A/N: I brought you two more chapters today, even though I said they would be weekly. See it as a special gift from me to you. '

2nd Round: Rock Lee versus Orochimaru

I walked into the valley with Mr. Kyo and the others. The 2nd round of the Third Exam was about to begin and everyone was grim. I didn't even notice Orochimaru when I walked past him on the way to our seats. My mind was on other matters. Just before entering the valley, there was a bulletin board with the list of the next matches, and the very last two to battle would be Hinako and I. After seeing this, our spirits dropped, well, except Hinako. She kept her poker face the whole way.

She probably isn't bothered by it at all, I thought glumly to myself. I know she wouldn't have any problem fighting against me. This would make it our second time. But, I'm not sure how I'd beat her this time. My Insanity technique definitly won't work. She's already seen how Gaara defeated it. This is bad. I've already shown all my best techniques. I even summoned all my demons to fight him. I didn't think this far ahead. Besides that, I don't know what else Hinako might have up her sleeve. Well, there's nothing more for me to think about. I'm just going to have to wing it. Besides, Lee's battle is coming up, and I doubt its going to be pretty.

We all seated ourselves in the same spots we were in previously, and each stared off at some distant void, their minds elsewhere. I heard a scream and flicked around to see Mr. Kyo squealing like a giddy schoolgirl. He leapt out of his seat and straight towards...Gaara! "Mr. Kyo...why are squealing?" Hinako asked, vexed. He was circling Gaara. His eyes large and watery and a smile spread across his face. "Those eyes, that silky, crimson hair, that gorgeous leather jacket," Mr. Kyo sighed. "And the gourd! This boy is...almost as beautiful as me."

I thunked him on the head. "GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU GAY!"

He smacked into the floor and rolled around, crying. "Oh! Sarafu! How could you be so cruel! And here I was admiring your boyfriend!"

My face lit up. "H-he's n-not my...b-b-boyfriend! Well, he kinda is...but that's not the point!" I kicked him, while he was rolling around on the floor.

Gaara didn't seem at all bothered by this. I was completely embarassed. Damn you, Mr. Kyo! Although he is my boyfriend, it still sounds embarassing out in the open!

Gaara walked up to me and said, "I came here to tell you something."

I blushed even more in my bliss. "W-what?"

He looked at the others and then said, "Not here. Let's go somewhere else."

I nodded and then followed him. He stopped just a little ways away from where we were. Just enough to be out of ear-shot of everyone else. "Sarafu."

I started at the sound of my name. "Y-Yes?"

"You're going to lose to Hinako."

My heart felt like lead. "What a thing to say. What makes you so sure?"

"I could tell from the way you looked before. You, foolishly, used all your obviously best techniques in your battle with me. Hinako is also an Uchiha, and has been watching your battles with her sharingan the whole time. She knows you, and is much more powerful. And besides...", his face became very dark, "if you do win this fight. . .you'll be paired up with Orochimaru next."

My heart stopped. I would? There was no way I could fight this guy. I may have been ill the first time I fought him, but I could tell he was strong. And from the looks of his battle with Temari, he's only just started. And the very fact that Gaara's trying to warn me j- Wait! I looked at Gaara slyly. "So, you're telling me this means you are worried about me?"

"Don't get your hopes up. I'm just informing you, because you're so dense. And Orochimaru won't hesitate to kill you."

I smiled. "Heh. That's where you're wrong, Gaara. He won't kill me. And I've been looking forward to fighting him. I've got a little message I need to convey to him. And for that reason, I cannot lose to Hinako. Thanks for the concern, Gaara, but this idiot's gonna give it all she's got. Even if she has to make up new jutsus."

Gaara stared at me. His face was blank, but there was something in his eyes that made me smile even more.

"Now," I wrapped my arms around him, "let's watch this fight together! Won't it be romantic?"

He shoved me off with his sand. "Get off of me."

"Aw, come on. We all know you enjoyed that."

"Like I said, 'don't get your hopes up'."

"Well, then, can you at least sit next to me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I prefer to stand."

I pouted. "You know what, sandman? You're just difficult. But I'm enduring!"

He sighed. "Whatever."

We stood there in our spot, looking down at the valley grass. The next battle was about to start. Shigame-sensei walked into the middle of the arena, as the crowd buzzed louder in their excitement. "SHUT UP!" She yelled. "Round Two is about to begin! Would Rock Lee and Orochimaru please come to the arena."

After a few minutes, Lee was standing face-to-face with Orochimaru. He had a serious frown on his face. He knew his opponent. While, on the other hand, Orochimaru looked confident and bored. "First match: Rock Lee versus Orochimaru...BEGIN!"

Lee stood good distance away from Orochimaru, who surprisingly made the first move. He opened his mouth and a multitude of snakes lunged towards Lee. He leapt out of the way continuously as Orochimaru attacked him constantly with snakes that would appear out of all parts of his body.

That has to be uncomfortable to keep in there. I bet they wriggle.

Finally, Lee, disappeared in mid-dodge and appeared again in front of Orochimaru. He made to kick him, but Orochimaru swung to the side. Now, Lee was on the assualt, but no one seemed to get hit. I looked over at Gai who was standing next Hinako. He was praying desperately. So he knows the strength of Lee's opponent, also. I'm sure he would have made Lee quit, if it wasn't for his "dream". I looked back over at Lee, who now had a kunai and was slicing at Orochimaru like it meant his life. He was scared. Orochimaru easily maneuvered around all of Lee's attacks, even occasionally striking him with a snake. Finally, Lee jumped back and unwrapped his bandages around his arm. "He's going to use that!" I gasped. "And so soon!" Gaara had no comment, but continued to stare at the battle with intensity.

Once Lee was finished, he, again, appeared in front of Orochimaru, but this time, managed to kick him into the air. His bandages wrapped around Orochimaru. But snakes appeared around Orochimaru and the bit the bandages so he was free. But since Lee was in the air, he spun around and sliced him with a kunai. Lee yelled from the pain and fell to the ground, bleeding. He quickly got up to defend against Orochimaru's next attaxk, with sliced his arm open. This time, he ran away to recover. He held his arm where blood was slowly creeping out, staining his bandages. Orochimaru smiled. Lee had a worried expression on his face.

Well, its no wonder. How's he going to win this one? Lee is a close combat fighter, and Orochimaru can do both. Orochimaru is, more than likely, going to attack from a distance. He's already read Lee completely. He can predict Lee's every movement. I think he got hit by Lee's kick, on purpose, just to raise our hopes. Come on, Lee. Do something random.

Lee looked over at Gai, who in turn smiled at him with a "thumbs up". Lee smiled back and stood up straight, as though nothing ever happened. He motioned for Orochimaru to make the first move, which he did, sprawling at Lee with liquid movements, that seemed to flow through the air. He then shot his head-his neck growing longer-towards Lee, biting him on the neck. Lee screamed in pain and shook off his head and jumped back. Lee staggered backward. Orochimaru shot out his tongue as it wrapped around Lee. Gross. With his mouth open, Orochimaru walked over to Lee, kunai in hand. My heart began to skip faster. He isn't gonna- Orochimaru held out the kunai, ready to strike. He moved his arm back, and then inevitably swung forward. I shut my eyes in fear.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The scream rang out all through the valley. It was silent as all eyes turned towards me. I realized that tears had begun to swell in my eyes. I gazed, dismayed, at the figure of the still Orochimaru. He turned around and smiled at me sardonically. With a great relief, I saw that the kunai had stopped, just inches from Lee's neck. Orochimaru looked piercingly towards me with his golden eyes. He seemed to be reading my mind. Then, with a sigh, he knocked Lee across the head, knocking him unconcious. With that, he pulled his tongue back into his mouth as Lee fell to the ground. There was a soft cheer as Shigame-sensei walked over to Lee with medical ninjas. While they examined him, Shigame-sensei declared Orochimaru the winner. The crowd cheered. Well, all of those who didn't know who he really was.

Orochimaru walked back up to his seat, which was near Gaara and I. As he brushed passed me he said, "Did you like that little favor I did for you?"

"Aren't you the lovely parent? You're just gonna wish I do the same thing to you when we battle."

"That's if you make it there."

"Don't worry. I will. We need to have a little father-daughter chat." With that I pounded my fist into my hand and looked at him threateningly.

He just chuckled, amused by my anger. He then sat down. Gaara's eyes followed him the whole way. Once Orochimaru was safely seated away from us, he inquired, "'Father-daughter chat?'"

I started. I had completely forgotten that Gaara was there, and thus made the slip. "Well...it's one of those things I'll tell you on our next date. Don't let it bother you."

He didn't answer. I expected him to leave me by now, but he made no motion.

...to be continued.