Third Person's POV

Naruto looks at the fight again eyes being full of excitement. He knows Lee is strong!

Suddenly a chakra burst from the battlefield made the Arena tremble as Lee's chakra become visible to the eyes.

Lee... You... Akira closes her eyes, her chakra spiking just a little. She sees it now... Lee opens the fifth gate as he appears from above Gaara, his sand armor is already cracked and slowly peeling off from the previous attacks on him.

Lee then proceeded to attack, sending Gaara to the ground. Lee disappeared again from his spot and appear in front of Gaara. This technique will be the last.

"Hidden Lotus!" Lee shouted, and the ground shook again as the people in the room cover their faces to avoid the debris from the impact.

Akira gathers her chakra as quickly as possible sensing that immense chakra again. What's that...? That chakra again... She opens her eyes and sees Gaara slowly sit up and look at Lee with blood thirst.

Lee then slowly sat up but the damage from all his attack earlier causing him to not be able to move.

"Lee!" Akira whispered seeing the sand slowly approach him and engulf his other arm and feet.

"Sand Coffin!" Gaara said as Lee's arm and feet got crushed by it. Lee gritting in pain.

"Lee!" Akira shouts when another wave of sand comes toward him. Her hand clenching on the railing, mind going in a mess.

"Kuso..." Akira said with frustration, she leans on the rail in an attempt to go down but a hand stops her from jumping down as the person next to her disappeared

"Akira! It will just get you in danger! Let Gai handle it" Kakashi said brows furrowing in disapproval.

"Tch... Kuso!" Akira said looking at him, almost getting frustrated and annoyed. Her mind was getting haywire.

Kakashi's eyes widen when he saw Akira's eyes, showing vulnerability and annoyance. That's the first time he saw such expression on her.

"I get, i get it, can you not touch me" Akira said seeing Gai Sensei talking with the Sand genin, already.

"The winner Gaara!" Hayate said once confirming that Lee already lost consciousness.

Kakashi put down his Hitai-ate as a sigh of relief escaped from his lips.

"Akira, Sakura, Naruto don't go down there, your words of encouragement will only make him feel worse." Kakashi said seeing his students jump on the railing.

Naruto quickly jump down not caring what their Sensei said.

Akira raises her brow at that. If Naruto jumps then she will...

Kakashi's eyes squinted when Akira also follows. That Naruto and Akira...

Akira and Naruto stop once they reach the medic "Bushy brow..." Naruto whispered seeing his situation up close. His brows meeting in concern, fist clenching.

Akira looks at the medics seeing them looking at each other as if they are talking with their eyes. Lee...

The medic looked at Lee's Sensei "You are the jonin in charge of him, aren't you? Please come with me..." The medic quickly said as Gai look at him and nodded.

"If that was all, it wouldn't be so bad, but... The damage to the left arm and leg which received the attack is severe... It's too severe" The medic whispered to Gai Sensei.

Akira's eyes widen upon hearing that. What!? Does that mean...she can't bear the thought "I don't want to say this but... he won't be able to live as a shinobi..."

-skip-

"Why are you mad at me?" Akira retorted when Kakashi walks with her to the hospital where Sasuke is admitted.

"It's because you are being reckless..." Kakashi said closing his book. Why is Akira acting like this all of a sudden...? Did the chunin exam really made his students change their minds...and attitudes.

"I ask him nicely and he said yes..." Akira said looking to the side. Tch... She will not deny it, but she really got riled up earlier.

"But what you did was out of hand... you can't ask another shinobi from another nation to fight just like that... you even set the date and time" Kakashi said with a sigh. He knew Akira wouldn't just do something like that, especially in that place.

"What? Gaara said yes, it's not like the Hokage disapprove of it... he's there. Besides..." Akira said looking up at him.

"What...?" Kakashi said with a raised brow.

"It's just that... tch, nothing" Akira said. Yes, she is upset that, that guy won.

"What is it? Somethings bothering you?" Kakashi said putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Nothing...Tch, I know what I did earlier was immature. So, stop lecturing me or bombing me with questions..." Akira said more calmly this time.

"I knew you'd realize that. That's why... I let you join me in visiting Sasuke" Kakashi said eye smiling as if it's the most fun thing to do.

Kakashi looks forward, as they continue to walk. What's bothering him is what Akira and Neji talk about to make them look at each other like that, they look so serious...

He looks down at Akira, if Akira isn't telling him on her own, it's impossible that Akira will even tell him if he asks... why does it seems like he's not the older one here... His shoulder drops at the thought.

But he should pay attention to her since after the chunin exam it seems like she will not hesitate to really get into a fight with the other genins. She's becoming reckless nowadays, maybe... she is adapting Naruto's personality.

*Flashback*

"Hey, you!" Neji said once Akira walk in front of him.

"Oh, you want to tell me something... privately?" Akira said sarcastically, looking at their side and noticing no one. Now the fight is between Choji and the sound ninja. The Last match.

"What you did earlier, with Lee and Gaara's fight, didn't get pass my eyes..." Neji said looking at her straight in the eye. To think there is someone that has that much chakra control in them like that... without his Byakugan being activated earlier he wouldn't be able to know or notice about it.

"Oh, that's awesome that you saw it... I'm sorry if it bothered you somehow..." Akira said putting her hands in her pocket. Well, she is still lucky that Neji is the only one to detect it, and not the other jonins, if they did, that will be too troublesome.

"Humph, still with the act of being unbothered, huh. I think now could be a chance that... we set a fight for each other after the chunin exam. Since Sasuke will be already in the third phase, it could be possible that I ended up fighting him." Neji said crossing his arms. Judging from their fight earlier and that much chakra control she has, it's most likely that she also improves just how much their team improves in their last encounter.

"Just a reminder... Sasuke's someone you should not underestimate and be compared to what you call future. Words like that won't work on him..." Akira said with a smirk.

"And a fight is fine with me... but for now you should worry about Lee." Akira said, Neji's eyes squinted when concern cross her eyes. She really cares about him that much.

"Well, I don't want prying eyes looking at us so I'm gonna go back there again." Akira said, then she turns her back to him and walks towards her team. She can imagine all the questions, again...

*End of Flashback*

Akira looks at the Hospital in front of them. She wonders what's going to happen in the third phase. What more damage it could possibly cause.

They went inside and continue to walk not bothering to ask where Sasuke's room is.

"You're awfully quite" Kakashi said looking down at her.

"I'm always quite..." Akira said looking around, all the nurses look so busy. Where did they bring Hinata and Lee.

After a few moments of walking. They both stop. "Tch, I thought the Anbus there is that good..." Akira muttered under her breath sensing the different chakra in the room, but she can't detect the chakra of the Anbus moving.

Akira was about to run when a hand stops her. Why does he always stop her. Now, it's getting- Wait... that chakra...

"Just stay here. I'll handle it." Kakashi said when he walks towards the room, too calm.

"They are all around the room..." Akira said when Kakashi enters the room. She will listen for now, it's Sasuke that they were talking about... also, that person... Kabuto-san.

All around the room, huh... to think that she is capable of detecting that much, Kakashi thought, he is almost proud.

Kabuto took out his scalpel. Humph, they're here.

Instead of stabbing Sasuke with his scalpel, he throws it at the person that enters the room.

Kakashi catches the scalpel that has been thrown at him with ease. Just like he thought... this person

"I have to give it to you, Kakashi-san... Stopping my attack from your blind spot... But you'd better ready at least 10 of your men next time." Kabuto said looking at all the Anbu on the floor

Kakashi looks down. The Anbu that he prepared was taken out without difficulty... "You're not an ordinary Genin, are you? You caught a whiff of me and immediately readied your weapon... you're quite impressive" He said, meeting his eyes.

"No, I'm not all that... Humph, why don't you show your little genin there..." Kabuto said looking over his shoulder

"Right, Akira...? I never thought she'd be someone who'll like to be hidden and just watch." Kabuto said making Kakashi's brows knit.

Akira pushes herself from resting on the wall. He makes it sound like she is impatient or something. However, she sees it now... So that's why they never need the scroll, eh?

Akira let herself be shown but she didn't enter the room completely. She senses them...

Akira looks up and puts on a smile "I think I still need to practice my concealing technique, gomen Kakashi Sensei"

Kabuto smirks at that.

Akira sighs and looks at Kabuto "But... you're trying to kill Sasuke after you failed on me...?" Akira said looking at Sasuke. She can't move recklessly.

Kakashi looks at Akira. That's new information for him. Kakashi looks back at Kabuto.

"I'd say that genin of your's Kakashi-san is quite skilled too... you should have placed her in here instead, after all-" Kabuto said but Kakashi cut him off

"Let's go back to business here... Depending on circumstances, I'll haul you off to questioning" Kakashi said as Kabuto turn to look at him. It seems like they weren't the only ones knowing that info.

Kabuto takes a step forward. By all the information he gathered and by what Orochimaru-sama said, it was true after all.

"I wonder if that's possible for the likes of you..." Kabuto said with a smirk

"Are you looking to take me on? You are the son of the chief of the Leaf medical corps, aren't you? Your name, was it, Yakushi Kabuto? Are you affiliated with Orochimaru?" Kakashi asked

Kabuto just stands there, eyes averting to Akira, a smirk still plastered on his face. If he could get Akira instead Orochimaru-sama will trust him more... he could just kill her after that...

Kakashi's brows knitted not getting an answer and seeing the look in his eyes "Don't get any thoughts about it... Stop wasting time and answer my questions." Kakashi said, not liking how the brat's eyes looked towards Akira. A very playful, yet a look with intentions in it.

"What if I say 'No'?" Kabuto said

"I'm the one asking the questions around here. Now give me some answers." Kakashi demanded.

"You'll find out before long anyway if you let me go, so can you make an exception just this once?" Kabuto said, with an apologetic smile.

"You, willful little brat...Don't mess around with grown-ups" Kakashi said getting impatient. He readied a kunai and point it in his direction.

"Don't get so arrogant. The circumstances are in my favor..." Kabuto said also readying a curved kunai and pointing it to Sasuke's neck.

Akira's brows knitted at that. Tch... what are they doing...

Kakashi became alert at that. He quickly moves forward and maneuvers making Kabuto be out of his stance. He quickly hit his hand making the kunai fly near Akira. Kakashi quickly sits on his back restraining all of his movements.

Kabuto smirks at that. He had to hand it to him... but... "Humph, I knew it will be hard to fight former Anbus"

The Anbu that was on the floor stood up and went to Akira.

Kakashi looks in the Anbu's direction. He should have known.

Akira became alert at that, she pulled out a kunai but before he even reaches her, he suddenly stops as he looked behind her and backed away. Akira also looks behind her. Kakashi's shadow clone...

The Kakashi that was restraining Kabuto stands up and walks towards the real Kabuto, cornering him.

The change in the surrounding chakra made Akira look at the Anbu near the mirror. Don't tell her... "It's fraud" Akira said making Kakashi stop.

The breaking of the mirror can be heard as the Anbu near the mirror stands up and jump down. Kakashi quickly runs towards it. The Anbu removes its mask revealing Kabuto, making Kakashi shocked. So, this is what Akira talking about, they were all around...Kuso, he let him escape.

The Anbu that was cornered fell to the ground as Kakashi's clone also popped. The real Kakashi then walk towards the Kabuto he was restraining earlier.

"Impressive... As I suspected. This is the Dead Soul Jutsu, where one temporarily animates and controls the heart of a dead body. Meticulously transforming even, the face... and also eliminating all traces of his body odor." Kakashi concluded as he stands up.

He looks at the mirror and sighs "Akira-"

The pain in Kakashi's stomach made him look at Akira shocked "Akira, you..." He said stopping the kunai with lighting chakra in it from getting deeper into his stomach.

The cursed mark is clearly shown on half of her body.

Akira looks up at him, a sadistic smile on her face, her right eye having black surroundings, eyes almost dilating.

Akira looks down at Kakashi's stomach as the lighting chakra on it intensifies a little.

Kuso! That Kabuto... Kakashi thought seeing the little wound on Akira's neck. He didn't see that earlier.

Kabuto chuckles and fixes his glasses. Now... let's see how it goes... It's just a distraction for him to escape fully. He is sure Kakashi-san will not let him get away that fast... It's only for a few minutes but... boosting and manipulating the curse inside her was a great experiment.

Kakashi kneels to the ground. Akira locks eyes with him, pupils getting smaller as she grabs another kunai.

"Kuso!" Kakashi said letting go of Akira's hand making the kunai in his stomach go deeper. He grabs Akira's other hand which has a kunai on it pointing at his neck.

"Gomen" Kakashi said as he lifted his hitai-ate revealing his Sharingan and look at Akira's eyes directly. His Sharingan spins as Akira's force on her hand loosens dropping the kunai. Akira's pupils constricted as her eyes slowly close.

"Oh" Kakashi quickly catches Akira and places her head on his shoulder. He quickly pulls out the kunai on his stomach and throws it to the side.

"To think that something like that, got past him. If someone this good is working on Orochimaru... I can't stay as I am now..." Kakashi said brows knitting in frustration.

He quickly stands up not bothering the wound on his stomach, as he carries Akira bridal style. "Just a little wound, and a medicine like that manages to get through her system easily..." He sighed in relief seeing the curse mark recede.

Fast footsteps can be heard going in their room.

"Hatake-san...?" The medic said looking like they were all in a hurry.

"I'm sorry but we detected that chakra and... what happened here!?" The medic said just now seeing the Anbu laying on the ground.

-skip-

"Ahh, mo..." Akira said sitting up, holding onto her head. Kuso...

"I didn't expect you to be awake this soon" Kakashi said closing his book and looking at the other bed. It takes him more chakra than expected when putting her to sleep.

"Are you two really okay now...?" The nurse said making both of them look at her.

Akira's brows furrow. How is she supposed to know, she just woke up...

"Hmm, thank you for healing us" Kakashi said standing up.

"Then I'll leave you two here, you can go if you guys are ready, but I suggest that, that kid should stay for awhile" The nurse said looking at Akira. She then quickly goes outside and closes the door leaving them.

"Heal..." Akira said holding on to her nape. Why would she even stay there... of all places. Besides she actually needed to see Naruto now. But before that...

She sighs and looks up at their Sensei with uncertainty.

Kakashi grabs his long sleeves and vest and wears it. He looks at Akira "Are you feeling okay now?" He asks once he finished wearing his vest.

Akira looks down but she can see in her peripheral view that Kakashi is walking towards her.

"Does your head hurts...?" Kakashi said sitting on the chair beside Akira's bed. He didn't put her in that much pain with the Sharingan, right? It is actually hard to use the Sharingan on her earlier since the curse mark is also trying to fight it.

"No... nothing hurts..." Akira said shaking her head.

Kakashi raises his brow at that. What's up with her... "Why are you being like that now all of a sudden, you're looking a little gloomy, I'd say..." Kakashi said trying to catch her eyes.

Akira raises her head, face turning emotionless. Kakashi chuckles at that. That's the Akira he knows.

Akira then looks beside her, locking eyes with Kakashi, she quickly looks in front of her. "...I'm sorry..." Akira said making Kakashi confuse.

"For..." Kakashi said raising his brow.

Akira looks again at him "I was half conscious at the time... but I didn't know I don't feel myself, I can't control myself..." Akira said keeping her eyes looking on him. Tch... what had happened to her.

"Come on it's fine... besides I sense that you were trying to fight back," Kakashi said. It's true, it's not him who entirely stops the kunai, also the slight constriction of her pupils shows that she is trying to regain herself earlier.

"But... I was conscious, and I didn't stop it!" Akira said the frustration getting to the surface. As she ages why does it seems like she is just getting more and more…weak. Akira clenches her fist

"Let me correct you, you were half maybe even barely conscious earlier. Besides, it's not like I die" Kakashi said hoping for her to not put the blame on herself.

Akira look down at her hand, a frustrated and disappointed look on her face.

"Come on now, I know you were trying to fight it back, the lightning chakra you use earlier would have been more damaging if you weren't trying to regain yourself earlier. I knew I sense it, so don't act like that... and I'm fine, Akira" Kakashi said putting his hand on her shoulder, a smile behind his mask.

Akira looks at him again, brows scrunching in concern. Seeing the assurance in their Sensei eyes made her sigh "Thanks, but I'm still really sorry..." Akira said making Kakashi chuckle.

Kakashi locks eyes with her. His brows furrowing, he still gets that confusion, when he first saw those purple eyes.

Akira's brows twitch. Err- what's happening...

Kakashi sighs and dismisses the feeling. He hums, squeezing Akira's shoulder a little, before speaking "So, do you want to stay here or..." Kakashi said wanting to leave the room.

"You're asking me, you should have known the answer," Akira said putting on a smile, as she quickly stands up.

"Ma, don't get too hasty" Kakashi said standing up from the chair.

Kakashi almost bumped into Akira when she suddenly stops walking and turn around to face him "Let me see the wound. I don't quite remember where it is but I want to know how deep it is" Akira said looking up at him, face looking so serious.

"Ma, you don't have to, the nurse already treated it..." Kakashi said but Akira just look at him waiting.

"And it's wrapped in gauze, so... I'm not taking it just so you could see it and put it back, Akira" Kakashi continued.

"Oh, okay..." Akira said, fully understanding what he said. Why she didn't think something like that...

"So you're gonna train Sasuke aren't you?" Akira said making Kakashi stop walking.

"Well..." Kakashi said with uncertainty, he didn't want to come off like he didn't want to train Naruto, especially since both of them are going to be in the finals.

"Out of all people, you... you are the only one who can possibly train him the most, someone who possesses the Sharingan." Akira stated, making Kakashi look at her.

"You should train him better..." Akira said putting her hand in her pockets. Who knows what's running through Sasuke's mind right now?

Kakashi just stares at her, he can see the thoughts running through her head. She knows that it will be Sasuke's will the moment he received the curse mark

Akira just stays silent. Whatever Sasuke's in right now or whatever he does... she will trust him... It might sound forced but, she trusts Sasuke just how much she trusts Naruto...