "Sasuke, why not take Sakana to Ichiraku? Talk, relax, get to know each other, have fun!" As the older kunoichi continued to shuffle them towards the exit, Sakana saw Emiko giving Kakashi a very familiar look - the same one she'd seen her mother use on her father countless times - the "We need to talk NOW!" look. Sasuke, not noticing, shrugged and left the room. Sakana tentatively followed him, trying not to be too concerned about the raised voices that began as soon as the door was closed behind them.

Once outdoors, she asked, "Umm, Sasuke...What's an 'Ichiraku'?"

A small smile flickered across her brother's face as he took her hand and replied, "Let me show you."