Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, just Takara and her family (not Anko(obviously, lol))

Some notices in the Author's Notes at the bottom.

Trigger warning: Violence, Swearing, Blood

Chapter 31 ~ The Preliminary Exam, START!

The Hokage stood before all 21 of us and began to explain the real purpose of these exams. To raise the abilities and friendship between the allied nations. But they are also a representation of the battle between allied nations.

I frowned at that. To battle, our allies, doesn't that destroy the point of having them to begin with?

He further explained that the Chunin Exams came from nations picking their best warriors to do battle with warring nations instead of having a full out bloodbath. These battles are so that ninjas can carry the pride of their nation on their back.

They also invite prominent people to this exam so that these people can make a note of ninjas they may want to hire in the future. And as such, weak nations will lose work. The fact that our lives are on the line leads to true strength and friendship.

The whole explanation was very political, and personally, I was beginning to feel a bit bored and annoyed by it.

It was then that Hayate Gekko appeared, stalling the third exam.

I frowned at his coughing appearance and looked past the Hokage and Gekko-san to my father, who lurked in the shadows. He seemed undisturbed by Gekko-san's presence.

Meanwhile, Gekko-san continued to cough like no tomorrow. A part of me wondered if this is what Usagi would be like if he decided to ignore the doctor and be a ninja.

But I gotta say, all that coughing is super annoying.

"There needs to be a preliminary exam," Gekko-san drops, causing me to finally tune into the conversation.

Instant outrage from everyone. I included.

Being told to fight right after fighting is exhausting, and all this is just for some rich dudes to be impressed by the best of the best. This is so stupid.

"This is so stupid," I say aloud and glare at the floor, crossing my arms.

I continued my moaning and groaning with everyone else as Gekko-san asked if anyone wanted to drop. Just as he said that Sasuke seemed to shake in pain as he reached to grab his bite mark.

Shit.

I clenched my teeth and looked past my teammates straight to Anko, she was staring at Sasuke with an indescribable intensity. Right, okay.

"Sasuke, they know you're hurt," I said aloud, just so he could hear. He whipped around to look at me. He looked surprised and worried.

"How… how could they know?" He was beginning to get angry.

"My Aunt Anko, she has a seal on her too. I assume they already know Orochimaru made an appearance. Look, you know yourself better than I do, so I'm not going to tell you to forfeit. But if you do decide to do this, then you can't use your chakra or risk the poison going further. It's up to you. But I can guarantee that they will whisk you away after your battle to seal it." I gave him a nod and a kind smile.

Everything has been so serious lately. I miss the days of me falling off of fences or going to Ichiraku.

Sasuke nodded back but made no attempt to raise his hand. Instead, Kabuto did. Dropping out and making Naruto look at him silently and sadly as he left. I still fumed, glaring at him with the overwhelming desire to hurt him. At this point, I don't know if my emotions are mine or Consciences.

It was then that Gekko-san began the preliminary round, a one on one battle to the death or forfeit.

A panel on the wall slid up to reveal a screen, our names would appear randomly, and then the battle would begin, he explained.

And then the screen began to chirp as it flew through our names. The tension in the air was palpable, and my fist was clenched. I was excited.

Beep!

Naruto and Sasuke turned at breakneck speed to look at me. I was grinning so hard I thought my face would crack.

Takara Gushikan vs. Dosu Kinuta

Who the heck is Dosu?

I scan the people spreading out around me to see the masked sound ninja I threaten to kill earlier, moving to the front of the group.

Huh. I'm first, and against someone I threatened to kill off earlier. I think I can handle that.

I grinned at my comrades before walking past them to the center. Naruto gave me a rough slap on the back as I passed and told me to give Dosu Hell. And Sasuke giving me a thumbs up with his mildly pained expression. I gave Kakashi a brief look over, and he sighed and nodded at me before corralling my team.

Dosu was already waiting for me.

Everyone else was ushered upstairs along with their Sensei. I noticed the Sound Team lacked theirs, and that made me smile more.

We moved to stand about 10 feet from each other, and I grinned at him.

"Wanna forfeit?" I asked in a joking tone, crossing my arms and tilting forward a bit.

He stared at me with his large circular eyes and tilted his head. "Not this time."

'Okay, that was a little creepy,' I thought hesitantly but continued to smile. 'Conscience any tips?' I thought, but there were only sounds of questioning from Conscience's side.

Specifically, 'WHAT?! IS THE ORDER MESSED UP? WHO'S FIGHTING WHO NOW?'.

My gaze drifted to my Dad in the shadows. Well, this is stressful.

Then Gekko-san made sure we were both ready before saying go.

Dosu charged me and swung his fist at me. It could be easily dodged, but my mind flashed back to his fight with Kabuto back during the written exam.

A lot of math ran through my head at once. The sound waves come out in a cone shape from the seven holes on his forearm cover. But he seems to have a habit of punching, so the holes are all facing directly in front of him. So where do I need to be to avoid them… directly above, below, or behind.

Behind.

Okay, his back is his weak point.

I responded by sprinting toward him, which seemed to startle him as he stutter-stepped slightly. I took his misstep to jump straight in the air, so I was above his cuff. Since I was already up there, I flying kicked him in the face. My right hand was already grasping Balance's handle.

'He's wearing a lot of clothes, so it makes his agility worse,' I thought with a grin.

Impressively the kick did not knock him out but did seem to throw him through a loop. As he gathered his bearings, I landed close behind him and pulled Balance from its sheath intending to press it on his throat and get a forfeit from him.

He spun around at speed I wasn't expecting from him and hit me in the face with his arm cuff, throwing me off to the side. I stood up instantly and winced, touching my jaw. Fuck, did he break it? I'm certainly gonna have a circle pattern marked on me.

Okay, so I underestimated him.

He rushed me at his excessive speed and threw another punch, so I ducked and rolled right between his legs, so I was behind him again.

For once, thank Kami I'm tiny.

My bare skin scraped painfully against the concrete floors. This time while I was behind him, I took a swipe at his back, but it was shallow as he moved forward to dodge it.

Fuck, he's quick. I gotta slow him down.

It felt like both of us were getting antsy as we circled each other. We had both landed a hit, but we were still far from anyone dying.

"I think we've played around quite enough. It's time to get serious." Dosu said as he seemed to ready himself for another sound attack.

I held Balance in front of me and tried to prepare myself to dodge again. But I chuckled at his tone, "Serious? That's good because you've been straight up goofy so fa-"

He was suddenly upon me, way faster than before, and I barely had a second to react. Instead of punching me, he grabbed my shoulder with one hand and my blade with the other. Almost instantly, it felt like a steam whistle was going off in my head.

And then a clap of thunder so loud and painful in my head, I swear others could hear it.

He let go of me, and I instantly crumbled to the ground on my knees. One hand reached up and cupped my left ear, and when I pulled away, I saw a fair amount of blood covering my palm.

I looked up at Dosu, he had a mask on, but I could tell he was smiling as he pulled out a kunai, the entire world was just spinning around me as I stared at him and the kunai dumbly.

All I had in my left ear was an intense ringing sound and pain, but in my right ear, I began to recognize shouts.

I turned to look at all of my friends shouting, shouting for me to move. And then as fast as my vertigo came, it left as my eyes narrowed.

"You gave my team quite a fright earlier, but I think we overestimated you. Let me ask, were you really going to kill us?" He stood over me, looming, ready to kill me.

I thought back to how I imagined their deaths, my voice lowered, "Yes. Instantly." I stared up at him.

My family's rules of battle feel different from others on occasion. For example, growing up, my Dad always drilled into my head that if I was planning on killing someone, then torturing them first is a cruel and weak thing to do.

Side note- that's a pretty weird thing to be telling a child but whatever.

So I guess in a way if I torture someone that almost guarantees their survival. And yet, my kekkei genkai is specifically for torture.

Dosu stayed relaxed, after all, he had the upper hand. "I see, and why didn't you?"

"I pitted you," I spoke loudly and honestly. "I still hope you'll leave him before you are killed. Because you will be." My words became harsh and biting toward the end.

"No matter how this exam ends, I will still help you if you so desire… well, if I don't kill you now, haha." I grinned at him, still cupping my ear.

"We would never, I expected more from the infamous loyalty of the Suicide Clan." Dosu chuckled.

My hand fell limply from my ear, the pain fading immediately. "What did you just say to me?"

"I asked around, it seems your clan is pretty well known for killing themselves for fun. And you have the Mental Poison eyes. I wonder how you still manage to pretend to be nice like this. Making my defense drop so that you can kill me. I wonder how many people you've betrayed." Dosu grinned.

The image of my mom seared across my vision. My fist curled tightly and I looked down, fighting the conflict rising in me.

I couldn't feel anything but the fire burning inside me. Dosu seemed to be hesitant of my reaction but was unsure of what I was doing, and instead of attacking me took a more defensive position.

When I looked back at him, my Akumagen was already activated, brushing his mind and siphoning a small stream of chakra from him, and I didn't bother to pick up Balance. As I sat there for a moment, I noticed a small blue line that attached me to Dosu. I suppose I can see his chakra flowing into me.

"Keep talking like that, and I'll kill you. Or at the very least break every bone in your body." I smiled at him. Cracking my knuckles. I felt like I was in a dark place as I pointed straight at him. "Starting with that metal clasp on your right arm."

With Akumagen activated and him making so much direct eye contact, I was able to begin his "metal poisoning," starting with making me disappear from his vision and replacing it with who he fears most.

Dosu tensed immediately and took several steps back. "I know this is not real." But his voice was shaking. I bet it's Orochimaru.

I began to speak, masking my voice with who he fears. "Oh, but it is. You keep messing up, and now I have no reason to keep you around."

He seemed to involuntarily take another step back and say "no," just barely audible.

I struggle to stand up, swaying on my feet but increasing the genjutsu more. He's visibly sweating.

I walk with some difficulty, Balance loosely held in my hand, and stand in front of him, very well aware that the moment he could try to attack me. And if I punch him, the genjutsu will break.

"Forfeit," I hissed.

Dosu's face warps from mild fear to only minor fear, "I know it's only you, you suicide freak, I'm not forfeiting."

I frowned, and before Dosu could say another thing, I was upon him, with a firm punch to his face, certainly breaking his nose under his mask and dropping him to the ground. He landed on his back but quickly flipped his arm around, so the holes faced me and began to sit up.

I was already finishing up a set of seals and called out "Earth Release: Mud spit" and proceeded to spit up mud, straight into Dosu's weapon, filling the holes. I kicked him in the face, making him fall back.

Once the holes were filled, I stepped straight onto his arm so that he couldn't flip his arm over to empty the mud out.

I finally flipped my katana, so it pointed down, Dosu reached up with his other arm in a panic to grab at my blade. I briefly considered slicing his other arm off but realized that would end the match. And I'm having fun now.

I smiled as he gripped the blade, he and I made direct eye contact again, and I could feel my kekkei genkai restarting and catching him again.

He began kicking his legs, and his grip became shaky. I yanked my katana out of his grasp before stabbing straight into his bicep and rooting him to the ground. I put all my weight on his other arm to try to keep his now conscious body from escaping. My own body was swaying from my lack of balance.

His body was shivering, and he was frozen, staring straight at me. It was curious, as he should not be in my genjutsu anymore since he is in pain. But… he still looks afraid.

I slowly bent closer to him so that he could hear my whisper, my glowing eyes burning into his soul.

"I can kill you, I will kill you, but how should I do it? Your heart, lungs, liver, or brain. There are just so many options. Should I slice your neck or your femoral artery? I wonder if I can scare you to death. What should we try?" I continued to grin as I whispered my little promises to him. The room was utterly silent. It didn't even feel like we were in an exam.

"We should get started. I'll count to three and surprise you." I stood up straight, and the terror in his eyes only grew as I pulled out a kunai. I delicately touched the tip of it to my pointer finger as to only draw a single drop of blood. I held my hand out over his head.

"One. Two. Three."

The blood dripped out of me and plunked on his forehead.

Oh, the scream, it was enough to shatter glass. He shouted and begged to live. He screamed as he forfeited over and over as his body withered in agony and fear.

I instantly took many steps away from him and ended up falling on my ass as the medics appeared next to us and got to work, removing the katana from its single slice in his bicep. That did not stop his insistent screams of fear, and he begged for me to leave. One of the medics handed me my katana, and that was it. I was declared the winner. But as I turned to look at my friends, I was not greeted with cheers. There was just silence.

My smile fell as I saw their expressions. All of them. They were scared, startled, or stoic.

A medic came over to me and gently examined my ear and was quick to diagnose me with a burst eardrum. Thankfully with medical ninjutsu, it would be an easy fix with only minor hearing loss, probably. The medic asked me to come with them, but I declined, saying I wanted to watch some more. The medic gave me a look but shrugged and bent down to wrap a cotton bandage around my head a few times to keep the blood dribbling out of my ear from making a mess and left.

I turned to look at Dad, he was stoic, and I don't know what he could be thinking. The Hokage gave me a simple nod, and so I started back up the stairs. Using the handrail more than usual.

Dosu was taken away on a stretcher. Still screaming.

As I walked past the other teams, I could feel their discomfort.

Even Kiba didn't make eye contact with me. I stood next to my team but with a couple yards between us. I put the distance there.

I stared pensively at my hands. Did I go too far? I won. I guess I was really scary.

There was a cleanup crew scrubbing the minimal blood off the concrete floor. I reached into my pack and put a bandaid on my finger. Reaching up, I cupped my bandaged head as it continued to ring painfully.

I looked across the arena at the rest of the sound team, they were talking to each other, seemingly terrified of me.

But I then made eye contact with someone.

Gaara.

We held a gaze for several seconds before I grinned at him.

He didn't grin back, but I didn't feel like he was scared of me, which made me feel better.

"Good job Takara." Kakashi finally spoke up. "How do you feel?"

I shrugged, "Woozy, but I'll live. I'll go to the hospital after this is over." I was desperately trying to ignore the intense pain.

I looked up to Kakashi, he was looking at me with a hint of suspicion, but I just smiled tiredly.

"I went too far." I sighed. "I thought since I didn't make the physical injuries life-threatening, it wouldn't be too bad, but... maybe his mind was more fragile than I previously thought? I just wanted him to forfeit." I sighed again but more loudly. I leaned down and let my forehead clang against the railing.

Kakashi didn't respond at first, but then, "Why did you start listing all the places you could kill him?"

I started to laugh, drawing the attention of my entire team, I lifted my head. "You guys were there! Zabuza! He does the same thing but a different list. It was really creepy when he did it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I guess it worked."

"Okay, but what was with the drop of blood?!" Naruto shouted, drawing the full attention of the other teams.

"Haha, okay, so that one's a little different. So with my genjutsu, I think I made him imagine that it was a sebon needle. Ya know, straight into his head." I shrugged while everyone cringed.

"The more someone is afraid, the more I can make them hallucinate certain things. I think… I'm still figuring it out, haha. If his greatest fear had been me, I think that it makes the genjutsu void." I scratched my head nervously. "But the bizarre thing is my genjutsu should not have been working! So I have no idea why I was able to win like that."

"That was insane Taka, you literally scared him to quit!" Naruto exclaimed, "I wish I could do that!"

I smiled, "Ha! It is pretty fun."

Naruto wrapped an arm around me and brought me closer to the team, "You did a great job! You're so strong!" He praised me with a broad grin. I couldn't help but feel much better. Even Sasuke told me I was really cool.

I could feel my face heating up, I was really feelin' the love, and it was highly appreciated.

It was then that Gekko-san announced that it was time for the next pair. I wrapped both arms around my teammates, and passively looked up to the screen. Having already won, I had no anxiety left.

As the beeping of the screen began, I felt my team tense in suspense.

Yoroi Akado vs. Sasuke Uchiha

I frowned at the name and quickly picked out the competitor. He was in Kabuto's team. So he works for Orochimaru too.

"Takara, you gotta let go of me," Sasuke said, startling me. I had been so tense I hadn't let him go. But instead of letting go immediately, I pulled him closer until our faces were just an inch away, I felt his body go stiff in surprise.

"It's only a theory, but I'm fairly certain your opponent works for Orochimaru. Be careful." I whisper so only he can hear. I pull away and notice a faint blush on his face.

"Geez, I will be!" He croaked, and I finally let him go. As he walked past Kakashi, I noticed our Sensei gave him a small nod that Sasuke nodded back to.

"What's up with that?" I immediately questioned.

Kakashi sighed, "Well, I told him earlier to not use his chakra and that we would have to seal it right after the competition… but it seems you have already updated him."

I smiled, "It was simply a theory." But Kakashi did not smile back.

I turned my attention back to Sasuke and Akado,' so who will win?' I asked Conscience. I heard a laugh echoing in the back of my head but got no reply.

Sasuke still seemed to be in pain, his movements were stiff, and his posture was slightly hunched. Akado did not seem surprised by it.

As the round was called to begin, the action was immediate.

Weapons were thrown, Sasuke collapsed to the ground from pain, and Akado was upon him in a second. However, while still lying down, Sasuke kicked the feet from under Akado and pinned him.

That's when things got weird.

Akado's hand glowed blue, and he touched Sasuke's chest, making my teammate groan and shutter in pain. Once the action was done, Akado was able to get away from Sasuke's grip and step back for a second. Obviously about to attack again.

"GO, SASUKE!" I shout from my spot, gaining the attention of others. "Get up quick before he makes that move again! Don't let him touch your head!" I screamed, my own burst ear ringing from my screams.

Kakashi rubbed his head and shot me a look, "Well, aren't you knowledgeable and loud."

Sasuke sat up in time to see Akado's attack and realizing what was happening, raised his arms to shield his head.

Akado gripped his arm, making him shout in pain again, but this time, he was quick to act and punched Akado off him with his other arm.

"You took my chakra!" Sasuke shouted, and Akado got back up with a grimace.

The two went at it, with Sasuke playing defense only. And Akado is making more and more ground on him.

Naruto and I began to shout to cheer Sasuke on, louder and louder, apparently annoying him to the point that he spared up a glare. But something changed the moment he looked up at us.

He turned back toward the advancing Akado, and his form changed.

I recognized it immediately as the taijutsu style that Lee and I practice.

His dodging became cleaner, and I grinned as I realized what he was doing.

The Dancing Leaf Shadow.

As he kicked Akado into the air and floated in the air behind Akado, I felt my blood go cold as he faltered in his move. But in reality, his falter only lasted a second before he was right back in action.

Slamming Akado into the ground after a series of hard hits. He seemed to promptly name the move, "Lions Barrage." I couldn't help but wonder how long it took for him to come up with that one.

Sasuke rather ungracefully hit the ground rolling as he wasn't able to strike the landing, but thankfully he sat up immediately. And I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I snickered to myself as Akado was proclaimed unable to battle, and Sasuke was deemed the winner.

Naruto and I hollered at Sasuke, congratulating him but also teasing him.

I glanced at Rock Lee as he stood next to me and couldn't help but frown.

Lee looked so stoic, I felt terrible that his move had been stolen. Well, not that he owned it, but he did work for it more.

I leaned over to Lee and patted him on the shoulder. "Good thing, Sasuke didn't go against you with his sloppy moves. Right?" I joked with my friend.

He glanced at me and offered a small smile. "I suppose you're right. Your team is turning into quite a fierce competitor, Takara-san."

Or at least I think that's what he said, him being on my deaf side.

I shrug, "Lee, you may be right about that, but I have to admit. I'm thrilled I didn't go up against you or any of your teammates." I said, only half meaning it. I think I could take the Tenten girl, but Neji? A kekkei genkai like that would kill me.

We watched the situation below us for another moment, "Hey Lee, you can call me Takara if you want." I broke the short silence.

"HAAAAH?" He yelled right into my broken ear, making me wince. "But that's so informal, and we are rivals!" I could practically see a fire burning around him. His teammates smiled in apology to me.

"Yes, we are rivals, but we are also friends. At least call me Takara-chan if it makes you more comfortable." I offered, "Besides, I've been calling you just Lee forever! I'm gonna start calling you Lee-san if you don't stop." I smiled at him, and he sighed in response.

"Okay, if it really makes you feel better, Takara-chan." He grins at me, and we fist bump.

With Sasuke as the winner, Kakashi let him limp up the stairs to be with us. Perhaps to preserve Sasuke's image, but once he was standing with us, Kakashi announced that Sasuke would have to go get sealed now.

"Okay, let's go," I said to him as I wrapped an arm around Sasuke to act as a crutch.

Kakashi shook his head, "No, just me and Sasuke. This is a very delicate matter."

I frowned at Kakashi and stared him down, "He is my friend, and he is hurt. I want to support him." I stated, not giving Kakashi the option. But he still did not look pleased.

"I understand that you feel that way, Takara, but… what about Naruto? You might miss his match if you come with us, and in that case, you're not very supportive of him." Kakashi thinks he has me pinned.

I sweat… he is right.

I felt a hand land on my shoulder, and I look at Naruto, he's grinning at me before looking at Sasuke.

"Do you want Takara to come with you?" Naruto asks, not a seed of malice in his voice.

The drained (literally) Sasuke just stares at Naruto for a moment before sighing and nodding. "Yea, I want Takara to come too."

Naruto nods before grinning at me and giving me permission to go. Saying that he would be fine without me.

Kakashi sighs loudly and is obviously displeased but agrees. Just as he was about to Body Flicker Sasuke and me, the screen began to beep loudly before settling on Shikamaru Nara vs. Tenten.

"Good luck, Shikamaru!" I yell, just in time before the world fades to black and we reappear in a new room.

Meanwhile, Conscience seems to still be having a panic attack, 'Shit! This is not good! The matches really are all messed up! Who knows what the exam's gonna look like! More than that, I think Orochimaru shows up here after the sealing!'

I quietly note what Conscience says but try to act natural as I guide Sasuke to the designated spot Kakashi pointed out.

I sat next to Sasuke in the circle as Kakashi made Sasuke remove his shirt for the seal to be placed on him. I wrinkle my nose at the situation. Kakashi began writing the seals in his own blood on Sasuke.

"See, this would've been super creepy if it had just been this old man and a young shirtless boy alone in this room," I stated aloud, causing Kakashi to yell at me, and Sasuke to smirk a little.

I reach over and lightly set a hand over Sasuke's and give him a reassuring smile as Kakashi absolutely blows through all the characters. His hand moves so fast it practically whooshes. My Kami, he should quit being a ninja and take a job as an amanuensis.

I focus on my job of keeping Sasuke calm, and I continue to make jokes about the situation and the fact that my head looks like it has been mummified. Sasuke continues to smile and silently listens to me chatter.

As the last characters were added, Kakashi told me to move out of the circle. I gave Sasuke's hand a squeeze and moved off to the side.

As Kakashi sealed Sasuke's curse, Sasuke screamed in pain while I could only look frightful off to the side. As the symbols crawled onto his body and disappeared into the mark, his screams finally ended.

Kakashi explained that the seal would only work as long as Sasuke never lost his belief in himself, and that's when Sasuke fainted.

The moment his body hit the floor and Kakashi gave me a nod, I ran to my friend.

I gently rolled him to his back and sighed in relief to see he was only unconscious. That is when we heard him.

Orochimaru

I threw myself over Sasuke, and Kakashi seemed frozen in shock for a moment.

Orochimaru wants Sasuke, and I will NOT let that happen.

As Orochimaru demands the Uchiha power while he converses with Kakashi, I grow tense, desperate to find a way out.

"Ah, it's you again, little Gushikan." His smooth voice sent a shiver down my spine. But I met his eyes with my furious gaze.

"I told you I'd kill you if you hurt him," I said, my voice beginning to shake as I was suddenly overcome with anger.

Orochimaru chuckled at my tone, "Oh yes, your threat. It's just as threatening as the toad is to the snake." His eyes wash over me uncomfortably so. "Although that Akumagen of yours is of interest to me. That, and that unwavering confidence you Gushikan have. How I long to dissect you."

Kakashi stepped in-between our gazes, cutting off the staredown.

He held his hand down, threatening Orochimaru to stay away. But would he really be able to save us from the devil himself? I hope he can.

Kakashi's Chidori activated, and Orochimaru looked surprised. But unafraid. He only told us that Sasuke would come looking for him.

For power.

My throat felt dry as I stood up behind Kakashi. His Chidori is fizzling out.

I was gripping Balance. I don't even care. I'm gonna do it.

Orochimaru was walking away from us. He was getting away, all because Kakashi is afraid of him.

Without a second thought, I threw my katana at the man as hard as I could.

He turned around and caught it. A surge of bloodlust so strong that it knocked Kakashi to his knees filled the room, but I remained standing, only slightly winded.

"I will kill you, Orochimaru. For as long as I live, I will give Sasuke all the support and friendship he will ever need. I will never leave his side. And he will not be coming to you. But I will be. Because I am going to skin you into the pair of snakeskin boots I've always wanted." I took several steps forward until I was standing next to Kakashi, who was frozen. "Fear me, Orochimaru. Because I can't fear you."

Orochimaru stared at me with an unreadable expression before dropping Balance on the floor with a clatter. One that shocked Kakashi back to reality and his hand reached out and gripped my shoulder with a bone-cracking grip. And yet I didn't make a sound as my eyes stayed latched on the enemy. My eyes flickering a glowing purple.

My genjutsu activated.

I wonder what he is seeing.

But Orochimaru only grinned and then laughed. "Oh, you are an interesting one! This will be fun, indeed!" He smiled as he turned around and walked into the shadows.

Kakashi and I stayed still for a few more beats before I turned to look at him.

He reached out and grabbed me with an iron grip on both my arms.

"Do you know what you just did?! The danger you put yourself in? The danger your family is in? What were you thinking?!" He shouted at me, practically shaking me.

I just continued to stare, "I was already a target." I said, simply. His grip loosened. I sighed softly, "He already told me he wanted to dissect me, then there's the fact I'm Sasuke's teammate, and my Dad's an Anbu. Don't even get me started on my kekkei genkai. Kakashi, I was already a target." My shoulders relaxed, and I set a comforting hand on his arm.

"It's gonna be okay, Kakashi. I'll make sure of it. We are a team!" I stated.

Kakashi looked sad as he released me and looked away.

I stared at him before I patted his arm again, "I forgive you." I said simply, and his shoulders relaxed.

He stood up and patted me on the head. "Let's drop Sasuke off at the hospital and fix your ear, then we can catch the rest of the matches. Hopefully, Naruto hasn't gone yet."

I nodded and chirped, "Sure thing Sensei!" As I wobbled over to pick up Balance.

'Can we save Sasuke?' I asked Conscience as I slipped the blade back into its sheath.

'I sure hope so.' Conscience said softly.

I turned back, and my eyes latched onto my Sensei, holding Sasuke like a bride, and I smirked.

Well, I have to at least try to save this damsel.

Author's Note:

Woah, I got this one done pretty fast! (ignoring the fact it's been almost a month lol)

You may have noticed I've been updating the early chapters, but don't worry; nothing plot-driven has changed. I have added more detail, and I think It'sIt's more comprehensible to read if you want to check it out, though.

Also, I have a DeviantArt and Tumblr under the same name if you want to contact me.

If you draw fan art and tag it so I'll see it, I'll officially owe you a part of my soul. Contractually, of course.

It took me a month because I was planning out who's fighting, so look forward to these upcoming chapters if you like my shitty action scenes, lol.

Please comment if you would like to, but I would really appreciate it!

Thank you and have a nice day,

-ToL

P.s

Omigawd, this turned out to be super long! I hope you enjoyed it!