Sasuke's twin sister, But Neji's first love

The Sharingan Revived: Twin Dragon-Flame Jutsu!

I jumped away from where I was standing next to Sakura and landed beside Sasuke. We looked at each other and nodded, Sharingan eyes glowing as we turned to face the Grass Ninja.

"I knew it. It's finally happening. The Uchiha blood is boiling within you two," the Grass Ninja hissed. "I think I'll play with you a little... see just how strong you really are."

Sasuke and I pulled out our kunai in sync and charged. Leaping together, we grabbed each other's hands mid-air. Sasuke swung me forward, using the momentum to launch me toward the enemy. I threw several kunai mid-flight, but she dodged every one. She waved her hand and summoned a gust of wind, knocking me off course. I landed on a tree, anchoring myself with chakra.

Sasuke rushed in to counterattack, throwing punches and kicks with precision. But the enemy weaved around every strike. Realizing brute force wouldn't be enough, he jumped back to regroup. I landed beside him.

The Grass Ninja charged again. We met her halfway, exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks. Every move was countered. Our coordination kept us alive, each blow dodged or blocked by sheer instinct and timing. Then she jumped, vanishing from sight.

"She's fast," I muttered.

Our eyes followed the flickers of movement. With our Sharingan, we anticipated her next step. I launched a fireball at the expected location, Sasuke following with one of his own. Smoke filled the area. A trail of earth beneath us cracked open—she was burrowing. She burst up, arms outstretched.

We leapt back, landing a distance away, poised in our stances. The Grass Ninja conjured another gust of wind. Dust and branches whipped past us as we jumped tree to tree, climbing higher.

While she was distracted, Sasuke closed in, wrapping his arms and legs around her from behind. She was upside down in mid-air as he pushed both of them downward. I leapt from above, landing on her feet, adding force to the impact. Together, we slammed her headfirst into the ground. Her limbs went limp, but her body remained eerily upright.

Sasuke rolled away, and I landed beside him. Her head twitched... then began to melt.

"A substitution," I growled.

Suddenly, a volley of kunai came from behind. One grazed Sasuke's cheek, another slashed my arm. I backflipped onto a higher branch. Sasuke swung away using wire and landed across from me.

I knelt, staying low and hidden. The enemy suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke, punching him hard in the face, following with a spinning kick that knocked him to the ground.

"Tch. What a disappointment—"

Two kunai flew past her head. She dodged them—didn't see the wire. I yanked hard, the cords wrapping around her throat. Using my elevated position, I hoisted her into the air. Her legs kicked violently, hands clawing at the wire. Then she looked up at me... and smirked.

She twisted, using the wire to swing her legs up, wrapping them around the cord. With explosive momentum, she yanked me from my perch, slamming me into the tree where Sasuke lay.

I bit back a groan. Sasuke and I made brief eye contact—he winked.

He's planning something, I thought, bracing myself.

"I'll admit," the Grass Ninja sneered, "I didn't expect this much fight from you, little girl. But you're still a disgrace to your bloodline. Your ancestors weep for what you've become. The Uchiha should thank me for getting rid of such pathetic remnants."

Suddenly, an explosion erupted at her back. She shrieked, stumbling forward. Sasuke must've rigged her with an explosive tag.

She staggered right between us.

We jumped to our feet, hurling shuriken and kunai attached to wires. With perfect coordination, we yanked them tight, binding her to the tree trunk.

Immediately, we formed hand signs.

"Fire Style: Twin Dragon Flame Jutsu!" we roared together.

Twin flame dragons spiraled around each other, racing along the wires, slamming into her. She screamed as the flames engulfed her. When the smoke cleared, she was still tied up, the tree behind her scorched and hollowed.

"Sasuke! Ryuko! You guys did it!" Sakura ran up, wide-eyed.

We panted, bodies trembling from the exertion.

"Are you okay? It's over now..." she said, trying to offer comfort.

I didn't respond, still catching my breath. Then—snap.

My eyes darted to the enemy, who was ripping through the wire like it was thread. She clapped her hands together—and everything stopped.

We couldn't move.

"What... no..." Sasuke gasped.

"How is this possible?" I added, barely able to speak.

"Such mastery of the Sharingan at such young ages," the voice changed, deeper, masculine. "Yes, you are true Uchiha after all. You'll both do nicely."

He removed his headband, revealing the symbol of the Hidden Sound Village.

"You're definitely his siblings," he continued. "Your eyes... might even be sharper than Itachi's."

"Shut up! Don't say his name!" I snapped.

"Who are you?! What do you want?!" Sasuke demanded.

He smirked and pulled out the scroll he had stolen.

"My name is Orochimaru. As for what I want... you'll find out soon. But not until you both finish this exam—at the top. Only then will we meet again. First, you'll have to survive my servants from the Hidden Sound."

"If we never meet again, it'll be too soon. Now get lost!" Sakura shouted.

"Oh, but we will meet again," Orochimaru said darkly. "Very soon."

His neck stretched unnaturally long, head launching toward us like a serpent. He sank his teeth into Sasuke's neck.

"AAAHHH!" Sasuke screamed, agony twisting his face.

My blood boiled, but I still couldn't move.

"You piece of sh—"

Before I could finish, he struck again—this time biting my neck, the left side.

A searing, burning pain shot through me. I screamed, my voice echoing through the forest.

⸻

Somewhere else in the Forest of Death...

A boy's scream tore through the air, followed closely by a girl's.

Team Guy froze.

"Huh? I wonder who that was?" Tenten asked.

She and Lee continued, but paused when they noticed Neji wasn't moving.

"Neji? You coming?" she asked.

"...Yeah," he replied, finally following.

But something lingered in his eyes. That scream... it sounded so familiar.

⸻

Back at the clearing...

"What did you do to them?!" Sakura cried, panic rising.

"Oh, just a parting gift," Orochimaru said, smirking. "Very soon, Sasuke will seek me out, desperate for power. As for Ryuko... she'll resist. But maybe someone close to her will convince her otherwise."

He began to sink into the earth.

We were still screaming. The pain was unbearable. And then, finally—we collapsed.

"What is it? What has he done to you?!" Sakura shouted, dropping beside us.

I tried to answer, but the pain choked every word in my throat. I heard Sasuke go limp beside me. A moment later, I did too.

Everything went black.