A/N: Fun fact for this. Since the holidays are this week I will be updating ALL of my fanfictiction stories at least TWICE. Yes you heard me right. At least EIGHT updates in two weeks. I may also post my new story (a kingdom hearts fic) but since I have two going i'm not sure which one. It will either be in french or english. I have one in each language, different plot lines so I'm not sure. If any of you speak french I'd appreciate your support since it's not my first language. If not, read along with google translate? LMFAO. Onwards in the GIANT author's note.

The song is Grenade by Bruno mars because I felt like it represented a lot in this chapter, how Sakura defends Sasuke, how Shinobu feels about Sasuke, how lee is with Sakura.. and I just couldn't come up with anything else.

So since this has all been in one word document I finally split the document. It's so much easier to scroll now xD I've been working on my other fics behind the scenes of this one so that i can start weekly updates in a bit and not have to worry about writing 5 chapters in one week xD Fun time! The winner of the couples competition was ThePheonixOfTears who's prize will be mentioned in review response.

After consideration my thought lines are stuck between a good number of guys. They all range from the obvious to the "I'd never think of that pairing in a million years" so i'll make it a surprise when we get to that point XD (not that i've figured it out.)

I have to thank everyone else for submitting answers because they all helped me a great deal. Also thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story for so long, I know I can be a pain sometimes, leaving cliff hangers, taking forever to update and confusing people but it means a great deal to me to have you all reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Another thanks to Gwenny-Dear who gave me a very honest review on her thoughts on my story. While a little pain to my ego was delt with there were a lot of points I'm going to make sure to pay attention to for future stories and while it's far too late to fix this one I appreciate it. Even if you won't see this. Without any further acceptance-like speeches. The chapter!


Shinobu POV

"It's fine.. I got a scroll from his partner anyway." Shinobu grinned slightly only to feel something quickly crash into her stomache. Her eyes blurred from tears as the wind was knocked out of her. It felt as if her head was spinning and she couldn't feel the ground, she could tell her feet were dangling.. but.. from what?

"You ok?" A voice said as she finally felt the ground beneath her feet, swaying ever so slightly she glared, meeting the eyes of a silver haired konoha genin.

"What the hell was that for?" Shinobu growled, letting Kiba's influence over her seep through.

"You're friends with that one blond kid aren't you? He needs your help." The boy said simply.

"What are you talking ab-.. Naruto?" Shinobu question, a small pang hitting her chest. Now Naruto was in trouble, Hinata was by herself and they still hadn't found Kiba and Shino. She bit her lip and looked up to the boy for an answer, but he was gone.

"Great.. just lovely.." She sighed, falling to the ground with a 'thump'. It wasn't until she felt something wet against her arm that she realized Hitami had followed her when she was captured. "Hey girl, can you do me a favour?" She asked, scratching her behind the ears. She was really getting used to Hitami's company, it was comforting. Shinobu grinned when the small dog yipped in response.

"I want you to go find Hinata. Make sure she's ok, if she's still with Shikamaru's team, then go find Kiba and Shino. They'll either need you to lead them to Hinata or they'll give you different orders. Ok?" Shinobu asked, tilting her head ever so slightly to match her dogs before Hitami barked again, giving her a quick kiss before darting off.

"Good girl.." Shinobu whispered, quickly taking note of what supplies she had on her and where she was. She was probably about seven kilometres from the tower judging by the direction they had ran in.. but she couldn't be to sure.

"Alright.. if I was a blond, funny, caring, loyal, stupid, babbling, idiot.. where would I be?" Shinobu grinned slightly to herself before she could practically feel the warmth from the lightbulb that clicked on in her head. "I would be right beside my teammates.. possibly unconscious."

It took her a while but with a lot of looping around and re-tracing her steps and the steps of other ninja she managed to make her way to a small clearing. By the end of her search she was much more wary as she could tell someone was fighting near by.

"It looks like Sasuke and Naruto are just knocked out."

"Hey! Let's run away! They are in serious trouble!"

"Was that Shikamaru and Choji speaking.. is Hinata with them?" Shinobu spoke quietly to herself moving from tree to tree so she could get a better angle of what was going on.

"Didn't you guys used to be good friends? Well Sakura's in trouble.. are you sure?"

"What will I do?"

"What will you do, Ino? That Lee has also been beaten and Sakura is alone."

"Wait.. Sakura..? That means Sasuke and Naruto are there.. didn't Shikamaru say they were out cold? Who are they fighting anyway?" Shinobu leaned forward, catching a glimpse of Sakura who was staring down three ninja's who looked oddly familiar to her, they were from the sound weren't they?

"Hey! Ino? What do we do!" Shikamaru spoke a little louder this time, Ino appeared in a slight daze.

"I know! But what can we do? We can't just jump out!" Ino spoke back, it sounded like she was trying to growl.. she seemed frustrated, nervous, conflicted and afraid.

"Why can't you Ino?.. Then again.. why aren't I? Those are my brothers out there.." Shinobu spoke silently, catching sight of the two boys laying in the hallow of a nearby tree.

"Much more luster than me.. this.. pfft... trying to be a sexy ninja? If you have time to treat your hair, then train, you female swine!" Shinobu unconsciously twirly her own ponytail as she watched. She was two used to her shorter hair.. she was almost self conscious of going out there to protect them.. what if they thought she was weak? She clutched her head as the voices in her head bickered.

"Zaku! Kill that Sasuke guy in front of the boy chasers eyes! Let's teach this one a lesson!"

"Aaah, good idea!"

With those words Shinobu felt her legs move on their own accord, her genjutsu quickly envoloping her body, the weight of her ponytail on her back disappearing as she zig-zagged her way to the hallow of the tree. They would not touch her brother. One move towards the hallow of the tree and they'd be dead before they could even pull a kunai out.

"What are you doing Sakura... you're stronger than this.." Shinobu whispered, she wasn't going to come out yet.. she knew Sakura had her own self-confidence issues and something told her it would be best to give the girl a chance to defend her team before she made any bigger moves than that. "She cut off her hair?" Shinobu's eyes widened, the girl had guts.. maybe more than she did.. she didn't care about her appearance.. she was proving them wrong.

"KIN KILL HER!" one of the male sound ninja yelled. I guess Kin is the girl then.

"To go or not to go.. that's the question.." Shinobu watched with a small smirk as Sakura deceived them with the basic skills they had learned in the academy. She was better than she gave herself credit for. "If she goes after that boy.. I'll get the Kin girl, as strong as she is, she's at a major disadvantage.. and it looks like Ino isn't going to do anything yet."

"Hey Kin.." Shinobu spoke, trying to mimick the voice of her other teammate.

"Za- wait, wh-mmph!" Her voice was muffled from a piece of cloth ripped from Shinobu's shorts as she dragged the girl backwards towards the hallow of the tree. Sasuke was groaning and something about the purple-ish aura around him told Shinobu it wasn't just your average fever.

"You tell me right now what the hell is wrong with him or I'll kill you, deal? Don't even try to scream." Shinobu threatened, watching with a small smile as Shikamaru and his team appeared in front of Sakura, protecting her.

"I'm not telling you a thing you- wait.. are you Sasuke? No.. he's over there.. what the hell?"

"Here we'll trade, I'm feeling generous. You tell me what's going on with him, and I'll share my information for your master, because it would appear you're on some other orders besides the average 'become a chunin' if you know what I mean. Oh.. and I'll let you live."

"It's a curse mark.. from Orochimaru.. most people don't live through it. If he's alive by the end of the exam he'll be lucky.. I don't know why he got it.. all my orders are is to kill Sasuke."

"Good girl. My name is Shinobu, Sasuke's my brother. Tell Orochimaru to get a better informationalist, or he'll find himself dead sooner than planned." Shinobu growled, pushing her back towards the battle. She could let Ino-Shika-Cho team deal with her. She, instead, went back to Sasuke's side to see the large bruise on his neck.

"Dosu? What are you doing at a time like this?" Kin shouted, quickly distracted from her encounter by the odd movements her teammate was making.

"Good old ninpou shadow copy no jutsu. Got to love Nara's." Shinobu sighed, shaking her head. She needed to leave and find her own team but she couldn't bring herself to leave Naruto or Sasuke's side, she couldn't trust these people to protect them.

Shinobu crouched getting ready to leave before she noticed that the team was starting to fail, Ino had blood coming from her mouth, which for some reason made Shinobu want to protect the girl, and Shikamaru's jutsu was running out of time.

"Some minor sound nins bullying these.. second rate ninjas and declaring victory?"

"They keep coming out like cockroaches.."

"And they really do.. but seriously.. it's taking all of our leaf teams to beat one sound team? This is almost pathetic.." Shinobu growled.. maybe she could just escape with the two on her back.

"That knocked out freak right there is from our team" Tenten spoke, gesturing towards Lee who was laying on the ground.

"Someone just beat them already.. I don't want to go out myself.. there's too many people and unlike everyone here.. I don't have my team to back me up. Crap..Sasuke?" Shinobu's attention quickly changed to the kneeling boy beside her, she let her skin disolve into the tree using a genjutsu. As long as he was awake.. she had nothing to worry about.

"Sakura... Who did that to you?" Sasuke stood, it was then shinobu noticed the bruise had spread. It covered his entire face and the left side of his body. She could see a purple, dark chakra swirling around him. Was this what the curse mark had done to him?

"We did it!" The boy who had hit her grinned standing up, Shinobu felt her stomache drop. Something was off this aura, this attitude.. this wasn't Sasuke. It felt evil.. almost heartless and it was making her nauseous. She watched with eyes wide as he moved towards the boy, who was ignorant enough to talk down straight to his face. Sasuke looked ready to kill, and the boy wasn't helping.

"Hehe.. so you're proud of these two arms, hn?" Sasuke's grin sent shivers up her spine as he seized the boy by his wrists, stepping on his back and yanking his arms backwords. Any farther and he was sure to dislocate them. A sickening pop and an ear piercing scream told her what her eyes refused to see.. whatever had happened to him.. this wasn't Sasuke. This was almost.. a monster.. but it could change.. right?

"STOP!" A scream echoed through the trees, forcing her to look up, what had he done? It wasn't what he had done though.. it was what SHE had done. Sakura stood there, tears streaming down her face as her arms wrapped around Sasuke's rigid frame. His bruise retracted as his eyes widened, the contact did something.

"I need to leave..." Shinobu spoke quietly to herself, writing a quick message in the sand for Naruto before darting away.


Shikamaru POV

"What should we do? Should we kick him awake?"

"I have a stick.. we're good." Choji grinned slightly, bopping Naruto over the head with it.

"EVERYONE HIDE! NO! GET DOWN, NOW! Where did that guy go?" Naruto shouted immediately searching for Orochimaru as everyone watched with confused and bemused eyes.

"You sure are one of a kind." Shikamaru sighed.

"I- huh.. what's this.." Naruto looked down to where he had just been laying, Shikamaru watched over his shoulder.

'You can do it Naru nii-chan. Don't give up. 3'

"Who is that from...?" Shikamaru groaned.. another troublesome thing about the blond he would probably never understand.

"SAKURA-CHAN! What did you do to your hair?


A/N: I swear these are getting longer than the chapters themselves XD Not that that's a bad thing. I actually have a question for the common reviewers (who get to read these every single time I update). After the story is finished (it's split in two incase I haven't mentioned it before. Just like canon naruto with shippuuden) would it bother you if I remove all the review responses? (Or possibly sooner. Like every ten chapters i'll delete the last ten. So when I reach chapter 20 i delete 1-10.) If even one of you doesn't want me to i'll leave them up I just figure that after the story is finished no one will really re-read them.

OrionRedde: I'm glad you like it! I'm trying my best to update, sorry for all the waiting ^^;

Remy987: I'm really glad you like it! And it's a secret but I'm glad you asked because most people have been overlooking it. She is an Uchiha but people unlock that gift at different times, hers just happens to have special circumstances. Also, not all Uchiha's recieve sharingan. They are definitely a cute couple :P COOKIE O.o merci *gives chu piece of cake* Haha, it doesn't sound toooo crazy, but he'll realize.. eventually XD haha. Thanks so much, I'll try to update quicker.

EclipseStripe: Lmfao, lovely way to die XD I'll assure you that I can't make this story work without a main character. Well.. actually.. I could.. but .. darn it now i have ideas XD

Neko Morie: Aww, do you have conventions there though? Ooh, I get heard of habbo but it sounds like fun XD Crossplaying in role play of in actually cosplay is fun XD haha. strawberry cake it is XD

DutchyPuppy: So does Naruto though :P But you have several points XD Glad you liked it. HAha, thank you, they're definitely an.. odd.. couple xD thanks ! I'll try.. or i guess tried since this is on the update XDthanks for the review.

xburner21: A new reviewer! Thank you so much for your feedback. I'm glad you like it. I like your points towards Shikamaru a lot O.o most people only comment on their relationships, you're one of the few to comment on their reactions to the gender switch. I imagine him like that too. He's a jealous person, I think he could easily protect and put effort forth for something he cares enough about. Like Shogi, all the thought effort put into that? Haha, thank you for the review! :D

XxInuzukaxX: That's alright, thanks for reading and reviewing XD Gaara and Neji. hmm. Ya, it was short, sorry about that XD I'm not an incest person either but thank you XD That will be a fun chapter to write O.o Byee, thanks XD and it's alright lol.

A yaoi rant review response: Since I'm not writing another chappy and your a normal review i'm responding here, lol. Aaah you're not a stalker XD I get the feeling though. haha. P.s Yay for third person. I absolutely hate that, I mean, it's just so hypocritical.. and everything.. it bugs me. Stupid ignorant close minded judgemental.. *growls* anyway getting off topic XD But it's equally stupid to assume someone is gay because they support gay rights.. does that mean every guy who supports women's rights is a girl? Or is every person who supports cancer a cancer survivor? No. It's bleeeeh. Definitely easier to read/ write then watch, but It's not exactly worth it to watch a couple progress in their sex life if you can't see how they met, or how they act around each other on a date or in friendship and things like that. It's just, you get a better idea of the real relationship of two people in someone that isn't based on sex. Haha, ya, one of my close friends is actually bi and you wouldn't be able to tell unless he told you, that's why it bugs me when people are "don't take two obviously straight characters and make them gay for your own sick fantasies." Say what? I'm not focused on gender here buddy, I'm focused on the fact they have a close relationship, it's the whole reason the pairing exists unless it's a crack pairing. lol. And there is no OBVIOUSLY straight. ugh. Haha, I know that two, if it's a crack fic I get it but warn us first. For compatibility based on location I like it when people find ways to make things work, like I've seen a Gaara/Hinata fic where Hinata had originally moved to Suna to help teach medical jutsu. They made it work in a realistic way, or people write AU fics. I just hope I don't get a warning or ban from it. I figure if someone complains I'm going to re-write it as if Shinobu was the one ranting. Haha. Or maybe Sasuke *evil ideas* XD thanks for both reviews.

ThePhoenixOfTears: Oooh, never heard of him XD Wow O.o that would be amazing, i'll understand if you can't do it though, i'm having issues thinking of songs, speaking of which I love the one at the end of this review XDHitami is disappeared XD well the answer is in the chapter above. It does look funny XD That would make him grow up.. but I don't think I want him to grow up in canon.. i like him now XD Oooh XD sorry, I loved that song and i remember sharing it with my sister. I forget about songs here and there XD sorrry!

I agree, Hinata and Naruto (other than my yaoi fan side) has always been my favourite couple. They would make a good couple, for ino anyway in that sense but I can't imagine choji being very happy. Where as shika and ino have this little mini fight thing going on.. it just.. it's almost like Shika's mom and dad XD seems so perfect XD Though I could see Temari and Shika too. Holy heck theres more O.o I agree though, Shinobu definitely needs someone with unless Gaara changes a bit.. well it would have to be Lee, Choji, Kiba, Juugo or Naruto. :P Or possibly suigetsu? But the others are warmer. Juugo, choji and Lee are the most nurturing.

Haha, I know it's really annoying XD but it's how my brain works too. So i can understand this personality trait in someone. It seems like something Shinobu would do especially because of her father. Ino does like to be better than sakura but she doesn't want to be better than shinobu, inner battle much? :P Haha pretty much XD they get 4 days of "oh crap is the red-head gonna kill us?" hahaha. XD.

ShinobuXLee: I love all of your points for Lee. He's definitely making the list now XD

Shinou X Kiba: Finally someone who isn't up for kiba. I'm honestly seeing the brother trait in both kiba and naruto to a point where I don't want to make them a couple. It just goes against my brain.

Shinobu X Shino: Limited freedom, plus I don't want to change Shino all too much because his personality helps support Hinata a lot. (not in a pairing sense) I like your points for this one, or rather, against it XD

Shinobu X ...Suigetsu: Wow.. just wow.. your points for this were just wow XD best description :P Thanks, this one was helpful. I agree with everything you wrote.

Shinobu X ...Akatsuki: Deidara or Sasori seem to work in my mind with the exception that she wouldn't get the chance to meet or know sasori too much i don't think. Deidara..hmm.. and I've read the manga. Tobi is madara i think o.o

Shinobu X Neji: I would really enjoy this pairing, especially if we get Neji attempting to crack a joke. The joke itself wouldn't have to be funny but him trying would get her to smile. This is a big possibility.

Haha thanks so much, for the details you have won :D MWAHAHAHAHA. If you have more keep 'em coming because they are really helpful xD As for the prize, if you could send in an anonymous review with your username saying "name, age, gender, personality traits, appearance and odd facts" in the review You will appear in the fic, no clue when but you will xD Thanks sooo much for the review XDD Really appreciated.

Alpenwolf: (all chapter reviews) Youtube can block songs in different countries? That's awful O.o I didn't know about that. You can listen to songs on places like grooveshark and jango though. Maybe you could try them? You can listen to almost any music there, not sure if it would be blocked. Thank you. They are very similar in a lot of ways. Shinobu means endurance. :P

I did believe the Uchiha's only have pure blood marriages but Fugaku in this case is showing that he only wants his sons to marry because most female ninjas become housewives after marriage and he wants strength and power. He is kind of dumb, the reason she didn't disappear is because she, while loving Shinobu, also had to worry about Itachi and Sasuke. It wouldn't be fair for her to abandon them as well. So she tried to balance both. It's not normal behavior, he told everyone that Shinobu died during birth and Sasuke survived.

Haha ya, I tried to make her day to day life struggles realistic. I figured she wouldn't trust a stranger so easily after growing up the way she did. I grinned writing that part, I couldn't imagine Shinobu being all fangirl-ish. I love the song mad world, it's very touching.

She is referring to Teuchi, the ramen stall owner. Renting or buying, because Hiruzen technically has ownership of vacant lots he'd just have to arrange for her to life in one of them. He wouldn't have to exactly buy it. To Shinobu, gender means nothing. She grew up only knowing that she was human along with everyone else in a way, just treated differently for a reason she couldn't understand, so gender means nothing to her. Shinobu is actually a neutral name, like Taylor in english, it can be used for both boys and girls without question.

Haha ya, but while Shinobu is technically older she is kind of like a little sister in the fact that she acts younger yet mature all at the same time, she wants Naruto to be a like an older brother because she wants that comfort and protection. Ages don't really mean much to her.

I think there's a lot of times in canon wear we really hate the people of Konoha, they just seem so cruel. Ya, for Shinobu the idea of living with someone else under a real roof is so missed that it doesn't really take consideration. Wow O.o you actually noticed one of my little hidden ideas. It was in one of her dreams it's kind of referencing how Naruto has really become a brother figure to Shinobu. Thanks, I remember the same expression, and I believe Kimmimaru's fighting style is also called a "dance".

I think the same, though sometimes they really look identical. Even as a girl they look very similar, Shinobu is a bit more feminine of course. Girls are nutters and she DOES have twisted logic XD Shinobu is a bit of a nutter if you think about it XD I really like that point.

It's hard for them to see through an excellent genjutsu because it's like the shadow clone, it creatives a real form that has real chakra running through it. That and Shinobu has been using it every day for years so she's very good at it. YAY FOR PJ'S! XD

Oh, haha. My mom is protective, because I used to explain all my stories when questions got asked and held conversations and that my mom made me disable it because she didn't want me talking to strangers. Now I just explain everything at the end of the chapter. I think Asuma and Kurenai are tied for sanity but her using anko's course is definitely questionable XD Hahaha! That little voice quote you did totally just made my day xD thanks.

Yup, but your write on that, I loved this arc too much to just drop it all together. Really? You haven't seen any other gay portrayals in fan fictions? Hmm, I think it would be something fun to add in. Nice to know you're open minded XD lmfao XD Chuck and Larry XD

I figured it was a necessity as you can't really have a hyuuga related thing without showing some of the hyuuga's true colours. It's sad in it's own way, maybe they'll change over time, who knows XD I tried my best with Mika, trying to show her emotions and how she would really react in that situation. Thanks :D

They do feel right in a way but in a way it feels like they're too much like best friends or siblings. Hmm, not sure. Luckily i have a while to think about it. I'm glad you liked it enough to read through all of that. I really appreciate all the reviews. Thank you so much! The rain ninja's always did strike me as odd, they seemed.. i dunno.. just weird. Well the tower itself has a lobby type area shown in canon, they haven't entered a sealed room yet. Shinobu and Hinata are ok for now XD Thank you again soo much for the reviewss :D