They will not be twelve when taking the chunin exams. They'll be fourteen, fifteen or so. I just wanted to let you guys know. They will be graduating the academy at thirteen instead of twelve. I just wanted to lay out the ages so you guys don't freak out when suggestive themes come up. Also, mentions of rape in this chapter (I'm sorry). This is an M rated story THEREFORE there will be lemons, limes, smut, lemonade, and everything in between. You know what you signed up for ladies and gentlemen.

Staar's Dreams: Thank you very much! I actually debated a long time on where to put her character. Initially she was going to be Choji's sister, so this plotline and lava village make up is way different than what I had initially planned. Funny how things work out!

Here we go!

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*Tsuyoi POV*

I parried, meeting his kunai with my twin blades with ease. Fighting blind was much easier than I thought. I knew he wasn't holding back to make it look real for Sasuke, but every blow was another blow to my already aching heart.

He raised his foot to kick me in the chest. I grasped his ankle, yanking hard. I brought my blade down to sever his leg from the knee down. He raised his other leg bending both knees and kicking me in the stomach instead. He used my stomach to back flip away from me, knocking all of the air out of me in the process.

"W-Wh-Who are you?" I heard Sasuke say behind me. I ignored him, not wanting to spread my senses any thinner. I heard every move, breath, and heartbeat. I focused my hearing on Itachi once more and heard him make a run for me. I squatted down, readying myself for the brutal blow to come….it never came. I heard a swirl of feathers and felt the wind from his signature transportation jutsu. He was on the rooftop to my left. I didn't turn to face him...I took off my mask. I looked at him from the corner of my eye so I wouldn't be caught in his sharingan.

"Goodbye.." He mouthed the words for me. He actually said it. I only removed my mask to see his face one more time.

A quiet tear fell down my face. "Goodbye."

*Age 12*

*Kabocha POV*

I jumped up and down flailing my hands wildly. It was three o'clock and I wanted to see him before he went to meet his new sensei.

"Come on. Come on. Come ooon!" I cheered to myself a little too loudly. Everyone looked at the window to see nothing. I ducked quickly so Iruka-sensei wouldn't start yelling at me...for the twentieth time this week.

"Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka." He called out the first team. I heard only a few reactions. The loudest being Naruto and Kiba.

"Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara." He called out the next team making me cheer, forgetting about my hiding place. "Kabocha!" I went to duck again, but saw no point since he already saw me.

"Hey, Kabocha, come on in." Iruka-sensei rolled his eyes at. "S-Sorry." I blushed rubbing the back of my head.

"Troublesome woman. I thought I told you to wait for me out front." Shikamaru grumbled at me after the class finished laughing at me.

"Oh be quiet. Move over!" I hissed, pushing him over to make room for me on his seat. "I don't know if you noticed but...you've started getting hips...I don't think you can fit in the seat with Shikamaru anymore." Kiba laughed, winking at me.

"Let's leave her hips out of this." Shikamaru grumbled beside me. I burst out laughing because of Shikamaru's discomfort.

"Kabocha! Knock it off! We need to get through this." Iruka-sensei yelled at me..I was expecting it since he hadn't yelled at me today. I held up my hands in surrender and then motioned for him to continue.

"As I was saying," he cleared his throat, looking down at his clipboard once more. "Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha-" Sakura jumped from her seat cheering. I rolled my eyes so hard I gave myself a headache

"-and Naruto Uzumaki." I watched my best friend cheer at being on a team with Sakura. I, once again, rolled my eyes as Sakura deflated.

Sakura and I didn't like each other...she started by hating because of Sasuke. Sasuke made it known that he wanted me as his future wife, much to Shikamaru's displeasure. However, because of Sasuke I got to see more of Shikamaru's emotions; including jealousy. My crush on Shikamaru was almost smothering me. I only had an inkling about his feelings for me because of Ino. I wasn't going to trust her instincts though.

"Wait a minute! Why am I on a team with him!" Naruto was now standing on top of his desk pointing at Sasuke. "You had the lowest scores of the class, Naruto! Sasuke had the highest scores. Having you two on a team evened out everything." Naruto deadpanned, falling back into his seat.

I jabbed my finger into Shikamaru's ribs causing him to jolt. "I take it you didn't try very hard, my lazy genius." I winked at him, he avoided my eyes and his whole face was red.

"Trying would be too much of a drag." He grumbled, rubbing his side. We finished our little talk just as Iruka-sensei finished calling out the rest of the teams.

"Now, everyone wait here for senseis." Iruka-sensei said taking his leave from the room.

"Congratulations, Maru-kun!" I clapped beside him with a grin. He shook his head at me. "You're officially a genin. Took you long enough. I've been a genin for four years now." I began to cackle, my cackling stopped when he lazily poked my cheek really close to my mouth; which really startled me.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this whole ordeal is troublesome. I just want to nap." He sighed making me smile at his closed eyed, extremely cute, face. "Do you want to nap together later?" I asked, he turned beat red.

"Nap together! You won't be doing that with my future wife!" Kiba shouted about to snatch me from the chair I was sharing with Shikamaru. "Calm down. I said sleep. What's your problem?" I said fanning his hand away from me lightly with a laugh.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Kiba. She would never do something like that with him." Sasuke scoffed. Shikamaru opened one eye to look over at Sasuke. I didn't like the way Sasuke said him, and I was also missing what they were talking about.

"You both are idiots. We're only twelve." Both Sasuke and Kiba glared at Shikamaru. I met their glares ten fold.

"The hell are you guys talking about?" I said snapping my fingers to stop the brewing fight. Shikamaru sighed, "they're talking about sex Kabocha," he said with the utmost patience with me. I threw my hands up to my ears immediately. My poor, poor innocent ears.

"We're twelve! I haven't even kissed anyone-"

"We can change that." Sasuke told me with an annoying, confident smirk. "Go away Sasuke." Shikamaru said not even turning to give him his full attention. I had never seen Shikamaru put so much energy into arguing. I had never seen him argue with anyone if I was being honest. Sasuke gave him a ferocious glare.

"Ooooh! Shikamaru, do I see a little jealousy!?" Ino was by my side in a heartbeat. She was always stirring the pot when it came to Shikamaru and I. I just wanted an earth jutsu to swallow me whole right now. Ino was also a Sasuke fangirl, but she knew I only wanted Shikamaru. I had slipped up and told her at my tenth birthday, slumber party.

"Great, another troublesome person getting involved." Shikamaru said as the annoyance seeped into his voice. "I'm only trying to help." Ino said winking at me. I winced at how obvious she was being. I just wanted to forgo the earth jutsu. Just go straight to the fire jutsu so it can burn me alive and I don't have to endure this embarrassment anymore.

"Ino, leave them alone." Choji said from the other side of Shikamaru. Ino held up her hands in surrender with a knowing grin. My blush was almost literally going to make me pass out. Shikamaru smiled at his best friend providing support.

"Let's just put an end to all of this. If she's going to be kissing anyone it definitely won't be Sasuke or you, Kiba." Shikamaru's eyes were now fully closed, eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

"Oh, that leaves me and you Shikamaru, and I don't want to kiss her!" Naruto said with a grin. I cut my eyes to him to glare. "I-I-I me-mean. You k-know I t-think you're p-pretty! I-I think y-your p-prettier though S-Sakura!" Naruto continued trying to backtrack, but he was only making it worse for himself.

"Just shut up, you dobe." Sasuke said, scowling at Naruto. "Naruto, I don't care! You know I'm in love with Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled pushing Naruto out of the way.

"As if he would ever want you billboard brow!" Ino screamed, making my ears ring. My eyes crossed at her high pitch volume. "Stay away from him, Ino pig!" Sakura screamed back, getting in Ino's face. Something in me was unhappy about Sakura being in one of my best friend's face.

"By the dragons, please shut up!" I clapped my hands over my ears, not wanting to hear it anymore. "You're all ninja real ninja now! Is this all you think about!" I was livid with their bickering about relationships. We were twelve going on thirteen. Establishing ninja careers and getting stronger was drilled into myr head as soon as I came out the womb. They needed to get their priorities straight. I had a crush on Shikamaru, but I wasn't going to act on his until I was well established.

I stood up from Shikamaru's seat, I made it to the window, leaving them in utter silence. I landed on the ground in a deep crouch. I landed next to a woman with black hair and red eyes. She was walking into the building with a black haired man with brown eyes. The kanji for fire around his hips. What really caught my attention was how startled they were by me.

"Hi there." The pretty, black haired woman said to me with a smile. She was smiling at me like I was a wounded animal. "Hi." I said back quietly.

"Are you alright?" She asked coming towards me. "Yeah I'm fine." I was keeping it short, so I could get away from here.

"I see you have orange hair like Lord Jun. You must be his youngest kid that I've heard about." The talking chimney said. I squinted at him not liking how my orange hair was a dead ringer for my father.

"That is correct. I am Princess Kabocha Kasai, genin of the village hidden in the lava. Who are you?" I switched to my formal persona. I didn't know their level of importance. He had to be chunin at least, judging by his vest. I wasn't sure what or who she was.

"Oh, where are our manners. I'm Kurenai Yuhi and this is Asuma Sarutobi. We're both jounin of the leaf." My eyes widened at his last name. He was related to the Hokage in some way. I was correct about greeting them formally.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you both, but I have prior engagements. Please, excuse me." I bowed, holding up the hand sign for uncle Gorudo's transportation jutsu. Flames encircled my body, the image of the hill Shikamaru and I frequent came into my vision. I immediately dropped onto my butt from the amount of chakra I used. I sighed, flopping onto my back to take a nap. I had trained all night with the armor. My mother left me there and told me to make my home. She had, had the weight altered once again since I had gotten used to the previous weight. I made it home around six thirty in the morning. I spent four days in the leaf and three in the lava village, so uncle Gorudo's home was now my home.

I dozed off for what felt like a few hours judging by the heat decrease. I wasn't sleeping that heavy since I was in the open, so I didn't flinch when a body laid beside me. The only boy's chakra signature that was this relaxed was, "Maru-kun." I said with my eyes still closed.

"Yeah?" He asked, I could tell he was looking at me. "Why were you so upset about people kissing me?" I asked him. I didn't feel like beating around the bush with him. I was still in an I felt his whole body stiffen beside me. He sat up with a heavy sigh.

"This is going to be a real drag to explain." I had opened my eyes to look at his back. "I know. Can you try for me please?" I sat up to look him in the face. There was an obvious blush he didn't want me to see.

"Can...Can I try something?" He mumbled. If my hearing wasn't enhanced then I wouldn't have been able to hear him at all. She trusted him more with an innocence that was rare for any experienced ninja to have. She had been on countless missions, and she hadn't been tainted...yet.

"Of course." I whispered, afraid that I was going to startle him. He looked so vulnerable, like he could take back what he asked at any moment. "Close your eyes." He whispered back to me. I did as he asked without question.

I heard movement. I assumed he turned to face me judging from what I heard. I, however, did not hear him lean in. I felt his warm breath on my upper lip. I held my breath for what was to come. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears and the blood in my veins. I listened to his heart beat loud. Almost faster than my own because of his nervousness. He pressed his warm, soft lips against my own. He added a little pressure, letting my bottom lip fit between his two silky lips. I stayed stock still since I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure if he had kissed someone before, but his knowledgeable movements were making me rethink his lipginity. He pulled away, my eyes fluttered open to look into his soft brown eyes. My heart skipping a beat at being kissed by my longtime crush.

All my earlier thoughts about my ninja career bring first flew out the window. "Are you okay?" He questioned with a concerned look. I nodded vivaciously since I didn't want him to think that I didn't like it. When in fact it was quite the opposite. He sighed in relief. The blush on his face from earlier was now an alarming scarlet.

"Are you okay?" I asked giggling with a blush of my own. "I'm good now." He sighed out making me smile softly. He laid back down, I rolled my eyes at his avoidance of the impending talk we needed to have.

"Shika-"

"Let's just… see where this goes. I know you're focused on training right now. You've been a genin for a while now, so I wasn't as surprised as the others at your little speech earlier. I don't know the exact details of courting in the lava village… but I'd like to court you in the future… if you want-"

"Yes, Maru-kun." I gave him a full blown grin. He had me swooning at his courtesy and charisma that only a lazy, genius Nara clansmen could have. It was definitely going to be known that this Nara clansmen was off limits. Especially since he had plans to formally court me. Courting was done at every girl's fifteenth birthday party. Suitors would present themselves and the mother would choose from them.

I looked at his closed eyed, red face with my grin still in place. I bit my lip, cutting it with my long canine. I was debating on my next move with Shikamaru. I knew our relationship had changed because of that kiss and he said that he wanted to see where this was going. I knew both of those things since he just said them, however...I wanted another kiss…

"Maru-kun…" I said, not wanting to meet his eyes when I asked. "I-I was wondering...can we try again...t-the kiss. I just w-wanted y-you t-to te-teach m-me-"

"Be quiet, my troublesome woman." My heart skipped a beat when he said my troublesome woman. He said it as he sat up to face me again. I almost wanted to fan myself with my hand because of the smirk he was giving me.

"Come here." He told me simply. I squeaked at his frankness, but did as he asked. He leaned in to kiss me for the second time. I just mimicked what he did considering the first kiss he did the work. I leaned in definitely ready to try this intimate action again.

"Eh-hem." A loud, annoyed cough could be heard right behind me. Both Shikamaru and I jumped out of our skin and away from each other. I looked at Shikamaru, who looked not only shocked, but a little scared.

"Kabocha." I knew that deep voice without even turning around, and that deep base in his voice let me know he was angry...or maybe upset. I turned around to look at my uncle. My heart stopped altogether at his crestfallen expression.

"U-uncle what is it?" I stuttered looking into his bloodshot eyes. "We must return to the lava village at once." His voice cracked, I jumped to my feet and ran into his arms without question. I didn't hear a sound from the frozen Shikamaru as uncle and I disappeared in a swirl of flames. The image of the grand hall appeared before me. Shosha, father, uncle Hikari, and a man with blonde hair stood around.

"Where is Tsuyoi?" I questioned immediately. Everyone was upsetting me with their melancholy mood. Shosha's whole body stood tense and ready to pounce, his stance making me change my position. He carried himself like there was an enemy in the room.

"Your mother is dea-." Father said looking me in my eye. "No. I just saw her last night." I cut him off, the atmosphere in the room dropped a few more degrees.

"It's true...she died this morni-"

"How?" I cut uncle Hikari off as well. I felt the tears welling in my eyes. I refused to let them fall because I know what father would do to me.

"H-Hi. I'm the head coroner as well as the coroner that examined lady Kiriena's bod-"

"How did she die?" i whispered with my eyes closed. I didn't want to hear anything except real proof that she died. I really never interrupted people but what they were saying wasn't true.

"I-I'm n-not at l-li-libert-"

"TELL ME NOW!" I roared at him. He flinched violently and looked wildly between my father and myself.

"DON'T LOOK AT HIM! LOOK AT ME AND TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!" I was screaming hysterically, bearing my teeth at him. My claws cut into my palms, blood dripped on to the polished floor.

"U-uhm...s-she" He stuttered but I wasn't having it. "By the dragons if you don't stop stuttering, your body will be the next one that needs examining." I growled at him. The room stood silent as my everyone's heartbeat was beating faster than normal...except father's…

"L-Lady Kiriena Kasai was killed in the early hours today. S-She was beaten judging by the contusions and bruises...cut open from one side to the other.." He trailed off, but I knew he was holding back. I cut my eyes at him making him flinch again.

"S-She was pregnant.." I could practically feel uncle Gorudo freeze behind me. "She was brutally raped, but the real cause of death was her bleeding to death from the wound across her abdomen."

My mind fizzled to nothing. She was pregnant...and raped...who could hate my mother that much. "E-Excuse me." Uncle Gorudo said spinning on his heel, leaving the room with uncle Hikari hot on his heels. The only one not affected was my father. Nothing ever affected the leader persona that he put on. Shosha stood with a blank face and red eyes. I could see a bruise forming on his cheek. Had he been struck?

"The funeral has been arranged for three days from today at two. Do not be late and see the tailor for your funeral garb before you continue your day." Father said turning and leaving the grand hall.

"Shosha...where is Tsuyoi?" I turned to my second oldest brother with pleading eyes. The tears I was holding back finally fell. "Father placed him in the dungeon…" Shosha said with a quietness that was out of character for him.

"W-why?" My voice cracked, but I no longer cared. "Father put him there because he claims that Tsuyoi tried to kill him…" Shosha said not meeting my eye. More tears fell down my face. I felt like I was hyperventilating. I did my uncle's hand sign, wanting to get as far away from the castle as humanly possible.

"Kabocha, wait!" Shosha reached out to me but I just couldn't do this…

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Here is the next chapter! Reviews, followers, and favorites get new chapters sooner. The next chapter is the funeral and just the tip of the iceberg for the chunin exams. Stay tuned for the next chapter!