Hi!
Sorry it took so long but I was shittin' kittens trying to fit some decent fighting scene in here, and I will let you know, it was a Bitch and a half. Ugh.

But anyway, I would like to thank my awesome reviewers:

Minato-kun Luver

AnimeLuver216

romancebookworm

music1462

SnowRoseofDeath

Thanks Guys!

~::~

"Okay, settle down you little brats! My name is Anko Mitarashi and I'll be your second examiner!" Murmurs and whispers were heard across the field. Everyone was either wondering why they were brought to this end-of-nowhere forest, or who on Earth would made someone as reckless and hasty as Anko a Jounin.

"Now, what you see in front of you is the place in which you'll be having your Second Exam. Just to warn you; there are 26 teams in front of me right now – I would be surprised if even 6 made it out of here alive."

Gasps were heard across the clearing.

Seems like most of them didn't even have their first kill yet. Don't you think so?

Indeed. Otherwise they'd have known that every time a Genin group is sent out alone, there's a 66% chance that at least half will be eliminated. Interesting, isn't it – to die before you even have the chance to live?

… Hidan is rubbing off on you…

Whatever.

Suddenly, Sakura's heightened senses picked on some unusual chakra disturbance. She sent her own chakra to investigate what was wrong, but the moment she did, she felt an excruciating pain on the right side of her neck.

~Sakura's P.O.V~

I hissed slightly, my left hand shot out to grab my shoulder. The action caused Shiso and Umi to turn and give me a worried/curious look. I waved it off, but inside, my thoughts were a mess.

What the hell? Why did it hurt all of a sudden? What is happening? Why am I feeling so helpless!

OUTER-CHAN! TAKE A FUCKING CHILL PILL!

*Sigh* You're right Inner. Sorry that I freaked out. It's just that… the last time I felt this was 7 years ago. When He was still there…

*Shudder* Don't remind me… But Itachi-sensei said that after he sealed it the pain would go away, didn't he?

Yes, but don't you remember? He said that although he sealed it in, the Mark is still too strong and it will eventually eat the seal away. Especially if I get near Him…

Oh yeah…

"Sakura-chan…?"

"Hm?" I asked distractedly.

"Sakura-chan, the Examiner had finished talking about two minutes ago…"

"And…?" I inquired, still too deep in my own thoughts to fully register what was going on.

Then I felt a small sting in my left cheek. The pain was enough to take rip me out of my thoughts, but not enough to cause discomfort.

"Shiso! You shouldn't have done that!" Umi screeched.

"No Umi-chan. Shi-kun, thanks. Sorry for spacing out on you guys." I looked around the clearing only to find it empty. "Eh? Where is everyone?"

Umi giggled. "Everyone is in the tent over there getting their scrolls. We were about to go get ours when we noticed that you were still in LaLa-Land and we didn't dare to snap you out of it." She glared at Shiso, "Well, at least I didn't dare."

"Ah. Anyway, sorry for spacing out. Now, let's go get our scrolls!"

"Hai!"

~::~

Sakura and her team were situated in front of gate number 27, waiting for their Gate Guard to let them in.

"Come on, Come on, Come on!" Umi shrieked at the clock attached to the gate.

"Umi-chan, no matter how long you glare at it, the handle will not move quicker." Sakura stated calmly.

"Tch. Idiot."

"Shut up, Shi-teme!"

"Alright you little brats! The Second Exam has started. BEGIN!"

~::~

"Sakura-chan… We've been traveling for over three hours now. We already have both scrolls, why not just head straight for the tower?"

"Umi-chan, we need to rest. We have 5 days for the exam and we've travelled 7 out of 10 kilometres. We can cut ourselves some slack, ne?"

"Sakura-chan is right, Umi. Don't overexert yourself."

"What! So now you're siding with her? I see how it is!"

"Umi-chan…"

"Shush you." She grumbled. "You guys are all dicks."

"And vaginas." Sakura pointed out.

Umi blushed and turned her incredulous stare towards her female teammate.

"What? Since we're listing the human intercourse organs and body parts I thought that it's better if we're being specific."

Shiso snorted.

Umi giggled.

Sakura smirked.

Ah, the good times…

~::~

::Meanwhile::

"Ah, Sasuke-kun. I see Itachi-kun knew what he was doing, leaving you there on your own after murdering your family… That's too bad. You sure seem to have potential. Those eyes of yours are just like his; so full of hate… and power."

"Get away from Sasuke-kun you monster!"

"Who is that, Sasuke-kun? Your girlfriend?"

"She's just a teammate." Sasuke ground out.

"So it doesn't matter if I kill her, does it? Good."

"No!" Sasuke shouted as he shot forward to block the kunai that was heading for his teammate and flinging it back at his opponent who gracefully side-stepped the nearing weapon.

"Ah, so you are going to fight me after all. All it took was a little motivation."

"I will fight you, if you answer my two questions."

The Snake Sanin smirked, "Ask away."

"Who are you?"

"My dear Sasuke-kun, they speak of me as of the devil himself… As I am… Orochimaru."

Sasuke didn't know what he should feel – hate, because this man knew his brother, anger, because he was withholding information or disgust at the creepy, rapist smirk that was plastered on his face.

"Then the second question," Sasuke hissed out, "How do you know my brother?"

"Kukukuku..." Orochimaru laughed, " Your brother is truly a unique one. And powerful at that. We were comrades for a moment, though I knew that he was suspicious of me since the very beginning. Such a pity… The last time I've seen him; he'd gotten himself an apprentice and was steadily pouring all his knowledge into the keen child. But it would be such a shame if I didn't have an input in that. The child now bears the same mark you're about to get. When you're writhing in agony, don't forget that the little girl went through the same pain at the innocent age of seven. Hope that this will help you survive. After all, what would people think if a small girl survived something an Uchiha didn't?"

And at that moment, just as he finished speaking, his neck extended and he sunk his fangs into the young prodigy's neck.

"Argh!"

And he watched as Uchiha Sasuke fell to the ground, unconscious.

I'll make sure we meet again, and when we do, I'll make you my weapon…

~::~

Time skip – The Third Day

"Come on, Sakura-chan! We've already rested for too long! I want to get this over with!"

Shiso groaned. "Umi, where the fuck do you get this energy from?"

"Why, whatever do you mean, my dear Shi-kun?"

"Guys… I sense trouble…" Sakura whispered.

"Yes! I get to kick some ass!"

And Umi shot off, leaving the other two slightly paralysed Genin behind.

Shiso turned to Sakura, "Does she even know where she's going?"

"I don't think so, but I'm sure that she can sense the vibrations that are coming through the ground beneath her feet. She is a natural Earth Style after all."

"I sure hope you're right. Lead the way, Sakura-chan."

~::~

When Shiso and Sakura arrived at the clearing, the sight which greeted them was almost gruesome:

Umi, their precious teammate was currently holding her bleeding ear, trying to desperately dodge the attacks from the mummy-like Sound Genin.

Next to her, was the boy whom Sakura recognised as the Leaf Genin who she'd seen a few hours ago, when he was getting beat up by the Chunins. His name was something like Leo…Liam… Ah, now she remembered that it was Lee.

Then there was another Genin team – a platinum blonde who looked about ready to faint, a lazy-looking guy with a pineapple-like hair and a guy who was happily munching on bacon flavoured crisps… What the hell?

And finally, two unconscious figures were resting on the side, when she spotted them, her heart stopped.

The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki… He seems to be out because of chakra exhaustion…

But the guy next to him… That evil chakra pouring out of him…There's no doubt. He really is somewhere around here…

Itachi-sensei is going to be pissed when he finds out.

Wait… That's only two Genin. Where's the third member of the team?

Hmmm… Oh, there she is!

When Sakura turned to where her Inner pointed, she froze.

A short, brown-haired girl was holding onto one of the Sound ninja… By her teeth? While getting punched and kicked everywhere. After one particularly nasty punch, she went limp, her grip on the ninja loosening.

Che. That's just sad.

Suddenly, a scream ripped through the air.

"Umi-chan!" Shiso yelled.

::Sakura's P.O.V::

I turned back to my teammates only to find Umi being kicked in the stomach, flying backwards with enough force to break down trees. I saw Shiso jump down and catch her.

"Hn. Nice catch for a little brat like you." The female member of Team Dosu commented.

"What's your problem?"

"What's my problem? What's my problem? I will tell you – You are my problem. You and your little girlfriend. But now, step aside so we can kill the Uchiha."

"No."

"No? Well then, Zaku, take care of that idiot!"

"I will be bloody pleased. His little girlfriend had seriously pissed me off!" A creepy smirk crossed his face and he outstretched his arms.

"Decapitating Airwaves!"

Shit! I can't let them get hit with that! If the air pressure came in contact with Shi-kun and Umi-chan from such a small distance it would surely kill them!

Well, then think! Concentrate Outer-chan!

I'm trying! Ugh, think Sakura! Wind is strong against Lightning but weak against… Fire! That's it!

~::~

Everyone watched as the airwaves came closer and closer, sure that they would hit the target.

The Otogakure ninja looked smug. "Say Good-bye you little shit!"

But at the same time as he shouted it, someone else had shouted something else. Something that Zaku did not like the sound of.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Everyone watched as a small pinkette landed in front of her teammates and breathed out an enormous flame which then served as a repelling shield against the airwaves coming from the Otogakure ninja. It was a battle of wills – a battle of elements. In a few seconds, it was clear that the fire was going to come out victorious.

Zaku was forced to jump out of the wave as the colossal flame literally ate through his Air. Still slightly dazed, the ninja tried to desperately regain his footing. However, Sakura had other plans.

Spinning around on her heel with the grace and agility of a ballerina, Sakura sent her fist flying towards the boy, the force of her chakra infused punch caused Zaku to go spiralling through the air, his back finally coming in contact with the tree trunk. The impact of the collision rendered the Otogakure nin unconscious.

"Hn. 1:0 for Amegakure. Nice." Sakura smirked and then turned to the female member of team Dosu. "Now, your turn."

Kin made a move to throw senbon at her, but Sakura deflected the weapons with a single swipe of her kunai. She then flung the knife at the Oto kunoichi, creating a distraction. While Kin was concentrated on dodging the weapon, Sakura advanced on her, delivering a swift round-house kick to the girl's abdomen.

"2:0. Sweet." Again, the smirk broke out on her face as she turned to face the last standing member. "Now it's your turn, Mummy-Man."

But Dosu seemed to have the most brains out of their whole group. Probably the reason why he was the leader.

"I apologise, but I have to refuse. I know that we will meet again, and when we do, I won't hold back."

He then walked over to his two fallen teammates and disappeared, leaving his Heaven Scroll behind.

"Tch. Mummy-Man is a wimp." Umi snickered.

Sakura turned to her teammate. "When did you wake up?"

Umi grinned. "I was awake the whole time. Nice show though, Sakura-chan."

"Hey, you."

Sakura turned around to face the (now conscious) Uchiha. "What do you want?"

"I will fight you for that scroll."

Sakura snorted. "In your condition? That would be insulting. Here, we don't need it anyway." She said, while tossing the scroll to the confused Sasuke.

"Now, since you've so magnificently kicked those Sound Ninja's asses, should we go to the Tower?" Umi asked.

"Yeah."

"Hell Yeah!"

~::~

Hi! Sorry if the fight scene was crap, but as I've mentioned before, it isn't my strongest forte.

Question: do any of you have any idea who Orochimaru refers to when he says : "The little girl"?
Put your answer in your awesome review pwease!

Ja ne~

: )