In Bloom and in Battle

by Privation

After an untimely death, a woman awakens in a world she knows only from manga and anime—Naruto. Reborn as Kimiko Yuhi, the younger sister of Kurenai, she must navigate her new life in the Hidden Leaf Village, grappling with the disorientation of infancy and the reality of a ninja's world.

20. Chapter 20: Wildflower Chuunin Exam V

Chapter 20: Wildflower (Chuunin Exams, Second Test, Part III, FIN.)

The silence was palpable. Every breath felt heavier than it should have been, like the air itself had turned to sludge. Sasuke's eyes never left hers. His gaze was sharp but strangely distant, the foul chakra of Orochimaru's cursed seal radiating off him like a sickening fog. He didn't blink, didn't waver. He simply watched her.

Watched her.

Not the corpses. Not the carnage. Her.

"Kimiko," Sasuke said again, his voice quieter but somehow heavier. "I see you've already dealt with all our opponents." His eyes flicked to the two crumpled bodies of Zaku and Kin, then to Dosu, who was still writhing, clutching his festering, rotting arm. "I never expected anything less from you. It's good that we were in your care." His words sounded like praise, but there was something… off in his tone. Half-respect. Half-hunger.

Kimiko didn't answer. Her gaze stayed locked on Dosu, watching him convulse. The rotting veins around his wound had spread faster than she expected. The rot webbed out from his mangled arm, his breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. The look in his eyes wasn't anger.

It was terror.

She had seen it before — in prey, just before the predator's fangs came down.

Her fingers twitched at her side. Right. Him. She'd been so focused on Sasuke and the others watching from the trees that she'd forgotten about Dosu. Her crimson-tinted chakra still crackled faintly around her, a scarlet glow that flickered like fireflies in the dim forest.

Kimiko glanced at her own hand, flexing her fingers as if she didn't recognize them. Her gaze flickered to her tanto, which still hummed faintly with traces of that same red chakra. Her chakra.

It's still mine, but it's…different? Less…pure?

Her jaw clenched.

Kimiko took a slow breath, forcing her heart to steady. She wasn't going to think about that now. Not with them watching.

Her gaze settled on Dosu, his frantic eyes darting between her and Sasuke. He wasn't looking at her like she was human anymore. He looked at her like she was a monster, just like the person that bit Sasuke. It would have hurt if she hadn't already accepted it.

"I'll repeat myself. Your lord Orochimaru sent you to die," Kimiko said plainly, her voice cutting through the forest like a blade. Her eyes flicked down to meet Dosu's. They were empty of sympathy. "I told you that already, didn't I? Everything that's happened to you, to your team—" she gestured to Zaku's dismembered body and Kin's lifeless form, "—is proof enough of it. He sacrificed you like pawns, and you were too stupid to see it. Or heed my warning."

She crouched down, her gaze was heavy. Imperious. Cold. Absolute.

"However," she said with a slow, deliberate pause, "I'm not as cruel as him. You still have a chance to live." Her eyes flicked down to his arm, noting the festering black veins that had spread up his elbow.

Not long now.

"Your teammates' lives are payment enough for the debt you owed me. So here's my mercy. I'll let you walk away."

Kimiko reached into her pouch, pulled out a kunai, and flicked it forward. The dull clatter of metal on stone echoed through the clearing. Dosu flinched hard, his whole body jerking at the sound, like he expected it to come for his throat. It didn't. The kunai lay at his feet.

Her eyes stayed locked on his. "Take the kunai." Her eyes then flicked to his arm momentarily, "You know what you have to do if you want to live."

She would have regretted being so cold if she didn't know just how willing they were to rip her to shreds. Honestly? She'd be lying if she said she regretted what she put them through, or that she wouldn't do it again.

For a moment, Dosu just stared at it. His breath hitched. He looked down at his ruined arm, then at her face, searching for something. Maybe compassion. Maybe doubt.

He found neither.

"Do it or don't," she said flatly. "Whether you live or die doesn't matter to me,"

The look of disbelief on his face twisted into something darker. His lips peeled back, his breathing fast and shallow. His eyes darted to Sasuke as if searching for mercy from him. But Sasuke wasn't watching him. Sasuke was watching her.

The cursed mark's jagged black tattoos crept up his skin, framing his face like inked fangs. His gaze wasn't horrified like the others watching from the trees. His gaze wasn't even judgmental. It was understanding.

"...You're generous," Sasuke finally said, his eyes flicking to Dosu. "Letting him live."

Kimiko stiffened. Her eyes darted back to him, watching him as much as he watched her. Her gaze flicked to the black marks across his face, the faint glow of the cursed chakra swirling around him. She kept her face neutral, her voice steely.

"...Killing him gains us nothing," she said coolly, waving the Earth Scroll in her hand. "I already took everything worth taking. Their scroll, their weapons, their dignity. Death won't add to that."

Her words echoed through the forest.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?!"

The shout was sharp, raw with emotion. Ino.

Kimiko's eyes slid toward her. I forgot she was here.

Ino was standing just behind Shikamaru, her face pale, eyes wide with horror. Her gaze darted between the bodies, the blood, Kimiko, and Sasuke. Her breathing was shaky.

"The least you could do is show some—"

"Why do you raise your voice at my teammate, Ino?"

Sasuke's voice hit like a thunderclap. In a flash, he disappeared and reappeared in front of Team 10.

Fuck. He's gotten much faster. Almost as fast as me.

His gaze snapped to Ino with the full weight of his cursed form behind it. His eyes burned with cruel authority.

"Do you judge her because of her power?" His eyes narrowed. "Because she is strong while you are weak?"

"Sasuke, stop," Shikamaru said, stepping forward, his eyes, though frightened, still met Sasuke's own. "Don't talk to my teammate like that."

Choji glanced at Shikamaru, wordlessly stepping beside him.

"Or what?" Sasuke tilted his head slowly, his grin cold and predatory. "Are you going to stop me, Shikamaru? How bout you, Choji? Are you two going to fight me? Do you two want to see what happens when someone like me gets serious?"

"Sasuke."

The weight in Kimiko's voice froze the entire forest. She could feel all eyes on her.

The air shifted.

The red glow of her chakra flickered like embers in a dying fire, but the heat it radiated was suffocating. Not suffocating like overwhelming, but suffocating like her chakra was a pollutant. It crawled under the skin, dug into the spine, and pressed on the lungs like a weight no one could see

Sasuke's eyes snapped to hers. His grin faded.

"There is nothing to be gained by fighting our friends, Sasuke."

Her eyes didn't leave his.

Queen vs. King.

They stood opposite each other in the clearing. The weight of Orochimaru's curse hung on him like a crown of thorns. The weight of Kimiko's gaze was just as heavy. Her chakra seeped from her, a threatening crimson aura, one that made the winds around her sizzle.

Shikamaru didn't move. Choji didn't breathe. No one moved.

Finally, Sasuke's lips twitched into a grin. "Tch." He glanced at the Sound ninja's broken bodies. "Fine."

He raised his hands in mock surrender, letting the moment hang. Slowly, the jagged black markings of the cursed seal began to recede, the unnatural aura around him fading like a fog retreating from the sun as he walked away from Team 10.

Kimiko watched every shift in his chakra. Her own crimson aura flickered, fading bit by bit as she reigned it back in. It took everything not to let out a long, relieved sigh.

But she wasn't done. Not yet.

Her gaze slid back to Dosu, who was still kneeling, his hand hovering over the kunai she'd tossed him. His fingers twitched, hesitant, like he was weighing his choices.

"Take your chance, Dosu," she said softly, tilting her head toward the edge of the woods. "Take it and leave. This is the last mercy you'll ever get."

For a moment, Dosu didn't move. He just stared.

His eyes shifted toward Sasuke, whose own gaze was unreadable now that the cursed markings were gone. His lips pressed into a line, but he didn't say a word.

No one did.

With shaking hands, Dosu finally snatched up the kunai. He didn't look at them again. He didn't dare. Instead, he pulled himself to his feet, legs wobbling as he staggered forward. Step by step. Limp by limp. Every so often, he glanced over his shoulder as if checking to make sure Kimiko hadn't changed her mind. When it was clear she hadn't, he took off, his pace clumsy but desperate. The sound of his uneven footfalls slowly faded into the distance.

Silence filled the clearing like fog rolling in. It was thick. Heavy. Unnatural. No one dared speak.

The spell was finally broken by a loud, panicked scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAA! QUICK, EVERYONE HIDE!"

Kimiko blinked, slowly turning her head toward the source of the outburst.

"GET LOW, GET LOW, GET LOW! WHERE IS THAT GUY?!"

Her gaze settled on Naruto, wide-eyed and frantic, waving his arms like a wild animal. His eyes darted around like he expected Orochimaru to drop from the trees at any second.

Oh, he's finally awake. Thank whoever. He's safe.

The panic stopped abruptly when Shikamaru's fist knocked him on the head with a loud "thunk." Naruto stumbled, hands rubbing the growing bump on his head, his face scrunched up like a pouting child.

"About time you woke up, idiot," Shikamaru muttered, stretching his arms behind his head, his eyes drooping in that familiar lazy gaze. "You're such a drag."

"Seriously, Naruto." Ino's voice was just as sharp. She rubbed her arms, eyes flicking nervously to Kimiko, Sasuke, and the bodies strewn around them. Her fear from before wasn't entirely gone, but at least her composure was back. "You're loud as hell. You're lucky you didn't get us all killed."

Naruto blinked at her, confused, before looking around. His gaze landed on Kimiko and Sasuke, and the first flicker of relief crossed his face.

"Kimiko-chan! You're okay!" Naruto's grin spread wide as he sprinted toward her. "Where's that guy?! The one with the weird long neck—"

He froze mid-sentence, his eyes trailing to the ground. Slowly, his gaze lowered to the bodies lying still in the dirt. Kin's lifeless eyes. Zaku's severed arms. Blood everywhere.

His breath hitched. His grin faltered. His face twisted into a look of disbelief, his eyes darting around frantically. His mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared longer than he should have. His hands curled into fists.

"Aren't… aren't these the people we faced before? Before the first exam?" Naruto's voice wavered, his confusion so raw it almost hurt to hear. His gaze shot to Kimiko, eyes wide. "Who did this to them?"

Kimiko stayed silent for a moment too long.

Her gaze met his. She didn't look away.

"I did."

The words came out too steady. Too controlled. It wasn't a confession. It was a statement of fact.

Naruto blinked, staring at her like she was someone he'd never seen before. His mouth opened, but no words came out.

"They…" She closed her eyes, taking a slow breath. "They tried to kill Sasuke. And they would have killed you too. I had to stop them." Her gaze dropped to her own hands, still stained faintly with blood, and for a moment, something bitter flickered in her eyes. "And I did."

Her lips twitched into a weak, tired smile. It wasn't a real one.

"…But that guy you're talking about? Orochimaru?" she continued, her voice quieter now. "He… he did something to me. Messed with my body. My chakra." Her gaze flicked to Sasuke at her side. "That's what this is. That's why they look like that."

Naruto's eyes flicked to her, then Sasuke. His gaze lingered on the dark, jagged lines of the curse mark still faintly visible on Sasuke's neck. His eyes narrowed. "...That guy." His voice had an edge to it, "That bastard did this to you?"

"Yeah," she said simply, eyes steady on his.

Naruto grit his teeth, eyes burning with frustration. "Next time I see him, I swear—"

"Stop," Kimiko said softly. Her gaze drifted down to her hands. "None of us are strong enough to face him yet."

"...Tch." Naruto clicked his tongue, shoving his hands in his pockets. His eyes darted to Sasuke, who still hadn't spoken a word since Naruto woke up. His gaze flickered from Sasuke to Kimiko.

"...You guys are weird," Naruto muttered, his eyes narrowing with concern. He scratched at the back of his head, his brows furrowed. "You're acting weird."

No one responded.

Shikamaru glanced at Kimiko from the corner of his eye. His gaze lingered on her longer than it should have. For once, he didn't say a word. Neither did Ino.

"Let's move," Kimiko finally said, her tone quiet but commanding. Her gaze shifted to Sasuke. "We have the Sound-nin's Earth Scroll, but we're still missing a Heaven Scroll."

Sasuke nodded. His gaze flickered to the bodies of the Sound-nin one last time, his eyes lingering on Zaku's severed arms, the faint, retreating figure of Dosu in the distance, and finally on Kimiko. His eyes lingered on her longer than anything else. She could feel his gaze. She didn't react.

But then, a voice called from above.

"Yuhi, Kimiko."

Kimiko's steps halted, her eyes narrowing as she turned her head toward the sound. From the shadowed branches of a tree, Neji Hyuga looked down at her, his face impassive.

"Lee said you were strong," he remarked, "I didn't believe him." His gaze swept over the broken battlefield, lingering on the lifeless bodies of Kin and Zaku. "But now, I see it for myself. Imagine my luck, coming across you while you were in battle."

Kimiko arched a brow, eyes sharp like daggers. "You saw everything? And you didn't help?"

Neji tilted his head, his face as unreadable as stone. "You were capable enough to handle it." His tone was cool, but his gaze was firm. "Would you have preferred I insult you by stepping in when you were obviously capable of winning?"

Her fingers twitched, still stained with blood. Her gaze didn't waver. "A fine excuse for inaction."

His brow twitched, but he didn't take the bait. Instead, he gazed down at her with quiet intensity, as though he were trying to peer deeper than her skin, deeper than her eyes. His gaze flicked to Sasuke, who had shifted to stand next to Kimiko, his arms crossed.

Neji's eyes narrowed. "Uchiha, Sasuke." He addressed him directly. "I can see how strong your chakra is. How strong you are. I will be watching you as well."

Sasuke eyed him, shoving his hands in his pockets, but said nothing.

Neji's gaze lingered for just a moment longer before his eyes darted back to Kimiko. "The two of you..." He paused. "...Make sure you complete your scrolls."

"Hey, what about me?!" Naruto barked, stepping forward, jabbing a thumb at his chest. His face scrunched up in that familiar way that only Naruto could pull off. "You just gonna ignore me, that's pretty rude you know?!"

Neji glanced at him briefly, his face unmoved. "Yes."

"WHAT?!" Naruto's face contorted with fury. "You pompous—!"

Neji didn't wait to hear the rest. He turned away, nodding once toward Lee and Tenten, who were perched on nearby branches. With a single, fluid motion, the three of them blurred into the distance, their chakra signatures fading as they vanished into the canopy.

Naruto's fists were clenched at his sides, face red with irritation. "Tch! What's with that guy, huh?!" He turned toward Kimiko and Sasuke, eyes darting between them. "Seriously, why does everyone act so high and mighty when they're not even doin' anything?!"

"Well, he's a genius. He likes reminding people of that fact. And no one sees your genius at first glance, Naruto." Kimiko muttered, turning away.

Naruto blinked, eyes widening just a bit as he processed her words. "Huh. That's... huh." He scratched the back of his head. "That's kinda deep, Kimiko-chan. You think I'm a genius, huh?"

Kimiko glanced back at him with a soft smile, her eyes half-lidded, and her exhaustion started to show. Crap. My reserves are depleted.

Naruto grinned, his frustration from earlier already melting away. "Yeah, yeah, well, let's keep it moving, huh? We gotta get that last scroll, and we're not losin' to Neji or anyone else!"

Sasuke's eyes followed where Neji had disappeared. His hands stayed in his pockets, his mouth set in a line. Without a word, he started walking.

"He's right," Kimiko murmured, falling in step beside him. Her eyes darted to Sasuke's profile, her gaze lingering for just a moment longer than usual. "We're not losing to him."

"We won't," Sasuke replied. His eyes flickered toward her. "Not to anyone."

---

As she expected, her chakra reserves were nearly drained completely, the exhaustion hitting her like a tidal wave. After the battle, she could barely move, her body trembling with every slight motion. Her limbs felt like iron weights dragging her down. Despite her stubborn insistence that she could push through, Naruto and Sasuke wouldn't hear it.

"Rest, Kimiko," Naruto had said, his voice uncharacteristically firm. He sat cross-legged next to her, his arms crossed, eyes stern. "You fought all three of them alone. You're not fooling anyone."

Sasuke's gaze was quieter but no less forceful. His eyes stayed on her for longer than necessary, arms folded as he leaned against a tree. "Don't be stubborn. If you collapse later, you'll slow us down. Recover now."

There wasn't much room for argument after that.

She reckoned part of their insistence came from guilt. Guilt for letting her deal with three dangerous enemies on her own. When she explained the fight in detail, blow by blow, their expressions shifted from shock to quiet acceptance. Sasuke didn't say much, but Naruto's face said it all — wide eyes and tight lips, like he'd been slapped with the realization of how close they'd come to disaster. The scene itself told the story. The broken branches, shredded trees, and deep craters left in their wake were impossible to ignore.

So she let herself rest. For the rest of the day, she stayed put. Her body demanded it, and she grudgingly listened.

But when the next day came, Kimiko's patience snapped. Her strength had mostly returned, and she refused to stay still any longer.

"We're wasting time," she said firmly, already on her feet. The soreness was there, but she buried it beneath resolve. "The longer we sit here, the lower our chances of finding another scroll. We're already behind."

Sasuke opened his mouth to argue, but Kimiko shot him a glance.

"If someone finds the Heaven Scroll I stashed, then everything we fought for was pointless," she said, her eyes sharp and unyielding. "We're moving."

The two boys exchanged glances. Naruto scratched the back of his head, lips twisting in irritation. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, considering her words. They both knew she was right, but that didn't mean they liked it.

"Fine," Sasuke muttered, stepping aside. "But we stay together."

"No," Kimiko shook her head, her gaze locked on both of them. "We can't afford to. I'll go alone to retrieve the Heaven Scroll I stashed. You two stay here and guard the scroll we already have."

Naruto's face twisted in immediate protest. "No way! You just got back on your feet and now you want to go off by yourself? After what happened last time?"

"I don't need to win a fight. I just need to be fast," Kimiko replied, already turning away. "If I'm caught, I'll run. But if all three of us get caught at once, we lose everything. This way, even if something happens to me, we still have a scroll."

The silence that followed was bitter. Naruto frowned, visibly frustrated, but his hands stayed at his sides. Sasuke's eyes lingered on her as though weighing something, but he didn't stop her.

"Just don't be reckless," he said quietly.

Kimiko's lips quirked into a small, fleeting smile. "No promises."

With that, she left.

But the silence that followed wasn't kind to her.

Her feet moved, but her mind stayed rooted in that scene from before. Her heart felt heavier with every step. Her hands twitched, remembering the feel of Kin's hair tangled in her fingers as she forced her head underwater. The icy pressure of the river, the muffled sounds of Kin's panicked thrashing, and the way her arms flailed before going sluggish.

Her chest tightened.

When did I become this kind of person?

She didn't know. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know.

At the time, she justified it to herself. She needed information. Or more accurately, she needed to hear it from them so she could act on the information she already had.

She needed a reason — a reason to tell the higher-ups about the invasion. She knew that after Konoha Crush, hundreds of Konoha ninjas would die. Including the Third Hokage. The start of Konoha's decline up until the Fourth Ninja War.

And she could prevent that if she could tell the Konoha Leaders about what she knew. But she couldn't, at least not recklessly. If she didn't lay the groundwork, they'd accuse her of knowing too much. Her knowledge of the future wasn't something she could explain, so she needed them to believe she'd pried the information from the Sound-nin herself. It was "necessary."

That's what she told herself, anyway.

But now, jumping from branch to branch she realized it wasn't that simple. Her fingers twitched at her sides, phantom sensations of pulling hair, muffling screams, and cold water pressing down on her skin.

Her breath grew shallow, heart thudding faster. No. I had to do it. I had to.

The memory of Zaku's severed arms hit her next. The resistance her tanto met when it carved through flesh and bone. The splash of blood. The sound of it all. She'd told herself it was clean. It was necessary. It was efficient. It's what a shinobi does.

But her body hadn't agreed.

Her knees had gone weak. Her stomach churned. And then she vomited.

She told herself it was a side effect of Dosu's attacks, the disorientation from his sound waves, the dizziness, the nausea — but now she knew better.

It wasn't Dosu's attack.

It was her.

Her hand hovered over her stomach, fingers curling slightly. I'm not like that. I'm not like him.

Her thoughts drifted to Orochimaru, the way he'd called her "fascinating." The look on his face when he grinned at her, that slow, knowing smile that promised he'd be watching.

Her fingers curled tighter.

No. I'm not like him. I'm not.

The words echoed in her head, but each repetition sounded less and less certain.

The path ahead was still long, but she knew where she had to go. She'd hidden the Heaven Scroll at the base of a wide, moss-covered tree not far from the clearing where they'd first fought Orochimaru. It would take her another hour to reach it if she moved quickly. Her eyes scanned the canopy above for any signs of enemy movement.

One step at a time. Just keep moving. Don't think. Don't stop.

Her tanto hung at her side, still and silent. But her eyes lingered on it. Her fingers twitched, compelled by the memory of what had happened.

That glow.

That blood-like, crimson glow.

She remembered the way it flickered to life across the steel, burning like fresh blood under a clear sun. It had been so sharp, so vivid. But more than anything, she remembered what it did.

The image flashed in her mind: Dosu clutching his arm, gasping in agony as festering veins of rot snaked across his flesh. Zaku's body writhing on the ground, his eyes rolled back in his skull as the infection consumed him from the inside out. The twisted look of horror and confusion on Kin's face as her body betrayed her, muscles locking up, veins throbbing under her skin like something vile was crawling beneath the surface.

The worst part?

It wasn't wholly Orochimaru's fault.

Her teeth clenched as that realization rooted itself in her mind, firm and undeniable. It was me.

She did this.

Orochimaru didn't pull this power from thin air. She was the one who laid the foundation. He just… completed it. The power was already there. He saw it, understood it, and twisted it into something she could successfully use.

She was the one who swallowed the poisoned pill. She was the one who willingly infected her own chakra with a poison of her own creation, kneading it into her network. She'd done it to make her body a weapon, just like Hanzo of the Salamander. It had been a decision. A choice.

Her choice.

The only reason Orochimaru could enhance it at all… was because she'd already decided to walk that path. Her failure was that she didn't go far enough. She failed. That's all it was. Her efforts had been incomplete, an experiment left half-finished.

Orochimaru just finished it for her.

Her gaze lowered to her hand. Her fingers curled, slow and tense, and she flexed them open once more.

For a moment — barely a moment — a flicker of color danced at her fingertips.

Crimson. A deep, vibrant red, like fresh blood caught in candlelight. It buzzed faintly on her skin before it snuffed out, gone as quickly as it came.

Her heart thudded in her chest.

"What did you do to me?" she muttered under her breath, the words barely a whisper drowned out by the rush of the wind.

Her fingers curled into a fist, nails biting into her palm hard enough to sting. Her eyes hardened.

"...No."

Her voice grew quieter.

"What did I do to myself?"

The question hung in the air like a noose.

Her eyes burned with quiet intensity as she stared at her fingers, tracing the faint memory of that glow. She could still feel it, like an ember hidden in the ashes of a dead fire. If she fed it chakra, just a little, maybe it would return. Maybe it would bloom into something stronger.

Her hands shook. Not from fear. Not from disgust.

From restraint.

Because deep down, beneath all the horror, beneath all the guilt and shame, there was one thought that gnawed at her mind like a persistent insect.

It wasn't fear of the power.

It wasn't disgust at what she'd done.

No, it was the terrifying, undeniable truth that she wasn't opposed to using it again.

As she broke through the treeline and entered the clearing, her eyes locked onto the familiar tree with the deep, natural nook carved into its side. Quietly, she approached, breath steady, heartbeat calm but focused. Her fingers reached in.

Nothing.

Her eyes narrowed. She reached in further, her fingers feeling around the rough bark.

Still nothing.

Her heart sank, a dull ache settling in her chest. Ugh. Let me make a mistake. She tried again, pawing at the hollow like the scroll had somehow wedged itself deeper.

Empty.

She winced, eyes shut tight. She was afraid this might happen. Now they needed another Heaven Scroll. And given how difficult it would be with each time that passed...

Her mind churned, forcing herself to focus on possibilities. She could hunt a team down, but if they were experienced, she'd burn more chakra than it was worth. Maybe it was better to scout instead. Ambush from the shadows. She didn't like her odds. They were running out of time, and even if they found another team, Sasuke and Naruto wouldn't be at full strength yet.

Her thoughts were shattered by a scream.

"HELP!"

Her head snapped to the side, eyes narrowing. Her hand immediately went to her tanto, drawing it in one smooth motion. A trap?

Her gaze flicked to the treeline. A wounded-deer gambit? Lure me in by pretending to be helpless?

"PLEASE, SOMEONE!"

The scream was more frantic now, sharp and raw like a wild animal caught in a snare.

Her grip on the tanto tightened, her jaw clenching. It's a trap. It has to be a trap.

She scanned the trees for chakra signatures, flicking through her sensory range with precision. But there was nothing. No signs of cloaked chakra, no masked presence, nothing that could indicate an ambush.

A slip-up? No. No genin could mask their chakra from me. Except maybe Neji or Gaara. And none of them will pull this on me.

Unless...

Her foot twitched.

The scream came again, and this time, something stirred inside her chest. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was the aftertaste of watching people rot from the inside out and knowing she did it to them.

Her body moved on instinct, blurring into a dash. Her sensory range stayed sharp, flickering for signs of an ambush, but none came. She could hear branches whipping behind her as she jumped from tree to tree. Each burst of movement pulled her closer to the source of the voice.

"HELP!"

Kimiko slowed as she landed on the tree line overlooking the clearing. She crouched low, her body hidden behind the bark as her eyes scanned the scene below.

And she saw her.

A girl. Fishnet bodysuit, olive-green jacket draped loosely on her shoulders, bright red hair. Her Kusagakure forehead protector gleamed as sunlight hit it.

But Kimiko was familiar with her the same way you'd recognize a person you saw in a magazine. Her eyes widened in recognition. The bright red hair. The round glasses. The red eyes.

Karin Uzumaki.

Her mind stuttered. Wait. Karin? Here? Right now?

The realization hit her. Right. This is when and where she meets Sasuke. This was how it happened. This was why she was so loyal to him in the future. She met him in the Forest of Death and he saved her from a bear.

Karin's head snapped around, and Kimiko finally saw the thing chasing her.

A centipede. But not just any centipede. Its body was as long as a tree trunk, its black, segmented carapace reflecting dull light. Each segment shifted and clicked as it moved, like armor plates snapping into place. Sickly purple venom dripped from its mandibles, hissing as it hit the ground. The smell was sharp, pungent, and it burned Kimiko's nostrils.

That venom would eat through flesh.

Chakra reserves. Her first thought was about her reserves. She'd only just begun to recover from the battle with the Sound-nin. The Preliminaries were coming, and she'd need every drop of chakra for the one-on-one battles. If she used too much here, she'd enter the battles drained.

"HELP!"

Karin backed away, feet stumbling over roots and broken branches. Her hands shook. Her eyes were wide with terror. Real terror.

Kimiko winced. I could leave her. I should leave her. It's not my problem. She's not my team. I can mess Orochimaru's plans up by letting her die.

But I won't. Not that far gone yet. Sorry Sasuke, Naruto. Looks like I have to get involved again.

Her legs bent. She inhaled slowly.

Move.

Kimiko blurred forward, her body flickering into view in front of Karin. Her tanto was already raised. The centipede lunged, jaws snapping down, but she twisted her tanto to block, holding it horizontal as the beast's jaws crashed against the steel. The impact rang through her bones, arms trembling at the sheer force.

"Back away and give me space," she ordered, voice cold and distant. Her eyes stayed forward, never looking at the girl behind her.

"W-wait, you—!" Karin stammered, her eyes wide as saucers. Her voice trembled with disbelief. "Who—"

"Now." Kimiko's voice brooked no argument.

Karin's mouth snapped shut, and her body moved on instinct, scrambling backward.

Kimiko gritted her teeth, her tanto still braced against the creature's jaws. It's heavy. Heavy and strong. Her arms strained, but she pressed forward, forcing the centipede back. Its mandibles snapped with vicious force, spitting venom onto the ground. The dirt hissed and sizzled where it landed, dark smoke rising from the soil.

If even a drop of that venom touches me, I'm done.

The centipede reared its head, the muscles along its segmented body flexing like a coiled spring.

It's going to lunge again.

Kimiko's body moved on instinct. She jumped back, eyes locked on the beast as it smashed its head into the ground where she had stood a second earlier. Dirt and rocks exploded from the impact. Before she could catch her breath, the centipede's body twisted unnaturally, slithering through the air in erratic, dizzying patterns. Its path was chaotic but fast, weaving toward her flank like a blade on a wire.

I can't waste too much chakra... Crap. I need to end this fast.

Her eyes flicked left. Her body blurred. She reappeared a fair distance away, her sandals skidding against the dirt as she reoriented herself. With a flick of her wrist, three senbon slid into her fingers, glinting under the broken sunlight. Her breath steadied, and with a subtle shift in her stance, she channeled her corrupted chakra into the metal. A scarlet glow bled down the length of the needles, like blood soaking through cloth.

Kimiko flicked her wrist, and the senbon cut through the air with a sharp, high-pitched whistle. Each one spun like a miniature drill, trailing faint streaks of red as they honed in on the centipede.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

All three struck home, punching through the beast's thick carapace with sharp, wet crunches. The senbon buried themselves deep into its body, embedding between the plates of its armored hide.

Kimiko's eyes stayed locked on it, watching closely. Sizzle. Smoke. Wisps of pale vapor rose from the puncture wounds. The flesh around the senbon turned dark, blistered, and rotted away within seconds. Her virulent chakra was taking effect.

But the centipede wasn't done. It struck its head to the ground, sliding in the hole it created with its head, disappearing from sight.

Burrowing.

The ground below her trembled. Her eyes snapped to the shifting dirt, and her senses flared, trying to feel where it would surface. Her breath hitched, hands gripping the tanto tighter.

Left? No, behind—!

The ground erupted at her side. Soil and debris flew into the air, and the centipede's head shot upward, jaws wide. Faster than before. The mandibles closed in, and Kimiko twisted her body, but she was just a fraction too slow.

Pain.

Her breath shot out of her lungs as the mandibles clamped down on her waist, right at the curve of her hip. She could feel the teeth sink into her flesh. Her eyes widened, her lips parting to let out a scream.

"ACK!" she roared. Her hand reached down to push it away, but the mandibles didn't let go.

Her mind went wild with panic. The venom. It's going to—

Nothing.

Her body braced itself for that familiar, horrific burn of venom spreading through her veins, but…

Nothing.

Her breath hitched. The pain was there, yes. It hurt like hell. But it wasn't the sharp, burning pain of venom. Her eyes darted down, staring at the centipede's still-buried head, its mandibles latched into her side.

Why? Why isn't it working?

Her eyes moved to the puncture marks on her skin. Faint, sluggish trails of black ichor ran from the wounds. Her blood?

Her pupils narrowed.

Am I immune to its venom? And…did it just poison itself trying to poison me?

Her fingers gripped the tanto tighter. If the centipede wasn't going to let go, she'd make it. With a sharp twist, she rammed the point of her tanto straight into its exposed head.

Schlkk.

The blade slid in perfectly, finding that sweet spot between its armor plates. The creature spasmed violently, its body thrashing like a snake caught on a hook. Its mandibles unlocked with a loud crack as it whipped its head, sending her flying.

Kimiko flipped, her body spinning gracefully in midair. She twisted, feet finding solid ground as she landed in a crouch, one hand pressed against her side where the mandibles had punctured her. The blood seeping from her side stained her fingers, but it wasn't as bad as it should have been.

She stood slowly, her breathing even. Her eyes were locked on the centipede.

It was thrashing now, and from where she stood, she could see its legs curling inward. The puncture wounds from the senbon still sizzled, black rot spreading from the points of impact.

"S-So cool..." Karin's voice came from behind her, quiet but filled with awe.

Kimiko didn't turn. Her eyes remained glued to the centipede. She flexed her fingers once, then again. Her breathing steadied.

Her eyes moved to her tanto. Her fingers twitched.

Since I'm here anyway… Time to test it.

Her hands glided through seals. She reached for her water chakra, feeling it pulse through her core like a second heartbeat. This time, she pulled something deeper. Something sharper. She poured her chakra into the tanto.

The water ribbon wrapped around the blade, familiar and steady, twisting in perfect rhythm. But this time, it wasn't clear blue.

It was black. Pitch black.

She blinked once, twice, taking in the sight.

"Interesting," she murmured. She gave the blade one slow swing, and the black water followed the curve like a painter's brushstroke. Her eyes followed the motion, lips curling into something close to a grin.

Her gaze flicked back to the centipede. Its movements were slower now, its body rolling onto its side. It hissed, its last act of defiance, and tried to burrow into the ground.

Not this time.

Her feet shifted. She raised her tanto, watching the way the ribbon of black water spun around it. The water moved with her, every motion clean, precise, in sync.

"Alright. I'll end it with this next swing."

Her knees bent, her muscles coiling like a spring. Wait for it. Wait for it…

The centipede burrowed.

Her eyes flicked left. Right. Her senses screamed.

Now.

Her eyes snapped to her right. She twisted on her heel, turning in a tight spin, tanto raised. As she spun, the ribbon of water flowed like a black streamer trailing her movements. The ground erupted, the centipede's head lunging straight toward her.

Her swing was already coming.

"Konoha Style Kenjutsu: Moonlight."

Her blade came down in a perfect lateral arc, clean, precise, and vicious. The water ribbon followed her swing, curving around her like a crescent moon. The moment it touched the centipede's head, it didn't stop.

The blade didn't just cut. It burned.

The pressurized, toxic water tore through the carapace like hot steel through wax. Her swing didn't lose momentum. It didn't stop.

One cut. One perfect cut.

The sword and black water ribbon sliced through the centipede like butter. Her swing followed through, her body turning in a full circle. She landed in a crouch, one knee to the ground, tanto still raised at her side. Her eyes stayed forward.

Silence.

Her gaze stayed sharp, waiting for any signs of movement.

None came.

The centipede's body twitched once. Twice. It stilled.

The next moment, its entire body split in half, the two halves falling in opposite directions. Its head, cleaved down the middle, split apart, and its venom leaked into the dirt, hissing against the soil.

Her breathing was quiet, controlled. Her eyes stayed on the corpse for a moment longer.

Her gaze flicked to Karin, who stared, eyes wide, mouth slightly agape.

"That was… so wow…" Karin muttered breathlessly.

Kimiko exhaled slowly, standing to her full height. Her eyes flicked to the tanto in her hand. The black water slowly unraveled, dissipating into droplets. Kimiko sheathed her sword, but she knew it wasn't over yet.

"Don't get too close," Kimiko warned, her sharp gaze landing on Karin. Her tanto remained in her grip, but she didn't raise it. "What are you doing here? Where are your teammates?" Her eyes narrowed as she studied the girl, her posture still tense from the recent battle.

Karin blinked, looking startled, like she didn't expect anyone to care enough to ask. Her eyes darted away, and her voice came out quiet. "They… they aren't here," she muttered, rubbing her arm. Her lips pressed together tightly as she hesitated. "They ran off when the centipede attacked. They… left me behind."

Kimiko frowned, though she quickly wiped the expression from her face. She knew how that felt. Being left behind. Still, she didn't have time to focus on that now. "I see," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "I'm sorry to hear that. What's your name aga—"

A sudden bolt of pain shot through her side. "Aghk!" Kimiko staggered, clutching at her bleeding waist. Her fingers pressed hard against the wound, and her breathing grew uneven. It wasn't deep, and the caterpillar's venom hadn't taken hold, but the pain from the wound was still sharp and immediate.

"Oh!" Karin gasped, rushing over without hesitation. "You're hurt!" She crouched next to Kimiko, eyes wide with concern. Her hands moved with surprising steadiness as she guided Kimiko to sit down on a patch of even ground. Karin's jacket slipped from her shoulders and hit the dirt, and without a second of hesitation, she rolled up her sleeve, exposing her pale forearm.

"Here," Karin said firmly, holding her arm out to Kimiko. Her voice was gentler now but still resolute. "Bite me. It'll heal you."

Kimiko blinked, tilting her head. She stared at Karin's outstretched arm, covered in faint but unmistakable scars — tiny crescent-shaped indentations lining her flesh like tally marks. Her gaze flickered to Karin's face, then back to her arm.

"...I can't," Kimiko finally said, shaking her head. "I'm not going to hurt you." Her voice was softer than before, but it had a finality to it. Her eyes narrowed, quietly taking in the scars that lined Karin's arm. Bite marks. She remembered the detail from the anime. Her village used her as a bite doll, treating her more like a tool than a person. And even Kimiko didn't want to exacerbate that.

Karin froze. Her wide red eyes blinked slowly, as if she didn't fully understand what Kimiko had just said. Her lips parted, but no words came. Her gaze dropped to her arm.

"You… you don't want to?" Karin's voice was small, quieter than a whisper. It wasn't confusion in her tone. It was disbelief.

"No," Kimiko repeated firmly. "You're not a chew toy."

There was a long pause. Karin stared at her like she'd just spoken a language she didn't know. Her mouth opened and closed as if searching for words, but none came out. Her eyes glistened, just a little.

"...Thank you," Karin murmured, her voice barely audible. She swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. Her fingers curled into her jacket, gripping it tightly. When she opened her eyes, she was resolved. "But please. I insist. It's the least I can do."

Her words had more weight this time.

Kimiko hesitated, her eyes moving back to Karin's outstretched arm. The bite marks stared back at her, ugly, raw scars that told a story all on their own. Slowly, Kimiko exhaled, her body easing out of her battle-readiness. She reached out and took Karin's wrist gently, as if handling glass.

"...Alright," she relented, bringing the arm closer. Her eyes flicked up to meet Karin's one last time. "I'm sorry."

Then she bit down.

Karin winced but didn't cry out. Kimiko felt it the moment her teeth pressed into Karin's skin — a sudden, overwhelming surge of warmth. No, not just warmth. Energy. It flowed through her veins like molten fire, filling her from her fingertips to her toes. Her muscles eased. The burning pain in her side dulled to a faint throb before fading entirely. Her heartbeat, once erratic and uneven, slowed into a steady rhythm.

Her eyes fluttered closed, and she sighed, a long exhale that melted away the tension from her shoulders. She pulled away from Karin's arm, letting it fall.

Her gaze immediately flicked to her side. No wound. No scar. Not even a mark. She rubbed the skin of her waist, feeling nothing but smooth, unblemished flesh. She'd been fully healed.

Her fingers twitched. Her eyes slowly turned toward Karin, who cradled her arm, rubbing the spot Kimiko had bitten. Her gaze was distant, but there was no pain in her face.

Kimiko didn't say anything at first. Her mind was racing. Her strength was back. No, not just back — it was better than before she got here. Her chakra surged within her like an untapped well, fuller than it had been in days.

That's… that's one useful ability, she thought, her mind flashing with a sudden understanding. No wonder Orochimaru recruited her.

Her gaze lingered on Karin. The girl's lips twitched with a faint smile, as if she was just happy to have been helpful.

An idea popped into Kimiko's mind.

She shifted forward, leaning her weight on her knees.

"Thank you," Kimiko said sincerely, tilting her head. "Sorry, I was too preoccupied earlier. I never got to ask for your name."

Karin blinked, taken aback. Her eyes softened a little. "Karin. Uzumaki Karin," she said, almost shyly. "What about you?"

Kimiko smiled faintly. "Kimiko. Yuhi Kimiko," she answered, her gaze still locked on Karin like she was sizing her up.

Uzumaki Karin.

She knew what Karin would become. One of Orochimaru's trusted lieutenants. Warden of one of his labs.

Kimiko's eyes flickered to the scars on Karin's arm.

"...So why were you and your teammates here in the first place?" Kimiko asked, her tone even, but her gaze unwavering.

Karin blinked, surprised at the question. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her olive-green jacket, her eyes shifting away. "O-Oh. We… we were looking for the other half of the pair of scrolls we needed."

Kimiko tilted her head just slightly. "Oh? Which half?" she asked, her voice smooth, steady, like she already knew the answer.

"The Heaven Scroll," Karin replied quietly.

Kimiko's eyes narrowed. "I see. And… did you find one?"

Karin perked up, perhaps mistaking the interest in Kimiko's voice for something friendly. "Huh? Yeah! We did. It was stashed in some tree nearby. Talk about lucky, huh?" She laughed nervously, scratching the back of her head.

Kimiko sighed softly, the weight of the moment pressing on her. Of course they did. Her gaze shifted ever so slightly, her mind already piecing things together. That was the scroll I stashed.

Her eyes darted back to Karin. "And… I suppose it's with your teammates now?"

Karin blinked, confused, then quickly shook her head, red hair swaying with the motion. "N-No… I still have it," she admitted hesitantly. "It was with me when they… abandoned me."

Kimiko's eyes widened, just slightly, enough for her to feel the shift in her own heartbeat.

"Show me," Kimiko said, her tone quiet but commanding.

Karin's gaze darted around like a cornered rabbit, but after a brief moment of hesitation, she reached into the pocket of her jacket. Slowly, she pulled out a familiar, weathered scroll. "I kept it in my jacket so it wouldn't fall off."

"Smart girl," Kimiko muttered under her breath, the faintest curl of a smile ghosting across her lips. "It's ours, actually."

Karin's eyes narrowed, her brows scrunching in confusion. "What?"

Kimiko sighed, "I stashed it there for safekeeping before… well, it's a long story." Her voice was calm, patient even, like she had all the time in the world to explain something she clearly didn't plan to.

"What?" Karin blinked rapidly. Her grip on the scroll tightened. "Y-You're not trying to trick me, right?"

Kimiko's gaze slowly shifted to meet Karin's. She tilted her head ever so slightly, eyes half-lidded with something that was definitely not patience.

"If I was trying to trick you, silly girl," Kimiko said, "I would have knocked you out already and taken that scroll."

Karin flinched like she'd been slapped. She glanced down at the scroll, then back at Kimiko, her lips pressing into a thin, anxious line. She didn't argue.

Kimiko didn't push the point. "But it's the nature of the exam, isn't it? I left it unguarded. Of course, another team would find it." She rolled her shoulders in a slow, deliberate motion. "That's on me."

Karin's breath hitched, but she didn't move.

"Anyway," Kimiko continued, already turning her back. "I'm leaving now. I hope you—"

"W-Wait!" Karin's voice cracked with desperation. "I'm… I'm lost. I don't know where my teammates are. Can you… maybe… accompany me? Just till I find them? Or they come back for me."

Kimiko blinked, glancing over her shoulder. Slowly, she turned back around, eyes narrowing, fingers tapping lightly on the hilt of her tanto.This is an opportunity...

"You get me to waste chakra saving you," Kimiko said slowly, "then you take my scroll." She raised a brow, her lips curling into something caught between amusement and disbelief. "And now you want more favors?"

Karin flinched, looking down like a child being scolded. She hugged the scroll closer to her chest, fingers digging into it like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to the ground.

Kimiko watched her in silence for a moment longer, gaze unreadable. Then, she sighed. A long, deliberate breath, like she was about to make a decision she knew she'd regret.

"Come on," she said, her tone resigned but not unkind. She waved Karin forward with a slight flick of her hand. "I'll bring you to my team."

Karin's head snapped up in surprise, her eyes wide. Her lips parted, maybe to say something, maybe to thank her. But the words didn't come out.

"Don't just stand there," Kimiko said firmly, already walking ahead. "Follow me. Slowly. If you run, I'll assume you're an enemy, and you won't like what happens next."

Karin swallowed hard, eyes darting from Kimiko to the distant treetops. After a beat, she took a shaky step forward. Then another. Her grip on the scroll didn't loosen, but she followed. Quietly. Carefully.

Smart girl . She repeated in her thoughts.

" Naruto, Sasuke. " Kimiko's voice called out as she stepped through the undergrowth toward their camp.

Both boys snapped their heads in her direction, eyes sharp with suspicion. Their bodies were tense, muscles coiled like springs ready to snap. Naruto's fingers twitched toward a kunai, while Sasuke's eyes narrowed, scanning her from head to toe.

"How do we know it's you?" Sasuke's voice rang out.

Kimiko didn't hesitate. "Sasuke, your mom teased you about me when we had dinner at your house. Said she hoped you wouldn't be distracted from your studies since you kept on ogling me."

Sasuke stiffened, his eyes lips pressed into a thin line, the barest hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

"And Naruto," she continued, shifting her gaze to him. "I saved you from getting bullied and beaten up by that Fuma kid and his friends. You latched on to me since then."

"Wha— I did not latch!" Naruto barked, face turning red as he stomped forward. "And he and his friends were twice my size! Anyone would've—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes squinting at her like he was still unsure.

But then, slowly, his posture relaxed. His lips twitched into a grin.

"Heh, yeah, yeah… it's you," Naruto said, stuffing his hands behind his head with a relieved sigh.

Sasuke's sharp gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, searching her face like he was looking for cracks in an illusion. Then, with a soft "Tch," he turned his back on her, his guard lowering as he walked toward the fire pit. "So, you found our Heaven Scroll?"

Kimiko sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Nope. A team took it."

Both boys' faces dropped, Naruto groaning audibly while Sasuke's eyes darkened with frustration.

"Great," Naruto muttered, flopping onto his back with his hands behind his head. "Back to square one."

" But… " Kimiko continued, stepping to the side. "I did bring one of the group's members with me."

Naruto's head shot up, eyes wide. "Wait, what?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his posture straightening. His gaze snapped to the figure stepping out from behind Kimiko.

"H-Hi…" said Karin, her voice small but clear. Her red eyes darted between Naruto and Sasuke before her gaze lingered on Sasuke. Her face flushed, a soft pink rising to her cheeks. She pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.

Sasuke's gaze was immediately cold. "Kimiko," he said sharply, "Why did you bring her here? She could lead her teammates straight to us."

Kimiko didn't flinch, her tone cool but firm. "Sasuke, I'm not stupid."

His eyes flicked to hers. Her gaze didn't falter.

"I brought her here because her teammates abandoned her," Kimiko explained, walking past him to the fire pit. She knelt by it, adding a small piece of dry wood to the weak flame. Her fingers hovered near the warmth as she continued, "And she has their scroll."

That caught both boys' attention.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And what makes you think she won't try to double-cross us? Lead them back here to ambush us?"

Kimiko glanced over her shoulder, giving him a flat, unimpressed stare. "If she tries, I'll personally use her as a hostage. And I'll use her body as a shield if I have to."

Silence.

Naruto blinked, sitting up straight. " Daaaang , Kimiko. You're kinda scary."

"Only to people who think they can play me," she said, brushing off his comment. Her gaze flickered to Karin, who flinched slightly but quickly composed herself, glancing away.

"Her teammates ditched her. She's not going to risk it," Kimiko added, her tone calm but resolute. "Besides…" She shot a glance at Sasuke, "You know I keep my word."

Sasuke watched her for a moment longer, gaze lingering like he was searching for something, before giving a slow, accepting nod. "Fine," he muttered, turning his back on them. "But if she tries anything, don't expect me to be merciful."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Naruto stood up, pointing at Karin. "What about her scroll? You said she has it, right? We could just take it right now!"

" Naruto! " Kimiko shot him a glare so sharp he immediately stiffened like a scolded puppy.

"Wha— I'm just sayin'," he muttered, scratching the back of his head.

"Let it go, Naruto, Kimiko gave her word to her and us," Sasuke said, eyes closed, arms crossed. "If she turns on us, Kimiko will handle it. End of story."

Naruto hesitated, grumbling something under his breath, but didn't push it further. He sat back down, arms folded behind his head.

Karin, still standing awkwardly off to the side, glanced at Kimiko, then Sasuke, then Naruto, like she wasn't sure where she was supposed to be. She glanced at Kimiko again, eyes uncertain.

"...Thank you," Karin muttered under her breath.

The tension that had loomed over them slowly dissolved into something lighter as the night wore on. Karin, to Kimiko's mild surprise, was surprisingly pleasant company. There was an openness to her that felt rare among shinobi. Of course, it helped that Karin was clearly fascinated by Naruto and Sasuke. Her eyes would linger on Sasuke a little too long, her cheeks dusted with the faintest blush. Kimiko had to bite back a knowing grin. Typical.

But what really caught her attention was how easily Karin engaged with Naruto.

"WHOA, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE AN UZUMAKI TOO? DOES THAT MAKE US COUSINS?!" Naruto's eyes were practically shining, his grin so wide it could split his face.

Karin blinked, lips curling into an awkward smile. "Not… really. We're not cousins. But… I guess we're connected in a way. Our parents are from the same clan. Same blood, you know? We'd be distant relatives at best."

"THAT STILL COUNTS!" Naruto declared, pointing dramatically at her like he'd just uncovered some ancient secret. "I KNEW I HAD FAMILY OUT THERE!"

"Sure," Karin muttered, scratching the back of her head. She seemed caught off guard, like she wasn't used to people being so happy to see her. She glanced at Kimiko, eyes slightly wide, as if asking, Is he always like this? Kimiko just gave her a shrug that read, Yes. Get used to it.

When conversation turned to Karin's life in Kusagakure, the mood became somber.

Apparently, she and her mother had fled to the Grass Village as refugees. Kusagakure had taken them in, but like most "deals" with ninja villages, it came at a price. In exchange for asylum, they were forced to work in the village's hospital. At first, that didn't sound too bad, until Karin explained how exactly they "worked."

Her mother had been forced to use her special chakra to heal Kusagakure's wounded. The price of that healing? Her flesh. She let them bite into her skin, transferring chakra directly to them. Over time, the strain of healing too many people drained her mother's life force. She died in that village. Karin, still a child, was forced to take her place. Every bite left behind a scar on her arms, her wrists, her shoulders—evidence of a life lived in quiet suffering.

The fire crackled softly, filling the quiet between her words. Kimiko listened without interrupting.

Kusagakure was supposed to be one of Konoha's allies. But "ally" didn't mean "friend." It didn't mean "just." It only meant "useful." As much as she wanted to feel righteous indignation, she knew Konoha wasn't free of blame either. Konoha had people like Danzo. Konoha had people like Orochimaru.

Konoha had people like me, she thought, fingers tightening on her sleeve.

Her eyes flicked toward Karin's arm, noting the faded, pocked bite scars etched into her skin. Not so different from mine. The memory of Dosu's rotting arm, of Zaku's severed limbs, and the hollow silence that followed them, gnawed at her mind. It was easier to push it down than confront it. Only her chakra can heal, mine destroys.

Kimiko glanced at Karin, something stirring in her chest. This girl was a stranger in a strange village, treated like a tool, desperate for connection. Desperate for people she could trust.

Kimiko had seen it before.

She wasn't above taking advantage of it. Especially if it would benefit Karin, too.

"Hey, Karin," Kimiko said, her voice calm but steady. "If you're looking for a team that won't leave you behind, you're welcome to stay with us. We protect our own."

Karin blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her fingers twitched, her gaze flicking from Kimiko to Naruto to Sasuke. It was subtle, but Kimiko saw it. A tiny flicker of hope. Small, fragile, but it was there.

"Think about it," Kimiko said, leaning back against the log, letting her gaze drift to the canopy of stars overhead. "I'm not in the habit of offering twice."

The fire crackled softly between them, its glow reflecting in Karin's wide, thoughtful eyes.

–

The rest of the night went peacefully. The fire crackled low, embers flickering into the night sky like distant fireflies. The tension from earlier battles had finally ebbed away, leaving behind an exhausted calm.

To Kimiko's surprise, Karin offered to heal both Naruto and Sasuke. It wasn't immediate. They were hesitant, understandably so. Naruto in particular grimaced at the idea.

"Bite you?!" Naruto exclaimed, looking at Karin like she'd grown a second head. "Are you serious?! That's— that's messed up, y'know! I can't just… chew on people like I'm some wild animal!"

"Don't be dramatic," Karin huffed, crossing her arms with a pout. "It's just a bite. I'm used to it." She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the familiar, crisscrossed pattern of old bite marks on her arm. "See? It doesn't even hurt anymore."

Naruto's face twisted into a conflicted scowl. "That doesn't make it any better!"

"Look, if you don't want it, then don't take it," Karin snapped, eyes narrowing. "But don't complain when Sasuke-kun's at full health and you aren't, Naruto."

"...Tch, fine," Naruto muttered, crossing his arms with a sulky glare. "But I ain't happy about it."

Sasuke, however, didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and eyed Karin carefully, his gaze calculating. He didn't say much, but his eyes flickered to her arm and then back to her face. Wordlessly, he crouched, grabbed her arm, and bit down on her wrist. Karin tensed, lips pursed in a sharp, short gasp, but she didn't pull away.

The effect was immediate. Sasuke's breathing grew more even, his stiff posture relaxed, and the faint pain in his limbs visibly faded. He let go, his gaze steady as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"...Thanks," he said, his voice quiet but sincere.

"Y-Yeah," Karin muttered, rubbing her wrist. Her cheeks flushed pink, but she turned away so no one could see. "No big deal."

It took another five minutes of grumbling, pacing, and muttering about "ethics" before Naruto finally gave in. With his eyes shut tight, he leaned forward, bit down as fast as he could, and immediately recoiled, gagging like he'd just swallowed something bitter.

"GAH! It tastes so gross!" Naruto yelped, sticking out his tongue like he could scrub the taste away.

"Wimp," Karin muttered, rolling her eyes.

Kimiko watched it all in silence, eyes half-lidded, hands resting on her lap. They're all idiots, she thought, though there was no real heat in the thought. Watching them bicker felt normal. Comforting, even. Like they were just kids camping in the woods.

But that peace didn't last.

It wasn't long after the boys had fallen asleep, their breathing slow and even, that Karin suddenly stood. Kimiko noticed it immediately, her gaze narrowing. "Going somewhere?" she asked, not bothering to stand.

"Yeah," Karin said, quietly, not meeting her eyes. Her hands tugged at the hem of her jacket. "Sorry, I… I can't stay. I can't really abandon my teammates."

Kimiko blinked. She hadn't expected that. "You mean the teammates that left you for dead?"

Karin flinched, her grip on her sleeve tightening. "They're still my team," she muttered, voice small but firm. "I don't expect you to get it. But I… I can't just leave them."

Kimiko tilted her head, gazing at her like she was something fascinating. Interesting. Such loyalty, even to people who discard her.

"You owe them nothing," Kimiko said bluntly. She leaned forward, eyes cutting through the firelight. "They left you, Karin. Abandoned you. Do you think they'll be grateful when you go back? Do you think they'll change?" She shook her head slowly. "They won't."

Karin stiffened, lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze flicked to the sleeping forms of Naruto and Sasuke. Her eyes lingered on them longer than they should have.

"Maybe not," Karin said, looking back at Kimiko, her eyes resolute. "But I'll know I didn't give up on them."

Kimiko's eyes softened for a fraction of a second before she sighed. "...Fine. Do whatever you want."

Karin blinked, clearly surprised. "You're not going to stop me?"

"Why would I?" Kimiko shrugged, leaning back against the log. "You're not my prisoner, and I'm not here to play therapist. But don't expect me to chase after you if they throw you away again."

Karin bit her lip, looking down at her feet. She didn't reply, just gave Kimiko a small nod. Slowly, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a familiar scroll — the Heaven Scroll.

"Here," Karin said quietly, holding it out with both hands. Her fingers trembled slightly, like she was scared Kimiko might strike her for even suggesting it. "Take it. It's payment for helping me."

Kimiko glanced at the scroll but made no move to take it. Her eyes met Karin's, and for a moment, they simply stared at one another.

Generosity is its own power.

"Keep it," Kimiko finally said, leaning back. "You might need it more than we do."

Karin blinked, confused. "What? But—"

"If you think your teammates are worth saving, then you're gonna need that scroll," Kimiko said firmly, her voice cool but not unkind. "I'm not about to rob you blind just because I can. Not after we ate together. Go back to them. Finish the exam. Then, maybe, you'll get to decide if they're worth it."

For a moment, Karin just stared at her, her lips parted in shock. Slowly, her eyes lowered to the scroll in her hands. She held it tightly against her chest, gripping it like a lifeline.

"...Thank you," Karin muttered softly. Her gaze flickered back to Kimiko, then toward Naruto and Sasuke. She hesitated, her hands twitching at her sides. "Do you think... they'll be mad if I go back to them?"

Kimiko closed her eyes, letting out a long breath through her nose.

"They will," Kimiko admitted. "But that doesn't mean they're right." She leaned forward, her voice softer but sharper than steel. "If they try to hurt you again, to abandon you again, don't wait for them to change. People don't change unless they have to."

Karin didn't reply, just gave Kimiko a small nod and turned on her heel. Her red hair swayed behind her like a flicker of flame as she walked toward the tree line.

"...Be safe," Kimiko muttered, just loud enough for Karin to hear.

Karin's step faltered, her head tilting ever so slightly back toward Kimiko. Her lips moved like she was about to say something, but she didn't. She just kept walking.

Kimiko watched her until she disappeared into the forest.

"Tch." She glanced at the sky, watching the stars glow faintly between the shifting canopy leaves. You'll be back, she thought. I'll make sure Orochimaru gets hurt by this, even if I'll start by taking one of his would-be pawns.

–

When dawn came, Kimiko explained to Sasuke and Naruto about Karin's decision. Though dejected, both boys at least understood where Karin was coming from. Naruto was the first to accept it with a shrug, saying, "She's gotta do what she's gotta do, I guess." Sasuke, however, was less forgiving.

"You're too soft," he muttered, his eyes sharp as ever. His gaze lingered on Kimiko, disapproval clear on his face. "Letting her walk away with a scroll we needed. She's not our friend."

Kimiko met his gaze head-on, unmoved. "No, she's not. But she isn't our enemy either," she replied coolly. "Sometimes, letting people leave on their own terms builds loyalty more than any chain ever could. As for the scroll? Well, she did help us out. We're restored to full strength."

Sasuke tsked, looking away. "Whatever."

He'll understand one day, she thought to herself.I'm doing this for you.

But all debates on that front became moot when Kimiko noticed something far more concerning.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched Sasuke from the corner of her vision. His stance was as steady as always, but her senses picked up something off about him. Something faint but unmistakable — the slow, consistent drain of his chakra. It wasn't huge, not yet, but it was steady, like a crack in a dam. Her sensory abilities honed in on it, and she saw it with clarity.

The Curse Mark.

Her jaw tightened. It was as she feared. Despite Karin's healing, Sasuke's chakra wasn't stable. No, it was being siphoned. The Curse Mark was drinking it like a leech.

Kimiko said nothing at first. But as she watched his chakra trickle away slowly but steadily, she knew she had to act. They needed to finish this test as soon as possible, so she could ask for help.

"I'll handle hunting duties today," she said suddenly, standing up and brushing herself off.

Sasuke raised a brow. "We don't need food yet."

"Maybe you don't," Kimiko shot back, hands on her hips. "But I'm hungry. And it'll give me a chance to stretch my legs."

Naruto yawned, stretching out his arms. "I could go with you, y'know. The more, the better."

"No," Kimiko said firmly. She glanced at Naruto with a small, disarming smile. "You and Sasuke need to conserve your energy. I'll handle it. Besides, you guys got to be at your best if something comes up."

Her eyes shifted briefly to Sasuke, and for a moment, their gazes met. He squinted at her, like he knew she wasn't telling the whole truth, but in the end, he didn't argue.

"Fine," Sasuke muttered, leaning back against a tree. "Don't take too long."

I won't.

---

But in truth, food wasn't her only goal.

The forest around her was thick with humidity. Dew coated every surface, and distant birdsong echoed in the canopy. It was peaceful, in a way. Serene.

But Kimiko's mind was far from peaceful. Her gaze darted from bush to bush, tree to tree, her senses scanning not just for edible plants but for something more.

Let's see just how far this power goes, she thought, fingers grazing a patch of leaves. Her eyes flickered as she recognized it. A low-grade poison plant — a simple irritant if used on the skin, but when ingested, it could cause mild stomach cramps and nausea.

Her fingers lingered on the leaves.

This isn't like last time. I was immune to that caterpillar's venom. I'm not going in blind. This poison is nothing compared to it. I just need to see to what extent I'm immune.

Plucking a few leaves, she sat cross-legged at the base of a tree. Her tanto lay unsheathed beside her. She stared at the leaves in her hands for a moment before taking a slow, deep breath. Then, without hesitation, she crushed them in her palm and popped the bitter paste into her mouth.

Her face scrunched up. Bitter as hell, she thought, gagging slightly as the mushy substance slid down her throat. She half-expected her body to start revolting immediately. Nausea. Vomiting. Cold sweats. The usual.

But nothing happened. No cramps. No sweats. Her stomach was as steady as ever.

"...So I really am immune," she muttered, pressing a hand to her abdomen. Her eyes lowered to her hands. Her fingers flexed, her chakra flowing slowly from her core into her palms. She watched it closely, letting the chakra manifest around her fingertips.

It glowed faintly — not blue, not anymore. It was that same scarlet glow she saw back when she'd fought the Sound-nin. Not just scarlet — it pulsed with a dim, poisonous glow, flickering in and out like a heartbeat.

"...If I can't be poisoned, then I wonder if my chakra could finally do what I first intended it to be able to do when I did that experiment…?" Her brows furrowed in thought. She glanced at another patch of plants nearby. Another poisonous herb, a step up from the first. Not deadly, but strong enough to put someone in bed for a few days.

Her eyes narrowed with determination. Well, time to find out.

The sun moved slowly across the sky, but Kimiko didn't notice.

Her hands hovered over her tanto as she stared at the scarlet glow flickering around its edge. This time, she'd done it on purpose. Not by accident. She had taken in the poisons, let them simmer inside her, and taught her chakra to remember. It wasn't perfect. She could teach her chakra to mimic the exact properties of the poisons. And she could deliver said poison through tanto or senbon.

Her chakra had become something more than it was before. No longer mundane. It was now a medium for venom, rot, and decay. And every single poison she could realistically find and ingest.

No wonder Hanzo was so feared. And he only had access to one sort of poison… who knows what I could do with this?

Something in her twitched.

By the time she returned to camp around midday, two rabbits hung from her belt, but that wasn't the real prize.

The real prize was knowledge.

Naruto was the first to greet her, his grin wide and toothy. "Finally! I'm starving over here!"

"Yeah, yeah," Kimiko said with a small roll of her eyes. She tossed the rabbits to him, and he caught them with ease.

"You're amazing, Kimiko-chan!" Naruto grinned, looking like he was ready to worship her. "Rabbits AND herbs? I knew you were the best!"

"Of course I am," Kimiko said with a flip of her hair. She glanced over to where Sasuke was seated against a log, his eyes following her quietly.

Her eyes flicked to him again, her gaze sharper than before. How much chakra have you leaked since I left, Sasuke? she wondered. She could see it clearly now — that subtle, thin thread of chakra leaking from the base of his neck where the mark sat.

It was subtle, but her sensory skills didn't lie.

It's only going to get worse, she thought grimly. Her gaze lingered on him for just a little longer before she returned to Naruto.

"Alright, Naruto, get a fire going. I'll handle the rest."

"Yeah, yeah, leave it to me!" Naruto said, already gathering sticks and dry leaves. He crouched near the firepit, rubbing his hands with glee. "We're gonna eat like kings!"

"So," Kimiko started, brushing her hands clean of rabbit grease, "It's the fourth day. With each hour that passes, fewer and fewer people are left for us to take a scroll from."

Sasuke frowned. "You're right… so what do you suggest we do?"

Kimiko glanced at him, then at Naruto, who was leaning back against a log, patting his stomach like he just had a feast. Might as well rip the bandage off now, she thought.

"Well," she said slowly, "we have little choice but to go to the tower and find teams there. Collectors."

Naruto sat up straight, eyes scrunching in confusion. "Collectors? What's that?"

Kimiko gave him a flat look. "They're teams that hang around the tower to prey on other groups. They collect scrolls — sometimes to barter, sometimes to hand them over to teammates from their village, and sometimes just to reduce competition before the third test." She paused, letting her words sink in. "They'll wait for teams to arrive all battered and bruised from the forest, and then they swoop in to take them down."

"Cheh." Sasuke leaned forward, his eyes sharp and calculating. "And how do you know teams like that exist?"

Kimiko froze for half a second. It was a short pause, one she hoped went unnoticed, but she knew Sasuke was too sharp to miss it. Her mind raced for an answer. Come on, think, think...

"...It's common sense," she replied, shrugging casually. "If I were on a team without a scroll, I'd wait at the tower too. Why waste energy chasing people in the forest when you can wait for them to come to you? It's efficient. We already spoke about teams like these when we first got our scroll. It's only logical it escalates to collecting scrolls to deny other teams the opportunity."

Sasuke's gaze narrowed, his lips pursed into a line. His eyes flicked to her for a moment longer before glancing away. "Hmph. I guess that makes sense. "

That was too close.

It seemed none of them wished to linger in that place, and they were all eager to leave. The moment their plan was settled, they packed up their camp and leapt into the trees, bounding eastward toward the tower.

Travel, as Kimiko expected, was uneventful. It wasn't surprising. By the fourth day, the forest was less of a battleground and more of a waiting room for teams who had either secured their scrolls and were looking to ruin the chances of other teams, or teams who accepted failure. Kimiko knew the type. Those teams would rather sit in silence, licking their wounds and praying for a miracle, than risk it all on a last-ditch attempt. She could never understand that kind of thinking. If you're going to lose, then lose fighting.

But not every team was like hers. Naruto had a dream to chase. Sasuke had a legacy to reclaim. And Kimiko… she refused to be left behind.

When they finally reached the edge of the clearing that led to the tower, Kimiko's body tensed. She remembered this scene. Her eyes flicked to the distant tower rising above the canopy like a monolith, its silhouette framed against the sky.

If what I remember from the anime is right...

"Hold," she ordered, raising a clenched fist. Her voice was quiet but sharp. Naruto and Sasuke stopped on the branch beside her, their eyes instantly on her. They didn't question her. Not yet, at least.

"What is it?" asked Sasuke, his eyes scanning the trees around them.

Kimiko didn't answer right away. Her eyes roamed across the treeline, her gaze sharp like a hawk. Slowly, she crouched, pressing a finger to the rough bark of the branch. She closed her eyes, focusing her chakra into her sensory network. If I'm wrong, I'll look like a paranoid idiot. If I'm right…

Her breath steadied. Her heartbeat slowed. And then—there. She felt it. The faint hum of life beyond her vision. They weren't moving, just sitting still, buried in the shadows. It wasn't something she would have noticed if she wasn't actively searching for it.

Three of them.

"Three chakra signatures," she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her eyes opened, sharp as ever. "They're trying to conceal themselves. A fair distance away, but close enough to intercept us if we head straight for the tower."

Naruto glanced around, his eyes squinting like he was trying to see them too. "Where? I don't see 'em."

"You wouldn't," she replied, "They're hiding. Probably collectors, like we talked about. That, and they put a genjutsu that will trigger once we enter that path. They're banking on us not noticing. But I did. The flow of chakra around that path's all weird." She was thankful for Kurenai's help. Only her training made it so that she could identify the signs of genjutsu quickly.

Naruto's face twisted with a frown. "Tch, cowards."

Sasuke tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing with recognition. "They're smart," he muttered. "We're running on a time limit. They know teams will have to head this way eventually."

Kimiko's lips curled into a small, humorless smile. "Exactly. They're betting on desperation forcing teams to make mistakes. The closer we get to the tower, the easier it is to ambush us." Her gaze shifted to the tower's silhouette in the distance. "They've probably been here for hours, maybe since last night. Waiting. Watching."

"Then let's smoke 'em out!" Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles. "If they wanna fight dirty, I'll show 'em dirty!"

"Quiet down, idiot," snapped Sasuke, shooting Naruto a glare. "They don't know we spotted them yet. If you shout, they will."

Kimiko tapped her chin, her mind working through a plan. We have two choices. We could fight them directly, but that's risky. If they're collectors, they're confident. Cocky. They might have an advantage we don't know about. If we sneak around, they'll see us eventually. No, we need something smarter.

Her fingers flexed. Her eyes flicked to Naruto, then Sasuke.

"Alright," she said, "Here's the plan."

---

The approach to the tower was exactly what she expected — a carefully layered genjutsu.

It wasn't the flashy kind that warped reality with vivid illusions or grand displays of terror. No, this was the kind of genjutsu that could trick even seasoned shinobi. It bent perception at the edges, ever so slightly, like a mirage on a hot road. Subtle. Insidious.

Her sensory abilities flickered like a warning bell. The natural flow of chakra around her had shifted. It was faint, like an extra thread in a perfectly woven cloth. But more than that — the three chakra signatures she had been tracking vanished the moment they crossed into the area. It was the oldest sign of a genjutsu. The moment something "vanished" from your senses, you knew you were caught.

Her hands formed a single seal. "Kai."

The effect was instantaneous.

She placed her hands on their backs, letting a pulse of her chakra surge into them. It was sharp and quick, like a jolt of electricity snapping through their networks.

They both blinked.

"Ugh, what was that?" Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his head. His eyes darted around, scanning the trees, his body suddenly tense.

"A genjutsu," Kimiko said, brushing past him. "It's gone now. Don't fall for it again. It was meant to have us go in circles, then make it easier for them to swwop down on us when we get too tired."

Naruto clenched his fists, his grin returning. "Alright! I'm ready to crack some skulls! Let's go!" he declared, already looking around for the enemy.

Kimiko's fingers hovered over the bark of a nearby tree. She closed her eyes, her sensory range pushing outward like threads of invisible silk unfurling in every direction. Her pulse quickened as she caught it.

Three chakra signatures, moving fast. They're retreating.

Her eyes snapped open. She didn't hesitate. They'd realized the genjutsu had been broken and were running.

"Oh no, you don't," she muttered. She turned to Naruto. "Naruto. One hundred clones in front of us. Now. Have them go Northwest. We'll follow from a safe distance. Our little friends decided to run."

"Got it!" Naruto grinned, already forming his signature cross-hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A massive plume of smoke exploded around them.

When the smoke cleared, a hundred identical Narutos were crouched low on the branches, each one ready to spring into action. Kimiko didn't waste time, already calculating the distance to the enemy.

"Move!" she ordered, pointing northwest.

"YEAH! CHARGE!" yelled the lead clone, his voice echoed by the hundred others.

Like a flood of orange and blue, the clones darted forward, leaping from branch to branch like a swarm of bees. Leaves scattered in their wake, the air filled with the steady "fwip-fwip" sound of movement. It wasn't just an attack — it was a stampede.

Kimiko and the real Naruto followed behind from a safe distance, with Sasuke right beside them, his eyes sharp and flicking from one point to the next. His Sharingan wasn't activated, but Kimiko could tell by his posture that he was already thinking ahead, analyzing the movements.

The first ten clones reached a clearing — and disappeared in an instant.

Fwish-thwip-thwip-thwip!

The flash of metal caught Kimiko's eye. Kunai. A dozen of them.

A subtle snap of a tripwire echoed as a wall of kunai launched from the underbrush, cutting down the front line of clones. The clones popped into smoke with a sharp "poof."

"Figures," Kimiko muttered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned ahead. They trapped the whole path. The wires were nearly invisible, tucked between layers of bark and leaves. Tricky, but not tricky enough.

"They rigged the whole approach," Sasuke muttered, crouching beside her on the branch. He flicked his eyes toward her. "They knew we'd chase them."

"Of course, they did." Kimiko glanced at the kunai scattered below. Her eyes scanned for the tell-tale glint of thin wire between the trees. There. It was subtle, barely perceptible, but she saw it.

A silver thread stretching across the branches ahead.

"Smart, but it's only a problem if you fall for it," Kimiko muttered. She reached into her pouch and pulled out three senbon, her fingers flicking them into her knuckles. Her eyes tracked the silver threads carefully, following the path of each tripwire.

"I see it, too," Sasuke muttered, his eyes narrowing. "If they're smart, they'll expect us to avoid it, which means they've got another layer behind it."

Kimiko nodded, her mind racing.

"They're herding us."

Naruto frowned. "Herding? What does that mean?"

"Like sheep, idiot," Sasuke snapped. "They're funneling us into a narrow path. If we dodge the first trap, the second one will be harder to avoid. They'll try to pin us down into a choke point where we can't dodge at all."

Kimiko exhaled sharply, keeping her gaze focused on the path ahead. "They want us to stay reactive."

That was the key. They want us to dodge and react. If you're too busy dodging traps, you stop paying attention to the shinobi waiting to strike from behind.

"Naruto, double the clones."

"Huh?"

"Double the clones. Full blitz forward. I don't care if half of them get destroyed. Push through everything. Force them to reveal themselves. They can't trap us if they're too busy defending themselves."

Naruto blinked, then grinned wide. "I like it. Let's do it."

He formed the cross-seal again.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

This time, two hundred Naruto clones appeared, each one looking even more eager to smash their enemies to pieces. Kimiko grinned. It was a classic tactic. Overwhelm and conquer.

"Move, move, move!"

The clones surged forward in a second wave, crashing into the trap-laden path like a living tsunami. The first wave of clones triggered more tripwires. More kunai and shuriken rained down. Several clones popped like bursting balloons. But it didn't stop the charge.

The second wave of clones leapt over the traps, dodging past the spots the first wave had cleared. Their momentum didn't stop, pushing forward like an endless tide. Trap after trap triggered, but it wasn't enough.

"There!" Sasuke's eyes flashed, his hand pointing to the right. His gaze sharpened, locked on a flash of movement—a faint flicker in the foliage, just barely perceptible.

The enemy.

Kimiko's eyes zeroed in on it immediately. Her senses honed on the slight displacement in the leaves, the subtle rustle that didn't fit the natural rhythm of the forest. Movement too calculated. Too deliberate.

Got you.

Her grip tightened around the cold steel senbons she had in her knuckles, and with a slow, deliberate breath, she began kneading her corrupted chakra into them. The air around her hands grew heavier, the chakra shifting into a deeper, bloodier hue. She focused, her mind recalling the effects of one of the paralytic plants she'd gathered and consumed earlier for this purpose. The sensation was fresh in her memory — the prickling numbness that spread with just a light touch.

Her blood-red chakra coated the senbon, shimmering like molten rubies.

Kimiko's eyes locked on the target. No hesitation.

Her fingers flicked. Three needles. Three red streaks in the air.

The senbon tore through the foliage like missiles, their speed sharp and absolute. Fwish. Fwish. Fwish.

"Agh!" A cry of pain echoed from the brush. Then, a heavy thud as a body hit the ground.

Her heart jolted. Hit confirmed.

"Naruto!" she barked, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "Get your clones to converge on that point! Circle them in so they have nowhere to run!"

"You got it!" the hundred Narutos behind her answered in unison, their voices like a thunderclap.

Without wasting a moment, the clones moved in a coordinated crescendo.

They closed in like the links of a chain, surrounding the area where her senbon had struck. The underbrush shook as Naruto's copies leapt from branch to branch, ground to tree, like wolves herding prey. The sound of footsteps and the rustle of leaves filled the air.

"Ahah! I found him!" one of the clones yelled.

Kimiko's eyes flicked toward the source. There.

With a single push, she lunged from her position, her legs kicking off the branch with a burst of power. Her body soared through the air, arms trailing behind her as she moved like an arrow toward the foliage. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her tanto, the blade flashing in the sun's light.

Naruto was already there, his clones parting like a tide to allow him through. He landed at the same time she did, crouched like a predator ready to pounce.

Their prey?

A boy in the standard gray-blue attire of a shinobi. His headband marked him as one of the rain-nin. Oboro. His face twisted in pain, his breath shallow. His leg was the source of his downfall. Three senbon jutted from his thigh, right above his knee. The area around the puncture marks had gone stiff and purplish, the effect of the paralytic her chakra emulated already taking hold. His fingers twitched, clawing at the ground, but his leg didn't respond.

"Tch, you got me, huh?" Oboro hissed, glaring up at them, sweat pouring down his face. His voice was rough, thick with irritation and pain. He knew he'd been caught.

It's working.

Kimiko's eyes stayed cold and imperious. Her gaze flicked to his teammates. They were only a few feet away, half-turned as if they still intended to run. Two boys. Same headbands. Same worn-out expressions. They were cornered.

Naruto's clones pressed in tighter, closing the gap between them and the fleeing teammates. Every tree, every branch, every route was cut off. The walls were closing in.

"End of the line," Kimiko said softly, no anger or rage in her tone. Just certainty. Her gaze moved from Oboro to the two rain-nin, watching their frantic, darting eyes. She tilted her head slightly.

"No more running. You run, and I kill your teammate and kill you when, not if, we catch up."

One of the rain-nin hesitated, his hands half-raised in a defensive posture. He glanced at the circle of Naruto clones, his face pale with sweat. He knew. They all knew.

"Surrender, and we'll be kind and let you live, we just need your scroll." Kimiko continued, stepping forward, her tanto pointed at them. "And, well. Everything you have."

The boy who had been ready to bolt glanced at his paralyzed teammate, then at the tanto glinting at her side. His eyes darted to Sasuke, who stood on a high branch, eyes sharp as ever, his fingers already wrapped around the handle of a kunai. Then to Naruto, who grinned like he'd been waiting for this moment.

The boy's hands raised

The other followed a second later, right after he dug into his pocket, producing a familiar cream colored scroll.

Bingo.

From that point on, everything went smoothly. They tied up the three Rain-nin and, of course, took everything of value: kunai, shuriken, paper bombs, and most importantly, the scroll. With their objective secured, they wasted no time leaving the area and making their way to the tower. The journey was surprisingly uneventful, facing little, if any, resistance along the way.

To Kimiko's surprise, there was no one waiting for them at the entrance. No teams. No traps. Just quiet. Their entry into the facility was as plain as walking through an open door.

"There's no one here," Naruto muttered as he glanced around the empty reception area. His voice echoed faintly off the tall, blank walls. His eyes darted from side to side, expecting something to jump out.

Kimiko's gaze, however, was drawn to the large white scroll on the wall ahead. Her eyes scanned it carefully, taking in the familiar inscription.

"If qualities of heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. When heaven and earth are opened together, the perilous path will become righteous forever. This 'blank' is the secret way, that guides us from this place today."

Kimiko's lips moved as she quietly recited the words, her voice barely a whisper. "This... this is familiar." Her eyes narrowed as her memory clicked. It was something she remembered from the anime, clear as day. She knew exactly what it meant.

"Obviously about the scrolls," Kimiko muttered, already pulling them out of her pouch. "We're supposed to open them together."

She handed one scroll each to Sasuke and Naruto, their eyes sharp with attention. Both of them took the scrolls gingerly, as if they were handling lit fuses. Naruto's throat bobbed as he gulped.

"Well… here goes nothing," he said, steeling himself.

The three of them glanced at one another, a silent countdown in their heads, and in sync, Naruto and Sasuke unfurled the scrolls together. The second they did, the familiar pattern of a summoning array burst into view, white ink spiraling like chains locking into place.

"...Man? Human?" Said Sasuke, squinting at the scroll, before realization dawned on his face.

Kimiko stayed calm. She'd seen this part before. She knew what it was.

"It's a summoning jutsu," she said, glancing at Naruto and Sasuke as she stepped back. "Toss it away. Now."

"WHAT?!—" Naruto yelped, his eyes going wide. Sasuke, however, reacted immediately.

"Do it!" Sasuke barked, and both boys flung the scrolls across the room, letting them land with a dull thud on the stone floor.

The scrolls glowed with a searing white light, the smoke bursting upward like a cloud of mist. Naruto crouched defensively, ready to bolt if something big came charging out.

But instead, as the smoke cleared, a familiar figure emerged from within the haze.

"You all did well," said a calm, familiar voice.

It was Iruka-sensei, standing with his arms crossed, a proud but gentle smile on his face.

"Hey, kids, it's been a while, eh?" he said, his eyes warm with pride. "You three look much better than I expected."

"Iruka-sensei?!" Naruto's face lit up like the sun. "What are you doing popping out of a summoning scroll?!"

"At the end of the second exam, we Chuunin are assigned to greet and welcome the test takers," Iruka explained, glancing at them with fond eyes. "It just so happened that I got to be the messenger for you three."

"Messenger, huh?" Kimiko raised a brow, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Yup," Iruka replied, pulling a small pocket watch from his vest and flipping it open. "And with one day to spare. Very good." His gaze swept over them, his chest puffing with pride. "Congratulations, you all passed the second exam with flying colors!"

Naruto and Sasuke grinned at each other, relief washing over their faces. Kimiko exhaled slowly, letting herself finally relax.

"This calls for a celebration," Iruka continued, tucking the pocket watch away. "I wish I could take you three out for some ramen at Ichiraku, but—"

He didn't get to finish. Naruto launched himself forward, tackling Iruka in a tight hug. "WOOOO! YESSS!" he yelled, his face buried in Iruka's chest.

"Oi, Naruto!" Iruka stumbled, catching his balance as he glanced down at the blonde ball of energy attached to him. "Let me finish!"

"I'm so happy!" Naruto squeezed him tighter, a wide, toothy grin plastered on his face. Iruka couldn't help but chuckle, patting Naruto on the back. Kimiko giggled too, her eyes filled with affection at the sight of them.

Naruto finally pulled away, but only to keep hopping in place like a child on a sugar rush. His arms shot into the air. "WOO! RAMEN! I'M SO HAPPY, YOU KNOW?! WE DID IT! WE DID IT!"

"Look at him," Sasuke muttered, arms crossed, his eyes locked on Naruto as if he were watching a circus act. "He just doesn't run out of energy, does he?"

"Yup, and I love him for it," Kimiko said with a smile, her eyes warm as she watched Naruto.

"...You haven't slowed down a bit, huh, Naruto?" Iruka said fondly, watching the boy jump up and down like an excited puppy.

And then, unexpectedly, Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His gaze shifted to Iruka, sharp and calculating.

"...I see," he muttered, his tone far more serious than before. His eyes flicked to the now-open scrolls lying on the floor. "If we had opened the scrolls before we got here… what would have happened, Iruka-sensei?"

Naruto stopped mid-jump, blinking at Sasuke. Kimiko turned her head as well, though she already knew the answer. She stayed silent, waiting.

Iruka's smile shifted ever so slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement and pride. "You're as sharp as ever, Sasuke."

He bent down to pick up the opened Earth Scroll, holding it up for them to see. The summoning seal was still visible, its ink patterning curling with precision. Iruka's voice was steady but firm as he continued.

"As you seem to have guessed, an important part of this exam was to demonstrate your ability to remain within a mission's stated parameters." He flipped the scroll once, letting them see the seal clearly. "You were specifically instructed not to open the scrolls until you arrived here."

Sasuke's eyes didn't waver. "And if we opened it, I suppose you would have done something to ensure we don't complete the exam?"

Kimiko tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. She could already tell where this was going. "I'm guessing you'd knock us out, right?" she said, her voice sharp but calm. "I doubt it'd be as simple as disqualifying us. You'd have to make sure we didn't interfere with the rest of the exam."

Iruka raised a brow, clearly impressed. "Very intuitive as ever, Kimiko." He nodded slowly, his tone shifting to a more serious edge. "Yes. Our orders were clear. Anyone found standing around an opened scroll before reaching the tower was to be knocked unconscious until the exams were over. No exceptions."

"Oh, right, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said, pointing at the same whiteboard where they found the riddle-like poem. "Mind telling us what that means?"

Iruka blinked, then grinned wide. "Wow, I didn't expect that from you, Naruto. You matured a little, at least."

"Heh, shut up," Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his head with a bashful smile.

Iruka crossed his arms, his face growing more serious. "These are the directives set down by Lord Third for all Chuunin," he explained.

"Directive?" Naruto repeated, tilting his head in confusion.

"That's right." Iruka nodded. "In this text, 'Heaven' refers to the human mind, and 'Earth' refers to the human body." His gaze shifted to the board as he recited it aloud. "If qualities of heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher."

He turned to the three of them. "In other words, if Naruto's weakest area is his brain and academic knowledge," Iruka tapped his temple with his thumb, "he's gotta study hard and learn the principles that will help him succeed on missions."

Naruto frowned, crossing his arms in a pout. "Tch, you didn't have to call me out like that, sensei."

Ignoring him, Iruka continued. "If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack."

He looked directly at them. "If a person's weak point is their physical strength or stamina, then they need to train hard to increase their skills. It's that simple."

Iruka smirked, his eyes flicking between them. "And once you access the qualities of both Heaven and Earth, no mission—no matter how dangerous—will be a wrong path for you. You'll be able to walk a safe path even in the midst of the most perilous mission."

Kimiko's eyes narrowed as she analyzed the message. "And… the blank space?" she asked, pointing at the space left open in the poem. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Iruka's grin widened. "Good catch, Kimiko." He reached into his pouch and pulled out the unfurled Heaven scroll, holding it up for them to see. "The word that goes there is a description of what a Chuunin should be." He pointed at the interior of the scroll. "The single character that belongs in that blank space is the word for 'Jin' . It means 'one person' or 'all people.'"

"One person… or all people?" Sasuke echoed, furrowing his brow in thought.

"That's right." Iruka nodded, his eyes glinting with pride as he glanced at them one by one. "A Chuunin isn't just responsible for themselves anymore. They're responsible for others, their teammates, their squad, and sometimes even a village. 'Jin' represents the duty to be both a leader and a protector. It's not about individual glory anymore."

Kimiko's lips pressed into a thin line as she mulled over his words. Naruto glanced at her, then back at the scroll, his eyes flickering with quiet understanding. Even Sasuke's posture shifted, his shoulders no longer as tense as before.

"The challenge of this exam," Iruka said, rolling the scroll back up, "was designed to test those qualities. We weren't just seeing who could fight or survive. We wanted to know who could think, who could strategize, and most of all, who could lead."

His eyes swept over the three of them with quiet pride. "All three of you passed. No, excelled.."

Naruto beamed. "Heh, of course we did! I mean, with me on the team, we—"

"Don't get cocky, Naruto," Sasuke muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Sasuke's right," Kimiko added, side-eyeing Naruto. "There's still the third test to pass, and it's gonna be the hardest."

"Chuunin are unit commanders, responsible for leading their teams," Iruka said, stepping forward, his tone more serious than it had been all day. Naruto immediately stopped talking, and even Sasuke's eyes shifted to him. "They can only fulfill that duty by a combination of strength and intelligence. And I can't emphasize this enough—learn it, live it, believe it from the bottom of your heart."

He looked them all in the eyes, his gaze unwavering. "Keep the Chuunin Directive foremost in your mind as you move on to the next exam."

The three of them stood silently, the weight of his words sinking in.

After a pause, Iruka sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, that's it. That's the whole message."

"Yes, sir!" They said in unison, voices echoing in the large chamber.

Iruka looked at them for a moment, his smile faltering. His eyes grew thoughtful, and for a moment, it seemed like he was choosing his next words carefully.

"But… about the Third Exam," Iruka said slowly, his gaze sweeping over each of them, his brow furrowed with concern. "Don't overdo it." His eyes softened as they landed on Naruto. "Especially you, Naruto. I worry about you."

Naruto stiffened. His eyes flicked to Iruka, his lips pressing into a firm line. Then, with a quiet but unshakable resolve, he stepped forward.

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto's voice was calm but steady, his gaze fierce as his hand reached up to grab the metal plate of his forehead protector. "The day I got this Leaf headband, I stopped being a student. No need to worry about me!" His grip on the headband tightened.

"This headband… it's proof of my maturity," Naruto continued, his voice rising, his eyes locked on Iruka's. "I got it from you, Iruka-sensei. My temper hasn't changed much, and maybe I'm still impulsive and full of energy…" His gaze grew more determined, more fierce. "...but I'm not a kid anymore, you know?!"

Silence.

Kimiko glanced at him, and a small, proud smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She tilted her head slightly, watching him with something like affection.

"I'm…" Naruto's voice grew stronger, each word striking like a hammer. "A full-fledged shinobi. I've got two teammates relying on me, and two teammates I can rely on." He raised his hand, pointing firmly at his chest. "You got that?!"

Iruka blinked in surprise, his eyes wide with something between shock and pride. Even Sasuke glanced over at him, his gaze slightly softer than usual.

Kimiko took a step forward, standing beside Naruto.

"Naruto has me and Sasuke, Iruka-sensei," she said, her voice calm. "We'll never let each other down." She glanced at Naruto, then at Sasuke, then back to Iruka. "This is just one of the mountains we have to climb."

Her words echoed Iruka's own from long ago, and his eyes widened, lips parting slightly. She could see the recognition in his eyes, as if he'd just been hit by his own reflection. Then, slowly, a proud smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"...I see." His voice was soft but warm, his eyes full of pride. "Apologies, Naruto. Kimiko. Sasuke." His gaze swept over each of them in turn. "I can see now… you're not just students anymore. You're shinobi."

Naruto's grin widened so much it could have split his face in half. "Heh! About time you realized that, sensei!" He jabbed a thumb at himself, his grin practically glowing with pride.

"Well," Iruka said with a grin, his tone lighter now, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "You've got one day to yourselves before the Third Exam. Most of your classmates made it, so you could go ahead and spend time with them. Oh, and your sensei is here too. Came in with the other jounin-sensei."

"Alright!" Naruto beamed, his fists clenched in front of him like he was ready to burst into a sprint. "I'm so ready!"

Kimiko glanced at him, shaking her head with a small laugh. "You're too energetic for someone who just survived the Forest of Death."

Sasuke smirked but didn't say anything, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Kimiko's gaze lingered on both of them. They did it. They'd actually done it. They passed the second exam. Her heart felt light, and she could feel the slight tiredness make her limb ache. But she didn't care. The pride outweighed the fatigue.

Her smile faded, though, as her gaze shifted to Sasuke's neck. Her eyes traced the faint, dark marks that spread from the cursed mark.

The curse was still pulsing, radiating that evil senjutsu chakra from Orochimaru.

Her gaze then flicked to Naruto. He was talking animatedly with Iruka, arms flailing as he boasted about all the traps they dodged and all the clones he summoned. His grin was as wide as ever, but something about it made Kimiko's heart tighten.

Naruto's seal. Orochimaru had tried to tamper with it. She stopped his attempt…but who knows if Orochimaru tried to do it again when she was unconscious? Two curses. Two teammates.

And then there was her.

Her gaze dropped to her own hand, fingers twitching as she remembered the glow. The way her chakra had bled red like blood. The sensation of power — real power — surging through her for the first time. It was hers. The fruit of her nearly ruining her body.

Her fingers flexed, and for the briefest moment, a faint red flicker danced on the tips of her fingers before vanishing like a snuffed-out flame.

"...What do I even tell them?" she whispered to herself, her eyes still on her hand. "What do I tell them about me?"

But for now, rest.