Orochimaru has finally done it, his cursed mark hickey he gave to Sasuke in the Forest of Death. I was about to show up but my insides were stopping me from meddling. This scene is one of the important parts of Sasuke's character development. Good or Bad. My insides were debating about me altering the plot.

I immediately aid my team when I felt Sasuke's and Naruto's consciousness fell because of the impact they've received from the battle. Orochimaru already left, just a matter of time before the other sound ninja appear to test Sasuke's cursed mark. Darkness will emerge inside him as soon as he uses the power that Orochimaru gave him. Sooner or later, he'll start to depend on his cursed mark which is bad. It'll drive him crazy. A power maniac like Orochimaru the pedophile is really bad for everyone.

I may have failed to protect my dream which is to protect the team, somewhere in the future, whatever happened here or what will happen next, everything will be worth it.

"Sakura, stand by, I'll help you heal them for a while." Besides, I can't stay with them. I began my killing spree as soon as I entered the Forest. It's my first things first, it was my first kill upon entering and then little by little, every team that desires death meet death itself. "Kashina! Please... Sasuke-kun... Naruto... they're injured." I nodded and placed their bodies under the oak tree.

I carefully laid their back to the ground before starting to heal them. I don't know how to use medical ninjutsu and I have no idea or recollections of any medical techniques so I healed them using my first aid kits. Fortunately, both of them only suffered chakra exhaustion and physical pain from Orochimaru's attack. I didn't bother to check Naruto's wounds because Kurama's chakra will do the deed but I did clean them first before leaving it alone. As for Sasuke, after cleaning his wounds, I cauterize his deep wound on his back to seal it to stop its bleeding and to prevent his wound from being infected.

"Take this bag, Sakura. It has pack foods for you three. Don't worry about Sasuke and Naruto, they're going to be okay. As for you, just stay strong and take care of them for a mean time." I told her. Well, in this scene, Sakura will cut her hair, right?

"How about you? Where are you going? Isn't a bit dangerous outside? Stay with us, Kashina!" Oh no, she's terrified. The ordeal she had received must be horrible. Perhaps it's too much for her, it's understandable but she needs to overcome this. "I cannot stay with you guys remember? I don't have a team. You'll manage this Sakura. Believe in yourself." I stroke Naruto's and Sasuke's hair before leaving them under the tree.

I sensed Neji's team, Shikamaru's team and Hinata's team nearby. Good, Lee will help Sakura to fight those sand ninjas. They will manage to hold the fort until Sasuke's awakening.

"Enjoying the show?" I asked them and they started to panicked. Neji brought out his kunai while the others prepared themselves. "Oh-ho, hold your horses' gentlemen and ladies. The sound ninjas will come to test Sasuke's cursed mark – as you can see they're vulnerable right now. I'm counting on you to support them." I told them.

"How about you? Aren't you going to help them, Kashina-chan?" Shino asked. A hint of curiosity and suspicion was found on everyone's faces so I sighed. This is troublesome. "I'm going to find Orochimaru's ninjas. I'm going to investigate and confirm my conclusion about Sounds. Since I'm the lone participant, I can move freely. Until then, I'll leave them to you guys." I gave my genuine smile to them before giving Shikamaru and Neji a nod meaning 'I'm leaving the rest to them' before disappearing.

After getting away, I wore the black cloak and mask that Kakashi gave me. I asked him beforehand to prepare me these cloak and mask. I'm eager to meet that Pedophile so after getting comfortable with my attire, I widen my senses to find their location. As expected, Kabuto's presence's was near Orochimaru along with those sound munchkins. I immediately summon a bird and brought out the scroll to notify the Lord Third about Orochimaru's appearance.

Few minutes have passed, 4 ANBU agents from the Hokage appeared beside me. I gave them my findings and report before pointing the direction of all dead bodies I have collected. Of course, I didn't tell them that most of the bodies were killed by me. Kakashi will definitely throw a fit if he found out that I went all out and did killing spree. Poor souls.

After the ANBU's told me that they will handle from this point, I left. I already obtained scrolls of Earth and Heaven so I'm done. I went to the tower to open the scroll which summoned Iruka-sensei.

"Good job reaching the tower, Kashina-chan!" But before I could utter a word, I passed out because of exhaustion.

-

Upon receiving Kashina's report and the ANBU's report, I prepared myself. There's a huge possibility of disaster knowing Orochimaru have invaded the exam without our knowledge. I immediately send a scroll for Jiraiya to come here help the village because I'm well aware that Orochimaru will stay here.

Kashina's report was about Orochimaru's interest to Sasuke. She said that Orochimaru have placed his cursed mark on Sasuke which is bad and I already notified the Jonin leader about this.

"Fellow Jonins, pipe down." I commanded them. The leaders barged inside my office after hearing Orochimaru's invasion. Kakashi on the other hand is furious but he stayed calm. Minato will surely like this scenery, after all, he wanted the best for this youngster. "I'll be handing you the copy of Nara Kashina's report inside the Forest of Death." And that made them surprised.

"Lord Hokage, are you talking about the lone participant?! And she was able to report this to you, immediately?!" I wasn't surprised of their reaction. After all, I'm surprised too. She managed to give me a detailed report and was able to do that immediately on the same day of Orochimaru's attack in her team. "Yes, I already sent my ANBU's and to my surprised..." I paused which made them stop. I hand them the report of the ANBU's I've sent.

"Lord Hokage... this is..."

"Yes, Kashina collected all the dead bodies she had encountered. According to the team leader of the squad that I've sent, Kashina also told them Orochimaru's disguise as well as her suspicion about the Sound Ninjas. Well, that part isn't yet proven. For now, let's hope that she'll manage to uncover the truth before the finals." I told them. They're thinking right now. If a hunch comes to a ninja, better you prepare especially when it's coming to a Nara. Nara clan was known to their unique thinking and battle analyzation. In short, they're geniuses. It's not unusual for them to bear a child like Kashina.

"B-but Lord Third... are you really going to let that child to investigate this alone? You know we can postpone the exam..." I raised my arm to stop Gai from talking. "I was about to... but Kashina told me to not to postpone it and I found her reasons... quite... convincing. Here check this." I showed them the notes that contains Kashina's reason. That made the Jonin leader froze out of God knows what. I just laughed at them. Youth sure do things exciting, huh?

All the Jonin leaders looked at now fuming Kakashi. Uh-oh, I'm sorry my dear student, your brother-hen is menacingly mad at you right now. I'm afraid you escape his wrath.

I woke up to be greeted by the light coming from the ceiling. I supposed that I'm in the hospital. The last thing that I remember is... Iruka-sensei at the tower. I sat down the hospital bed and gasped when I felt my muscle sore from my previous battle. I have no deep wounds but scratches so it's okay. I turned my sight to my left and found Sasuke's body lying on the bed beside mine. Naruto was also here but I cannot find Sakura which is odd.

"You're finally awake, Ka-shi-na." I gulped. This is the first time I met Kakashi's dark eyes and spoke with his cold dark voice. Damn! Lord Third probably told him about my reports! I told him to not! Lord third, you traitor!! "Eh-hehe, hello, Kakashi-niisan... how are you?" I asked him nervously. To be honest, I'm afraid with Kakashi's aura today. Why's Naruto and Sasuke's not waking up!! Help me!

"Don't hello me, Kashina. I need a ton of explanation! What you did was dangerous! I'm pretty sure and one hundred percent convinced that some of the bodies you've collected was killed by yours!" He yelled. He's really mad. I looked down and played on my fingers to ease the nervousness that I'm feeling. "Wait... so you're admitting me that you have killed some of them?"

"Why're you so grumpy, nii-san? I killed them because they're killing me too!" Okay, that's a lie. They're just there to fight me but I'm into killing spree mode which is totally a bad idea. "I'm sorry." I muttered when I felt his menacing aura wrapped around mine. It's suffocating until I heard him sighed. I took a deep breath to calm myself down because my eyes feel burning.

I didn't notice that my tears were already dripping down my face. Was it guilt tears? No, it's just I'm afraid and hurting whenever Kakashi's scolding me.

I felt his strong arms wrapped around my shoulder so I rested my head on his chest. "I'm sorry for yelling. It's just I'm worried okay? I'm worried about Sasuke having that mark, I'm worried about Naruto not waking up and Sakura – she's still in shock. I don't know... I'm worried about you guys." I understand where his anger coming from. I, of all people understand him so I apologized. I don't want him to do flashbacks about his past right now. This isn't time for that.

We stayed in that position for a while until Sakura knocked the door and walked in. I smiled on her when I noticed that her hair was cut off. Probably when they battled against the Sound Ninjas. Kakashi left because of the Lord Thirds' summon. Sakura laid my dinner in front of me and explained what happened after the exam. Since tomorrow is our Preliminaries, I still have plenty of hours to meet Gaara and then rest.

When Sakura decided to go home, I left the hospital through the window. I'm still wearing my ninja clothes from before so I had to stop by the house and take a cold shower before dressing up. I packed a pair of T-shirt and cargo shorts as well as my undergarments for tomorrows preliminary. After putting my clothes inside my backpack, I left the house through the window again since mom and dad didn't know that I went home.

"Fancy meeting you here, Gaara." I found him in our usual meeting spot. Unfortunately, tonight, the moon wasn't present and you can only see those little shines from the stars above. "congratulation on passing the second round." I told him to break the silence. He just nodded to acknowledge my existence but didn't answer. He's back on his usual shell which is bad because tomorrow, his bloodlust will return. I can feel that too. I can feel Shukaku's influence around him. That damn tanuki, he's so troublesome! I just warned him to not to give Gaara's headache but... sigh. Even though I saw this coming, it's tiresome to watch.

Ahh, I cannot handle our awkward silence anymore. I just stayed with him for about 2 hours until I decided to stand up. "I'll be going now, good luck tomorrow." I let out a sad smile. We didn't even manage to get a better conversation. Something must have happened, he seems out of his mind. I was about to disappear when his arms caught mine and stop me from leaving.

"W-why?" I mentally pouted. I'm a bit sad because he seems not excited as I am meeting me here. I felt it one-sided, is this what you call 'heartbreak'?

"I..." He looked away but his cyan colored eyes went back to met my gaze. I gulped. "I... I'm sorry. I was pre-occupied... I hope you'd understand." My eyes soften. Unconsciously, I wrapped my arms around his nape to pull him closer. I cradled my head on his neck as soon as I felt his arms snaked around my waist. I felt him rested his chin on my shoulders which made me stiffened a bit but then relaxed after regaining composure.

"Silly, of course I understand. It's just I'm worried... you're unusually quiet." I whispered on his neck. I shyly sniff on his scent which made me addicted on my first try. He smells like a mint and it's so pleasant. I wasn't kidding if I told him to stay with me forever and let me sniff him until I die.

A pair of bare lips touched my collar bone which made me stopped overthinking. He gave my shoulder a peck before pushing me gently to face me. "Thank you..." And then he kissed my forehead. I can feel my blood rushed on my face and I'm probably looked like a tomato right now. I puff my cheeks out of embarrassment but then shocked when I heard him chuckle! Oh my God! This is GAARA?! He just chuckled! "Why?" He softly asked.

"Nothing, it's just this is the first time I heard you chuckle. You seem okay now, huh?" I rested my head back on his neck again until we both decided to let go. "I'll be going now, I'll see you tomorrow." Before I could finally let go, he gave my forehead a passionate kiss, It made my eyes shut so I let my body shivers to feel his emotions to connect with mine.

"Goodnight, Kashina"

"Goodnight, Gaara"

Him, calling my name is the very pleasant sound that I've ever heard. My name rolling out of his tongue is surely like an ecstasy.