Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 18

Naruto, Sasuke: 12

Shisui: 21

Kakashi: 26

"You're all ready for the day?" I asked my team and Suigetsu yawned and nodded like the other two. "Great, let's start with that." I took Yagura's scroll and rolled it out, the Mizukage's small writing now under their eyes. They read it quickly and Suigetsu's eyes became a shade darker. I executed three hand seals and the papers on the walls glowed blue, showing there would not be eavesdroppers. "Two years ago, one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, kidnapped Suigetsu to do experiments on him. With Mangetsu and Dai, we infiltrated one of his hideout in the Land of the Sea. We left with Suigetsu but Yagura kept track of Orochimaru. We confirmed he created a shinobi village, Otogakure. As you've seen yesterday, a team from this village is going to participate in the Exams. Orochimaru's intentions are not genuine, he resents this village and will probably try to destroy it at some point during the Exams. Yagura orders us to watch how things go. As I've already mentioned, you will face other teams. If you face Oto, do not engage, get Intel. However if they engage you, don't hold back, we have a reputation after all. Be careful of the guy with red hair from Suna, there's something wrong with him. We think Orochimaru might have gotten Suna to help him. Also, it's a possibility the Snake might have spies in this village, and he could very well infiltrate one of the stage of the Exams. If that's the case and you ended up against him, you run and ask for help. You're no match for him."

"So Otogakure is the enemy," Chōjūrō summed up.

"What if we run away and he follows us?" Haku asked me with furrowed brows. "Zabuza-san already talked about that man and he doesn't sound like he would give up easily."

"I will make you seals to signal your position to the proctors of the Exams, don't worry about that." I looked at all of them. "I trust you to act as a team and kick all of their sorry asses to the ground."

"You can count on it." Suigetsu told me with a toothy grin.

"However, be it Hyōton or the Hydrification Technique, don't use it to show off. Chōjūrō, Suigetsu, I believe you both have regular katanas with you, right?" They nodded. "Great, then the talking is done, you know what you have to do. I'll be watching."

"But for the Exams, the Mizukage expects us to do the same score than the last time he sent a team in a foreign Chuunin Exams?" Suigetsu asked me.

"The most important is the mission, qualify for the third stage first and we'll see from there. If it is like last time, it will be one against one fights. We'll see depending on your opponent."

"What happened at the last Exams?" the Yuki boy asked Suigetsu. He grinned at me and I rolled my eyes.

"It was in Kumo and there was only one team. The final was between two shinobi from Kiri and the third member of the team lost in semi-final against his teammate. We even beat an Uchiha."

I pulled a face. "That guy pushed me in my limits." Yagura had asked me to win the tournament and Mangetsu let me win because he knew what might happen to me otherwise. I love that guy.

We spent the rest of the morning talking about what they would possibly be asked to do, and they ended up creating different strategies for different situations. Haku actually changed his outfit, under Zabuza-san's suggestion, and now wore the same shoes than when we left the village, but with gray pants tucked in the top of his black sandals, and a dark blue jacket with long sleeves, over an opaque fishnet armor we could see now, his jacket being open. He still had his hair in a bun though.

I glanced lazily at the closed window. There was a bird behind it. A crow. Itachi was clearly the one on surveillance duty, but he wanted me to know it was him. I wonder if he looked as thin and tired than old Itachi. Hum...I'm eighteen, the first time I slept with old Itachi I was nineteen. Huh, hopefully he doesn't have the same feelings old Itachi had. The circumstances were different though, so it should be okay.

After lunch, I took them near a river in the woods. We didn't reach it though. Why? Because on the way we found ourselves between Team Seven and the Sand Siblings. Sakura looked wary of them and Sasuke was keeping Naruto in place as he was screaming at Gaara.

"What the hell Gaara!?" the blonde boy screamed and Haku tensed next to me when he recognized the voice. "You don't remember when we played together in Suna or what!? We're friends 'ttebayo!"

"I have no friends," came the cold replied and sand rose in front of him. As it started to go to my cousin, I took a regular kunai from the holder on my thigh, charged wind chakra in it and threw a wind blade. It made a clean cut in the sand and attracted their attention on us.

"Nee-ch...HAKU!?"

"Hello, Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun," he replied with a small smile. Sasuke was glaring at him, his hold on Naruto now slack. I didn't care though as I was staring at Gaara, Itachi's presence behind me more significant.

"Do you know getting in a fight with other contestants of the Chuunin Exams outside of said Exams will get you disqualified?" I asked them icily, my hands in my pockets. "Where is your supervisor?" As if they were listening, a guy poofed in front of me, half of his face hidden by a white cloth. Two red markings were on his face.

"My students are excited, it won't happen again. There is no reason for Kiri to get involved," he told me shortly. I squinted a little and shot one last glance to the Suna genin, nodding at Temari who averted her eyes immediately. Well, shit, it could only mean one thing.

"Fine, hopefully you will be able to control your students until then," I replied blandly and he frowned.

"I could say the same to you." I could feel Suigetsu grinning madly behind me.

"No worry, not doing anything will make them even better for the Exams." He scowled and left with his students. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel the seal I put on Gaara years ago to keep him mentally stable.

Orochimaru, you son of a bitch. Naruto hurried to Haku to bombard him with question and I turned around.

"Stay here, I need to leave for second." Suigetsu and Chōjūrō raised their eyebrows and I body flickered. I arrived next to Itachi, in full anbu gear, in a second. "Tell the Hokage that what I did in Suna was undone." I left him without even glancing at him and body flickered back next to the kids, to be the target of Naruto's glare.

"How could you do that!?" I deadpanned at him and he clenched his fists in anger. "Zabuza...how could Kiri kill him like he was nothing!? How could you let them do that!?"

"Naruto, Kakashi-sensei told us he tried to kill his Kage! They were not going to let him back!" Sakura reminded him and grabbed his arm to keep him from moving.

"From the moment he left with anbu he was finished anyway," Sasuke added, slightly haughty.

"Sasuke!" Naruto barked at him.

I leaned closer to him, my eyes as cold as ice. "Naruto, you should hold your tongue when you're in the presence of shinobi from other villages, especially if it's to critic their methods when you're a genin."

"Konoha-softy," Suigetsu cursed under his breath.

"What was that 'ttebayo!?"

"You heard me, Konoha shinobi are called Konoha-softies in our village."

"Suigetsu, enough," I told him with a sigh. "Let's go back to our business. You'll have time to bicker during the Exams."

I walked away, ignoring Naruto cursing at me.

He'd understand one day. I'm sure of it.

I hope he will.

"Naruto-kun has a big heart," Haku told me as they were getting ready to go to the Academy.

"Hum? Ha, yeah."

"Once everything is over, no matter if we win or not, I'm sure he'll understand. It's anger, not hatred."

"I know. Why are you trying to cheer me up?"

"Your eyes have been sad, and you can't deny it. We've been living together for three, almost four month now." I shot him a small smile and flicked his nose. He rubbed it with a small frown on his face.

"You're quite the observant type, aren't ya?"

I led them to the Academy, reminding them the number of the room. We even saw Team Eight entering the building as we were reaching it.

"Okay, good luck in there. I've told you everything I needed to tell you guys, now it's all up to you. No pressure huh, but third stage, don't forget. You can go through it, and always be aware of your surrounding. Suigetsu, you have the water scroll in case?"

"Yup," he answered and showed it to me. I smirked.

"Get the hell out of here and show them what we're made of in the Hidden Mist."

They nodded and went in. I sighed and looked up at the sky as I started leaving. I had a few days until I had to go in the tower in the Forrest of Death. Yeah, the Exams proceeding were sent to us on a sheet of paper.

I jumped on the roof of a building. A second later another presence was with me. I smirked wryly and looked over my shoulder to see Itachi, dressed casually and unreadable onyx eyes glued to me. And he was taller than me now.

"What's up?" I asked him but his poker face didn't budge. It was predictable after all, except for his brother nothing could disturb him. I turned fully toward him and crossed my arms over my chest. "It's been two years, hasn't it?"

"I thought you were dead," he finally said and was it a hint of accusation in his voice? I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry to disappoint, Yagura loves me too much to hurt me too badly. Who told you that?"

"I saw you being stabbed in the neck," he explained with a frown. Oh, probably the familiarity toward Yagura.

"You were one of the anbu then, I should have known," I said with a roll of my eyes. "Well, we're good at what we do and Yagura loves making statement and being a drama queen. I guess he didn't like organizing funerals for nothing, apparently Shisui made my death look really gruesome. Talking about him, he's not around is he?"

"Mission," Itachi replied in a whisper. "Akane, I...about last time I-"

"Don't waste your breath Itachi, it's okay. Last time we spoke, it was already decided I would go back and I was just getting ready mentally. One of the reason you weren't aware of my condition except for the fact it was highly secret, it's because I knew what your opinion would be, and you're right, I'm a coward. I didn't put up much of a fight against Shisui." Shit, why was I saying all of this? "I'm just sorry you had to discover it in such circumstances. However, no matter how much I enjoy our little talk, you're a genius and you must have already guessed by now," I stared straight into his eyes, "that Yagura sending me here is for multiple reasons, one being making a statement, to show Konoha they shouldn't have touched one of his toys." Itachi clenched his fists and I couldn't help but feel warm inside, knowing it meant he didn't hate me as I though he would. "I survived the Bloody Mist and he explicitly told me to make Kiri proud of my behavior, to represent the village. As such, I expect you to do the same and treat me like a kunoichi from a village which was ready to wage war on yours two years ago. Kiri's missions...it's less painful to die than to fail," I ended in a whisper.

"I figured that much indeed," he murmured with a sad smile. I took a step back when he made a step forward. "Please...don't run away. It's just...it's just for a minute." What was he talking about? What was...

I widened my eyes, my body freezing when I found myself in his arms, my chin on his shoulder. His face was buried in the crook of my neck and my cold facade broke when I felt just how tight his arms were around my waist.

"Allow me this one thing please," he whispered in my ear with sorrow and my heart stopped. 'Allow me this one thing.' old Itachi told me once in a rare moment where he showed he cared for me. No, it wasn't fair, this Itachi couldn't just tell me the exact same thing!

"Itachi..." He let go of me and looked down at my face. He opened his mouth when he saw my almost scared face. "Would you...when Shisui comes back, explain the situation to him. I can't handle everyone and my team. I need to..."

"I will," he promised me, "and Naruto will come around too."

I nodded slowly and left.

Fuck Itachi, what was the matter with you? You can't just hug me and sound so hurt out of nowhere dammit! I forgot how he was extreme about...

About what he cared for...

Right, if you manage to befriend an Uchiha you can be sure it's for life. Well, fuck my life.

"Are they dumb?" Suigetsu asked his teammates as they stopped to watch a group of people crowding in front of a room on the second floor.

"The sign said the room whose numbers start by a three were on the third floor, right?" Haku replied with a slight frown on his face.

"It's...it's probably a test to reduce the number of contestants before the Exams," Chōjūrō stated and the other two looked at him. "They probably put a genjutsu on the number. If people get fooled by that they shouldn't be chuunin."

"Hey, who would have thought Konoha could be so cunning in the end?" Suigetsu said and crossed his arms behind his head, the group going to the third floor. Once in the room, Suigetsu shivered in excitement at the number of genin. "Now, that's something I like to see."

"They're all staring at us," the Yuki boy whispered to Chōjūrō. "There used to be tension?"

"Yes," was the only response he got before they went to a side of the room. The three of them glanced all around the room. The Suna team was already there, just like the one from Oto. Many genin from Konoha had already arrived, including one with a puppy.

"When do you think the ones from yesterday will..." Suigetsu never finished his sentence as a girly voice screamed 'Sasuke-kun'.

The trio of the Mist shifted their eyes to a group of shinobi from Konoha, including the three they saw the day before. The pinkette of the team went up to short-haired girl with pale lilac eyes and started talking to her. The nine genin talked until a gray haired man with glasses walked up to them, calling them rookies.

"They just graduated then?" Suigetsu pondered out loud. "They graduate old here."

"Each village has its own graduation requirement, and Konoha is not at war," Haku stated simply.

"You got a point there. But that guy with the glasses, I don't like hi..."

The trio froze on their spot as a genin from the Sound attacked. Most of his face was wrapped in bandage and his arm was covered in metal. Even from their spot, they witnessed the glasses boy stopped the blow and yet have his glasses broken and then throw up on the floor. Chōjūrō started when a hand grasped his shoulder, and he glanced at Suigetsu, to see him trembling. The Yuki noticed the situation too, and frowned.

"That genin must have used sound wave," Chōjūrō muttered as the white-haired swordsman got back to his senses.

"Sound travels four time faster in water than in the air," Haku added in a murmur. Suigetsu rolled his eyes.

"Just my luck."

In the group from Konoha, they watched the Sound-nin leaving and Sasuke turned to Kabuto, who was slowly getting better.

"And Kiri?"

"Only one team was sent. It's expected knowing them that the result will be the same than the last time one of their team was sent in a foreign Chuunin Exam." Seeing the attention of the genin, he sighed. "In Kumo, six years ago, the only team reached the final stage, and the last fight was between two of their genin. It was also the last time the Mizukage was seen outside of the Land of Water."

"You have information on Haku?" Naruto sent his friend a curious glance. Sasuke seemed to have a bone to pick with their old enemy.

"Haku." Kabuto threw chakra in a card and the image of Haku appeared. "He was made a genin three months ago and has done no D-rank mission, but C and B ranks."

"Hey, the jounin responsible for him and his team, it's Akane-sensei," Shikamaru noticed with surprise.

"Oh yeah!" Choji added.

"Sensei?" Kabuto repeated. "That girl is the one who won the Exam in Kumo. I don't know why you're calling her sensei, but be careful. She's one of the best kunoichi, actually shinobi of her generation. The Fourth Mizukage trained her personally from the beginning." Most of them widened their eyes.

Shikamaru yawned. "It explains why she knows so many water jutsu."

Sasuke shot a look at Naruto, who had his head down. His eyes were shadowed but the Uchiha didn't need to see him to know he was troubled, and probably felt betrayed. The woman they saw in the forest was miles away from the Akane they knew, she was colder, more dangerous.

"Sasuke, Sakura-chan!" he suddenly called them, becoming the center of attention of more than just his teammates. He turned to the crowd of genin with a confident smirk on his face, looking a lot like Sasuke's when he knew he was right, and pointed a finger at them. "We're gonna beat all of them and become chuunin dattebayo!"

"You idiot, why would you say something like that!?" Sakura started to panic next to Hinata, but Sasuke stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Sasuke-kun?"

"Let him be, he needs to make a statement."

Back to the Mist trio, they were watching Naruto.

"Definitely sensei's relative, she said we would know when we see him," Chōjūrō commented. At that moment, older shinobi from Konoha entered the room, one of them having scars on his face. He gave instructions, forbidding killing and saying fighting was allowed if said so.

They went to give their registration and got a number. Haku ended up a row behind Sasuke, Chōjūrō was in the last row of the central line of desks and Suigetsu was close to the front at the left one. The main instructor, Morino Ibiki, went through the rules and the exam started. It was not complicated to realize they wanted the genin to cheat. Their sensei told them it was an exam to see if they could be chuunin, and that chuunin were squad leaders and middle-rank shinobi. If they were sent on B-rank missions, then there would be Intel gathering.

Chōjūrō scanned the room, trying to spot anyone with the answer. He found one near him and took his forehead protector off, trying to reach Suigetsu by playing with the light. One of the things Kirigakure taught was how to communicate by multiple ways, and being in the Resistance used that a lot. Suigetsu took his forehead protector off too and replied.

As Chōjūrō was reaching Haku, Suigetsu closed his eyes and liquefied half of his left forearm, knowing he was between people who could hide him and that it was under the desk all along. He controlled his now water arm though the rows and made it go on the wall at the back of the room. Once above the guy Chōjūrō spotted, he formed it so that it could reflect the answers.

Haku made the tiger seal under the desk and slowly froze the water. Once it was done, he used his hitai-ate to reflect the answers, and noticed Suigetsu doing to same, as Chōjūrō could see them in the ice mirror directly. When the answers were written, the Yuki boy slowly released his technique so that his teammate could control his limb without being detected.

When the time for the tenth question arrived, lots of genin were already eliminated. Ibiki asked them if anyone wanted not to go through and that if they didn't have the right answer, they would remain genin forever.

They couldn't stop here, it was clear for the three of them. The Mizukage would kill them. They had to stay in the Exams for the mission.

The mission was above everything else, so their hands remained on their tables. However, at Naruto's claim that he wasn't scared, Suigetsu grinned in amusement, Haku had a small smile and Chōjūrō could not believe his eyes.

And they all passed. As Ibiki explained the real goal of the test, revealing a head full of scars, the Mist trio all shared a knowing look. They knew all too well information was the most powerful weapon.

Their eyes widened when a woman broke a window and landed in front of the examiner, with a huge purple sheet behind her.

"Everybody, there's no time to be happy! I am the Second Examiner Mitarashi Anko! Let's go to the next exam! Follow me!" She raised her fist in the air to stress her words, but it was dead silent.

However, they succeeded the first exam. Now it was time for the second.

Hey! Thanks for reading! Please review so that I know you liked it :) Thanks to those who left reviews.

Ederisu: Well who knows?

nevvy: Sasuke looks after his big brother's love life x) and well, who knows what Orochimaru could have in mind?

Nea-Nyx: An awful dilemma, isn't it?

kankananime123: Sorry for breaking your heart x) I hope it didn't break this time! Or maybe I do, I don't know :)

YasmineXanime: I entirely agree with you about Shisui, he would totally be a rebound and Akane knows it too, just like Itachi is the same without being the same. As for Minato, I was planning on using him for particular moments in the story, but it's true that until now I haven't really used him a lot. He will have his moments though :)

Bye !