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the genjutsu.

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Four days until the chunnin exams.

She spent most of the day yesterday training, now, the grey hued kunoichi was using this time to walk around, Konoha, taking in the sights.

Sasuke noticed the brunette walking around for a while now, by herself. He wasn't spying on her or anything, he'd simply seen her walk around the village a couple of times. Not to mention, his apartment wasn't too far from hers.  "Kiyomi," he called out.

She turned around, a little surprised that the ravenette had called out to her, "hey. Do you need something?"

Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets. "I just wanted to know if you knew where to go on the fifth day."

"Oh, that's right," she muttered, remembering that she never went to the academy here. "Could you show me? If you don't mind that is."

He nodded and walked side by side with her, albeit he was a little ahead of the brunette. "Hn, this way." And although they walked in silence, neither minded. It was a comfortable silence. Before long, they arrived at the academy. "This is the academy," he murmured and walked inside, leading her to the third floor where room 301 was. "Don't get lost, okay?"

"Thank you, Sasuke.." Kiyomi flashed him a smile and walked out of the academy, with the ravenette following closely behind. And as she walked out of the academy, she saw numerous shinobi entering the village, among those, were Oto.

"Kiyomi.." Sasuke appeared beside her. "How'd you get that scar? How old were you?"

Unconsciously, her fingers trailed over the scar under her left eye. "I, um.. I was on mission, wasn't cautious enough. Learned my lesson though. I was around five, maybe, six years old."

He wanted to touch it, but he'd never admit that. "Was it the guy you ran away from?"

She nodded, "yeah and, you can touch it if you want."

Sasuke looked away shyly, "what makes you think that?"

"Just a hunch, you look like you wanted to touch it." A small chuckle escaped her lips. "I'll see you later."

"W— wait!" Sasuke raised his voice slightly, "do you wanna have lunch?"

Kiyomi turned around to face him, a teasing grin upon her face. "Perhaps some barbecue? Tomatoes, maybe?"

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Three days until the chunnin exams.

She remembered what Kakashi had told her the day before, about her team. She knew both of the boys wanted to enter, there was no doubt about that, but she knew that the unsure factor was the pinkette. She decided to pay her a visit. "Are you having second thoughts?" She asked, appearing on her balcony.

Sakura jumped, but sighed in relief when she saw it was only the brunette. "Kiyomi-Chan.."

"I know for a fact that both Naruto and Sasuke will be sad if you don't participate and don't underestimate yourself too much, pinky." Kiyomi said and flicked her forehead. "You're strong, I believe you can do it," she told her, jumping from her balcony.

"Thanks, Kiyomi-Chan," the pinkette smiled, watching her walk off. Though it was unexpected, the gesture from the stronger kunoichi was greatly appreciated.

After talking with the pinkette, she decided to visit the Hokage. "Gramps." She called out, entering his office.

"Kiyomi, it's good to see you. How're you settling? Are you taking part in the exam?" He asked with a closed eyed smile. Though he already knew the answer.

Kiyomi nodded, "I'm doing fine and everyone is very welcoming. Kakashi-Sensei told me I would have to do the chunnin exams alone, but I'm still participating in it," she told him, sitting on his desk. "I have a bad feeling, Gramps.. Please take care of yourself."

"Thank you child.." He smiled fondly as she exited the room.

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Two days until the chunnin exams.

Kiyomi had been training all day, she'd decided to take a small break. But it was eerily quiet, though not really, she'd just been spending so much time with loud people, Naruto, Sakura, Haru, that she'd gotten used to the volume. As soon as she saw her best friend, she knew something was off.

"Kiyomi-Chan!" Haru grinned, giving her a hug, but she didn't hug back. "I don't think we're ready for the chunnin exams, we're doing it by ourselves after all, right, Kiyomi-Chan?"

A frown appeared on her face, "Haru.."

"Kiyomi-Chan, what's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me? Don't you agree?" Haru asked, tilting his head.

"You're not Haru, that baka never calls me by my full name.. Aside from that, we never back down from a challenge," she glared at the imposter. "Doton: Doryūdan (Earth Dragon Bullet)." She formed the hand signs and watched as a dragon formed and bullets came out of its mouth, hitting the imposter, but he poofed into smoke, substitution.

"Behind you.." Iruka whispered.

Kiyomi's eyes widened and she kneed him where it hurt the most. Quickly summoning her katana, she pointed it at his throat. "If you don't tell me who you are and where you come from, I swear, I'll slit your throat," she hissed.

Iruka held his hands up in surrender, "Okay, okay.." He whimpered, transforming back into himself.

Once she saw the headband, she scoffed and hid her katana. "Why did you pretend to be Haru?"

"I just wanted to test Kakashi's new student.."He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

"Whatever," she rolled her eyes and walked away.

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One day until the chunnin exams.

Kiyomi'd decided to eat out for lunch, she missed Haru, so she ate where he'd usually eat, a ramen stand. "Um, can I have what I had last time?"

"Got it, kiddo." Teuchi began prepping her usual order.

"Yomi-Chan?" Naruto called out, taking a seat beside her. "What're you doing here?"

"Eating lunch?" She mumbled. "Do you eat here often?"

"Yeah! This is where I usually eat out." He nodded and turned to Teuchi, "the usual please!" And within a few minutes, he placed a bowl in front of the two.

A grin appeared on his face, "I was wondering when you'd come by Naruto. Is she your friend?"

"Yeah! She's a new member of my team," the blond said enthusiastically, smiling over at her. And though he was pining over the pinkette, he enjoyed her company more.

Kiyomi slurped up the noodles in front of her, "you are entering the chunnin exams, right?"

"Yesh!" Naruto grinned, talking with food in his mouth.

Kiyomi shot him a disgusted look and flicked his cheek before shaking her head. "Chew before you speak."

"Eh, gomen (sorry), Yomi-Chan." He licked his lips and pouting at her.

"Yomi, huh.. You really are like Haru," she smiled at no one in particular, finishing off the remains of her bowl. She was a fast eater, faster than the blond. She hopped off the stool and turned to exit the stand, but stopped momentarily. "Naruto, am I your friend?" She asked, her back facing towards him.

"Of course, Yomi-Chan! You're apart of team seven now, I've given you your own nickname and everything," he grinned and gave her a thumbs up.

Kiyomi turned to face him, "even though you've just met me and, I deceived you at first?"

Naruto shot her a serious look, "I can see it in your eyes, you're an honest, kind girl. And even though I just met you, I consider you my friend."

"Thank you, Naru," she smiled at him. Satisfied with his answer, she left. She went home to her apartment and looked at the application, before signing it.

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Finally, the chunnin exams.

Kiyomi had been awake for nearly three hours, but she didn't want to get out of bed. Though she had to, on the account of a certain someone banging on the door. She didn't want the neighbours complaining, again. A loud sigh escaped from her lips as she shot up and opened the door. "Haru, please. Can you calm down? We're going to get in trouble again."

Haru huffed in response. "Yeah, yeah. But I wanted to tell you, yesterday I was attacked by this fat guy from another village, he was wearing a straw hat and he wasn't from around here. He tried to trick me into giving up taking the chunnin exams, but I kicked his ass! And somehow, he knew about you."

Kiyomi rubbed her temple, recalling the encounter she had with an imposter of Haru, Kakashi's colleague.

"Anyways, I'm going to meet my team now. I just wanted to see you before then, I'll see you there!" He shoved a small bag into her chest and ran off.

She looked inside the bag and shook her head at the male, it was onigiri, breakfast. She grabbed one and took a bite. "Damn, it really is good.. Thanks Haru.."

Yuu meowed, rubbing against her leg. Maru sat beside him, looking up at their master. Kiyomi knelt down and rubbed their chins, "I'm sorry, I haven't been taking care of you much since we moved, thank you for taking care of yourselves." They jumped on her and began licking her face.

A rare laughs escaped her lips. "Alright, you two.. I have to get ready," she grabbed hold of them and placed them back on the floor, heading to her closet to get dressed. She slipped on her shorts, thigh high socks, her bra, fishnet shirt and her light cream shirt, in addition her weighted gloves, purple sash, weighted leg warmers and weighted sandals. Even when she didn't train ninjutsu or taijutsu, she was training her body everyday due to the weights she wore.

At first, she found it difficult to move with the added weight, but now, even with the weights, she moved like lightning. She tied her hair into a bun and headband around her neck.

Before she left, she left clawing at her leg, Yuu and Maru. "Alright, let's go you two cuties. You can come with me today," she watched as they made themselves smaller and once they were small enough, she gently placed them in her pouch. She made sure to lock her apartment before heading off, though before she never had to do anything of the sort.

Yuu and Maru, she'd found them shortly after arriving Otogakure. They'd been experimented on too, they had gained the ability to shrink themselves and to understand actual human speech. It was amazing.

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Luckily, she didn't live too far from the academy so it didn't take long for her to arrive. She instantly spotted the blond ball of joy beside the brooding ravenette.

"Yomi-Chan! You're here." Naruto tackled her into a hug, but pulled away pouting. "Sakura-Chan isn't here yet.."

"I'm sure she'll show up," She reassured him, giving him a pat on the back. "Did you have breakfast Sasuke?"

"No," the ravenette shook his head.

She shoved a spare onigiri in his mouth. "Eat up."

He shot her a blank stare and quickly ate up the onigiri, proving just how hungry he was. "Thanks.." And he'd never admit it, but he appreciated her gesture.

"Sakura-Chan, you're late!" Naruto scolded her as she approached them.

"Gomen," she apologised, turning to the ravenette and then the brunette. "Morning, Sasuke-Kun and Kiyomi-Chan." She greeted her crush calmly, which she found strange.

Once the pinkette had arrived, they all entered the academy together. Though Kiyomi was lagging behind.

"Are you coming, Yomi-Chan?" Naruto asked.

"I'll be right there, I've just got to get some things.." She flashed back home and grabbed a few more extra scrolls, shoving them into her pouch before running back to the academy.

Quickly running up the stairs, she was stopped on the second floor, due to the crowd of gennin that had gathered. She looked at the sign, 301, on the second floor. Frowning, she pushed her way through the crowd to get to her team, at the front.

"Also, a chunnin is at the level of a unit leader. Mission failures, death of subordinates, it's all part of the responsibilities of a leader!" Kotetsu told them, scoffing the gennins in front of him. "A brat such as this, a chunnin?"

Izumo smirked from beside him, "what's so bad about weeding out those who won't pass anyway?"

A frown appeared on her face, she understood what they were saying, but she didn't know the full context. And, to her, they looked like the guards at the gate she and Haru first met, but younger. She crossed her arms, "who're you to decide who's weak and who's strong?"

They turned to her," cause we're strong."

"Highly doubtful," she mumbled.

"A just argument," the ravenette spoke up and stepped forwards with Naruto and Sakura walking behind him. "You however, will let me through."

Kiyomi couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Could you undo this genjutsu? We want to go to the third floor."

"So you noticed?" Izumo mused.

"How about it, Sakura?" Sasuke smirked. "You should've been the first one to realise it. Your analytical strength and genjutsu know-how has improved the most in our squad."

"Sasuke-Kun," she trailed off, a little shocked, but thanks to his comment, she smiled. "Arigato. Of course, I released it ages ago. You see this is the second floor."

They undid the illusion and the sign reverted back to 201. "Well done, not bad." Kotetsu hummed. "But all you've done is catch on. Right?" He said as he went to kick the ravenette.

Kiyomi frowned and went to kick the male from one side whilst Sasuke went to kick the other, but the Lee stopped them. She put her foot down and glared at him.

"Hey, this isn't what you promised." Neji approached his teammate, shaking his head. "You were then who said you didn't want to carelessly attract attention and be watched." But the male with the bowl cut merely stared at the pink haired kunoichi.

"Oh boy, this again.." Tenten shook her head.

He turned to them and walked over to the pinkette. "My name's Rock Lee, you're Sakura-San right?" But, she only looked confused. He gave her a wink and a thumbs up, "Please go out with me! I'll protect you until I die!"

Sasuke looked absolutely mortified. "Absolutely not."

Lee became depressed, "huh?"

"You're too intense," the pinkette stated simply, causing the blond to chuckle.

His head hung in sadness, that is until he saw the brunette.

"Oh kid, looks like you've got an admirer."

He brightened up and stood in front of her. "And, you're Kiyomi-San, right?" To which she nodded. "Please be my girlfriend! I vow to protect you until I die!"

Before she could even respond, her brooding teammate had responded for her. "No."

Kiyomi glanced at the ravenette, confused about why he cared. "Sasuke," she scoffed, nudging his side. She turned to gennin with the bowl cut and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested in things like that. We can be friends though.."

Lee nodded sadly. "I understand."

"You two there," the light eyed male called out to them, standing in their way. "Identify yourselves." His gaze lingered on the brunette who looked bored.

"When asking someone his name, give your own name first," the ravenette retorted.

"You two are rookies right? How old are you?" He asked.

"I'm not obligated to answer." Sasuke said.

Neji frowned, "what?"

"Sorry about him. I'm Kiyomi Ōzoku and that's Sasuke Uchiha," the brunette muttered. "And your name?"

"Neji Hyuga, that's Tenten," he introduced, eyeing her.

Maintaining the stoic expression on her face she nodded, "maybe we'll see you around, Neji."

"Too intense.." Lee sulked.

"Uniterested.." Naruto sulked beside him.

"Sasuke-Kun, Kiyomi-Chan, Naruto, let's go!" Sakura said cheerfully pulling the males from her team along.

Shrugging off her hand from his arm, the ravenette walked alongside the brunette. "You noticed too, right?"

She glanced over at him. "Sakura?"

He nodded, "she was feeling down.."

"She was. You show this mean side to you, but deep down, you're nice Sasuke, you made her feel better, more confident." Kiyomi smiled at him.

Sasuke felt his heart skip a beat, seeing her smile.

As they walked side by side, she couldn't help but wonder if they knew that she would have to go solo and leave them. Another thought popped into her head when she remembered she saw Oto coming into Konoha. It made her think about Orochimaru, that wasn't good.

"That bastard pisses me off."

"Just don't think about him Kiyomi, knowing you and your level of skill you'll pass easily. You're a prodigy, hands down. You're the most talented human I've ever been in."

"Suck up, stop being so nice to her."

"Why? Because it makes you look bad? Because you're always mean to her?"

"I do all the dirty work, while you do nothing."

"Technically, Kiyomi does the work, you're just taking over her body.."

"Wh— WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! IT'S TECHNICALLY ME!"

Sasuke nudged her. "Are you listening?"

"Sorry," she shook her head. "What did you say?"

"Are you prepared for the chunnin exams?" He asked once more, a little excited at the though of fighting her.

Kiyomi shrugged. "Ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

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▬▬▬▬▬ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

i ship sasuke and kiyomi oops.
neji do be cute though and lee
is like adorable yk? i will always
have mixed feelings about uhh
sakura though, sorry not sorry.