~Your POV~

Both Lee and I gave each other a quick, little laugh. Once we explained our tie, Gai-Sensei offered to buy us Ramen at Ichiraku's.

Whatever that place was, it sounded great! We did a few more training exercises, then headed off to the Ramen Booth.

Once we arrived, we saw a Blond boy sitting at the booth, scarfing down at least around 13 bowls of Ramen.

'Does he eat that much everyday?!' I thought in slight amazement.

"Oh, hey Naruto!" Lee smiled.

The boy turned around and the first thing I noticed was the marks on his face, as if acting as whiskers. 'Could he be--?'

"Hey, Bushy Brow! What brings you guys here?" He asked.

"We have a new Group Member!" Tenten grinned, gesturing to me.

"Kanichiwa. I am (Y/n) (L/n). It's nice to meet you, Naruto!" I bowed, showing sympathy for the young boy.

"Naruto Uzumaki! Come on! Sit and have a bite! The Ramen here's great!" He patted the seat next to him.

I smiled and happily took the seat. Gai sat at the far left, with Neji and Tenten next to him. Then Naruto after Tenten. Then me, and Lee at the far right.

We ordered our bowls of Ramen and once they were served, me and Naruto basically had a Ramen-Eating race.

I ended up beating Naruto, and we started to chat about random things as we waited for the others to finish their bowls.

Once they were done, Naruto said that he would like to train with me sometime. I gladly excepted, and left with the rest of my Team.

"Hey (Y/n), you feeling okay?" Tenten asked.

I gave her a drowsy smile. "Yeah, I'm fine..." But as I said so, everything went black and I completely collapsed forwards.

~Lee's POV~

My heart skipped a beat as I saw (Y/n) fall forward. I caught her right before she hit the floor.

"(Y/n)!" I said with worry.

Tenten felt her forehead. "That's odd, she doesn't have a temperature,"

"Then what could it be?" Neji placed his hand on his chin in thought.

Until he did the hand symbol and fired up his Byakugan. As he did so, his eyes widened in shock. He then retracted his Byakugan.

"What is it Neji?" Tenten questioned, slightly pressing the comment.

Neji then bent down next to (Y/n) and started unwrapping the bandages on her arms and legs.

All of our eyes widened in the same shock Neji's had at the sight. (Y/n)'s whole body was covered in countless scars, cuts, and bruises.

"What did she do..?" Tenten muttered.

My heart sank to my feet, as anger built up in my chest. Whatever did this to get was going to pay!

We all agreed to get her back to her house. Once we arrived, I placed her on her bed, grabbing a wet cloth and placing it on her forehead as it was now starting to heat up.

An hour passed and she still hasn't moved or waken up. The others decided to head home as it was getting late. But I stayed by her bedside, holding her cold hand.

Another hour passed, and (Y/n) finally woke up. "You're alive!" I cheered.

"What made you think I was dead?" She gave a little laugh. But it soon faded as she noticed her unwrapped bandages. "So you found out, huh?"

I now too had a serious expression. "What happened?" I plainly stated.

A small tear slipped from her eye and down her cheek. "My parents never were very fond of me..." She started. "Knives and any sort of weapon was used. I was beat countless times for little mistakes I made. I was basically their personal punching bag..." She trailed off.

My heart shattered and my head pounded at the information I had just heard. How could her own parents do that to such an innocent girl..?

~Your POV~

A few more tears rolled down my face, but I was shocked as I suddenly felt a pair of arms give me a tight embrace.

"Lee..." I muttered.

"I promise, I will never let that happen to you again..."

My heart started to beat faster and faster. What's going on? Why do I feel like this? I felt my face start to heat up.

He retracted from the embrace and smiled at me. "I promise that on my life..!"

I was now fully crying, I couldn't do anything to stop it. And I didn't care. I flipped out of bed and wrapped my arms around his body.

"You're the best Lee,"

I could feel him tense up a bit, but then he calmed down. He smiled and patted my head.

Once that little incident was over with, he said his goodbye, and left. I really couldn't ask for a better friend..!

"You don't belong here..! Join me, and everything will be okay..!" A voice hissed.

"Who's there?!" I yelled.

"Just an old "friend" is all," I could sense he had a grin on his face.

"Who are you?" I growled through gritted teeth.

"If you must know, I'm Akuma,"

Where have I heard that name before? I thought long and hard until I finally remembered. "You're Orochimaru's brother!"

"So you do remember, how sweet," he teased.

"What do you want from me?!" I shrieked.

"I think you know what I want," Akuma whispered in my ear.

I wanted this to end. I grabbed the nearest Kunai Knife I could grab, and stabbed it straight into my stomach. I groaned in pain, but it seemed to have driven the voice away.

"I'll be back, but next time... I won't be so nice..!"

And with that, he was gone. I pulled the now bloodied Kunai out of my abdomen, and dropped it onto the floor.

I staggered to the bathroom and looked in the cabinet. I grabbed the nearest set of bandages I could grasp and wrapped them around my stomach.

Once I was done with that task, I washed my hands, the Kunai, and the floor, riding it of any blood.

I know what he wants, but I can't let him have it..!