Dedication is…

PS!! I finished up chapter 35!! If you want go and read it!! Particularly if you are confused. You shouldn’t be though

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Chapter 36

I was laying on my bed in the tower, my arms under my head. I was just relaxing and letting my guard down for a while.

I heard a knock on my door and my hand went to my scope to detect the chakra behind the door. It was Sasuke… huh.

I’ve been thinking about what happened in the forest for a while and the semi-conclusion I came too. Let myself feel… but to do that I need Sasuke near me. I’m so… shy about it. I want to find out, I do. I really do but I don’t want to lose a friend…

“Come in Sasuke!” I called out, Sakura and I share a room and Sasuke and Naruto share one. Naruto had gone to look for food and Sakura went to find out who passed and didn’t so far. Those who haven’t have got until three today.

The door opened and closed and I looked over to Sasuke, sitting up on the bed with a smile. He smirked at me and lent on the wall in beside the door.

“How are you?” I asked and he furrowed his eye brows. I tapped the side of my neck. “The mark.”

He tensed and rubbed his neck. “The pain comes and it goes,” he muttered and then shock his head at that. “What about you?”

I laughed at his way of asking how I was with the new information on his… crush on me. Let myself feel Emi… that’s all you have to do.

“Be blunt Sasuke. An explosion has nothing to hide, it’s there and in your face,” I stressed to him, he chuckled at me. “Like me!”

“Like you… but not right now,” He pointed out and my eye twitched. “What are you thinking about?”

I clenched my eyes shut… I never thought I’d have to deal with it now. But he is right, I’m not being up front about it, which is unlike me. I sighed and I got up off of the bed before walking over to Sasuke who still leaning on the wall.

I looked at him in the eyes. “Your right, I’ve got nothing to hide. I’m Emiko doesn’t have a last name so I’ll use Kin, so Emiko Kin,” I stated and I put my hands on my hips. “You, Sasuke Uchiha like me.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened a little and he smirked. “That’s the truth,” he agreed with my statement and I bit my lip.

How… does he know that he likes me? how would I know if I like him? Let myself feel? Is that how he knows? “Kiss me,” I muttered and he tensed. I looked at him, determination in my eyes.

Sasuke relaxed and he moved and pressed his lips to mine. I closed my eyes and I let myself feel… my heart was racing… head spinning… I reacted without thinking. My hands reached up and I threaded my fingers behind his head. Coping what he was doing with the kiss.

Sasuke’s arms came around me and held me to him. When we parted, he looked me into the eyes and I smiled. I could feel it… what Naruto explained to me about his crush. He just knew… and even though I never thought of Sasuke like this… doesn’t mean that I couldn’t have had a crush on him… that I liked him. I just never knew the feeling before; I had nothing to base it on... It just happened without me knowing.  

I suddenly giggled, I actually giggled at the thought of my brother. “He is going to kill us,” I whispered and Sasuke blinked at me. “Deidara… I think he hates Uchiha’s…”

Sasuke’s eyes widened and he smirked at him. “I’m not like the one he has met, I won’t use the Sharingan against you,” he retorted and I laughed.

I rested my forehead on his shoulder. “I like you too…”

He chuckled a little. “I guessed,” he replied to me and I pulled back, lightly hitting him over the head.

“Don’t guess anything, because I’m as fleeting as my art,” I warned him and he smirked at me.

“I won’t let this become fleeting, Emi,” he stressed to me and I smiled at him.

I wrapped my arms around him, content. “I’m glad… but I swear to Jasihn. We are going to tell Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi together after we get out of this tower. I am not doing that alone, Naruto would try and kill you, Sakura will try to kill me… and Kakashi-sensei…” We both shivered in fright. “Perverted sensei!”

Sasuke chuckled at me, “We will… Emi,” he stated and I smiled happily.

Out of the blue, there was a thud on the window. I jumped a bit and Sasuke and I let go of each other. I looked at the window and I saw… a clay bird! My E3…

I ran right over to the bird and I slammed the window open. The bird flew in and landed on my head. I smiled at it happily.

“Emi… what is this about?” Sasuke spoke up and I went to my bed after I closed the window.

I took the bird off of my head and I noticed a new letter. It reached him… it actually reached him…

“It’s my E3… I can send a letter with it to anyone. Do you remember when Naruto ran to the bridge with a clay bird behind him?” I questioned and Sasuke nodded his head. “it was a test run… the bird went to him without knowing where he lived… so I sent one to Deidara… that was ten days ago… it must have got there fire days ago…”

I pulled the letter free and I saw that the writing wasn’t there. Sasuke came over to my side and sat next to me.

“He forgot to write,” Sasuke pointed out and I stuck my tongue out at me.

“My dear, dear, Sasuke. You have much to learn of the true abilities of my art,” I informed him like I was a prophet; Sasuke looked at me with an eye brow raised.

“How are you going to do anything with the letter then?” he question me and my eye twitched. He just referred to my lack of clay.

My hand went into my shuriken pouch and I pulled out a little clay creature. I put my hand out and showed him my art.

“I had a feeling that if the bird returned, it would return while we were in an exam, so I had it premade so I could just read the letter right then and there,” I stated with a grin.

I put the special clay creature on the letter and formed the hand seal. “Katsu!” boom, the smoke covered the letter.

I waved the smoke away and there is the letter from my brother. I smiled so brightly.

‘Dear Little Bomber,

I’m amazed at your E3, I knew that your E1’s were pretty amazing but this? You were able to get a letter to me without knowing where I was! You have no idea how freaked out everyone was when your clay bird flew into the hideout. Everyone was their feet and ready for an attack, and it landed on my head. Did you make it do that? Or to follow me around, because it did… and it attacked Uchiha when he looked at it with those damned eyes after I read the letter,’ I laughed at that. Well, look at that, my bird knew I wanted to hit Itachi. Go my bird. ‘What other E arts do you have?

Heh, everyone had different reactions from the letter. Uchiha was twitching at the ‘damned eyes’ comment and getting threated to get punched in the face. Kisame doesn’t believe that your pout got better… and if it did. Use it in a fight! Sasori no Danna, called me more of a brat then you, which I resent! Both of us aren’t brats, un. Hidan made a bet with his partner where Hidan said that there are people in this world that believe in Jashinism… he won and his partner kicked his ass, it was funny the reactions you got from people.

Leader wishes for you to know that… if you wanted to… you could come to us… come back to me. I’m not sure how I like the idea of you being a part of all this but I want my little sister with me and we have to spread the word that Art is Fleeting, together. And it would be fun to tag team on Sasori when he would disagrees with us. Also, I want to help you in your training, it sounds like your trying hard but you have to practice more than your art! Even though our art is amazing, we wouldn’t be good ninja if we were just one trick pony’s.

Suddenly, I noticed that yet again on this letter it seems like the pen was ripped out of his hand and different style hand writing was there.

‘It’s Kisame. How have you been kiddo? Seems like Deidara already told you about my reaction to the new and improved pout of yours. I think you should use it in a fight, play up in innocent act while fighting and a person won’t take you seriously then take them down. Deception is a ninja’s best friend kid, remember that. Deidara is also right, train more than just your art; taijutsu is smart but have other jutsu’s you can use, your earth natured right? Learn some earth style jutsu or something. Good luck in the Chuunin exams, you’re going to need it. Particularly if what we heard about Orochimaru roaming around is true.

Deidara’s hand writing was back and I was tense. They knew that Orochimaru was here?

‘Kisame… you really have him wrapped around your finger. He isn’t a soft guy but one mention of you and he goes all… dazey. He was ticked off that someone almost killed you as well! You have an overprotective fishy man on your side Emi, feel protected.

Now, who was the one who almost killed you? I have a right to know this Emi… tell me,’ I chuckled a little; I can already here the protective tone in his voice. ‘Also, have you noticed anything different about you? Because of the Kinjutsu that you were born with? It’s something that’s been nagging on me since I left you to Konoha. I’m… worried and curious at the same time.

Damn it! The Uchiha bastard just walked past me and Kisame, saw the letter and told me to write that ‘if you try to punch me, you will surely fail,’ bastard. Punch him hard Emi, he mocks our art and your abilities.

I guess this is all I can say, besides that how unlucky are we? I’m stuck with one Uchiha and you’re stuck with the other. The girl who called you useless is asking to be turned into art and someone that reminds you of me? Impossible, I’m the only one who’s like me! un!

I love you sister… write back to me. I miss you so much. I can’t wait until I can see you again. Find a picture of you now and send it as well. I want to see how much my sister has grown.

Love from you big brother, Deidara.’

I felt tears forming in my eyes at the letter. I miss him so much… I hugged the letter to myself and I clenched my eyes closed.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked at Sasuke. He had read the letter, but he looked like he was worried for me.

“You miss him, don’t you?” he asked me and I nodded my head. I pulled off my scope and I looked at it. “He gave it to you?”

“Yeah… and my clay pouch. I know I can make myself a new one… but it’s not the same. Stupid snake freak, mocking my art, touching my things… I’m going to lose it if I see him again! I might actually take out my frustration on the Iwa nin! They want me dead… I’ll show them how truly alive I am. No one messes with the Little Bomber and gets away with it. Not even old friends, un.” I snapped, punching my hand into my bad one. Well, actually it’s all healed now but Sakura still wants me to have it braced. I think that girl would make one good medic… she’s acts like one.

Sasuke smirked at me, shaking his head. “Your emotions are going everywhere. First your kissing me then all excited, then sad and now angry?” he listed out and I snickered at him with a smile. “And now you’re laughing.”

“It’s who I am Sasuke, I’m Emiko, the person who is just like her art,” I put back on my scope and I stretched. “You like this craziness, Jashin knows why. Because now you’re in for the explosion of a life time, be afraid, be very afraid,” I said in a creepy tone, slowly creeping off of the bed and onto the ground.

He shook his head. “I like you, because you’re unlike any other girl. Any other Kunochi,” he informed me and I smiled.

“Damn straight if the world had two Emiko’s, there wouldn’t be a world left,” I retorted, grabbing my bird. I closed my eyes and I said. “Go to my home, I’ll be there soon,” then I let go of the bird, and walked to the window and opened it. The bird flew out.

I lent on the wall and I looked back at Sasuke. He was watching me. I raised an eye brow and he did the same.

“Ground rules, if this thing between us is going to work, there has to be ground rules,” I said out of the blue. He blinked once at me. “One, if Ino or any of your other fangirls hug you or touch you, I’m destroying them. I can get protective of those I care about and I won’t like it if my… umm, are you my boyfriend? I don’t think we talked about this…” I looked at the roof and Sasuke chuckled.

“Yes, and your my girlfriend,” he stated. Well, I guess that’s one way to start a relationship. Just state that we’re together and we are, none of the asking someone out stuff. Be straight to the point and there for everyone to see like an explosion.

“Good, anyway, I won’t like it if my boyfriend gets hit on or whatever fangirls do. I will get angry and I will destroy them… heh, and I have more of a reason to now, hmm,” Sasuke smirked at me. “Two, we don’t change who we are around each other. We’re still Emiko and Sasuke, just… Emiko and Sasuke together. Three… if this ends between us, I don’t want to lose the friendship we had… we were close and I don’t want to lose that.”

I rubbed my arms at the thought of losing Sasuke all together because we were silly and had silly crushes and decided to ruin what we had as friends.

Sasuke nodded. “Agreed. But I’ve got a few things to add. Four, don’t kill yourself in an explosion,” my eye twitched at that. “Five, any boy goes to flirt with you, I have the right to act accordingly.”

I snorted at that. “As if Sasuke. Most boys unlike you are frightened of me and my art. And the explosion thing? Yeah, I’ll try not to but if I’m going to die anyway, I’d rather go out in a bang,” I pointed out.

 Sasuks sighed and got off of the bed and headed to me. He put a hand on my check. “You really don’t see how beautiful you are, do you?” I raised an eye brow. “You are.”

I shook my head at him and I hugged him. “Don’t be a sap… but thank you… your pretty handsome yourself… with duckbutt hair,” Sasuke sighed at me. “I told you I won’t change. I can’t help but to pick on you. Dark duck.”

“Dumb blonde,” I snickered at the reply. I deserved that.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Emi!” Sasuke and I jumped apart, well, he did. I just slide down to the ground. “Is Sasuke in there? Naruto found food and he wants to eat!” Sakura called into here.

My eyes widened. Finally food! “Yeah! He is,” I pocketed my letter. “Come in guys!” the door opened and in walked the two other team mates.

“Emi! We have food!” Naruto exclaimed, walking over to me with a two plates of food, one for him and one for me. Sakura had Sasuke’s.

“Yes!” I took my plate and we headed into the middle. We all sat down in a circle. In silence we ate, Sakura told us who was here and who wasn’t Iwa nin were… great. Sasuke sometimes through looks at me and I’d stick my tongue out at him.

Naruto laughed at me when I did it, bumping my shoulder, I bumped his and then he did the same to me again. Eventually, we had our plates away from us and were attacking each other in good fun. Well, more like wrestling on the ground. Sakura sighed at our antics.

I pulled on Naruto’s hair and he pulled on mine. “I’m going to win!” Naruto shouted and I disagreed.

“The most artistic one will always win!” I exclaimed and he laughed at me.

“Then of course I will win!” He retorted and my eye twitched.

“You’re not an artist! You’re a prankist,” I snapped, grabbing onto his leg and pulling. He yelped and I cackled.

“I haven’t seen them like this before…” Sakura trailed off as Naruto went to bite me but missed and bit himself.

I laughed at him and I used my hand mouths to bite him. “Don’t try to bite someone with more mouths then you!”

“hn, I haven’t either…” Sasuke muttered back to Sakura as Naruto punch my back.

“Should be separate them?” Sakura asked of Sasuke and I kicked Naruto in the leg and we rolled away from the two.

“Hn,” Sasuke replied.

Naruto and I were so absorbed in our mock fight, that when Sasuke and Sakura came over to us, we didn’t notice until Sasuke had gotten a hold on me and Sakura the same with Naruto.

They yanked us a part and both Naruto and I tried to get out of their hold. Wiggling half-hearted to get out of their hold.

“Stop it you two!” Sakura exclaimed, hitting Naruto over the head. Naruto yelped and I kept fighting Sasuke.

“Must attack the fellow blonde!” I called out and Naruto stopped fighting Sakura.

He looked over at me with a fake sad look. “Our funs over Emi… it’s a draw this time,” he informed me and I sighed, going limp in Sasuke’s hold.

“I shall win the next time,” I stated and Sasuke sighed.

“Next time? You guys do this often?” Sakura asked of me and Naruto and I nodded at the same time.

“Dah, it’s what happens. We’re both competitive people. But we haven’t really done this in a while… we were due for it I guess,” I chuckled, shrugging my shoulders.

All of a sudden, the door opened and there was Kakashi. He blinked at us. “Do I want to know?” he asked and we laughed, well, Sasuke chuckled and Sakura, Naruto and I laughed.

“No, sensei. No you don’t,” Sakura stated and Sasuke and Sakura both let go of Naruto and I. I headed over to Sakura and I put my arm on her shoulder.

“Sakura’s right, you’ll just be asking for a headache,” I added and Kakashi’s eye widened.

He looked between us in shock. “Emi… did you just agree with Sakura… and standing that close to her and not attacking her? And Sakura’s letting you?”

Sakura and I both chuckled. “Sensei, we can get along now,” we both said at the same time.

I think we frightened sensei as he muttered. “What did the forest do to those girls…” he shook his head. “The second exam’s over, follow me.”

We blinked at him and nodded. Here we go.

Third Pov.

The genin who passed were standing in front of the Jounin sensei’s and some chuunin and the Hokage, looking at everyone. There were 24 people who passed this exam, meaning that eight teams have passed the second exam

One Oto Team, One Suna team, One Iwa team, Five Konoha teams.

Everyone in the room was thinking simular things, and that was the amount of people who have passed the second exam.

The Jounin’s of the teams that passed were proud of their students. Like Guy was…

“Your team is pretty good,” Guy said to his rival who was standing beside him. “Perhaps they were lucky. I mean, I did train one of them. But as long as my team is here, they can’t go any further… Since, in the next stage, personal abilities will be critical. Youth is sweet and sour, and sometimes strict, Kakashi,” Guy looked over to his rival with a grin type smirk thing.

Kakashi blinked once and looked at Guy. “Hmm? Did you say something?” Kakashi questioned the green beast of Konoha.

Guy clapped his hands to his head and yelled. “Oh my god!” he looked away from kakashi, shaking his fist in anger, thinking. That was pretty good, rival Kakashi. That attiude is somewhat ‘modern’, and pisses me off. Poor Guy… can’t handle Kakashi’s attiude

The genins who saw the altercation just sort of worried for that jounin’s sanity… well, what’s left of it. His little clone was thinking nothing but praise for the man. Muttering “Just watch, guy-sensei… I will shine, too!”

Other genin were thinking about the ones they wished to fight, to see their true skills and wanting to fight them.

The Iwa team were watching Emiko carefully. All three were tense. “He didn’t kill her!” Yumi hissed to her sisters.

Rin narrowed her eyes on the artist, noticing the lack of clay pouch. She smirked. “She’s artless… meaning she’s useless,” Rin stated to the other two.

Rikku and Yumi both looked over the girl, also noticing the lack of clay pouch. Rikku also noticed the bandage around her hand. “She’s injured too. She’s going to be too easy to beat,” Rikku added, the other two nodded. Maybe Orochimaru did them a favour and got Emiko weak for them to kill.

Little did they know that Emiko heard. They were near each other. Emiko smirked to herself. Yes, keeping the bandage on was a smart idea. Kisame was right; deception is a ninja’s best friend.

Yuuki-sensei… the jounin of the Iwa team was tense. She hated being in Konoha and she was near Kakashi Hatake, the teacher of Deidara’s sister. Oh yes, she hates this place so much… but her revenge is going to be sweet on this village and on… a certain bomber.

It seems like revenge is in the air around here. Naruto looked back at his team as he was in the front, Emiko behind him, Sasuke behind her and Sakura behind him.

“All the rookies made it too…” Sakura muttered.

Naruto spoke up in a whisper. “Hey, hey, old man Hokage, Iruka-sensei and the super brows are here, too,” Emiko snickered. “Feels like everyone important is here,” Emiko nodded, her eyes landing on Yuuki. Oh yes… yes it does.

Sasuke hissed in pain a little, holding his neck where the mark is. Emiko looked back to see and she looked worried. “I don’t have a good feeling about it, though.”

The Hokage was shocked at the sight of all of the newer genin that made it. But he understood why they were recommended now. He was proud of his village’s newest genin.

Anko smirked at everyone, getting everyone’s attention. “We will now have an explanation of the Thrid Exam from Hokage-sama. Everyone listen well,” she looked back to the Hokage and bowed her head towards him. “Hokage-sama, please do the honours.”

The old man coughed to clear his throat and step up towards the Genin.

Emiko’s pov.

“The third Exam will begin. But before the explanation, there’s one thing I want to make clear to all of you. It’s about the true purpose of this exam,” mostly everyone’s eyes widened at the Hokage declaration. “Why we do a joint exam with the allied nations. ‘to maintain good relations with the allied nations’ and ‘heighten the level of the ninja’,” my eyes narrowed a little in thought. But why are Iwa here… their not part of the allied nations… “Do not let those reasons deceive you. This ‘exam’, so to speak, is…” the hokage took his pipe out of his mouth and sighed. Looking up at all of us. “The epitome of a war between the allied nations.”

Everyone tensed at the mention of war. Everyone in this room knew from the history books how bad war can get, so the mere mention of war can be scary. My eyes darted over to the Iwa nin. Is that why they’re here… for the war aspect of the exam and to kill me?

“What do you mean?” Tenten spoke up, the question that I knew many were thinking about.

“If we go back through history, the allied nations right now were neighbouring countries that have fought each other over and over again. to avoid wasting military power, those countries decided to choose a place to fight. That is the beginning of the Chuunin exam,” this got a reaction out of a lot of genin. They were not happy to fight a stand in war.

“Why do we have to do that?” Naruto called out, one of the people who didn’t like what the Hokage just said. “We’re not doing this to select Chuunin’s?”

The hokage took a puff of his pipe. “Yes, this Exam does examine those who are worthy of the Chuunin title. But on the other hand, it’s also a place where ninja fight and carry their country’s dignity.”

“Country’s dignity?” Sakura spoke up, sounding confused.

“In this Third Exam, feudal lords and famous people from various countries who may be potential clinets are invited here as guests. And feudal lords from countries with hidden villages and ninja leaders will see your battles. If there’s a significant difference in power, the strong country will be flooded with jobs. If a country is seen as weak, their jobs decrease. And at the same time, countries are able to show how their village has grown and possess excellent military power to the adjacent countries. In other words, they can put foreign pressure on them,” the Hokage spoke to us genin. My eyes darted to Kabuto. That’s what he said before the exam… did he already know?

The more he spoke, the more and more I annoyed I got. We are being used for war, and it was bugging me. I was used in Iwa before to be trained into a weapon and now finding out about this? Yeah, I’m annoyed.

It seems I’m not the only one annoyed. “So why do we have to fight with the risk of losing our lives?” Kiba called out.

The hokage looked calmly at him. “A country’s power is the village’s power. A village’s power is the ninja’s power, and a ninja’s true power is only born in life-or-death battle. This Exam is also a place to show off the ninja power of one’s country. Since this is an exam where you fight with your life on the live, it has a meaning. And your predecessors have fought and dreamed of being in the Chuunin Exam because of it.”

“But why do you say it is to promote good relations?” Tenten called out in confusion.

“I told you at the beginning to not get confused with that. The custom of sharing one’s life and fighting to maintain balance… that is the good relation in the world of ninja. This is a life-or-death battle for your dream and village’s dignity,” my eyes widened at the Hokage’s words. Oh… so that’s why. I get it now. I guess… I’m not as annoyed about it anymore. I did sign up for this life; I’ve got to live with its rules.

Naruto crossed his arms. I smiled at his back. He got it too. “I understand now.”

“I don’t care,” my jaw clenched at Gaara’s tone. “Tell us the details of this light-or-death exam.”

“Agreed,” Rin called out, and my eyes narrowed on her as her eyes darted to me and back.

The Hokage nodded his head. “Then I will now begin the explanation of the Thrid Exam, but-“

The Hokage was cut off, as a ninja moved in front of him and said. “Excuse me, Lord Hokage…  I, Hayate Gekkou, the judge, will explain.”

The Hokage looked down at the man bowing to him. “Please do.”

The Konoha ninja looked at us over his shoulder. “Everyone, it’s nice to meet you,” my eyes widened at him. He looks so sick! Why isn’t he in bed? “Everyone, before the exam. There’s something I want you to do,” the man started to cough, and it wasn’t a throat clearing cough, it was ‘I am sick and I am only standing here from will power’ sick. He smirked at us, turning around fully to face us. “Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance the Third Exam’s main battle.”

I tensed and so did many other people. “Preliminary matches,” Sakura muttered, she sounded fearful.

“Preliminary matches? What do you mean?” Shikamaru shouted in annoyance.

Why would we need to fight in a preliminary match? “Hey! Why do we need to fight in a preliminary match?” I called out, crossing my arms.

“In this case, it must have been because the First and Second Exam were too easy,” I noticed Ibiki and Anko both twitched at that and glare at his back. heh, he has to watch his back now. “I don’t know. but there are too many examinees left. According to Chuunin regulations, we must decrease the number of participants for the Third Exam. As previously mentaioned by Lord Hokage, there are many guests for the Third Exam, so we cannot just have a lot of matches. We are limited on time, as well. so, those who aren’t feeling well,” he started to cough hard again. I twitched. oh yeah, if we’re not feeling well… you’re the one who doesn’t feel well! “Excuse me. If anyone wants to quit after hearing the explanation. Please let me know. The preliminary matches will begin immediately.”

I felt three pairs of eyes on me. I feel like I’ve got a target on my back… that’s right, I do. one I didn’t deserve.

“Immediately?!” Kiba shouted loudly. It was a surprise that is was a preliminary exam but I did think we were going to have to fight soon as well…

“But we just got through the Second Exam…” Ino muttered, sounding a bit scared.

I snorted a little. “In the real world, most of the time, we wouldn’t get breaks between battles. We just have to keep on fighting. Tired or not. Because we are fighting for our lives, our village and our dreams,” I spoke up, crossing my arms.

I noticed Naruto tense in front of me. I smiled at him; I knew he was ready to give it his all. It’s how he is.

“I forgot to mention this, but you will have one-on-one matches from here on out. So please withdraw if you wish,” I rolled my eyes at that. I’m not going to, this is my time to get these Iwa nin off my back and remove the target they placed there.

“Sasuke,” I heard Sakura mutter behind me.

My head snapped back and I saw Sasuke tense, shaking and holding his neck. That mark is hurting him. “Sasuke, you should withdraw from the preliminary matches.”

My eyes widened and I saw Sasuke’s do the same. “What?” Naruto and I both asked of her. Is she stupid? Sasuke wouldn’t do that even with a kunai on his neck!

“Because you’ve been acting weird ever since that Orochimaru guy beat you,” Sasuke looked down to the ground, trying to ignore her. “That bruise hurts even now, right? At this rate…” Sakura eyes losed and her own arms hugged her, holding her own hands, clenching up. Her eyes opened and we saw tears in her eyes. “please…” she hiccupped, trying to brush away the tears. “Please… stop. I’m afraid. You’re not in any condition to fight normally, Sasuke.”

“Shut up,” Sasuke hissed at her.

She ignored him and I knew no matter what she said would land on deaf ears. “I know it!”

“Be quiet!” Sasuke stressed to her.

“You’ve been bearing with the pain all this time!” She continued with her argument.

“Just be quiet!” Sasuke snapped, becoming more and more annoyed.

“Whatever you say, I’m going to tell the sensei’s about that bruise,” Sakura slowly raised her hand, my eyes widened.

“I quit!” Someone called out; it knocked us out of the conversation going on here. We all looked over to the person. It was… Kabuto.

The judge coughed and looked through some papers. “Let’s see…” the man coughed and said. “You are Konoha’s Kabuto Yakushi? You may leave, then.”

“Thanks,” Kanuto said, turning around heading towards the exit.

“Kabuto! Why are you quitting?!” Naruto called out in confusion. “Why?!”

Kabuto stopped walking, and looked back at him. My eyes narrowed on him. “I’m sorry, Naruto, but my body is completely worn out already. Even before the First Exam, after I had that quarrel with the Oto-nin guys. I couldn’t hear anything in my left ear. I can’t fight right away, especially it it’s a life of death battle,” Naruto looked down at Kabuto’s words.

I saw Kabuto and his teammate muttering something… and continued walking, he waved at us with a smile, and I narrowed my eyes on him until he was out of the room.

The judge coughing again and everyone looked back at him. “May I assume there are no more people who wish to retire?” he questioned.

I heard the sound of a hand hitting something. My head snapped back and I saw Sasuke’s hand around Sakura’s wrist, holding it down. So, she tried to tell the sensei’s about it again, did she?

“Be quiet about this bruise,” I saw Sakura’s eyes water again… Okay, she needs to stop with this crying. It won’t help anything.

Sakura shock her head to get rid of her tears. “Why are you acting so tough? I don’t want to see you suffering anymore,” She cried and I chuckled, I looked back up to the Jounin’s, they were looking down at us.

“It’s how Sasuke is Sakura. He knows what he is doing; he can take care of himself. He doesn’t need anyone getting involved in his business,” I spoke up and they both looked at me. “It really doesn’t matter to anyone but him, Sasuke’s the one going through the pain, and he knows what he can’t and can do. it can scare you or even me or Naruto, but it’s ultimately his decision and his alone. Not yours. So, really. But the hell out.”

Sakura’s eyes widened at my words. “But… you saw it Emi! It wasn’t him-“ I cut her off.

“Yeah, I saw it. But he fought back. Have some faith in him, don’t cut him short,” I retorted, crossing my arms.

“Emi’s right. it doesn’t matter to you! You’re just being nosy,” Sasuke removed his hand from her wrist and nodded at me in thanks. “I told you before,” he looked back at her and removed his hand from his neck. “I’m an avenger. This isn’t just an exam to me. I don’t care about being a Chuunin, either. Am I strong? I just want the answer to that. I’m going to fight the strong guys, and those stong guys are here! I will not allow even you to take away my path,” he glared at her, and I saw Sakura’s eyes water again.

“Sasuke…”

I sighed and shock my head. “Sakura… some of the older ninja are looking over here…” I looked back at them. “They already know about it,” They both looked at me in shock and I nodded my head. “They’ve been watching us. so if the Sensei’s and Hokage are okay with letting Sasuke fight, then so should you.”

“Stop acting cool, you idiot! Sakura is worried about you!” Naruto snapped at Sasuke, looking around me to look at him.

Sasuke looked at Naruto with a serious look and a smirk. “Naruto, I want to fight you, too.”

Naruto’s eyes widened and I smiled at them both. I put a hand on their shoulders. They both looked at me. “Hey, I feel a little left out here. I want to fight you boys as well,” I pointed out and Sasuke smirked at me and Naruto grinned.

“Then,” the judge called out and we all looked back. “Let’s begin the preliminary matches. It will be a one-on-one match. In other words, it will be like real combat. Now that we have exactly 24 people, we will have 12 matches. And the winners will be able to advance to the Third Exam. There are no rules. You will fight until the other person dies, is knocked out or admits defeat,” the judge informed us. “If you do not want to die, please give up immediately. However, if I judge that the match is over,” He coughed yet again and my eye twitched. “I may stop you to prevent any unnecessary deaths. The thing that will hold your destiny…”A bit of the wall above the Jounin’s, chuunin’s and the Hokage opened up to reveal an electronic board. “Will be this. This electric bulletin board, will randomly display the names of two fighters for each match. Without further ado, I will now display the names for the first match,” we all watched the board carefully as it flickered to life.

We watched as board ran through all the names at a quick pace, I tensed as it stopped. Heh, and the first match is…  

Emiko Kin

VS

Rikku Obitmaru.

**********************

Mwhahaha! Cliff hanger!! Had to be done, I am up to page 14 on word now, so I think this is a big enough chapter.

It was sweet, it was informative. We’ve met the Iwa-nin’s sensei, Sasuke and Emiko are together. But don’t you worry, their love life will not be the centre point of the story, and they are going to have a lot of bumps and boulders in the way, it’s going to be… let’s say explosive.

I am sorry for the wait, but school is a pain in the butt, then I had family visit (my new baby nephew is so freaking cute!!!!!! I’m such a happy Aunty… even though he is the fifth one I’m an aunty too… Older siblings… way older siblings hahaha) then I was going to write this up yesterday and a friend I grew up with and haven’t seen for years came over yesterday… wow.

Anyway, what do you guys think? Good? Bad? looking forward to the battle between Emiko and Rikku? I am!!!! Hahaha. The old best friends, going at it in a battle of life and death!

Question time!!

Who do you guys think will win? Rikku? Or Emiko? What do you guys think will happen in a fight between them?!

Now you guys know the drill. Vote, Comment, answer the question and follow!! PLEASE!! It’s for the art, do it for the art!!