An Escape From Pain (Naruto FanFic)ON HOLD

Chapter 20: Everything Hurts

I just decided to time skip through all of the scroll reading stuff because, I mean, who wants to read that anyway?

-Kayla

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"SO, it would seem we have a problem. There are too many of you, so before the third exam-" Cough, cough, cough "we are going to have a preliminary round of fights. Each of you will be paired with someone else randomly and whoever wins, goes to the third exa-" Cough cough "-am." Geez, someone needs to get this guy a cough drop, because he has some serious issues.

"Wait, Sensei! I don't get it. What's the point of a preliminary round?" Sakura yelled at the proctor.

"I just told you-" Cough, cough "It's to lower the amount of participants in the third exam. A lot of important people are coming to watch this exam, so it's necessary-" Cough "That we don't waste their time. The preliminary round will start now, so if any of you feel like you aren't in peak physical condition, you can just raise your hand and leave now." Sakura looked over at Sasuke nervously. I could understand why she was worried but geez, didn't she have any faith in him at all? I touched his shoulder.

"We've got this Sasuke." I said in a strong voice. I mean, i'm just as screwed as him, if i'm being honest.

"Obviously." He smirked. Cheeky bastard. I could tell just standing up was hard, but he still had enough strength to be an ass. Typical Sasuke.
Just then I was hit with a wave of pain from my neck.

"Hmph." I groaned. Sakura came up behind me.

"Listen, you and Sasuke should quit. Neither of you have been okay ever since you fought Orochimaru. Who knows what will happen in a one on one fight." Oh Sakura, always trying to help everyone. How incredibly stupid of you.

"It's none of your business." Sasuke growled back, gripping his neck.

"Don't worry Sakura, we can handle it. We just won't use any chakra. Strictly Taijutsu."

"But, I don't think-"

"Leave it alone Sakura." I said, before turning back around. 

"But I can't just watch you go, and hurt yourself!" 

"Then don't watch. This doesn't concern you. I need to do this, to test myself against the best of the best. This is the path I walk, and you can't change that." Sasuke said. 

There is one thing that i've noticed since this whole preliminary thing has started. Kabuto hasn't left like he was supposed to. Does that change all of the fights? Or is it just different because I'm here? Ugh, it's so hard to think. I'm so freaking exhausted, and my neck is throbbing. 

"Alright, time to start this preliminary round. open the panel." The proctor coughed out. "The name of the opponents is completely random. Before each battle, the name of each opponent will appear on the panel in front of me. That's all I have to say, so let's begin." We all looked up at the board to see who the first opponents would be. In the anime it was Sasuke and Yoroi, but this time I look  up to see Kaori Hoshina vs. Kabuto Yakushi appear on the screen. Oh. So I am the reason he's here. Typical. I mean, of course i'd be seriously handicapped when I had to fight him. I looked over to see him smirking, and sent him a glare. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I expected it to be Sasuke, but instead it was Shikamaru.

"Be careful Kaori, I don't trust him." 

"Don't worry Shika, I don't either." I replied, giving a tight smile. I felt a hand slide into mine and give a tight squeeze before letting go. I look back and Sasuke gives me a firm nod. I nod back and exhale before making my way down to the arena. 

I make it to my place and I can barely hear the proctor count to three, before my katana is out, and i'm sprinting towards Kabuto. I slash upwards, aiming for his torso and am met instead with a kunai knife. We're locked together for the moment.

"A shame you can't go all out with all these people around. I guess i'll tone it down for you, to keep it interesting." I mutter through clenched teeth. 

"You don't have to pretend for me, We both know that you can't release any chakra because of that curse mark." His smirk deepened.

"Hmph." He's got a point.  I break away and swipe my blade quickly to the right, causing a scratch on his face.  I honestly have no freaking  idea on how I'm supposed to beat him without using jutsu. I can't pull a Sasuke and copy Lee...I don't have the sharingan. But...Maybe I can try something else that Sasuke did. 

I Keep slashing at him with my katana, drawing him close to a wall, before flipping backwards and throwing some shuriken at him, knowing that he'll dodge them. The all hit the wall, a hairsbreadth away from his body. I throw some more, not towards him, but across him. I can see the confusion in his eyes. until he tries to move. Then I can see the realization in his eyes. He knows that there are wires. I smile and take out my jug of oil. I take a mouthful and do the necessary handsigns before blowing out fire down the wires, hitting Kabuto straight on. I let out a quick bark of laughter before collapsing to my knees. I can see the medic ninja crouching over Kabuto's body before everything goes black. 

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I woke up feeling cold. I could feel something warm pressed up against my back and it felt like skin to skin. What the heck?! That means that I don't have a shirt on.....But besides that, Where am I? I Open my eyes slowly and take in candlelight illuminating a concrete room, and a circle of runes.

"Oh Kaori, it's good you're awake, that means that we can begin. I'm going to seal the curse marks on both you and Sasuke. This seal is held in place by your will so be careful, any wavering in your desires and it will break." Then the back i'm pressed against is Sasuke's....well it could be worse. At least i'm in a sheet. This setting makes me think that everyone had the same pairings during eliminations.

"You ready?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah." Sasuke and I said in unison

"Alright." I hear a light shuffle, which I assume is Kakashi doing a shit ton of hand signs.

"Curse seal!" He shouted before slapping his hand down on my and Sasuke's necks.

I felt a lightning fast stab of pain shoot through my body, and I had time to hear two resounding screams before blacking out for the second time that day. My last thought was that Orochimaru was going to appear in a few seconds and I wouldn't be able to defend myself.

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~Kayla