Blood sweat and tears.

                                    

                                          
HOLY MOLY WHAT IS THIS!? IS THIS AN UPDATE? 
                          
I'M SO SORRY XD 
                          
Please don't kill me - I don't own Naruto.
                          
_______________
                          
*Time skip to the month before the final exams*
                          
Lyla's POV
                          
I gripped the sterile white bedsheets that enveloped me, my legs tangling themselves further into this abyss of nothingness. My eyes snapped open, the sound of eratic beeping reached my ears. A tingling sensation reached my arm as I realised there was an object piercing through my flesh. Looking down at my arm I realised there was an IV sticking out of it. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding.
                          
"I'm in the hospital." I whispered to no one in particular. 
                          
"That you are." I jumped at the sound of his voice.
                          
Looking to the doorway I see the famous Kakashi Hatake staring at me. He walked towards me slowly, the tension in the room growing with every step forward he took. 
                          
"What happened to me?" I asked. 
                          
My body ached all over, yet I knew the pain wasn't as bad as it should've been. I attempted to sit myself up, only to cry out in pain and fall backwards onto the bed. Kakashi rushed to my side.
                          
"Woah. Take it easy. You're in no condition to move. Right after you exited the Forest of Death you collapsed. You couldn't even take the preliminary exams for the final exam. Looks like the chunin exams are over for you." He walked over to the window, resting his arm against the thin wood frame. 
                          
I was disappointed that I couldn't make it to become a chunin, but I know there's always a next time. I tried to keep my hopes up, but being in a hospital isn't exactly the greatest place for that. It was then I remembered the curse mark. It should be hurting. My hand traveled down to my side, where I knew that horrid symbol was. Almost as if he could read my mind, Kakashi walked back over to the bed, and sat near my feet. 
                          
"I sealed it for you." He said, a tone of seriousness laced into his voice. 
                          
"Thank you." I didn't really know what to say, so all I could really do was thank him. 
                          
"I'm suprised how well you've handled your curse mark, especially since it hadn't been sealed. You're a very lucky girl you know that." He sent me his trademark behind-the-mask smile.
                          
I just nodded. I wasn't weak, but I definately could've done better. I can get stronger. 
                          
I will get stronger. 
                          
I was burst from my thought bubble as I heard the door creak open and three heads peak through. Upon seeing me awake Sakura and Naruto leaped at me, Sasuke just shuffled in, deciding to sit in the chair next to the bed. Kakashi quickly leapt out of the way. 
                          
"You're awake!" Naruto and Sakura screamed in unison. 
                          
It was strange. It was as if, after all the crap that we had been through in the exam... we grew closer together. Even if my team can be annoying at times, they're still my team. 
                          
"So we should celebrate the completion of the second exam!" Naruto cheered. 
                          
I chuckled softly at his remark, my ribs aching slightly from the movement. Sakura, growing an irk mark on her forehead, hit naruto square on the head, causing him to cower in pain, hiding underneath the bed.
                          
"Can't you see you idiot! She's in no condition to go out and celebrate!" She shouted at him, hands square on her hips. 
                          
As they continued to argue, I couldn't help but notice Sasuke staring at me silently from the chair next to me. His eyes narrowed slightly as if to say 'We need to talk. Alone.' Nodding in his direction I slightly adjusted myself in my bed, clearing my throat to get their attention.