A/N: Sorry about the long wait, relationship trauma and school work - which I'm supposed to be doing right now. Thanks again to all who reviewed and especially to my dear imouto Maddy-chan. The other genin fights will be the same ani-sand, so not to cause confusion, but won't be written in detail.

Disclaimer: Naruto charachters and the half of the plot belong to Masashi Kishimoto-san.

Claimer: Kari, Kita, Kari's fighting style, the 2nd group of Oto-nin, the Torai-kenshi and Kari's relationships with characters are completely mine.

Jikan kagayakiwo

Time to shine

Courage bloomed in her chest as excitement fluttered in her stomach

She smiled and new it was time to see how much she had improved.

A collective gasp erupted from the Konoha ninja as they stared at the screen.

Kari

Vs

Murasaki Akio

"Well, that's awfully convenient." Kari said in surprise. A smile spread across her face. "Second's the best after all."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kakashi asked sternly. "You can always take it again." Kari gave him a rather affronted look.

"Thanks for the show of confidence…" she sad sarcastically.

"Kari-chan!" Naruto cried enveloping her in a crushing hug. "Win it for me, dattebayo!"

"Be careful Kari-chan!" Sakura cried, her hands laced together in worry.

"Oneechan!" Hinata cried rushing up. Her face burned red as they turned to look at her. "G-good luck!" she squeaked shyly. Kari grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"From you, that's all I need. And from the rest of you, wish me luck guys!" Kari cried. There was a shout of encouragement from Lee, TenTen, Naruto, Kiba and even Ino. Neji nodded to her, a slight smile on his face.

"Make us proud." He said gently. "I know you will."

"Kita, you're gonna be in the finals with me. But this time, I'm gonna beat them with you watching." Kari said to her dear cub. Kita nodded, a little disappointed.

"Will the fighters for the second match please come down." Hayate requested. Kari glanced back at Sasuke who was leaning against the wall for a split second before grasping hold of the top of the balcony pushing herself up into a handstand on it, before fluidly flipping down and landing lightly on the lower level.

"Hn. Show off." Sasuke snorted, a smirk coming to his face. Be careful baka…

"Eh? I'm fighting a girl?" Akio, Kari's opponent mused as his golden eyes took in her appearance as she stopped a few metres apart from him. He was a good foot taller, and was at least two to three years older than her. He had long violet hair, and looked a lot like the boy she was next to in the First Exam, the eyes and hair colour obviously showing they were related. He was a muscled build, his visible biceps not too pumped, but still obvious. Kari's eye twitched as the long hair reminded her a little of Neji (and his murderous poking). "You're a little odd aren't you?" he asked as his eyes settled on her ears.

"Makes me interesting, ne?" she said tilting her head to the side with a confident smirk.

"Are there any object—"

"KNOCK HIM DEAD KARI-CHAN!!" Naruto hollered.

"Urusai baka! The match hasn't even started!" Sakura shouted and a heavy thud and a low whine were heard.

"Are there any objections?" Hayate finished wearily.

"Nope" Kari replied.

"None here." Kari's opponent smirked devilishly.

"Begin!" At once, music pounded in Kari's mind placing her into a trance of concentration. She shot forwards, sweeping Akio's legs from underneath him in a tidy sweep kick, before fluidly continuing her spin and placing distance between them again. Akio quickly got to his feet and they simultaneously charged, Kari's speed coming into play and catching him of guard. She punched him in the gut before jumping and throwing high speed kicks towards his head as she span in mid air. Slightly winded, Akio didn't bother to try and dodge and instead blocked her kicks. As soon as she began to descend he grabbed hold of her wrist and began to spin, catching hold of her other wrist. Once they had picked up enough speed, he let go, flinging her towards the wall. Determined to avoid another skull-shattering headache (which she had been having frequently over the last two days), Kari span so she was facing the floor and flipped in mid air just before her head made contact with the hard wall. As light-footed as a cat, she bounced off like a rubber ball without a second's hesitation, hurtling back towards her opponent like a blonde bullet. The unexpecting Oto-nin was head butted viciously just above his abdomen and sent flying backwards. Kari flipped again, using her hands to slow her and swinging her feet underneath her. She hissed and her hand grasped her injured side, panting as she watched Akio begin to rise. Flips were absolute torture and any tension in her arms felt like the skin was being ripped apart. Not good…

"Sugoii… Her taijutsu is amazing" Sakura said in awe as her mind replayed the high speed hand to hand combat. "Even though she's worn down and not feeling well, she's so quick and accurate."

"What did you expect from Kari-chan?" Naruto said, looking offended. "She's on the team of the future Hokage you know!"

"Sakura's right." Sasuke said, pushing off against the wall and standing close to the rail for a better view. "Kari-baka's taijutsu, even in her weakened state, is far above genin level. We knew she was fast, but those blows are fused with chakra."

"Even Sasuke noticed" Kakashi mused. "You're all right though. Kari's taijutsu is far more advanced than I expected; nothing less from working with Gai. But her fluidity between movements and her grace and precision are all in her own style which she's developed on her own."

"Kari-chan's doing well" TenTen said happily. "Don't you think Neji?"

"You dance beautifully as always Kari-hime!" Lee whispered, tears of pride streaming down his face.

"Our little apprentice" Gai said, mirroring Lee's expression.

"She's struggling. Her injuries are protesting against her advanced movement" Neji said, though knowing no one was bothering to listen, being too intent on the fight. His keen eyes could see how she was tense with pain. She was best when relaxed, she was a lot smoother. He knew she couldn't keep it up too long, but with a low level of chakra from the last exam the little ninjutsu she knew was out of the question. Remembering the state of her arms (he being the one who carefully wrapped them) she wouldn't be able to use her katana (he hadn't seen her sword fighting skills as of yet, but was curious because of her taijutsu style).

The Oto-nin sensei smirked with excitement at his object of interest. He could see she was in pain, yet marvelled at her willpower and fighting ability. His eyes were alight as he impatiently waited for his student to put her under more pressure.

Kari scowled as her hand travelled from her ribs to her burning neck. She closed one eye against the pain as the other became hazy. She felt hot and heavy and the room began to swirl. Her eyes shot open as her sensitive ears detected Akio's movement. He was speeding towards her, his hand glowing with a peculiar purple chakra. She went to move, knowing that his attack couldn't be good and it would be an absolute disaster if it was anything like Yuroi's. Heaven knows what would happen if chakra was drawn out of her. A blast of pain spread from her neck causing her to stumble. She felt pressure just beneath the middle of her collarbone and gasped in pain, falling backwards.

"KARI-CHAN!!" Naruto shrieked as her back hit the floor, pinned down by Akio's weight. His palm was the pressure she had felt and blood flooded into her mouth, spilling out the corners of her lips and running down her cheeks as she choked and coughed. Her ribcage felt as though it was shrinking, constricting her organs and cutting them to pieces. Her heart felt as though it was exploding in slow motion, being torn from the inside out. Her eyes threatened to roll to the back of her head from the pain, but the feel of his hot breath against her face forced her to stay conscious.

"My kekkei-genkai is like a poison dipped chakra sword" he whispered to her. "It attacks your inner organs and chakra network which is why you're bleeding." He smirked widely. "But there's something else, something even more poisonous in my ability." He said teasingly. "Do you hurt hime?" he whispered against her cheek. "Do you want mercy? Maybe if you beg—"

Now then. He just made the mistake of telling Kari to beg. Sasuke had the habit of teasing her about being canine. If this little temee thought she was going to beg to him. Oh that did it. THREE days she'd had all the shit in the world and now this?! NO WAY!!

Just as Naruto was about to shout again, a war cry was heard and Kari's chakra filled leg shot into Akio's crotch. He was sent flying upwards into the air, off the enraged girl in absolute male agony. She appeared above him at breakneck speed and sent her heel into his abdomen, sending him shooting downwards into the concrete floor, spreading cracks across it as she back flipped and landed a couple feet away, landing on one knee and spitting out the remaining blood in her mouth.

"…Oh…" Kakashi said; the first one to speak. A pained cringe had spread across most of the males faces (excluding Gaara) and they all silently vowed to not upset Kari enough to suffer what Akio just had.

"W-Way to go! Dattebayo!" Naruto cried in a slightly higher voice than usual, his hand securely around his lower region.

"That's my girl!" TenTen cried with pride.

"I like this one" Anko said to the Hokage with a large grin. "She hits them where it hurts!"

"A lot like you, isn't she?" the Hokage said as he took an extra long puff on his pipe. "She can be polite and elegant when she wants to be, yet she's a rose and has extremely sharp thorns."

Akio slowly stood up (though quite wonky). He gave her a pained glare. She too quickly got too her feet, though unsteady. She charged and jumped, aiming a kick to his head, he ducked and her blow instead hit his sheet of violet hair. Her defence being as it was, she wasn't able to avoid his punches to her torso. His biceps weren't for nothing, this guy hit hard and Kari was quite fragile (despite her denial about it). With a particularly hard punch she was thrown backwards until her back hit the wall cracks spreading round her. Blood flew out of her mouth as she slid down slightly before tipping forwards so she was standing again. She shot forward, kunai in hand and deflected the two kunai thrown at her. Akio, realising how much she had weakened, charged again, his hand alight with purple chakra. He went to grab her round the throat, but she feared what would happen if that chakra hit her cursemark. She managed to successfully dodge but was left open in another place and was unlucky in her second attempt to dodge.

"Gotcha!" Her kunai was immediately dropped as Akio pressed his palm into the left side of her ribs, just the pressure of his palm causing the wound to burn and sting as though drowned in salt. If Kari was any weaker in heart she would have screamed and burst into tears right their and then. An explosion of pain hit her side as though a bomb had been stuck to her and detonated. Her skin felt like it was being burned away as her organs were punctured by white hot needles, her muscles being sliced into microscopic pieces over and over again. Her ribs felt as though they were bending backwards. She grasped his wrist as she sunk to her knees, blood bursting out of her mouth again. Her shirt began sticking to her side as she took shallow ragged breaths.

"Kari-chan!"

"Kari-hime!"

Kakashi's brow furrowed and he stepped forward, ready to stop the match and say enough was enough. He couldn't bear to see her suffer with a brave face anymore.

"Matte!" Sasuke cried, grabbing his arm. "Don't give up on her yet!"

"COME ON KARI-CHAN! YOU CAN DO IT!!" Naruto called as Lee cheered in agreement, Kita giving a loud yip of agreement.

Come on baka, no way am I going to the finals and you're going to be sitting in the audience eating pocky the whole time! Fight him! Sasuke thought desperately.

Kari's glazed, unfocused eyes slid to the blurry outline of her kunai. She'd dropped it beside her. She grabbed hold of it and blindly stabbed it towards where she thought Akio was. Luckily, her shot seemed to have hit home when she heard a shout of pain and the burning pressure left her.

"Temee… You're gonna pay for that" Kari mumbled as she sloppily stood up. There was a clatter of her kunai being thrown to the ground and she shot forward, relying more on her ears than her eyes. They hit each other at the exact same moment, their fists embedding into the others stomach. Before Kari was sent backwards though, Akio grabbed the front of her shirt with his right hand and a second after, his left fist collided with her cheekbone, pushing her face to the side and causing blood to spill from her lips yet again. From the pain that shot through her face, he had put all he had into that punch and Kari wouldn't be surprised if she got bleeding on the brain.

No way did she just get practically bitch-slapped by a guy… THAT'S IT. ENOUGH! No more SNAKES, OTO-NIN or INJURIES, especially BLEEDING INJURIES, for Kari today! Just COMFORT FOOD and SLEEP! And PAINKILLERS! Sasuke you're BUYING me pocky you bitch!!

With a frustrated scream (much like the one before she most probably made Akio infertile) she flooded her right fist with chakra and put every ounce of her rage, frustration and irritation directly into Akio's nose. There's was a painful crack and Akio was sent flying into the opposite wall Kari had been thrown into, leaving cracks along the wall. Blood covering his jaw and slowly spreading down his neck, he slid down the wall until his backside hit the floor before slumping forwards, unconscious. Hayate stared at him blankly for a second, before turning to Kari.

"The winner of the second match is Kari. She passes the preliminary round and will advance to the Third exam." Hayate announced.

"YATTA! THAT'S MY KARI-CHAN!!" Naruto cheered, jumping up and down. As Lee embraced TenTen and shouted with glee.

"I knew you'd win Oneechan" Hinata whispered happily as Kiba whooped and whistled beside her.

"Yay…" Kari sighed in exhaustion before flopping backwards, only to be caught by her favourite sensei. He lifted her up like a baby as she lay limp in his arms. Kita looked down at her mother. She hadn't been able to cheer because of the foreign ninja (her voice could still be a secret weapon) but was truly proud of her Okaasan.

"Way to go Kari-chan, you did great" Kakashi said softly. Her endurance and perseverance amazed him. How she could continue to struggle on was beyond him, even he would have considered giving up if he was as injured as she was. But looking at the current state of her, pushing her body over its limit wasn't anything positive.

"Arigatou Kaka-nii" she mumbled in reply. "Maybe a doctor wouldn't be too bad… As long as I don't have to stay in them horrible, smelly, uncomfortable beds" she said, opening an eye. "But I wanna watch the other matches first."

"No, we're sorting you out. You're health is deteriorating." Kakashi said sternly. She opened another eye and gave him a sorrowful look. "Don't you give me those eyes..." Seeing as she was in significant pain, her eyes became teary quite easily. She pouted and her ears lowered in heart wrenching disappointment. Kakashi grew awkward at the heartbreak radiating off her (though mostly acting) and coughed. "I'll consider you coming back… maybe. But not likely. We're going to sort out that nasty cursemark."

"Hai…" she said as her eyes closed. "I think I need to go to sleep now…"

"Sasuke! Let's go, you need to have medical attention too" Kakashi called. Sasuke quickly rushed down the stairs and joined them as they headed out the room, he subconsciously grabbed his cursemark.

Sakura's eyes followed the rest of her team as they walked towards a door. She barely listened to Naruto's whine of not being able to congratulate Kari. Kita was exactly like Sakura. Naruto's keen blue eyes noticed Sasuke holding his neck and his eye widened as he remembered seeing dark smudges across Sasuke's skin when he was in the air.

"Sakura-chan, did you see some kind of weird wound on Sasuke's neck during the match?" Naruto asked. Kita glanced up at her.

'Promise me. Don't tell Naruto about mine or Kari's bruises. This is part of teamwork; it'll worry me if he's worrying about me. I know Kari feels the same.'

"I don't know." Sakura finally answered, picking up Kita and holding her close.

"Sou ka… Do you think Kari-chan will be alright now? I wish I could go with her…" Naruto said sadly, watching as she was carried out the room. Heal fast, Ookami-neechan.

"Could you hold her for me?" Sasuke nodded and Kari was eased to him, grimacing in her sleepy daze as her wounds were brushed. She would dip in and out of consciousness as they walked.

"Baka, I told you not to go overboard." Sasuke said to her, though couldn't help smirking. "You weren't as bad as I thought you were going to be, I'll give you that."

"And you'll buy me pocky?" she mumbled. Kakashi chuckled and placed a hand on her head as she whined about a 'headache from head butting solid abs'.

"We'll both buy you an all you can eat sugar buffet." Kakashi said fondly. "You deserve it kiddo."

"Guess I do…" Kari mumbled with a smile as she seemed to fall unconscious again. Sasuke shifted her into the position he found most comfortable, as he had gotten used to carrying her around a fair bit. Her head rested in the hollow of his neck, so his jaw lightly rested against the top of her head. His right arm was supporting her mid-back and his left was under her knees. Her tail was wrapped around her and long enough to lie on top of her pelvis.

"I wonder who will fight next…" Sasuke wondered out loud. Kakashi didn't miss the dirty look directed at him, but chose to ignore it.

"Abumi Zaku and Aburame Shino" Kari said.

"How do you know that?" Sasuke said suspiciously. "Oi, wake up."

"Nghh, I can see through Kita somehow." Kari replied, trying to roll over while Sasuke was still carrying her.

"Alright Sasuke, you can put her down while I set up the jutsu." Kakashi said as they entered the middle of the room. Once she was sitting comfortably on the floor, Kari looked around at the pillars and the stone grey floor and walls. "I need to write kanji on your upper bodies for this, so you'll have to remove your shirts" Kakashi said calmly. Sasuke twitched in disgust and Kari pulled a horrified face before plummeting backwards onto the floor. "If Kari's unconscious we'll have to do it for her" Kakashi added simply, as though asking someone to remove their shoes.

"No!" Kari cried shooting into a sitting position, wincing and falling back down again. "Ite-e…" she whined softly.

"Gomen, but it's the only way" Kakashi said grimly. "You're pain will ease by a lot if you do. The other option isn't good to think about." Kari grumbled and removed her tank top and net shirt, left only with bandages from her armpits to her hips. She undid her katana sheaths and placed them gently on the floor as though they were made of glass.

"Won't she bleed to death though if the bandages are removed?" Sasuke questioned as he removed his own shirt and his arm warmers so that he didn't have to look at her.

"We'll just have to move quickly. No stalling. I don't have enough chakra to seal you both separately, and neither of you can wait until my chakra is restored, so I'll have to improvise and seal you at the same time. Seeing as you were both bitten at around the same time, and there's a chance it was done in the same jutsu, it might just work." By now he had drawn a large circle and was writing kanji in it, kunai being placed symmetrically at various points. He was now drawing a second circle. Kari seemed upset by the fact he was writing in his own blood and felt a churn in her stomach. Kakashi glanced at her with a serious look in his visible eye and sped up.

"Do I have to…?" Kari said meekly as red dusted her nose and cheeks. "Can't Kurenai-sensei or…"

"Not many can do this jutsu I'm afraid. At least you know and trust me. It's not like Sasuke's got the normal teen hormones anyway." Sasuke glared at his sensei in utter disgust while Kari couldn't help but giggle. "and he'll be shirtless as well as you, imagine how Sakura would die to be in your place." Kari's mood was lightened a little and she and Sasuke went inside the half finished circle. Kakashi commanded them both to sit. They did, but Kakashi altered them into a position of horribly close proximity, where poor Kari was practically straddling poor Sasuke. "I know it's awkward, but it'll only be for a couple minutes. Kari you can stand up to unwrap if you want." She did so, turning her back to them, and slowly began to untie the thick bandages, horribly embarrassed. "You can start with your arms Kari" Kakashi said gently, sensing her unease.

"Hyuuga was probably bad at wrapping anyway." Sasuke scoffed as she slowly unravelled the linen on her left arm. Sasuke stomach twisted unpleasantly at the sight of the raw wound. It was starting to heal and the blood flow was lighter, but it looked horrible, standing out from her pale skin. The other arm was in the same mangled state, and Kakashi could only silently look on with sympathy. The bandages on her stomach loosened and fell away, her hands shaking and her body flinching as she touched her left side. Each layer was a darker, fresher crimson, until her worst wound on her left side was revealed. There was bruising all along her side, the cut still open, but healing as best it could. Sasuke felt vomit rise in his throat and quickly looked away, able to see slivers of her ribcage through the deep cuts.

"You're very brave Kari-chan…" he heard Kakashi say softly. She looked round and gave him a half-hearted smile, only her long golden hair protecting her from her self-consciousness. Kari had gone through shyness and anxiety before, which is why she sympathised so much with Hinata. She wasn't one who would happily get her kit off for anything; she didn't even walk naked around her own house. She folded her arms across her breasts as she looked fixedly on the stone wall. Her hair was pushed over her right shoulder and she felt Kakashi begin to write down her back. It half-hurt, half-tickled, but she knew he was being as gentle and quick as he could. Even if he read those novels of his, she trusted him wholeheartedly.

"Oww…" she mumbled as he wrote down her left shoulder blade.

"Did you injure your wings? You've got some bruising across your back, but nothing too severe. And you've got splinters, but that will be sorted at hospital." He wrote down the outer side of her arms and then looked completely over her head as he wrote across her stomach and chest (mostly avoiding her breasts). Her hair mostly covered her and made her feel a little less insecure. She was thankful she liked to have it long. "I need to check it's written right. Can I look?" Kakashi requested. She pulled the rest of her hair over her shoulders and agreed. He quickly scanned her but paused as he caught sight of an almost invisible gash that was almost fully healed. "That's where…"

"Yeah… It hurt" Kari agreed, thinking back to Nami where she'd had Kakashi's Raikiri straight through her when she tried to protect Haku. She'd hoped it would be enough to save him, but according to the others he was dead. "Can you be quick with Sasuke; I'm a little dizzy…"

"Of course" Kakashi said, breaking out of his reverie and going to write on Sasuke. "When was the last time you ate, you look sickly and thin." The jonin said, glancing back at Kari.

"She was ill and threw everything up." Sasuke answered as his skin was covered in Kakashi's blood.

"Hm… Carbohydrates and protein with your sugar then" Kakashi said. "And fruit and vegetables." Finally he finished and Kari and Sasuke awkwardly got into position, refusing point black to look at each other. Until Kari's eyes closed and she limply fell against Sasuke, just as Kakashi was finishing the final touches, writing on their shins.

"Oi baka! Kari wake up! Kakashi-sensei, hurry up!" Sasuke said worriedly.

"Hold her steady." Kakashi ordered as he stood behind them, praying that it would work. Kari's eyes slowly opened, dull and dark. "Bear with this a little, it'll be over soon." On impulse, Sasuke laced his hands with both of hers. Her blood was making him queasy and he could feel the sticky liquid sliding down his side. Sasuke nodded, her forehead uncomfortably hot against his. He was staring her determinedly in the eye, but her dazed stare back was hardly encouraging. Kakashi quickly made a number of complex hand signs, his hands gloveless for what he was about to do.

"Fuuja Houin!" he cried, placing a hand directly over each of their curse marks. Light blazed inside the circle and Sasuke cried out in pain. Kari's eyes shot open as the kanji began to crawl up her skin as though being sewn. She didn't have the strength to scream and instead struggled to squeeze Sasuke's hands as hard as he was gripping hers. After seconds, minutes, maybe hours of excruciating pain a dark ring surrounded their marks. Their bodies were trembling, panting through the pain.

"If either cursed seal tries to activate again, the power of the Fuuja Houin will hold it in. However, this seal utilizes your wills as its main source. If either you lose faith in your power and your will sways… The cursed seal will activate." Kakashi explained. He watched as their eyes closed and they both collapsed, Sasuke landing on top of her, their hands still intertwined. Kakashi couldn't help but smile. "Looks like their worn out…"

"So you can use sealing technique's now? You've grown Kakashi."

"You're…" Kakashi began, looking round.

"It's been a long time, Kakashi-kun" the man said silkily, his voice with a hiss.

"Orochimaru…" Kakashi said in shock.

"Gomen, but I have no business with you" Orochimaru said simply. "But I do have business with the two behind you" he finished, his eyes gleaming as a smirk spread across his pale face. Kakashi's eyes hardened as he tried to suppress his anger.

"Why are you after Sasuke and Kari?" he asked.

"You're lucky, seeing as you got what you wanted already. You didn't have that a long time ago, that Sharingan in your left eye." Orochimaru hissed as Kakashi tensed. "I want it too. Uchiha's powers that is."

"And why her? Why Kari?" Kakashi said, his visible eye blazing.

"Surely you know what she holds?" Orochimaru asked looking around at her. "She has such horrible power inside her small, fragile body. Someone pure and beautiful to hide the devil."

"No one can control the Torai-kenshi. Even you know that." Kakashi said.

"Yes, but if no one else can, do you really expect her to?" Orochimaru asked, his smirk widening. "As strong-hearted as she is, she will suffer continuously until she breaks. She would make an interesting weapon, or an apprentice perhaps."

"What is your purpose?" Kakashi demanded, biting back his rage.

"The recently-made Hidden Village of Sound is mine." His smirk became darker. "You understand if I just say that right?"

"What a stupid ambition…" Kakashi replied.

"Oh my… That was blunt. But to accomplish my ambition, I need pieces to be my legs and arms and accomplish things for me.

"So Sasuke and Kari are just two of those pieces?" Kakashi asked.

"No, Sasuke-kun and Kari-chan are supreme pieces. And the ones taking the exam right now are" his eyes flashed with glee "merely sacrifices." He slowly began walking forwards, making his way towards the unconscious genin. Kakashi glared at him, before he finally snapped and slid in front of his students, positioning himself to attack.

"Don't get any closer to them!" he cried. Orochimaru's smirk faded as blue lightning sprayed from Kakashi's palm. "Even if you're one of the legendary Sannin, I can sacrifice my life to kill you!" The Sannin's smirk returned as he bowed his head and laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kakashi growled.

"What you say and do, don't agree with each other." Orochimaru hissed.

"Nani?"

"There's no point in using that seal. You know, right? He has a heart that seeks power no matter how evil it is. He possesses that kind of disposition. He is an avenger." He was cut off when a blast of red chakra struck the pillar beside him. "Ah, seems as though I'm making my chiisai-ookami angry."

"So you took advantage of that. But Kari will never allow Sasuke…"

"Eventually, he will seek me out, seek me out for power that is" Orochimaru said simply. "And she will follow. Then I'll have both."

"She would never…"

"Yes she does seem rather cold towards me. She could sense my chakra and immediately I felt a wave that could only be from the AkumaInu. But I'm sure he means more to her than her hatred for me." Kakashi's Raikiri faded as Orochimaru turned to walk away, but paused after a couple of steps. "Also, you said that you could kill me? Try, that is, if you can." Kakashi's eyes widened and his body shook, sensing no advance to attack, Orochimaru disappeared.

"Sacrifice my life to kill him? Am I mad?" Kakashi whispered. He took a deep breath and walked over to his students. He put Sasuke's shirt on Kari, Sasuke grimacing when he was moved from her, then relaxing when he could feel her underneath him again. "You're his only hope, if he loses you, then he'll have no lantern to lead him safely through the darkness. You're all he has now." Kakashi kneeled next to them looking at their intertwined hands. Even unconscious, the Uchiha held her to reassure himself she was there. The jonin sighed as he looked at Sasuke's peaceful expression.

"No more nightmares, eh Sasuke?" he said softly, remembering how tired he looked when he first saw him. "Kari, you're going to have a lot of trouble when you're older. All those boys will be after you… And they'll end up getting beaten up one way or another." Kakashi's fingertips brushed her ear and it twitched and the touch. She always could bring a smile to his face. Maybe her and Sasuke would end up together? It would give him a reason to stay. But heaven forbid should Kakashi find out he'd impregnated her before she was sixteen—no. Eighteen at least. She has Kita to look after. But if Kari and Sasuke did end up together, surely that would bring yet more conflict between Sasuke and Naruto? After all, Naruto does care about her immensely, and Kakashi could see love blossoming between his two blonde students. If memory serves correct, she seemed close to Gai's student the Hyuuga as well. What a disaster…

"Kaka…?"

"Oro? Kari-chan what are you doing awake?" he whispered, hoping his quiet voice would convince her to go back to sleep.

"I could sense him." She mumbled.

"Ah" Kakashi wasn't sure whether to lie or not. But he knew she had sensed him (and unconsciously attacked him) so decided to be truthful. "Hai, but he's gone. I didn't let him come anywhere near you."

"Thanks Kashi" she said with a tired smile. "Can I go watch the other matches now?"

"No." Kakashi said sternly. "You're going to hospital to rest. End of discussion."

"But Kashi! Naruto… Hinata… I want to see…" she whined, barely conscious. Kakashi sighed as she looked up at him with glazed eyes.

"Maybe. I'll come and see if you're awake when Naruto, or Hyuuga Hinata have their fights." Kakashi relented. She smiled in gratitude before glancing at Sasuke.

"Will he be ok?" she asked.

"I'm sure he will. He's an Uchiha after all" Kakashi reassured.

"Good…" she said before her eyes fluttered closed and she was swept into her dreams.

"Rest well Kari-chan. The worst is yet to come…" Kakashi said softly, brushing her bangs out of her face.

Protect Sasuke, Kari-chan. If not for him, then for yourself.