Oh. My. God. Guys. I'm so upset right now. I wanted to make this chapter awesome because you guys all wanted it quickly, but I was like; if I rush it, I'll hate it. I feel like that right now. I could have done so much better, but it's late, I'm tired as fuck and I didn't want to keep you guys waiting. So, I'm sorry for how short it is, but I have exams and assignments and all this other shit blocking my inspiration. God, fuck the excuses. It's short, I hate it, but I love you guys for supporting my story. Thank you for the reviews, the favourites, the follows. I think I need to have some chill time.

I really hope you enjoy, but I would really like to hear what you think of this chapter and what improvements could be made, because it's very rushed, I'm not thinking straight and it's also short. I might call this a test chapter and incorporate your ideas for a redo of this chapter if I feel up to it.

I felt like I was floating. Like gravity didn't exist. My eyes were closed. I was surrounded by darkness. So I opened them.

More darkness.

Nothing changed. I knew my eyes were open, but I saw nothing but the black that embraced me.

What happened?

I tilted my head when I heard a familiar wispy chuckle that I had grown so used to.

It clicked to me. I remember now.

Orochimaru.

I cursed as the memories flooded back to me, how the last thing I remember was feeling hot burning sensation running through my body.

What was happening now!?

Suddenly, my head started drumming in pain. I snarled in pain as I clutched my head, multitudes of colours flashing through my head.

Green...Leaves...

Brown...Trees...

Black...

Orochimaru.

I stayed rooted where I was, I felt like my eyes were bulging out of my head as I watched.

What was happening to her?

Her screams reverberated with a lifetime's worth of pain, but I couldn't go near no matter how much my mind told me to.

My body told me to stay, to stay away from the dark chakra that was flowing within her and surrounding her. The familiar chakra I had so lovingly familiarised myself with was rapidly becoming unfamiliar.

She was on her knees, her nails dug deep into the wood of the thick branch she was on and as she clenched them, splinters flew. I knew that other guy was stunned too, both of her preoccupied with her.

It was excruciatingly hard to tear my eyes away from her, but I was eventually able to do it. I turned, shutting my eyes and shaking my head in frustration at my own cowardice.

I couldn't be afraid of her! This is Kuroki we're talking about! The girl I love, the girl who is my other half! Yet...I couldn't even move to step near her as her screams echoed.

But it felt like it wasn't her, like something was consuming her and I couldn't help but stay away, in fear...

A chill suddenly ran down my spine, and I stood straighter instantly. I only just noticed that her scream no longer echoed, but there was simply an eery silence until I heard a manic laugh. I turned to see her...she was standing now, holding her face with one of her strangely deformed hands that resembled claws and laughing like a madman.

I couldn't help but stare. Some part of me hoped that this was still Kuroki, that what was happening right in front of me was an illusion, but...

The moment she dropped her hand and her eyes snapped to mine, I knew it wasn't an illusion, and that whatever what was in front of me; wasn't Kuroki.

Her eyes that she occasionally became self-conscious about were several shades lighter than her normal eye colour, a malicious glint sending fear through me. They glowed like an insane predator ready to kill.

That grin wasn't hers, either. It was deranged, jagged and I could swear her teeth became more angular. Her birthmark on her cheek had become crooked, almost like a lightning bolt.

This isn't Kuroki.

It's not her.

This was a monster.

A monster with her face.

I couldn't move.

I was frozen yet again. I stepped back shakily, my body shaking just by the way it looked at me.

There was a voice near me speaking, and its eyes shifted to whoever it belonged to, but all I could hear was the erratic beating of my heart.

I wasn't meant to be this weak.

I wasn't meant to be afraid!

Not of her!

She was the piece to keeping me together and yet I don't recognise whatever was in front of me.

Suddenly, she disappeared.

I dropped to my knees, unable to stand any longer. Something wet ran down my cheeks as I stared in shock at the ground.

Was I crying?

How am I meant to fulfill Itachi-nii's last wish if I can't even do anything! I'm not strong enough!

I'm not brave enough! Even Naruto for fuck's sake had more guts than I have right now!

I was meant to fucking be the one who protected Kuroki and even that damn monkey, but here I fucking am! Unable to do shit!

A voice brought me out of my thoughts.

'You're really self-pitying right now? Why are you being so fucking useless? Stop it. It's not the Uchiha I know and love. Get up.'

Kuroki?

I panted, breathing in air that I felt like I was neglecting. It was like a rush of senses invaded me as a strong gust of wind came my way and I had to brace myself. The sounds of battle bombarded my ears.

Snapping my head up, I could see Kuroki, or a less-human version of her emerging from a cloud of dust, then disappearing again.

She reappeared, only to have that creepy snake guy appear in front of her and punch her in the stomach.

Her form flew back with such force that she broke several trees before disappearing again and reappearing.

They were fighting, and Kuroki still had the inhuman expression on her face, the wide jagged grin most disturbing as she continuously attacked the other guy.

I couldn't keep up with their movements, they were too fast, but I knew that Kuroki wasn't doing as much damage to him. He was wounded, but she looked worse, just acting on instinct.

As I stood up, I saw her bright eyes flicker over to me, and for a moment, I froze at her gaze. Her mouth moved.

'Go on.'

She was telling me to leave? Her eyes flickered over to Naruto before snakes caught her arm and she focused her attention on them. I frowned. Now that I was a bit more focused, this wasn't Kuroki, this was someone or something else that scared the shit out of me, but somehow it still had the need to watch over me.

Hoping that she would be fine, I jumped to Naruto, pulling out the kunai that pinned him to the tree and grabbing him, hoping to get out of there fast.

The sound of laughter caught my attention, I turned back for a second to see her in a large crater with dust flying up. She was bleeding heavily, but it didn't stop her from getting back up.

"Alright, that's enough of this. You've really surprised me, Kuroki-chan...well done." That snake guy's voice startled me, as I felt like it was too close.

Jumping back, I saw that he was on the branch above me. He was about to do some sort of technique before Kuroki suddenly appeared, kicking him to the side. My eyes widened as I saw him land perfectly on a nearby tree, as if that powerful kick did nothing. His eyes flickered from me to Kuroki before sighing.

"Looks like I can't give you my present without this interesting creature interfering, Sasuke-kun.." He stated casually. "If you seek power...seek me, survive this exam... " He was staring into my soul before abruptly sinking into the ground. I blinked for a few seconds.

What the hell?!

The moment I glanced to my right, I stumbled back as a pair of light brown, non-reflective eyes were only inches from my face. Naruto's weight didn't help much either.

She was still grinning, like it was permanent, but she tilted her head to the side as she stared at me. She was covered in dirt and blood, her clothes ripped here and there. It only gave her a more dangerous and feral appearance. I couldn't deny my fear.

"No wonder she wants to protect you so badly..." It sounded like Kuroki's voice, yet it didn't. The way she spoke sounded terribly soft, wispy even. It confused the hell out of me that she looked so deranged yet spoke like a wisp. "You're not that strong yet, are you...?"

I blinked a few times before finally registering her words, but I merely frowned cautiously.

"W...Who are you?" I managed to mutter as strongly as I could. Whoever the hell this was sent shivers down my spine.

She chuckled. "At least you're smart...I'm a...friend...perhaps...?" She tilted her head as she spoke.

"Nevermind that...I have business to attend to...so take yourself and your friend somewhere safe...I'll bring your beloved back before dawn.." Before I could say anything, she disappeared.

I dropped back down to my knees, visibly shaking with Naruto still in my arms...

As night fell, genin were all trying to set up for the night, to avoid unwanted enemies ambushing them. They had believed that while they may not have been completely safe, they could still handle it if a lone ninja approached them.

They were wrong. A single being hunted for them in the night, not for their scrolls, but simply for their life, for the thrill of killing.

"Are you sure we'll be safe here?" A female genin asked her teammates in a hushed voice. They were high in the trees, having light sources to attract attention. One of her teammates scoffed.

"We'll be fine, I doubt anyone would be able to find us here." He reassured her with a cocky grin. "Besides, even if they do, I'll protect you."

She scoffed, but bared a smile and a light blush on her cheeks. The third teammate simply sighed. "Quit flirting and go to sleep, I'm on first watch." He ordered them stoically, keeping an eye on the forest. The moonlight barely gave them any light to see, but he was confident he could sense another person's chakra from at least a hundred metres or so.

"Fine. Geez, Takuto. Lighten up." The one on watch who was named Takuto looked to his overly casual teammate with a glare.

"This is a life or death situation, Akira." He chided. "We could die at any moment."

The female of the team whimpered, cuddling up to Akira with a worried expression. "We're going to live, right?" She asked.

Takuto narrowed his eyes at the two as Akira wrapped an arm around her. "You bet." He stated confidently.

A chuckle caused all three of them to jump up and step back, Takuto drawing a kunai as he squinted to see whoever it was better. His heart rate picked up when luminescent eyes stood out amongst the darkness, a malicious glint in their eyes.

How could have not sensed them? How long have they been there?

Before Takuto could question the other ninja, Akira threw kunai in their direction. No sounds of impact entered their eardrums as the eyes abruptly disappeared.

"Oh, my god! What the hell?!"

"Shut up, Ami!" Takuto snarled, searching frantically for the unknown ninjas' chakra. By the time he did, he was too late.

"Aaaaahhh!" Takuto snapped his head towards Akira's direction, who was screaming in agony and dropped to the ground. Shocked, Ami screamed and stepped back from the bloody sight.

Akira held his wound...he groaned in pain as tears fell freely from his cheeks. His arm...! His goddamn arm! It wasn't there anymore!

His eyes were glued shut as he tried to block out the pain, dropping to his knees.

Takuto moved to attempt to help his teammate, only to be met with the form of a girl. His eyes widened at her appearance. This was a fucking demon, not a girl!

Heart beats were all the she could hear, they were loud, anxious and filled with fear.

Kill, kill, kill, kill..

"Takuto!"

Another genin team not too far away jumped at the echoing sounds of screams filling the night. They were full of fear, agonizing, painful fear.

Unfortunately for the current residents of the forest of death, screams were going to be occurring all night.

"Run!"

One choked as she ripped out his throat, throwing flesh at another and stunning them for a moment. She took that moment to grab their head and smash it against the tree trunk. Her laughs of pure satisfaction resounded as blood splattered onto her form.

Dropping the now dead genin, she moved onto finding next victims. Quite literally, she was drenched in blood from her 'adventures' throughout the forest.

'Are you done yet?!' Kuroki snarled from within, having had enough of not being in control. She had watched, for the entire night, the deaths of so many genin by her own hand. It was traumatizing. Thinking she could handle it, but it was breaking her apart every time he killed another.

On the outside, Kuroki's form chuckled. "Far from it, Kuroki...but the sun is about to rise...perhaps I've killed enough for now..."

Kuroki shook within as her 'guardian' took them back to where her teammates were.

Should she have accepted him, now knowing just what kind of price she had to pay?

A familiar Hyuuga glanced around, scouting the area. "Come out from there." He ordered stoically.

Hiding in the bushes, were Ino, Shikamaru and Choji, who had quickly hid from the Hyuuga.

Ino looked to her teammates, holding up two fingers and looking to each of them frantically. Luckily, they both understood her and all three of them emerged from the bushes and walked towards Neji.

"Oh, my! I never thought I'd get to meet last year's number one rookie, Hyuuga Neji-sama, here." Ino stated rather dramatically.

"Can I get a photograph?" Shikamaru asked with an unsure tone.

Neji blinked. "Oh, it's you guys."

Ino made a face, reaching up to her ponytail. "I've always wanted to..." She pulled her hair free and dramatic sparkles appeared around her hair. "Get to know you better." She finished, winking in an attempt to be seductive.

Before she had even finished, Neji had turned around and began to walk the other way. "Get lost."

Shikamaru gave a flaming Ino who was waving her fist a dull look, obviously unimpressed with his teammates seduction attempt.

Stopping slowly, Neji spoke. "Hey...does the fact that you are shaking your fist at me, mean you want to fight me?"

Surprised, Ino rubbed the back of her head. "No...of course not!"

"Then leave!" Neji chided, glaring back at them. "Taking a scroll off cowards like you, will only make me the laughing stock of the village."

As Ino and the other two declared a 'yes', they retreated back into the bushes quickly.

Neji clicked his tongue at their likeness to cockroaches. He frowned as he thought back to the night before the sun rose. There was a lot of death, a lot of blood. What kind of person could do something like that?

I stared at my hands for a long time, opening and closing them to remember that I was now control of my own body. I had found a river not too far back, and washed off most of the blood.

But...I couldn't help but feel as if it was still there. No blood was on my hands but I still felt dirty.

I felt...numb. I wasn't sure what to think. I can't remember how many genin were killed by my hand, but I do remember the euphoric sensations he was feeling with each pain he had caused them.

Sasuke was probably fighting those sound nin guys at the moment...right?

They weren't too far away...but I felt...afraid. Afraid that when he sees me, he's going to stare at me like I'm a monster.

I...I know I am...but I don't want him of all people to look at me like that...

Fuck!

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

I shook my head and even smashed it against the tree I was sitting on.

No! I can't think like this! They're all there. Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Sasuke...

Lee as well.

Enough if these useless self-pitying emotions! I'm a monster. It's just how shit is.

Isn't that right, Satsujin?

"You're making me blush, Kuroki...using my name like that..."

I stood up, dusting the dirt off my clothes. God, they're fucking torn.

Jin, then? I snorted at the suggested nickname.

He chuckled. "Anything you call me...I will always accept..."

Befitting, isn't it. You can be benevolent, but then you can be a murderer at the same time. This is going to mess me up, you know.

"That makes you and I very similar..."

Indeed. Let's go.

Things were pretty serious a few hours ago, and yet here I am, watching these guys fight those sound nin. I mean, I'd love to interfere and kill them all, but Sasuke looks so...

Attractive when he's fighting and using weapons. I'm falling deep, dear god.

But really, Sasuke's awake and he's fighting those three, which is very different. Wait, hold on.

The chick's dead. Wow. Way to show women are strong and independent.

"What the hell?! He was supposed to have the cursed seal!"

Yeah...that'd be our fault he doesn't have it.

I probably shouldn't be feeling this calm, but I suddenly do.

"Tends to happen...you'll get a lot of mood swings from this..."

So, you're basically telling me it's like I'm on my period for my entire life, just without the bleeding through my vagina?

Jin chuckled. I groaned, I'm going to go insane.

"What makes you think you're not already...?"

I scoffed. I'm perfectly sane. Terrifically so.

...I lied. I'm fucked up.

I was struck out of my thoughts when I felt eyes on me. Instinctively, my eyes connected with Sasuke's. I gasped lightly at the fear that flashed in his eyes.

My heart clenched. It bloody clenched. When I broke eye contact, I saw that Neji and his team were here, as well as Shikamaru's. I let my guard down.

The sound nin were unconscious, apart from the girl. She was dead. When did they knock the other two out?

"Kuroki!" Shikamaru called to me, and I jumped down, avoiding Sasuke's eyes for a moment. I felt...ashamed.

Taking a glance at Neji, his eyes were narrowed at me, probably feeling the strong change with my chakra. While I was back to normal, I couldn't deny the feeling of Jin's demonic chakra lingering within me. It was calm, and put me slightly at ease, however fucked up that is.

The others were talking, heading over to Naruto...but I was just standing there, staring at the ground.

When I looked up, Sasuke was staring at me. My stomach churned at the thought of his eyes showing fear...of me. But to my surprise, his eyes were brimming with tears.

Before I knew it, I was slammed against his chest and I automatically wrapped my arms around him, embracing him in a death grip as he did with me.

I shut my eyes as much as I could, to stop the oncoming tears from leaking. I buried my face in his neck as I released the smallest of sobs. All my restraint. Lost the moment he touched me.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry you had to witness that...I'm sorry..." I saw the fear in his eyes through Jin's. He was terrified.

And it broke me inside.

"Shut up...you're sorry...?" His voice was soft as he buried his own face in my neck, he was crying. "I was useless...I couldn't do shit...and...and I was mortified...I was mortified of you and I hate myself for it..."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. My tears dropped freely, breaking my own promise to myself. I could no longer stand, and we both dropped to our knees, never letting go of each other.

"I'm sorry I put you through that..."

"I'm sorry too..."

Yeah...there we have it. Yeah...leave a review for me, please guys? I'll either redo this chapter or move on from it and hope that future chapters are awesome. Thanks for the love, guys. Later.