Results.
"Naru, time to head downstairs, Kakashi-sensei said we have to be there by noon," Sakura called. She sighed heavily, sliding out of bed, wiggling her toes, and staring at the floor beneath them. She had barely moved from this bed in three days, complaining of being sick made them leave her alone and let her wallow in sadness like she wanted. But today the exams were over and they had to move on to the next phase of the tests, whatever that might be.
As the team followed the halls down the various voices filled the once empty halls. "Sounds like Kiba and his team made it," Sasuke commented as Kiba's voice carried along with Akamaru's yapping.
All the genin remaining stood in the large auditorium, each team lined in single file, Naru glanced around spotting teams 8, and 10, Gai's team, the Sand siblings, a Sound team, and finally Kabuto and his team. A tremor snaked down her spine as she struggled to not vomit in front of everyone seeing him again. Before them stood the jounin team leaders, some chunin, Anko, Ibiki, and Hiruzen looking over them.
"First off, let me just say congratulations on passing the second exam, 78 of you started and now you're all that's left. I of course thought it'd be single digits but hey." Anko mumbled the end in the mike before chuckling. "But the only issue with that is, there are far too many of you remaining for you to continue to the third exam, so we will hold a preliminary round to cut you down to single digits."
The genin began to voice their complaints and murmur to themselves.
"Listen now, these exams draw attention from all over and many important figures will be attending, if all of you were to participate it would never end. You have proven your skills in a team setting, now it's time to prove yourself individually, which is why being part of a team is no longer required." Hiruzen commented. "Hayate will be holding these exams, please move to the sides and your spar will be selected randomly." A jounin stepped forward raising his hand
"As Hokage-sama said, I will be your next proctor, I will call the start and end of the battles, if anyone wants to surrender now, you may." He paused waiting but no one called for an end. "Since there are an odd number of you, one if able may do an additional spar, if you lose your first one and win the second, or vice versa we will meet and determine a solution. . Please move to the sides."
Naru slid to her knees once on the balcony and bit back a whimper of pain, her heart slammed in her chest quickly, wondering exactly why she didn't walk away, she had much more pressing matters to concern herself with.
"Naru." She jolted as Kakashi crouched next to her, his steely gray eye bore into her own, she wanted to break. "Are you okay? I can see you're in a lot of pain. If you need to step back-"
"I'll be okay sensei, thanks." She whispered, pressing her head to the bars in front of her, he stayed standing next to her and she found herself fighting to not lean against his strength.
Rapid digital beeping echoed in the background of her mind before Sasuke gave a small scoff. "First up huh." She opened her eyes to see Sasuke's name on the large teleprompter with Yoroi displayed below. She glanced over to see the boy stand up and pass behind Kabuto who whispered something before looking at her once again and giving a tiny smirk adjusting his glasses making her drop her head down and only watch the battle through her bangs.
"Are both parties ready?" Hayate questioned receiving grunted murmurs from both. "Begin!" He stepped back as both genin slid into position waiting for one to move first. Sasuke took the first step throwing a punch towards Yoroi who dodged and gave his own to Sasuke's stomach making him stumble back heaving for air.
"If that's the best you have, might as well declare me the winner." He taunted, Sasuke growled low before rushing forward, Yoroi dodged the boy's move but watched as he sprung back wrapped his legs around his extended arm, and flung him to the ground on his back. Sasuke growled using all his strength to pin him down.
"Wrong choice," Yoroi said, twisting his hand and gripping Sasuke's shirt, crumpling it up, and focusing his chakra.
"Wha?" Sasuke slurred as the strength he had began to fade rapidly.
"I am my master's favorite, I take chakra, the longer you keep in contact with me, the more of your chakra I eat and convert to my own." Sasuke's eyes rolled up as he went slack, Yoroi flipped around and elbowed Sasuke's stomach making him cough and gasp for air, curling his body inward.
"SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura screamed in fear as the boy lay there helpless.
He groaned looking up before a devilish smirk crossed his face, Yoroi ran forward ready to give the kill shot only for Sasuke to jump up, using his arms as a springboard, his foot connecting to Yoroi's jaw throwing him in the air.
Sasuke appeared just behind him touching his back and flipping him over. "Shishi rendan!" He yelled, bringing his leg down against Yoroi's stomach, and slamming him into the ground. Sasuke hit after stumbling to his feet struggling to stay awake. Yoroi didn't move from the hit, Hayate stepped forward touched the genin's neck and stood up giving a small cough.
"Uchiha Sasuke is the winner of the first match, Yoroi cannot continue, congratulations." He said Sakura and Ino cheered loudly as Sasuke stumbled out, guided by the medic ninja who hauled Yoroi onto a stretcher and slipped out.
Naru closed her eyes as the matches continued one by one eliminating one genin each. She grunted as Kakashi nudged her with his leg, giving a head nod to the screen where she found her name displayed with Kabuto's. She let out a gag before balling her fists and walking down the stairs. The boy stood still watching her closely, his skin marred in bruises as this was his second match.
"Begin!"
Naru shifted back before launching at the boy who blocked the hits but gave none of his own.
Naru growled at his lack of trying, she pulled back producing a shuriken, and sliced the boy across his nose drawing blood and knocking his glasses off.
Kakashi glared at the fight, eyeing both genin. "He basically tore Kiba apart and now he's not even trying," Sasuke murmured.
"Maybe he's spent?"
Kabuto shifted grabbing Naru's leg causing her to scream and buck, he flung her to the side and huffed. Naru curled in a ball more terrified than hurt, his touch rendering her useless.
Get up! Kill him! A demonic voice echoed in her brain. Make him pay!
Naru sprung in the air, her canines sharp with her nails, Kabuto brought his hands up to block them and cried out as red chakra lashed out burning his skin. Naru landed in a crouch before rushing forward, swiping at him, anger building.
Kabuto snarled, grabbing her throat in a tight grip pumping chakra into her body watching her go limp. She whimpered as she was thrown back into the forest. Naru screamed in fear before choking and thrashing as best she could. He slammed the girl on her back huffing for air and gave a malicious grin.
Kakashi gripped his arm as he watched the scene unfold, the fear on her face was clear but he couldn't understand why.
"BEAT HIM NARU! YOU GOT THIS!" Sakura cheered.
Naru tried to pry his hand off with no luck.
"Luck ran out kid," Kabuto whispered low, she began to thrash, tears springing up as her consciousness began to fade. The boy released letting air flow back into her lungs, she gasped and coughed before stumbling to her feet. She sneered at the boy creating a barrage of clones that rushed him, he smirked destroying one after the other.
'I'll make you fix this.' Naru thought rushing forward as the clones distracted him. She launched forward with a yell as Kabuto pulled chakra up in his hand, she threw her body forward praying it could destroy the act he helped create. The boy's eyes widened realizing her plan, he dropped his chakra and instead flipped her over to the ground once more.
"I quit!" He yelled, and the spectators murmured at the outburst. Naru pushed up letting out huffs of air tears slipping down her cheeks.
"By default, Naru Uzumaki is the winner," Hayate announced, Kabuto walked past her flashing a grin. Naru screamed, launching towards him, chakra turning red and creating a clawed hand.
"You bastard!" She screamed.
"Naru the match is over!" Hayate ordered but it fell on deaf ears as she swiped at the boy who dodged a few before the chakra caught him and knocked him back. She landed above him drawing chakra up ready to deliver a deadly blow.
"Enough." Kakashi appeared grabbing her arm and snaking his arm around her waist. She screamed and bucked, tears pouring down her face, he eyed the boy who smirked at the girl. "Calm down." He whispered, her body went limp as he carried her out of the sight of others.
Naru became aware of his hands and bucked against him. "Easy, easy!"
"No, don't touch me! Don't touch me!" She nearly screamed, he released his grip watching as she collapsed to the ground and crawled away from the jounin.
"Naru talk to me, you know you can, what happened?"
"Sensei, I'm sorry." She whispered.
"What did he do?" He sat next to the girl, she sniffled before wiping her face. "Nothing…. He did nothing."
"Naru-"
"I have to use the bathroom." She mumbled standing and quickly disappearing down the hall. Kakashi scowled before flashing back to his place by Sasuke and Sakura. He grabbed the boy's arm pulling him back. "Did anything happen to Naru? Involving Kabuto maybe?"
"Not that I know of unless he was who knocked us out." Kakashi sighed heavily before glaring at the silver-haired boy. 'He did something…..'
Naru splashed her face before drying it. "So close." She whispered.
"But so far, destroying my vessel won't be as easy as you think." She whirled around finding Orochimaru standing at the door, she yelped and stumbled backward. "Formidable effort but useless nonetheless, I'm always watching you, and if you do anything to harm or destroy it, I'll kill everyone you hold dear and make you watch." His eyes bore into hers until she shut them tight and bit her lip, tremors traveled along her body, and silence filled the room making her peek finding herself alone once more.
Naru hit her head muffling her cries with her hands and slid to the floor. 'What do I do?'
Kakashi watched as Naru slipped back into the room and sat at the edge of the stairs. 'I got to get her to talk..'
"The winners of the matches please come down and line up." Hayate coughed and waited patiently.
Naru stared at her feet as Hayate and the Hokage explained the next part of these exams and gave them all a month-long break to rest and prepare for the next test. Each drew a number and was selected to participate in tournament style. Naru stared at her name paired with Neji Hyuuga, she slid her hand into her pocket where three plastic-wrapped sticks waited. This was her exam, and although she knew the answer she still dreaded it.
"Come along, " she looked up, finding the others walking out and Kakashi stood by her. "Sasuke, I'll get you in the morning, Sakura, great job, get some rest." Naru gave a halfhearted wave to her teammates. "Come on," Kakashi directed Naru out and walked through the forest and back into the village.
"Naru, you know I'm here for you, right? I'll do what I can but I have to know first so I can fix it."
"I… I know sensei, I just…just… mmm" Naru bit into her swollen lip, and a tremor traveled up her spine.
"Did Kabuto hurt you?"
"He… I-" Naru's lip quivered and tears built up as Kakashi stared at her.
"Did he do something he shouldn't have?" Naru opened her mouth but found her voice silent.
"I'll kill everyone you hold dear and make you watch." Orochimaru's voice echoed and made her mouth shut.
"I can't…" Her voice quivered and stared at the dirt. Kakashi dropped to his knee and gently raised her head.
"Naru, I'm here, I can help, you just have to let me. Trust me."
Naru began to quietly cry covering her face and hiccuped. Kakashi gently pulled Naru close and sighed as her head hit his shoulder and she let out a muffled scream into the vest. "Easy, it'll be okay." He touched her back and huffed.
Naru stopped struggling to catch her breath and felt his hands on her which churned her stomach.
"D.. did something physical happen?" He questioned.
"I gotta -" She pulled away and hugged herself. "I'm sorry." She whispered before sprinting down the road and disappeared.
'Who hurt you?'
Naru slammed her apartment door and locked it sliding to the floor. 'Idiot!'
-o0o-
Naru laid on her bed like she had for two days, dark bags under her eyes shone the lack of sleep. Every time she fell asleep she was assaulted with the memories causing her to come awake with a scream.
She stared at the pregnancy tests she stole from the nurse's station.
'I guess…' She numbly rose grabbed the test and walked into her bathroom following the small instructions.
As the seconds ticked as she stared at the used test waiting she bit her nails until they seeped blood.
Shakily she stood and looked at that mark telling her, her nightmare was true.
"No…no, no! NO NO NO NO!" She screamed swiping at the counter items letting them smash to the wall and floor as she screamed and began to wail loudly, the small stick marked positive.
Naru let out a defeated cry collapsing and stared out, her eyes becoming unfocused.
She was far from okay, he took everything from her and she was left with the mess. 'What do I do?'