Third Person's POV
Kakashi looked at the scene. His mask moves as a smile form on his lips. Akira...
He looked at Sasuke. Sasuke, she is really putting her trust in you. Please choose the right path...
Akira walked toward him with a smile on her lips. Kakashi chuckles and ruffles her hair.
"So can we go?" The nurse said shyly. They both look at the nurse and chuckle.
"R-right" Kakashi said scratching his head a little, he forgot that they are not alone.
Anbus appears in the room getting all their attention "We are here to guard Uchiha Sasuke, and Akira" One of the Anbu said.
Kakashi raises his eyebrow at them. He looked at Sasuke that is peacefully sleeping. "You guys are just in time. Well, just watch Sasuke here..." He said then he look back at the Anbu.
"I'll handle Akira" Kakashi said to the Anbu.
"Besides we still going back to the preliminaries." Kakashi continued when the Anbu look at him disapprovingly. They don't want to raise suspicion in the preliminaries, right?
"Maybe you could just leave Akira here at the Hospital with Sasuke" Anbu said walking towards Akira.
Akira's brows knitted. What? She doesn't want to, and why would they decide for her.
"Well, I pick you all to just guard Sasuke, I can handle Akira" Kakashi said giving them an eye smile.
Akira looks up at their Sensei. So he is the one who picked them ...
"But... Hatake-san, Akira also has the mark, we can't let her roam, besides we are still not sure if the curse mark will not get out of control. And Orochimaru might still be in the village, it's better if you leave her here." Anbu reasoned looking down at Akira.
Akira's brows twitch in response.
Kakashi sighs. Well, hand it to them, they are very persistent.
"I'm sure Akira doesn't want that, right Akira?" Kakashi said looking down at Akira.
"Yes." Akira said crossing her arms and nodding her head.
"Thank you for your service, though," Akira said with two finger salute. Don't be lame and protect Sasuke.
The Anbu sighs and looked at each other and nodded to them as they positioned. Akira just looks at them with a poker face and tilts her head.
"Now, if y'all excuse us. Akira still needs to be treated" Kakashi said as he avert his eyes to the nurse.
The nurse nodded and turns her back to them as she started to walk. They both follow the nurse, leaving Sasuke in the room along with the Anbus.
The corner of Akira's lips curved into a smirk. Anbus, huh.
-skip-
They stop once they reach a door. "I assume you will be the one who needs to be treated right?" The nurse said looking at Akira, noticing the bandage wrapped around her right hand and the fresh blood on her wounds.
Akira nodded "You know, I actually don't need it" Akira said with hope that the nurse would agree with her.
"Well, nope. You need it, and I'm already here" The nurse said.
"Now, come with me" The nurse said opening the door. Akira sighs wanting to protest.
Kakashi was about to follow the nurse when the nurse stops him. He tilts his head in confusion.
"I'm sorry but I probably needed to cover her entire upper body with gauze, so...you can't come in" The nurse said
"Oh..." Kakashi said putting his hand in his pocket.
"I see" He said looking at Akira with realization.
Akira's brow twitched. What...? Entire upper body, which means...
"What? Er- I don't want to..." She said scratching her head
"I can probably do it myself, well, it will take time but...I can do it" Akira protest.
"Just like you said, it will take much more time if you do it yourself. Now, Akira, don't be stubborn" Kakashi said pushing Akira inside the room.
Akira didn't have time to run outside the room when the nurse closes the door, a kind smile on her lips. Akira chuckled awkwardly.
"Now, come on, remove your clothes." The nurse encourages sitting on a chair after she puts the clipboard on a table.
"huh?" Akira said dumbfounded. She swears she just lost all her knowledge.
The nurse chuckles at her. This is very common to her. It's natural that some people might find it really weird and act shy when it comes to things like this.
Kakashi chuckles hearing the commotion inside.
"I will... just wait, give me some time" He heard Akira say. He leans his shoulder on the wall near the door, waiting for another protest and for them to finish. He didn't want to miss too much of the match, Sasuke will be fighting one of them.
After a few seconds of silence, he heard shuffling inside the room as the nurse chuckled.
"You should probably look away" He heard Akira say still with a disapproving tone.
"How am I going to examine you if I'm looking away, don't be silly, gaki" He heard the nurse say laughing.
"If you want I could help you" The nurse suggested.
"Huh? No, I can do it by myself" Akira said removing her jacket. She really didn't want when someone in close range to her...then this...come on, this is worse.
"See, don't be shy. Most definitely a kid like you has great bodies, you know you really have a pretty face" The nurse said with an encouraging smile.
Akira stops lifting her T-shirt as her brows twitch. "That's not really encouraging" She said. It's really not, it's rather really embarrassing.
The nurse chuckled at the look the gaki giving her.
Kakashi clears his throat. "I should probably just seat here" He mutters to himself walking to the group of chairs just outside the room. In a book he read, that might be true...
But hey, he looks at a person's personality...
-skip-
"Now you're all done" The nurse said once she finishes cleaning her wound and putting gauze on it.
Akira sighs. Finally...she wanted to go back to the preliminaries.
"I guess you are taking chunin exam?" The nurse said as Akira put her clothes on.
"Hmm..." Akira hums, nodding her head. She didn't have to question how the nurse knew it. Maybe by the corpse brought here in the hospital or in a more accurate reason...the chunin exam is always the talk of the town when it's about to happen or when it's happening.
"Thank you" Akira said once she puts all her clothes on.
"I really feel a lot better." Akira said giving the nurse a smile.
"I'm awesome, aren't I?" The nurse joke. Akira hummed in agreement and put her hands in her pockets.
"Well, you should probably go, your friend-" the Nurse said but Akira cut her off
"Yeah Kakashi Sensei might be waiting for me. He must be getting bored there" Akira said. She actually doubts it, he might be reading that book again.
The nurse is about to open the door when Akira quickly grabs her hand.
"Wait...Let's be silent" Akira said the nurse gave her a confused look. The nurse just nods, playing along on whatever the gaki is planning to do.
Akira slowly slides the door slightly opening it and finds her Sensei. Her brow twitched seeing that he is actually doing what she thought he is doing.
She heard a gasp at the nurse behind her "You know the book?" Akira asks
"Well, yeah a friend told me about it..."The nurse said shyly. She knows the content of it, but she really didn't read such a thing. She really didn't have time for that. But, for a person to read a book like that in public...wow.
"Just be quiet..." Akira whispered as she completely opens the door. The nurse nodded and just stay in her position, not wanting to ruin what the gaki is about to do.
Kakashi read his book and hums to himself. He is too occupied with his book that he didn't sense Akira is just in front of him.
Akira kneels and looks at the book, seeing some content in it.
"That book's really good?" Akira said quietly, looking over the contents.
Kakashi hums and just continue to read, not really recognizing the voice.
Akira pointed to a scene in the book with her index finger.
"You know, I am kind of a brainy person, but...I still don't understand these scenes..." Akira said looking at the words. She tilts her head. The words were just literally bouncing in her head back and forth. Maybe she should look for those words in the dictionary. She really didn't understand anything at the scene, maybe the author use ancient words on it or deep words? But... that's not like him...
How is she supposed to comprehend what is occurring if she is unable to visualize it or understand the meaning of each word? right?
Kakashi jumps and looks at the person's finger until he meets those purple eyes looking at him, with a smirk, a tint of confusion in them, head tilted slightly to the side.
He quickly close the book, the finger almost getting stuck. He quickly stands up, his face feeling hot.
Akira quickly pulled her hand when her sensei closes the book suddenly. She plops to the floor when he stands up, almost hitting her on the chin. Man...she just got treated.
She can hear the nurse chuckle, she quickly stands up and pats her pants.
"Gaki, you should be careful." The nurse said to her. Akira sighs and gave the nurse a pitiful look. The nurse chuckled again.
Kakashi clears his throat his face still feels hot. "Akira, I think we should go" Kakashi said hands in his pockets, book is nowhere to be found.
"Thank you" He said hurriedly, he holds Akira's hand dragging her with him. Maybe he should stop reading the book in public? He sighs, trying to calm his heart from embarrassment.
"Ohh... wait!" Akira said when her Sensei holds her hand. She tilts her head a word pops into her mind. Hmm...she wonders what that means...
"H-I-C-K-E-Y?" She spells, whispering. The hold on her hand tightens. She looks forward, confusion in her eyes.
Kakashi glanced at Akira. His mind went blank. What...?
"How do you pronounce those words, haikey? hikey...?" Akira said tilting her head
"And foreplay? What's that some kind of game? You know it sounds like role-" Akira continued putting her finger on her chin thinking, a hand covering her mouth as she feels herself be surrounded by a chakra.
Kakashi tenses hearing those words, as the people in the hospital look at them weirdly then chuckle seeing the confused look of the genin beside him, like she is some lost kid.
He lets go of Akira's hand and covers her mouth, muffling the words that she will say. Well, he guesses they needed to take a different route. They both disappear from the hospital, leaving a cloud of smoke.
-skip-
"Yo!" Kakashi said letting go of Akira.
Akira looks at him disapprovingly. What, she is just asking what those words mean and how to pronounce them. That was the first time she saw those words. There are a lot of words she didn't understand in the book but that's the two words that got stuck in her mind.
Sakura and Naruto quickly look at them "Kakashi Sensei!, Akira-ttebayo!" Naruto said jumping on her excitedly.
Akira balances herself and shoves Naruto away. "Well, hello" Akira said to the two, as she takes a step forward to lean on the railing.
"What about Sasuke-kun? Is he okay?" Sakura said eyes full of concern.
Akira chuckles. You know, a lot of things happened in such a short time. She can't comprehend it herself.
"Well, he's fine. He's sleeping soundly in the infirmary" Kakashi said as Sakura looked at the ground in relief. However, with Anbu Ops standing as guards...
Akira looks at her team and then at thier Sensei. Their Sensei nodded at her and gave her a look.
Well, she knows. She puts her hand in her pocket. Time for secret-secret... She looks at Sakura meeting her eyes.
"Akira, are you feeling fine?" Sakura asks with worry.
"Hmh" Akira hums nodding her head
"I also got treated in the Hospital before going back here" She said making Sakura sigh again with relief.
"That's good" She said with a smile.
"Wait...As I remember..." Naruto said looking at Akira, getting their attention.
Akira tilts her head, waiting. What?
"Akira...speaking of which, during Sasuke and your fight...what's the strange wound on both of you necks-dattebayo?" Naruto said putting his hand on the railing.
"Here..." Naruto said putting his other hand on Akira's right shoulder.
"It looks like an awful wound-dattebayo" Naruto said with worry removing his hand.
"huh? Well...I, you see that wound got also treated in the hospital so I'm fine, just like Sasuke" Akira said holding on to her right shoulder, giving Naruto a smile.
"Well, that's good. I am really worried-dattebayo!" Naruto said excitedly.
Akira smiles and looks at him. She will tell him, but not now. Maybe after the exam...
"Now you guys should watch the match" Kakashi said ruffling all their hair.
Naruto and Sakura nodded. Akira looks at him for a few seconds, a hidden meaning in that look. He nodded and gave her an eye smile. They just have to believe in Sasuke's will.
Akira sighs and looks at the fight. The sand shinobi- Kankuro... and that Kabuto's teammate- so his name is Tsurugi Misumi...
-skip-
Akira looks at the fight. Tsurugi Misumi is no longer moving, as the puppet wrapped around him loosens its hold. "Well, that's interesting..." Akira said boredly, resting her chin on her palm, as she leans on the railing.
"Wah! That's amazing-dattebayo" Naruto said leaning forward on the railing.
"The winner, by an inability to continue the match by the opponent, is Kankuro" Hayate announce pointing at Kankuro.
So his mastery is a puppet... Akira looks at Kankuro then she averts her eyes to his team. She wonders what those two have.
"But...Two against one is hitting below the belt! Is that even fair, Kakashi Sensei?!" Naruto said pointing at the puppet.
"It's not particularly hitting below the belt. It's a puppet, after all" Kakashi answered.
"That's the Puppet Master Jutsu! He's controlling the puppet with chakra." Sakura explained.
Akira looks at them. "You making thousand of shadow clones is more unfair..." Akira mutters. Naruto looks at her, thinking.
"...they're all idiots, though..." Akira said with a small smile.
"I see..." Naruto said nodding his head. He stops and looks at Akira sharply.
"W-what?!" Naruto said pointing a finger at her, a red tint on his cheeks.
Sakura chuckles looking at the two. "Not you too, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said seeing Sakura laughs
Akira just raises her brow, teasing Naruto. Naruto just cross his arm, a frown on his face.
Kakashi looks at the signboard and sighs. "This isn't the time to be laughing." He said putting his hand on Sakura's shoulder.
Naruto and Akira quickly look at the signboard. So it's Sakura and Ino...
"Goodluck, Sakura" Akira said giving her a pat on the shoulder.
"Beat her, Sakura-chan-ttebayo!" Naruto said excitedly, giving her a thumbs up.
Sakura sighs and quickly walks down, Ino just following behind her. She will do it! Shannaro!
"Sakura-chan! Good luck! Don't lose!" Naruto shouts once Sakura positions.
"Begin" Hayate said
They quickly run toward each other and exchange punches and kick.
Akira crosses her arms, observing the two fight. To think those two will fight. Akira's attention switches to the next team beside her.
"Sure enough, they are Kuniochi. So this is their level of hand-to-hand combat?" The eye with a tint of lavender said
Naruto looked at him annoyed "What?!"
"I'm offended" Akira said sarcastically.
"Humph" The Hyuga smirks, still watching the fight.
"It's not because they're kunoichi. It's just that those two are lukewarm. There's no man or woman in a battle." His teammate said
Akira frowns when Ino stops her punch midway and slaps Sakura instead. The other people in the room look shocked, including the two fighting.
-skip-
That's kind of harsh but it needed to be done, Akira thought when Sakura and Ino exchanged words.
"I feel like...I feel like Sakura-chan was out of line-dattebayo" Naruto said looking at Akira
"Hmm...That's not it. Sakura's not the kind of kid to do things like needlessly flaunt her own power and hurt people. She doesn't like having Ino taking pity on her and pulling punches." Kakashi explained making Naruto look at him.
"Ehh, why are they getting heated-dattebayo!" Naruto said when both remove their Hitai-ate and tie it on their forehead instead.
Kakashi sweatdrop at that. Akira looked at Naruto with a sigh "Naruto wake up, it's the same thing with you and Sasuke." She said resting her cheek on her palm.
"Huh?!" Naruto said tilting his head to the side. Akira's brow twitches. What's with him?
"Well, a rival is a mysterious thing, is the point" Kakashi explained as he look at Guy.
Gai looks at him confused. "Oh, hi..." Kakashi said chuckling, as he wave his hand.
Akira looks at the team. Gai notice it and gave her a smile and a thumbs up. Akira smiles awkwardly in return.
She averts her eyes to the fight again when they start to throw punches again. Sakura lands a punch at Ino making her fall to the ground.
"Way to go Sakura-chan!" Naruto cheered.
Akira smirks. Thinking about it, Sakura is indeed really great at controlling her chakra, maybe even better than all of them.
They both launch forward again catching each other's punches. They jump away from each other and throw shurikens at each other.
-skip-
Akira watches the two intentively. Ino ended up cutting her hair when Sakura insults her and uses her Mind Transfer Jutsu. Akira looks at Ino as she falls to her knees and Sakura just stood there looking at the ground.
She squints her eyes and looks at them back and forth. Did it work?
"That's unfortunate, Ino..." Sakura said with a smirk. Her smile drops when she takes a step forward but something on her feet stops her, making her look down.
"With this, it will be over when I enter your body and say 'give up!'" Ino said stepping on her hair that is covered with her chakra as she forms a hand seal.
"Get out of there, Sakura-chan!" Naruto shout leaning on the railing.
Akira look at Sakura as she tried to remove the hair holding her feet but it didn't work.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!" Ino cast her Jutsu. Everyone observes the two.
Sakura chuckles and looks at Ino "That was unfortunate...Sakura"
Akira leans on the railing. She had it...
"Sakura's had it" Kakashi said making Naruto look at him.
"That means Sakura right now is..." The person standing next to Akira said. Akira blinks and turns her head to look at him. What the hell, she didn't notice him.
"I...Haruno Sakura concede..." Sakura said as she raises her hand.
Akira looks at the fight again, brows knitting. Ah, mo Sakura...You should win this fight, come on...
"No! Sakura-chan! You did your hardest to get here! You'll disgrace women if you lose to that Sasuke-obsessed girl!" Naruto shouts.
Akira chokes on her saliva upon hearing that. A smirk made its way to her lips when Sakura hold onto her head as if she is fighting someone inside her head.
Sakura falls to her knees catching her breath. Ino and Sakura stand up with a smirk.
"This is! This is... the end!" They both said as they run toward each other fists forming into a ball. Their fist collides with each other's faces as they both spit out blood and falls on the ground, unconscious.
"Both parties are unable to fight! By double knockout, no one gets through the fourth battle of the preliminary!" Hayate said.
Akira smiles. Even if Sakura didn't win, she is still proud of her, reaching all the way here.
Kakashi appear beside Sakura and carried her bridal style, as Asuma did the same to Ino. They both jump on the upper area and lay them carefully as Asuma's team, Kakashi's team, and Lee crowded them.
Kakashi looks at them "Shh..." He said putting his finger to his lips.
"They're probably wake up, after a while." Asuma said as he stand up as Kakashi did the same.
The screen lit up again getting their attention. So who's next?
-skip-
Akira sits on the ground, as she put her legs between the railings letting it dangle. She really is getting tired of standing. Temari vs Tenten and Shikamaru vs Tsuki match had already passed, which Temari and Shikamaru won.
"Are you okay Akira?" Sakura asks on her right side.
Akira looks up at her a smirk on her lips. "I should be the one asking you that, after getting knocked out" Akira said. Sakura scratches her head and chuckles.
Akira looks down and puts her hand on the railing. "Ah, mo. Naruto, you're the only one who still not fighting on our team." Akira said with a sigh.
Naruto looks at her with a frown also getting impatient.
"Well, seems like your waiting won't be so long..." Kakashi said making them look at him.
"It's time! It's time!" Naruto said excitedly seeing his name on the signboard.
"Just watch Akira-ttebayo" Naruto said as he hurriedly goes down.
Akira gave Naruto a two-finger salute, a small smile on her lips. Good luck, Naruto...beat him.
Akira looks up when a person stood on her left side. She sighs and waves tiredly. "Hii..." She said as she rests her head on the railing
"It's been a long time why don't we make a bet?" Lee said giving her a thumbs up.
Akira raises her brow. Why all of a sudden...well, she can't say no, besides it won't hurt.
"Sure, what is it?" Akira said looking at him.
Lee's eyes sparkle. "Let's guess when is my match!" Lee announce. He thought Akira will just ignore him again.
"...and" Akira said wanting to know the conditions.
"If I guess it right we will have a spar after the chunin exam" Lee said determinedly.
Akira's brows twitch. Well...Can she back out...
"No backing out now." Lee said giving her a sparkling smile.
"oh...and If I win and you didn't get it." Akira asks.
"It's up to you." Lee said.
"Hmm...I actually don't know, oh...if ever I win, you will teach me something, bet you could knock me out now" Akira said with a smirk, raising her brow.
Lee blushes but still keeps his sparkling smile. "We can't be so sure about that...but sure, I will be really glad to share my knowledge" Lee said putting one finger up, determined. So either way, what will be the result, it's still will be a great reward.
"So there will only be 8,9, and 10." Akira said tilting her head.
"I can sense it in my guts. My match will be 9!" Lee announces very confidently.
Akira sighs. She would like to pick 9 but. "well 10, it is" Akira said giving him a smile.
"That's stupid." Lee's teammate said with a smirk, hearing their conversation. What's the point of what they are doing?
Akira chuckles. "It might be but don't you think it will be fun." Akira said with a smirk.
Lee raises his fist. "That's right! Neji, don't worry we will have our own fight, just wait!" He said with fire in his eyes.
Akira looks down hearing that voice call her name. "Akira, just watch and learn. See me defeat this dog guy-dattebayo" Naruto said with a smile.
"Sure, you are" Akira said, teasing Naruto.
"Support me, Akira-ttebayo" Naruto said with a pout.
"There's no time to talk to your girlfriend, Let's finish this, Naruto!" Kiba said launching at Naruto.
Akira looks at Lee who is still looking at her. "Now, why don't we watch my Naru's fight" She said gesturing to the fight. She knows this fight will be really awesome...Her 'boyfriend' is awesome. She chuckles, but she can't help but get weirded out.
Lee looks at the fight. Girlfriend? Really? Naruto-kun...He is proud of him.
Akira's head snaps in Lee's direction. "Don't take it so seriously, he is my best friend, a family" Akira said making Lee looks towards her.
"Oh, I see...I really thought you were a thing. I almost fall for it!" Lee said.
"Well, no comment..." Akira said turning her attention to the fight. Naruto... He needed to win this fight. Show them Naruto, what you've got!
She averts her eyes to Kiba who has a very confident smile. Humph, Don't be looking so relieved... He better not underestimate Naruto.
She can hear Gai Sensei lecturing Lee about how he should not trust a piece of information or something he heard so easily, she can see in her peripheral view Lee has a... notebook? What the hell...He is really going to write that...
Sakura and Kakashi look at Akira with interest.
Sakura glanced at Lee as Lee gave her heart eyes, which made her laugh awkwardly.
Kakashi looks back at forth between Akira and Gai's students. They seem pretty...close. He tilts his head and looks at Gai. Hmm...