Reina's P.O.V

I sobbed into Atsushi's shoulder, burying my face even deeper. My eyes flew open when there was a sudden loud cry in pain coming from outside of the tree we were hiding inside. I squeezed his arms in fear. I was out of it. Everything, every small thing is getting to me like nothing. The sight of Sakura's blood, her injuries... It frightened me like nothing. This never happened before. I do know one thing...

Sasuke.

It was his fault, he didn't protect her... Not only that, he hurt both me and Atsushi. I stood up shakily while glancing outside of the hollow tree.

"T-Tataki, come with m-me." I ordered, taking ahold of his hand as I stood up and headed towards the entrance of the tree.

I didn't need an answer from him, that promise he made to me is enough. He's going to stay by my side now... Just like he promised. I took a step out of the tree, horrified at what Sasuke was doing. Sasuke had his right foot on the man known as Zaku's back, while his arms pulled Zaku's arms back. 'Dear Jashin, what has gotten into Sasuke?!' I thought utterly petrified at this point.

"It seems like you're very proud of these arms... Too bad they are useless." He said, pushing his leg down on his back harder while pulling on Zaku's arms.

Zaku screamed as there was a loud crack coming from his arms. 'No way, Sasuke actually broke his arm!'

"S-Stop!" Zaku screamed out, stammering in pain.

Sasuke disregarded Zaku's plead and pulled all the way back, causing Zaku to scream out even louder. My eyes watered.

"Sasuke... What has gotten into you?" I muttered.

Atsushi groaned, "I think it's from that mark your pink-headed friend Sakura was telling us about. The mark must be doing something to make him like this." He said, groaning a bit.

I nodded slowly, "That could be true, Tataki." I replied, glancing back at Sakura. "Hey, Sakura. Could you please help Tataki here with his wounded arm? Like, by patching it up..? We're going to need him in top condition..."

Sakura nodded and ran over to Atsushi, she grabbbed his good arm. "Come on over, I'll help you along with Ino. We'll both try our best as non-medics." She said, dragging him away.

I dropped my hand to the side, frowning at the emptiness in my hands. I shook my head. I can't be frowning over such a small thing... 

Sasuke stepped on his back a little more and tossed him to the side, like a toy he finished using. He eyed everyone else, looking for his next 'toy' to play with. This wasn't the Sasuke I had met during the academy, this was not the Sasuke I balled my eyes out to during our stay at Inari's home, this was not the Sasuke I knew... This... This was someone completely new, and he scares me.

He looked over at Zaku's remaining teammate. Sasuke smirked at him evilly, "You're next." He said, making his way over to him.

My eyes widened. I can't let Sasuke hurt this man like he did to Zaku! "Sasuke, s-stop!" I shouted, running over to him. I wrapped my arms around him to keep him still, it's not like I want to embrace him. I knew Sasuke was in there somewhere when he went tense. "Sasuke... Please stop! This isn't like you, you wouldn't do anything like this to someone! Just stop, dammit!"

I cried a bit as I held him. This whole Chūnin Exam thing was going horribly. Not one good thing has really come out of this! Sasuke dropped to the ground, panting like crazy. I fell to my knees crying softly. I officially broke. I have never cried so much before in one day, that is if you don't count my past.

Sasuke looked at me with regret in his eyes. "Reina..." He muttered, reaching out towards me.

I smacked his hand away and flinched. "Stay away from me... Just stay away..." I said, scooting away from him quickly.

Sasuke's eyes hardened at me, he hung his head and glared at his hands. Almost as questioning his earlier choices.

"You're strong, even if power was accidently given to you. We can't defeat you the way you are as of now. This... This is for beating us." Dosu said, tossing the Earth scroll he had to the ground.

I eyed the scroll, shocked he would give it up so easily. It's something an enemy wouldn't normally do...

"Please let us with withdraw from here. It may seem selfish, but we have something we need to confirm, as well. That being said, let us make a... promise. If there's another opportunity to battle you in this test, we won't run or hide." Dosu finished, grabbing Zaku and his girl teammate. He began to walk away.

"Wait!" Sakura shouted, stopping him. "Who in the world is this Orochimaru?! What does he want with Sasuke!" She demanded.

Dosu shook his head, "I have no clue... We were simply given orders to attack Sasuke, no one else." He said.

I growled, "Then why did you bother attacking my teammate as well?! Wasn't Sasuke your target!" I shouted at him, still angered by seeing his teammate beating on Sakura.

Dosu smirked, "He never said we couldn't have some fun." Dosu said, vanishing from my sight.

"Reina!"

I turned around. "What is it?" I asked, rather coldly.

Sakura smiled at me even at my coldness. "Your friends alright, Ino and I patched him up as best as we could." She said.

I frowned, "Oh, thank you... I'm sorry for being cold towards you." I apologized.

Sakura smiled again, "Don't worry. I think we're all going a little crazy in this forest." She said, sitting down beside me.

Atsushi walked over with a hand-made cast, the one Sakura and Ino must have made for him. He sat down in front of both of us.

"It seems it's over... The craziness and all." He said, smiling faintly.

I shrugged my shoulders lightly. "Who knows... We're still in this forest, anything can happen." I stated.

"Sakura!"

I glanced over my shoulder to see Naruto running over to Sakura with wide eyes.

"Your hair!" He shouted,  gasping loudly.

Confused, I looked at Sakura's hair. Maybe I just wasn't paying much attention to her because of the people attacking us, but I don't recall Sakura's hair being short? I narrowed my eyes. Did she cut it recently? Or did something else happen?

Sakura frowned faintly and grabbed a piece of her hair, fiddling with it between her fingers. "Oh, this? I'm... I'm just going for a change, just trying something new you know. I do like it long better, but... When move around in a place like this it becomes a nuisance." She explained.

Naruto nodded and catched a glance at me. "E-Eh? Reina?" He gasped, glancing at Atsushi with slight anger. "Who is this, dattebayo!?"

I smiled at Naruto. "I'm back, Naruto. And this here is my friend and savior, Atsushi Tataki. He was the one who saved me from... Gaara's clutches. So be nice to him for me." I said, patting Atsushi's good shoulder.

Naruto nodded, but still eyed Atsushi warily. "Okay, but why's everyone here?!" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows together.

I chuckled softly. "I can't help you there." I stated.

Shikamaru groaned, "Sheesh, it's going to be such a pain to explain it all to you." He stated.

Sakura smiled. "Everyone just decided to help out." She stated, looking around.

I sighed and looked at Atsushi. "So... Where are you going now, Tataki? I mean you did complete your 'task' at hand." I said, frowning.

Atsushi smiled cheekily. "Well, seeing that my team left me for dead... I guess I'll be staying with your team for the meanwhile. Either way, I'm technically eliminated from going any further. Just take me in as your guardian, okay?" He said, making me grin.

"Alright! It's nice to know we have one more person helping us out. It's nice to have you on our team, Tataki!" I said, sticking my hand out.

He smirked and shook my hand. "Same goes for you, blueberry. Same goes for you..."