Chapter Five

News of Sasuke's disownment from the Uchiha clan spread quickly through the streets of Konoha and by the time the genin exams had begun everyone knew of it. Sasuke put on a disinterested air as he walked through the academy halls, acting as though the pointing and hushed whispers didn't bother him as he passed by his fellow students.

Upon reaching his classroom Sasuke took his usual seat in near the back next to the large window that overlooked the P.F.T field. He was mildly surprised to find that, instead of rushing him as they did every morning, the many fangirls in his class instead gave him wide birth as if debating whether or not he had a deadly disease. He smirked slightly behind his folded hands and thought that he would have left the clan sooner if he had known this was going to happen.

"Ohayo Sasuke-kun," Sakura said. "Is anyone sitting here?"

Sasuke barely glanced in her direction before he returned his eyes forward.

"Hn."

Taking that as an invitation Sakura slid onto the bench next to Sasuke. "Have you been practicing a lot since Wednesday? I've been practicing my aim but I don't think I improved very much. I would have asked Hikari-nee-chan or Kyo-nii-chan to help me but Kyo-nii-chan is so busy at the ANBU office and Hikari-nee-chan is trying to finish the plans for her wedding so I didn't want to bother them."

Sasuke's hands tensed as Sakura talked but she didn't seem to notice as she continued on.

"I also started brushing up on my ninjutsu since we need to show that we have learned a two starred jutsu. At first I thought about learning a water or earth technique but I don't have enough chakra for that. But a while ago Iruka-sensei told me that I had really good chakra control for our age so I thought that I would try a medical jutsu. It was really hard but in the end I—."

"Why are you treating me this way?"

Sakura looked at Sasuke in surprise. "What way?"

"I don't need your pity Sakura."

"Why would I pity you Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke glared. "Stop pretending. Or what ever you are doing. I left my clan on my own. I wasn't disowned, so you can stop trying to 'cheer me up'." He sneered.

Sakura's face hardened just a fraction. "I was just trying to have a conversation with a friend, Sasuke-kun. You don't have to be rude."

"You're just like the rest of them. Vultures trying to sink their claws in the Uchiha clan through me. Don't act innocent."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Sasuke, if I cared two straws about 'sinking my claws' into your clan then I would walk around in that shirt you gave me yelling "Uchiha wife in the making". Speaking of which." She paused for a second to dig around in her school bag before she pulled out a neatly folded blue cloth.

"Here."

"What?"

"It's your shirt. I washed it for you so you don't have to worry about my germs getting on you the next time you wear it."

Sasuke stared at the shirt in mild surprise as Sakura set it in front of him. He hadn't ever expected to get it back. He was quickly pulled back to reality as the bench shifted and he looked to his right.

Sakura had gathered up all of her things and was getting up from the bench just as Sasuke's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"Where are you going?"

She glanced in his direction before she looked away and shifted her bag on her shoulder. "Well I'm obviously bothering you so I was going to go sit with Naruto."

Sasuke was silent for a moment before he let go of her wrist and turned to face the front.

"Sit."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"…Hn."

For a moment Sakura just stood there before a soft blush crossed her cheeks and she sat.

A loud murmur passed through the gathered on lookers as the fangirls finally decided that, even though Sasuke-kun was no longer an Uchiha, he was still desirable.

Sakura jumped slightly as Wahiawa Ami slammed her palms on the desk in front of her.

"Morning forehead girl," She said, her eyes were shadowed as she pushed her face closer to Sakura's. "How has your day been?"

Sakura slowly leaned away from the dark haired girl, a half smile of worry on her lips. "Fine…and you Ami-san?"

Ami scowled; her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know who you think you are big forehead, but you better back off from Sasu-kun. He doesn't need you."

Before Sakura had the chance to respond a heavy book-bag landed square on the top of Ami's head.

"Oops," Ino said. "Sorry Ami, there was a fly. I guess it got away."

Ami scowled as she pushed herself up from the desk. "Ino!"

"Wahiawa-san! I will not tolerate that kind of behavior in my classroom!"

Ami paused, mid slap, as the harsh sound of Iruka's voice broke through the room.

"B-but Iruka-sensei! Ino hit me with her bag."

"I'm sure it was an accident; now please take your seat Wahiawa-san. I do not want to have to dismiss you from today's examination."

Ami sputtered in shock for a few seconds before she quickly scrambled over to where she had been sitting next to Kayko.

"Thanks Ino," Sakura said.

Ino winked and tilted her head towards Sasuke. Sakura looked over at the boy from the corner of her eye and her cheeks flushed as she noticed him quickly pulling a pencil eraser from between his thumb and pointer finger to rest in his palm.

"Maybe I shouldn't have been quite so quick to intervene huh?" Ino whispered. "Good luck on the exam."

Sakura nodded and turned her attention to the front where Iruka was writing out the day's schedule on the board.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Heh. He sure is reckless isn't he?" Yotaro chuckled and leaned back against the dojo wall. "I never thought that some one like Sasuke would be willing to leave his clan so easily."

Itachi didn't answer as he continued to pound the punching bag located off to the side. Sweat slid down his temple but instead of slowing he put even more speed and strength behind his hits.

"It's odd really. I spent the first fifteen years of my life trying to figure out who I was and what clan I came from thinking that knowing would make me complete. I guess I just don't understand how someone who has had that knowledge of himself from the beginning would just give it up."

Itachi's eyes narrowed but other then that he gave no response.

"Do you think that secretly he always wanted to leave? Or do you suppose it was the alienation that drove him to make such an impulsive decision?"

Finally Itachi hit the bag so hard that it split strait down the middle, spilling the aluminum beads across the floor in waves.

"I didn't ask you here for you to pester me with your inquisitions."

Yotaro's head tilted to the side. "Well when I arrived you didn't say anything at all. I figured that someone had to start at least some sort of conversation. You know being around you can be quite boring Itachi. I don't know how Hikari can stand it being as outgoing as she is."

"…."

Yotaro sighed and ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair. "Okay, I'll bite. What's going on?"

"There are some in the clan that would still seek to take my brother's life."

Brown eyes narrowed darkly. "Go on."

Itachi's eyes were hard as he glared down at the lifeless bag, as if daring it to return from its cottony metal grave. After several seconds of tense silence he turned to face his best friend.

"Since Sasuke is no longer a part of the Uchiha clan I can't protect him any more. I'm not permitted to act on behalf of those outside of the clan without complete approval from both the counsel of elders and the Hokage."

Yotaro nodded. "I see. Obtaining permission from Sandaime wouldn't be a problem at all but getting all of the elders to agree would be—."

"Practically impossible." Itachi finished. "They were far too happy to be rid of Sasuke as a member of the clan. There is no way they would except him back as a ward under my protection."

"So you want me to watch him for you?"

"Yes. If you could, see that he is able to obtain an apartment near yours. Or at least close to the ANBU head-quarters."

"I think I can manage that."

Itachi nodded. "As expected from the captain of the first class."

"As expected from your best friend Itachi."

Itachi shifted his eyes back to the mutilated punching bag.

"…Hn."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The crowd was large, even larger then usual. Sakura gulped and bit her lip in nervousness. The last time a genin exam had called this much attention it was the year Kakashi-san graduated. Although, if Hikari, Itachi, and Yotaro had graduated in the conventional method there would have probably been a big crowd there too.

"Hey Sakura-chan!"

Sakura jumped and squealed in shock as her blond haired, loud mouthed cousin slung his arm around her shoulders.

"Naruto! Don't do that! I almost had a heart attack!"

"Ehehehe. Gomen Sakura-chan," Naruto said as he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand.

Sakura sighed. "Yeah, yeah. What did you want anyway?"

"Oh yeah! I wanted to tell ya that my dad taught me this totally killer move! I'll be able to graduate for sure!"

Sakura raised a brow. "Really. And just what is this 'totally killer move' of yours."

Naruto shook his finger. "Now, now. What fun would it be if I told you now? I will say though that it will totally kill whatever thing Sasuke-teme has to show."

"Right."

"Oh oh oh! I almost forgot!" A sly smile covered Naruto's face and his voice dropped to a whisper. "I saw you and Sasuke-teme in class today. What did you do to make him so sweet to you?"

Sakura blushed. "Wh-what are you talking about?"

"Don't give me that Sakura." Suddenly Naruto's face turned serious and he moved his arm so he could grasp her shoulders. "All joking aside Sakura-chan. I'm worried. After what happened at the P.F.T field the other day he should still be mad. I think that he might be planning something. Don't let your guard down okay?"

Sakura smiled and patted Naruto gently on his whisker marked cheek. "Don't worry Naruto. Sasuke-kun isn't planning anything. I ran into him a bit ago and apologized and he forgave me. He's not planning anything."

Naruto's mouth dropped open. "He forgave you? Just like that?"

Sakura blushed again. "Uh, yeah. Just like that—Hey! Look. It's Hinata and Ino. I'm just gonna go- uh, say hello."

Naruto's brow crinkled in confusion but he quickly shrugged it off. If there was any real problem between his cousin and that teme then he was sure that Sakura would say something. She'd never hidden anything from him before. With that in mind, Naruto gave a firm nod and began a few light stretches. Soon it would be his turn.

"Okay everyone," Iruka said as he stepped to the front of his class. "Today, since we have such a large class this year, we are going to do something a bit different from the last few years. Since we have thirty people it would take a long time for each of you to complete the physical exam on your own, we would have to run into tomorrow and that would throw of our written exam. So instead of having a simple physical exam, we are going to have a practical exam."

A soft murmur ran through the students and bystanders as everyone tried to figure out Iruka's meaning for themselves.

"Quiet please!" Once everything calmed down Iruka continued. "A jounin instructor will be overseeing this portion of the exam and, in the case of any real danger to the participants, will intervene if necessary."

Another murmur ran through the crowd but it quickly silenced as Iruka lifted his clip board.

"Alright, the teams will all be made of three members. If you will step forward when I call your name, we will get you set up for your run in the course."

The silence was heavy as everyone waited. As Iruka opened his mouth the students all shifted uneasily. They really hoped that they would be able to pass this exam.

"In the first team we will have: Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuuga Hinata, and Akimichi Chouji."

The three called all stepped forward and Iruka nodded. "If you will please follow Asuma-san you may begin your exam."

Naruto smirked and pumped his fist hard in the air. "Oh yeah! I'm gonna smoke this test! Just you wait Iruka-sensei! I'll get the best marks in the class!"

Iruka chuckled. "I look forward to it Naruto. Now hurry up."

Naruto saluted. "Yes sir! Hey, hey! Good luck Sakura-chan!"

Sakura smiled and waved as her cousin left with his small group. Once they were out of sight her hand dropped and bit her lip. Three of the people she had been hoping to be paired with were already gone. She really hoped that the others pulled through.

"Next: Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Aburame Shino. Please follow Kurenai-san. Inuzuka Kiba, Akihara Kayko, and Himatari Shinji. You will be with Genma-san."

More and more groups were paired until only six students were left: Sakura, Ami, Niku, Daisu, Sasuke, and Minami.

"Okay, next will be Haruno Sakura, Wahiawa Ami, and Uchiha Sasuke with Keiji-san. And finally Hitowari Niku, Sakurai Daisu, and Kinakawa Minami with Kakashi-san."

Sakura's blood froze as she glanced to her right where Ami was hurtling frozen daggers with her eyes. Oh boy did she ever wish that she had been placed on a different team.

"Come on, Sakura. I'll leave you."

"Huh?" Sakura said. "Oh, right Sasuke-kun. I'm coming." A small smile crossed Sakura's lips. Maybe she didn't completely wish she was on another team after all.

End Chapter Five


Kaliea: Hey guys. Another update come and gone. I hope you all know that this most likely means that the next one won't be for a while. I still have to update Dark and Light as well as write up a one-shot set in the future time line of Dark and Light. Fun stuff, it just takes a while.


Review Answers:

BermyChicks : I'll do my best! I'm glad you find it interesting.

Suki dah Turdle : Yeah. I tend to pick on him a lot. But it's only cause I love him!

Atra Nox : Thanks for your review, and don't worry about missing the last one. I know that my readers have more important things to do then sit in front of a computer and write to me. As for Sasuke leaving his clan…it's reaaally complicated. It's also confusing. Unfortunately it is also one of those things that you don't know about completely until the end. There's always going to be some sort of tid bit left out that makes things confusing.

Also, he won't be staying with the Haruno's. But it would be really funny. Unfortunately with the current situation with Hikari getting married to Itachi, having the Haruno clan take Sasuke in as a ward would start a bad feud and probably end with Hikari being seriously hurt. So until the wedding is finished and she is the new Lady Uchiha, the Haruno clan can't do much for Sasuke, no matter how badly they want too.

grim reaper sakura: I like how Hikari did that too. And I agree about Kenta. He and Makoto are the only two characters I've created that I just can't stand. Of course they probably won't be the last ones either.

Dragon Man 180: Hmmm that's not a bad idea for Kenta. I'm sure Itachi would happily go for it. Just one problem. Hikari won't tell. She's to nice to cause an internal feud. For now anyway. Once she's Itachi's wife I'm sure the kid gloves will come off and Kenta will be begging for death by the time Itachi finishes reading Hikari's list.

Taeniaea: Thank you.

hot-ninja-babe: Yeah, I don't like them either. But they further the plot line and end up making things interesting by making them complicated.


Kaliea: Thanks so much for your reviews. It's not an overly popular story so I'm actually surprised at how many reviews I already have. Thanks a bunch! Also, remember that longer reviews get longer and more indepth answers to the questions asked. Till next time, Ja ne!