Still Worth Fighting For(Someday)

A new phase of the Exam begins! Sasuke asks for help?!!

"Trying to forget someone who hurt you so much is like trying to remember someone you never met."- Levita Charin

Izami was by one of the training fields, casually eating rice balls, and drinking some saki. Her green eyes constantly flicked over towards the tall, tall trees of The Forest of Death, and her stomach dropped. The food that was in her mouth suddenly refused to go down her throat. A sudden dread filled her for a reason she couldn't even understand. Perhaps that is why she didn't notice Kiba until his dog barked at her.

"Kiba-kun Akamaru! Hi!" Izami couldn't help but smile widely at the sight of Kiba, and Akamaru. Finally, someone to keep her mind off her worries.

"Hey, what 'cha doing here?" Kiba asked as he slid off his ninja dog's back, and sat beside Izami. Izami blushed ever so slightly, and then looked at her half eaten rice ball, her appetite suddenly gone.

"Just eating. There's really nothing to do."

"Eh yeah. I guess." Izami smiled ever so slightly, and then glanced at Kiba as he leaned back against the bench, one hand reached out, and pet Akamaru. Izami's eyes lingered on him for a a moment before looking back at her half eaten rice ball." I'm kinda worried about my own team, ya know? I mean, I know they're going to do awesome because I trained them, but still..." He trailed off. Izami nodded slightly, looking back at him with a slightly masked emotion.

"Well, the Forest of Death can be very...Dangerous if you're not prepared to face what's in there. Not to mention you need skills to survive. That's why only the best can get out of there in time." Kiba nodded, and then glanced back at her.

"Well, are you going to finish that rice ball?"

"Hmm?" Izami looked at her almost forgotten rice ball, and then at Akamaru. She smiled slightly as she looked at Kiba."Oh no. If you want, Akamaru can have it. I'm not really hungry anyways."

"Sure. He'll love it." Kiba's hand brushed against hers as he took the ball of rice from her hands, and tossed it to his ninja dog. Akamaru barked as he caught it in his mouth, and began chewing. Izami smiled slightly, and then stood up.

"I should go check out how the new apartments are doing. I've been promising Yamato that I'd go over, and check on it sometime when I'm not so busy." Kiba nodded, and then stood up.

"Why don't we just head over there together? I have to go check on a family I've been keeping tabs on, so..." Izami blushed slightly, and nodded.

"Yeah. Sure. It doesn't sound too bad." Kiba smiled, and then three walked off together.

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Day two of the Survival test, and Izami could feel herself begin to worry. She knew she had no reason to, though. The faster, better ninja were already done. She knew Sasuke was better than Chunin level, so of course he was already done, but she couldn't help but keep her mind from worrying too much, she walked around the village, helped out around the new parts, and even directed some tourists around the city. Still, she couldn't stop herself from worrying. What was going on? She just hoped, more than anything, that everything was going alright in the woods.

The third and fourth day passed without Izami noticing. By the fifth day, she was in the tower, her heart pounding as all eyes turned towards her, in the center of the room. Her eyes scanned the Shinobi there, and let out a breath as she noticed Sasuke was among the surviving Genin, his hands on his hips with a slight smirk on his face. Izami cleared her throat, and then looked at the other Genin.

"Congratulations on passing the second part of The Chunin Exams. The next part, will be overseen by me, Izami Sato. From here on out, you will no longer have to worry about your team members. Why? Because this next part will consist of individual fights against already made Chunin. This will test you to see if you already have the skills to match the position you are applying for. However, given how...Strenuous the last test was on most of you, we will give you all exactly one month from this day to train. Hone in your skills, and make sure your in your best shape. Once the month has passed, you all are expected to meet up with me back in the arena close to the Hokage Tower. Your Sensei's will know exactly where that is. Please, enjoy yourselves, and train hard. Thank you." Izami watched as the Genin walked off, each talking, and whispering amongst themselves. She watched until the last one left before leaving herself.

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Izami felt someone following her, but she didn't worry. She knew who it was, she almost expected him to be following her. Much to her annoyance.

"Short, sweet, and to the point, almost exactly like you." Izami glanced over at Sasuke, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Not sure if I should be offended by that or not." She deadpanned, and then looked forward, ignoring the curious stares that looked at them. Sasuke chuckled, and shook his head, seemingly unperturbed at the stares.

"So, I guess it's too much to ask for you to train me?" His tone was teasing, Izami knew that much. Izami rolled her eyes in response to his teasing.

"I think you're good enough. You'll kick ass." Sasuke shook his head, smirking slightly.

"Is that what you think? You're not even going to insult me? Has hell frozen over?" Izami shrugged slightly.

"Figured you'd know. Aren't you it's..Well, you know." Her tone turned teasing itself.

"Hey now! I'm not that bad!" Izami smirked a bit as she sat down on a bench, and pulled out a small water bottle. She looked over at him as she began drinking the liquid inside. She sighed as she put it down, and shrugged.

"Says you." Sasuke sighed, and shook his head, but knew she had no malice behind her words. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it seemed like Izami was finally, finally, becoming friendly with him again. He couldn't help but smile at that thought. Where things finally returning to how they used to be? Just like the old days? He couldn't help but get a warm feeling in his chest at the thought.