Hayate continued to explain the third stage. "Since you're twenty, you'll be paired up against each other so that we have ten people for the final exam. The one who wins will move on to the third exam," he explained, coughing every now and then. "Do I make myself clear?" he asked as he wheezed again. All the genin nodded.
As the matches were about to be announced, Sakura walked to Sasuke. "Are you sure that you can fight with the curse mark?" she asked concernedly. He unconsciously brought his hand to his neck. "Yes," he snapped. He didn't want her to act like a mother hen protecting her chicks. "But it's hurting you. We have to tell the proctors," she pleaded. He shook his head no. "I heard you last night," she said in a very low voice.
The previous night he had been screaming in their room, since they shared the same room. Naruto was dead to the world as Sasuke tried to endure the pain. He didn't remember the curse mark being this painful. 'The snake bastard must have changed it,' he had thought as he groaned in pain. He could use the Susanoo to destroy it but he couldn't activate it now. The jounins would immediately come to his room when they sensed a strong chakra signature and he didn't need that.
Sakura, who was a light sleeper, had heard his cries of pain but decided that she would confront him the following day. Her heart ached when she heard him groan in pain but she knew that if she woke up, he would probably snap at her and she'd go to bed in a very sullen mood. 'Though he's been treating me better these,' she had thought. A month ago, Sasuke had started acting weird, especially around her.
He didn't snap at her as much as he used to. He would comment her more often and sometimes smile at her, like a real smile. She remembered when she managed to break out of his genjustu cast by his surprisingly fully matured Sharingan, she had jumped on him and gave him a hug that would put a mama bear to shame. Realizing her fangirl-like actions, she jumped away from him like he was death himself. She thought she hallucinated when she caught a grimace on his face. "I'm so sorry!" she had blurted, her face red in embarrassment. "Hn," he had replied with a small smile on his face. She didn't want to think there was something more than just a smile.
"I'm fine," he growled again as he grabbed her hand which was reaching towards him in a pleading manner. "Sasuke-kun, if you enter those exams like that, I'll tell the proctors myself," she said in a warning tone, determination setting her eyes ablaze in a way he enjoyed but never admitted to himself. Sasuke almost sighed in exasperation. Kakashi had told him the same thing, or was going to anyways. "If you trust me and are truly my friend and teammate, you wouldn't do that," he told her, his eyes boring into hers unflinchingly. She ignored the pang of pain that settled in her chest when he said those words.
"…….truly my friend and teammate……."
'Nothing more, nothing less,' she thought disappointedly, silently praying that her eyes didn't reveal how she was feeling right now. She hoped that somehow by putting her fangirl tendencies aside, maybe he would notice her. Even though she acted casual around, her feelings had never died. Because she was the headstrong Sakura Haruno and her feelings never died that easily. "Okay," she replied resignedly. "But if things get worse…." she added, her lips set in a firm line. Sasuke nodded.
The first match was Sasuke against Yoroi Akado, a teammate of Kabuto. He remembered that the genin had prowess of stealing people's chakra. Wanting to finish the match as quick as possible, he had dodged and evaded the genin skillfully a few times before using his Lion Combo knocking Yoroi unconscious and declared the winner of the match. Kakashi took him away to seal the Curse mark.
Kakashi was standing behind the kneeling Uchiha. He was only clad in his shorts; the rest of the clothing had been removed. The silver-haired jounin slowly studied the mark. It had three black tomoe-like marks arranged in a circular manner and red crosshairs in the middle. It was nothing he had ever seen. Anko's had the usual three black tomoes only. It fed on the user's negative emotions, causing psychological imbalance and rages. Usually, chakra would activate it but it seemed as though Sasuke's was already activated. Going down the memory lane, he tries a few sealing jutsus and none seemed to work.
It was at his seventh attempt that he heard a low grunt. Sasuke was breathing heavily, with perspiration covering his entire being. "If you're not gonna seal the damn mark, you might as well let me go coz it's getting worse by the second," the genin all but seethed. "It's getting worse?" Kakashi asked. The Uchiha fought back a snappy retort of 'I just said so!' He nodded. "It's getting worse every time you try to seal it," he said through clenched teeth, forcefully trying not to sound too pained. "Aa, gomen," the lazy-eyed jounin drawled.
Kakashi was actually surprised that he hadn't made a single sound of protest. His endurance really surprised him, considering the amount pain the Uchiha was going through and trying not to look and sound like it. He was just about to try for the last time when he sensed a sickening chakra enter the room they were in. Out of the shadows emerged one of Konoha's legends and greatest enemy. "Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha," he said as a way of greeting.
"Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin," the jounin acknowledged his presence, immediately on guard. He noticed that Sasuke had tensed too, his Sharingan already active. "What do you want?" Kakashi asked. "I just came to see how my Sasuke-kun is doing," the serpent replied in a slithering voice. Sasuke almost gagged. Only Sakura was allowed to call him Sasuke-kun. "You won't be able to seal that Curse mark if I may say," the Sannin drawled out as he licked his lips, showing his serpentine fangs. "Unless maybe you have the Susanoo', which you don't, so I don't know how you'll help poor Sasuke-kun," he added as he smiled sickly. Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"We know you have genin spies in the exams. We found their bodies with the Curse mark," Kakashi said as he readied his Lightning Cutter. "All the genin I currently have under my command are disposable so that wouldn't be much of a problem, would it now?" he said. "You will be mine someday Uchiha Sasuke," he said and the serpent disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
"We have to notify the Hokage," Kakashi said as he stretched, already going over the ways to tighten security. Sasuke stood up but started to sway. Kakashi caught him before he had a face plant. "Are you okay?" the jounin asked, concern evident in his voice. "I'm fine!" the surly Uchiha snapped. "I think you should rest," the jounin told him. "No. I want to see the rest of the exams," the boy said as he staggered to the corner where his clothes were. He put on his blue high-collared shirt and arm-warmers and proceeded to leave the room. Kakashi followed after him, seeing that he had nothing to do at the moment. He could talk to the Hokage soon after the preliminary rounds.
When they arrived, he saw that Sakura and Ino's match had just started. 'So this is what he wanted to see?' he mused as he eyed the Uchiha who was standing between him and Naruto, giving the match his full attention. 'My students have truly grown,' he thought as he chuckled quietly.
"I won't lose to you Sakura," Ino said as she pointed tauntingly at the Haruno girl. "Neither will I. I have been training for this moment for a long time so you better give me all the best you've got," the pinkette replied in the same manner. They had a face off before the two girls rushed towards each other. Sakura pulled out a kunai and threw it at the Yamanaka heiress. The blonde girl caught it with two fingers and threw it back with much applied force. Sakura dodged easily before meeting her rival head-on in a match on taijutsu. Both girls exchanged punches and kicks. 'I still haven't improved in taijutsu,' Sakura thought as she blocked a kick and countered it with her own. Ino jumped back to avoid it but didn't see the punch coming her way. She moved slowly and the punch connected with her face, sending her flying away.
Sakura watched as Ino struggled to stand up. Their match had been going on for a long time, with both girls evenly matched in taijutsu. Physical exhaustion was starting to take effect on their bodies but Sakura stood her ground, refusing to admit to it. Ino stood up and rushed towards the girl. Sakura took out another kunai and jumped towards her. She slashed towards the blonde girl, only to see that the blonde had spun away the last second, cutting her blonde hair in the process. 'Wha-' she thought as she landed on top of the girl's fallen hair. Ino was a few meters ahead of her, smirking. She tried to walk forward but felt her feet remain stuck to the ground. She looked down to see chakra strings attached to her feet. "Thinking you're the only one who can cut her hair off?" the kunoichi taunted. Sakura narrowed her eyes questioningly.
"Now, time for some action," Ino muttered to herself. She put her hands in front of her and formed her clan's signature move. "Mind Transfer Jutsu," she said and immediately dropped to the ground.
Several gasps of shock were heard. "She didn't just use that……" Naruto trailed. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. If he remembered correctly, Sakura was going to break out of that jutsu. But he never watched her match so he wasn't very sure. That's why he made it a must that he had to watch it this time. He had caught Kakashi's knowing look in his eyes and knew that he had caught on it. He wanted to his pink-haired teammate's match. 'You better not lose to her,' he thought.
"I'm going to make you forfeit the match," Ino said in Sakura's voice. The pink-haired girl started to raise her hand, about to forfeit when she screamed and dropped to the ground. "I won't lose to you Pig!" she shouted. She continued to struggle in a mental battle. "Stop resisting Forehead Girl!" she screamed. After what seemed like an eternity, the shouts and struggles stopped. Slowly Sakura stood up and stared at Ino who had started to stir. Several gasps of shock and 'she broke out of it!' were heard.
"Surprised?" the pink-haired girl taunted with a smirk. "How did you break out of it?" the other girl said as she stood up. "I have a strong will. And another being inside me. I'm sure you've met Inner Sakura," the girl replied with a wicked smile. Ino shuddered visibly as she thought of the fight she had put up with Inner Sakura. "You're just Forehead Girl. The only thing that you're good at is having a large forehead and being useless and weak, always having to be saved by Naruto and Sasuke-kun," the blonde replied in the same manner. "I'm not weak and useless," Sakura said as she frowned. Realizing she had touched a sore spot, Ino went on.
"I know about the mission to the Land of Waves. You couldn't even protect Sasuke-kun and let him get stabbed countless times. The only thing that you did was cry over him, as though that could heal hi or something," the Yamanaka girl. Sakura had stayed silent, only glaring at her feet as she balled her fists that her knuckles turned white. "And- "
"Just shut up."
Ino looked taken back. "Shut up, okay? You know nothing about my team or me so just shut up," the Haruno girl said in a steel voice. "For a long time, I looked up to you. I wanted to be you, you were my role model," she said as she raised her head to look into her blue eyes. "But I've changed. Team 7 taught the importance of teamwork. They taught me that they would always watch out for me no matter," she continued. "They also taught me that I also have to watch for them as well, to look out for them as well," she told the blonde. "Naruto taught ne endurance, to never give up no matter what. Kakashi taught teamwork, that those who don't complete their mission are scum but those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum. And Sasuke," she paused a bit. "He taught me that I'm never alone. Endurance, teamwork, comraderies, all of that only happens when you have people beside you," she added.
Sakura took out her last kunai and pointed it at her childhood rival. "I won't look at your back anymore. I'll be your equal, and maybe more than you. So don't underestimate me," she finished with a wicked smile. Ino seemed at loss for words before she found her voice again. "I see that Billboard Brow has changed a little but it won't be enough to defeat me. As you said yourself, you will always watch my back," the blonde retorted.
Sakura smirked. Pumping chakra to her feet, she ran towards the blonde, creating three clones in the process. Ino readied herself for attack. She threw the last kunai at Ino and the Yamanaka heiress dodged, the kunai whizzing past her. As soon as she had done that, she felt her ears tingle and turned around to see Sakura's foot flying towards her. 'But how-' was the only thing she thought as the foot connected with her face. She was sent flying a few meters back and landed on her knees. "How did you- "she said and broke down into a fit of coughs, some blood seeping through her lips. "Kawarimi," the kunoichi replied as she held out her kunai in one finger. "You substituted with a kunai?" the girl asked disbelievingly. Sakura nodded cheerily.
Ino looked at the pink-haired girl before she disappeared before her eyes in a flurry of cherry blossoms before reappearing behind her, with a kunai pressed to her throat. "Move or die," she whispered in her ear in a cold voice. Ino, seeing that she had lost, gave in. "The winner of this match is Haruno Sakura," Hayate announced. Everyone broke into cheers. Sakura removed her kunai from Ino and stood up. She held out her hand to the Yamanaka heiress. Ino took it begrudgingly and stood up.
"Thanks for the match," she said. "Shut up," the blonde replied in a low voice. Deciding that there was no way Ino would want to talk to her now, she left the sulking girl and made her way towards her team. "Congratulations Sakura-chan. You sure kicked that Ino's ass, dattebayo!" her teammate exclaimed as he enveloped her in a bear hug. "Thanks Naruto," the girl replied as she returned the hug. "Wow Sakura-chan! You're so nice to hug!" the blonde said as he hugged her harder. Pushing him away, Sakura bonked him on top of head, making the blonde fall down in a boneless heap. "Baka Naruto! Don't be a pervert," she seethed as she eyed the jinchuriki who was now seeing ramen bowls swimming on top of his head.
"Congratulations Sakura. You made us proud," Kakashi said as he gave her an eye smile. "Thank you, Sensei," she said honestly. "How did you switch positions with that kunai?" he asked curiously. "I had been practicing for some time now. I wanted to change places with something apart from a log, something more like a kunai or shuriken, or even a leaf or pocket of air. It took some time and I haven't perfected it yet. But I knew I had to use in order to finish the match," she explained whilst smiling. "That's very brilliant of you. It's similar to the Hiraishin jutsu created by the Nidaime Hokage which later modified by the Yondaime Hokage, also known as the Yellow Flash. You might as well create your own jutsu similar to that," the jounin said. "Really? That's so cool!" Naruto exclaimed. Sakura blushed heavily. "That was impressive," Sasuke commented as he smiled. Sakura's heart broke into butterflies. "Plus, that genjustu. Smart as well. I'm guessing you created it yourself," he added. "Yeah, the one where you turned into cherry blossoms. So typical of you, Sakura-chan," Naruto said eagerly.
"Thank you, guys," she said smiling as tears glistened in her eyes. She had never, ever gotten this much praise. "Thank you so much," she added. "No problem Sakura-chan. We're a team after all," Naruto said as he gave her a thumbs up.
I'm done with this chapter. I'm so sorry for the late update. I was just busy. I made this chapter longer than usual hoping to clear off my debt of not updating.
Did you like Sakura's fight with Ino? I liked it very much. It shows how much she has grown. Not that I don't like Ino but Sakura was going to win anyhow since she more than just what Kakashi usually trained her. As for the genjustu and Hiraishin she sort of created, with her precise chakra control, even in the real canon she would have been good at it.
Once again sorry for the late update. I hope to be faster next time. Read and review.
Toonana
AfricanFire
