Cold eyes and Burning Will
By M6l99 the second
Based on Forsaken with permission, from Elemental balance.
The Outcast the Clan the Shadows and the Snake-
Half a day in side the Forest of Death-
After there briefings with Anko that had a little blood letting and creepy things like Anko licking blood and a Kusa nin with the long freaky tongue, lastly the 7 day survival test in the Forest of Death as the second part of the exam.
Over grown and walled off jungle like forest with Tigers, giant bugs and other deadly beasts, well that and other genin teams trying to get a Chi scroll and or a Ten scroll, from there opponents, the sounds of screaming and battle echoed though out the Forest of Death.
The trio that comprised Team Seven knelt on the forest floor. The brief encounter with the Ame nin had been a bit of an eye opener to the group. The bound and gagged ninja that was lying unconscious several meters away gave testament to a fact that both Sasuke and Sakura had never really acknowledged before.
Naruto was stronger than he let on, but let's replays the past events.
It was Sasuke who had initially exposed the enemy ninja after the blond genin had gone to answer 'the call of nature'. A brief exchange of taijutsu and the Housenka no jutsu from the last Uchiha had ensued. It seemed pretty cut and dry after that to both of the remaining members of the rookie genin cell…
…until the Ame-nin had dissolved into water.
"It s a Mizu-Bunshin he must used it for a Kazagumo no Jutsu " Sakura had cried out, even as Sasuke was scanning the area with his Sharingan. When he found he couldn't see the Ame-nin, he had jumps up believing an underground Doton jutsu was coming.
Instead, a hard boot to the head was his reward as the Ame-nin, leap from behind a tree . Sakura had cried out as her crush came crashing down. The Ame-nin glared at her, and leapt towards the pink-tresses girl, a kunai in hand ready to deliver a killing blow.
"I'm going to died" thought Sakura, as time slowed as she tried to draw her own kunai, as the Ame-nin arm draws back for a killing cut across her neck.
"Fuuton -Wind Torpedo no jutsu" a familiar voice cried out, as cannon ball shape ball of chakra enhanced wind slammed into the attacking Rain shinobi, cried out"" in pain as blood and bits of cloths were tore from his barrel rolling body, before making a bone breaking sound, when he impacting, a tree.
Sakura had watched, somewhat awestruck, as the nin was sent careening into a tree, his outfit shredding in places, and cuts appearing on the exposed areas of his skin.
"Chaa if we know that jutsu and used it on Sasuke-Kun we can get to see his package heheheheheh Chaa"
She was briefly thankful nothing embarrassing had been exposed, while her inner self was demanding a similar jutsu be used on Sasuke so she could finally answer some important questions like "Chaa How big is his (Hot Dog) is Chaa"
But that question had sadly had too wait some other questions, needed to be address.
The kunoichi turned to see her blond teammate helping a slightly dazed Sasuke to his feet, even as the Uchiha heir gave him a look of mixed jealousy, awe, and curiosity.
She made her way over to the now unconscious Ame-nin, pulling out some of her wire and binding his arms and legs in a gyaku-ebi tie. She pulled one of the looser pieces of cloth off his arm, and made a make-shift gag to keep him quiet.
Silently, she thanked the kami that those lessons that the kunoichi were forced to take in their last year at the academy actually came of use
"Who would have thought that Shibari course would come in handy I always thought that Perv of a teacher Misty added that, just for kick's".
Sakura remember her last kunoichi class.
"kunoichi in terms of strength are different then males we will be doing things you may find perverted because its a mans world and many of them think with there other 'head' that will there first and last mistake to them we're woman we are not, we are kunoichi always remember that" said Misty a day before every one will be Genin test.
She hid the Ame-nin with some leaves, but after she gave a good kick to his gut as pay back for the whole trying to slice her neck thing, "prick" said Sakura with a smug look.
She had then proceeded to check over her friends, Sasuke waved her off still holding his head, most likely from the head ach before finally she voicing the question she was sure Sasuke also had.
"Naruto…what was that?" she asked, "I've never seen you…" but Sakura got cut off.
"It's a clan jutsu, much like Sasuke clan's "-Katon-Great Fireball no Jutsu- he replied, his crystal blue eyes darkening, when he said clan, he ran his hand though his hair, before going on, "finial master the jutsu after returning from wave".
"Thought I can't do Katon worth a damn, yet but a…friend…said I'm pretty good with Fuuton."
"So you're telling us that Jutsu is one of the Uzumaki clan jutsus?" Sasuke asked, "We know you have a clan now…"
"I don't," Naruto replied, glaring at his rival, "I am not now, nor will I ever be a member of the Uzumaki Clan."
"You…you're declaring yourself ronin!" stated Sasuke,
Sakura gasped, after hearing that "But Naruto…such an act could ruin any chance…"
"Hokage-jiji already knows and agrees with me, besides after I make Chunin with in the law I'm aloud to remove my name from the clans roster and, the whole bunch of Teme's can eat shit and die if they have a problem with that." Stated Naruto " besides Obasan Ravens and Maria mom agreed to support me when I gain a chance to be come Hokage, you only need the backing of a clan there nothing stating they had to be related" grinned Naruto,
Both of his fellow genin gasped, before Sasuke glared at him. "So…you'd just throw away your clan?" he asked, his voice going cold in anger, "I knew you were a dobe, I lost my family but you have a family a clan all along, your not only a dobe, you're a selfish fucking Teme" spat Sasuke his Sharingan all most glowed as his clans famed hot bloodedness, came out,
Naruto glared right back. "I didn't throw them away, Teme," he replied, and his eyes darken "My family that Kami damned clan she…no they threw me away…eight years ago." Sakura's eyes widened, while Sasuke's narrowed, and clamed down, seeing only truth and hatred in his eyes, "he hates them as much as I hate HIM"
"Tell us the truth, Naruto," Sakura asked, "I can see hatred in your eyes…I've never seen that before." She glanced away. "It's…scary."
Naruto sighed. "Look, I don't want to talk about this in the middle of a test," he said, "After this round is over, I'll tell you all about it. I promise." Both of his team-mates nodded.
Sasuke, laid a hand on Naruto shoulder "I'm sorry for calling you selfish fucking Teme, I didn't know"
"Ho Sasuke-chan your gotten all mushy, I feel all warm and fuzzy , I think we got a hug here" joked Naruto.
"Don't-even-think-about-it" Slowly Stated Sasuke, who pressed a kunai at Naruto neck, who in turned gave a cheeky grin.
Soon after Naruto and Sakura went to gather up the scattered kunai and shuriken, waste and not want, while Sasuke searched the Ame-nin pouches for anything of use.
The Uchiha heir had to fight the urge to grin as he found the 'Chi' scroll they needed among the Ame-nins possessions.
"Hnn, and I called Naruto a dobe, this moron tried to take all 3 of us on and he was carrying one of the scroll's we needed" he thought as he placed the scroll in his pouch, and recovered the Ami. He turned to his team.
"He had what we needed, so lets go to the tower," he said, "We should beat most of the other teams, which will allow us to rest and prepare for the next part." He received nods from his team-mates. "Right then, lets get moving."
The trio made to stand up, only to find themselves seemingly pinned down under a murderous chakra. "Na-nani?" Sakura asked, her voice trembling, as she fell to her keens "What…what is this chakra?" as her death flashed before her eyes, seeing her self get cut up by a hale storm of Kunai and Shuriken then getting a Kunai between the eyes.
Naruto was the only one of the three who was able to make it to his feet. "Sasuke," he growled out, even as he strained himself against the killer intent permeating the air, "Can…you see…who's…doing this?" Sasuke managed to nod, motioning with his eyes to the far left. Naruto, with great force of will, managed to pull out a kunai, and glared at the area Sasuke had indicated. "Who…ever…you are…come on…out! I'm…going to…kick your…ass!"
"Ku ku ku ku ku ku," a silky sounding voice carried through the clearing they were in. "Impressive, Naruto-kun…not many chuunin or even jounin are capable of shrugging off my Kanashibari no jutsu. You definitely inherited the stubbornness of your mother's clan."
Half a mile away-
As this was happening the aura of killing Intent hit Raven who happen to be laying a trap seals for a Suna Team(Not the Sand sibs), to get there scroll and thin out the herd of rival Genin thought her fellow Leaf nins got a free past if they didn't try any thing, ageist her and her team,
"What the hell…. "Shuttered Raven as a flash image of her getting her throat cut appears, in her mind, "that wasn't a Genin level Kanashibari no jutsu" muttered Raven as she shakes off the effects, as she was only in the outer most limit of that aura wave of killer intent.
"This needs to be checked out" she thought, rubbing her neck trying not to believed her neck was cut.
Raven disables the incomplete trap seal, by slashing the seal breaking the connecting lines before using flashing the seals for " Kageon- Shadow walk" spoke Raven, and slip in to the darken shade of her hiding spot,
Back to team 7-
The pale Kusa-nin from the start of the exam walked into view, smirking at the obviously now enraged blond. Sasuke and Sakura were surprised at the level of anger Naruto emitted at the mention of the word 'mother'. "I'm sure Kushina -dono would be most…pleased…at your obvious improvement."
Naruto smirked. "Oh no, suddenly I'm respectable!" he laughed, surprising his team-mates, and getting a raised eyebrow from the pale Kusa-nin, while he making 'subtle' motions to Sasuke to break the jutsu. "I guess I'll just have to put dye in the ladies hot springs again maybe Neon Lime this time around"
Sakura blanched, and then scowled at the blond. "THAT WAS YOU!" she cried out, suddenly leaping to her feet as if the Kanashibari had never been cast. Sasuke found him self free as the sudden surge in killer intent from Sakura broke the jutsu holding him down, the Kusa-nin sweat dropped.
"this seems oddly a repeat of that e one mission my former team mate used her own KI the same way that pink haired one is doing" thought the Kusa-nin.
"What the? now this killer intent feels like female rage" muttered Raven when she felt another aura of killer intent, then heard "THAT WAS YOU!".
"Now I Know that voice that's Sakura…. Naruto team must be waaaaay over there heads" though Raven as she spots the faint forms of 4 ninja, in the distant,
"NARUTO NO BAKA! INO AND I WERE ORANGE FOR A WEEK!"
Naruto's face fell. "But I thought you looked good like that," he complained, cringing at the expected blow.
The strange enemy chuckled again, before calling out. "Ku ku ku ku ku ku ku As amusing as this is," he/she? spoke up, right eyebrow ticked as the nin was a little bit perturb, at this.
"Perhaps its time to fight." His hands flipped through a few quick seals, ending on Ryu (dragon) "A new jutsu for you to learn, Naruto-kun…and tell your clan 'Orochimaru' said hello."
"Fuuton-Great-Breakthrough", as he blows out his attack,
Naruto cried out as the gust of wind crashed into him with all the force of a jackhammer, the impact sending him flying through the clumps of leaves behind him. He vaguely heard Sakura and Sasuke crying out for him, but could do nothing as he flew through the forest, when a female voice is heard,
"Kageon-Deep-Darkness no Jutsu "
A mass of shadows grabs Naruto from his flight, streching to slow him down before dropped him to the ground, much to the relief of his team mates, and annoys Orochimaru, "Damn shadow users"
"But that Kageon jutsu was much too weak to be Aerlla'-chan's it might be one of her children Ku ku ku ku this may be a golden opportunity if the reports of the Uzumaki being in the test added twin the children of the Roth clan leader along with the Hyuuga Main house head daughter would strike down all who dare harmed them after all what happens in the forest of death stay's in the forest".
"Naruto-kun why is it every time I see you your head deep in trouble" said Raven as she jumps from her hiding place in the trees.
"No" Orochimaru hand twitch " I have my pawns hurt them".
"It's my overly sunny personally" said Naruto, getting to his feet, but double over in pain the attack had hurt a lot "Teme, really did a lot of damage" wiping his mouth with his sleeve, "I 'll walk this off easily,
"That's good to know, Naruto but now not the time to lay around now how about we cut down that Kusa-nin, to size, by the looks of it that is no run of them mill Genin,", said Raven, as she unseals a pair of weapons from the storage seals on her cape "I may not like fighting as mush as my sister, but I'm looking forward at show you how much stronger I am now".
Naruto, nodded and said nothing as he forms the cross seal, as Raven merged with the shadows,
Meanwhile, Sasuke turned a hard glare at the strange ninja before them. "You'll pay for that!" he growled, the tomoe's of his Sharingan spinning rapidly as if in response to his rage.
While he would be the first to admit that Naruto was an annoyance more than a help at times, over the past few months as his team mate Sasuke had come to respect the enigmatic blond.
The pair of them were more alike than either cared to admit; lonely, angry, and stubborn beyond belief, the pair may as well have been twins.
Now his new brother was hurting, and that Sasuke could not let stand.
His hands blurred faster than he had ever managed before, the tora seal coming naturally to him as he breathed in the air needed for his technique. "-Koton Mythical Fire Phoenix no jutus!-" A series of fireballs flew from his mouth, even as he began tossing shuriken from his thigh-holster into the blasts.
The strange ninja, who had called himself Orochimaru, grinned even as he ran through his own seal sequence. "-Suiton- Water Bullets-!" he called out, launching a series of water blasts to cancel the fire out, but the hale of shuriken still headed for him.
His eyes widened in almost gleefulness as he noticed the hidden 'second attack' of Sasuke's jutsu. "Impressive!" he called out, even as he dodged the rain of metal. "Your jutsu usage is suburb…you really are his brother, aren't you?"
He felt a small twinge of disappointment at the sudden look of rage that ghosted across the Uchiha heir's face. "The boy's anger could be a problem…but also an advantage for my juin".
Raven leap from a shadow 2 Windmill Shuriken, spinning in her hands as she attacked the nin the spinning blades cuts deep scars in ground and trees as the Kusa-nin, weaved and dodged, her attacks then bats away her weapons next he hit's Raven with a 2 punch combo followed by a spinning heel kick, blood was spat out from Ravens mouth as the force of the kick sent the Roth flying, in to the bushes.
Seeing his ally had left this 'Orochimaru' exposed to attack Sasuke rushed at the nin, his hands and feet flying in the taijutsu style his clan was famous for.
His form was perfect.
His speed was sublime.
His power was incredible given his age.
It was all so utterly useless.
A swift spin kick sent him flying, crashing down on a tree limb. Orochimaru smirked, and then began to rush towards him…
…only to receive a surprisingly strong kick to his side from the other kunoichi he had all but forgotten was there it made him staggered a bit,
"You stay away!" Sakura cried out, her hands flashing through a quick seal sequence, ending on Nezumi. Orochimaru smirked as he recognized the signs of the low level genjutsu, Narakumi no jutsu.
He didn't even bother forming the tora symbol, he just surged his chakra and broke the technique before it took hold. He spun around and caught the girl by her neck, lifting her from the ground.
Sakura felt like her neck was about to break and managed to growl out "Uuugh" as she tried to kick and claw at the Kusa iron grip.
"I'm mildly amused, young flower," he chuckled, staring into her frightened eyes, "That was a superb thrust kick you gave me…I was reminded of my old comrade, Tsunade-hime for a moment there." His/her? grin changed then, and Sakura felt a chill reach deep into her bones.
"Yes…you could be useful later as well." His head surged forward, and Sakura's world exploded into a haze of bright color, pain, and then darkness.
"Son of a Bitch you are going to pay for that" yelled Naruto, as mob of Kage Narutos leaped from trees "Kage Bunshin Spinning Heel Drop", 6 heel kicks hit Orochimaru shoulders before he turned in to mud,
"A Doton Bunshin fuck" yelled a Naruto, when Orochimaru appears, behind the mod and thrust out his arms "Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands"at the Naruto mob, as dozens of snakes strikes at the clones when the Real Naruto got blown away when a snake spat out a Kunai that had a number of Exploding Notes tied to it.
Orochimaru chuckled, seening the brat smack in to a tree and then cried out as he felt a foot lodge itself in his stomach. He glanced down, noting the fact that Sasuke had once again managed to stand, and his Sharingan was blazing in fury. "Excellent…his Uchiha blood has begun to boil…the potential of this boy is staggering".
The force of the kick hurled him across a gap between trees, and he grunted as his back was introduced to a particularly hard oak. He felt himself sliding briefly, before a sudden tightness across his chest forced him to come aware. He grimaced as he saw the wires trapping his arms against his sides, even as he noticed Sasuke plant a triple set of kunai into the limb he was standing on. The wires ran to the circlets on the blades, and Orochimaru couldn't help but be awed by what was happening.
"Even Itachi didn't master this until after he was two years older than Sasuke!"he thought, "The Sharingan Windmill Triple Attack!"
Sasuke paid the sudden grin on the enemy ninja's face no mind as he ran through the seal sequence for his most powerful Katon jutsu. "For Sakura…for Naruto…" he thought. His hands paused on the final two seals, ryu and tora, gathering and focusing the chakra even as he inhaled a deep breath.
"-Katon- Dragon Fire no jutsu-!" he cried out, exhaling and blowing the giant surge of flame at the bound enemy. What he didn't expect was another voice to call out a jutsu as well.
"-Fuuton-Pressure Damage!-" A surge of wind raced through the dragon's flames, fanning them and causing them to surge. The flames raced along the wires, rushing over and around the bound Orochimaru who screamed in pain as the nearly white-hot fire surged around him, as another voice call out the followed up attack,
"-Kageon-Great rising Shadow Dragon-" surrounding the Shadows flew to getter to form the snaking body of a eastern dragon with 2 red eyes its gives out a roared as it slams in to the bound and burning Orochimaru total destroying the tree he was bound to,
Sasuke turned to where the winds and shadows had come from…and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Naruto standing there next to Sakura, along with that girl Raven who was breathing hard.
There hands still clasped together in the ryu seal, signifying the completion of there technique's. Once again, Sasuke had to wonder just how strong his teammate really was, and that Raven wasn't a light weight as some of the Kunoichi he had seen.
He noticed something then – which strangely enough – chilled him even more deeply than Orochimaru had.
Naruto's strange 'whisker' marks were darker now, and wider than before. His mouth was set in a horrible snarl, and his teeth…for a moment, Sasuke was sure they looked like 'fangs!'
It was his eyes, however, that were the most disturbing; gone was the crystalline blue the blond was famous for…instead, those blue eyes that usually held some illusion of idiotic happiness and clueless Dopiness,mask but now his eyes were red…and silted. It was almost like a cat…or a fox,
Raven looked at Naruto at the corner of her eye before look at the were Kusa nin was, "Nani?"
Raven's face was in disbelief, as her arms drop to her sides, as she looks "No way"
"His face it's peeling off like a snake's skin", said Raven as a little fear was mixed in her voice taking a step back.
"Your not going to hurt my friends!" the blond growled at spot where Orochimaru had been. Sasuke turned, and almost gasped at the sight.
The man was practically unscathed, even though a wind fuel fire blast and what ever those shadows did but his face…it was almost peeling off!
"I guest you all reach your limits", the nin smirked at the sacred faces of the 3, as Orochimaru, rips the rest of his mask away, his black hair covered his face.
"Indeed," the man replied, his right hand sliding over his hitai-ate, revealing an 'Oto' symbol instead of the 'Kusa' one as before. "A test really…and I must admit, all three of you are impressive, and that Shadow user Raven I believed she has shown impressive skills as well, as excepted, of a child born and raised by the Mistress of the void Roth Arella Roth Raven normally you would be with your twin sister Roth Maria and it seems you take more after your mother then your father.
Raven eyes widen letting a gasp out at that, then Orochimaru stared at the growling blond,
"I think the Uzumaki clan will be most intrigued to learn of your strength, Naruto-kun." His eyes, now revealed to be golden and silted like a snakes, were practically dancing with sadistic mirth.
"I see you can use its chakra…combined with your clan's skills, you will indeed make very skilled and formidable opponent one day." Orochimaru thought,
"I will kill you"
"Naruto clam down, now is not the time to get in rage your using too much chakra" shouted Raven " Who ever this is way to strong , Sasuke saw this and started to think Raven had seen Naruto like this before,Naruto look back but Orochimaru saw that they were distracted,
Sasuke and Raven gasped as the strange ninja suddenly appeared before Naruto, his tongue wrapped around the boy and holding him aloft. His left hand lifted Naruto's orange jacket up, revealing the boy's stomach, and a strange black image that was upon it.
"Yes, I see…" Orochimaru mused as he studied the seal, "So this is the sealing array Minato -kun used. I've never seen one so complex before ah there's a bit of Arella-chan's handy work in here as well …really, such things are more hers and Jiraiya's specialty than my own.
"In time, once you truly learn to control the power of the Kyuubi, you'll be stronger than me in chakra…but for now, you're merely in my way." Mused Orochimaru, and flash hand seals,
His right hand began to glow, as purple flames danced along his finger tips. "Fuinjutsu-Marks of Sealing-Five Elements Seal-"He cried, thrusting his hand into Naruto's stomach, causing the boy to scream in pain.
"NARUTO" screamed Raven as Orochimaru tossed Naruto's limp body in to her forcing the air out of Raven's lungs and sent both tumbling along the ground,
Sasuke watched in horrified fascination as Naruto's face reverted to the state it was normally, before the blond slipped into unconsciousness, as Raven tried to get to her feet.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM!" the dark haired boy cried out.
"A simple seal, my boy," the sadistic ninja chuckled, before he vanished and then re-appeared behind the stunned Uchiha scion. Sasuke cried out as he felt a painful stab in his neck, before a burning and gut-wrenching sensation began washing over him. "Now your seal, on the other hand…well, when you want to know more about it, come see me." He vanished, leaving Sasuke to his cries of pain.
He screamed for a long time.
Even as Sasuke roll on the ground in pain Orochimaru turned to Raven who now was standing holding a kunai, in a vain attempt to protect the now down team 7 "Stay away you freak I'll kill you if you take another step"
This cause Orochimaru to leer at Raven tried to not filch but failed.
"That is highly unlikely you can even do any real harm little dark birdie, for that freak remark I would teach you some matters but sadly I have finished my business here,and I do not wish your mother's wrath on me but you better take care of your friends before some hungry beast comes and eats them" said Orochimaru as he sinks in to the earth.
Raven dropped to her knee's and breaking out in to a cold sweat, "that..." said Raven but unable to put in to words before wiping her face then stares at team 7
Raven scans the area before moving to help, the down team 7.
In another part of the forest-
Tsuchi Kin sat on log sighed they already got both needed scrolls after finding one had ran afoul with the wide life and gained the other after one team were too chicken shit to put up a fight.
Sometimes, she missed her country. Oto was a good place to become strong, but it lacked the wild mountains of Tsuchi no Kuni.
Instead, she chose to defect, and so got saddled with two…idiots.
She glanced at her teammates, fighting the urge to snort at Zaku's bluster and Dosu's sadism. Being one of the few kunoichi in Oto, she often found herself garnering the unwanted attentions of the men in from the village, though the pair before her could hardly be called men.
She idly recalled the few days she had actually been an Iwa Kunoichi – in her home country kunoichi were rarely ever allowed out in the field unless it was on an espionage or a 'seduce and destroy' mission. She would likely have been trained as a courtesan for the Earth Daimyo's court or for some high end brothel for the visiting dignitaries, this caused Iwa to have the highest number of kunoichi defecting, many went to Iwa long time enemy Kusa or to the surrounding nations,
The mere thought of her spreading her legs for some old smelly lord made her want to puke.
She knew her younger sister Himitsu was likely now serving as a whore in her place, but the brat had never been someone she cared about anyway. As far as Tsuchi Kin was concerned, watching out for her self and her friends was all that mattered. That was why she escaped with Tayuya and Karin when they had fled; she would not sully herself just because the Tsuchikage was a misogynistic pig along with Tayuya and Karin, were not eager to be full time courtesans.
When Orochimaru had found them, and took them in, it was almost like a dream. Finally, they were being taught how to be true ninja, and not porcelain dolls, slash fuck toys.
Karin had demonstrated great skill at medicine, and that blood healing power added her Chakra radar powers made her highly valuable and was rushed into the new medic-nin program.
Tayuya, as the strongest, of them and her summons the Doki had earned her a place with the Sound Four's genjutsu specialist.
Kin had shown a real talent at hand to hand combat and marksmanship, making her the perfect front line fighter.
Still, "why did I have to get bandage-boy and Mr. Blowhard as teammates?" she bemoaned to herself. Zaku's air cannon arms certainly made up for the lack of skill he had in all other areas (like brains for instance), and Dosu's Melody arm was useful for many different things, but his sadistic yet overly cautious nature held them all back. He took his time gauge any advantage an opponent might have, but would torment them for too long once he was sure he had their number. "That guy is going to get himself killed soon. I just hope I'm there to see It".
"We have a visitor," Dosu spoke up suddenly, his Melody arm hummed with sound. Zaku immediately was on guard, his chakra surging through his arms even as Kin pulled a group of senbon from her thigh pouch.
"Ku ku ku ku…I see your sense of hearing continues to grow stronger, Dosu-kun," a silky voice came from the darkness. Kin had to forcibly repress the shudder that wanted to crawl up her spine. Somehow, Orochimaru's voice always made her shiver…and it was never in a good way.
"Orochimaru-sama!" Zaku exclaimed, dropping on one knee. Kin barely resisted snorting again.
"Brown nose lackey", she thought.
"At ease, Zaku-kun," the snake sannin chuckled, "I have a job for the three of you…a mission different than what I told you that you'd be doing before."
Kin frowned at that. "You said we were to kill that Uchiha kid, Orochimaru-sama," she spoke up, "What's changed? I thought you wanted him gone."
Orochimaru smirked at the dark haired girl. "It should be interesting to see her reaction to this information", he thought. "The presence of the Uzumaki clan in these exams has altered my plans somewhat," he replied, "I need you three to gauge the abilities of the three Uzumaki from the Fire capital. I have already dealt with Sasuke and his team…they are worthy of living. The other three however…well, Kin-chan I should think you'd enjoy tormenting them more than anyone here."
"Why would Kin want to hurt them, Orochimaru-sama?" Dosu asked, glancing at his female team mate.
"Kin-chan is originally from Tsuchi no Kuni," the sannin elaborated, "I understand your father died in battle against the 4th Hokage, correct?"
"Ho that's why, I heard the 4th Hokage was a part of the Uzumaki" mused Dosu.
"Yes," Kin acknowledged warily, "What does that have to do with these Uzumaki brats? that was war but.."
"The 4th was a member of the Uzumaki clan through marriage," he answered, drawing a sharp gasp from the girl. Hook, he thought. "The Uzumaki are always proud to proclaim how he thrashed that legion of Iwa-nin in the last great battle the battle of the Grass plains."
The girl's hands clenched tightly, and a drop of blood made its way down her palm from thanks to her nails piercing the skin at Grass plains Line.
"I know for a fact that the clan heir, Uzumaki Taro, is the nephew of the 4th's widow he continued, "He's well trained, but lacks actual battle experience…"
"Then I'll be happy to give him some," Kin finished, her heart warming at the thought of causing the family her father's death was in battle she under stands that but what happen after thebattle of the Grass plainswhat those damned Uzumaki had done to her big sister and she will cause as much pain before she ends this Uzumaki Taro life.
Sinker. "Don't eliminate them," he instructed, "I want to see them in the finals…I have my own grudge against the Uzumaki clan, and a plan is already set to truly make them hurt. You'll see what I mean in the next stage, oh yes I nearly forgot the Roth clan and the Hyuuga clans both have a long time rivals and at one point in time both were nearly wipe by the Uzumaki clan,you all know that old wounds that deep don't heal fully as the current Roth clan leader's twin daughters, and the eldest daughter of the Hyuuga clan's leader are in this stage of the exam if you encounter them hurt them badly but not kill and pin it on the Uzumaki clan, the blood feud, will weaken the Uzumaki clan, and prolong there demised" His hands came together in the hit suji symbol, before he vanished in a plume of purple flame. "Remember…the Uzumaki can be hurt, but not eliminated…I want them to suffer…"
Kin glanced at her team-mates. "Let's find those punks, then look for the Roth and Hyuuga after" she all but growled out, "For once, I'll be the sadistic one…I want their blood."
Zaku and Dosu nodded the former smirking while the latter merely patted his gauntlet. The three exchanged a brief nod, before leaping into the trees.
They had a mission to complete.
Later-
Sakura groaned as she came too, the light streaming through the leaves almost fanning the flames of the headache she was experiencing. She clenched her eyes shut against the pain, but eventually had to force herself to open them.
She slowly struggled to her knees, wincing as her skull protested against the act. Once she had gotten her bearings, she glanced around, searching out her team mates and praying that they were alright.
Naruto was easy to spot of course, his orange jump suit standing out against the dark green foliage of the trees and bushes around them, but was un zip and his blue shirt was now rolled up to his chest, as that girl Raven hovered over his stomach, her hands glowed purple fire as she traced the marking on Naruto stomach
"What are… what are you doing to my team mate" gasp Sakura,
"…That… man used a 5 point element seal … to seal of part of his chakra, I'm trying to break the seal but I'm too weak to break... its.. the …..best…I can do… is loosen…. it to aloud some of his extra chakra though… I'm …. Need to rest …. Pouch …. Used tracking note" muttered Raven before her eyes roll up in to her head, and collapse next to Naruto Sakura checks Raven, to find her in a deep sleep much like Kakashi-sensei, had been after his first battle with the Demon of the mist, "Her chakra is low" next she crawled over to her loudmouth friend, reaching out a hand to check his pulse. She was relieved when her fingers detected a strong, steady beat at his neck. "He's just out cold", she thought, "That ninja must have hit him with something powerful pretty darn hard". She thought as she slapped his face lightly, trying to stir him awake.
After the fourth slap the blond haired boy groaned, his blue eyes opening and gazing blearily into Sakura's green orbs. He coughed slightly, before struggling to his knees as well. "Uggh," he groaned, "What…happened? That…freaky…ninja…" Naruto held his head.
"He put a seal on you stomach that knock out, you Naruto," the pink haired girl explained, "I just came to myself and Found Raven-san, trying to break it." Naruto, painfully turn to Raven sleeping form, "Thank Raven-chan"
Sakura reached into her pouch and pulled out a small bottle of aspirins, dropping two into Naruto's outstretched hand before taking a couple herself. "What happened? The last thing I remember was that scary ninja giving me a head-butt before everything went blank." She barely had time to blink before Naruto was fussing about her head, checking for injury.
"You got a little blood here, but not much," Naruto muttered, "At least he didn't mess up your pretty face." He gave her his usual cocksure grin, and despite her confessed feelings about her orange clad team mate, she felt a small blush grace her cheeks.
Naruto smiled again at that, then his face turned serious as he started scanning the area. His eyes widened when they landed upon the crumpled heap nearby. "Sasuke!" he all but shouted, leaping to his feet and running over to him, Sakura close on his heels. Together, the pair checked over the Uchiha heir, noting that aside from the bruising and cuts gained during the battle with Orochimaru, Sasuke seemed to be perfectly fine.
When Sakura put her hand on his forehead to check his temperature, however, she was forced to cry out. "He's burning up!" she muttered, "He's got to have a temperature of at least 105 degrees!"
Naruto stared at her blankly. "Is that high?" he asked. Sakura gaped at him, causing him to blush in embarrassment, "I don't think I've ever had a fever before. None of the doctors at the hospital ever said I did the times I was there."
Sakura frowned. Even she knew that temperature checks were standard procedure at hospital; how could Naruto have never known if he'd ever had one? She quickly filed that away for later. "Whatever," she replied, "Listen, we need to find some shelter and water to treat our wounds. I'll take Sasuke and Raven down to the ground while you go get some water. We'll meet back at this spot in an hour."
"Should I try to get some food too?" he asked, "I think we could use something to give us some energy, and Sasuke and Raven-chan could probably do the same once they wake up."
"Chaa if Sasuke –kun wakes up Chaa" Sakura's inner voice muttered, though she paid it no mind. It was not the time to argue with her self.
"Yeah…that's probably a good idea," she said, "Don't take too long though. If you can't find anything like fish or whatnot, we'll just have to make do with the ration bars I brought."
"Gahh!" Naruto grimaced, sticking his tongue out, "I hate those things."
"We all do, Naruto," she replied, reaching down and lifting the Uchiha heir up buy his shoulder. That's when she saw something…strange. "Naruto…take a look at this."
The blond genin moved over, glancing at the area Sakura was staring at. At the junction where Sasuke's neck met his shoulder, a strange black mark was set in his skin. "Weird," Naruto muttered, "It's like the 3 tomoe's in Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke's Sharingan."
"He didn't have this before the fight," Sakura muttered, "That guy…he must have done this to him, I think it's a fuin"
"Well, we can't deal with it now, Raven-chan may know when she wakes up" Naruto replied, wincing slightly as he rubbed his stomach, "Lets do what we agreed on; you take care of Sasuke and Raven-chan as I'll go get some food and water. If they don't t wake up by midday tomorrow, we'll take them to the tower as he is. There are bound to be medics there."
Sakura was surprised at Naruto's insightfulness, but nodded anyway, "Naruto before Raven Fainted she said something about a Tracking Note you know what that is"
Naruto, looked at Sakura before he turn to Raven he gently turn her to her side so he can get at her waist pouch, he opened it and pulled out a number of Items like Item holding Scrolls Shuriken a ink well and brush kit , before pulling out a leather Seal Note holder, opening it and pulling out a number of Notes with signs of all 5 main elements along with few notes that Sakura had never seen before he finds the Note he was looking for.
"This is the Tracking note, when you push some chakra in to it its sends out a pulse to its counter part the Finder Note that will lead Raven's team mates here, they will protect you guys the only problem is I don't how far off they are, so your better off hiding.
It was yet another mystery about the blond boy she had come to call her friend for her to unravel,
"Thanks I take care of every thing" Sakura nodded The blond nodded back, then leapt down from the branch, and began making his way through the forest. Sakura carried Sasuke down, finding a hollow section of roots to duck under. After she laid him down, she went back to Raven and laid her down next to Sasuke next she proceeded to layer the area with traps, as well as a subtle genjutsu.
It would cause people to not pay attention to this spot unless she allowed it. Once again she gave a silent thank you to that strange ANBU kunoichi that seemed to follow Naruto sometimes, who showed her this trick,
She wondered again why the lady did that, but shrugged it off as she had more important things to take care of, as she pushed some chakra in to the Tracking Note.
Yuugao leapt through the forest with two of her ANBU partners. She had immediately volunteered to enter the forest once she heard that Anko had gone in after her rogue sensei, the snake sannin Orochimaru.
While she had never been close to the former disciple of the traitor, Yuugao respected Anko's desire to see justice done to the monster. One of the bastard's earlier experiments had cost the life of her uncle, and though she was now outcast from the Uzumaki clan and the Uzuki branch because of it, but regardless what happen and what had happen it is still a grave insult to the family that had to be avenged.
"I hope we find her before she finds him though", the purple haired ANBU thought as she leapt from tree to tree, "Anko will likely try to kill him even if it costs her both their lives…and then I won't get my shot!"
She noticed something a few trees to the left, and she signalled her teammates to follow as she veered in that direction. When they arrived, they were greeted by a dark site.
"-Hidden Shadow Snake Hands-" the Tokubetsu Jounin Mitarashi Anko cried out, four pythons shooting out from her sleeves and grabbing hold of a man who appeared to be halfway sunk into the trunk of the tree. With a roar worthy of the giant tigers that lived in the Forest of Death, the mesh clad girl swung her arms and ripped the man from the tree, hurling him against the trunk of another tree.
"This is ANBU Neko to ANBU base and any units nearby," she whispered into her communicator, "Orochimaru confirmed in Training Area 44. Jounin Mitarashi currently engaging Orochimaru . Moving to assist, need back up." She leapt down to the tree where the other girl was rushing up to the trapped sannin.
Anko slammed her left hand against his right, before swinging her right arm around and impaling both of their hands with a kunai, pinning them against a tree.
"My my," Orochimaru grinned despite the pain, "You really have improved my little cobra…"
"Oh, you don't know the half of it, sensei," the girl replied, stressing the sarcasm in the word sensei, "I've had almost ten years to prepare for this..." she reached down, and grabbed his left hand, her fingers manipulating his into a modified 'hebi' seal. "…now, if you don't mind me using your left hand here…"
"-Ninja art-Twin Snake Self Sacrifice technique-".
Yuugao had been silent to this point, but even she knew what this kinjutsu could do. "Anko-sempai!" she called out, landing on the branch with the two ninja.
"Stay out of this!" the serpent kunoichi growled as she surged her chakra for the jutsu, "We're going to die together, sensei…"
"Ah, but I don't think that's going to happen, Anko-chan," he replied, "After all…this jutsu only works if there's two of us."
Anko's eyes widened and Yuugao whipped around even as the 'Orochimaru' Anko held dissolved into a pile of mud. The pair of kunoichi was joined by the other two ANBU members, even as the real snake sannin appeared a few branches above them.
"Damn you…" Anko growled, ripping the kunai that held her hand against the tree free and hurling it at the pale ninja. He smirked as he caught it with two fingers, before raising his hand up into a half hitsuji seal, but stop when he noted movement to his right and moved away from several chains, that shattered the branch he was standing on, "-Kage crusher chains-"
" Heero sempai" Yuugao knows, that attack anywhere.
A male ANBU wearing a Crow mask with the markings of Captain jumped to Yuugao and Anko, spot along with the other 2 ANBU "Damn it Anko don't ever try that again, it will be a pain in my ass to find a replacement if you end up as worm food, and on top that you still own me money" Stated Heero, he wasn't a Captain, if he didn't care about his commands members wellbeing.
"I don't care he has to died" growled Anko, but Orochimaru, made the hitsuji seal
Anko gasped, and then fell to her knees as a surge of pain erupted from her shoulder, Anko claws at her shoulder, tears ran down her cheeks as snake like marks went up her neck and the right part of her face,
Heero, Yuugao and there fellow ANBU moved around her protectively, even as Orochimaru laughed at his former pupil's plight.
"Your curse mark still responds to me, my little cobra," he laughed, "Still, its not you I'm interested in." as Orochimaru duck under a chain that impales, the tree he was standing on,-Kage chain lancer- "Your aim getting better Heero-kun".
Crow just retracting the chain back in to his sleeve "Damn Snake your going died one way or another you will not harm my team mates" growled Heero, behind his Crow mask and flashed hand seals he finish with Rat "Kageon -Darkness binding chains", pitch black chains launched from the many shaded spots and Shadows that Orochimaru was standing near, the kage chains warp them selves around his arms legs waist chest and neck, before being recalled back and suspending Orochimaru in to the air,
"Are you here to assassinate Hokage-sama then?" Yuugao asked, her hand on the ninjato strapped to her back,
"What is your purpose here?" demanded Heero, then closed his fist that causes the shadow chains to tighten and near the point of breaking every bone in Orochimaru limbs, but the Snake wasn't even caring if he was being strangle.
Orochimaru laughed. "I merely have an interest in a few of the competitors," he replied, "Some of my own subordinates are competing as well." He grinned. "Indeed, there are one or two I'm truly fascinated with…one was so impressive I even gave him my mark."
"That's…a…foolish gift," Anko groaned, "He'll…die…most likely."
"Hmmm, true, there is only a one in ten chance he'll live," Orochimaru nodded, "Still, his breeding is superb. His body is also exquisite…if he lives he'll be the perfect vessel to succeed me." He stared down at the assembled nins. "I know you plan on stopping this exam…I warn you, if you do, then Konoha will be destroyed." His body faded from view as his voice echoed around them. "The exam must continue…there is still much that must happen…" with that said the chains went slack, and dispelled, leavening no trace of Orochimaru.
"he long gone don't try to find him" said Heero,
Yuugao frowned behind her mask, before turning to the stricken Anko. "Sempai, can you stand?" she asked. At the girl's nod, she turned to her team-mates. "Head back to headquarters and make the report. I'll escort Anko-sama to the tower." The other two ANBU nodded, before vanishing in a swirl of leaves.
Anko looked at the purple haired ANBU. "I was stupid, Yuugao-san, Heero- Sempai" she muttered, "I should have known he'd use Kawarimi…"
"Yes you are Anko, but your still alive and will learn from this "said Heero, lifted Anko's arm and allowed her weight to be held up by the larger Heero,
"He isn't one of the sannin for nothing, Anko-sempai," the armour clad girl replied, "C'mon, let's head to the tower and get you looked at."
The shinobi and the pair of kunoichi vanished in puffs of smoke.
Naruto stopped when he came to a stream near a clearing, smiling as he saw several fish in a nearby alcove of rock. A quick and judicious use of Kage Bunshin resulted in three nicely sized river trout for his team. He pulled out a scroll, and sealed the fish away for easy transport. "I got to remember to thank Hayate-niisan and Heero-niisan for teaching me this", he thought. He proceeded to fill both his and Sakura's canteens with water, and once finished turned to leave…
Only to find his path blocked by three people he did not want to deal with, "Ah crap"
"Hello, cousin," Uzumaki Taro smirked, "Fancy meeting you here."
Naruto glared at his cousin, but chose to not reply. Instead, he gazed over at the kunoichi of the group. "You must be Reika," he said, causing the purple haired girl to scowl, "Yuugao-neechan sends her regards. I know she misses you."
"Hmmph, I couldn't care less what that traitor feels," the belligerent girl replied, "She chose to break with the Uzuki and Uzumaki, so she's persona non gratis with me."
Naruto simply shook his head. "And you people wonder why Konoha doesn't like the clan anymore," he muttered, "To think I share the name…sometimes it's a shame almost too great to bear."
The boy in samurai garb frowned at him. "You will speak of the clan with respect," he ordered. His eyes widened angrily as Naruto laughed.
"Oh please," he snorted, "The day I treat you with respect is the day I decide to quit being a ninja…and that is never going to happen." Naruto turned to the black haired boy who appeared to be the leader. "Given that you know my name, it's only fair that I know yours now. Manners and all that, y'know?" He had to resist scowling when he saw the boy's blue eyes gleam arrogantly. "Is he really that stupid…he's actually going to introduce himself!"
The boy laughed. "Sure, why not?" he replied,
"yep he is, Huh oh this is good" thought Naruto, seeing a flash of metal from the treeline.
"I'm Uzumaki Taro, heir of the Uzumaki clan." He pointed at Reika. "You already know Uzuki Reika, from the Uzuki family branch and a formidable user of both taijutsu and ninjutsu." Finally he pointed to the third member of the group. "This is my cousin Uzumaki Kenosuke, the best swordsman of our generation. We are…"
"Three total and complete idiots," Naruto interrupted, pulling out a kunai and hurling it at the bushes to the left. Three forms leapt from said bushes, landing nearby. Naruto belatedly noticed that they were the team from Oto, and he frowned as he recalled Orochimaru also wearing an Oto hitai-ate. He turned his glare back to the three members of his estranged clan, who were gaping at him. "You cannot be telling me you didn't notice them," he growled, "Are you really that…green?"
Reika scowled. "We don't need an outcast like you criticizing us, teme!" she shouted at him. Naruto rolled his eyes, pulling out another kunai and focusing his chakra. He winced as he felt a slight burn around his stomach.
"Damn…what did that snake-freak do to me?" he thought, "At lease Raven-chan made it so that the pain lessen, but not by much"
"Hmmph, and here I thought this was going to be a challenge," Dosu muttered, "They seem to be fighting amongst themselves."
"That's the loudmouth from before," Zaku noted, "So Is he apart of that clan ?"
"If he is, he doesn't act like it," Kin growled, "The Uzumaki clan is notorious for both their skill and their arrogance. This kid seems to be more concerned with the situation than his pride. I wonder who he is?"
"Maybe his is the black sheep I guess all that inbreeding, didn't fuck up the whole blood line" jab Zaku, getting a little KI, from the other Uzumaki, but Zaku, just flip the middle finger at them.
"I'm tore between kicking the blonds ass for that Kunai or Letting him going wile we take care of his Clan's kin" remarked Dosu.
"He is not our kin his is a outcast" stated Taro.
"Who gives a shit" yelled Zaku
Naruto noted this byplay, but filed it away for later. He kept on the black haired boy. "A ninja never reveals more than is needed," he continued, as if lecturing the clan heir. Taro scowled, but was unable to interrupt as Naruto ploughed on.
"All you should have told me was your names. Instead, you revealed your importance to the Uzumaki, Reika-san's skills, and Kenosuke-san's specialty. Now anyone who might have been spying on us, i.e. those three Oto-nin there, knows what to expect and will be able to plan a counter plan, Obasan always tell's me the greatest weapons one has is knowledge".
The three members of the Uzumaki clan almost gaped at that. Despite all that they had been taught by the council about this boy, his logic was undeniable.
Naruto frowned at them, he then turned to the three enemy ninja on his left. "I have team-mates and a good friend that needs me," he said, "I don't have time to fight you nor the intent to do so but I do have a question."
Both Zaku and Dosu, looked at the blonde wondering if he's a fool or some one with a giant set of ball bearings, who happen to be out number and surrounded by enemy nins.
Kin frowned, but stepped forward. "All right we will not fight you…. This time but You answer mine first, and I'll answer yours," she replied, "They called you an outcast…are you a member of the Uzumaki?".
"No," he replied, "They cast me out when I was four years old. They abandoned me for something that was never my fault." He stared at her, noticing the position her legs were in. "You're from…Iwa, aren't you?, that Stance is common in Tsuchi ".
Kin gaped, but smirked. "I was born in Tsuchi no Kuni, but I am no Iwa-nin," she replied, "I'm Oto, and that's all there is too it." she tapped her hitai-ate.
Naruto shrugged. "Fair enough," he replied, "Now for my question; what did Orochimaru do to my friend?".
Next-The Outcast the Clan the Shadows and the Snake part2