I gasp awake and immediately sit up as I was covered in sweat while panting heavy for air.

I looked around and saw Sasuke and Naruto was still unconscious.

Then I gasp in shock at a beat up Sakura and team 9 standing in front of her.

I stumbled over to Sakura. "Are you okay?" I asked her worried as I had my hands on her shoulders.

She looks at me shock before nodded and turn back to Ino.

"Ino... Why?" She asked hesitantly while I start to heal her but my medical jutsu was weak.

"I can't let you upstage me in front of Sasuke!" In said, looking at her.

"Squirming again... The Leaf Village worms wandered in." Mommy ninja said with an angry glares.

"What are the two of you thinking?! They're bad news!" Choji said pain king, full of terror.

Shikamaru was keep Choji in place by holding his scarf. "It's a pain, but it can't be helped! Ino step out and we men should run?" He told him, annoyed.

Ino laugh a little. "Sorry to get you involved. But anyway we're a three-man squad, after all. We're all in this together, aren't we?" She asked with a smirk.

"Well, we'll see." Shikamaru said.

"No! I don't want to die yet!" Choji said. "Let go of my scarf!" He try to get away but couldn't because of Shikamaru.

"You're annoying! Quit wiggling!" Shikamaru demanded, tighten his hold.

This cause Zaku to laugh. "It's okay for you to drop out, fatso." He mocked causing me to gasp in shocked as Choji stop moving.

"What did that guy just say? I... didn't quite catch it." Choji asked calmly.

Oh dear... I thought.

"Huh?!" Zukor was confused at the change attraction. "I said if you have a problem, pull out, fatso."

"I'm not fat, I'm just big-boned! Blast it!" Choji exclaimed angrily.

"Hurraaaay for Big-Boned!" He roared. "All right! You understand this right?!" He pointed at Ino. "This is a battle between Leaf and Sound!" I could picture Choji's eyes on fire at how work up he is.

"No way, this looks like it's going to be a pain in the butt." Shikamaru said.

"That's my line." Zaku said, tsk in irritating.

I look behind us to Sasuke to see this weird purple aura floating out of him. "Sasuke..." I mumbling worried before start coughing causing me to stop healing as Sakura grab me by the shoulders.

"Nikki!" Sakura gasp when she saw the ashes on the palm of my hand when I removed it.

"Sakura..." Ino called out causing her to turn to her. "The two behind and Nikki is sick...take care of them."

This cause Sakura smile. "Okay!" She help me up and lead me away to a safe distant. Well then, team Ino, let's go full throttle!" Ino order.

"Right!" Both Shikamaru and Choji agreed.

"Formation Ino!"

"Shika!"

"Cho!"

I'm counting on you, Choji." Ino told him.

"Okay!" Choji goes. "Expansion Jutsu!" Choji expanded to a big ball size. "Next, Leaf Style Taijutsu!" Pulling his limbs and head in. "Human Boulder!" He start rolling toward Zaku.

"What is this Jutsu? Isn't it just a fat guy rolling?" Zaku mocked. "Slicing Sound Wave!" Holding his hands out, firing a blast of air at Choji, keeping in one place while he still rolling but was starting to struggle and firing more.

Suddenly Choji bounce up into did air and fall toward Zaku, to crash him.

Mommy ninja run to help but Shikamaru reacting quickly and stop mommy ninja with his Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Jutsu.

I watch as Zaku managed to dodge Choji by jumping to the side and I almost laugh when seeing the ridiculous stand their were doing.

"Dosu?; What are you doing at a time like this?!" Their female asked angrily but saw it was Shikamaru's doing.

"Ino, next it's just the ladies." Shikamaru told her.

"Okay, Shikamaru, look after my body." She told him, doing a hand sign.

"Gotcha!" He reassure her.

"Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Jutsu!" Ino said then when limb and lean against Shikamaru.

Zaku had dodge Choji again. "Shoot! Kin!" He called out to their female member.

"What happened?" Mommy ninja, Dosu asked.

Kin suddenly held a kunai to her throat. "This...is the end of it." She said and I knew it was Ino, who had taking over. "You guys! If you make one move, this girl named Kin is dead meat! If you don't want this to end right here, leave your scroll and walk away! Once you've gone far enough that I can't feel your Chakras, I'll release this girl!" Ino/Kin negotiating but all their did was grinning which confused me. "Choji!" Ino/Kin called out.

"Yeah!" He replied.

"This isn't good! They won't...!" Sakura try to warned them.

I wince as Zuka shot Ino/Kin with a blast of air as Choji came to her.

The blast send her to a tree causing her to scream in pain from the impact.

"Ino!" Shikamaru exclaimed worried as blood sliding out from her mouth in both her real body and Kin's body.

Choji stood woggle. "*Ugh!* I'm dizzy." He said covering his mouth.

"W-what kind of person...hurts their own comrades?" Ino/Kin said weakly.

"Careless." Zaku comment.

"Our goal is not the scrolls or to pass this test playing by the rules." Dosu told, shocking us. "It's Sasuke and getting the Mikage girl."

Suddenly Sakura scream as she was punch away from me as I Yelp when I was suddenly grab from behind.

"And looks like we get one." I saw it was Zaku who had captured me.

"NIKKI!!" Sakura shouted.

I groan as his arm was wrapped my throat and I didn't have any strength in my body.

I whined when Zaku rubbed his nose across my cheek.

"So your much precious Shadow Paralysis Jutsu is limited to 5 minutes?" Dosu said when Shikamaru's Justus was done.

"It's not Shadow Paralysis. It's Shadow Possession Jutsu." Shikamaru corrected.

"In addition, it seems that this girl's Jutsu...seems to be a Jutsu to take over the other's body." Dosu said. "From the looks of the blood she's spitting up, if I kill Kin, that girl will die too..."

Shikamaru scoff. "Are you going to do in...your teammate?" He questioned.

Zaku held his free hand to Ino/Kin. "If I need too..."

"You're will to kill your own teammate!?" I said shocked.

Zaku smirk at me. "That's right."

Shikamaru sigh is frustration. "This is no good."

"Shoot..." Choji said.

"That's too bad... you're just a step away." Zaku mocked.

"You're too easy-going." Dosu told him.

"Hmph, I don't like this at all." I gasp when I saw Lee's teammate. "You minor Sound Ninja...Bullying the second-rate guys and putting on airs like a winner." Lee's teammate, Neji said.

"What?!" Zaku said, tighter his hold causing me to groan.

"Lee!" Lee's female member, Tenten called out worried.

"You goofed." Neji called Lee's unmoving body.

"Hah! Coming out of nowhere like cockroaches..." Zaku said.

"That kid with the bob lying over there is on our team but... But you messed with him, didn't you?!" Neji exclaimed as veins appeared around his eyes, shocking us all. "If you're gonna continue. I'll fight with full strength! Now release the girl."

I suddenly sense something dark. What is this chakra? It feel so dark. I thought.

"If you don't like me, don't play cool, came down here." Dosu said to Neji.

Neji smirk as close his eyes, confusing me. "No. Evidently, there's no need for that." He said.

We all turn to where the dark chakra and saw it was coming from Sasuke.

"Sasuke..." I whispered shocked as I watch him raise with a tornado of dark chakra swirling around him.

"Sasuke! You're awake... Huh?!" Sakura stoped when she saw it to.

I was strength marks engulfing half of Sasuke's body.

"Sasuke..." I whispered as my eyes widened.

That's... Sasuke?" Ino/Kin murmured.

Sasuke look at Sakura. "Sakura... Who did this to you?" She didn't answer him. "Who is it?" He asked again.

"Sasuke... That body...?" She asked him worried.

As Sasuke looked at his hand with his Sharingan activated. "Don't worry. On the contrary, strength is rapidly flowing in... Right now I feel good. That guy gave this to me."

Third Person's POV

Sasuke was looking around for Nikki. "At last I understand... I'm an avenger... On my road, I must put power into my hands...even if it means abandoning myself to the devil." And to protect the girl I love. He thought still looking.

"Sakura, tell me... Who harmed you...? And where is Nikki?" Sasuke asked once more.

"Me!" Zaku smirk. "And she is right here." He righting his grip while rubbing his cheek against Nikki's head.

"*Ugh!*" Nikki whimpered in pain as I could barely breathe.

This cause Sasuke to have a dark expression as he turn to them.

"Ino!" Ino/Kin turn to Shikamaru and her body. "If you stay like that you're gonna get involved! Come back to this body!" Shikamaru order.

"Choji, you too, come over here and hide." Shikamaru called out.

"Y-yeah." He agreed and did what he was told.

"Uh-Oh." Ino/Kin did a hand sign. "Release!" Ino return to her body.

"Okay, she's back!" Shikamaru said in relief.

"Shikamaru! What's going to happen now?" Choji asked him.

"How should I know?" Shikamaru said.

Sasuke glares at the two Sound ninja as the marks was now covering his whole face.

Nikki looked at him in pain as she was losing oxygen. "Sasuke..." She whispered, barely conscience.

"Let her go now!" Sasuke demanded as he suddenly disappeared, shocking Zaku.

Suddenly Zaku was send flying as Sasuke had kick him causing Zaku to release Nikki right into Sasuke's arms.

Sasuke look at Nikki with soft eyes she was coughing while try to regain oxygen into her lungs. He then turn toward the Sound Ninja with a deadly glares as he gritted his teeth in anger.

Wha--?! What's this...? Dosu thought as he saw image of Orochimaru's face next to Sasuke's. No matter...how you look at it...his Chakra's are...too big!

"Dosu, this half-dead bastard is nothing to be scared of!" Zaku told him as he did a hand signs.

Dosu gasp and quickly turn to Zaku. "Stop, Zaku! Don't you understand?!"

Nikki and Sakura gasp in shock, looking at Zaku.

"I'll take care of all of them...in one fell swoop!" Zaku told Dosu as he held his hands toward team 7. "Super Sonic Slicing Wave!" A massive gust of cutting wind, even more powerful.

Once it was done, Zaku was standing and breathing heavily, looking at the area it was destroyed. "Heh! He must have been blown to pieces."

"Who did?"

Nikki's POV

I blink in surprised as we're behind Zaku then I felt something soft on forehead and look up to see Sasuke. He had kiss it.

He sit me down in front of an unconscious Nikki and a beat up Sakura.

Then Sasuke appeared next to Zaku and punch him hard through the air, hitting the ground where Dosu was

"Zaku!" Dosu said. "He's fast! More er, he took in those three, and in the blink of an eye."

I gasp at the speed Sasuke was performed at the hand signs. "Fire Style!: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Sasuke said as a few small balls of fire went at Zaku

"Don't push your luck! I'll blow them off!" Zaku used his sound wave at the small fire balls. "What?! Shurikens in the fire?!" He said as the shurikens was revealed from inside the fire.

Zaku groan in pain as he was hit by the shurikens.

"Zaku, below you!" Dosu tried to warn as Sasuke flash in front of Zaku since it was too late.

Sasuke was behind Zaku, holding both his arms, pressing his foot on Zaku's back.

I saw Sasuke have this evil smirk. "It seems like you're proud of your arms... You!" He said.

Sasuke... I thought sacred as tears build.

"S-stop it!" Zaku begged him, terrified as. He start screaming in pain as Sasuke keep pulling Zaku's arms until we all heard the sound from his body then Sasuke let him go, let Zaku fall to the ground, pass out.

Tears start falling as I watch Sasuke turn to Dosu.

"You're the only one left. You...make it a little more fun for me." Sasuke said, heading toward Dosu.

This...this isn't my Sasuke! I thought crying. This isn't my boyfriend...

I stood up and run to Sasuke. "S-STOP!!" I shout as I launch myself him, hugging him from behind. "Stop it." I cried, hugging Sasuke as tightly as I could.

(Picture her crying and ignore the headband)

Sasuke looked at me from the corner of his eye and my eyes was widely at shock when I saw the dark looked in his eyes with his Sharingan.

But when he saw it was me, his eyes soften and gently pull me to the front and hug me to his chest. "Please... Stop." I whispered, snuggling into his chest. "Sasuke, place come back to me... I beg you..."

Third Person's POV

Sakura watch Sasuke and Nikki hug with envious. Why she is getting to hug Sasuke!? What do he see in her anyway. Just because she is some kind of a princess which is probably is not truth. She though angrily.

While Sasuke and Nikki was hugging the mrksslowly started to receded back to the original place.

The Curse Mark is withdrawing... We're saved for now. Dosu though reliefed.

Nikki's POV

Sasuke suddenly collapse to the ground bringing me with him "Sasuke!" I said worried as he was panting heavily from exhaustion.

"You're strong." Dosu said causing us to turn to him and saw him holding out the Earth Scroll. "Sasuke... We can't defeat you the way you are now." He set the scroll on the ground. "This is our fee for setting this... Please let us withdraw from here."

"Huh?" Me and Sasuke was surprised and looked at the scroll.

I watch as Dosu when over and pick up him teammates. "It seems selfish, but we now have something we need to confirm, too. That being said, let's make a promise. If there's another opportunity to battle with you in this test, we won't run or hide." Dosu said before walking away.

"Wait!" I turn to see Sakura had run up to stand next to us. "Who in the world is Orochimaru? What did he do to Sasuke?! Why Sasuke?!" Sasuke asked demandingly.

"I don't know... We were just give given orders to make the hit on Sasuke." Dosu answered before walking away, into the forest.

"Hey! Are you okay?!" Choji called out to us.

"It's a pain, but Ino, I'll leave Lee to you." Shikamaru told her as he and Choji run to us.

"Got it." She replied, running toward Lee.

"Sakura's in danger!" I turn to Naruto, who was sleep talking. "It's okay... I'll protect Sakura." I sweat drop with dumbfound expression.

"Well, what should we do with this guy?" Shikamaru asked confused. "Kick him awake?" He question.

"Can I do it?" Choji asked.

I couldn't help but smile. I looked at Sasuke, to see him gently clenched his hand as it was shaking. "What am I...?" He question himself as he tremble.

Sasuke... I gently to his hand causing him to snap his head toward me as I lean in and kiss him, surprising him before he kiss back.

Ignoring the death glares that Ino and Sakura was standing to the back of my head.

When we parted, I smile at Sasuke causing him to give a small one in return but then black spots appeared in my vision.

"Nikki?" Sasuke asked worried but I just smile before everything went black.

"NIKKI!?" Was the last thing I heard.