Chapter 31

Karin's POV

I hugged my knees under the cool shade of the tree, taking a rest to regain my strength after running for straight five hours. Unclasping my fist, a tear-like gem necklace twinkled a little on my sweaty palm.

Up until now, I still don't know why I grabbed it and ran away. It just felt like I have to but, what an idiot I am. This is clearly very important to that person. She will surely look for me and then...

She will kill me.

I looked around the area only to hear a loud growl near me. A huge bear, larger than three elephants combined set his eyes on me, his pool of saliva dripping down on the grass as he move his leg in front.

He was getting close to me and I immediately made a quick run, the huge bear quickly on my tail.

Why do I keep getting in trouble?

I was quick but, the animal was faster.

Why do bad things keep happening to me?

My legs were already numb and sore from running earlier and it was only getting worst now that my breathings are ragged and I'm close to passing out, but the adrenaline rush pushed me out of my limits.

Damn it.

Each step the animal takes shakes the ground.

Damn it.

I bit my lower lip and felt something wet streaming down my face.

I don't wanna die.

I couldn't care less about what was happening to my body, I just want to live.

Then something got stuck on my foot and I cursed the world for giving me such a nasty way to get killed. If I'm gonna die, I want to at least have a proper death. And not be eaten by an animal.

I fell down, face-planted on the ground my glasses falling somewhere my eyesight only getting more blurry, and the soil got stuck on my face. I curled up into a ball as tears and snot filled my face.

I could hear the huge bear's harsh breathing and I shut my eyes close, embracing myself for the moment its fangs pierced my flesh.

"Moon Crescent."

Waiting for the animal to eat me, I felt nothing and slowly fluttered my eyes open. Someone was standing in front of me dressed in white red upper clothes and black pants.

Whoever this person is, I'm grateful to her for saving my life.

My hand moved around trying to find my glasses. I sat up and patted the dirt having a hard time looking for them.

The person who saved me walked over and picked something from afar before crouching down to my level. She took out my hand and placed something, based on the shape it was my eyeglasses.

Quickly wiping my tears away before wearing my glasses, my eyes widened when I recognized the girl before me.

But, something felt different. Her chakra feels different from before. Back then it was menacing, terrible, scary, and feels like that man I'd met before who had golden eyes.

She suddenly stood up and clasped the necklace that was just with me moments ago around her neck.

Now, her chakra feels refreshing and relaxing like the swaying of bamboo trees, it feels so warm but at the same time cool, just like the sun and the moon.

She's a completely different person from before. Moreover, her clothes were now in tatters and her stomach was bleeding furiously but, it felt like nothing to her. It seems like she just had a fearsome battle.

She was about to leave when I grabbed her leg. "Wait!"

Turning around she raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Bite me!", I didn't know why I told her that. But, I was desperate to help this person, at first I thought it was because I owe her my life, little did I know it was more than that.

She gave an unreadable expression as if assessing me.

I quickly explained to her what I meant. "By feeding you with my chakra, I can heal your wounds! And if they're not attended to quickly you will surely die!"

She blinked her eyes bored as if already expecting what I said. She suddenly turned around and lifted her foot off my arms.

Did she just...denied my offer?!

All these years, I have been forced as a human medicine to injured shinobis of my village ever since I was a child. They sucked out my chakra as they pleases without even my consent or permission.

To thinks that there's actually someone who would not use me as a tool for her own benefit...

Standing up, I ran to her and spread out my arms in front of her. "I'm not kidding! It's true, I can heal you! You already lost a lot of blood! You might die even before this exam ends!"

"Get lost. I don't need your help.", her eyes were cold and calculating.

"Oh you will!", I pulled up my sleeves and showed her my skin filled with bite marks. "Hurry!"

"You...", she started her purple eyes boring into my soul. "You're willing to save the same person who tried to kill you?"

No...you're different...I'm sure of it...

"But, you also saved me earlier!"

She suddenly walked past me. "Then we're even."

I watched her back slowly disappearing into the dark part of the forest but, before she got away I followed her.

"Oi! Matte! Then, will you help me get out of here?!", I jogged up beside her.

"Find your way out.", she spoke.

"Then I'll help you get to the tower! I'm a sensor! I can help you with the directions and people or beasts who might attack us."

"I'm a sensor too, and I don't need your help."

I stopped in tracks.

Eh?

Her too?

Depression lines covered me until she spoke once again. "What are you doing? Letting yourself easily get preyed upon just after I saved your life?"

My mouth twitched to a small smile before grinning brightly. "Y-yes!"

I followed her, smiling ear to ear.

..........

Third Person's POV

"Kyuuji!", Shikaku called after descending to the ground. "Did you sense him?"

"Yes. I felt his chakra.", the young male answered. "But, his presence is all over the place now. He must have noticed we already knew about his appearance here."

Anko punched down the tree, guilt, and frustration washing over her. "Damn it...he got away...if I just cast that jutsu, it would have been over for that bastard...!"

The Jonin commander sighed once again before standing up properly, straightening his usual lazy posture. "By the way Anko, how did you know he was here? Who gave you that information?"

Anko froze for a split second, one that Kyuuji took notice of. "I felt his nasty chakra. I won't be able to mistake it for someone else even if he covers it up with a multiple of his fucking skins.", she lied.

Deep down, she wanted to tell them the truth but, it might cause a ruckus for that genin. Think of it as an exchange for the information the girl gave her. Letting them go because they cheated is too small to count as a trade for the sannin's whereabouts.

'Jeez, that girl better learn how to negotiate properly...'

Shikaku narrowed his eyes a bit before returning back to his slouched posture. "And here I was wondering as to why you barged inside the Hokage's office asking for a dozen A-rank ANBUs."

"Shikaku-san we need to cancel the Chunin Exams immediately. We don't know why he came here after hiding in his holes for years.", Kyuuji said calmly already processing steps to take in the future.

"Hokage-sama would be the one who would decide that. Besides, it might cause panic if we can't give them enough stable reason as to why we would cancel the Exams out of nowhere.", he interjected.

Kyuuji breathed a silent sigh before crossing his arms thinking deeply.

"Since you're already here, why don't we wait for the preliminary match tomorrow?", the brunette raised an eyebrow. "I heard 7 teams of genins already passed and there's still a day left before phase two ends, there's probably more to come. And we have to cut their numbers in half by having them fight one on one.", Shikaku explained with a smile.

"I guess so. I'll scout the outskirts of the village first, I'll return here after that.", the Nara clan head only nodded in return as he watch the phenomenal prodigy shunshin away, his gaze landing on Anko.

'What is it..? What is she hiding...? If Orochimaru was able to breach Konoha, there must be a traitor or...haah I don't want to think someone among us is a traitor...', he rubbed his temples as he look at the blue sky before muttering, "How troublesome..."

..........

"We're finally here!", Karin shouted before plopping on the floor exhausted.

"Yeah.", the other female beside her nodded.

"I haven't introduced myself to you yet, right?", the red-haired asked.

Alexa gave her a side glance before smiling a little. "I know you. You're Uzumaki Karin."

The girl blinked her eyes surprised. "How did you know?"

"Secret.", that was what she said last before she puffed into a cloud of smoke surprising the sensor.

"KAGE BUNSHIN?!"

Alexa's POV

A message linked to my mind and I let out a deep audible breath. I should have just bit Karin, instead of making a shadow clone to fool her. I didn't know she would be so talkative as a young child. They even reached the tower first before me.

Darn it.

I clutched my bandaged stomach, blood smeared everywhere on it. I have to change it again.

I painfully walked out of the small cave I was residing in for the moment and walked towards the river before untying my yukata, letting it split, revealing my chest. I started removing the bloody bandage and looked at the deep wound.

After dipping a clean towel in the water, I began wiping the blood and dirt away to prevent infections.

Just then I heard a loud splash and I whipped my head to where it came from, my hand instinctively reaching for my katana. Then my movements stopped when I was met with a boy who was half naked, his blue eyes meeting mine.

"Oi! Dobe! What are you doing?! We worked so hard to catch those fishes and yet you just let them go?!", it was clear that boy's voice coming from a bit far from where the blonde was standing as he look at me, dumbstruck.

"It's not the time to be daydreaming.", then Sasuke jumped down from where he was standing and stopped beside Naruto. "What are you looking a--?!"

His black eyes stopped on my form and the moment our eyes met, my hand subconsciously trailed to my neck.

"Lhexi-chan!", I could see a blur of a fluffy yellow cotton ball coming towards me.

"What happened to you?! Why are you alone?! Where's your team?! Who attacked you?! Answer me ttebayo!", he shocked me by my shoulders and I clutched his arm wincing painfully at my wound that was slowly reopening.

Ah, it hurts so bad.

"Lhexi-chan?! Lhexi-chan!!", I quickly patted him on his arm.

"I'm fine...I'm fine...", I mumbled painfully tired and exhausted.

"You're clearly not fine dattebayo!"

Fuck. I need to calm myself, I'm almost on the verge of losing my composure. I can't explode especially not in front of this boy.

"Na..ruto...", I whispered softly and he stopped. "Don't make me move too much...my wounds might reopen."

He took action and nod his head. "Tell me what to do."

I felt someone else's presence. "I brought some ointment, this might help."

"Thanks...", I said in breathless gasps.

My body feels warm. Hot.

I leaned against Naruto, the boy stiffened a little before relaxing. Naruto looked at me worriedly and I gave him a small smile.

"I can't heal myself...I'm lacking chakra...", I told him and he suddenly stood up carrying me somewhere.

"You're gonna be fine as long as you're with us, believe it!", he grinned cheekily and I closed my tired eyes. "Oi, Sasuke, is she sleeping?", I heard the boy ask and I laughed inwardly.

"Shut up, you'll wake her up.", Sasuke whispered.

"O-oh right...!"

It was silent the whole time for both of them, one thing that surprised me. I let myself rest in Naruto's arms before I finally drifted off to sleep.

Sakura's POV

"You two where did you go?!", I shouted fuming especially at Naruto who remained silent and I look at the person he was carrying in his arms.

The wooden sticks on my hands fell on the ground before I ran towards them.

"Lhexi? What happened?", I was worried, she was bleeding all over.

"Sakura-chan...! Shhh...!", Naruto hushed me and I immediately closed my mouth.

I turned to Sasuke-kun just to see him looking at Lhexi worriedly. My eyes widened, I have never seen such a look on Sasuke-kun's face before. He raised his hand reaching for her but, as soon as Naruto moved away to go inside the cave we were camping in, his eyes droop a bit etched with concern and anxiety.

He left before I could even call his name. There was a tight and stinging sensation in my chest, I don't know but, I just felt jealous of that nice girl.

...........

It was already sunset but, Sasuke-kun was still busy tending to her wounds and her terrible fever. Naruto was outside looking around the area. I sat next to Sasuke-kun who just watched Lhexi's face.

He held her hand and brought it to his cheek muttering words I couldn't hear properly.

"I'll get some water.", he simply hned in return and I bit my lower lip before going outside.

I met Naruto going back. "Sakura-chan, let me help you.", he stated and I quickly refused.

"It's alright, I can do it."

The boys are doing the hard work and I'm just here as a problem to them. I need to be useful somehow.

He blinked his eyes before nodding cheerfully.

"Got it! I'll switch with the teme for now so I can also help Lhexi-chan!", he said before he went past me and ran back to our camping site.

The smile on my face faded away as I began fetching some water. We only got a day left before the second stage of the Chunin exams ends. We need to hurry and find a scroll.

An idea suddenly popped into my mind.

'Lhexi most probably possesses at least one scroll right?! That means we can ste--!'

I immediately scratched that from my mind before getting up. There must be another way, right?

Right?!

Most teams must have passed already, there are only 13 each of the heavens and earth's scroll so the chances of even finding one are low.

I felt two pair of eyes from a far and quickly looked around. Then it was gone like the wind.

'Was I imagining things?'

I shook my head before walking back to see Sasuke sitting on top of a tree looking over the forest. He looks just as cool and handsome as ever. I smiled a little and it disappeared from my face when I remembered the two of them together. I entered the cave, the campfire lighting up the whole place, more than enough for me to see the scene in front of me.

"HUUUHHH?!! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?!!", my inner exclaimed.

I was frozen on my feet. Lhexi is finally awake, yes it's a good thing but she's bleeding a lot, and when I said a lot I really mean it but, that's not the problem here, although it still is. It was the fact that Naruto and Lhexi were...were...

.........

...................kissing each other...