Some days had passed since the talk with Itachi. I obviously was made to return to the village after Naruto had a panic attack about me going after Itachi. The dummy thought I was dead...way to be a good sport Naruto. Anyway Jiraiya and Naruto stood with me and Gai who had a knocked out Sasuke over his shoulder. While the adults talked me and Naruto were having our own conversation.

"Did something happen after you went after Itachi?" Naruto asked. I shook my head "He was too fast for me and I didn't have time to get the dash card out." I lied.

Naruto glanced at Gai "Uh Scarlet, do me a favour would ya"

"What?" I asked

Naruto jerked his thumb at Gai "Make sure he's careful with Sasuke. We don't want him anymore broken right"

I laughed "You don't have to tell me twice" I said.

"Scarlet! My rivals youthful student! we must take our leave if we wanna get Sasuke here to the hospital!" Gai yelled walking away.

"Bye Naruto. Good luck with your new jutsu" I said with a smile. Naruto smiled back brightly "I'll be stronger when I get back Scarlet! Belive it!" he yelled. I laughed and jogged after Gai "Right behind you Gui sensei! Later Pervy sage!" I called to Jiraiya.

I stopped and held my hands to my mouth. I did NOT mean to say that.

"NARUTO YOU TOLD HER TO CALL ME THAT DIDN'T YOU!" He yelled

"NO WAY PERVY SAGE IT MUST HAVE BRUSHED OFF OF ME OR SOMETHING!" Naruto yelled back. I scampered after Gui not wanting to get in any trouble.

(in the forest)

We weren't to far from the village. I swear Gai is just TOO enthusiastic sometimes. I started to wish I went with Naruto and Pervy...gah! I mean Jiraiya!

"Oh my! what happened here!" Gai yelled. I looked round the area. Tree's were knocked down, there were massive holes in the ground and some big boulders were wrecked.

Suddenly my head went a little faint and a vision of a glowing figuire. It was a clow card

"Gai Sensei. Theres a clow card round here and as we can see it's already caused some damage" I said looking around. Gai grinned like a mad man "Well then my youthful girl seems I can finally take on one of your little monsters. Tell me is it a fight card of some sort!" he asked with enthusiasm.

"That's already been caught...this one however...well..."

The ground rumbled a little bit making me tumble to the ground.

"What in the world!" Gai yelled. The shaking got harder and the noise got louder.

In the distance there was a small figuire. As it got closer I could see that this little thing was all the fuss

It was the power card

"Ah! That little thing caused all this damage! why it's so small!" Gai yelled. The little pink girl smiled and hopped on the ground creating a small earth quake. Gai fell and Sasuke flew off his shoulder. I ran and caught him. I lay him against a tree "Gai! be careful with Sasuke!" I yelled angrily.

The power card frowned and stomped on the ground again.

We both kept on falling from the force. `she's trying to tell us something` i thought.

"What's her problem!" Gai yelled scared. I stood up and slowly walked towards the little pink girl "I think...she want's to play?" I asked myself. The power smiled in glee and clapped her hands.

I smiled softly. She seemed different than the one in the show. I kneeled down to her height "Ok power. I'll make you a little deal. I'll play with you IF you let me put you back in your card with your friends" I said holding out my hand.

Power thought for a moment and grinned nodding. She grabbed my hand and shook it. But she gripped on too hard and I heard a sickning crack. She broke my hand, lovely. I yelped in pain and held it tenderly. Power looked really upset that she hurt me. I smiled and patted her head with my good hand "It's ok little one it'll heal." I said reassuringly. She sighed in relief. I held up an empty card and quietly sealed her. I would keep my promise and play with her later.

I faced Gui who was still a bit shaken up "oh come on! It wasn't that bad" I said. Gai gulped "Yeah but her strength surpasses mine! How unfortunate! I must train harder to surpass her!" he yelled with tears streaming down his face. I felt a sweat drop coming on.

"Let's just go home Gai." I said walking on. Gai collected Sasuke and ran on ahead. I used the dash to keep up with him.

(Finally home to the village)

Sasuke was safe and sound in the hospital now. I couldn't stay with him as visiting hours were over but the nice nurse said me and a friend could see him the next day so I decided to ask Sakura later, she would wanna see him. I began to walk home until I bumped into someone "Back so soon?"

It was Yue

I sheepishly smiled "There was a little trouble and I was forced to come back" I explained. Yue smiled and patted my head "as long as your alright" he said. His eyes lingered to my hand. It was becoming blue and black. I forgot to ask the nurse to bandage it, dam. He knelt to y height and took my hand gently "What happend to your hand?" he asked taking a bandage out.

"The power card accidently broke it. i'll explain later" I said wincing as he wrapped it up. It was getting dark so we both walked home together.

it was just us two in the house so we parted to our different bedrooms for the night...

(dream)

His eyes...his snake like eyes stared at me. In the middle of me and Orochimaru was Sasuke. Sasuke smirked at me "You stupid girl. You can't help me, let alone protect me like you said." he said darkly. The curse mark on his shoulder glowed and it spread over half his body. I trembled in fear.

"Your better off dead you know. I need the power to kill Itachi and I don't need you getting in my way" he said.

I tried to move my feet but I couldn't move. I was trapped.

Orochimaru had appeared behind me. "It doesn't have to be this way dear Scarlet. You COULD join us" He said. I could feel his icy breath on my neck as he moved my hair away. Snakes started slithering around my body making me unable to struggle.

"You and your cards can help me take over the village and you'll be with your beloved Sasuke as well." he whispered.

I felt agonizing pain in my neck. I screamed bloody murder and it all went dark

(end of dream)

I jumped out of my bed and landed on the floor hitting my injured hand in the process. I quietly yelped in pain and ran to the mirror. I checked my neck franticly. No sign of the curse mark. Thank god! it was only a dream. I was so scared, I'm shaking as well and my hand really hurts. I ran to Yue's room. I just didn't want to be alone.

(Yue's pov)

I slept soundly on my bed thinking way back to when I first met Scarlet. I ended up falling for her but then I learned she only see's and loves e like an elder brother. It hurt a bit that she loved the Uchiha boy but being a big brother works for me. Scarlet almost has all the cards from the book. I feel so proud of her achivements. Especially the power card. I'll have to ask her how she managed to capture it later.

I felt a small hand gently shake my shoulder "Yue?...Yue"

I opened my eyes slowly. It was Scarlet. I could see tear streaks on her cheeks. I sat up "Scarlet? What's wrong?" I asked. She didn't say anything. I quietly read her mind. As I thought. She had a nighntmare about that awful man Orochimaru. I held my arms out "Come here Scarlet" I said. She crawled onto the bed and curled up next to me. I wrapped my arms around her and held her tight. Her head was laying on my chest.

"Listen to me Scarlet. Orochimaru cannot get to you. You are stronger than him and you have the cards on your side. Understand?" I said. She sniffed and nodded. I kissed her head to comfort her "Go to sleep. I won't leave your side, ever." I promised.

I stroked her hair calming her. She soon fell asleep. I hated it when she cried. She looked so fragile. I closed my eyes and held her closer to me.

"Yue" Scarlet said

"Hmm?"

She leaned up and kissed me lightly on the lips "Thank you. Your such a good friend" She said falling back asleep. I gently touched my lips. My first kiss. I fell asleep with a happy smile on my face. I can't love her as I did at first but I love her like a little sister. She will always be one to me.

And I will protect her from the Akatsuki and that Snake no matter what.

(About a week later)

Scarlet jogged around the village free of thoughts from the nightmare she had before. Naruto had come back to the Village with Tsunade as the new Hokage, Sasuke was back to normal and Naruto had also learned the Rasangan with ease. She just had one thing to do now that Naruto and Sasuke were back. She had to yet fufill her promise to the Power card and she knew just what to do. But first she had to gather all the Genin, chunin and jonin that she could find.

Kakashi was happy to help her gather everybody so while he got the jonin she got the genin and chunin.

So everyone was at a big training field...

All the rookie nine
Kimi
Asuma
Kurenai
Iruka
Ibiki
Anko
Gui and his team
Jiraiya
Shizune
Tsunade
Izumo
Kotetsu

Scarlet smiled brightly "Thanks for coming along everybody" She said

"What's this all about Scarlet?" Tenten asked Scarlet held up the power card. "Last week I captured this card and I promised I would play with her and your all gonna help" she said

Everyone looked a little uneasy "Relax. She won't hurt you" she said placing the card on the ground. She help her staff above it "Power come out!" she yelled. In a flash of pink The Power card stood with a smile on her face. When she saw Scarlet she ran and hugged her gently this time so she wouldn't break her new friend. Scarlet hugged her back.

"Awww she's so cute!" Shizune squealed. Scarlet smiled and motioned for Kakashi to bring out some long thick rope "This is power card and I promised her I would play a game with her. So we are all gonna play a friendly game of..."

She gestured to the rope "Tug `o` war"

Everyone looked at eachother "All of us against her?" Naruto yelled. Scarlet smiled "Yup! now grab an end. Tallest and strongest in the back smallest to the front. That's us Genin" she explained.

So on the ninja side from the back of the rope was...

Kero
Asuma
Tsunade
Gui
Kakashi
Kurenai
Kotestu
Izumo
Rock lee
Neji
Shikamaru
Tenten
Hinata
Choji
Kiba
Hinata
Kimi
Sakura
Ino
Shino
Naruto
Sasuke

And lastly Scarlet at the very front. Power stood on the other side. Yue watched from the side lines. He raised his arm. "Take hold" he yelled. Everyone picked up the rope and held on "get set!"

Everyone gave a slight tug. "Go!"

Everyone pulled hard grunting and yelling to pull harder. Power was struggling just a tiny bit. She didn't want the ninja too win. Kero pulled as hard as he could from the very back along with Asuma. Despite Tsunade's strngth this was a bit hard for her.

Gui and Lee pulled with enthusiasm

Sasuke grunted and pulled

"We *ugh* almost *gah!* got her" Naruto grunted.

Power glared at the blonde boy. She got a devious idea. She counted to three in her head and smiled.

She let go.

Everyone toppled over and fell on eachother. Scarlet fell face first the turned on her back but another body fell onto her. She realised by the black hair that it was Sasuke. He proped himself up on his elbows and gazed down at her. Both were blushing madly.

`If only the others wern't here I'd friggen kiss the guy right now` she thought.

Sasuke thought the same thing. Sasuke did one thing no one expected him to do.

He laughed

He laughed a bit loudly and rolled off of Scarlet. She joined in and laughed too as did everyone else.

"That was fun!" Sakura yelled

"Yeah i'm with ya on that one Sakura!" Ino laughed.

Even Yue and Tsunade were laughing hard.

Power giggled and returned to her card. She knew Scarlet kept her promise so she left so everyone else could play.

Some of the jonin left but the genin and the one chunin stayed behind and played childish games like tag and hide and seek. Sasuke felt happy for once. He was laughing and smiling with the girl he loved.

He had yet to tell her his true feelings as did she but for now the power of their friendship can keep them from being apart... for now.