The Daughter of a Sanin

Chapter nineteen

P.O.V. of Jade

We sit around the tower waiting for the last teams to arrive. Most of the teams were our friends, which helped lift spirits but not by much. I don't know how long we waited but finally the 2nd stage was over. Much is a blur to me. Time slowed and I couldn't remember much, I was too far trapped in thought about all that happened. Orochimaru was on my mind more than he should be. I dreamt of him I say him in my mind when I was awake. I had so many questions. Iruka leads us to a large room with all the teams. We all stand in lines. I was last but I didn't care. I kept my head down trying not to attract my brother's attention.

The hokage was speaking to us about the meaning of the exams and all this stuff but I wasn't listening. I did perk up when a guy, Hayate Gekko, began to talk. As he spoke about our unusual number of teams I begin to think that getting a break would not be happening any time soon. He introduces his idea of the preliminary round, so we only have the best of the best.

"If any of you feel that you're not in top physical condition now is your chance to," he starts to say but is interrupted by a cough fit," sorry about that. As I was saying if any if you don't feel up to this, now is the time for you to bow out. The preliminaries will be starting immediately."

"Comeon you mean right now?" Kiba yells.

"We just finished barely surviving the last exam, don't we get a break?" Ino says.

"Man what a drag," Shika says finishing off the complaining as naruto swallows hard.

"The winners will advance by a one-on-one combat sudden death, so like I said if anyone who doesn't feel up to it now is the time to raise your hand," Hayate says in his husky voice.  I hear Sakura start to plead with sasuke to not fight because of the curse mark.

"Shut up Sakura," I say getting mad. I roll my eyes and look away seeing my brother and some other people talking between themselves, I can't make out what they are saying but it seems very important. All the while Sakura almost starts crying and is still pestering him.

"Shut up Sakura!" He says finally snaping.

"Do you think I am blind?"

"Please be quiet."

"Do you think I can't see the suffering you are going through?"

"That's enough"

"I'm sorry I can't let you do this to yourself. I'm going to tell them about that mark and then maybe you'll.." she is interrupted by a sudden gasp from everyone. We look over and see that Kabuto had raised his hand.

"Okay, you got me. I'm out," he says his happy voice not faltering. There is something really off about this guy...

"But kabuto.." naruto says starting to whin. Our proctor starts to flip through his pages and finds kabuto's.

"Okay you  can go on and step back," he says.

"Gotcha," kabuto says starting to walk away but stops as soon as naruto yells his name.