well this was 7 pages in word...sigh I made it long again because i'm sorry it took so long... i have a new passion to hate school, techers throw assessments in every direction at u.

anyways apart from that i had a special request for a new charater so thank you to sparky22599. In this chapter he will only make his first appearence but he will soon become a part of the story like all other charaters...

well as i say on almost every chapter...

Enjoy!

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Chapter 25: Cloaked in Shadows

I screamed in pain something sliced through my shoulder.

My shoulder felt as if it were on fire. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Orochimaru standing right behind me. Dam it how? When? I felt quite light headed and looked down to where he had sliced me. Blood soaked my clothes. I fell to my hands and knees and started to rapidly cough. "Stephanie!" I heard someone yell. I probably should have known whose voice it was but it wasn't the time to think of that. I was loosing too much blood and at the rate i might not be able to save the others.

In a mere couple of minutes I was at a lose for breath. "What the hell did you do to her you snake?" a confident voice spoke again.

Orochimaru laughed. "A mere poison nothing less." my eyes widened and i felt as if my breathing had stopped altogether. Poison? "I give her credit for her courage but she fought knowing she would loose." his right i was just hoping that I could by sometime and maybe Sasuke would come to his stupid senses. I looked over at him. Still as stiff as a rock. Dam it Sasuke his much stronger then me but he won't move.

Orochimaru bend down and whispered into my ear. "so sad. You have that same look on your face as your mothers as I killed her. I wonder what would happen if I kill your friend over there too." his words made my eyes widen once again and angry to build up inside me. So I did hear him write before. I know all the talk about my mum should affected me but it didn't, the only thing that wined me up was the fact he had every intension to kill Simran.

"Don't you dare! I swear I you touch one hair on her head!" I clenched my teeth together. He laughed. "I'm waiting to hear what you're going to do to Me." in truth I had nothing I was almost incapable of moving enough as in is. I clench my hands in to fists and tried to get up.

Epically falling the first time I tried again. My name was yelled out numerous times. My hold body trembled from the poison as I tried to stand up.

"Pathetic." Orochimaru kicked me back down. I coughed up blood. He was right and even I couldn't deny it. I looked up at Orochimaru. He took out a kunai ready to kill. As he took a step forward his eyes narrowed and I noticed his eyes had fallen upon my mark...tattoo...what ever it was. He smirked.

"Sasuke do something! You may call Naruto an idiot. But at least his not a coward like you! Now hurry and save Steph!!!"

Blackness started taking over when I felt someone pick me up. Before I could check who it was the shadows surrounded me and I was in total darkness.

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I awoke to dim lights and the sound of fighting. I got up to see a town of people fighting. None of which I knew yet something was familiar. As much as I wish I was awake I think it's safe to say that I was not awake but dreaming up a nightmare in my sleep. It was easy to say that the nightmare was quite similar to that of my previous months. So similar it may as well be it but there was something telling me that there was something in-between the lines.

The same dead bodies lay themselves on the hard yet wet terrain. Blood splattered against the walls and doors of houses. The high pitch scream of new born babies as they cry, fear for death. Again I stand to the side feeling hopeless and weak.

But then I saw him, a man. He walked out of a house a grin from ear to ear. He walked through the shadows and was hard to make out who it was or even what he looked like.

I moved closer to see if I could get a better look but as soon as I did everything went black. All this did was make me more confused and leave me with more questions then I started with. I had a huge head ache as if someone was stomping on my head. I sat in the darkness, hoping that everyone was okay. For all I know they could be dead, well for I know I could be dead from the poison but I don't care, I was ready for death when I faced Orochimaru.

I suddenly felt my body heat up as if I had a fever. I decided to lie down. This dream felt too real. I sighed. That is usually what they say in movies before they find out there not in a dream. I closed my eyes deciding not to waste my energy on anything even if it was a dream.

"Stephanie!" Great now hearing things.

"Stephanie!" I shot up wait that sounded like Sakura...?

My eyes shot open and I got up. I was awake. I rubbed my eyes. "What?" I asked

"Stephanie!" Said a cheerful voice. I was surprised by a giant hug by Sakura. Great I'm being hugged by Sakura.

"Hn?" Great even better I sound like Sasuke. I yawned. "Hey Sakura why ain't I death or at least half death...I mean I got hit with poison....Waaait...Where are we and where's that guy Orochimaru?"

Sakura giggled and she got off me. I turned around to face her. "Let me tell you the whole story." Great this better not be long.

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"...So Sasuke saved me?"

"Yep"

"And then Simran and Sasuke fought Orochimaru?"

"Yep"

"And then a strange boy with blonde hair and green eyes gave you a plant... To cure me?

"Yep"

"Sakura?"

"Yep"

"Would you stop saying 'yep'"

"Sorry."

"Anyway, let me know something...does Sasuke have a mark from Orochimaru?"

She looked at me with wide eyes. "H-how did you?"

"So he does...?"

"Yeah so does Simran..." My eyes widened what does he want with Simran!? I clenched my fists.

"There was one more thing..." I looked confused and interested at Sakura. "He said he would come back for you." Me too... "Stephanie...Please, watch your back. There's something about that man that..." she squeezed her eyes shut. "There something just not right" her eyes shot open as I placed my hand on hers and smiled warmly to comfort her. She smiled back, but I could tell she still wasn't happy. I down think I can blame her. I mean she just watched her whole team get kicked down by Orochimaru like it was yesterday news.

I sighed. "So are they okay?" I asked looking over my shoulder to Simran, Naruto and Sasuke.

"There still alive if that's what you mean? But there knocked out cold, and Sasuke and Simran are burning up." I decided I better make use of myself and tried getting up...epic fail...My whole body was still numb.

"Oh yeah he told me that plant medicine only takes full effect after a couple of days."

"Now you tell me...well I feel useless..." I sighed again...dam it. Now what?

The boy of Sakura's description walked in. My eyes widen. Wait a second...

"Hey Steph." he lent against the tree.

"Andy?! What are you? How did you?"

"Wait you to know each other?!" I nodded at Sakura.

He laughed as I stutter in surprise. He walked over and sat beside Simran. He looked at her with sad yet loving eyes. They let off the impression he was worried as hell. He is still in love with her it's to obvious

"I have no idea how I got here." dam that isn't going to help us to get back.

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Sakura and Andy told me to rest up, but it was a little hard thinking that my friends were beat up so much and that Andy is now stuck along side with us.

Andy went back to his team leaving me medicine to take.

I looked down at my sword that lay beside me.

I should of been stronger. I should have been strong enough to save them. I should have been able to defeat Orochimaru and we wouldn't be in this mess. I should have...

"You couldn't do anything he was too strong, on a different level to everyone here." at Sakura's reply I notice that I had been talking out loud. A look of guilt ran over face.

"Steph, you were strong, you were strong enough to put everyone's life before your own. If anyone should be scolded for not doing anything it should be me."

"Sakura that's not true. Look at you now you've saved my life and you're doing your best to save the others too."

She nodded. "you should really get some rest you are really going to need it." I nodded and closed my eyes.

Sakura can be really nice when she's not too busy fussing over Sasuke, when she is well... Then she unexplainable.

I smiled at my own comment and then let the shadows of my dreams take control as I plunge in to darkness of sleep.

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Simran's POV:

At first everything was dark and then I notice a dim light. I was curious so I walked towards it. As I walked closer it seemed as if the light was getting further and further away.

I sighed. Where the hell was I? I continued walking in the dark until I came to a lamp post. "Great where am I, Narnia!" the light flickered. "What!? are you laughing at me now?...." nothing. "great now I'm talking to a lamp post." I sighed at my insanity. I think when I find Steph again she's going to have to put me in a mental centre for talking to lamp posts.

The last thing I remember was.... What was the last thing I remember... Oh yeah

*flashback*

"You evil ass hole what have you done to her!!?" I held Steph's body close to me. She was burning up. That snake was going to pay. My eyes burning with rage and teeth clenched together.

"My, my aren't we fusty" the one Steph called Orochimaru laughed. I settled Steph down in Sakura's care. I was going to lunge at Orochimaru but I caught glimpse of Sasuke anger rising. His eyes had turned red. By memory I think Steph told me about that um... What was it sharey guns...no...sharigun. Well what ever it was it looked awesome. I smirked as I remembered Kakashi Sensei's words when we first joined team 7.

"Hey Sasuke! You going to just stand there or help me?"

He smirked "Don't get in my way."

"Oh real nice, still a duck ass." we both ran towards Orochimaru with intentions to kill.

I threw an array of shuriken and kunai at Orochimaru. To my surprise they actually went where I wanted them to. Orochimaru dodged which didn't surprise me but made me angry.

Sasuke began to throw kicks and punches at him. Again all was dodged. How are we going to hit this guy?

After what felt like hours 10 of fighting him we were still struggling to hit him properly. I looked at Sasuke what he is thinking... Wait that it... Looking at him I focused.

I smiled and threw a shuriken to Sasuke him. He smiled when he saw the cord I had attached. With out moments to spare he threw it at Orochimaru.

This time Orochimaru caught it in his mouth. Perfect! Sasuke lit the wire on fire which burned his face... Or melted...

Orochimaru laughed. "To be able to use the sharingan at this age. And you I'm guessing you use your clans mind reading kekkei genkai. I want you, I want you both." he laughed again....

What the hell... How did he know about the mind reading I only just got it during the first test? And I'm pretty sure mum and dad never had anything like this.

"I had fun testing your powers." My body froze. Why couldn't I move?! I moved my eyes towards where Sasuke stood. By what I could actually see he was as good as stuck too. Dam it! He was playing with us this whole time!

"Who the hell are you!?" Sasuke yelled.

Well I think his officially deaf. I think Steph yelled it out at least 10 times. "Orochimaru... If you what to see me again then survive the exam." he explained as he burned our scroll. And who would want to see your ugly face again?? But just as I thought it Sakura said it.

"What the hell are you talking about?! We never wanna see your ugly face again." Awww I'm such a good influence.

"Hehe it won't go that way." Orochimaru's neck slithered like a snake and zipped its way over towards us. I looked in shock as he bit Sasuke neck. Holy crap his a vampire!

Sasuke dropped to his hands and knees doubled over in pain. I looked back at Orochimaru he was gone.

"Ahhh!" I yell as he bit into my neck from behind. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't contain any sounds of pain coming from my mouth.

Although Sasuke was right next to me I could only hear his yelling in the background. My head was thumping, my body burning. I opened my eyes to see Orochimau headed towards Steph.

I don't know how but I managed to stand and throw a kana at him. It missed and landed in front of his feet. He looked up me and narrowed his eyes.

"You two are very protective of each other..." I glared at him. As my breath was uncontrollable and heavy. He smirked "I'll be back for her." he disappeared and I fell into the darkness, sound asleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What did u think? Was it long enough? I hope it was to your likings... I apoligize again for being so late with it. anyways...ur going to get sick of this by the end of it...

VOTE!

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FAN!!!

i just came up with an idea... does anyone wanna record them rappinf the vote comment fan thing and i'll put it on the side

haha...just kidding..but if u wanna go ahead.. Good night, morning, afternoon, etc... (well i don't know where in the world u r!!) Ciao bella--->yes im italian<---- yes i am showing off (jks) <---- and for the last time yes... I called you guys beautiful <3