Chapter 35

Alexa's POV

"Die."

As soon as he uttered those words, I lifted my finger slightly and he was hanging midair, that small distraction let him free me. His absolute sand defense wasn't quick on its tail to protect him.

"What...?", he looked around.

A glint of silver wires were revealed as they reflect the light of the crescent shaped moon. They were all stationed everywhere and every single one of them was connected with my index finger.

I massaged my sore neck a little as I stood still.

"When?", he asked delirious.

"I placed them earlier as soon as you attacked me."

I could see him recalling the previous scenes.

He gritted his teeth as he moved his sand around.

"Don't move.", I warned.

A sadist look could be seen on his face and I immediately tightened the wires wrapped around him and he groaned in pain.

He still continued to trash around and I threw a kunai his way, encircling him with a wire but, this time they were attached with numerous paper bombs. Kakashi-sensei is full of tricks, I just learned from him.

"YOU BASTARD!", he screamed.

"Try one more time and you will definitely explode to bits.", I tried to cover my voice with menace.

"THIS MEASLY THING WILL NOT STOP ME!"

How noisy.

I don't have any much reason to kill him but, if he does try to hurt me in any way, I won't hesitate.

Sand swiveled around me. He's still fighting?

"Shall we find out who's faster, your sand or your death?", I taunted.

He gritted his teeth once again before he closed his eyes, I could feel his chakra calming a little.

"I get it. Put me down."

I retaliated a little in my mind. I walked outside the narrow alleyway towards the street, just to be sure.

His sand moved away from me dispersing to his gourd and I nodded as I cut down the wires around him. He jumped down and we locked eyes.

He seems to be calm but, I don't wanna agitate him further.

A rock was suddenly thrown at him and his sand blocked it as he look to the side.

My eyes widened.

"DON'T HURT NEECHAN!"

That useless clone!

Did I just roasted myself?

Gaara clutched his head in pain.

"AAARRGGHHH!!"

'Is it Shukaku?'

Dust particles were accumulated, the building around us either cracked or crumbled down and I don't think I could stop them on time. I'm running out of chakra. I run to Konohamaru as fast as my feet could take me.

"Baka..!", I hissed before enclosing him in my arms, protecting him from the sand that was heading our way in a second.

Anxiety build up in my stomach and I could only wait for the impact.

I closed my eyes and I could hear Konohamaru crying on my shirt.

I felt a cold wave of air and I couldn't seem to feel any pain nor dirt. I fluttered my eyes open and saw Konohamaru and I safe.

Looking behind me, my eyes widened at the familiar long haired male who was standing still, Gaara's sand were frozen in ice stopping millimeters before his eyes.

The red haired boy were trapped inside an ice crystal except for his face letting him breathe.

The drastic amount of chakra and that perfect chakra control were all poured in less than a second. Such perfection.

He waved his hand and the ice disintegrated to crystal dusts that shone in front of me like the stars in the milky way galaxy.

He set Gaara free who was now calm but, shocked at what just transpired. His sand was stopped without even breaking a sweat.

Gaara's eyes moved towards me bewildered, Konohamaru hugged me tighter.

"Why?", he asked me. "Why did you protected him?"

I glared at the red haired. "Why would I answer you?"

Kyuuji interrupted our deep conversation.

"That ends here."

One person appeared behind Gaara, placing his notebook on top of the boy's head.

"I'll escort you back to your inn.", the man spoke, no emotion in his voice.

He exchanged glances with Kyuuji first before the red haired nodded and turned around giving me one last glance as he disappeared into the darkness.

I sighed relief before grabbing the boy by his shoulders but, not enough to hurt him.

"What were you doing, Konohamaru? That was dangerous! Why did you return back?", I asked infuriated.

"Gomenasai..."

He looked at me with those big puppy eyes and I couldn't help but, say sorry instead. Jeez, I'm weak to those eyes.

My attention diverted towards the man I despised the most looking at me with questionable eyes. His tall and masculine body towered over me as I look up to him from my seat.

"You're weak hearted.", he stated all of a sudden.

After all these years, that was the first thing he said to me?

I couldn't help but, deadpan at that moment. "Excuse me?"

He crossed his arms as he stare at me. "You could have killed him earlier, why did you hesitated?"

My eyes twitched in annoyance. This guy just watched me fight for my life?

"Then why didn't you do anything?", I asked back, trying to contain my anger not realizing I was grabbing into the boy in my arms too hard.

"Observation.", he retaliated looking away and I was about to smack him across the face if not for Konohamaru who whimpered.

I look down at him. "You okay?", I asked worried.

He nodded as I help him stand up. He suddenly hid himself behind me, making me a wall to hide from Kyuuji.

The older male suddenly began walking towards me and I instinctively clutched to my back to find my katana gone.

Oh no.

Not that one.

He went past me, his hair slightly dangling a little before he pulled back Konohamaru by the back of his collar. He raised the boy midair and Konohamaru only kicked his feet around.

"Let go of me! Kyuuji-niichan! Let go!"

'Niichan?'

"I have to get you back to Hokage-sama."

"Huh?! Not that old jiji!", Konohamaru aggressively tried to do anything just to escape but, his efforts were all futile.

They suddenly left me all alone in the streets and I laid my back against the wall before I dropped to the floor exhausted.

I twisted my right ankle around, it got dislocated. I bit my lower lip as I fix it back. I'm not even screaming in pain, have I gone used to it that much?

..........

"You're late. Its past 2 am.", I scratched the back of my head looking away from Kakashi-sensei. "So, any excuses?", he asked with an eye smile.

"I ran into a red panda...", I whispered under my breath.

He raised an eyebrow. "You know you're a worse liar than I am."

I sweatdropped. "I'm not lying."

He only gave me a lazy look before swiftly hitting my head with the back of his book.

"Mah, your punishment is postponed until a few hours later so get a good rest until then.", I nodded tiredly as I go back to my tent, knocked out asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

..........

I twisted my body midair before I landed a hit on Sasuke which he blocked with his arms before pushing me away. Throwing shurikens towards me I pulled out my kunai, I stopped their momentum and Sasuke used that moment to perform a fire jutsu.

"Fire Style: Flame Bullets!"

Dodging them was an easy feat but, not the great fireball that was coming towards me.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Only being able to counter it, I performed hand signs. "Water Style: Water Bomb Technique!"

They mixed up together creating mist around us and Sasuke was in advantage due to his Sharingan. I looked around warily until I heard lightning crackling behind me.

"Lightning Style: Hell Blizzard!"

My eyes widened before smirking to myself as the attack hit me.

I silently laughed to myself when I saw Sasuke's irritated glare when I poofed into a log.

"That damn jutsu.", he muttered under his breath remembering how often times Kakashi uses it on him.

I cracked my knuckles before performing another jutsu, "Wind Style: Wind Breakthrough!"

The mist disappeared and so did Sasuke. I twisted and turned my katana around before clashing against Sasuke's kunai.

He run his kunai on my katana and I looked at his Sharingan before he threw a spin kick at me, hitting me on the side of my stomach. I skidded to the left and he threw shurikens.

I squinted my eyes at them, there were chakra strings attached. Using my sword, I countered them sending them flying back towards the Uchiha.

"You get easily fooled.", he said out of nowhere before he smirked and aggressively pulled his arm.

I got tugged towards him by my right ankle causing me to fall back on the ground. I swiftly cut the string before rolling away from getting stabbed by his kunai.

As soon as I got back on my feet he immediately threw a kick to my face which I resisted with my arms. He's more physically powerful than I thought.

'Is he wearing weights?'

I enhanced my fist with chakra before grabbing him by his shirt and attempted to punch him. I gritted my teeth slightly when he held my arm stopping me from hitting his handsome face.

"Careful now. You might accidentally kill someone at this rate.", he said.

I smiled, shrugging my shoulders. "Who knows?"

I used that moment to pull him upwards to the air until he twisted my arm, not noticing him placing something there, I kicked him on his gut almost immediately. He backflipped midair and I let go of his collar.

He performed the ram sign and I could feel my shoulder getting electrocuted. Biting my lower lip, I looked at what he placed, a lightning paper seal.

'I didn't know one existed.'

I pulled it off from me when I felt his presence coming towards me.

He went towards me and I ducked from his attack before sweeping him off his feet to which he dodged by jumping away. Placing chakra on the soles of my feet, I was in front of him the next moment.

His sharingan were wide opened, he can comprehend what was happening in front of him but, his body is not fast to react on time.

I hit him square on his chest and he fall to the ground until he held me by my shoulder before pulling me on the ground and now I was below him, his kunai right on my throat.

"You're really full of surprises.", a bid of sweat rolled down from his chin.

My hand gripped firmly on the hilt of my katana, its blade right on his neck.

He had his other hand on my shoulder keeping me down on the ground as he hovered over me. His knees were on either side of my waist with our weapons on each other's throat.

His sharingan was ablazed as he stare back at me. The moment he relaxed and blinked his eyes, I flipped us around, now I was on top of him, straddling him on his waist, my left hand on his chest, my other hand keeping the tip of my katana in between his eyes.

"I could say the same thing, Sasuke."

I felt his kunai on my stomach as he watch my hair tie snapped, my black hair falling on the side of my face, sprawling beside him.

He looked at me with wide eyes until our little moment got cut off by none other than Kakashi-sensei.

"That's it. The match is over. Another draw!", he cheered happily before he reverted back with a stern face.

I got off Sasuke before helping him up by extending my hand to him.

"Lhexi, you utilize your ninjutsus to their maximum and you quickly adapt to the problems at hand but, you rely too much with your kenjutsu skills.", I pouted a little as I place my katana back. "As for you Sasuke, you have by far improved the most but, you are too confident with your abilities as to why Lhexi could easily use it to her advantage."

Sasuke scoffed as he looks away before nodding nonetheless.

"Anyways you are both talented in your own ways. It's only the 1st week of training and yet you already have exceeded my expectations.", he eyesmiled before pulling his book out of his pouch. "Training resumes in 15 minutes, get a quick rest.", he buried his nose on the book before walking away.

"8 wins, 8 loses, 2 draws.", I heard Sasuke speak as he sat on the edge of the small cliff. "I don't wanna admit it but, I guess you're on par with me,"

I did the same and sat next to him watching the sunset. "I could have won the 1st match if you didn't planted explosive bombs.", I said to him and his lips twitched upwards.

"I wasn't breaking the rules and you summoned an entire lake here the other day, almost drowning me by surprise.", he shifted on his seat and I giggled a little.

"I got scolded by Kakashi-sensei that time."

"Yeah. I remembered you had to summon it all once again and return it back.", he stifled a little chuckle.

"My body's still sore up to this day because of that.", I skidded my hands behind me, as I slightly lean backwards.

A comfortable silence grew between us.

"About your fight with Gaara...", I trailed off.

He's a dangerous fellow, I know Sasuke will grow strong on par with him but, worry and anxiety is still bubbling in my gut.

"I'll win.", he said out loud with a confident face. He turned his head, facing me. "That's why I want you to win your fight against Tohru so I can beat you up in the final round."

I giggled as I cover my lips with the sleeves of my yukata. "Not gonna lie, you got me on the first half."

"L-Alexa...", he stuttered.

I tilted my head to the side. "Hm?"

He suddenly quieted down before looking away. "Nothing..."

I squinted my eyes at him. "You really...just hurry up and spit it out. You've been like this for the past few days. And just call me Lhexi, I believe we've gotten close enough for you call me that."

He lifted his eyes towards me, his eyes sparkling a little before it died down. "Lhexi...is there something troubling you?"

"Huh? Like what?"

"You...don't you even notice it yourself?", he asked playfully infuriated.

"Notice what?", I stopped and began laughing at him. "Ohohoho is the great Mr. Uchiha worried about me?"

He facepalmed before he muttered something under his breath, "Idiot..."

He sighed first before speaking. "You have lost weight and you're getting paler each day, you can't even sleep well at night. At this rate, it will affect your match."

I touched my face and blinked my eyes. "Really?"

"Really.", he gave me a deadpanned look before pointing my eyes. "And look at those eyebags, they've gotten worse."

I smiled bitterly at him. "I'm fine, I just need a little rest."

He looked like he didn't believe me but chose to stay silent, I look down at the cliff, swinging my legs back and forth when I felt a hand on top of my head.

I look to the side to see Sasuke looking away from me, his chin on his hand with his ears beet red as he stroke my hair.

It felt warm and cozy, I gave a small smile at his direction, watching him get embarrassed as to what he was doing.

..........

"You know, if those matches were real battles, Sasuke could have died 18 times. Am I right, Lhexi?", Kakashi-sensei spoke in a mild manner tone.

I just looked back at him.

"You were always holding back. You had so many chances yet you always make it look like you're at the losing end.", he touched the small wound on the middle of his chest. "In reality you were controlling the match."

His three tomoe sharingan drifted to the dangling bell on my hand.

"It took you just three minutes.", he eyesmiled. "Congrats. You were the first one to ever steal a bell from me."

He slouched down his hands in his pockets. "But, we still have to work on your stamina."

He looked down at my disheveled form as I desperately gasp for air, blood trickling down from my limbs. I clutch my katana on the ground as I try standing up from kneeling on the ground.

He took out another bell swinging it out in front of me.  "Shall we continue, Lhexi?"

I grinned excited before forcing my body to stand up.

"Yes! Sensei!"

..........

My eye twitched in annoyance before I covered it up with a fake smile. He stared down at me, unamused.

'Why him out of all people?'

I forced my muscles to smile although it was killing me inside, "Nice to meet you Kyuuji-san."

'Ahhh, I think I'm gonna puke...'

He looked at me with a blank face before reading the document on his hand. I shifted slightly on my feet watching the glass pane of the Yamanaka's Flower Shop that we were right in front at.

"Listen here. I have no interest on teaching you or whatsoever. I'm only doing this because Kakashi-san asked me to."

My fingers trembled and I spoke in a sweet voice. "Yes I understand. Please take care of me."

His eyes traveled to the katana on my back before scrutinizing his eyes then began walking away. I was left there and soon I followed him both of us awkwardly silent.

We stopped in front of a weapon's shop and I smiled thinking I would see Tenten today just to find her nowhere.

A middle aged man welcomed us as we pass through the door. "Welcome! What can I get to you--! OH! Kyuuji-kun! What brings you here?!", he asked boisterous.

"I'm looking for a sword.", he looked around at the weapons displayed.

"I see! I see! You want the usual design?"

Kyuuji looked at me first before answering. "No. It's for this child here."

The man blinked his eyes and bended slightly to look at me. "This is rare! You finally took in a student! HAHAHA!"

The brunette suddenly flipped his hand behind me and in a second, he had my katana on his hand.

"You have an oddly bad weapon despite your abilities. I'm surprised it's still in one piece.", he remarked before keeping the sword to himself.

I retaliated almost immediately. "It's from my friend...Uhm...is there any need for me to change my desired weapon?"

He ignored me and looked around. I was about to approach him when the seller called for me.

"Miss, come here for a second.", he waved his hand and I nodded following him to the back of the shop where several katanas were attached on the wall. "Choose any one to your liking."

I carefully looked around grabbing one or two, holding them with my hands looking for something that fits my taste. Kenma's sword was the only one that best suits me but, this Kyuuji bastard is forcing me to replace it.

Sigh.

I was still looking inside the room when the covers on the door lifted revealing Kyuuji who narrowed his eyes at me. "You're taking too much time."

I looked around immediately finding anything that was up to my desire when I caught a glimpse of a high quality looking sword and I was about to reach for it when Kyuuji shoved a different katana on my arms.

I looked a little shocked as I stare down at the average looking sword but, it fits perfectly in my hands. I whipped it around and smile to myself, this sword was perfect to my taste.

"Let's go.", I realized he already paid the older man and I bowed a little as we get out of the shop.

"Uhm...Kyuuji-san...about my other sword...", I trailed off, it was nowhere on him.

"Once you master the basics I'll give it back to you."

My eyes widened at his blunt reply.

'How long will I be able to stand this brat...?'

Third Person's POV

The silverette glanced at the long haired male in front of him who was drinking his tea. Placing the cup down, his hazel eyes traveled to Kakashi's.

"What do you think of her?", the older jonin asked.

"She's better than I thought.", he glanced down at the sword on his lap, it belonged to someone else. "She's quick to learn, and her progress are exceeding my expectations. She doesn't need the Chunin exams to prove her level, she's at least comparable to a low ranked jonin.", there was a slight pressure on his calm tone.

"Right? It's a wonder how such a talented girl is from a civilian family." Kakashi narrowed his single eye a bit before flipping to another page of his book. "You also saw that, didn't you? Those movements which requires intense speed, and agility. It's quite similar to your technique, Dark Shadow Dance, was it?"

Kyuuji gave a quiet response, in his head he was debating big ideas.

The silver haired jonin became even more serious as he continue. "I watched her training very closely. Even if someone as good as you taught her, she won't be able to achieve that superb kenjutsu skill at such a young age. I'm very much surprised when I saw three elemental affinities appear on the chakra paper I gave her. Normally, even if a person has three elemental chakra, only one will show up."

He had a piece of paper in between his fingers adding chakra to it, it crinkled. Kakashi has four elemental affinities and only the main one materialized on the paper.

"Unless, she has a bloodline limit.", he dropped the paper on the table.

Kyuuji watched in silence before speaking.

"You're suggesting that she came from a clan and possess a Kekkei Genkei. And that snake also has an interest on her, its most certainly possible.", his mind showed the same girl they were talking about.

"No. Not a kekkei genkei." Kyuuji looked up, a visible confusion on his face. Kakashi clasped his hands as he lay his elbows on the table. "A kekkei totta."

A serious and tense atmosphere erupted between the two of them. There was a dark look on Kyuuji's face, his hand on the handle of the sword on his lap, ready to unsheathe it anytime.

"Kakashi-san...", he started in a terrifyingly calm voice. "...my student is not an object of power..."

Kakashi remained still as lightning descended down just outside the window of the dango shop before a thunder erupted in the dark clouded sky. A flash of silver glinted in his eyes and he heard people shouting in surprise.

All the furnitures starting from the chair behind Kakashi were all cut into half including the cemented wall that splitted, but no one was hurted.

A bid of sweat rolled down on the side of his face, his eyes focused on the icy person before him.

'This aura, calm yet turbulent, formidable and unmatched...he might be only a half-blooded one but, he is still a member of that clan...'

He looked down on the exposed skin on his wrist, his hair standing on both edge.

"Mah! Lhexi certainly grew on you in just a few weeks.", the aura diminished instantly at the mention of her name, ignoring the ruckus behind him. "I don't have any intention of making her an asset to the village, I'm just worried now that the higher ups had their eyes feasted upon her."

Kyuuji frowned as he look down, Kakashi was right. With that kind of talent, she won't escape the eyes of a scum like Danzo. "Then what do you suggest?"

"Currently we can do nothing about it but, I have an idea.", he unclasped his hand and sat straight as Kyuuji listened. "After the Chunin Exams, she will be a part of Team 7."

The long haired male raised an eyebrow. "I'd suggest she become a part of my team. We're missing one member, she's a perfect fit. Besides, aren't your hands already full taking care of three genins?"

Lightning crackled between the two of them before Kakashi shrugged, "I figured out you'll say that but, it's safer for her to be on my team. You couldn't have forgotten that Shinui is still a direct subordinate of Danzo-sama, right?"

"Most certainly of course.", the brunette replied casually. "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer."

Kakashi eye smiled. "Aren't you just exposing her to the real danger?"

"You don't have to worry, I'll protec--", his eyes widened, his fingers trembling a little.

Protect. A killer word for Kyuuji. He can't do it. How many times have he failed protecting his loved ones? From his mother, to his best friend, and finally his beloved. Asuna was the last straw, as to why he already gave up from loving anyone.

What about his student? He didn't think he was still capable of caring for someone's well being when he himself could care less about himself.

Kakashi sighed. 'There he goes again...it's concerning how he still haven't recovered from his PTSD.'

"Focus on turning Shinui to our side first.", he calmly stated. "I'll take care of Lhexi, besides she is very close with my team. And I don't think she will be alright with Hikari. As you know, Lhexi is not that socially interactive person and I'm afraid she might pick up your personality."

Kyuuji regained his composure before retaliating. "Hikari is a perfect match for her, they will surely go along well...", he trailed off as he sweatdropped.

Kakashi snickered. "See? You're even questioning yourself. We have a Naruto, and he's the closest person to Lhexi, you could say they're practically best friends."

"Naruto...huh?"

'The fourth hokage's legacy...', Kyuuji thought before nodding.

"I get it. I'll place my trust in you."

Kakashi nodded happily, he won at last.

Kyuuji shifted on his seat before standing up. Kakashi's eyes drifted outside the window, his expression turning sour. "I have one more word for you..."

The younger Jonin looked down, lending his ears.

"If she came from a clan...it's most probably that one.", he could see the look on the brunette's face by the reflection on the glass. "I've heard from Inoichi-san, her family got killed over five years ago...the same year we massacred over three hundred of them. This is the first time you'll be hearing this but, that girl is scared of me as if I took someone very important to her."

"So...the reason why you don't want her in my team is because..."

Kakashi frowned as the next words come out of the younger one's lips. "...I'll behead her?"

"The probability of anyone surviving that night is lower than zero...and her features are different but, her elemental affinities and her deadly kenjutsu skills are similar to them...I'm just afraid we have connection to what happened to her family.", he explained.

Kyuuji clenched his fists. "Why didn't you informed me about this beforehand?"

Even with his mask on, Kakashi has a dark and cold expression on his single eye revealed. "Kyuuji...", he called. "You remember right? The screams of those innocent children I killed."

"I remember, a vivid memory engraved on my soul like I was still living that night.", guilt was evident on his voice.

"It was then that I realized... humans are the definition of monsters.", Kakashi stated with a smile on his face as he look at Kyuuji. "Don't you think so too?"

"Yes...", was all he could reply.

"Kyuuji...if she was indeed a Ryuugaime will you execute her with your own hands?", he rested his chin on his palm.

"If she was indeed one...", he look straight to Kakashi's eye. "I won't hesitate to behead her."

The silverette glanced at his unwavering hazel eyes. 'Now I'm wondering here...who the real devils are...'

A/N

Hoo!

This was such a tense chapter and we're only getting started.

I think I made Kakashi a little devilish?

Its hard to hit his personality because he's just that great of a character.

And now our Oc is finally getting the attention from the village she deserves!

👏👏👏

And also thank you so much for those commentators who raised words of encouragement! I'm so happy that you guys love this book.

The final chunin exam will be in the next chapter. And it will focus on Sakura.

I think I'm not giving this girl the screen time(in this case book attention) she deserves.

Please comment on how you would like the next fight to be.

So I can get some sort of inpiration and ideas.

Stay safe!