We make our way to the tower.
As I climb up the short flight of stairs to reach the door, I toss a pair of scrolls at Karin.
She catches them.
"Pass the test, then meet up with us", I command her.
"Don't boss me around. I'm not one of your lackeys", she scoffs.
Oo...she is back to her tsun mode.
I look at Naruto. He is ignoring her with all his might.
I guess it's confirmed, Naruto doesn't like thsundere.
Sakura hugs her lightly. Karin looks the other way, and she also hugs her with one hand.
I guess Sakura has experience dealing with Tsunderes. I wonder how.
We do the riddle of opening the scrolls together.
Kakashi appears out of the smoke.
"Kakashi sensei....!", Naruto is actually happy to see him.
"You seem to be all fine and well", he looks at each of us.
"What happened to you?", he asks me, seeing me with my torn lips.
"Oh...just some monkey throwing rocks", I brush it off. I'm not looking at Naruto right now, but I can tell he is fuming.
"Why didn't you heal it? ", he asks.
Oo....now that's a good question.
"I thought it looked good on me, don't you agree sensei?", I muse.
"No matter how good it looks, I won't allow my cute genins to wear scars as cosmetics", he says with a huff.
"Why not?".
"It's a bad practice. Once you get into the habit of it, it kinda gets out of control", he says from experience.
"Just this once. I made a minor blunder. It will help me remind myself", I shrug.
Kakashi is still against it.
"I expect you to heal it yourself or see a medic about it immediately ", he commands.
"Okay....just, let me keep it if we make it chunin? Yeah?", I urge with puppy dog eyes.
"I don't bet with my students", he ruffles my hair as he passes between us and leads us inside.
Haa.....I already have 2 faint scars below my eyes along the cheek... I don't have to keep wounds just to remind me of stuff.
We entered the building, and we .....were the last to enter it seems.
"Yoo...what's up?", I greet Shikamaru who is lying on the concrete bench beside a door.
It's the medical emergency room.
"Who ?", I ask out of concern.
"Don't worry, it's just some half-dead Mist shinobi that begged us for help", Shikamaru says as he yawns.
"That was a good move", I comment, considering the alliance between Mist and Konoha is still in its rudimentary stage.
"What a drag", Shikamaru mumbles.
"Where are the others?", I ask.
He points me toward the hall room. I call for Naruto who is greeting Kiba. I don't miss Hinata who is skillfully hiding right behind Kiba.
"Yoo....Kiba and Akamaru...!", I greet.
"Glad you made it", I add.
"We've been here 2 days ago. I thought your team was dead", Kiba says sarcastically.
"You know... it's our turf...we took our sweet time enjoying the picnic", I brag.
"Yeah...we even had BBQ and booze party!", Naruto joins in.
"You had booze?", Kiba asks.
"Yeah...so?", I ask with a blank face.
"You can't drink before 18", he states.
Yeah....there is a thing like that.
"Yeah...but it's for clan kids", I say.
"What?", Naruto and Kiba both ask in unison.
"Yeah....you know how orphans must be ninjas? It's because we can be legal adults the moment we become adults", I say.
"Then ....Sakura Chan she will be in trouble then", Naruto asks in concern.
I shake my head.
"Sakura has circumstances, but she is also a legal adult", I state. It's not my place to spread around her personal life.
"Damn, you guys have it easy. You get to be adults too so soon. My parents still treat me like a brat", Kiba scoffs.
Me and Naruto both can help by smiling wryly.
What wouldn't we do to be treated as such?
On the bright side, freedom does come at a cost they say.
"Yeah....I was thinking of getting married the moment I hit chunin", I say with a deadpan.
"What the heck dude..!", Kiba gasps.
"Oh come on. It's a ninja life, I don't wanna die a virgin", I say with a shrug. "Naruto agreed to do the same too, right mate?", I poke him with my elbow.
"Ehh! Don't lump me into this. I never agreed to anything", Naruto tries to brush me off.
"But said you would consider it", I wave my finger at him.
Naruto shakes in anger. But stays silent.
"Better to have a beautiful wife waiting for you at home than seeing my ugly mug every day making potato fries", I say while munching on chewing gum.
I offer one to Naruto. He chews on it as he seriously considers my words.
I see Hinata fidgeting anxiously. You better hurry it up girl or someone will snatch him away.
But I see her sigh in relief instead.
What heck? I don't understand this shit at all.
I offer one to Kiba. And then one to Hinata.
She takes it. Avoiding a surprised gaze from both Kiba and Naruto.
"Oh! Hinata chan! You were here?", Naruto gasps.
"Wo....girl. Quite sneaking up on guys", Says Kiba.
"Oh, quite it. Sakura does it all the time?", I say while nodding thoughtfully.
"Is that like a normal thing?", Naruto asks.
"I... I'm sorry for sneaking on you guys", Hinata blurts and runs away.
Oo....I think that was mean.
"You scared her away", I scoff at Naruto.
"How is this my fault?", he asks. We are a bunch of kids talking about marriage at age 13 in front of a princess, to whom it's a serious matter.
Clan kids can't even imagine marrying the person they like and here we are talking about it like it's nothing. Perhaps, I was too harsh.
Alright, enough messing around.
We walk to the hall room.
The same usual preliminary chunin combat exam.
A total of 20 examinees made it in. It's an unprecedented number.
Only 8 or 10 will make it to the finals.
I don't see the Kaze kage, but I see Sarutobi standing there.
And beside him is a woman too young for being a kage, clad in a blue kimono with fishnet stocking and a high ponytail of hair as red as Lava itself.
That's Mei Terumi. The 3rd Mizukage. She anxiously looks around for her genin team. Sighs in relief upon seeing them.
Oh....she is such a kind, beautiful, and strong woman who is bringing the Mist and Konoha together.
I heavily sigh as I look at her. I wish I could get an autograph.
She looked at me.....oh...my good...she is looking right at me.
I'm blushing, fuck I'm blushing...I feel my face heat up with goosebumps. But I can't seem to take my eyes off of her.
She smiles and winks at me. Oh my god.
She beckons someone from behind.
Jabuja....is that Jabuja? As Mizukage's guard!!!??
She talked to him while looking at me. Is she asking about me?
Alright... I was able to look away at last.
I see Sakura on my face.
"Ahh!!", I got so scared that I jumped.
"Who are you looking at, Sasuke kun?", she asks following my recent line of site.
"Ooo...she is pretty!", Sakura says with bright eyes.
And she is single....is what I wanted to say.
How is it possible that a woman like that doesn't have a lover or a husband?
"It isn't right ", I murmur as I punch the floor.
"You hit your head on something?", Naruto asks.
"I guess she dumped me pretty hard?", he said while wiping my face with my hand.
"Who dumped Sasuke kun?", I see the feeling of heat in her question.
"Eee.... it's nothing Sakura chan.... the Oldman is standing up ", he changes the subject. They get into the crowd while I sit on the floor.
Why...I wanted to talk about it.
I guess we have bigger things to worry about. Mainly me...only I know what a huge change it can bring with Mei Sama being here.
In the best-case scenario, Orochimaru feels overwhelmed and postpones the invasion. Which is too good to be true, to be honest.
Worst case scenario, Orochimaru kills her along with Sarutobi. But that's....kind of impossible.
Would you look at that.....she swapped places with Jabuja....what? She doesn't wanna give a speech?
By the way, Jabuja's transformation was flawless.
Is this what they call a smokeless transformation?
Not a single drop of chakra was wasted. Wow, it would've been impossible to recognize Jabuja if I hadn't lived with him for the past couple of days.
"Did you see it?", Kakashi asks. "Yeah...that's a Kage-level trick right there!", I reply excitedly.
"Sensei?", I call.
"You can do that too right?", I ask.
"Yes...", I answered with a deadpan. Of course, he can.
"Teach me, please?", I request. He has wide eyes for some reason.
"What ?", I ask.
"Unlike Naruto... it's the first time you wanted to learn something from little old sensei", he says with his closed-eye smile.
What's up with him being all chummy? It's creepy.
He ruffles my hair.
"Thanks for bringing the team in safely", he praises me.
"Hahaha....they are strong on their own...I didn't do much...", I say shyly. Fuck...I gotta learn to take compliments better.
But .... it's not bad.
"Sensei, I gotta talk ", I say with a serious face.
"Go ahead?", he agrees.
"Not here. It's important", I whisper.
"All right.....follow me", he says.
We get out of the room and go by the washroom.
"So, what is it that you wanted to say?", he asks.
I take out a scroll and unseal the singer rifle the puppeteer used.
"Hmm...", Kakashi has a worried expression for once.
"And I have a corpse. A puppeteer, but he was unregistered ", I give him the body scroll.
"How did you know he....".
"He came with Orochimaru ", I add.
"Well, I heard a similar report ", he rubs his chin.
"Anko san?", I ask.
"Again, how do you know?", he asks with a sigh.
"You know sensei, it's downright annoying what village wants to keep secret and what they don't. Like, Anko san is a neighbor, who fucking lives in the apartment Orochimaru used to live....a sane person would connect the dots", I say with furrowed eyebrows. His eyes say "Why do you know Anko".
Yeah...shows how very little you know about your genius.
"Orochimaru was a fucking Hokage candidate . Everything about him is there in the history scrolls", I say.
"Wait...you read those?", Kakashi asks.
"Why the hell wouldn't I? These are legends. There is a scroll on you too. There is a book about everyone's birthday, the food they like, their hobbies...even the Anbu members", I say while waving my hands.
"That's.....unethical...Sasuke, which book are you talking about?", Kakashi looks shaken.
"Is it more important than a fucking Sanin getting in a chunin exam to kidnap one of your students?", I ask.
"He said he wanted my sister's body, but failed so he came looking for mine", I add.
"You mean your brothers?", he asks.
???!!!! ????
I don't know anymore. I don't care. Maybe the tsukoyomi did a number on me. Yes, I remember being hit with it 2 times.
"Yeah...whatever. That's what he or she said", I say.
I don't know what body Orochimaru has right now.
"But that is not important", I urge.
"What is more important?", he asks.
"I have a witness, who will testify that the sound ninja are working for him", I say.
"Really?", Kakashi connected the dots. There are factors that I know and others that he knows.
All of them point towards an invasion.
"If what think is true....we got work to do. This witness....is that the girl that came in with you?", he asks.
"Yeah...Karin Uzumaki", I say.
"She may not be able to verbally testify much but put her through a Yamanaki, and a lot more will pop out", I say. I hate putting her through Yamanaka mind fuck, but it's necessary.
"An Uzumaki....huh...", Kakashi doesn't show his change in mood. But his chakra rattled like a Bus hit a truck.
"I will have to get her out of the match. Can't have her killed. Bring her here once the speech ends", he orders.
"What? You want me to do this?", I huff.
"Well.... it's a mission. S rank one at that. Wanna miss out?. If you are not up for the task....".
"No no....I will do it....just ....give me a minute...", I walk out.
"Here we go again," I sigh heavily. Let's see if I can do this without getting punched in the face.
#####
I get back to the hall room. The speech is over.
Wish I could hear what Mei san said.
"Okay", I breathe. The target is on the other side of the hall. I have to get there, convince her, and walk out without anyone knowing.
I see the Flute girl here, Kabuto is on my platform and Orochimaru should be here somewhere. Not to mention, all the jounin are present here.
How the fuck am I supposed to do this?
Karin could be killed right here.
I bite my nails in frustration. I see the name board rolling names.
Hmm...hmmmmmmmmm!!!!!! The target is a girl, I have to take her to a washroom, where Kakashi's gonna be waiting. It's not like I have to convince her. I just need her to go there alone. Create circumstances based on it.
So, to sum it up, all I need is to get close to her without anyone being suspicious.
A situation where I can touch her.
"Hmmmm?", Sakura copies. I like it when she pops in like that.
"Baby girl, I need you!", I grab her by the shoulder.
"What?", Sakura blushes.
I look at the door behind the Kages. It's the control panel for the name board.
"I need to get in there", I make a childish demand.
"Hmm....what are your orders?", she asks.
!!???!! Orders...? That sounds heavy as fuck.
"What do you suggest? Lady Sakura?", I bow my head. I need her leadership in this.
"Mr. Sasuke ....you can't get there", she shakes her head in denial.
Ooh..shoot.
"But I can...I need instructions on what to do in there ", she says.
I unseal a scroll. It's a radio communication device. The principals are a bit different, due to the presence of Chakra, but it will do.
"I've never seen them so small", Sakura says as she checks out the earbuds. She moves her bangs and puts them in her ear.
"It's because it was made by the Uchiha company", I say with a thumbs up.
A pen drive and a knockout tag.
"Take this, once you get there I will give instructions over the radio on what to do", I squeeze it in her hands.
And there she goes. Like an arrow shot from a bow, she walks away and disappears.
Something in my heart twists violently.
I can't breathe.
I have to calm down. It's a big deal. Bigger than us. Our very home is at stake here.
If she gets caught, she will be disqualified. Worse, killed or decapitated on site.
I....what do I do...I need to make a distraction.
"Where is Sakura Chan....?", Naruto grabs my shoulder.
I look at him. The loud nuclear siren that was playing in my heart suddenly turned into smooth jazz.
"Naruto Uzumaki!", I tightly grab him by the shoulder.
"We have to extract the red boggy", I whisper.
He looked confused for a moment.
"It's compromised. It's an S-rank mission. I need you to make a distraction while our arrow pierces the target", I say.
I hope he is registering all this. I let go.
The first names roll. Start praying. I prayed to every god or demon that ever exited to the point red and black aura started to ooze out of me.
[Naruto uzumaki vs kiba Inozuka]
I grabe Naruto again.
"Make it flashy make as much noise as possible....", I tell Naruto.
"You bet....I will beat his ass!", Naruto says.
"Yes....I know that...that guy is nothing...!", I say with a dismissive wave. What is this guy saying?
He can beat Kiba in 3 moves.
"But I need you to take your time. Make it as flashy as possible. Prove to them that you are the most unpredictable, obnoxious, carefree ninja this world has ever seen", I say.
Naruto looks at me with Narrow eyes.
"It's an official S rank mission, issued by A very high-ranking shinobi....trust me....please ", I'm about to cry.
Naruto wipes his face.
"I don't know where you sent that[ arrow]...but all I need to do, is make a flashy fight, right?", he says with a serious face as checks Kiba out, who is doing stretches in the ring.
I violently shake my head.
Off he goes.
My hands are trembling and I'm sweating bullets. I feel nervous as fuck.
I'm alone...
Orochimaru....!
Where is he....this goddamn eyes.....work...!
I eat a jumbo chakra peel. Turn my sharingan on to full.
Look around. A .... loudspeaker. That's the Hokage used speaker.
That large speaker looks suspicious as fuck.
I look right at it.
It's him...he disguised himself as a goddamn loudspeaker. I'm sure of it. And Karin is right in front of it.
I hope he hasn't caught on yet. But I see Kabuto's eyes on her. He .....this guy didn't forfeit?
Oh ...shit....he is onto us. He knows something.
What if he is also rigging it....oh fuck....
Sakura....what if she meets an enemy there...
No, Kabuto is moving himself.
I have to stop him.
I put a large amount of yen chakra on my jugular vein.
My nose starts to bleed.
"Oh my...Sasuke ...you okey?", Ino asks.
"Oh..my nose broke...shit...", I curse.
"You need to see a doctor..", she says.
"No... I'm fine...", I say, but more blood starts pouring out. I can't leave, since the match is on.
"I can take a look into it", someone says from behind.
It's Kabuto.
"I'm a medic", he says while raising a hand.
"Oh...much obliged ...please ...I can't seem to...", more blood gushes out.
Kabuto comes closer and uses simple healing jutsu.
I have him right where need him.
"Strange, your system seems to be twisting on its own. Did you come into some kind of ocular genjutsu", he says as he stops the flow.
"Yeah....!", I admit. Whatever you say.
I look at the door while Kabuto patches my nose up.
She...walked up to Jabuja...? Smart move.
That's my girl.....wait...he isn't not Jabuja. Oh..my god...fuck... that's the goddamn Mizukage...oh on...ohno...oh....no...
Please...no...
"Uchiha...I need you to calm down...you will lose too much blood ", Kabuto snaps me back.
"Oh sorry... I'm shook up....?", I say with a wry smile.
Wait ....Jabuja...I mean Mei sama noded to Sakura. She ....agreed to help her....oh my god.
My luck...
Oh lord...oh whatever god there is...
Whatever demon there is...take my soul and bring back Sakura safe.
My blood stops. Kabuto saw Jabuja move as well.
I guess he is considering abandoning the mission.
"Take it easy...I think you should withdraw ", Kabuto suggests.
"Thank you for your concern", I look at Naruto-s match.
He is doing quite the acrobatics with the clones.
"I'm in", her sweet voice rings in my ear.
"But I can't afford that!", I say while tightly grabbing the railing, the railing bends under the pressure.
Not now.....not ever.