Note:

It's been so long since I last updated, I'm really sorry but I have been really busy these past few days. But, now gladly I have time to update this story, and I'm really excited. I hope you guys like this chapter...

That's all, thank you everyone for reading this story. Keep safe everyone, sending lots of love... mwahh :)

Third Person's POV

The Sound Jounin Sensei looks at Sasuke and Akira. Now, Sasuke release that power, let me see that power.

His eyes avert to Akira, a chuckle escaping his lips. Akira...You're in such a situation and you still manage to stop the curse mark... He licks his lips, he can feel the anticipation rise up in his body.

Naruto looked at his two teammates. He can see the shape of black flames spreading on Sasuke's shoulder. While he can see a bruise on Akira's shoulder that is glowing. Ah, mo, he is getting frustrated with their fight.

"Ah mo, what are you guys doing, for someone considered as the top rookies. You both look so lame. Finish this already-dattebayo!" Naruto shouts, making both of them grin a little, still in pain.

Sasuke smirks, Naruto's voice echoing in his head. He looks at Akira's shoulder and smiles, eyes softening for a second.

Kakashi looks at the two. Sasuke, Akira...Is this it?

"Sasuke, we can't let this thing eat us right?" Akira said gritting her teeth.

"Like I will be swallowed by this thing..." Sasuke whispered, more calmly this time. Akira feels the presence behind her subside.

"Then I'll finish this" Sasuke said.

"Humph" Akira shakes her head a little.

Kakashi sighed with relief when the curse stops glowing and receded. To think they both make it stop at the same time.

"Here I go!" Sasuke said as he started to kick Akira on the side. Akira blocks it with her arm. Sasuke smirks and acts like he is going to kick her again but instead, he tried to elbow her on the shoulder.

Akira winces and blocks the attack but the force pushes her down making Sasuke above her. Akira smirked "Is that all?" She said

Sasuke smirks "Humph. I'm not done yet!" Sasuke then spins. Avoid this Akira... Sasuke looks at Akira.

"Lion Barrage!" He said kicking her in the stomach.

Sakura closes her eyes, hearing the loud impact, smoke covering the area. "Akira!" She shouts opening her eyes again.

Sasuke smirks, looking down at the empty ground with a crack and a kunai pierced on it. He looks in front of him.

"Phew! That's close" Akira said wiping her forehead, jokingly as she stands clumsily, breathing hard. She feels like she broke some bones...

Sasuke smirks. "Teme! What are you doing are you trying to kill her-dattebayo!" Naruto shouts pointing at him.

Akira grimaces at the voice. Not that she is annoyed her head was just hurting slightly.

"Humph! Like I will..." Sasuke said. They both collapse to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Kuso, I can't move anymore..." Akira said. Her left arm hurts from trying to get out as fast as possible from that position, she didn't want to get kicked again...

Hayate look at the two, waiting.

"I hate to admit it but I feel like I don't have any strength too" Sasuke said chuckling a little.

The examiners look at the two laying on the ground. The tension is all gone. Were they playing the whole time?

"Then..." Hayate started. This should be a tie.

"wait...I-I give up" Akira said raising her left hand shakily. Ah mo, after all, she still wants him to win.

The examiners blink. That's it?

"Then, the winner in the first battle. Uchiha Sasuke...passes the preliminaries!" Sasuke sat up and wipes the blood on his chin. Sasuke looks at Akira who is still laying on the ground. Then he looks at his shoulder. This mark...he doesn't like this mark. After all, he almost hated her...the person who cares about him. He will admit it, he is a fool, for thinking such a thing. He groaned and avert his eyes from looking at his shoulder to Akira.

Akira just lie on the ground processing everything that happened in their fight. She closes her eyes, she thinks... she thinks she is dying.

Gai looks at Kakashi. Humph, are all his students like this...

Kakashi disappears from his position, and appears behind Sasuke, catching him before he falls again.

"Akira, are you okay-dattebayo?" Naruto said jumping down from the upper area, Sakura following behind.

Naruto looks down at her as she slowly sat up. She hums and nods to them.

Akira slowly stands up. Damn it, her body hurts really bad.

She looks at Sasuke and sees their Sensei behind him, reading his book, again. Really, at a time like this, Kakashi Sensei?

Akira slowly walks toward Sasuke. Sakura and Naruto follow behind her hand ready to catch her if she falls, her brow twitches at the concentration in their eyes, watching her every move.

Akira sighs and notices the pain in Sasuke's eye as he holds onto his chest. He must have felt that pain now, using a technique he had just seen and had never performed except this time.

She stops in front of him. She didn't know what to do. Sasuke...Sasuke must have hated her now.

Sasuke looks up at her, a smirk on his lips.

Sasuke notices the distant look in Akira's eyes looking at him. "Sorry" He said.

"Huh?" Akira said dumbfounded. For what?

"For looking at you like that... and for kicking you." Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Ah, I see. That's really nothing." Akira said with a little relief.

Sasuke reaches his hand forward, two fingers up.

Akira looks at him "Eh?" A unison sign...?

Sasuke just stare at her waiting. Akira sighs, reaching her hand.

Sasuke then stands up as a medical ninja goes in their way.

"Uchiha Sasuke, Akira. We medics will give you the best treatment" The medic said

Kakashi looks at them. "You guys are out of your territory. I'll take them under my care..."

The medic nodded hesitantly and left.

"Naruto, Sakura go back to the upper area. I will bring Sasuke and Akira with me." Kakashi said. Naruto and Sakura looked at Sasuke and Akira and gave them a smile. They nodded and started to walk. Sakura stops and looks at their Sensei worriedly. Naruto also stops, looking at Sakura.

"..." Sakura opens her mouth but no words come out of it.

"Don't worry. We will be back quickly. I just needed to do something" Kakashi said ruffling Sakura's hair. Sakura smiles and nodded. They both started to walk again.

Naruto clenches his fist excited and relieved. He will do his best, too. Akira, even if she didn't win...then he will win his fight for her. He nodded to himself.

"Take care of Akira, Sensei-ttebayo" Naruto said sending Akira a smile. Kakashi hummed and gave him an eye smile.

Kakashi holds onto Sasuke's shoulder. "Now I'll take you into the back... and seal the curse mark" Kakashi said.

Akira looks at their Sensei. Seal?

Sasuke argues with Kakashi but in the end, Sasuke still ended up following what Kakashi said.

The examiners look at the two examining them. Akira, Sasuke...what an interesting fight.

The sand shinobi look at their youngest member. Temari frown. Did those look in the eyes of the two Konoha shinobi's match, triggered him? Tch...

-skip-

"Now, Sasuke seat here" Kakashi said removing his right-hand glove. Sasuke looks at him and shakily sits where Kakashi told him to.

"And please remove your shirt" Kakashi said reaching for his leg bag and pulling out kunai, wounding his index finger.

Sasuke stares at him, and Kakashi just stares back at him. Sasuke groans and weakly removes his shirt.

Akira sighs and watches their Sensei write something on the floor. "Hold this..." Sasuke said looking at her.

Akira raises her brow, Sasuke throws his shirt to her, which she catches. "okay, Sasuke-sama"

Sasuke chuckles, he grits his teeth holding onto his left shoulder. He looks at his shoulder with a frown. It still hurts.

Akira looks at Sasuke's shoulder and sighs. A thought cross her mind making her sweatdrop. "Do you... I mean... Do I also need to do the same?" She said looking at their Sensei.

Kakashi takes a glance at her before positioning behind Sasuke, also putting a seal on Sasuke's back going to his curse mark. He chuckles before answering. "Maybe" He said making her shoulder drop.

"Maybe" Akira mocks him. Akira turns her back to them and went on a pillar and seat, leaning her back. She feels really tired. She holds onto her right shoulder, feeling something again. Feeling a presence, as if the curse is trying to follow something or someone. She puts Sasuke's shirt down and relaxes herself as she closed her eyes.

"Akira" Sasuke called her. She looks at him, waiting. "In the chunin exam, the second phase. That Orochimaru what did he say to you?" Sasuke said.

Kakashi perked up on that. He takes a glance at Akira and continues what he is doing.

"Well..." She said tilting her head. She is more curious about what did Orochimaru told him, for him to act like that in their fight. She sighs, trying to remember what did the hebi told her.

Kakashi purposely, took his time writing the seal on Sasuke's back, waiting for Akira to continue. What is it? He heard Akira sigh before speaking.

"Hm...Well, first off he said long time no see?" Akira said holding onto her chin. Hmm, right that's what he said. That's actually not that important.

Kakashi's shoulder tense, looking at Akira. His phase of writing the seal becomes faster compared to the slow phase he had earlier.

"Longtime no see?" Sasuke said confused, turning his head a little to see Akira.

"Hm" Akira nodded.

"It actually so confusing...But then he said if I-" Akira said but a voice interrupted her.

"Okay now, Sasuke I need you to stay still." Kakashi said standing straight.

Sasuke just look at him and shake his head. "Wait Akira is saying-" Sasuke said really intrigued by what Akira is about to say.

"You can talk after we're done, now I need you to just stay still" Kakashi interrupted him. He groaned and just follow what Kakashi said.

"Don't worry. It'll be over right away." Kakashi said, Sasuke looks at him and nodded.

Akira just watches them, their Sensei form hand seals [Hare → Snake → Horse → Ram → Bird → Tiger → Hare → Snake → Horse → Ram → Bird → Tiger → Hare → Snake → Horse → Ram → Bird → Dog → Rat]

"Curse Sealing!" Kakashi said putting his palm on Sasuke's curse mark. Sasuke's scream echoed in the room as the symbol that is written on the floor and Sasuke's back converges towards and surrounds the cursed mark.

Akira stands up and looks at the other pillar hidden in the dark, feeling her right shoulder pain become tenser. Tch...what is it now?

Kakashi removes his palm from Sasuke's shoulder as Sasuke catches his breath. "Next time, even if that Curse Mark starts kicking in again...the power of this Curse sealing should suppress it. However, this Sealing Jutsu makes the strength of your will its foundation. If something happens like you not believing in your own strength and that will were to weaken...the curse mark will once again start to rag." Kakashi explains as Sasuke gave him a last look before he passes out.

"Humph, out of character. It appears he's quite tired..." Kakashi said

Akira grimaces and walks toward them. "Sensei, tell me, do I also need to do that?" She said as Kakashi put's his gloves again, which confuses her. "I felt like I don't really need it" Akira said clenching Sasuke's shirt that is in her hand.

Kakashi shakes his head. "Well, just like you said I'm not going to put any seal on you...That's Hokage-sama's order." Kakashi said with a sigh.

Akira tilts her head. Really? Well, that's good. Akira clenched Sasuke's shirt again.

"What is it?" Kakashi said noticing the bothered look in Akira's eyes, scanning her body for any other wounds besides the wound she get from before and after her fight with Sasuke.

"Do your wounds hurt?" He said holding her left shoulder near where her wound is.

Akira shakes her head. "Umm, I'd be honest, something hurt in me." She said. She really didn't care about her wounds. She doesn't even know what part is hurting on her anymore, but certainly, one part of her body really makes her want to just not move for a whole week.

She removes Kakashi's hand and turns her back toward him. Kakashi stares at her in confusion.

"Can you check the curse... mark?" Akira said hesitantly.

"I see..." Kakashi said. He holds Akira's hair and places it on her left shoulder so he can see the curse mark. He lowers her jacket a little bit and tugs the t-shirt's neckline a little exposing the curse mark.

He look at it as his brows knitted. "Are you activating it?" He asks

Akira looks over her shoulder "Huh? No, why would I?" She said brows furrowing.

"Why?" She continues, seeing her Sensei become tense.

Kakashi brushes his finger on the seal. Then why is it glowing...?

Akira quickly pulls away from her Sensei and looks forward feeling the presence.

"To think you've become able to handle Sealing Jutsu..." The voice said.

Kakashi tensed and quickly look over his shoulder. "You've grown, eh, Kakashi...?" Orochimaru said stepping out of the shadow.

"You..." Kakashi said sweat forming on his forehead.

"Long time no see, Kakashi-kun" Orochimaru said.

"Orochimaru..." Akira whispered looking at Orochimaru's eyes.

"Just stay there, Akira!" Kakashi said as he cover Akira. Orochimaru chuckles averting his eyes to Akira.

"Sorry but...I have no business with you, Kakashi-kun. But I do with those kids behind you." Orochimaru said looking at Akira, eyes full of intent.

"Hmm... Why are you giving me such a look? Don't you like my gift?" Orochimaru said hands in his pockets.

Akira looks at him. "What are you-" Akira said attempting to step forward.

"Akira! Just stay there" Kakashi warned. He never thought of encountering Orochimaru here of all places. He needs to keep both of them safe. He looks back at Sasuke and quickly averts his eyes to Orochimaru.

"My...Kakashi-kun. Why can't I have a little talk to that kid behind you" Orochimaru said a smirk on his lips.

Kakashi just look at him, hand clenching "Why are you after them?!" He asked.

"Hmph..." Orochimaru smirks and looks back at Akira, a gleam in his eyes.

"Do you really want to know. First off, why don't we start by mentioning Akira's-" Orochimaru said but stops looking at Kakashi's horrified expression.

"You must have known it, right?" Orochimaru said as Kakashi tenses.

Akira looks at the two. What is it...? Her? What about her? Those look in their eyes...She holds onto her right shoulder, not because of the pain but because of the weird feeling flowing in her system, she can feel the tingling of the curse mark.

Akira grabs a kunai and throws it at Orochimaru. She wants this guy to just disappear and leave her and Sasuke alone.

Orochimaru catches the Kunai between his finger and chuckles. "Good aim Akira" Orochimaru said dropping the kunai on the ground as it pierced it.

"Tch... What do you want from Sasuke? You... You cause that to Sasuke!" Akira said referring to Sasuke's mood in their fight. She didn't care why he wants her she wants to know what he needed from Sasuke.

"What I want from Sasuke..." Orochimaru repeated chuckling. Then he averts his eyes to Kakashi.

"It's good for you. You already have it, right? You didn't have it before, did you? That. That..." Orochimaru said as Kakashi look at him and his posture tensed again.

"...left eye Sharingan! I want it too...the Uchiha Power" Orochimaru said.

Akira's brows knitted. Such ridiculous ambitions...

"You see...I failed the first time. You both know that person very closely" Orochimaru said averting his eyes to Akira. Akira's eyes look at him with a slight glimmer. It never failed to catch her attention. If ever Sasuke seek power...would she go too? Just like how she promised, the promise of protecting them...

"Itachi..." Akira whispered.

"What's your purpose?" Kakashi asks

"The recently built Sound Village. That's my village, you see... You already understand, don't you?" Orochimaru explained

"Humph! Ridiculous ambition." Kakashi said

"Oh, my...you said it. But for that, I need various pieces that will obey my every whim." Orochimaru said.

"So Sasuke and Akira are one of those pieces?" Kakashi said as he places his arm in front of Akira to cover her when Orochimaru take a step forward.

"No. Those kids behind you are an exceptional piece. Why would I come all this way just to-" Orochimaru said taking a glance at Sasuke and then Akira.

"Right, Kakashi-kun?" Orochimaru said smirking. Kakashi clenches his fist, knowing what he is referring to.

"And the ones who are taking the exams now...are mere throw away." Orochimaru said.

Akira's hand clenches. Why is he treating them like some kind of animals? She is getting frustrated hearing those words come out of his mouth.

Those Sound Shinobi are now fighting for him and he will just call them that. Akira's hands move on its own as she throws another Kunai again at Orochimaru this time with a lighting Chakra.

Orochimaru chuckles as blood drip from his cheek, the kunai passes him piercing to the pillar. "You and Sasuke are both still naive. Sooner both of you will understand and realize it...but I never expected Akira, for you to be this soft...again. This side of you... too naive..." Orochimaru said as he walk towards them very slowly. Akira looks at him in confusion. Again...? What the hell is he talking about...?

"Don't... come any closer... to them!" Kakashi said as lightning formed on the palm of his right hand.

"Even if you're one of the legendary sannin, at the least, I can kill you as you kill me!" Kakashi said the lightning in his hand intensifies.

Orochimaru chuckles alerting Akira and Kakashi. "What's funny?" Kakashi said furiously.

Orochimaru stops and looks at them, directly into their eyes. "What you say and what you do, are all off."

"What?" Kakashi said, confused

"There's no point at all in attempting such a seal. You understand, don't you? The heart to seek out in pursuit of the goal, no matter what obstructive power there may be...He is a possessor of that quality. He's an avenger..." Orochimaru explained.

"So you are taking advantage of that, eh? However, Sasuke is..." Kakashi said.

"At some point, he will definitely seek me out... in search of power" Orochimaru said as he turns his back to them.

"Oh, and you're going to kill me? Why don't you try? That is if you can..." Orochimaru said as the atmosphere in the room lifted, full of intense killing intent and blood lust.

Akira's shoulders tense and look at her Sensei, noticing the change in his posture. Her brows knitted when Kakashi just look at Orochimaru's back with a horrified expression, not making any movements.

Orochimaru starts walking but stops "Remember this..." He said chuckling, looking back at Akira. Akira puts her hand near her leg bag.

"Akira-chan, make something good with the curse mark... I will wait for it. I'll wait for your discoveries." Orochimaru said as he disappear into the dark. She trust Sasuke, didn't she? But will Sasuke trust himself? Those words she said 'He will not join a guy like you, you bastard. I'm sure he will not' How sure can you be, Akira?

Akira's brows knitted as Orochimaru's chuckle echoed in the room, his presence is all gone.

She takes a glance at Sasuke and then at her Sensei. She runs towards him noticing him breathing hard and shaking. What is it...?

Kakashi gulped looking where Orochimaru standing earlier. Releasing a shaky breath as his body shook, terrified. He feels the hand on his back and arm.

"Sensei?" Akira said holding her Sensei.

Kakashi looks at her as he falls to his knees. A chuckle escaped his mouth. Kill you as he kill me?! Am I an idiot?

"Kakashi Sensei?" Akira called him again, making him sigh as he stands up, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"Are you okay, Sensei?" Akira said still holding him.

"Hmm, now we needed to bring Sasuke to the Hospital." Kakashi said with a sigh.

Akira looks where Orochimaru is earlier and sighs before nodding to her Sensei. Akira looked at the clothing in her hand

"here" She said giving the cloth to her Sensei. Kakashi chuckles and ruffles her hair and grabs it.

"Does the curse mark still hurt?" Kakashi said as he put Sasuke's T-shirt back on and lifted him.

Akira shakes her head and puts her hand in her pockets. A distant look in her eyes.

Kakashi looked at her with worry, as they started to walk.

-skip-

Once Sasuke is on a hospital bed, bandages all over his body. There is a silence between them like they were trying to see each other thoughts.

"What Orochimaru said might be true isn't it? Sasuke might..." Akira suddenly said whispering the last part.

Kakashi looks at her shocked. He expected a different question. He expected her to say something different, for her to ask why would Orochimaru wants her. Or what Orochimaru is referring to, earlier.

"Is that the reason...Why you have to put a seal on him? Knowing that Orochimaru will probably destroy his mind...Knowing Sasuke would probably give in to that curse" Akira said touching Sasuke's shoulder.

"You see it in our fight. Sasuke's..." Akira said. It pains to remember Sasuke saying those words.

"He will not allow 'anyone' to take his path away from him." Akira whispered, repeating what Sasuke said. Sasuke has one goal. To be strong and powerful to reach that man. To kill that man, who made him like this.

Kakashi looks at her, affection and worry are clear in her eyes as she looks at Sasuke's figure.

"He lived for that goal..." Akira said as her other hand inside her pocket clenched.

Kakashi looks at her and puts his hand on her shoulder. He didn't know what to say. Akira isn't a fool for him to talk nonsense. She already sees it with her own eyes in their fight, Sasuke's action, and his emotions.

Akira looked at Sasuke and tilt her head, thinking about the possibilities of events that could happen. She sighs and chuckles. "But on the other hand. I know Sasuke won't. Sasuke is strong himself, Sasuke will definitely not join a guy like Orochimaru." Akira said looking up at her Sensei, a small smile on her lips. In her eyes... Sasuke is powerful, someone who is capable, without the need to join a guy like that.

Kakashi eye smiled at her. "That's right" He just said ruffling her hair. It saddened him how Akira always look after her teammates but not herself. How she only cares about the people surrounding her.

"Now, why don't we let Sasuke rest, and get your wounds treated." Kakashi said. Akira looks at him with a poker face.

"You know, I don't really need that. We could now go back to Naruto and Sakura." Akira said with a sigh looking back at Sasuke.

"Well, unfortunately, I already called for someone" Kakashi said making Akira's head snap in his direction.

"I told you not to." Akira said putting her hand in her pocket. Kakashi just raises his brow at her. Akira sighs as she quickly moves to leap out of the open window.

"I'm sorry Akira, But you needed it. Don't be stubborn" Kakashi said grabbing her by the collar of her jacket.

The door opens making both of them look at the newcomer.

Akira's shoulders drop looking at the female medic.

"Hatake Kakashi, you are the one who called for a nurse right?" The Nurse confirmed. Kakashi nodded.

"Okay, please follow me" The nurse said smiling at them. Kakashi was about to walk still holding Akira.

"Wait...Let go. I'm not going anywhere" Akira said holding Kakashi's hand. Kakashi looks at her, squinting his eyes a little. Seeing no lie or hesitation in those purple eyes, he let go of her jacket.

Akira sighs and fixes her jacket. She turns to look at Sasuke again. She puts her palm onto his forehead which is slightly knitted, and she put on a smile. She leaned down and quickly kiss Sasuke's forehead. Sasuke's shoulder relaxes and the structure of his face relaxes. You will not, right, Sasuke?