Friends?

"And on the other side of the room is...." The judge trailed off as the screen randomly picked out names. I frowned with worry as I watched Neji and Haku launch at each other, "Wait! We're have two matches at a time?"

"Seems like it. They did expand the room for enough room and since there's more people here...why not?" Sasuke answered as he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. I looked back at the screen and held my breath.

"Sasuke x Grey!" Anko yelled loudly as she grinned."This will be interesting." She whispered as she placed her hands on her hips in thought. Tsunade and Shizune nodded in agreement in their seats. I couldn't help but have a feeling that they were expecting something.

Sasuke smirked, "Finally. Let's just hope this will be worth my time." I opened my mouth but a voice cut me off.

"Sasuke-kun! Becareful!" Sakura walked up to him and hugged him. I felt a pang in my chest when Sasuke half-smiled back at her. I tried to dismiss the feeling away and act like nothing happened. Naruto patted him on the back.

"Yeah, you better win so we can face off later you teme!" He grinned his foxish smile and Sasuke smirked coolly back at him.

"Of course." They laughed and I couldn't help but smile.
It was like the old team seven again. It felt like I was intruding so I quickly sent Sasuke a smile and left to stand with Tsunade below. Sasuke's smile dropped from his face when he noticed my odd behavior and quickly followed me down the stairs.

"Sasuke!" Sakura tried calling him back but Sasuke ignored her and grabbed my hand. I looked up in surprise and smiled softly when I saw his worried expression.

"Hai?"

"Hi-Keiko...Wish me luck?" He asked hopefully like he was afraid he had done something wrong. I stepped down the last step and caught sight of Gray's observant dusty brown orbs. Apparently he didn't miss Sasuke's hand holding mines. I frowned at him, the look in his eyes...

I didn't like it.

"Keiko?" I shivered when I felt his hot breath near my ear. I looked up at him accusingly for doing that in public.

"Heh, gomen but you weren't reacting." Sasuke's husky voice made me blush but I only got irritated when I saw his trademark smirk paint its way across his soft lips.

"Well you won't need any luck." I huffed as I crossed my arms and just when I was about to walk away, I felt his soft skin brush against mine when he hugged me.

"Come on." He whispered, pleadingly in my ear. I blushed. I closed my eyes from embarressment when I felt other people's eyes on me. I hate it when Sasuke does that! Well...in front of other people. I could feel my cheeks grow hotter.

"A-Alright! Fine." I stuttered as I got out of his hold and faced his truimphant face which only irked me even more. I crossed my arms defiantly and glared softly at him.

"Good luck you ego maniac!" I huffed softly enough for only him to hear. He blinked in surprise but only smirked wider. Ugh!

I roughly grabbed his shoulders and tip toed up to claim his lucious lips. He stood for a second in surprise before wrapping his arms around me again. I could hear his hot breaths grow shallow as he pressed his lips harder against mine. A soft moan escaped from the back of his throat, making me smirk. I bit his lips softly and let go before he got anymore satisfaction from it. When I had let go he was breathless and confused. He looked irritated when he realized what I was doing.

"Wha-" Sasuke began as the smallest hue of pink crossed his creamy cheeks when he touched his swollen lips. I smirked and stuck out my tongue shyly.

"That's what you get." I smiled and watch him grow frustrated.

"Fine! You-You ex-Hyuuga!" He glared at me then walked away but I caught him smiling when he turned and faced an impatiently frustrated Grey. I sighed but smiled as well. I wondered if this would ever last. I turned and ran towards Tsunade to see her deathly serious face.

"U-Um...," I froze and gulped. "Tsunade-chan?" The older woman reached out and pulled me in close enough so she can whisper in my ear.

"He... just called you Hyuuga!!!" She shrieked in my ear and I thank god that no one else heard what she said. I paled and looked at everyone upstairs.

I hadn't even realized it. It just came naturally at me. I was used to it. I gave a sigh of relief when no one showed any signs that they heard it. They probably weren't close enough. I caught sight of Sakura's envious emerald orbs and quickly looked away with guilt. I guess I earned that...after all she did harbor a long crush on Sasuke-kun. Odd...I couldn't see Naruto.

"It's alright. No one heard." I assured her softly and she sighed letting go of me. Her stern aqua orbs studied me for a moment. Worry creased her delicate features and made me wonder what she was thinking. She grabbed my hand and smiled sadly.

"Please be careful. I don't want you to get hurt anymore. Are sure you can really trust them?" The look in her eyes made me freeze up but I knew what she was talking about and of course I was sure.

"Of course!" I was shocked at myself for being so loud and acting so unlike me. To more of my surprise Tsunade smirked.

"Alright, that's all I need to know." I blinked and smiled. I turned back to watch the two matches with my heart beating anxiously in my chest. I just wanted them to get it over with already.

I hope it would go well.

Haku's beautiful dark locks flew around him gracefully as he dodged Neji's attacks with ease. I could slowly see the ice nin appearing out of him again whenever he fought. Haku growled when Neji kept on closing the space between them. Soon his back was against the wall and he had no choice but to grab a small clear gourd tied to his weapon belt. He shook it around and smirked when the liquid in it started pouring down on the floor.

Neji jumped back, unsure what the liquid was.

"What...What are you doing?" Neji asked in the same emotionless voice I almost always hear him use. I missed his smile. His pink face that beriddled me with questions and confusion when I was 'smaller'. He was older. He still had that same pale skin but his boyish face had grew and turned remarkably handsome. He was taller. More built. More...closed off.

I didn't understand why he had turned even more cold during the time I was gone. I sighed and watched Haku sprinkle water all over the place.

He looked up and said sarcastically, "I'm taking a shower." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Haku whipped out his beautiful and strangely feminine smile, rendering Neji confused.

"Guess this is it for you Hyuuga-san," He said politely as he formed a one hand sign. I could hear Naruto and Saukra take a large breath in.

"That move...."Naruto trailed off as he watched with interest.

"It happened at Naruto bridge." Sakura nodded, "I wonder of Neji will be able to defeat Haku."

I looked away, partially unsure of the same thing. Ice mirrors rose out of the water on the floor, startling everyone that was unexpecting it. Neji backed away and looked around to find Haku gone.

"I'm sorry Hyuuga-san but I need to pass exam." Countless of images of Haku appeared in the mirrors, trapping Neji from inside. His pale eyes narrowed at the closest mirror in front of him.

"Too bad you're just going to fail." Veins throbbed around his eyes as he got in a very familiar stance. I couldn't help but catch my breath. He would be able to see the real Haku but Haku would still be too fast for him! Needles in flew in all directions at Neji but he just spun around to deflect them off easily.

I knew Haku could just kill Neji easily but he was holding back. Neji could've ended it already also.

The mirrors started glowing and rotating around Neji in a circular motion. Large icicles formed above him and all I could do was stare. I knew Haku wouldn't hurt Neji....he wouldn't. They were dropped down from the ceiling with a sickening crash into the cement floor. Debris flew everywhere and even Sasuke's match was paused to see what was going on. Anko coughed and waved the dust away from her eyes. When the dust finally settled down, I caught sight of his unmoving body between the dangerously close icicles.

The mirrors started to slowly dissolve then the icicles turned into water again. The liquid gathered together in a shape of a body before its features started getting more and more detailed until the soft features clearly showed it was Haku. Neji's body slumped to the floor as the water splashed softly against his body.

"W-Winner... is Haku." Anko blinked, clearly surprised with the outcome and how fast it went by. I ran up to Haku and gave him a hug.

"Congrats!" I watched him grin and hug me back.

"Arigato." I smiled and turned to watch the medic nins come in and check Neji. I couldn't help but smile even more when I spotted his serene face.

"Here let me help you." I volunteered as I picked up one side of him and they picked up the other side then we gently laid him down on the stretcher. I took out a black container from my pocket and put it safely in his coarse hand. I frowned as I fingered it gently. He's been training too much lately then. They tried to wake him up and I giggled when he just snored in return.

"He only wakes up if you tickle him." I whispered quietly with a smile. I grabbed his sides and jumped back when he bolted up from shock as the most quiet laugh escaped from his mouth. I doubted that everyone else heard it. I couldn't help but giggle.

"N-Nani Keiko??" Neji said groggily as his half lidded eyes stared at me with confusion and wide surprise. He groaned in pain and I pushed him back down onto the stretcher. He moaned softly before falling back into soft snores.

"He's fine." I sighed with a smile. His teammates ran down just in time to walk him out the door with the medic nins carrying him, throwing baffled looks at me.

"Who's Sasuke fighting?" A pulled me towards Tsunade where we would be out of the way. My gaze redirected to the raven haired teen.

"The guy I took the scroll from." I answered with frown. They were just standing there...talking.

"Oh." Haku seemed confused by it to.

"So...," Grey started with a friendly smile, "Are you two teammates or just lovebirds?"

"Why does it matter to you?" Sasuke retorted boredly as he watched his opponent carefully.

"Oh...," Grey's eyes dimmed then lighted up again as he grinned, " I would just like to have another talk with her. That's all." Sasuke's eyes narrowed at him with venomous threat.

"Another talk? What talk? What the hell are you talking about?" The pale teen demanded as he crossed his arms like he didn't care. Grey's grin grew impossibly wider. An animalistic growl escaped from the back of my throat when I realized he was going to do something dirty. It came out before I could stop it and I quickly hoped no one had heard. It was just so hard to control my other side.

"Next match! Keiko....and Sakura!" Anko shouted, appearing somewhat interested in what Kakashi's daughter could do against the hokage's apprentice. Tsunade seemed almost torn by the two sides while Kakashi nodded as he gave me an encouraging thumbs up.

It was then when...

It felt like a whole house of pressure fall on me. I gulped as I felt sweat starting to form. Everyone will be watching! And even more carefully because of the fact I'm Kakashi's daughter that appeared out of no where and has never been seen in action before! All of that and...that they don't trust me.

Naruto. Sakura. Neji. Tenten. Lee. ....Do I really have to keep on going? I felt Haku give me a little nudge and a blissfully encouraging smile. I sighed and tried to wipe away all my anxiety.

"It'll be okay. Just don't get stage fright." Haku hugged me and his velvet voice calmed me almost instantly.

"Thanks Haku-kun." I smiled and took a step to be only halted by a falling pink blur. The impact made the room tremble and a dent in the floor. Sakura stood there with an over confident stance and an eye with hate and distrust for me.

Oh man....

"Tsunade-sama, wish me luck?" Sakura grinned smugly as if I didn't Tsunade was her master and she was apprentice. "After all I am your apprentice right, master?" Sakura's eyes gleamed mischievously. My mouth fell open in shock. Sakura????

How could she?

I never seen her act like that before! I guess she's...furious. And...she hates me?

Tsunade frowned at her pink haired apprentice's attitude and sighed. "Sakura...be careful at what you're messing with." Sakura's smile drop.

"Awwww, Tsunade-sama! Just wish me luck?" Tsunade sighed and glanced at Shizune who seemed pissed off at how Sakura was acting.

"She'll only give it to you Haruno because you'll need it." Shizune said it in a surprisingly calm voice but then again she was always calm. Of course though...I could see the disrespect she held for Sakura now. I sighed as I wrung my hands together nervously.

Man...I feel horrible now. Shizune is acting over protective again for me because I'm her only daughter and Sakura is only mad at me because of my little scene with Sasuke which I shouldn't have even let happen so pubicly!

Sakura blinked as she gaped at Shizune's cold behavior. "S-Shizune-chan?" Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle at her secretary's odd behavior.

"Only you can do this..." She laughed as a smirk carved at her lips. TSunade glanced at me and sent an encouraging smile.

"Me?" Sakura asked, bewildered and confused at what she did to make the secretary so cold. I couldn't help but smile at them. Knowing that that was her own way of saying good luck to me. Sakura didn't miss Tsunade's silent message and her resentment only grew more. She stomped to her side of the field and scowled at me when she looked up.

"Okay..." Anko mused then smirked as she eyed me like an object. I bet she's planning to place bets on one of us. I took in a shaky breath and smiled at Sakura.

"Sakura," I greeted and bowed politely at her. I looked and smiled at her like I always had in the past. "May the best win?" I asked hopefully as I held out my hand. She seemed puzzled at my actions.

"You...you remind me of someone." She whispered softly as her eyebrows knitted together. Her emerald eyes studied me sharply and I suddenly felt self concious.

"R-Really?" I smiled nervously. Sakura saw this as a sign and glared at me.

"Just who are you Keiko??" I frowned and looked back at her eyes with determination.

"A friend." She blinked, taken back by my choice of words. Her eyes softened.

"A friend?"

I grabbed one of her gloved hands in mine and smiled.

"Come on S-Sakura. Let's just fight this and no matter who wins, promise me we'll be friends?" Sakura stared at me with an apalled face.

"U-Um...," She looked around the arena then looked back at me with a genuine smile. "Hai. Promise." I beamed and I couldn't help but embrace my long time friend. It was almost like back then again.

"Arigato Sakura-chan."

"Come on already! I want to see some fighting!" Anko yelled, forcing me to let go of the older girl with a red face.

"G-Gomen." I apologized meekly and Sakura laughed, 'She's so much like someone I know and miss...'

"Start!" Anko yelled impatiently and I flew back near the end of the arena almost instinctly as I took a defensive position. Sakura seemed shocked by my speed but grinned.

"Go Sakura!" Shouts were heard across the room from those who knew her.

"Keiko!" Haku grinned somewhat gracefully as he waved at me.

"...Keiko. You can do it." Hanibi yelled and somehow...there on her usually emotionless Hyuuga face was a small smile. I felt a flutter of happiness dive in me. The only thing I could do was smile back.

"Hai." I nodded and grinned at Sakura. It's time to get serious. She grinned back and got in a stance I knew too well from my own 'mother'. This could be hard.