Chapter 17

*Umi's POV*

"The forest of death, delightful." I sighed while leaning back against the tree.

We were outside the forest of death just waiting for the proctor to arrive. I was sat under a tree next to Ryuua and the other rookies were lounging around. Lee was doing push ups while Neji and TenTen were just watching him strangely.

"Hey, why do people like you?" Yuki suddenly asked sasuke who just looked at her like she grew a second head.

"What?!" Sakura spat and Ino glared before looking away.

"Listen, freak! What's your problem?" Sasuke growled and Yuki shrugged.

"Your a dunce that's all, and your mean to a lot of people. It's not nice. And calling me freak isn't going to help your case." She rolled her eyes before jumping down from her place on the tree branch.

"Like I care. All you are is a freak, seriously, like what even are those ears and tail." Sasuke hissed before turning on his heal and walking away.

Sakura followed him as Yuki just balled her hands into fists. "Yuki." I place a hand on her shoulder but she turned and began walking away.

"He went too far." Neji commented as we watched her walk away.

"He should know by now that she has sudden random outburst. She did make a point though." Ryuua sighed while closing her eyes.

"Is she normally like this?" Takeshi asked.

"She always has been. I mean, she just says things without thinking. But that's what makes her Yuki. I dunno but she has had trouble with people hating her for it. I got a lot of hate as well for sticking up for her. I understood, she's Yuki." Ryuua said shakily.

It must be really hard. Getting so much hate, when all she does is have random outbursts. I thought while hugging Ryuua.

"Hey, we all love her, don't worry she'll be fine. She's probably gone to calm her self." I said reassuringly and she smiled.

*Yuki's POV*

"Stupid duckass." I growled while kicking a tree.

"Now what did that tree ever do to you, huh brat?" I voice asked from behind me.

"Oh! Temari, kankuro. I see you passed the first part of the exams." I grinned and they rolled their eyes.

"You underestimate us Yuki." Temari laughed. We had been talking since we met and I saw her around the town sometimes so we hung out.

"Where's Gaara Chan?" I asked while sitting back against the tree.

"Hm, I dunno, I'm sure he's good though." Kankuro shrugged and I nodded.

"Looking for me?" I low voice questioned from up in the tree. He said like he was surprised so I just grinned.

"G-Gaara." Temari stuttered. I still didn't understand why they did that when he was around but meh.

"Hiya Gaara!" I waved as his sand swirled next to kankuro and Gaara appeared.

"Yuki." He nodded to me and I smiled.

"Well the forest of death sounds fun." Temari smirked while sitting beside me.

"I know! Can't wait." I giggled excitedly.

"You sound happy. About going into the forest of death? I'll never understand you." Kankuro rubbed his temples making me giggle again.

"What's the worst that could happen?" I shrugged.

"You could die." Gaara said bluntly causing me to face palm.

"Thanks for the support, Gaara chan" I said sarcastically making him raise a non existent eyebrow.

"So your not afraid?" He asked curiously. I looked at him confused for a minute before shrugging.

"I never really thought about it. I dunno, I mean there are a lot of powerful ninja here and I'm just a freak, as I've been told, but a cat has 9 lives right?" I smiled positively.

I hopped to my feet and stretched my arms.

"Well, I best head back to my team. Good luck Temari!" I smiled brightly and she smiled back.

"You too Yuki."

"Oh and kitty chan, don't go messing up your face paint." I teased and he just rolled his eyes.

"Good luck Gaara. Don't go dying on me." I grinned while ruffling his hair. He tensed then looked at me shocked.

I smiled then ran back to my team. When I got there we were told all about the forest of death. A creepy woman who looked like she didn't know how to apply make up right, appeared and then we got given a earth scroll or a heaven scroll.

"Yay! Heaven scroll! Suits me, Ya know, coz I'm an angel." I said while twirling around and posing.

Umi giggled and Ruka rolled his eyes. "Whatever ya say." Ruka poked my forehead and I pouted.

"Argh! The gates are open! Let's go on an adventure!" I strode into the forest before we all started running.

"Jake the dog and Fin the human." I sang while pointing to Ruka then Umi as they stared at me strangely.

"Adventure time!" I held the last note as we jumped into a clearing. We had encountered an enemy but they were easy to take out. The had the same scroll as us so we kept on moving. Overall they were the worst trouble we had gotten into.

"Guys, stop." I put my hand out and they landed beside me.

"Sensed anything?" Umi asked am so nodded. I had my hearing technique activated and I could hear other ninja nearby.

"There are 3 of them. They're close so be ready." I warned as we all took a fighting stance.

Then the bushes rustled and a figure appeared. It was a very beaten up and hurt Ryuua. I bit my tounge.

"Omg!" Umi exclaimed from beside me.

"It isn't her, it's a transformation jutsu." I told her and Ruka nodded.

"How can you tell?"

"They must have noticed her with us earlier. However, it's a shit transformation jutsu. Ryuua has bandages on her left leg now and her bangs are covering the left eye, not the right." I told Umi and she nodded.

"Smart little kitty." The person released the jutsu, revealing a ninja from the rain village.

"Little?! Oh bitch please!" I said snapping my fingers sassily.

"Heh. Whatever, anyway, just hand over the scroll and we'll be on our way." He smirked again.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead just take our scroll. Not like we care. We can just live in the forest eating bugs and whittling spoons!" I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

"Well, you asked for it." He shrugged while getting into a fighting stance.

"We didn't ask for it actually." Umi rolled her eyes as Ruka disappeared then reappeared behind the ninja.

"Hey, Umi. There's two more. One in the tree over there and one in the bush over there." I pointed to two places of the forest and she nodded while running towards the tree.

"Hey! Come out, I know your there." I called while twirling a kunai round my finger.

Next thing I know I'm being pinned against a tree with his hand on my arm and on my thigh. PERV!

A dark aura appeared around me. "I don't appreciate where your hand is." I growled and the ninja just smirked.

"Hn, and I care?" He taunted.

"You should." I screamed while kneeing him where the sun don't shine. He balled over in pain and I took my chance and created hand signs.

"Fire style! Fire tiger jutsu!" I yelled as a tiger made of fire slashed the ninja with its claws.

"Earth style! Wooden spears!" The ninja called while dodging my fire tiger. Spikes made of wood shot from the ground and from above and I drew my twin swords to dodge and counteract them.

I looked over to see Umi fighting a girl who was using earth style as well. Ruka was battling a water user with his ice style. I turned back to focus on my fight just in time to dodge a barrage of shuriken flying towards me.

"It's rude to fight a lady!" I shouted while swinging my twin swords down towards him. He chuckled and dodged.

"Respect your elders." He replied while creating more hand signs and another wave of his wooden spears appeared. I wasn't as quick to dodge this time and got cut a few times but I brushed it off.

I ran at him throwing punches and kicks and he dodged and threw the same at me. It turned into a taijutsu battle and I managed to land a few hits on him making him skid back a few feet.

"Bitch!" The ninja Umi was fighting growled as Umi whipped her with her chains which were soaked with poison. I smirked as she clutched her arm.

"God dammit! Fuck sake Mita!" The ninja Ruka was fighting growled as the girl started to feel the effect of the poison.

While I was distracted the ninja took his chance and stabbed my leg with his kunai. I bit back a scream but couldn't help hissing in pain. I dodged his next attacks but I was bleeding heavily.

"Fine, I'll use it then." I sighed while making hand signs with super speed.

"Secret transformation technique! Leopard beast!" I yelled while my body transformed. I grew a long black tail and huge black ears and long fangs. I grew claws and my eyes turned black.

"Am I a little kitty now?" I laughed while leaping forward. I hissed at him and scratched him with my claws.

"Arghhh!" He seethed in pain as I ran at him one more time. Dammit! I can't use too much chakra but this is taking a lot out of me. I thought while releasing my jutsu and stumbling a little.

"Haha. Run out of chakra?" He teased while throwing senbons and I couldn't dodge them all and got cut a little.

"Umi!" Ruka cried as the girl kicked her in the face sending her flying.

"Well, well, well. Now your on the losing team huh?" The ninja fighting Ruka taunted as me and Ruka ran to Umi's side.

The girl ninja was unconscious and still recovering from the poison. The two ninja who stood in front of us were berthing heavily but still had chakra left.

Umi was barely able to sit up and Ruka was panting. I still had a little bit of chakra left but I knew I couldn't take on two ninja with just Ruka.

"Just hand over the scroll." One hissed and I managed to laugh.

"Yeah, right! In your dreams." I laughed as he growled at me.

"ARGHHHHH." Umi scream was bloodcurdling and made me shiver. One of the ninja had disappeared before we noticed and had stabbed her stomach before hitting her pressure point and knocking her out.

"UMI!" Me and Ruka cried together as the other ninja ran at us.

I slashed them with my twin swords and Ruka used taijutsu to protect himself.

Eventually Ruka was struck on his pressure point and hit with multiple shuriken. He was knocked out and it left just me and two ninja.

"Well, if it isn't the little kitty." One chuckled while striking my tail with a kunai making me scream. The other threw punches at me which I barely dodged.

I looked at my team mates who were unconscious and losing blood and I myself wasn't able to dodge any longer. I needed to find someone to help and fast, other wise I might lose the guys and me myself. I used the last of my chakra to summon two shadow clones who had my injuries and the dispersed to find help.

I fought with all I could to block their attacks but eventually I lost all my energy and collapsed. I was breathing heavily as the ninjas made their way over. Their chakra was low as well and this would be their final attack.

I felt my clone being attacked and disappearing. I knew someone had destroyed my clone and then soon after the other one was destroyed as well.

"You have one more chance little kitty." One laughed before pulling out his kunai.

"Heh, not on your life." I spluttered.

"Not on mine, but on yours." He smirked before leaping at me. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. But it never came.

I opened my eyes shakily to see 3 ninja taking on the two ninja. They quickly took them out and turned back to me. I smiled. "A-Ari-arigato." I stammered before falling into blackness.

*Gaara's POV*

We had just finished taking out some pesky grass ninja as a scream was heard for the other direction.

"Heh, must be another little ninja been taken out." Kankuro shook his head.

I wasn't listening. All I was thinking about was what Yuki had done before the exams started.

"Good luck Gaara. Don't go dying on me." Yuki grinned while ruffling my hair.

Why wasn't she afraid? She didn't act like the other people did. She's different.

"Gaara?" Temari asked while we advanced forward. I looked at her before looking forward again.

"Yes?" I asked bluntly.

"You were spacing out, sorry." She replied. "I hope Yuki's okay. I've grown to like that kitty cat." She smiled a little and kankuro nodded.

"She's fine." Kankuro replied.

Just as he said that a clone appeared before us. It was Yuki.

She was cut and bruised and bleeding heavily. She looked so weak and helpless.

"You - need - to - help- my- team" she choked out before Temari destroyed the clone and ran. I was right on her tail.

Don't die on me, Yuki. I thought while running ahead and reaching a clearing. I looked to see two enemy ninja, two passed out ninja who were Yuki's teammates, and Yuki. She looked so exhausted and beaten up. A ninja threw shuriken hitting her arm as she collapsed.

Another ninja leaped at her but I wasn't letting them anywhere near her. I stood in front of her wrapping my sand around the enemy ninja. Without wasting any time I killed him instantly.

I turned to look at Yuki as she choked out a thanks. She then fell backwards but I caught her.

"Yuki!" Temari shouted as kankuro finished off the remaining ninja. I checked her pulse and it was there but barely.

"Temari, take care of the teammates." I told her and she looked at me.

"But Ga-" she started but I glared at her picking Yuki up bridal style.

"Kankuro, get the boy." Temari ordered while she began wrapping all of their wounds up.

After Temari tied their bandages, kankuro collected the scroll from the ninja and put it in the boys pouch.

"We already have both scrolls and they need a earth scroll so they can have this one I guess." He said while putting the boy on his back and we set off for the tower.

We didn't encounter any enemies on the way there and we reached it in about 4 hours.

Yuki was stirring in her sleep and ended up leaning her head on my chest. I tensed but then continued forward.

"Right, we're here." Kankuro entered the tower and this whole summoning jutsu thing went on before we went to get medical help for the three.

I was sat on the roof of the tower as everyone was asleep. Temari was in the room with Yuki and kankuro was fixing up his puppets.

Don't give up yet. Silly cat. I thought while sighing.

Well this was a long chapter!

Hope you liked it.

I'm sorry I ended it on a cliff hanger, but I'm glad I got the forest of death done!

I hope you like the sand siblings and Yuki's relationship thing.

Anyway, hope your liking it!

Thanks for reading!

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! :)