He could see them still, the blood red irises searing into his own. Panic spasmed aross Itachi's face as he crumpled the paper in his hand. Suddenly Kichirou was entering the dark room once more, slipping on the red liquid dripping through the floorboards. The same eyes burned into his soul, locking him in place as the moonlight flashed off the naked blade...

Kichirou's eyes shot open as he sat up abruptly, gasping as the last threads of the dream faded into the edges of his subconsciousness. The wind rustled the tall grass waving around him, howling like a banshee as it raced the clouds across the dark sky. For a moment Kichirou didn't know where he was, but as he rose to his feet he recognized the purple glow illuminating the empty plain.

'Wolf?'

The creature's padded footsteps were uncannily silent for his massive height. Wolf crouched down as he came up behind Kichirou, his tails drawing around the Uchiha as though to protect him.

'Why am I here?' Kichirou questioned the being.

Wolf's tails twitched in agitation. 'You were no match for Orochimaru. He would have constrained you and used you for his own ends. I did what was neccessary to save your life.'

Kichirou settled back, watching the lightning flicker across the endless expanse. 'What happened?'

'You exhausted your chakra too soon. I had to bring you to a situation in which you were close to death in order to fully protect you.'

Kichirou glanced up in astonishment. 'I'm dying?'

'No, not anymore,' Wolf chuckled.

Kichirou stared at the ground, his mind distracted by one thought. 'You lied to me. You said you wouldn't fail me. Why didn't you save us all?'

Wolf let out an explosive snort at the accusation, rising to his full height. 'I do not break my promises, Kichirou. If I had failed you, you would be in the hands of that snake right now.'

'Then why did you have to nearly kill me? Isn't that the opposite of protecting me?'

Wolf licked his massive paws a few times before laying his head on top of them. His amythest eyes crackled with power. 'I told you, your body is not capable of handling my energy. If I were to fully manifest myself while your chakra was at its height, it would overload your system and kill you. I had to wait until your body had completely lowered its defenses before taking charge. In many cases, this involves bringing my host to the point of death.' He glared up at Kichirou. 'You should practice your ninjutsu more. Those katas are not going to help you fight an enemy - unless you want to slap them to death.'

Kichirou smiled slightly at the mental image, his eyes distant. 'So when you say I'm not strong enough, it's because I haven't trained my chakra to its proper level?'

Wolf rumbled an agreement. 'Book reading may provide valuable knowledge, but it will not always serve against a stronger enemy. Itachi was fighting in the ANBU at your age. You could be even greater with my help.'

Kichirou plucked a handful of grass and began twisting it in his hands. 'If I had trained more... could I have defeated the Grass ninja?'

'Perhaps.'

'Then what happened to Naruto and the others... it's all my fault, isn't it.'

Wolf snorted. 'The outcome depended on the entire team's participation, not just your own. But yes, your weakness did cost them dearly.'

'How much?'

'I do not think you should be burdened with such knowledge, little one,' Wolf replied with an empathetic look. 'Understand that you, like the others, made a mistake in this battle. Learn from it, and strive to change things for the better. That is all you can do.'

Kichirou sighed. 'I wish I wasn't such a coward. I just don't want to turn out like... like him. I don't want people to notice me. I just want to be normal.'

'Normality does not even exist,' Wolf yawned. 'If it does, those individuals have to be very boring people for certain. If you ever become normal I shall likely kill you on the spot and run away until a more worthy host shows up.'

Kichirou had to chuckle at the thought. His face turned somber as he recalled the events of the battle. 'Are the others all right?'

'They survived, just as you did,' Wolf replied. 'For better or worse, your team has come out of this battle alive.'

'For worse...' Kichirou frowned. 'How badly did it turn out?'

'That is for you to discover for yourself,' Wolf answered. 'I cannot tell you everything.' He rose to his haunches and studied the cloudy expanse. 'Your friends have many questions for you. You should return to them now.'

'What do we do if the Grass ninja attacks again?'

'He will not return,' Wolf reassured, 'Though there are others who may take advantage of team's weakened state. Have courage. Your friends will stand by you.'

'Wait! How much danger are we in?' Kichirou's shouts were lost in the darkness as he felt himself being sucked away from the amythest zone. A buzzing sensation filled his head, sending a wave of nausea through him as he plummetted into nothingness.

. . .. . .. . .. . .. .

Kichirou groaned softly and winced at the bright sunlight streaming through the leafy canopy. Feeling something wet and heavy on his forehead, he reached up and pulled off a damp cloth. He stared at it in confusion, wondering where it had come from. The memories crashed down on him in one swift moment, and Kichirou bolted to a sitting position. Instantly rivulets of agony trickled through his useless left arm and leg. Kichirou stared at them with detached interest, wondering that they hadn't been shattered completely by the giant snake's blow.

"Kichirou!" Sakura's sharp cry caused the Uchiha to wince slightly as she ran to his side. "You shouldn't be trying to move right now, Kichirou. Your arm was broken really bad. I think your ribs were, too, and you probably have a concussion."

Kichirou clutched his head in his good hand and allowed the pink haired genin to lower him back to the ground. "You're okay?" he asked thickly, struggling to formulate the words.

Sakura nodded, her emerald eyes huge with fright. "Sasuke and Naruto are still unconscious. I'm really worried." Her gaze dropped and she wrung a damp cloth between her hands. "I thought... I thought you were going to die, too."

She glanced up, curiousity and intrigue etched onto her features. "Your injuries healed much faster than I expected, though. Is it..." her voice dropped to a whisper. "Is it the wolf I saw?"

Kichirou's heart beat faster. "What are you talking about?"

"You're a jinchuriki, aren't you?" Sakura said with a quiet urgency. "I read about them in a book. They say that a jinchuriki's injuries heal faster than normal because of the beast's chakra. That's why I didn't even have to set your broken limbs, though I did read how to do it in your medical book." Sakura held up the paperback Kichirou had stashed in the pocket of his flak jacket.

The thought triggered another memory, and Kichirou fumbled with his good hand for the other treasure he had stored there.

"It's all right," Sakura was quick to reassure. "I took the scroll out. Orochimaru must have thought Naruto had it. I guess he didn't suspect you."

"Or Wolf kept him away from it," Kichirou deduced.

"Tell me about Wolf," Sakura requested. "I saw your necklace. Is Wolf a nine tailed beast like your pendant?"

"Yeah," Kichirou admitted reluctantly. There was no point in hiding anything now. "Only he's purple, not black."

"I saw his chakra when he came out of you," Sakura nodded. She hesitated. "Does it hurt you when he does that?"

Kichirou snorted lightly. Yes, being almost dead is a very painful experience. "I wouldn't know. I was unconscious the entire time."

"It must be difficult, having a creature like that living inside of you."

Kichirou shrugged. "It's not that bad. A little annoying, perhaps, especially when he won't shut up..."

'I heard that!'

"Does Sasuke know about it?"

"I never told him," Kichirou admitted, "Though I'm sure he suspects something."

"I guess he knows now," Sakura commented softly. "He saw it, same as I did."

"Great," Kichirou muttered. His entire cover was blown now.

"Don't worry, I'm sure he won't hate you for it. He is your brother after all, and family sticks up for each other." Sakura smiled brightly, trying to comfort her friend.

Kichirou said nothing, marvelling at this simple exchange of information. Sakura hadn't run away screaming or even appeared frightened of him at all. Instead, she seemed genuinely curious. He had expected a more violent reaction from her. But that's what real friends do, isn't it? They accept you for who you are, not what others want you to be.

A sudden rustling in the bushes interrupted any further conversation. Sakura gasped and drew a kunai from her pouch. Kichirou struggled to rise, only to be pushed back again as Sakura shot him a dark look.

"Don't get up! I'll handle this."

Kichirou tensed as the rustling grew louder. To his utter astonishment the intruder revealed itself as... a tiny squirrel. Kichirou groaned as it scampered out of the forest towards them.

"We've been attacked by a squirrel. I think I'm going to run away in terror now."

Sakura gave the rodent a bland glare. Unexpectedly she threw her kunai towards it.

"What did you do that for?" Kichirou objected as he watched the poor little thing scurry off in fear of its life. He hoped it was okay. Squirrels were cute, even if Sasuke didn't particularely appreciate it when they played hide and seek in his closet.

"I set some traps in case another team comes," Sakura hissed. "I didn't want it to set one off."

"Good idea," Kichirou nodded. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, relieved that there had been no real danger.

He let his guard down too soon.

"Some lookout," a voice suddenly broke into the silence. "You look half asleep."

Kichirou's eyes shot open and he lurched to his knees. A spasm rippled through his left side, causing him to gasp aloud as he almost collapsed. Mustering his energy, he fumbled with his right hand for a kunai and straightened as best he could. The three Sound ninjas from earlier stood on the edge of the clearing, watching them intently.

Two limbs out of commission, and they're both on the same side of my body. Not good. Kichirou didn't need a strategic mindset to know that they were at a great disadvantage. Sakura looked dead tired, and he himself could barely hold a kunai. Considering that his chakra was lower than he had ever experienced, Kichirou knew that Wolf's power would do him little good right now. Besides, even if Wolf did come to the rescue for him, there would still be no one to protect the rest of the team. There had to be some way they could all make it out of the situation alive.

"Your friend doesn't look too well, either," the shinobi with the fur cape taunted. "At least you don't have to keep watch over him anymore." His voice was smooth and eerie as he spoke. "What's the point after we've already found you? Now wake Sasuke up. We want to fight him."

Kichirou snorted. "He's unconscious. He's not in the condition to fight anybody."

"Save it for later, brat," the fur caped shinobi replied. "You look pretty beat up. Be a smart little kid and wake up your brother before I really show you the true meaning of pain."

"What do you want here? I mean, what do you really want?" Sakura tried to distract the shinobi in a quavering voice. Kichirou could see her slowly reaching for a kunai, and knew her exagerated fear was only for show. "I know Orochimaru is calling the shots from the shadows!"

All three Shinobi stiffened in obvious surprise.

"What's that strange bruise on the back of Sasuke's neck?" Sakura continued. "You're behind this too, aren't you? And now you want to fight him when he can't defend himself?"

"What in the world could he be thinking?" the fur caped ninja breathed. Sakura stiffened.

"I can't stay quiet after hearing you talk to us like that," the spiky haired Sound ninja said cooly. "First I'm gonna kill this girl, and then I'm gonna kill Sasuke!"

"What about the other brat?" the only female on the squad pointed out. "Orochimaru never said anything about him!"

"Doesn't matter!" the spiky haired ninja snapped. "We kill 'em all!"

"Wait, Zaku," the fur caped ninja growled.

"What?" The spiky haired shinobi turned in mild shock and annoyance. "Why?"

The fur caped ninja waddled forward, his bowl legged stance causing his long sleeves to drag on the ground. "It's so obvious. This is the color of dirt that's been recently dug up. And this kind of grass doesn't grow in a place like this." He looked up to Sakura. "You know, if you're going to lay a trap, there's no point unless you make sure it's actually hidden."

Sakura groaned slightly as the shinobi pulled up the thin blanket of grass she had laid over the trap.

"Ha!" Zaku laughed. "You're just a joke! You threw your kunai knife so that squirrel wouldn't spring the trap you set, huh?"

The fur caped shinobi twisted his head to the side. "Now, we kill them." Leaping straight into the air, the trio avoided the trap and descended towards them.

Sakura's expression was smug, however, and with a quick slash of a kunai knife she severed a wire. A huge log swung towards the Sound ninja, threatening to crush them in its path.

"Watch out!" the fur caped ninja cried out. He placed his hand against the upcoming log. "Nice try, little girl," he smirked as the log burst into shards of wood.

Sakura gasped. Kichirou was astonished at the shinobi's strength and speed. This is not good...

"Clearly you have no talent as a ninja," the fur caped ninja taunted. "Someone like you needs to really make more of an effort, don't you think?"

Kichirou gritted his teeth and prepared for the attack, but before he could move a shrill yell echoed through the clearing.

"LEAF HURRICANE!"

A blur of green and orange zipped through the air, dispatching each of the Sound shinobi in a series of rapid moves.

"What? What is he doing?" Sakura gaped as Rock Lee swooped down to stand in front of her.

Kichirou stared open mouthed, completely at a loss for words. He isn't on our team. Why is he helping us?

'Really. Orange legwarmers, jungle green jumpsuit, and that hairstyle? You could have picked a more dignified hero.'

'Very funny, Wolf. At this rate, I'm glad for any kind of rescue. How much of your chakra do I have available?'

'None. Unless you would like me to kill you again, that is.'

Kichirou rolled his eyes and let five senbon clink into his palm. He discarded his kunai, preferring Haku's weapons to the typical knife. The weapons were discrete and easy to manipulate, and difficult for the naked eye to track. They would prove an advantage in this fight.

"Who are you?" the fur caped ninja questioned Lee incredulously.

Lee smirked. "I am the handsome genin of the leaf village, and my name is Rock Lee!"

Kichirou groaned. He's just as bad as Kakashi's 'eternal rival.'

"Wh-what are you doing here Lee?" Sakura asked in a suspicious tone.

"I will always appear anytime and anywhere when you are in trouble, Sakura," Lee stated proudly as he stroked the squirrel perched on his shoulder. Gently he set it down. "This was all thanks to you, little one. But now it is time for you to run along."

The squirrel gave a small chatter and scampered away. Kichirou smiled as he watched it go, glad it had survived its brush with death from Sakura's kunai. Run free and decimate Sasuke's closet. I'll make sure and set out some extra food for you this winter.

"But, right now on this test I'm your enemy!" Sakura objected, continuing to adress Lee.

"Sakura, I already told you," Lee replied with a gentle tease, "I will protect you until I die!"

"You got to admit he's loyal," Kichirou muttered sarcastically. He leaned heavily on his right arm, shaking as the pain radiating from the left side of his body threatened to consume him. Sakura said his injuries would heal faster with Wolf, but how much longer would that take?

'Much less time if you would stop running around trying to play hero.'

'Don't worry. I'll let Lee handle that.'

Sakura shot Kichirou a worried glance, her eyes pleading for his advice. After a moment's consideration Kichirou nodded. If Lee was lying to them, they wouldn't stand a chance as it was. Better to risk that he might be an ally than refuse his help and face the Sound shinobi alone.

Sakura turned back to Lee, her gaze distant as though recalling a memory of her own. "Yes, thank you... Rock Lee," she said in a soft voice.

The fur caped ninja sighed. "Zaku, I'll let you have Sasuke," he said in a monotone as he threw the earth scroll back to his teammate. "I'll take care of these brats."

Sakura grabbed a kunai, waiting for the sound ninja's next move.

"The guy with the bushy eyebrows is pretty good with Taijutsu," the Sound ninja rasped as he rolled his sleeve up. "Looks like I get to have some fun!"

Sakura's eyes narrowed and she flung her kunai as the shinobi surged forward. The Sound ninja easily evaded the weapon and launched himself at Lee, who plunged a fist into the ground. As the fur caped ninja soared towards him Lee lifted his wrist, bringing a section of the earth with him. The force of the attack threw his opponent backwards.

"I am positive that there is some kind of trick to your attack," Lee proclaimed. "Therefore I will not waste my time trying to dodge it."

"Hm?" the Sound ninja grunted.

"After all," Lee continued, "I have seen your jutsu before."

The sound shinobi drew back slightly. Lee's face was set with determination as he began unwrapping the bandages on his arms. As the Sound ninja drew closer, Lee suddenly moved faster than a blink to stand underneath him. The green clad ninja slammed his foot into the fur clad shinobi's chin, then rose in the air to hover beneath him. Bandages lashed out, pinning the Sound ninja's arms to his side. Lee grabbed the shinobi around the waist and began zooming downwards, spinning wildly.

Alone, the fur clad shinobi would not have escaped, but to his credit he had help. Zaku created a series of hand motions and slammed his fists into the ground, creating an explosion of dust. Kichirou covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, coughing as the cloying elements filtered through the air. When the atmosphere cleared the fur clad sound ninja was stuck halfway through the earth; temporarily defeated but very much alive.

"Hah! Got you just in time!" Zaku laughed. "That impact could have been much worse for you."

Kichirou growled. We almost had him.

"What?" Lee squeaked as the fur clad shinobi rose to his feet. "This cannot be!"

"That is a frightening jutsu," the fur clad ninja sneered. "You nearly took me out even though I landed on this soft dirt." He turned and pulled up his sleeve. "Now it's my turn!"

Lee slumped in exhaustion, his energy spent. He barely moved in time to avoid a vicious uppercut to the chin, but the effects of the enemy's sound attack were unchecked. Dizzy from the invisible blow, Lee collapsed to one knee. At that moment Kichirou struck.

"What!" The fur caped shinobi growled in surprise, shifting at the last second to avoid five senbon that whistled past his ear. A shift in the wind was the only preimminent warning as Kichirou launched himself from the trees above. Years of training his body had finally paid off, and Kichirou landed gracefully on his good leg, swiping his right fist around and driving it into the sound shinobi's chest. His eyes blazed crimson as he took to the air again, twisting sideways and slamming the side of his ankle into the shinobi's cheek. The movements pulled against his damaged ribs and Kichirou retreated with a pained grunt, wrapping his good arm protectively around his useless left side.

The fur caped ninja tentatively brushed his sleeve against the fabric covering his cheek, wincing at the slight movement. Intrigue, irritation, and respect radiated from his gaze as he turned to Kichirou.

"So. The brat was lying when he said he was the one with the sharingan. Wise kid."

"You mean all this time we've been fighting for the wrong Uchiha?" Zaku exclaimed. "Ugh, I've had it with this! Let's just kill 'em all and get this over with!"

"Not so fast, Zaku," the fur caped shinobi retorted. "Let's see what they can do first. You may think your sharingan will protect you, Uchiha, but you and your friend are no match for my sound. Observe."

Kichirou and Lee exchanged a glance. In unison they leapt forward, each striking from a different angle. Kichirou's injuries screamed in protest as he swiped his leg towards the Sound shinobi's shoulder. He let out a rebel yell, his pain and his anger towards those who intended to harm his brother unleashing in a single furious blow. A strange thrill encompassed him as a flicker of terror reflected in the Sound ninja's gaze. A glorious anticipation filled Kichirou, banishing all pain as red mist edged his vision. Bringing his wounded knee up in a high kick, he bashed the enemy shinobi's chin back and drove two senbon towards his unprotected throat.

"NO!"

The unexpected rebuke reverberated through Kichirou's skull, slowing his momentum enough to allow the Sound shinobi to dodge the killing strike. The shinobi's armored wrist crashed into his ribs, jolting Kichirou back to reality as agony coursed through his side. An invisible blow struck him even as he flew through the air. The screams of banshees, shredding metal, and fingernails against a chalkboard had no comparison to the unholy chorus driving against his eardrums. Kichirou fell hard, clapping his hands against his ears as he tried to drown out the unfathomable noise.

"Not so tough for an Uchiha, are you?" the fur caped shinobi taunted.

"Wolf?" Kichirou panted, searching desperately for the entity as the sensation of a thousand knives filled his consciousness. He thought he could hear screaming, and wondered if the rawness of his throat meant it was coming from him. He wasn't sure he cared; all he yearned for was for the pain to vanish. A hand grasped the front of his flak jacket, dragging him to his feet. Kichirou forced his eyes open, instantly clamping them shut as the world spun into a blurred collage.

"So long, Uchiha."

Kichirou doubled over as a blow hit his chest, followed quickly by a sharp pain. Warm liquid trickled down his skin, but all that mattered was the nonstop shrieking that overwhelmed his mind. As he hit the ground Kichirou heard Sakura screaming his name, followed by an abrupt and blissful silence.

Kichirou rolled over onto his side, his hands still clamped over his bleeding ears. At last he risked opening his eyes again. The sound shinobi appeared to be speaking, his mask moving in slight rythm as he cocked his head to the side. A sudden realization hit, followed by a burst of panic.

The forest was completely still. Not a breath of wind, not a single bird call shattered the quiet. The breeze playing through the grass made no impression on the oppressive silence. Kichirou's breath came faster as dread filled him.

His hearing was completely gone.

Vertigo filled him and his head fell back, his eyes roving subconsciosly to an object protruding from his chest. It was then that Kichirou recognized the reason for the sharp pain he had noticed earlier. A burnished kunai shimmered mockingly at him, its glittering obsidian blade tarnished only by the dark stain spreading across his vest. Kichirou chuckled slightly, an inexplicable sense of irony filling him as blackness edged his vision.

Guess Sasuke was wrong about me passing the exams after all...

. .. . .. . . . .. .

Yes, I am evil. Yes, I have plans for this. Yes, Kichirou will survive... maybe.

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