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

"Here we are, the Forrest of Death, forty-fourth training ground. Literally hell. Beware of the wild animals," their sensei told them before leaving them. They shared a look and walked to the other genin.

"Beware of the Examiner too," Suigetsu muttered, "crazy bitch. I bet Uzu is laughing her ass off right now."

"There's no point talking about it, we just need to pass," Haku reminded him calmly, heading off with Chōjūrō. Suigetsu caught up with them quickly when he realized they were not waiting for him.

They looked up at the forest. Huge trees obstructed the dark sight, and the sound of wild animals could be heard. The Examiner welcomed them, and apart from Naruto mocking her and her cutting his cheek with a kunai and being creepy, nothing was out of the ordinary. Oh, the kunoichi from Kusa was weird too, with her long tongue.

"And they say we are the ruthless one. All the creeps are here," the white-haired boy stated blandly.

"We need to be on our guards," the Yuki whispered with a slight frown directed at the team from Kusa.

They got the consent paper and went different ways to sign it. However, Haku raised his eyes from his paper when he noticed someone next to him. Indeed, Naruto was crouched in front of him and was staring with squinted eyes.

"Naruto-kun?" the blond leaned closer to his face and the Kiri-nin leaned backward. "Na...Naruto-kun?"

"What happened to my sister 'ttebayo!?" he asked him loudly. "She was nice and funny before, and now she's all dark and mean! What did they do to her!?"

"I..." Haku put on a fake smile, even though he wanted to gulp at Naruto's persistent staring. "I don't know, but Uzu-sensei has been nothing but kind to me since she saved my life." He widened his eyes at the same time than Naruto, who seemed to realize something. "Forget what I said, don't repeat it please."

"I knew she wasn't mean! She..." He snorted with a shaky smile. "She's still in there 'ttebayo. And she saved you and we can be friends!"

"For now we're enemies."

"Well yeah, but after! I'm glad you're here Haku, really!" He sat in front of him and started to fill his paper, a happy aura around him. Once it was done, Naruto got up quickly as Haku's teammates were coming, a questioning air on their faces. "Good luck!" He ran to Sasuke and Sakura, who were watching them too. Actually, a lot of people had been peeking at the Konoha-nin and the Kiri-nin when they were together.

"The fuck Haku?" Suigetsu asked him, but he ignored him. They gave their papers and were given an Scroll of Earth. As they were at one of the entrance, Haku turned to them with a stunned face.

"I messed up, I told Naruto-kun sensei saved my life." There was a long silence, and Suigetsu pointed at him while laughing.

"For once you...you fucked up and you're not perfect...BWAHAHAHA I'M SO TELLING UZU!" The tip of his target's ears turned a deep red. Meanwhile, Chōjūrō had been holding his chin, deep in thoughts.

"It...it should be okay," he piped up and the other two turned to look at him. "It could turn to our advantage once she knows. Let's focus on getting a Scroll of Heaven for now." They nodded and the door opened.

"Hey, can we have fun by getting more than a simple scroll?" Suigetsu inquired once they were in the trees. "Like, we get rid of the competition by getting as much as we can?"

"We should get one and head to the tower as fast as we can. No use to waste our strength."

"You're no fun Haku!" the youngest member of the team pouted.

"Guys, watch out for Konoha leeches."

"Right!" They jumped down near a river. "I'll go as a scout. Some team should be making water supplies to save time."

"You'll be fine with your technique?" Chōjūrō asked him and he got a nod in response.

"If I have water around I'm perfectly fine." Suigetsu jumped in the river and his body disappeared.

"Should we make a plan while he's looking around, Chōjūrō?"

"I guess heading to the tower now would be the best choice. Even if we don't have the two scrolls we will still see teams who do." Haku nodded. It was a good plan, straight to the point and it would make them avoid useless fights.

Suigetsu went back an hour after, a Scroll of Heaven in his hand and a smug grin on his lips. Chōjūrō and Haku sighed in sync, which made Suigetsu blinked in confusion. They started to head to the tower in silence and taking breaks often because of Suigetsu's need to drink. However, they made sure to stay near the river.

"Incoming!" he suddenly yelled and they dispersed, sand shuriken flying where they were seconds ago. Haku widened his eyes when he felt a feeling of dread in his stomach. The same one he felt before Naruto defeated him. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Chōjūrō taking a look at them and the colors left his face.

"Red haired guy," Suigetsu mumbled under his breath, sword in hand.

"Mother wants...blood..." They heard a hollow voice say. Akane was right, there was something wrong with him.

Naruto was out cold, caught by one of Sakura's kunai while he was shaking from head to toes. That...that thing in front of him was here to kill. He wanted their lives, he wanted blood and wouldn't stop until he had it. Sasuke could feel his female teammate, who changed so much since the Wave and who was probably trying to see what injuries Naruto had from her position, thinking as fast as she could. How could they fight back that man though? They were genin, and one of them was unable to fight.

"Sasuke-kun...it's a shame Itachi-kun is too old now but your body will be perfect..." the man trailed off and a shiver ran down his spine. What was he talking about? Body? He wanted his or his brother's body?

No matter how they were looking at it, they were going to die.

"Sasuke-kun..." His wide eyes turned to Sakura, who didn't look any better with her swollen lip. She tried to get Sasuke to throw a syringe of God-knows-what at the opponent, who used his snake summon to stop it. Sakura was sent flying against a tree after, and Naruto arrived just in time to stop the huge snake to eat him. Then he was knocked out after the man did something to him. Sasuke was sure he saw flames of his fingertips. "I need to get to Naruto, please, please, try to gain some time. It's...you don't need to be like Itachi-san to be strong." He looked at her and nodded. Taking a deep breath, his sharingan shone brightly in his eyes and he charged. Naruto was his first friend and Sakura, no matter how annoying she had been for years, was growing on him, especially after she found something she wanted to do.

As Sasuke started to attack, Sakura made her way to Naruto, getting him on one of the thick branches. She started to examine him, trying not to mix the texts of the medical books she read because of the dangerous situation. It was something to take care of Naruto and Sasuke after training. It was something else in a real situation. After the mission in the Land of Wave, where they were in danger because of Zabuza and Haku, she felt useless. Especially when two Kiri anbu appeared out of nowhere. They had been on their side, but if it had been the opposite, they would have all died and she wouldn't have been able to do anything.

When she came back, she asked Kakashi if there was a field where her chakra control would be useful. He directed her to Naruto's aunt, who even though she didn't have a lot of time, accepted to give her a shot. Fuinjutsu had endless possibilities, but it was long and complicated. Even Sasuke, who had been studying it for five years couldn't use them in fights. Even Naruto. So Akiko asked her what she wanted to do, if she really wanted to be on the front right now with Sasuke and Naruto.

The answer was 'I don't know', and she realized how powerless she felt when that anbu was taking the senbon out of Sasuke.

She had borrowed three different books about medical ninjutsu from the library that evening. Unfortunately, even with Kakashi with her, nobody at the hospital was willing to teach her the practical. She settled with theory and having as much medicines and knowledge she could. Right now, Naruto seemed to physically be fine. She could use that medical seal Naruto's aunt gave her before the Exams, but it was a one use only, and with Sasuke fighting, he could be in need more than Naruto who was sleeping.

"Argh!" Sasuke groan of pain made her avert her eyes to him, who had been thrown in the trunk of a tree, the wood cracking under the shock. A red light next to her made her jump, and the man, whose face was half melted from one of Sasuke's fire jutsu, turned to her. She looked down and felt relief wash over her at the sight of Haku's team. They were Kiri, they were enemies, but she knew them.

"I knew Kiri was still angry at me. They're so bitter even though they took it back," the man sighed, looking at Sasuke once again, who was on the verge of fainting. Sakura's heart missed a beat as he took a step toward Sasuke, and didn't even budge when Haku was suddenly next to her, checking on Naruto.

"Katon: Phoenix Flower Jutsu," a male voice said, and burning shuriken arrived toward the man. He moved back to dodge and looked at the new presence, now in front of Sasuke, with a smug smirk.

"Ha, Itachi-kun, it has been a while."

"Orochimaru," the Uchiha replied coldly. He shot them a look, and looked at his brother who was clutching his right shoulder, and faced Orochimaru. "I don't know what you want, but you won't get it."

"You won't always be around him Itachi-kun. Sasuke-kun has so much potential, I don't want him to waste it."

Orochimaru left. He ran away, and Sakura allowed herself to shake like a leaf because of the repercussions. She thought they were going to die. The three of them.

"Sakura." She raised her eyes to Itachi, who had Sasuke under his arm. "Kiri, good emergency seal, your sensei had a good intuition."

"Thanks," was the reply, and the Yuki looked down at his...only one teammate? Weren't they two? Where was the one with white hair? They looked like they had been through hell, Haku's clothes having holes at his shoulder.

"Sakura, you have to take care of them," Itachi told her blandly, leaving Sasuke next to them. "I stepped in because of Orochimaru, but I have to report this. The test is still ongoing."

"Fi...Fine..." she stuttered much like Hinata. Itachi left promptly, leaving her with two unconscious teammates and enemies with her. She turned a scared look to Haku, who returned it with a blank gaze. He blinked once and looked over at Sasuke, and then at Naruto. She was done for. But Naruto said Haku was a nice guy, he wouldn't take advantage of the situation right? They didn't even have a scroll anymore.

"Let's make a truce," Haku said, taking Naruto on his back. "Take Sasuke-kun and get down." She did, and tried to ignore the fear in the pit of her stomach at the blue-haired teenager, whose teeth were sharp. "Chōjūrō, her team is out, we need to rest. Let's make a truce."

"Okay." Sakura was surprised at the soft spoken voice. "I need space for him." He turned to her and pointed at Sasuke. "Do...Do you want me to carry him?" Oh, he was shy.

"I..."

"Sakura-san, you went through a difficult fight. Carrying Sasuke-kun isn't good." The Chōjūrō guy took Sasuke on his back and they looked at her.

"You...you know Konoha's surrounding better than us, would you mind..."

"I don't want you behind me," the reply came faster than she thought.

"Sakura-san, if we wanted to fight you, you would be like the boys," Haku stated calmly. "We don't need another scroll."

At sunset, they found a spot under a stump. Sasuke and Naruto were still sleeping. She wanted to give them stimulants, to make their recovery faster, but she had no idea if she could without risking their health more. Sasuke seemed to have fainted from exhaustion. Naruto...whatever that Orochimaru did, it was not good. They didn't have fever, so it was good.

"Suigetsu, you're okay?" She heard Chōjūrō say behind her. She turned to him and widened her eyes. As Haku was putting traps around, his friend had summoned a basin of water big enough to put someone in it.

"Man, never again," a tired male voice said, and she kept herself from screaming when a head popped out of the water, much like the anbu in the Land of Wave. "I don't even know why I told you to leave me behind in his fucking sand cocoon. The guy is creepy!"

"You survived, it was just a physical attack."

"He crushed me!"

"Haku and I would have died?"

"Hmph, at least you ran away and came back to take me when they were gone." He crawled out of the basin and quirked a brow at her. "Who's pinky? Why are they down? Can I kill them?"

"No, we have a truce," Haku told him as he came back. "They were attacked by Orochimaru and I used sensei's emergency seal. It looked like he wanted Sasuke-kun."

"Well," Suigetsu started with a snort as he laid down, "he's an Uchiha, Orochimaru likes special abilities." He took a canteen with a straw and started drinking. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning, is it good for you both?" Haku asked them, kneeling next to him as Chōjūrō sat too. They nodded. "We need rest after that fight against Suna, especially you Suigetsu."

Sakura gulped, her hands clenching the fabric of her dress. They didn't have any scroll and Haku implied they had two already. Maybe, during the night, she could try to steal them.

No, she was alone and they were three, they would kill her.

She would...she would need to trust them for now.

It was official. I was bored. The tower was gloomy and my genin were not there yet.

I sighed. I hope they wouldn't run into the Sound or Suna. Or worse, Orochimaru. Until they get here, I wouldn't know anyway. It was between me and my speculations. When wasn't it between me and my speculations anyway?

I groaned and looked at the ceiling. I wonder how many tiles there are. Oh, should I count all of them one by one or multiply? But counting them one by one would last longer. Okay, let's do th...

"Akane." I jumped out of my skin and glared at Itachi, who was staring at me with a blank face. However, I raised a brow when he motioned me to follow him. I did, and found myself in the presence of the Hokage.

"Orochimaru infiltrated the Second Exam and targeted Team Seven. It was a chance your team had an emergency seal visible from the forest perimeter," Sandaime informed me with a pointed look. "Would you mind explaining why they had one?"

"Actually I made one for each of them," I corrected him under my breath. Under Sandaime's gaze, my eyes turned cold and I took Yagura's orders. In it, he sealed an 'emergency' scroll he told me. I took it and raised a brow when I realized it was conditions under which I was allowed to say to Konoha Orochimaru pissed us off and we were tracking him. The Sannin showing himself during the Exam was one of the condition. "The Mizukage seemed to have taken measures and deemed giving you information necessary in particular cases. Fine then, not long after I went back to the Hidden Mist, Orochimaru kidnapped a genin of our village in order to experiment on them. We got them back, but ever since we have been tracking his moves. We had Intel he might try something, as a consequence I gave emergency seals to my students."

"I see, his thirst of jutsu made him an enemy of Kirigakure," the old man sighed. "Then if I were to say the Chuunin Exams is not the main reason the Mizukage decided to send a team in a foreign country after six years, would I be wrong?"

"It is up to you to decide Hokage-sama," I replied with a wry smirk. "The Mizukage despises Konoha, but he despises Orochimaru even more. We have a common enemy. May I?" I asked and pointed to the exit, just as a tired Anko appeared in the doorway. The Hokage nodded and I left.

Huh...did Orochimaru do something to Sasuke though? I mean, it seemed like Sakura had a change of heart earlier than what old Sakura told me, maybe she managed to do something? I hope so. If Sasuke could not defect to go to that pedophile, it would be great. He didn't even have a reason to anyway, right? I mean, he wasn't planning on killing his murderer of a brother here, right?

As I was against a wall in a hallway, Itachi walked next to me and lifted his mask on his head, his body resting against the wall. I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes and noticed he looked concerned about something. Now I was wondering how my students were doing. After all, they had been close to that guy. Would Suigetsu be okay?

"Thank you," the Uchiha next to me murmured and I barely heard him. "If it wasn't for that seal, I don't know what Orochimaru would have done to Sasuke."

"Don't thank me, I didn't tell my genin to go to Orochimaru. It was a happy coincidence," I replied and he 'hn-ed' in return. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited in an uncomfortable silence.

"Have you encountered him?" Itachi suddenly asked me.

"No, and I'm fine with that." He nodded and seemed to want to say something else but decided otherwise. Well, I hope my team won't take too long. They still had four days but still.

Sakura woke up first, the first sunbeams piercing with difficulty through the thick foliage of the trees. The boys were still sleeping, and a look at the Kiri team was enough for her to know she was the only one up. Or at least under the stump, because Haku was missing. Sakura got up and stretched herself before checking their canteens. They would need to get more water soon.

She spun around when a senbon was thrown. A squirrel. Just a squ...

"Trap," the Yuki muttered to himself as he appeared behind the animal. She saw him frown and she ran to him when he was ready to kill the animal. Haku raised his eyes to her. "Explosive tag, step aside Sakura-san."

"I can make it useless." She knelt next to the scared animal and placed a hand above the tag. Letting her chakra analyzing it, she broke the explosive seal on it as she felt a slight implosion in the chakra of the seal. The animal ran away as fast as his paws could carry them. Sakura sighed and looked up at Haku, who was tensed. "Haku-san?"

"Sakura-san, please go back to them," he whispered to her with grave brown eyes. She gulped and silently agreed.

Haku shot a look at his teammates. Suigetsu was still recovering, his body not in a gel like form anymore, and Chōjūrō was still recuperating his chakra. He used more than him against the Sand, and the Yuki wished he had asked Zabuza-san or his sensei to teach him the Hiding in the Mist technique. It would give him an advantage for his techniques, because there was no water around. He could use the technique Uzu taught him, but his chakra reserves were not full yet.

Still, in front of them, three genin appeared, wearing proudly forehead protectors with a music note carved in them.

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

YasmineXanime: Thanks for the review and you're welcome for replying :) I'm glad you liked the interactions between the characters.

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