The first to move was a Cloud Stealth Unit Nin. The same one that had shouted to increase the execution level shot forward. The Leaf ANBU looked at one another, confused. Their lapse in reaction time left Kyoko open and she had to move quickly to block the man who came at her. She sliced her sword upward in a small arc locking him in a stance glaring at him.

"Stand down. This didn't have to end this way." He growled from the back of his throat. She scoffed unlocking their blades shoving him back.

"The hell it didn't. You were looking for an excuse to do this." She smirked. "You've always wanted to."

"How about you shut your mouth before I take it off." He snapped. Kyoko tensed, ready for him to strike again, but she was distracted by a movement to the left. Another Stealth Unit member came streaming at her, this one with a sword, and she had to side step to block. Her eyes were working overtime in their current state. Kyoko was limited in what she could and couldn't do with them with never having proper training but they would be enough for this fight. She wasn't going to die here. She'd decided that already. The entire stealth squad was now in action and their one goal was to silence her. Not today…

Shikamaru's eyes widened and his head whipped in Sasuke's direction a few seats down in the stands. Judging by the astounded look on the other male's face, this had nothing to do with him…that they knew of. He wanted to trust the man but this wasn't good. It seemed like it was always an Uchiha that either burnt down the village or caused emotional turmoil. Uchihas….He thought to himself. Sighing, he ran down the row of steps to the balcony of the stands watching intently. They couldn't directly interject while the Cloud Stealth and ANBU were dealing with the situation but as soon as there was an opening, he'd act. He wasn't about to let this continue. Regardless of the situation, that was a child they were attacking; a child they were threatening to execute. In this village, after the peace treaty, that wasn't going to happen.

The Stealth Unit moved in unison choosing different angles to attack from. Without having the Sharingan activated Kyoko knew she would have been skewered by weapons at this point. She skidded back from a blow to her shoulder and grunted as another bow rained over her ribs. Growling, Kyoko sliced her blade upward and through two of the men's sides. They staggered back but weren't mortally wounded. She smirked, flicking the blood off her blade, staring them down.

"Explain!" An ANBU snapped at one of the Stealth Unit men. There was no response. Kyoko sucked in a breath as the Stealth Unit ran at the ANBU weapon raised. As much as she loved to play this game, as much as she loved the thrill of the fight, the ANBU had nothing to do with this. Kyoko moved without thinking. In the next instant she was in front of the ANBU blocking the attack. She swung her sword around her body and in a downward arc kicking the man back from the ANBU glaring.

"This is between you and I." she bit out at the Stealth Unit focused on her.

"Capture and Contain." An ANBU whispered to another beside her. She rolled her eyes heaving a glare back towards them.

"You have got to be kidding me." She scoffed. The ANBU started creating a formation that she recognized as a capture. Guess they weren't.

Quickly she formed a substitution and appeared across the arena away from all of them. She let a small breath out for a moment and surveyed the field. She didn't have long, a few seconds more and a Stealth Unit would be on her. She needed to end this and that unfortunately meant someone was going to die. They wouldn't let her leave here alive. She needed to get serious.

"That was a fun warm up. Are we done playing yet?" she asked in a mocking tone as the Stealth Unit began approaching her again.

"We certainly are." A man flashed in front of her pulling his kunai back, it was the leader of the Stealth Unit, and he chuckled as he brought the kunai down at the center of her chest.

"Too slow…" she whispered meeting his eyes. His kunai stopped less than an inch from her heart. Kyoko's blade bubbled blood at the base of his throat.

"ENOUGH!" someone barked. Sighing Kyoko realized she couldn't move.

Shikamaru eyed Sasuke who eyed Naruto tersely. The three men had no idea what was happening but they weren't about to let blood be split again at the expense of a life in their village again. Sasuke squared himself in front of Kyoko blocking her line of sight from the man, getting between them, and when Shikamaru released the jutsu, he grabbed Kyoko's blade deflecting it from the man and shoved it down into the dirt. He then took a firm grip on her arm and held her in place keeping his eyes trained on hers. Naruto eyed the Stealth Unit daring them to continue their attack. When they didn't the ANBU maneuvered around them and made a barrier surrounding the Hokage and the situation they were attempting to contain.

"I suggest you shut up and answer any and all questions." Sasuke said holding eye contact with Kyoko. His grip on her arm tightened and she scrunched her nose glaring at him defiantly.

"I don't take orders." She looked down away from him at the dirt.

"Explain." Naruto said standing only about two feet away from the leader of the Stealth Unit.

"Kyoko." The man said chuckling. The only way to complete this mission now was to make her angry. He had to get her to react so he could give the finishing blow. They could not get caught.

She ignored him.

"Kyoko, let me make this very clear. They will hate you here. They will lock you up. They will torture you. They will kill you. You're just giving up a home where we've taken care of you for the stupidity of what you think you can make freedom."

"Stop talking to her." Shikamaru said curtly. The man didn't listen.

"Do you really think you can just leave and be something else?" he laughed before sighing. "You'll never be anything other than a useless mistake." Sasuke tensed hearing the man's words.

Kyoko wrenched her arm free from Sasuke acting swiftly to confuse him and whirled around ripping a kunai from his belt. She gripped it until her fist turned white and made to run at the man. Shikamaru cussed getting in front of Naruto to shield him not knowing at first for whom she was aiming.

"No!" Sasuke hissed moving after her. Before she could reach the man, Sasuke lunged forward and cut her off. He caught her, wrapping his arm around her, and tightly held her as the kunai bit into the upper portion of his arm. She froze shaking where he'd grabbed her.

"Why?" she breathed out shocked.

"He's trying to ruin you. Don't let him. Don't let someone control you." Sasuke replied not taking his arm off her.

"Take them into custody." Naruto ground out as the ANBU started rounding up the Stealth Unit members. "The exam has been postponed until later." He announced turning to face Sasuke and the child. He walked over to meet them but not without Shikamaru at his side.

"Why is it always an Uchiha?" Shikmaru asked only half serious.

"Turn it off." Sasuke said stepping back looking down at Kyoko. Grudgingly she blinked and let the Sharingan shut down. She refused to look back up at anyone.

"Who are…." Naruto started but Sasuke shook his head.

"Interrogation room. There's too many eyes here." He took her by her arm and started walking her to an old surveillance room on the other side of the training grounds.

Kyoko let him drag her towards the room while the Hokage followed. There was no turning back from this decision.

Maybe this was the wrong choice…

But as they walked she chanced a glance up at the back of Sasuke and she bit her lip nervously. No one had ever stopped her before. No one had ever protected her before.

Maybe, just maybe, this guy wouldn't hate her.

Sasuke slammed the concrete door open and let go of her arm watching her as she hesitated before going in.

Maybe she could actually be someone's family instead of being something someone hated.

"Sit down." He said gently.

She did.