Even though the woman was shaking like a leaf, Kirika felt comfortable. They huddled together in the corner of the cell, separated from the other test subjects. She cradled Kirika in her lap.

A gentle hand stroked her hair. "H-hey, How are you doing, Yumi?"

Kirika buried her head in the woman's chest. "I'm okay."

The woman let out a shaky laugh. "I don't think they'll let us starve... they're bound to give us something to eat sooner or later... You hungry?"

Kirika said the woman's name.

"Yeah?"

"Are you scared?"

The hand stopped stroking her hair. "Y-yeah, kiddo. But nothing bad is gonna happen to you."

"How come?"

"Because I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I promise. You're safe with me."

What Kirika had wanted to know was why she was scared. It suddenly felt wrong to ask, so laid she her had back on the woman's chest and murmured. "I'm safe with you."

Kirika's eyes opened slowly. "A dream?" She mumbled. She was in a cold sweat. No, not a dream. It happened. That was a memory a long time ago, when she was only four. That was the day the curse mark was placed on her. Absentmindedly, she reached to that spot on her neck. It was covered with a bandage.

"Kirika." Orochimaru was crouching over her.

Her head rolled to the side.

"How do you feel?"

Kirika wrapped her arms around him and buried her head in his neck. "I missed you so much!"

He put an arm around her. "And I you. How have you been enjoying your time in the Leaf?"

"If it weren't for you abandoned laboratories I'd have lost my. You were right about the self-righteous fools. But I didn't think so many of them would be that way."

When Kirika pulled away he was grinning wickedly... it might have been a warm smile, it was hard to tell on him. He stroked her hair. "I'm sorry my dear. You must be bored sick... be patient, you'll get to seeing the war machine of Konoha in full motion soon."

"We're going to destroy the leaf village."

"It should be fun." He laughed "On the day of the final tournament of the chunin exams there will be a joint invasion by the Sound and Sand villages."

Kirika nodded. "I got Kabuto's message."

He grinned "Then you know what to do."

"Yes sir."

"That Sand genin, Gaara, oh, he should be entertaining."

Kirika's eyes shone. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Don't be seen when you summon the snake. I need you back in the village afterwards... or should I say rubble." He laughed.

Kirika smiled.

He touched the curse mark on her neck. "I've placed this mark on the young man from your team just a while ago."

"The Uchiha."

"Yes." He licked his lips. "I'd say his odds are one in ten against him."

"Your next vessel?" Kirika frowned. She wanted him. She wanted to dissect his eyes and brain. But if Orochimaru wanted Sasuke as a vessel, she would see to it that he got him.

"Such a clever girl. Eventually his hatred and lust for revenge will lead him to me. That is when you'll come home."

"I'll watch over him."

"Good girl." He made a hand sign. I'll be returning you to my former student, she's been running around looking for me for hours. Be convincing, but don't give her any information she doesn't already know."

Kirika nodded

"Sweet dreams, my dear."

She suddenly felt tired again.

"Before you fall asleep again, there's something else I want you to do after you summon the snake." He stopped smiling, completely serious. "It's of grave importance." He leaned down and whispered into Kirika's ear. "..."

She gripped his sleeve and nodded. "I will."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

Kirika's hands were shaking when she raised the knife. She looked to Orochimaru with a quire expression. "I thought I just had to blend in... You said it was just to learn how to spy..."

"And if a spy's cover is blown, the onlooker must be eliminated."

Kirika looked back in front of her. The woman who had made her feel safe had been dragged from the cell to be beaten bloody by the Oto guards. Then Orochimaru put a kunai in Kirika's hands, and told her to finish it.

The woman was sobbing hysterically, hissing unanswered 'Why?' They was sobs of fear at first. After Orochimaru had torn the normal-coloured skin away from Kirika's face, revealing the real complexion mirroring his own, the sobs turned something more acute to anger.

"You have no need for a surrogate mother." Orochimaru crossed his arms. "And you will not cry this time. Kill her."

Kirika's eyes flickered up, but it wasn't necessary. Kirika was stronger now then the last time. "Yes sir!" She lunged, thrust the kunai into the woman's middle, and twisted.

The woman, wide eyed, coughed once.

Kirika forced the twist of her lips, like her knife. She laughed a bit. "It's kind of funny, right?" She forced the smile until it was real. "That you were going to me safe."

When she stepped back, Orochimaru was smiling in approval. "That's my girl."

Kirika ran to him and embraced his leg. "Was that okay?"

He ruffled her hair. "Yes my dear, you were excellent. And more importantly, you did not hesitate."

She nodded. Her shaken nerves abandoned in favour of the joy her father's praise brought to her.

Orochimaru couched to her height. He gave her an assessing look. "Are you angry with me for making you do that?"

She shook her head, smiling. "No, I was just a little surprised."

"And tell me, do you want to stay here with me?"

Kirika nodded vigorously. "Forever and ever!" She cocked her head confused. "Did I- Did I not do good enough!? I promise, I'll kill the next one even faster!" The prospect of leaving shook her more than death; more than killing.

His eyes widened slightly. He smiled and cupped her cheek. "My dear, you did perfect... But there is something I need you to do for me."

Kirika smiled in relief. "Okay!" Her eyes widened. Pain spread through her body, blossoming from a point on her neck. She gripped it, clawing the skin and fell to her knees, screaming.

Orochimaru lifted her into his arms. "I do hope you survive that curse mark, my dear. It would be a shame to lose you."

Kirika continued flailing and clawing at her neck. "F-father! It hurts!"

He gripped her tighter so she wouldn't fall from his arms. "I know. Hush, child. It'll all be over soon."

Kirika shrieked.

When she opened her eyes all she saw was a swirling purple void. She gasped and writhed as she was enveloped in an agonizing burning sensation. The void churned like a volcano; As if her veins were ablaze, flowing with fire rather than blood, just under her skin. It was all around her. It was in her. In her mind, she saw a white light; she reached out her little hand, she struggled to it... She nearly had it in her fingers. And the flames burst out of her.

...

...

...

...

"..ika.."

...

"...Kirika..."

...

"...Kirika..."

"Please, Kirika!" It was getting louder, closer. Kirika didn't want to answer it.

"Kirika!"

"KIRIKA! OPEN YOUR EYES!"

She felt her cheek getting warm. Kirika forced her eyes quickly open, that slap was just what she needed, her eyes closed again.

Open my eyes?

She slowly rolled her eyes open, She closed them slowly and opened them once more. The fuzz slowly cleared. "Anko? Is that you?" Kirika moaned, her voice crackly.

Anko gripped Kirika's hand. "I'm here. Are you okay?"

Kirika stretched her arms. "I'm fine."

Anko's troubled eyes searched Kirika's. She didn't try to touch Kirika again, as if she was determining what to make of everything.

"Anko," She whispered "My teammates." Kirika pressed her palm to her forehead and sat up.

Anko was gripping her neck. "Kirika, you're in the same squad with that Uchiha kid, right?"

"Sasuke... he... all my teammates," Kirika covered her face with her hands. "They're dead..." Her voice shook, but her face wasn't the least bit troubled under her palms and fingers.

"Not Sasuke. That's for sure. Orochimaru gave him a curse mark."

Kirika's head shot up at her. Her eyes shone with relief. Until she realised what it meant, and the light left them.

Anko put a hand on her shoulder. "Do you have any idea what he's planning?"

She shook her head.

"When I found Orochimaru, he had you slung under his arm."

"If what you said about the curse mark is true, then Sasuke's his objective. He just wanted to separate me from my team."

"So we'll have to find Sasuke, and he'll lead us to Orochimaru."

"...He's gone by now..."

She sighed. "Alright then. We need to get to the tower and inform Lord Hokage of what's happened."

Kirika nodded "And I need to get to my teammates."

"You're coming with me."

"I need to find them."

"They'll survive."

"No. They won't. They'll die without me!"

"You're in no condition to be running around area 44! Of all places! They'll be fine! You'll meet up with them at the tower, after they've collected a heaven and earth scroll."

"If they're all still alive, and then if they make it. The curse mark could have already killed Sasuke... and Naruto and Sakura... he has no use for them."

"They'll make it to the tower. The chunin exams will carry on as planned. I'll make an exception for your special circumstances."

Perfect. Kirika glared. "You're pulling me from the exam."

"Standard protocol." She lifted Kirika into her arms. "A: you're too week to even make a hand sign, and we both know you're not as gifted physically. And B: you're way to close to Orochimaru. I don't take you in now and they'll lock you up under suspicion of treason. Best case."

Kirika went limp in her arms.

" 'At a girl."

Kirika let herself fall back asleep.

A cup was at her mouth. She coughed, and gulped desperately, and choked.

Kirika woke up disoriented and in a cold sweat. She was sure she was still on fire, and let out a pitiful, throaty shriek, spitting up some of the water." Tears swelled in her eyes.

"Ssshhh. Hush, now." A gently hand cupped her face. She leant into it with a final sob. She fisted her own shirt in hand, just to make sure she wasn't still burning. "Keep drinking."

She did, eagerly, despite her angrily raw throat.

Orochimaru scooped her up into his lap. He pressed her head under his chin and kissed the top of head. "There, you're alright."

Kirika felt her heart still pounding. She felt her throat still throbbing from her screams. Her body had gone from burning to freezing, her sweat was like ice. She shut her eyes and hid head in the crook of Orochimaru's neck, when she did relax, she saw that she was in her room.

Orochimaru walked her to the washroom mirror. He brushed her hair aside. "Look Kirika."

Kirika's eyes fell on her reflection. There was a mark on her neck; like three spokes of a tomoe.

Kirika let out a breath. "Was that an experiment?"

"No, my dear. This will make you stronger."

Kirika rubbed her neck. As Orochimaru walked them back into the bedroom Kirika re-buried her face in his chest. "I hated that."

He sat in the chair next to the bed. "You won't have to do it again." he said. "I have something for you."

He pressed a cold thing into her hand. Kirika took it slowly, slower still to peek out her eyes from the safe confines of her father's chest. It was a pocket watch.

"Open it."

She clicked the clasp. It played music.

"It's pretty." Kirika said. She gave him a curious look. "To keep?"

"It's yours. But you have to take care of it, it's very important."

"I will." Kirika promised. "Can we do experiments now?"

"Later. I want you to go back to sleep."

"Mmm..." Kirika squeezed the watch, it was pleasantly cool in her hand. "Can I train?" She wined, she was uncomfortably hot and still shaken. She didn't want to go back to a restless sleep.

"You can rest."

"Will you read me a lab report?"

Orochimaru leaned back in the chair. "I'll tell you a story," He took Kirika's hand, the one holding the watch. "The... woman who wanted you to have this told it to me."

"Does the curse mark still hurt?" Sarutobi asked

"Much less, thanks to you, lord Hokage." She pulled the sleeve of her jacket back over her shoulder. "This is turning into a huge mess."

"Meanwhile Orochimaru is still at large somewhere in the village." A ninja said gravely

"Why choose now of all times to reappear?" An ambu said

Sarutobi took a long drag from is pipe. "I think we can assume he's come for Sasuke."

"And what about her?" Anko asked quietly, she removed from her pocket and gazed at Kirika's flower watch. Taken from the pocket of her discarded trousers.

"Kirika is safely sleeping in the next room. I know you have a personal relationship with that girl, but we can't rule out the possibility that she could be a spy." He blew out a puff of smoke slowly. "That's why I put her in the ninja program, to keep a closer eye on her... I was hoping she would completely conform to the ways of the Leaf. And she has been subordinate enough, but she's also refused to divulge any information on Orochimaru whatsoever."

"No... she hasn't." Anko paused, deep in thought. "But she's twelve. It's not easy for a little kid to testify against her own father."

"I realise that." Sarutobi sighed

Anko looked up, eyes glassy. "When I told her about Sasuke she was genuinely surprised... but... she's a good liar. I want to believe Kirika is innocent. But I'm not sure."

"I... don't think Kirika is a bad kid. I want to believe she has nothing to do with this just as much as you do." Sarutobi put a hand on her shoulder. "But we will take the nessesary precautions. We'll keep her in protective custody until the exam is over. We'll pull her from the exam and question her. And I will limit her mobility and assign an ambu agent to guard her until after the exam."

Anko nodded. "Yeah." She smiled sadly. "She'll hate the guard, though. I'll imagine we'll need someone good. Someone she can't outrun."

He smiled back. "I suppose we will."

"Lord Hokage!" An ambu appeared in the doorway. "Tachibana's awake."

When Kirika woke up she rubbed her eyes and mumbled. "I wonder if Sasuke's in pain..." Kirika massaged her curse mark. The genjustu had worn off considerably, but she still felt groggy.

"You're awake." A leaf ninja was standing my the door. "I'm gonna call the hokage in. Don't move." He stepped out.

Kirika sat up slowly. When her heard the footsteps returning, she hung her head and put on a heartbroken face.

Two anbu followed by Anko and Sarutobi entered the room.

She whispered in a raw voice. "Are my friends alive?" friends. Not teammates. Friends were more personal.

The hokage took a drag from his pipe, and blew out in a sigh. "I'm sorry. They never made it to the tower."

Kirika sighed, shaky. and rubbed her eyes with her hand. Liar. Of course they made it.

"Kirika," Sarutobi spoke. "You're aware Orochimaru attacked your squad and is now at large somewhere in the village."

Kirika turned her head to him. Her lips were pursed in an only half-working attempt to quell their quivering, and her eyes were red and glistening with tears. She gave one slow nod.

"I want you to tell me exactly what happened."

Kirika looked at Anko. She gave her a small nod. "He... he attacked us about an hour into the exams. Naruto was... gone. And he was... he was disguised as Naruto. B-but he found us again. Naruto did."

"And what did you do?"

"I... I... I hesitated..."

Sarutobi sighed."Kirika-"

Her face contorted into grief "I promised to protect them and I hesitated!"

Anko's arm reached forward, Sarutobi stopped it. "Do you know anything else about what Orochimaru is planning?"

"Sasuke's dead..." Kirika shook her head, she looked at him. "The village is in danger. You need to shut down the exams!"

The hokage took a drag. "We can't do that."

Kirika's eyes pinched shut, she turned her head away.

Anko reached into her coat pocket and held out Kirika's pocket watch. "Here. I took it from your pocket when I changed you."

Kirika clutched it to her chest.

Anko sighed and put a hand on her own head. "Kirika."

"Is there anything else? Anything Orochimaru said? Anything?"

Kirika shook her head slowly.

He sighed. "I'll believe you for now. But I must take necessary precautions. I won't penalize your team, but I must pull you from the exam."

"Is that a joke?" Kirika looked at him with an expression that was less a glare and more sullen; empty.

The hokage shook his head. "Your teammates are alive and well. Kakashi is sealing Sasuke's curse mark as we speak."

Kirika's limbs went lose. She slouched and let out a breath, wiping a tear from her eyes. She sniffed.

He put a hand on her shoulder. Gave it a squeeze. "You understand why I did that?"

She sniffled but nodded. "Yeah."

"Sakura did attest to how hard you tried to save them. There was no shame in faltering against Orochimaru."

Kirika looked at the watch in her hand. "Still..." She squeezed it as she squeezed her eyes shut in remorse.

"And until the exam is over you'll have an ambu bodyguard with you at all time."

"Okay."

"Hnn, I imagined you'd be more resistant."

She smiled weakly. "Choose wisely. I'm easy to lose."

Sarutobi chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll find someone you can't outrun." He turned towards the door and spoke to an ambu. "Get her clothes."

"Naruto and Sakura!? How are they?" Kirika blurted

"They all made it here in one piece." He turned back. "In fact, they were just asking about you."

"Can I see them?"

"Get dressed now. There are too many teams who made it through. We're holding a preliminary round right now. You can watch."

Perfect.