A/N: All right all though this is not my first time writing fanfiction, it is new for me to post fanfiction. I would love to know what people have to say about this story but please don't just hate on me.

With that said...I have to say, and it pains me to do so...I do not own the Naruto Universe nor do I own any songs that maybe in here and I sadly never will...but I do however own the creativity it took to write this fanfiction and the oocs in it.

This fanfiction is rated MA or R for any language, violence, or sexual themes/content.

All this being said and done with I hope you enjoy reading Time never heals every wound!

End A/N.

Chapter 5: The Chunin Exams!

It had been three months since Sasuke had attacked me. He was severely punished for it with community service. He still had three more months left to go. I was enjoying it a little too much probably but I didn't care.

Currently I was in my garden picking the ripe strawberries and grapes from their plants. Over the past three months my face had healed nicely and there now only a cut on my forehead that still had stitches in it. It would leave a scar but I didn't care about it.

"Kurenai-sensei has called a team meeting today Mina." I jumped and nearly knocked over the strawberries. I blushed and looked up at Shino as he towered over me. None of my teammates knocked or told me they were there anymore. I didn't mind except when Shino and Kiba had walked in on me with only a towel on one time. It was then that the rule was set down that only Hinata could go up stair to look for me.

Shino's face though was priceless when it happened. Kiba had clean passed out with a nose bleed but Shino had turned bright red like a tomato before he turned sharply and dragged Kiba out of the house by his hood. Akamaru chose to stay outside my door until I had dressed.

Jumping back to the present I nodded and stood brushing myself off. I leaned back down and picked up the two baskets full of strawberries and grapes. Shino reached out his hand and I handed him the strawberries to carry into the house.

Inside we put the baskets on the island. I left Shino in the kitchen so I could change out of my shorts and my way to big blue shirt. Before I could get to the stairs though Shino's voice reached me.

"Who's shirt is that?" I turned around and faced him. I looked down at the old faded blue shirt that like every other piece of clothing I had had the Uchiha symbol on the back of it. I smiled a sad smile before looking back up towards Shino.

"It was Itachi's shirt before he…left." Shino nodded solemnly before he went back into the kitchen. I turned and made my way to my room. I quickly changed into a pair of clean shorts and a simple blue shirt that had the family crest on it. I pulled my hair up into a high pony tail as I walked down the stairs.

Shino was standing by the door waiting for me. I slipped my sandals on and we left taking the roof tops instead of walking. Ever since we had learned how to jump from tree branch to tree branch without falling off it was my favorite form of travel. So Shino and I often took to the roof tops to get places.

We reached Training ground six quickly enough and found Kiba, Hinata and Kurenai-sensei already waiting for us. We walked up to them and got the greetings out of the way before Kurenai-sensei cleared her throat.

"Today is a special day."

"You're pregnant!" I blurted out before I could stop myself. Everyone looked at me and Kurenai-sensei blushed.

"What you all were thinking it!" I defended myself but to no avail. Kurenai-sensei looked at me before continuing.

"No Mina I'm not having a child. Today is the day you sign up for the chunin exams!" We all stared. The chunin exams were a big deal. If we lived through it and passed it meant we would no longer be lowly genin but instead chunin. We'd get better mission, be able to teach at the academy, have access to more books at the library…

"Where do we sign up?" Kiba asked before anyone else could.

"Wait a minute Kiba. You all have to go as a team. If one doesn't want to go then the rest can't go either." We all looked at each other before looking back to Kurenai-sensei. She laughed at our excitement and handed us the paperwork to sign.

"Alright I'll go turn these in to the Hokage. You four train so you can do your best in the exams next month." With that our Sensei took off towards the Hokage's tower. Kiba and Akamaru got to work training on their combined attacks while Hinata started pummeling a tree with her gentle fist.

"Care to spare with me Shino?" I asked as I turned to face the bug user. Shino merely nodded before dropping into a fighting stance his bugs coming out of his jacket. I flipped back and dropped into a fighting stance as well.

My sharingan swirled to life the two black tear drops appearing in place. Hinata walked over to signal our match to start then walked back to her tree. Shino and I stared at each other for a moment trying to calculate what the other would do.

I readied a kunai and took off towards Shino. He dodged my attacks easily and his bugs moved as one to attack for him. I was pushed back by the beetle cloud. I flipped in the air doing hand signs mid air.

"Kuton: Fire style fire ball jutsu!" Fire irrupted from my mouth in an enormous ball. Shino jumped out of the way in time but a few of his beetles weren't so lucky. I landed on my feet and blocked a hit from Shino as he attacked with his own kunai. Close combat wasn't his thing so we tried to improve him on it when we could.

"Sorry bout the beetles Shino." I said between blocks and hits. Shino nodded before jumping away. I flipped back as beetles burst through the ground. I smirked and did a few hand signs and held out my hand. Blue crackling lightning gathered in my hand as I took off towards Shino.

"Chidori!" I aimed for Shino's head but stopped the attack from hitting him once I had him pinned to the ground my hand mere inches from his face. My chidori flickered and chirped loudly between us as we stared at each other.

"I give." I smiled brightly and my chidori faded until it was gone. Getting rid of a chidori was harder than making one. It took a lot more concentration which is why I could do it and Sasuke couldn't. It made him bristle whenever I could do things better. It still bothered him that my sharingan was more mature then his own.

"Good match Shino." I said as I got up off my teammate. He nodded in return and took my out stretched hand. I helped him to his feet the let go. My skin burned and tingled anytime our skin touched. Once when Hinata had spent the night with me in order to do cooking lessons I had confided in her and she told me it was the same with her concerning Kiba.

I had thought about what it meant ever since. I mean Hinata was sure she was in love with Kiba. Could that mean I was falling for Shino? I blushed at the thought. Shino looked at me as my face heated.

"You need to drink some water Mina or else you get heat stroke." I nodded and jogged over towards Hinata grabbing my water bottle on the way.

"I think I am." I said to the indigo haired girl once I reached her. She turned her lavender eyes on me confused for a moment.

"Falling for him Hinata…" She squealed softly before covering her mouth and looking towards the boys. They hadn't noticed which was good.

"Oh Mina that great!" Hinata had gotten over her stutter quite a while ago but only when she was alone with me. I was glad for it to because it meant she was comfortable with me.

"You think?" I asked before taking a big gulp of water. Hinata nodded excitedly.

"I mean what if he doesn't feel the same?" Hinata nodded with sympathy seeing as she was in the same situation with Kiba. We both sighed and took a moment to watch the boys. Kiba was still working with Akamaru while Shino was doing various things with his beetles.

"Welp enough of that wanna spar Hinata?" I asked turning back to my best friend and teammate. Hinata nodded and we walked to the middle of the clearing. Shino played referee this time and called our match to begin.

Hinata wasted no time and came right after me. I jumped back and ran through hand signs. Close combat with a Hyuuga was never a good idea for they closed down your chakra paths with their own chakra.

"Kuton: Fire style fire ball jutsu!" Again fire irrupted from my mouth only this time slightly smaller seeing as I didn't have as much chakra. Hinata jumped out of the way just in time. I lunged in kunai at the ready but Hinata was ready with her Byakugan active. She blocked with her own kunai and my sharingan swirled to life again.

We danced a deadly dance of blocks and attacks for quite some time before Hinata shot her other hand out during a block and shut down my chakra point in my arm with the kunai. I jumped back and let my arm hang at my side. Hinata was a great opponent when it came to improving close combat but I was a better opponent when it came to jutsu.

I raised my left hand and ran through hand signs. Hinata and Shino's eyes widened at this. It was extremely hard to weave signs one handed and I could only do it for a few jutsu. One being my chidori… Lightning chirped and crackled to life in my left hand as I held it away from my body.

"Chidori!" I ran towards Hinata and she dodged. This continued for a few minutes until she landed a blow to my left arm when I attacked. The chidori fizzled out burning my hand in the process. I winced and Hinata came up and held a kunai to my throat.

"I give." Hinata smiled in victory before unblocking my pathways. I sighed in relief once she was done and Shino came up to us holding the first aid kit. I smiled and followed him over to a tree and sat down leaning against it.

"Do you have to push yourself to injury every time Mina?" Shino sighed and opened the kit up. I scoffed but the winced as he took hold of my burnt hand. He mumbled an apology and began cleaning it.

"You know me Shino. If I don't push myself then I won't get better. If that means a few injuries then so be it." Shino shook his head as he gently wrapped my hand.

"Someday I'll win a match against her." I mumbled while I watched Hinata start to pack up weapons that littered the training ground.

"Not today." Shino replied as he stood up and offered me his hand. I rolled my eyes before grabbing his hand with my good one. He pulled me up and steadied me before letting go and walking over to help Hinata. I packed up the kunai I had dropped when battling Hinata.

Soon we all headed over to my place for some lunch. As usual Kiba sat at the island and watched the food being cooked. Today however Shino offered his help with the cooking.

"Whoa Bug Boy can cook?" Shino smacked Kiba upside the head as he walked past him. Kiba grumbled before sulking off into the living room to sit with Hinata who was watching something on tv.

"You don't have to help Shino." I said as I tied my apron around my waist. Shino reached past me and grabbed the second apron the hung on the wall hook. I blushed when his chest pressed against my back.

"I want to." Was his reply as he tied the apron in place. I merely nodded and directed my attention to the fridge and pulled out fresh veggie and the strawberries and grapes I picked this morning.

Shino and I worked in comfortable silence. He chopped the veggies up and stir fried them while I washed and cut up the strawberries and grapes. I added them to a vanilla pudding I had made up this morning before tending to the garden.

Soon lunch was served and Kiba dug in greedily. It was simple veggie stir fry with my fruit pudding. I happily took a bite of the stir fry and turned to stare at Shino. He looked back at me with quiet questioning.

"How did you know I put nutmeg in my stir fry?" I whispered towards him so Hinata and Kiba wouldn't hear.

"I saw you put it in once though I guessed the amount. Did I put too much?" I shook my head chewing on another bite of the stir fry.

"No it's just right actually." Shino nodded and I could tell there was a small smile on his face. I looked back to my food as I blushed.

"See you guys tomorrow!" I waved as my teammates walked out of the compound. I closed the door and went up to my room. I changed into sweats and Itachi's old shirt. I padded back down stairs and out into my garden as I fixed my hair up into a messy bun. I grabbed my watering can and started to sing softly as I watered my plants.

(she sings Safe and Sound by Taylor swift)

"That was a beautiful song." I spun around dropping the watering can. Shino was standing in the doorway watching me. I blushed and hurried to pick up the fallen watering can.

"W-what are you doing here Shino? I thought you went home." Shino shrugged before stepping out of the doorway and into my garden.

"I walked past a shop on my way home and say these so I bought them and wanted to give them to you." I looked at the seed packet Shino placed into my hands. It was a packet of nutmeg. My favorite spice. I looked back up at Shino.

"I…I don't know what to say Shino. I…I love it. Thank you." I blushed as Shino stepped closer to me. He leaned down and whispered in my ear before vanishing in a cloud of beetles that flew away.

"Happy Birthday Mina." I smiled and looked down at the packet of seeds. I didn't even know how he had found out it was my birthday but I found I didn't care. I was just happy beyond belief. I turned and walked over to the small planter box that hung from the kitchen window. I carefully opened and planted most of the seeds into the fresh dirt. I folded the packet up and up it in my pocket before watering the nutmeg carefully and going inside.

[Time skip: 1 month]

A month had come and gone in a flash. Team eight had spent almost every day training and sparing together. I felt stronger than I ever had as I walked with my team towards the academy. We got there early and Hinata and I quickly got rid of the genjutsu.

We made our way to the class room and waited for the other participants. Soon the room filled and I briefly caught a glimpse of Sasuke and Naruto. I turned out to be seated next to Shino and Sasuke none the less. My body was stiff and ridged as I tried to ignore my twin

"Alright you brats I'm Ibiki the instructor for this part of the exam." I tuned Ibiki out after he spelled out the rules for us. No cheating or your team gets thrown out of the exams. Got it but if I don't get caught it won't matter.

The test started and I looked through the questions before silently scoffing. These questions where easy. Well for me anyway. Thank Kami I had Shikamaru as a study partner in the academy. I didn't even need to cheat as I filled out the questions. A quick glance around the room told me not everyone was as smart.

My own twin had to cheat off of Shikamaru who was seated in front of him. Shino stole my answers by beetles that crawled between us as we wrote. I couldn't see Kiba but I knew he was using Akamaru for his test and Hinata had the Byakugan so I wasn't worried about them.

Soon the test finished. A lot of people had been thrown out but still a lot remained. Then Ibiki gave us the final question. I looked at my teammates scattered across the room and one look from them told me we were in this no matter what second try or not.

Suddenly a woman came crashing through the window and on to Ibiki's desk. The woman introduced herself as Anko the proctor for the second part of the exam. We all relocated to the entrance to the forest of death. Scary name for a forest….

"Alright maggots send a team member to get you scroll but do not open them at any time during this part of the exams or you will be kicked got it?!" We all answered yes and Shino was elected getter of the scroll along with keeper.

"Why are you an Uchiha by any chance?" A very creepy and snake like voice said behind me. I turned and saw this pale woman with a grass headband on. I merely nodded. She smiled and licked her lips.

"I've always wanted to meet some one of the Uchiha clan." I shivered and took a step back. This woman gave me the creeps.

"Yeah? Well My twin and I are all that's left but I'm pretty sure you already knew that so if you'll excuse me my team Is calling me." I made a bee line for Shino. He looked at me before looking behind me at the woman.

"She is creepy!" Shino merely nodded and we walked towards Kiba and Hinata.

Soon creepy woman was forgotten as the bell rang and the gates opened to let us all into the forest. My team set off at a monitored pace. By night fall we had already taken down two teams and had three of the same scroll.

"We should set up camp here. Kiba take Akamaru and secure the area also set up some traps." Kiba nodded jumping off into the trees. The group had dubbed me leader again so I did my best.

"Hinata you have first watch followed by Shino then me and then Kiba." Hinata nodded and she scanned the forest with her Byakugan. Shino and I set up open tent and sleeping bags. Kiba soon came back and helped out.

"Okay Shino you and I will go refill our water supply and see if we can find us some fish to eat seeing as fish is an okay with Hinata and I." Shino nodded and stood up following me towards the stream that wasn't far off.

"Think we'll find the scroll we need tomorrow?" I asked Shino as we refilled the water canteens. He merely shrugged. Once we had caught a fish for everyone we started to head back only to be stopped by creepy pale lady.

"Well Well look who we have here…The little Uchiha Kitten and a bug." The woman licked her lips. I glanced at Shino the back towards the direction of camp. He caught my message and sent a group of beetles to alert the others.

"I don't think they'll get here in time precious Kitten." The woman lunged straight at me. I barely had time to dodge with a kunai. She was fast. I quickly activated my sharingan and began dodging and aiming attacks back at the woman.

"I like you…So much fight in you even though you can see I'm way over your ability range. So unlike your brother who just shook with fear until his teammates yelled at him!" The woman laughed as she attacked harder and harder.

"What did you do to him?!" I countered her attach and jumped back landing in front of Shino who had been fighting with his beetles but getting nowhere like I was. I quickly raised my left hand and ran though signs my right hand blocking her attacks.

"Kuton: Fire style fire ball jutsu!" Flames ate away at the woman's body as she screamed. I didn't waste time though. I knew that a mere fire jutsu wouldn't stop her. She was of Sanin level not genin.

"Chidori!" I sprang through the last of the flames and shot my hand through the woman's stomach. She coughed blood onto me before grabbing onto me.

"You want to know what I did to your twin?" I struggled against the grip that held me. No longer was this a woman's voice oh no she in fact was a he.

"I gave him a little parting gift. Oh but don't be jelous you'll get one two my little Kitten." The man's raspy voice sent chills down my spine. Suddenly pain surged threw my neck. He bit me. He freaking bit me! I screamed out as the pain increased when he let go.

"Mina!" Shino lept forward and caught me as I fell back. The right side of my neck felt like someone had electrocuted me several times in a row. I screamed again as the pain increased I grabbed Shino's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"What did you do to her?!" Shino yelled at the man. He merely laughed and started to sink into the nearest tree but not before tossing a scroll at our feet.

"I'll be seeing you again Kitten." With that he was gone but the pain remained and only grew stronger and stronger.

"Shino! What happened? We got here as fast as possible." My vision was growing black but I could still here Hinata's worried voice. Shino explained what happened as he picked me up. Another shot of pain caused me to scream out again before total darkness took me.

[Shino's P.O.V]

Mina screamed out again as her body tensed. I held her close and continued back to camp. Finally Mina's scream died out but I could tell she had passed out. Hinata picked up the scroll and the fish and followed after Kiba and me.

Back at camp we started a small fire to cook the fish. I placed Mina on her sleeping bag in the tent and grabbed out a cloth from my bag and wetted it with cool water before placing it on her forehead after removing her headband. I brushed a few strands of black hair from her face before leaving the tent.

"How is she?" Hinata ask while turning the fish. I sighed and shook my head.

"She has a bad fever and her body seems to be fighting off some kind of toxin. My beetles couldn't remove it from her either." Kiba and Hinata looked grim.

"Hinata you still have first watch then I'll take over followed by you Kiba." They nodded and soon we ate.

After food was down us and the fire dowsed Kiba and I moved into the tent to sleep. Mina still lay where I put her. I rewet the cloth and placed it back on her head. Kiba laid down on one side of Mine while I laid down on the other.

At eleven Hinata came in and woke me for my watch. I again rewet the cloth and replaced it on Mina's forehead. I stepped out of the tent and Hinata took my place making sure to keep Mina in the middle to keep her warm.

Nothing happened during my watch and soon it was Kiba's turn. I woke him up and waited for him to leave the tent. When he did I took his place and again rewet Mina's cloth before going to sleep again.

Kiba woke us when the time came and we packed up camp. Kiba took most of the stuff since Mina had been the only one with the knowledge one sealing jutsu. I place Mina on my back before we took off again. This time we headed towards the tower at the center of the forest.

The scroll the man had thrown us was the one we needed so we no longer had a need to stay in this forest. By mid day we took a small brake before heading out again. If we had any luck we would reach the tower before night fall.

Luck was on our sides today it seemed as we reached the tower at dusk. We showed the guard our scrolls and he took them letting us in. Once inside Kurenai-sensei met us.

"What happened to Mina!?"

"She was bitten by this grass ninja. Her body is fighting off his toxins but her fever hasn't broken yet." Kurenai-sensei nodded at my explanation. Kiba and Hinata were escorted to the waiting area while I was escorted to the medical wing with Mina.

I was told to set her down in one of the rooms and leave. I did as I was told but not so willingly. I did not want to leave Mina there by herself. As I walked back I overheard one of the nurses say it was the second time they had seen this. The first was on Sasuke Uchiha.