Ch 57

"I'm declaring this match over, as the winner of this preliminary round, Sasuke Uchiha advances to the finals." 

Naruto leaned over the rails and screamed "yes!!" 

Sasuke was breathing heavily and lost his strength for a second, about to fall over. Kakashi was quick to help Sasuke stay up by letting him lean on his leg. 

"Hmm, not bad," he had icha icha in his hand. 

Which I will steal at some point to read myself. 

Sasuke smirked but Kakashi kept reading. "Funny, before the lion's barrage your technique was very reminiscent of Guy's taijutsu. You must have used your sharingan to copy it when you fought with Rock Lee that time." 

Naruto yelled again, "you ok!?" Naruto giggled, "hey! Sasuke! You won but in such an uncool way! You came out looking like you were the one who got beat up!" 

I chuckled, that is so, but fighting with the curse mark would be hard. 

"Idiot, give me a break. You little- Oh well," Sasuke rolled his eyes and smiled. 

I could feel the tension in the air from Sasuke's win. Everyone was curious and maybe nervous too. Kakashi glanced at me, but I wasn't sure what the look he was giving me was. 

"He's curious about your power child," Orochimaru said behind me. While he was talking to me, his eyes were on Sasuke. 

I scoffed in my head, "are you a mind reader now?" 

He smirked, "no, that's what everyone is thinking." 

I sighed dramatically, "lovely." 

Orochimaru chuckled, "how many know my dear?" 

Know about my real identity? 

"Two," I hummed. "Soon to be more." It would be wonderful to be with everyone again. 

"Well well, so that's how it's done," I completely ignored team Dosu. 

"I knew all the time that you'd be ok Sasuke," Ino almost had hearts in her eyes. 

"Man, I'm hungry," you know what Choji. I'm hungry too! Where is the food!? I want food! This kid said the truest line I've ever heard! 

"Wow he was amazing," Hinata my darling. 

"Nah, he wasn't that special," Kiba, you're just jelly. 

I heard chuckling from Orochimaru so I went to give him an unimpressed look, but I regretted that action quickly. He licked his tongue against his lips slowly. It was disgusting. I just chose to ignore him, which I should have done this whole time. 

Ew. 

The medics came and took the guy away. When they asked for Sasuke to follow Kakashi said, "I think you're out of your league with this one, I'll look after him." 

They nodded and went away. Kakashi leaned down and helped Sasuke up. It was time to seal the curse mark. But Sasuke whined a little, wanting to see who would win and who would lose. 

Honestly, I was with Kakashi, but I sympathized with Sasuke. I too would love to know who I would go up against. Kakashi was firm with Sasuke, knowing that anything could happen with Orochimaru's unpredictable curse mark. 

They walked out of the arena, Sasuke had his hand on the curse mark. It must hurt a lot. 

"Um, ok then, let's move onto the second match." I feel so bad for this guy. 

Orochimaru kept his eyes on Sasuke, not even paying that much attention. But when the names came up, he smirked. Zaku, the guy from team Dosu who got his arms broken and Shino. 

At least this match will be fun to watch. 

Orochimaru did a sign suddenly then disappeared. I smiled, finally able to rest without his presence before smoke engulfed me. Then I was outside the arena with Orochimaru. 

God damn it. 

"Why would you-" 

"I want to keep you close to me child, don't want you running away" I looked at him dumbfounded, what was wrong with this guy. 

"Now stand up, let's see the young Uchiha child." The way he spoke about Sasuke was so dehumanizing, it was like he didn't even see him as a- 

Oh ya, this is Orochimaru. Never mind, this is how he acts. Everything is normal. 

I got to my feet and walked with him. It was only when I saw Kakashi doing the seal on Sasuke that I figured out why he wanted me to come. 

He wanted to show them that I was with him. Show Kakashi that he can't have me. 

Oh this motherfuc- 

"My, how you've grown. To think you'd become strong enough to perform the cursed sealing jutsu." 

Kakashi turned around, startled by the voice. "You." 

Orochimaru smirked, "Long time no see, Kakashi." 

Kakashi was still a little shocked by him, but was even more surprised to see me with him, "Orochimaru." 

He glanced at me, almost as if he had a suspicion this would be the case. 

"No offense, Kakashi, but I didn't come to see you. My business is with that boy behind you." Sasuke passed out behind Kakashi, it seemed the chakra and pain was too much. 

"What do you want with Sasuke?" Kakashi was getting defensive, and rightfully so. 

Orochimaru chuckled, "You've acquired something new, how I envy your good fortune. I don't believe you've had it since the last time we met, did you." 

Kakashi glared at Orochimaru. 

"The gift, the sharingan in your left eye," Kakashi didn't like how he described the 'gift' as Orochimari said. It was another reminder of his dead friends, but a momento too. 

I frowned a little, that said friend also drove me out of this village. 

"It's only fair that I should want it too, the Uchiha power." Kakashi and Orochimaru both looked at me, I looked away. 

"You have her, why Sasuke as well?" 

How dare you Kakashi, I know this looks bad but don't tie me in with this jerk. 

"No, not her," Orochimaru said simply. 

"What's your game?" Kakashi said slowly, trying to get more info. 

"The sound village that everyone's curious about, it's mine. You see, I created it." Kakashi didn't react. 

"I think you understand without my saying anymore." Kakashi scoffed, "You and your wild eyed ambition." Orochimaru loved him saying that, "oh yes, indeed. As always. But to play the game as you put it, I need pieces on the chessboard. Willing pawn to do my bidding." 

"And Sasuke is one of your pawns?," Kakashi sneered. 

"Oh, not at all. He's a far more valuable piece than that. But as for the others, well, you know how it is in the game of chess. Pieces must be sacrificed." 

Kakashi glanced at me once again, "and her?" 

Ororchimaru chuckled, "while she is important, not as important as Sasuke." 

I just love it when people talk like I'm not in the room. Actually, I'm literally not that far from any of them. 

I silently glared at Orochimaru, what a nice way to put in that I'm useful but expendable. He acts like he's the only one using someone here. 

I have my own plans, asshole. 

Orochimaru started taking slow steps in Kakashi and Sasuke's direction. Slow, threatening steps that put Kakashi on full alert. 

After a few seconds Kakashi had enough, "stop, don't come any closer!" 

He made a chidori in his hand, completely threatening Ororhcimaru. And from the way he looked at me, he considered me a threat too. Damn, there goes that plan. 

Orochimaru, thank you... 

FOR BEING AN ASS. 

"I don't care if you're one of the sannin, the three Shinobi of legend. I swear, take one more step towards sasuke, and one of us will die here." 

One, that was terrible. 

Two, really, that was the best you could come up with. 

Orochimaru chuckled. But that chuckle soon turned into maniacal laughter. 

"Funny is it," Kakashi spat out. 

"Poor Kakashi, all your noble efforts, all in vain." 

Kakashi sounded insulted, "What." 

Orochimaru smirked, "Do you really believe that the seal will hold? Do you think you can keep him? From what he truly desires. You know I'm right, a heart like his, that hunger for only one thing will not be denied. No matter what obstacles you put in his path, he's an avenger isn't he?" 

"Do you think you can take advantage of that? Not Sasuke," sorry Kakashi, but you're wrong this time. 

"You cannot stop him, at some point he will come to me." Orochimaru turned around and started walking back towards me.

"In search of power. Unless of course you carry out your threat to kill me, now's your chance. Take it, if you dare." Orochimaru let out some killing intent, making me and Kakashi see our deaths. 

I flinched, then came to my senses. 

"Stop doing that," I frowned. "Not as afraid anymore, interesting." 

I scoffed at him, but gave a nod before disappearing with Orochimaru. 

A/n Sorry it took so long, I'll make sure that chapters come out nice and steady. Sadly I'll have to stop the 'chapter every two days' thing but at least I did it for 3 months! Almost 4!! I'll now do every 3 to 4 days cause school's getting tricky! EWW! Enjoy~

A/n Also I've been seeing a lot of comments about Orochimaru. No he is not a love interest. I'm just trying to make all of you uncomfortable. And it worked!! So rest assured. But seriously, he would act like that, I'm just keeping to his character. Enjoy~

A/n Also... 100k READS!! OMG!! I COULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Enjoy!~