(New reader art I made! This time, with her haori! Couldn't exactly make her sleeve all butterfly-like...)

✿.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.✿

「My Own Technique」
♡16♡

✿.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.✿

3rd Pov:

A while after the whole fight with the sound ninjas, the other leaf ninjas left while Sasuke and Naruto were getting fish for food, Sakura was getting the fire ready while she was also making sure that (Y/n) was getting the rest that she needed.

"It's already been four days since the second exam began." Sasuke noted.

"That's right." Sakura agreed.

"We're sure not gonna break any records. Cause we only have 24 hours left." Sasuke noted. "I wonder how many other teams got their scrolls..." Sakura thought out loud.

"We have to face it. There may not be any Heaven scrolls left." Sakura admitted. Although she wanted her team to pass, she knew it's possibly true that everyone is gone.

"Well that's a cheerful thought." Sasuke sarcastically said. "Well, in this second exam... Four of the five-day time limit have passed already. So that means we've already used eighty percent of the total exam time. Seventy eight participants and twenty six teams. There are only thirteen of the Heaven and Earth scrolls. At most there are only thirteen passing teams."

"And if those odds aren't bad enough, things have gotten even worst. That creep Orochimaru burnt our real heaven scroll. He even found out that (Y/n) had spares to use as a decoy. She must've did this in case we actually had to give up our scroll. But Orochimaru managed to find out." Sakura explained.

As the three were talking, (Y/n) was slowly starting to wake up from her rest. She slowly got up and she grunted in pain, she felt her curse mark feel more painful. 'Damn it. I don't know what exactly happened earlier. But those damn sound ninjas made me pull a bit of a show.'

(Y/n) stood up and spotted her team chatting with each other. She started walking towards them without making much of a sound. "Moshi Moshi, Minnasan~" She greeted, startling her team.

"(Y/n)! How are you feeling? Are you still hurt or tired from that fight?" Sakura frantically asked, as she started inspecting (Y/n). (Y/n) shook her head, "No, I'm not exactly hurt. I am a bit tired, but I'm fine."

"You think you can keep up still? Because we only got 24 hours left and We only got an Earth scroll." Sasuke held out the Earth scroll in his hand. "And that Orochimaru guy burnt the decoy ones you had and the real heaven scroll." Sakura added.

(Y/n) was honestly surprised by that. She didn't think Orochimaru found out. "Well then. We can still try to figure out a way to get the heaven scroll. Our next enemy could be our last chance." She noted.

"But how on earth are we gonna be able to find another heaven scroll within 24 hours?" Sakura asked in disbelief. (Y/n) turned and simply smiled at Sakura, "I might have a plan to find any enemies. Trust me. Be sure to stay here safely." (Y/n) said, before she leaped up and started jumping onto trees.

'I gotta try to find the nearest scent near me. If I don't, then my team will not make it.' (Y/n) thought as she was jumping.

(Y/n) smelled a new scent ahead of her, as she jumps down as she unsheathed her sword and tried to slash the sand ninja, as he immediately notices and blocked her, making her fly above him, and gracefully land.

"Ara?"

As soon as (Y/n) landed, she takes a look to see who her opponents were, she sees that they were from the sand village. She sends them a small smile, "Oh my~ it looks like I've run into some sand ninjas. Well, Hello there. Can you three please tell me what scroll you guys have?" She asked.

The sand ninjas got on their guard, thinking that it could be some sort of trap. "Why? Why does it matter, Miss? Why would we tell you?" One of them questioned.

(Y/n) was starting to grow a bit impatient with their answers. So she tried to make them speak more. "Well, I only have one scroll. And since I don't have much time, I'm simply asking them what scrolls they have. If they don't have the scroll I need, I'll just leave. And also, if you lie to me, there'll be consequences~" She threatened at the last part.

The sand ninjas thought carefully on their answer. "We have an Earth scroll, that good enough?" One of them answered. (Y/n) took a quick sniff at them, she can smell that they were lying. So she took this chance to attack them. "Ara... Well, I'm sorry to say but you guys are practically lying to me. I don't really like liars, and here I thought we could've become friends. Well, it looks like I'll have to give you your little punishment."

The sand ninjas took notice of this as they prepared their attacks. (Y/n) took notice, as she prepares to unsheathe her sword. "Well, I guess we'll have to do this the hard way. Oh, what a pity."

"Huh, well, you really think you can beat all three of us? Face it, you pipsqueak. You know that one vs three isn't a good match up." One of the sand ninjas teased.

That struck a nerve on (Y/n), as she smiled more wider. "Ara, well. It looks to me based from your scent, I can tell that you might as well get your ass kicked by someone who's way smaller than you."

The sand ninja grew irritated from her words. "What do you know? With your small figure, you look like you could barely scratch someone with your sword with that weak looking body." He teased.

Veins were starting to form on (Y/n)'s face as she tried to keep her smile on. "Well, let's do this then. I might as well use my own techniques for the first time in a long time~" (Y/n) fully took her sword out, and prepared some breathing forms.

"Breath of Night, Eighth Form: Starry Sky-line."

(Y/n) ran at a half of her full speed, because she doesn't have much stamina to use. She managed to knock them all unconscious. She then walked over to inspect each of then to see who got the scroll, and she finally got it. She looks down at the unconscious ninjas that she knocked out, with a dark smile. "This is what happens when you mess with a Kocho~"

(Y/n) jumps back up to the trees and started to sprint jump on each tree, trying to find her team. 'I still can't believe I let Orochimaru get to me. I feel like a fool. I must not let the others be like this.'

(Y/n) finally caught up with her team, landing near them.

"Hello there~!" (Y/n) greeted. Scaring her team. "Woah, (Y/n)-Chan, your back a little earlier than we expected." Naruto said.

(Y/n) giggled and held out the heaven scroll in her hand. This amazed the rest of team 7 as they sighed in relief. "Thats good that you managed to get a heaven scroll." Sasuke said. "Yeah, my opponents were weaker than I thought." (Y/n) said.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke were a little quiet before Sakura spoke up. "Hey, (Y/n). Before we reach for the tower, we want to ask you something, if you don't mind." She said. (Y/n) turned to her, visibly confused on what she, and the others wanted to talk to her about.

"What is it, Sakura-Chan?" She asked. Sakura was a bit hesitant to say what was on each of the three ninjas mind. As soon as she was about to say it, Sasuke be a red her to it. "We want you to talk to us about Orochimaru, and how you know him." Sasuke said, making (Y/n) flinch.

"You told us that you would tell us about it soon. And, since we're a team, we think it's best for you to tell us. So we can help you out in the mere future." Sasuke explained.

(Y/n) looks down, with her eyes shaking. As she thinks about her past experience with Orochimaru effected her.

The rest of team 7 can see how silent (Y/n) had gotten when they mentioned her and Orochimaru. Naruto and Sakura look at each other, before they each grabbed her hands. And Sasuke placing his hand on (Y/n)'s head.

(Y/n) lifts her head, to see the worry in their eyes. (Y/n) knows that it's best to tell then since they deserve to know, but she fears what they think if she tells them the whole story.

(Y/n) eventually gave in, as she sat down, with a shadow casting over her face. The other three sat down along side her, as they waited for her to speak.

(Y/n) looks at them with a serious look on her face. "You're right. I think it's best for me to tell the truth to my team, since I need to put my trust in them in the future." She said, before taking some deep breaths, before she starts to explain.

"At first, I met Orochimaru when I was about 6 years young. I met him because he kidnapped me when I was young." (Y/n) started the story off, with some already shocked expressions on her teammates faces.

"Orochimaru kidnapped me so he can experiment me, to which he did. The fact that me and my sisters were the children of my parents, the main Kocho family, he wanted to test us, specifically me. He did so many experiments on me, to the fact the results got me physically stronger, have the ability to use more than one type of breathing style within a short amount of time, and have different chakra styles, since he put strange blood and fluids inside of me. He tried to use me as some sort of weapon for his own self, so he can practically and possibly use my body for himself. I was so much pain that time, but I was still able to train and perform breathing techniques.

My sisters managed to save me before he can do much worst stuff to experiment me, as he tried to put a curse on me before, but my second eldest sister intervened so I didn't get it, but instead, she got the curse mark. She did get a bit weaker from it, but yet, she also got stronger from it. She managed to set her mind on the Kocho path and not give into Orochimaru. About a year after that, my sisters were killed by a certain demon, which got me a reason to live more so I can protect everyone and kill the demon who killed not only my family, but also my clan. But now that he's back and I got the curse mark, I simply fear that I'll bring such chaos to the leaf village." She explained.

The rest of team 7 were completely shocked from the explanation. They didn't expect (Y/n) to meet Orochimaru from such a cruel way. They now understand that how (Y/n) got so much stronger growing up.

"Oh, Well, I'm sorry you had to experience that with that creep, (Y/n). " Sakura looks down in sorrow, feeling bad for her friend. "It's alright, at least it wasn't you guys who went through it. I'd say it's worth it since I was able to protect you all long enough." (Y/n) smiled.

(Y/n) stood up, "I'm gonna go get my stuff." She said before walking away. As soon as she reached the spot she was resting, she heard some footsteps behind her. (Y/n) turns around to see Sakura behind her, with a sad frown on her face. (Y/n) was concerned for her friend, as she starts to question why she was feeling that way. "Something wrong, Sakura-Chan?"

Sakura fidgets her fingers nervously, as she starts to speak what's on her mind. "Hey, (Y/n). Since you taught me the whole Insect breathing, I got something to ask. Why did you teach me that specific style?" She asked.

(Y/n) was a bit surprised by this sudden question. "Well, I taught you Shinobu-Nee's breathing techniques because a part of me feels like you should focus on your own physical strength, since Insect breathing doesn't require much stamina, and it's the less harmful out of the breathing techniques I know. I planned on teaching you the Love breathing soon because it has good range attacks." She explained.

Sakura nodded in understood, bit she couldn't shake something off of her. "(Y/n), you told me that your eldest sister used a breathing technique called Flower breathing. Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to teach me it?" Sakura questioned.

(Y/n) looks away with a serious expression on her face. As she thinks about the possibilities of what would happen to Sakura if she uses the final form of that breathing style.

"Well, the reason why I don't want to teach you it because of what will happen to you if you use the final form of flower breathing. It will pretty much change you forever." She explained.

Sakura looks down, as she tries to understand. But a part of her doesn't. "But still! I-I want you to teach me the flower breathing because if it require lots of strength and stamina to save others and fight off demons, then I'll gladly accept the effect of the final form! I want to be a more useful Tsuguko!" Sakura confessed.

(Y/n) was beyond surprised by her friends sudden plead, she was surely surprised that she will accept the effect of the final flower form. She really wanted to prove (Y/n) as a worthy tsuguko. (Y/n) smiled as she thought about Sakura's words. She turns to her and have her a closed eye smile, "I'll think about it, Sakura-Chan. Come on, let's go back to the others." (Y/n) started to walk back to Naruto and Sasuke, with Sakura following behind her.

"Hey, (Y/n)-Chan! So, we're all ready to go?" Naruto asked, all excited. (Y/n) nodded, as she closed her eyes and did a singular hand sign. She focuses on bringing back her butterflies that she had on searching for the tower. A couple pink butterflies on her fingers as she communicates with them.

(Y/n) looks back at her team, "My butterflies told me on how we can get there. Follow me, alright?" She said, earning a nod from her team. Team 7 leaped into the air and jumped further in the forest, trying to find their way to the tower. As they were jumping, Naruto couldn't help but be curious about something.

"Hey, (Y/n)-Chan." Naruto called, with (Y/n) humming in response. "Why don't you use your own breathing style, or I mean if you exactly have one." He asked. (Y/n) thinks back to when she used her breathing technique on the sand ninja she ran into earlier, to remember some of the damage she kinda did on them.

"Well, I do have my own breathing style. I just prefer not to use it. Because my breathing style causes lots of damage. And depending on my surroundings, I have to at least hold back my strength and stamina. Thats why I prefer to use the breathing styles of the other hashiras, to somewhat honor them." (Y/n) explained.

"So, what is your breathing style?" Naruto asks again. (Y/n) looks at Naruto, "It's called Night Breathing. If I'm going to have a night Tsuguko, I need to have a worthy one in capable of using my Night style." (Y/n) said.

"Oh, okay. Guess that makes sense!" Naruto nodded.

Team 7 was reaching closer and further into the forest, (Y/n) looks up to see a tip of the tower, "Hey guys, I see a bit of the tower, I think we're very close." She noted.

A few minutes later, Team 7 finally made it to the tower. "Finally! We made it!" Naruto cheered. They soon walk in, and looked around to see some other teams.

(Y/n) looks around her to see not only a the sound ninjas that she fought, but she sees another group of sound ninjas. But aside from the ones she fought, the sound ninja in the center had more of a cold demeanor.

(Y/n) walks even longer to see Gaara's team. She see's them unharmed at all, so she decided to go chat with Gaara. "Hello, Gaara." (Y/n) approaches Gaara's team.

Gaara turns to face her, "Hello, (Y/n). I see that you're probably the last group to come here." He said. (Y/n) mentally sighed at that, 'You really just had to point out the obvious, Gaara?'

"Yeah, you can say my team ran I to some trouble makers." (Y/n) said. Gaara looks around her body, to see her body wounded, and the sand monitor on her wrist. Gaara points at it, "Your sand monitor was going crazy. I felt it like you were practically in danger, or in so much pain. Are you okay?" Gaara asks with concern in his voice.

(Y/n) honestly forgot about the sand monitor on her wrist since she was more focused on the fight with Orochimaru. (Y/n) gave him a reassuring closed eye smile, "Don't worry. I just had a bit of some trouble with a certain someone to the fact they actually managed to hurt me. But, it's fine."

Gaara can tell that she was partially lying, but he knows that she won't say much at a time like this. Gaara nods his head in understanding, "Okay. I hope you feel better later." (Y/n) smiled even more wider the fact that Gaara is showing how much he cares about their friendship.

"I'll be fine. I wish you good luck on the next test." (Y/n) waved goodbye to the sand siblings and walked back to her team. All of the genin faced the Jonin teachers, and the Hokage for instructions.

"Alright, now pay attention. Lord Hokage is going to explain the third exam to you. So you better listen carefully you maggots!" Anko yelled.

"First, before I tell you what the third exam is, I want to explain something about the test itself. Listen closely now, it's something that all of you need to understand." The Hokage instructed. Which pique lots of the genius interests.

"To tell you the true purpose of these exams. Why do allied mations conduct the exams on a conjoint basis? Raising the levels on the shinobi and friendship among allied nations. It won't do to have the wrong idea of the true meaning of that statement. These exams are so to speak... A microcosm of battle between allied nations." Lord Hokage explained.

"What does that mean?" Tenten asked. "If we look back on our history, the allied nations of today were once neighboring nations that continued to vie with each other and battle for power. In order to avoid a futile crushing of each other's military strength, those nations mutually selected a place to battle. And that was how the chunin exams originally began." Lord Hokage explained.

"W-Why do we have to do such a thing? We're not doing this to select chunins?" Naruto questioned.

"There is no question that these exams are to select shinobi worthy of becoming chunin. But on the other hand, these exams also provide a venue for shinobi who carry their nation's pride on their backs to fight for their lives! Many feudal Lords and those of prominence from many nations who request shinobi for work are invited to this third exam as guests. And, the feudal Lords and head ninja of each village of the nations will watch your battles. If the gap in national power becomes unbridgeable, the strong nations are inundated with job requests. The requests of nations deemed weak, on the other hand, decline. And therewithal, we can exert pressure upon each neighboring nation... That is to say, just how much military strength our village is developing and has." Lord Hokage explained.

"Even so, why is it necessary for us to fight for our lives?!" Kiba questioned. "The nation's strength is the Villages strength. The Villages strength is the shinobi's strength. And the true strength of the shinobi is created only in a fight for ones life! This exam is a place to see the strength of home country shinobi, and a place to display this as well."

"Then why... Use the expression " friendship" ?!" Tenten asked. "I said it at the start, didn't I?! That it won't do for you to have the wrong idea of the meaning! It's a custom where balance is oreserved by fighting and removing life. This is the friendship of the shinobi world." Lord Hokage explained.

'Ara? I see now...' (Y/n) thought.

"Very well. This is where I'd like to explain the third exam." Lord Hokage was about explain, before a jonin appears in front of him. "Lord Hokage, please allow me, Hayate Gekko, who was given the task of judge, to speak first." A jonin named Hayate said. "Go ahead."

"Nice to meet you, everyone... Umm, there's something... I'd like you all to do...before the third exam." Hayate sensei explained while coughing at the same time.

"And that is a preliminary to the third exam, with the participation in the main battle on the line." Hayate sensei said, making everyone shocked.

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༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ End ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶
「Taisho-Era Secrets」

✿ Gaara wanted to hug (Y/n), but was too flustered to.

✿ Sakura wanted to learn flower breathing so she can be proven as a worthy Tsuguko to (Y/n).

✿ (Y/n) is hoping to find some people that are worthy to be her Night breathing Tsuguko.

✿ Ever since Shinobu got the curse mark in the past, (Y/n) was always mentally blaming herself for it.

I'm back Bishes! I'm finally back... ૧(ꂹີωꂹີૂ)

Quarter one of school has just ended for me and now I'm in quarter two. I've been so stressed about work lately and, I've been so unmotivated. I've been getting in touch with my eldest brother and my therapist and they're helping me fell a bit better about myself. I've missed writing for you all so much. A lot of people begged me to update this, and honestly, taking a look at it, It was hard for me to believe for this book to have almost 100k reads within 20 parts?! That's honestly my highest achievement on wattpad, thank you all! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o

Anyways, now that I'm back, I plan on working on some certain books that I've just published on quotes, and going back to it, since I haven't written it in a year. I hope everyone loves this chapter, have a good day