𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ ꨄ︎ ꜱʜɪᴘᴘᴜᴅᴇɴ

Orochimaru's Followers

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✧˖*°࿐

The blonde duo reached the stairs that led to the audience. Naruto skidded to a stop, immediately leaning against a railing whilst heaving for air. Kazumi hadn't broken a sweat, although the unsettling anxiousness on her face was evidently there.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out, and familiar faces turn their way.

Sakura looked at Kazumi with a surprised smile, though it fell to a small frown from seeing the look on the young Kumo's face.

Lee had flashed them a smile as well, and Kazumi couldn't help but focus on him for a moment. He was leaning against a crutch, still patched up on his cheek. He was likely there to witness her fight against Temari of the Sand— So unaware of his near death by Gaara the evening before the matches.

Kazumi noiselessly gulped, guiltily looking away from his smile and back to her sensei.

"What's up?" Kakashi's deadpan met their faces.

"Sensei! Stop this fight right now!!" Naruto's words startled everyone, "He's totally different from us! He's not normal!!"

"Naruto... what are you talking about?" Ino rolled her eyes.

"He lives to kill others! Anyway, at this rate... Sasuke will die!!" Upon the doubtful silence, Naruto swung his arm out, "Kaz's with it too! Gaara has messed with the matches!! Who knows what he'll do to Sasuke?!" He yelled, desperate.

"Messed with the matches? How so...?" Kakashi's brows furrowed, looking straight at her.

"It's... not really confirmed, but I have a strong reason to believe he killed Dosu." She softly spoke, gulping down the anxiousness. She tried hard but couldn't get the gory sight from the hallway out of her head.

Her words stunned her fellow genin's, and Lee's round eyes went wider.

"Is that so? Well, it's far too late for that now. And don't worry, he and I weren't late for nothing." Kakashi sighed, closing his eyes.

Kazumi clenched her fist, irked. She couldn't believe the lack of concern from Kakashi right now. 

How could they not cancel the match after hearing such claims? 

Originally, Kazumi would've been just as indifferent, but as time and experience developed through her, she started to perceive things much differently. Much softly.

"What do you mean you weren't late for nothing?" Sakura asked, curious.

Kakashi looked over his shoulder with a hum to her, "You wanna know?"

Naruto growled, "Look!" He pointed to them, "We don't have time for this!!"

"Be quiet and watch him." Kakashi cut him off, focusing his gaze to Sasuke's fight, "You'll be surprised..." He stated.

What?

Naruto shared a look with Kazumi, both baffled. However, they listened to their sensei, their gazes simultaneously falling to Sasuke. The Uchiha had a blue colouring aura from chakra emit in his flexed hand whilst clenching his wrist. Now intrigued, Kazumi stepped closer.